The Great Pumpkin Contest Winners!!

photo: courtesy, Country Home Magazine

Many thanks to those who participated in the contest I co-sponsored with Ki Nassauer of Junk Revolution. We had some great entries, both through this blog and via email. Who knew such creativity could be expressed through some junk and a pumpkin or two? Ki, that's who... and the talented ladies who took part in this challenge.

The first place prize ($100 gift certificate to Ki's online store) goes to: Terri at Paint 'n' Thread. This pumpkin has personality!!

Second place ($50 gift certificate) goes to the super talented Margo/Robolady of Margo's Junkin' Journal :

Third place ($25 gift certificate) goes to Diane Mazur, who emailed us this entry (what a lot of work!!):

The following are the winners of the random prize draw (they each win a $25 gift certificate to Junk Revolution's online shop):

Primtiques and Poetry and her fun entries (my favourite is the greyish-white pumpkin):

Linda Crispell, a very talented artist who junked up her pumpkin with old bottlecaps:

The final random draw winner goes to Karin at The Style Sisters. She took advantage of the revised contest rules and did a post on her blog about Ki's new business, website, and online store (again, opening November 10th).

**So, ladies, please send me your email addresses (to linda@restyledhome.ca) , and I'll hook you up with Ki and she will look after getting your prizes to you. Congratulations!!

The Witch is In...Happy Halloween!!

Taking a page from Matthew Mead's new Halloween magazine, I copied him directly (although not quite as lovely) and staged my own ready-to-wear Witch ensemble in my front entry. This was a fun and easy Halloween display: a pointy, velvet hat with shiny buckle; cape; witchin' shoes;, keys; pet crow; and of course...broom! Every witch needs a broom...

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Traditions are very important to me, and some things just need doin'. In sickness or in health, with brothers or not. With a generous assortment of pumpkins, a bad chest infection (me) and two boy at basketball practice, Sophie and her little friend and her brother (their sister, too, was sick), their mum (my good friend and Scrabble partner) and I decided that pumpkin decorating just can't be skipped.

After a nice supper and some goodbyes to the men in our house, we started carving our pumpkin masterpieces. I made a skeleton, Sophie a scary Jack-o-lantern. Not very creative, I know, but better than nothing, right? I even toasted the pumpkin seeds, which are always a hit with the main man in the house.

After carving, we took the annual porch shot with our pumpkins. It is a bit sad that the boys didn't join in, but it just worked out that way this year, and my oldest had no interest anyway. ~Sigh~

To cap off the evening, the kids decorated some cookies from a kit I bought, and this was a big hit with the girls!

Can you believe I just remembered to dig this great runner out of storage? It is from Pottery Barn (last year).

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**Check out Tanya's (Sunday Baker) post about her take on traditions. She invites you to share yours, and has posted a very special photo of her very own pumpkin carving memories. Tanya is my go-to gal when I don't know what to make for dinner, and I always enjoy each and every one of her posts.

A new way to win!

Ki Nassauer of Junk Revolution

For some reason, this Halloween is finding us all very busy, and doing some last minute scrambling to get organized and ready. Costumes planned, pumkins carved, treats bought...decorating pumpkins is often at the bottom of the list, especially if it is not a job you enjoy. I haven't even carved my own yet, although I plan to remedy that tonight! Either way, because you are all so busy, I am opening up the junk pumpkin decorating contest to include those who simply mention Ki's new website and its online shopping debut (the store opens November 10th).

If you include the following in a quick post, you will have a chance to win one of three $25 gift certificates to her online store. As women, we all strive to support other women and their creative endeavours. Ki is a junk expert, and has branched out on her own, once again, and I am hoping you will help me spread the word and allow everyone to benefit from her creativity, imagination, and expertise!

Leave your link in the comment section for this post. This contest will still be ending on October 31st, so hurry and join in. The prizes are great, but the shopping is even better!!

Here is what you need:

Include this logo:

and this information:

Join the Revolution!! Ki Nassauer, Country Home contributing editor, founder of JunkMarket, and now, Junk Revolution is officially getting her online store underway! Keep checking in with her website (http://www.junkrevolution.com/) as she works to expand it to include valuable tips and inspiration. Beginning November 1oth, wonderful junk items will be available to purchase for yourself or the fellow junkers in your life. To get to know Ki better, follow her along on some of her junking jaunts, and to learn more about the history of her business over the years, check out her blog: http://junkcamp.blogspot.com/

And that's it!!

**For those still wishing to enter a "junked up" pumpkin for consideration, go here! The dollar values for the gift certificates are: first prize:$100, second prize: $50, third prize: $25

Also, check out Margo/Robolday's blog for a chance to win this:

It's a beautiful vintage bag designed by Ki and created by her sister. Just a glimpse of the goodness that will be offered for sale on her new website!! Again, the shopping area will be up and running by November 10th.

Be sure to check it out!!

All trimmed out...

I live in a new house. I love the fact that I don't have to worry about mice, critters, weird bugs...frozen pipes, slow-moving toilets, or drafty doors and windows. My house is efficient, cozy, and very low maintenance. My house is also quite devoid of the charm that comes with older homes...

It seems to be the catch twenty-two of choosing old over new. Sure, we could technically have filled our home with salvaged fireplace mantels, banisters, old doors and more. We could have purchased old door knobs and spent hours returning them to their former glory. We could have laid reclaimed hardwood on my floors, too, I guess. However, the truth of it is that we can't. I/we have neither the funds nor easy access to said materials to do so; and the reality is that after living in a less than ideal rental home while building, just getting in seems like the only goal. So, up go the new (designed to look older) doors, lighting, fittings. We lay pre-finished flooring and are happy to have it. We end up with a home that we are happy to call our own, but loaded with architectural detail it is not.

I have long pined for wall panelling/wainscoting/bead board, etc. My doors are trimmed out in a trim style I love (Boston headers), and we don't scrimp and install the cheaper, flimsier version that most contractors use. Still, I dreamed of the flat panel detailing that my dining area and front entry was calling out for (you know what I mean...). Enter my Prince Charming, who casually announced two weeks ago that he would begin the project the very next day. Now, I admire those women who can do such projects themselves with ease. But, if I am to be honest, I don't think I am cut out for it. I am clumsy, accident prone, and like things done yesterday. Definitely not the attributes of a successful carpenter.

Happily, my hard-working husband laboured away installing the detailing, and had it ready for painting after only one day of construction! I dutifully picked up my trusty paintbrush, and after three days of painting, declared the project finished!

Next up is some crown-moulding in the living room, bead board in the mudroom, and something even better in the bathroom (although I have yet to decide what). New home or not, we will work at giving it detail and character, and our kids will do their part by chipping away at its newness by scuffing up walls, denting the hardwood, and dinging the trim work.

It's a family affair...!!

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Another example of my husband's work to add vintage character to our home:

Lovely examples of great details anyone (with a bit of skill and a few tools) can add:

(Note, the following are not photos of my home)

(top photo: source unknown)

Middle and bottom photo: Country Home.com

(Photo below: House to Home.com)

All Hallow's Eve...

Doesn't everyone have a pet crow? I have had this "caged crow" for a few years, now, and love hanging from my porch.

I plopped this wig on this glass head and it is one of my kids' favourites. Easy peasy decorating!!

It's almost here...soon bags of candy will be stuffed in our children's closet - wrappers will be found under beds, on every flat surface, tucked under pillows, stuffed into pockets. Pumpkins need carving, candles bought, costumes need to be rustled up. For kids, it is a magical day. Honestly, could it get any better than being out after dark, endless treats, and a good game of dress-up? For me, the fun is also in the planning: pizza for a quick supper, costumes layed out on beds, and decorations of course...

A rather unassuming Mona Lisa...

...and her more sinister twin:

(I got this at Zellers (Cdn), and the image changes as you pass by)

I had promised to show you what my mum, Sophie and I made on our annual girls crafting night. Normally, I am very prepared with all the supplies in order. This year, I was betwixt and between over what to make. I saw this fun skeleton over at Julie's blog, and decided on the spot that it was perfect for us: a little glitter, a little happy spookiness, and easy to boot. I hunted down some miniature skeletons and ended up buying a garland of them at Walmart for $4 each. I cut up my garland and decided to instead hang them individually on my Halloween tree, and this is what I ended up with:

I used my crown stamp on some cardstock, and then cut it carefully out, glittered it, and hot-glued it to my skeleton. I have three with crowns, each wearing a framed B or O to spell BOO, of course! For the others, I used a witch hat stamp and also glittered the bones a little to give some added sparkle.

Here are some more "pretties" hanging on my tree:



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Don't forget about the pumpkin decorating contest with Ki...awesome prizes...yours for the taking...and only four days left!!

Highland Fling

I have spoken of my love/hate relationship with plaid/tartan before. However, there is no denying the warmth and coziness and sense of history it conjures up, at least for those with a Scottish or Irish background. Today, I experienced the absolute best of tartan as I watched my daughter and her fellow Highland dance students perform for the residents of a local nursing home. My daughter is shy, but not shy. She is quiet as a mouse in school, but yammers on and on at home. She blushes deeply when performing, yet secretly loves it and enjoys the spotlight, though she is hard pressed to make eye contact as she dances. Today, while watching her dance - and even more so, watching her smile quietly while waiting her turn to take the stage - I felt my heart swell with such pride that it fairly hurt to swallow. At times, I feel a rush of panic as I realize that my years of having a "little girl" are dwindling, and I have a sense of urgency to drink in all of her childhood while it lasts. Of course, there are times that I am a cranky old mother who doesn't see the shine on everything as I should, but I do know that my children are such incredible gifts and that they will only be children for so long. It is our job as parents to make the effort...to spend the time and enjoy the moments while they are still within reach. I know only too well, that my daughter's little hand will reach for mine only so much longer. While my boys are still quite affectionate and loving to me, they are not as dependent on me as perhaps I would like. They years have a way of passing us by and we wake up one day with children that are perhaps taller than us, and certainly full of opinions that we may or may not share. Indeed, it is our job to spend as much time as we can in the days leading up to this half-strength cutting of the apron strings, and of course be there for when our older children do admit to needing us.

Today my girl and I also took in a viewing of the new High School Musical movie. All of the dancing and singing was right up Sophie's alley (and mine, as a lover of musicals), and I found myself sneaking peeks at her reactions to the different scenes as she sat a few seats over with her friends. I found myself wishing she was seated right next to me so we could enjoy it together. As luck would have it, half-way through the movie I felt a little person shuffle past her seatmates and settle herself onto my lap. As she leaned back against me and I breathed in the scent of her hair, I felt just so insanely happy. Happy to be there with her, and happy that she is neither too big nor too grown up to fit snugly into my arms.

Life is good...

Showing me her beach finds this summer...

Hooked on Glitter!!

Julia, of Hooked on Houses, one of my favourite bloggers of all times (you will love her fun, thoughtful blog, as in makes you think...about homes!) is/was hosting a link party to showcase what we are all hooked on. Of course I am a bit late (as is my nature), but I wanted to join in the fun, especially because I am coming up a bit dry for post topics here. I have been busy with a house project, which I will show you later in the week (have I ever told you how much I hate painting?), so my mind is on that and the need to get a few Halloween decorations up for Sophie. I have been a bit lazy this year, and have not put a single Halloween thing up, but my little one deserves her mummy to be every bit of the Halloween decorating nut I was when the boys were small. So, I will get to it...soon!!

Well, since it is nearly Halloween, and Christmas is right around the corner, my crush is, was and will always be glitter! I have slowly replaced much of my Halloween and Christmas decor with festive, glittered beauties, and I cannot seem to help myself from squealing in delight when I spy a good, glittered find. In fact, just today, I scored the most exquisite Christmas decoration (and it's big!) and it was a find that made my day...defined the tone of it, really. How could I not have a great day when I discovered such a sparkly gem?! I will not show it to you until I actually bring it out for Christmas, but I assure you, it is "fabulous"!!

So, what's your crush? Hop on by Julia's blog and fill us in...we all have one, don't we?

***all photos: Room Service Home.com***

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Don't forget about the pumpkin decorating contest with Ki...awesome prizes...yours for the taking!!

Rose-coloured glasses...

Shades of soft, washed-out blue; sand; driftwood; and watery greens- these are the colours of my home. It is a colour scheme that was unintentional - it just happened - as a result of a quiet yearning for cool, fresh colour after living with warm, sunny yellows for many years. I was previously scared of blue, fearful that my home would end up resembling a baby boy's nursery. As far as I can tell, that hasn't happened... but it doesn't mean that I don't still yearn for more decisive colour.

Somedays, I think I would like to wipe the slate clean and start over with a colourful, new palette. Of course, this would be entirely wasteful and unnecessary, and I would never actually do it (nor could afford to), but it would still be incredibly fun! I could give in to the "calls of the wild", and let myself gravitate to the bolder hued furniture and trimmings when in the shops. Instead of calm shades, I could buy the cheery, cheeky, bright fabrics and stroke colour all over my furniture and walls. I imagine that such an environment would leave me more energized, emboldened, and up the tempo of my home.

Screech...!!! Would this be the case? Would a major shot of colour send the atmosphere of my home into a constant state of energy? Because that sends me back to last Halloween, when the infusion of so much black and orange had me jumpy and agitated...that feeling of holiday mayhem that is okay for a while, but then overnight becomes dizzying and tiring. In fact, I can remember the feeling of calm that washed over me on November 1st, after I had removed all traces of Halloween and its excitement.

No, I guess I'll leave the colourful life to those of you who can stand the heat: who move at a faster pace deep within, and thrive on the shot in the arm that juicy colour provides. I'll stay "here on the beach" cooling my heels amidst watery shades of calm, and get my burst of colour during the holidays. Maybe someday but, for now, I'm perfectly content with cool...!!

**all photos above: Country Living.com**

photo source: unknown

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Don't forget to check out Ki's Junk Revolution pumpkin decorating contest (see here), and link the photos of your junked-up pumpkins to the list of entries. The prizes are very generous, and it takes only a minute to create one. Join in to win great gift certificates that you can use for yourself or as a great Christmas gift for someone special. Contest closes October 31st!!!

Shutters, shutters everywhere...

photo: source unknown

Shutters - the icing on the cake, the mascara on the eyes, as far as houses go - but once meant to be functional, they are now almost always installed for decorative purpose only. There are many beautiful profiles to choose from today, many modelled on the beauties of yesteryear. However, the ones we are addressing today are those that have been long discarded and left for us to repurpose. A return to function, shall we say...

photo source: Canadian Home and Country

This panelled shutter has been hung on the wall as a side table of sorts. This would also make a perfect miniature beverage/bar area, especially if hung on your front porch.

While these (below) are not shutters, per say, they are indeed louvered doors hung on the wall, and they provide a wonderful backdrop for beautiful decorative items and features:

photo source: Gianetti Architects.com

Again a nod to functionality, these shutters have been used as memo boards:photo source: Canadian Home and Country

photo source: DIY ideas.com

Painted or left natural, shutters can be brought inside to add beauty and character to our homes. Now, head out to your local flea markets, thrift stores, or salvage shops and pick some up for your home!!

I think I'll take my own advice...

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Don't forget to check out the Junk Revolution pumpkin decorating contest (see Wednesday's post, below), and link the photos of your junked-up pumpkins to the list of entries. Great prizes, lots of fun, and besides...you have to decorate a pumpkin or two anyway, don't you??