Tuesday, April 30, 2013

FUZZY WUZZY YARN

Hey Everyone- last week I was at Michael's and came upon a chenille yarn.  It has been years since I have knit with a chenille yarn.  I bought 3 skeins and each cost $2.99.  Not bad at all I say.  Now let me start off by saying that I went ahead and made a scarf and didn't even get pics of the actual skeins.  I thought..... I will just download a pic of the yarn when I am doing my posting!!  YEA RIGHT!!  Let me say that the folks on over at Michael's and Loops and Threads are a little slow when it comes to promoting their yarn.  They really do a VERY POOR JOB at marketing their yarn.  Maybe they think that since so many people go to Michael's that perhaps they don't have to put the effort into actual Marketing of some of their products.  Well this knitter thinks that they really are missing the boat when it comes to the web.  They have a very poor presence.  Yet they really have some very decent yarns for the price.  Their loss really.  Maybe they think that their knitting consumers aren't very tech savvy??  Maybe they don't think that people will check for yarn on the web.  Check for it to either purchase or to check it out.  Maybe they don't think that people will be looking for patterns to go with their yarn???  Either way the result is the same.  Maybe with more rants like mine they will wake up and smell the millennium....  enough of my rant!!
I couldn't help myself when I saw this yarn.  It has such a great variegation to it and was really soft.  To top it off it was knit on a size 9mm needle.  That my friends allows you to knit up a nice big and snuggly soft scarf in no time flat.  Took me about 4hrs to knit the following:







It really was a very easy knit....Recipe as follows:
Cast on 14 sts on size 9mm needle.
Knit every row (garter stitch).
BO after using up all 3 skeins.  Approx 8"x66"
That's it!!
Eazy Peazy Scarfineazy!!
Why Garter stitch you ask.  Well..... when it comes to a yarn like a thick chenille- easy and basic is best.  It really allows the yarn to take center stage.  Plus if you try to do anything too fancy it won't really show up due to the properties of the chenille yarn.
Would I recommend this to a beginner?  No...not really.  I recommend it to someone who knows how to knit even though all you are doing is a basic knit stitch.  That's not to say that someone new shouldn't try it- not at all.  The only reason I mention it is that it can be hard to see the stitches.  It is kinda like knitting with the force!  Due to the chenille, it tends to hide the stitches.  So that if you are new it may make it a little challenging to see what you are knitting.  But hey....if you are up for a little challenge...then go for it.  The results really are amazing.  It is so soft and squishy!!  And at under $10.00 it would make a great gift for someone or a great little gift for yourself.

So there you have it Michael's and Loops and Threads are you listening???
Have a great day everyone!!

Megan

Friday, April 26, 2013

LEXINGTON COMPANY

Happy Friday Everyone.  Just a quick posting today.  The boys have a PD day today.  I am glad that they remembered since I usually forget.  However, they would NEVER forget that they have a day off school!!
I came across company that is new to me.  We do not have access to this great company here in the GREAT WHITE NORTH!! It is the Lexington Clothing Company.  They are available all over Europe and the UK.  They have 2 stores on the East Coast of The US.  I would love to see them here.  I truly love Americana- it is all that Red, White and Blue.  I am not flag waving or anything....I just LOVE that colour combo.  It is probably my favourite of all time!!  My house is filled with it.  It just puts a smile on my face.  So here is a little smile for your Friday:


You can also look at the collection here.
I think we could all use a little more Happiness!! Sure beats being miserable that is for sure.  I am sure that I will be posting more from this company.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Megan

Thursday, April 25, 2013

BOLTON LANTERN

Hey Everyone!  I am having a huge case of the wants.  I mean....really want.  The thing that I am desiring at the moment is the following little item:


Just look at how handsome Bolton is!!  I would love to provide him with a new home.  And his price isn't too bad either--- $514.63.

I saw Bolton in an amazing kitchen and it got me thinking how amazing he would look over my island.  Especially since I have oil rubbed bronze accents that would make him feel right at home.  Here is that lovely kitchen:



Look at how lovely Bolton looks in this kitchen.  Makes me want to paint my cabinets a lovely gray.  The gray used on these cabinets was Valspar's Montpelier Ashtar Gray.  Gotta love those Marble Counters as well. And of course subway tile is always a classic.  Such an amazing Kitchen reno.

Have a great day everyone.
Megan

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

BLUE AND YELLOW

Hey Everyone.....Is it spring where you are yet??  It is trying to be spring here.  Trying is the key word!  Is there anything more sunny than the combo of Blue and Yellow.  I have always loved this combo.  There is just something about these two colours that always puts a smile on my face.  No matter what the colour of the month or year is, I always seem to come back to the classics.
Here are some great examples of this amazing classic combo:














































I LOVE that dresser-such an amazing colour.  And love the hardware too.














Now....the next set of pics is from one house.  When I saw these-they truly took my breath away.  The way in which the designer has interpreted the "traditional" blue and yellow colour scheme is so fresh and modern- I just LOVE IT....enjoy;


Just look at those amazing stools!!  You can't get sunnier and happier than those.  And that Pendant over the island- AMAZING!!  You can find a similar one at Restoration Hardware.
The cabinet colour is Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies OC-48.  The Tolix Marais Stool can be purchased at DWR.

 The Counter Top is Calcutta Oro-honed.  How gorgeous is this??





The wall colour in this foyer is Benjamin Moore- Sea Star 2123-30.  It is such a great Bluey greeny colour without being overly saturated.




I suppose that I could go on and on.....Blue and Yellow is such a great combo.  It really does fit well in either a traditional or a contemporary setting...or anywhere in between.

Some great yellows for walls you may like are:  In no particular order.

Benjamin Moore-Weston Flax HC-5



Benjamin Moore-Hepplewhite Ivory HC-36



Benjamin Moore-Hawthorne Yellow HC-4



Benjamin Moore-Vellum CC-200




Benjamin Moore- Goldtone OC-112
I would have to say that Goldtone is one of my all time favourite Yellows- it is a lovely sunny yellow without being overwhelmingly yellow.  That is the thing with yellow-you have to choose cautiously or you will end up with your walls looking like Big Bird or a School Bus!

An even more subtle yellow than Goldtone would be;

Benjamin Moore-Milkyway OC-110


Now for a front door or a piece of furniture it would be fantastic to go all out.  Some examples would be

Benjamin Moore-York Harbour Yellow 2154-40



Benjamin Moore-Dijon-CC 210



Laura Ashley- Cowslip 3  LA803



Farrow & Ball-Babouche No.223



Farrow & Ball-Citron No.74

There isn't anything wrong in using these full on yellows, it is just that they will be a big "WOW" in the room- which if that is what you are looking for then by all means go for it.  These full on yellows are great as accent pieces.

That's all for now folks I really have to stop myself as I could find thousands of examples of Blue and Yellow.  I will probably revisit this amazing combo in the future.
Have a great day everyone.
Megan

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

ORANGERY-PURE GOLD!!

Hey Everyone....Hope all is well.   I came across a fabulous room on Houzz.  It is one of those rooms that has a definite wow factor to it.  I know that colour isn't for everyone but for those that do love it then this room is for you:










This amazing room was designed by S & K Interiors.  You should check out their other spaces- they are an amazing example of a melding of traditional with modern as well as an amazing use of colour.  They have made some really great spaces.  One of the things I love most about this room is the wall colour:

Farrow and Ball Orangery No.70:


It is the most amazing gold colour with a big orange undertone to it.  Or maybe to you it is a golden orange.  Either way it makes a huge statement.  Yet in the above space it looks fabulous without being overwhelming. I think the above room is such a great example of how to decorate such a space.  Even if you are not crazy aboth the wall colour one can take a lot away from the above room.
The Desiginers have done a fabulous job of using the space.  By creating 2 separate seating areas it really does help to "fill" the space.
They have also masterfully filled the fireplace wall.  This type of space can be quite a challenge to decorate around as I have stated in previous postings.  They have used a huge mirror to bounce more light. The artwork has a "quite" presence-yet it definitely helps to fill in the wall space.  I love how they used a contrasting colour in the bookshelves to highlight them-such a great shot of colour.  By hanging the art and the mirror the way in which they have, they have really provided a great focal point as well as help to anchor that wall in such a tall setting.  It is so easy to go overboard or to put too little-it is such a fine balance.  They also used trim to not only highlight that area but to add another layer of visual interest.  You all know from previous postings that I am not usually a fan of double height rooms- to me they are just wasted space, however, in this instance it really works.  I love how they did not "over work" the window treatments and used white wood blinds only.  It truly is restful for the eye and does not distract from the view that has been framed.  So many times people want to add heavy, voluminous window treatments to a space such as this.  Sometimes it is called for, other times like this room, restraint is such a good thing.
I too love the colour combo they have used in this space- The gold,blue and red colour scheme really looks fresh in this light filled space.

Here are a couple of other spaces that Orangery graces:








There is one more space that I remember from Canadian House and Home magazine.  A family changed their dining room into a craft space for the family.  I wish I could find a pic of this space.  I remember it so distinctly.....it was the first time that I ever say Orangery.  And it looked so amazing in this space.  When I find the magazine-as I am sure that I kept that pic...I will pass it along.

So if you are in the market for a full on Gold with an orange undertone then Orangery will be just the thing.
Have a great day everyone.
Megan