Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Friday, July 2nd, 2010
Mix, match and mingle fabric to your heart’s content! Part of the fun in decorating is to pick pretty fabrics and think of creative ways to use them. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- One of the easiest fabric flourishes is to include a profusion of pillows in your decorating scheme. Select your favorite fabrics and accent them with trim of all kinds.
- Fabric accessories make an inviting dining table. Include napkins, place mats, table runners, a tablecloth, and chair cushions.
- Cover a lampshade with a coordinating fabric–a perfect accessory for any room!
- Slipcover your sofa and chairs for a fresh new decorating scheme.
- One of the most versatile furniture pieces in a home is an ottoman. use it for extra seating, to rest your feet or as a coffee table.
- Add a mantel scarf to make your fireplace a colorful focal point.
- For privacy, make a roman shade from your favorite fabric print.
- A reversible table runner is an easy way to do some quick-change decorating.
From fabric...
to fabulous!
Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing expert. Her latest book Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com .
Tags: decorating, decorating sewlutions, decorating solutions, decorating with fabric, fabric, fabric uses, Home decor, home decorating
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010
Photo excerpted from Learn To Sew as You Decorate Your Home
Sometimes, it’s the simple things that can take a room from being so-so to becoming sensational. Consider these suggestions for creating an interesting room.
- Determine what shapes dominate the room you are decorating. Look at the shapes of your sofa, television, tables, bed, dresser and so on. If the majority of the lines are squares or rectangles, add some interesting accessories that are circular in shape.
- Do you have either (1) a lot of fabric-covered items in the room or (2) a lot of matching wood surfaces? This sameness can be boring to the eye. An easy solution is to introduce other surfaces or textures such as smooth glass, shiny metallics, or even baskets and rugs. Consider using opposite textures within the same room: rough and smooth, dark and light, shiny and dull.
- Arrange the accessories in the room so they are different eye levels. For example, use two different-sized table lamps in the same room or group together some accessories that are of different heights on a shelf, mantel, or side table.
- Make sure to include area rugs that are in proportion to your furnishing. They will tie the room together.
- Include plenty of green plants in your decorating scheme for texture and a touch of nature. Make the plants part of the grouping-don’t place them off on their own.
Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Her latest book is Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com .
Tags: adding color, decorating, decorating sewlutions, decorating solutions, Home decor, home decorating, how color affects room
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Monday, June 28th, 2010
Putting together a book is a long, loving process. For example, it took me two years from start to finish to publish my book, Decorating Sewlutions. That’s because when you self-publish, you do everything! And, I mean everything. Many times I (think) I would have gladly packed up the manuscript and sent it off to another publisher to complete. But then again, I have done that and didn’t much enjoy the process. I guess I am too much of a control freak.
Anyway, after months of blood, sweat, and yeah, don’t forget the tears, the book was sent to the printer.
Then the hard part starts. You have to start marketing and selling the book (’cause that’s how I make a living). The fun part is over. Now we really have to roll up the sleeves.
- My friend, Julie snapped this photo of my book in her local JoAnns store.
So, it’s always nice to be noticed. My friend Judi saw my book in her local Joann Fabrics store. She was so excited for me that she snapped a photo and sent it to me. There it was—smack dab on the shelf.
So glad I didn’t give up.
Tags: decorating solutions, indie publisher, JoAnn Fabrics
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Friday, June 25th, 2010
To select the proper paint finish, you first need to know the difference between them.
- Flat finishes have no shine, which makes them perfect for hiding minor surface imperfections.
- Eggshell or velvet finishes work in just about any room. They are easier to clean than flat finishes and provide a soft glow that warms up the room.
- Satin or semi-gloss finishes are easy to clean and are good for highlighting architectural details such as trim and moldings. They work well in kitchens and baths.
- Gloss finishes are shiny and scrubs easily. This finish is the perfect choice for doors and trims.
Donna Babylon’s More Splash Than Cash decorating concept is designed to help everyone have a beautiful home. More Splash Than Cash doesn’t mean cheap. It means that the time and cash you invest–whatever the amount–are well spent and the results will be enjoyed for many years. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.
Tags: adding color, choosing correct paint for project, decorating, Home decor, home decorating, how color affects room, types of paint
Posted in Choosing color, Decorating Tips, Home decor, Painting, Uncategorized, home decorating | No Comments »
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
To make your sewing projects go smoothly, here are a few tips to allow you to work more efficiently.
- Set up a permanent work area for the duration of your project. You’ll lose time and momentum if you have to break down your work area after you finish each day.
- Work on as large a surface as possible. If you’re using a dining room table, extend the table to its maximum size. If all else fails, move away all the furniture and use the floor.
- Make sure you have a good light source in your work area.
- Keep all of your tools orderly and within reach.
- When sewing large volumes of fabric, keep the weight of the fabric from pulling on the needle by positioning a chair in front of and behind the sewing machine to “catch” the fabric as you sew.
- Wind three bobbins before you start a large project; you will always have a spare at your fingertips.
- Start each project with a new needle; needles become dull through use.
- Press by lifting the iron up and down. “Sweeping” the iron back and forth stretches the bias edges and seams.
- Always work with clean hands during the construction process. Avoid eating and drinking in your work area because spills and stains can be the downfall of any sewing project.
Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Her latest book, Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home is now available at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.
Tags: decorating sewlutions, Home decor, home decorating, sewing for the home, sewing needles, Sewing Tips
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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Mirrors are an essential decorating accessory which creates a multitude of looks and images. Here are a few tips and tricks,
- For the best reflection, position a mirror opposite a light source.
- Hang a collection of small antique mirrors together to create an illusion of extra space.
- Install a mirror between a pair of windows to give the illusion of one large window.
- Select a space on the wall for a mirror that will provide an interesting reflection. For example, hang a mirror opposite a door or window.
- Create an art deco effect by arranging mirror squares diagonally on an otherwise bare wall. For added impact, paint the wall a dark color so the mirror will truly sparkle.
- Install a floor-length mirror in your foyer. Frame the mirror with decorative molding and add louvered doors on each side. The visual effect is a pleasing sense of spaciousness.
Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Her latest book is Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Check it out at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.
Tags: decorating, Home decor, home decorating, mirror
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Saturday, June 19th, 2010
Trims that are handled constantly, such as fringe on the leading edge of a curtain or on a pillow, can become tangled. These tips will help you make trims more manageable.
- Use a hand steamer or steam iron to steam fringe ends to remove kinks. Use a kitchen mitt on your hand as a portable “ironing board” when pressing already-hung curtains.
- Unruly tassels or fringes can be brushed softly with a hairbrush to untangle and fluff them. Select a brush with plastic bristles that are spaced 1/4 inch apart and have little balls on the tips. Uneven fringe ends can be trimmed with scissors. (However, don’t cut loops or twisted bullion fringes. They will just unwind!).
This tip excerpted from More Splash Than Cash Window Treatment by Donna Babylon.
Tags: decorating, decorating sewlutions, decorative trim, decorative trim care, Home decor, home decorating, window treatment
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Thursday, June 17th, 2010
If you are having a hard time selecting a color scheme, turn to your closet. What colors do you like to wear? If you like wearing certain colors, you will certainly enjoy living with those same colors.
Donna Babylon is a DIY and sewing guru. Her latest book is Decorating Sewlutions: Learn to Sew as You Decorate Your Home. Learn more at www.MoreSplashThanCash.com.
Tags: adding color, Choosing color, decorating, decorating sewlutions, Home decor, home decorating, sewing for the home
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Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
My nephew, Ben, is my book buddy. Our favorite “outing” is going to Barnes and Noble together. We can get lost in the books for hours! Also, when I was writing Decorating Sewlutions, Ben was beginning to write his novel. We got the idea of read each others’s chapters. Ben loved the chapter on color, but wasn’t as enthusiastic on parts of a sewing machine; he found the names of the parts amusing (i.e. bobbin winder spindle). He was such a big help with the manuscript. In one incidence, he didn’t understand what I had written. When I verbally explained it to him, he said “Why didn’t you write it that way”? Good point. He was right. My verbal explanation was much better.
I couldn’t wait for him to see my book on the bookshelves of our store. So, I taped him as he looked for my book. I don’t know who was more excited—him or me!
Ben at B&N
Tags: B&N, Barnes and Noble, Ben Babylon, decorating sewlutions
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Monday, June 7th, 2010
I am SOOO excited. I just finished a promo video on my book Decorating Sewlutions. What a learning curve! But, so much fun! I can’t wait to do more videos.
Decorating Sewlutions
Tags: book trailer, choosing fabric, choosing wall colors, decorating, decorating sewlutions, decorating solutions, home decorating, learn to sew, sewing
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