First of all I just have to say thanks to everyone for their sweet feedback on my last post To Blog or Not to Blog.  As one friend mentioned, maybe it resonates with all of us, that we need to take stock once in a while of the stuff we work hard at, remember why we’re doing it, and make sure that it’s still important.  Then either keep on keeping on, or switch directions and work hard at something new.

* pin me *

Kate Spade Inspired IKEA Desk

A plain white IKEA desk hacked into a Kate Spade inspired glamorous desk, with some gold spray paint and striped wrapping paper.  Read on to find out how...

So this is part of the ongoing story of me trying to make life happen a little bit better.  Everyone has this story, so hopefully you can relate.  My goal is always function before form.  In other words it’s more important for it to work well than to look beautiful.  But it kinda has to look beautiful too.  Here's how I came up with a functional IKEA desk made to look beautiful, inspired by Kate Spade.

IKEA Spice Racks as Desk Organizers

So I wonder if anyone uses the IKEA BEKVAM spice racks as spice racks?  Not if Pinterest is any indicator. Maybe IKEA will start selling them in a different part of the store someday. 

* pin me *

Organized Closet with IKEA ALGOT and Chalkboard Labels

Organized closet.  Sometimes I feel like those two words are only true for a few minutes at a time.  But in an attempt to declutter a kid’s bedroom as part of a redecorating project, I turned to IKEA’s ALGOT system and one of my favourites…chalkboard labels, to help make an organized closet a reality.

Chalkboard Handle Cutting Board

Well, when you have kids that are school-aged the beginning and end of the school year mark a definite shift in lifestyle, don’t you agree?  In our house we are one exam away from the end and according to Personally Teen “it’s only Music” (Dear Piano Teacher…please don’t be horrified when you read that) so in our minds it’s all done for this year.

Pottery Barn Inspired EXPEDIT for Craft Storage

Well I’m still on my little new year organizing streak..it’s probably being helped along by the Arctic climate outside.  The more time I spend inside these four walls the more I need functional and pretty around here.  I’m a big fan of EXPEDIT units from IKEA.  They’re affordable, absolutely fit the bill for functional and pretty storage, and can be styled to suit pretty much any space.

IKEA Spice Racks Upcycled for Craft Storage

So in the lifelong attempt to keep craft supplies organized, I attempted a little project on the weekend and here’s how it turned out.
 

These spice racks were part of a stash of supplies I picked up during the Christmas holidays.  I was happy to find them since they are often out of stock.  As things are.  You don’t have to browse the internet for long to find that these spice racks are popular for book display, especially for kids.  But I was looking to add to my craft storage space and it seemed these would do the trick.

Advent Candles for a Mantel

Are any of you celebrating the Advent season this year?  Besides being an exciting countdown to Christmas, does it mean something more to you?  On the liturgical calendar, Advent takes place on the four Sundays preceding Christmas, with the Advent candles being lit one by one as the weeks go by.  That means that the first Sunday of Advent is coming up this weekend. 

DIY Repurposed IKEA Desk

I have managed to create my own private piece of heaven in my own home.  No  small feat, as many of you will agree.  After too many years of sharing bathroom mirror, kitchen table, dining table, coffee table…and moving my daily To-Do’s around that circuit and finally into bed at night.  You may be familiar with being chased from one location to another in search of focus and peace.  Or of being faced with the distractions of household and family whenever your eyes stray from paperwork or computer screen.

No more.

Christmas Mantel

My favourite place to decorate for Christmas.  The mantel.  I’ve decided that creativity reigns, and tradition does not dictate.  As it does…and should…for other aspects of Christmas decorating.

This year, I’m feeling a white/rustic/natural elements vibe.  A swath of burlap as the basis, tied in a huge bow at each end of the mantel.  The mirror was already there…I think I bought it at Homesense.  And my decorative spheres from IKEA have made another appearance!  I bought a box of pinecones at Home Depot c/o Martha Stewart.  Love Martha.  The tin buckets are also IKEA.  Here with a twine embellishment and holding pinecones, these are another staple in my decorating/entertaining/PersonallyPackaged repertoire.  Hugely versatile and incredibly useful…I keep tons of them around.  Another item I recommend to stock up on!  A galvanized lantern and white pillar candle complete the scene.

(Cool how you can see the reflection in the mirror of our Advent wreath.)

On the other side, a wooden carving of the holy family wrapped in the embrace of an angel.  One of VERY many nativity scenes that come out each Christmas.  This one is my favourite.  Simple and bit rustic, but profound.  Add a repetition of the tin bucket/twine/pinecone ensemble and the decorative spheres, and that’s it. 

All ready to have stockings hung on Christmas Eve.  A white/rustic/natural elements plan in the works for those as well. 

Wait and see.

Urns: Winter edition

Well, this was the scene on the back deck early this morning.  Yes, snow.  And looks like The Dog managed to paw through it before I was able to get my camera out.  So much for fresh-fallen.  But I guess I must concede that winter is indeed on it’s way…

…meanwhile, this is the sad state of affairs in the “decorative urn” department.

Sadness indeed.  Note particularly the entirely dead contents of urn #2, and the incredibly wilted red sweet potato vine in urn #3.  Not to mention, pumpkins.  Seriously.

Clearly something must be done.  Except not today.  Maybe tomorrow?  Nope…Grey Cup party. 

Happily, I’ve at least been inspired by this excellent purchase from my fave local IKEA. 

I discovered these last year.  They are cheap, versatile, trendy…but they sell out like hotcakes!  So if you find them, stock up!  Also available in white/silver combination which has inspired my indoor tree. (Coming soon.)  I’ve used them for PersonallyPackaged, gift wrapping, mantel decoration, centrepieces, flower arrangements…you get the idea.  Stock up.
Urns:  Winter edition part 2…also coming soon.