Archive for the 'Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling' Category

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Eight: Outdoor Living

Published by Sarah Bray on May 22, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and In the Garden. 7 Comments

Organizing Junkie has a round-up of 13 storage solutions available on Etsy that you MUST check out. For more good reading, visit the rest of our carnival sponsors!

Today’s the last day of the carnival, and I’m a bit sad to see it go, I’ve had so much fun! But there’s always next time to look forward to.

Now for the entries!

Modish contributor Maddy has created these wonderful printable seed packets for you to savor. Aren’t they great! I imagine you could use them for other things, too.

 

 

 

 

Stephanie from Stop the Ride had a great idea one day — to use an old stump as a container for flowers. Not only is it frugal, but it certainly blends in with the scenery!

 

 

 

 

Depending on where you live, you may or may not ever get the chance to mend fences. But if you do, I highly recommend that you consult horsewoman over at Innstyle Montana for direction — she’s got some suggestions that are sure to help, even if you are just thinking of building a fence.

 

 

 

Amy from Housekeeping Tips recommends that you use your leaves to fertilize your lawn — and she tells you how.

 

 

 

 

Carol from May Dreams Gardens has a novel idea — that we embrace weeding as a part of our gardening lives. How is this possible? I guess you’ll have to read to find out!

 

 

 

 

Thinking of starting a vegetable garden? Woman Tribune gives us some tips on how to plan it.

 

 

 

 

Rosemary from Her Home Blog has some tips for creating an inviting outdoor living room. (I really need these!)

 

 

 

 

Tony from Birds and Things inspires us to get out and go bird watching this summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Geeky Poet grows her own lettuce — and so can you with her helpful advice. Lettuce is so adorable as it grows…don’t you think?

 

 

 

 

Things to Consider for Your Hot Tub Installation. Before you even buy a hot tub, read Mandy’s article at The Hot Tub Advisor. She’ll make sure you don’t end up with a disaster on your hands.

Organic Pesticides for a Safe Lawn. Happy Housekeeper has a helpful list of organic pesticides that you can use instead of chemicals.

Managing Lawn Care During a Drought. Considering last year’s rain scarcity, it might be a good idea to check out Hobby Lawn Care’s article on the topic.

Well, here we are at the close of our journey. It’s been fun guys! Oh…right. I still need to disclose the winner. The talented entrant is…

Geeky Poet for her helpful article on lettuce-growing! Congratulations! Be sure to email your address to sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com so that we can send out your prize package.

So what’s next? Well, for me, it’s going to be an enjoyable weekend filled with lots of non-computer time. ;) But I’m also dreaming up ideas for the next carnival, which of course I can’t help but do.

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Seven: Organization, Part II

Published by Sarah Bray on May 21, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Cleaning and Organization. 10 Comments

Here we go with some more great entries!

Home management notebooks work for Toblerone over at Simple Mom. Will they work for you, too? Follow this excellent series to find out.

 

 

 

 

Being a stalker of good books, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to purge my collection in a way that pleases the Organization Gurus. But Debbie from Virtually Organized has some great ideas if you’re ready to part with the duds (and admit it, I’m sure you have some.)

 

 

 

If you are a penny-less organization junkie like myself, it is going to take all of your will power to resist lobotoME, a planner-lovers dreamboat. You might as well just throw in the towel when you see their adorable planner filler pages and list-makers.

 

 

 

You never want to think about disaster-related things happening to you or your family, but it’s still good to be prepared. Vera from BeSafeInsure brings us an article that will help you prepare…just in case.

 

 

 

Songbirdtiff has an eye for re-purposing things. She’s got some great tips so you can do it, too.

 

 

 

 

Tip Diva reminds us that if we want to be prepared for a fabulous summer, we need to do a bit of planning beforehand. Luckily, she’s done it for us!

 

We Are Not Our Children’s Slaves. Laura from Organizing Junkie reminds us that even though it might be “easier” to do everything around the house ourselves, taking the time to teach our kids will give them (and us!) long-term benefits. Preach it, sister!

Natural Carpet Disinfectant & Deodorizer — The Power of Baking Soda. Eco-mama from Ecopolitan Living gives us a useful recipe for a carpet disinfectant. So useful, in fact, I think I’ll make some up today, as I’ve just run out of my favorite stuff.

Okay, with all of that lovely stuff, I’m having a terribly hard time deciding upon a winner. But I must, mustn’t I? The award goes to…

Crystal for her DIY Crafts Center Tutorial! Congratulations, Crystal! Please send me an email with your address (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com).

One more day, guys…and tomorrow we’ll be focusing on Outdoor Living — a great way to kick off the summer. See you then!

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Seven: Organization, Part I

Published by Sarah Bray on May 21, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Cleaning and Organization. 3 Comments

Toblerone over at Simple Mom has a fantastic post today on taking your shoes off before entering the house — her blog is quickly becoming one of my very favorites. If you’re looking for more good reading, check out our lovely sponsors!

Today’s topic is quite exciting for me. I am always on a mission to “get organized” — whatever that means. When will I have arrived? Well, when I can find everything I need quickly without rummaging through a bunch of stuff. When I feel calm and serene in my home. When I have everything I need and love and nothing else. It’s an ongoing process, but some people definitely are farther along than others. Perhaps you will be inspired after reading today’s incredible entries (we’re also including “cleaning” in this category, so you’ll find some good stuff about that, too.)

What I love the most about Crystal’s DIY craft center tutorial is the darling sewing table that is built right in. LOVE. IT.

 

 

 

 

Michelle from North of the 49 has created an extremely thorough post outlining essential moving tips based on her extensive experience. It’s a long post, but an excellent one!

 

 

 

 

Stephanie from Stop the Ride gives us a great post on mopping the old-fashioned way (aka: scrubbing). Ironically, I did this last week, and people came into my kitchen saying that it looked bigger. That had to be the reason — my floors were really clean, grout and all.

 

 

 

Tip Diva has tips for organizing your mail that will help you assassinate your paper clutter for once and always.

 

 

 

 

Have a lot of containers but don’t know what to do with them? Laura from Organizing Junkie has some practical solutions.

 

 

 

 

Amy Clark from Mom Advice gives us some tips on how to throw a retro housewife party. Love her apron collection!

 

 

 

 

Given up on ever getting organized and STAYING that way? No need to fret…Debbie from Virtually Organized thinks you might just have a system problem.

 

 

 

 

Have you run out of stain solution? Or maybe you’re just DIY-ish that way? Organized Everyday has a recipe for Spray and Wash that will keep you from running to the store.

 

 

 

 

Tip Diva has graced us with another great article. This time she outlines how to organize your medicine cabinet — no easy feat in our house!

 

 

Well, it looks like our cup is runneth-ing over. Stay tuned later this afternoon for the next part and to find out who won!

Carnival of Home Dwelling Day Six: Interior Design

Published by Sarah Bray on May 20, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Everyday Design. 6 Comments

Have you had a chance to visit Organizing Junkie yet? If not, you really should! I’m especially enjoying her link round-up of kids room resources right now. You can also visit some of my other talented friends while you’re at it!

Interior design is one thing that has always been a mystery to me. Perhaps because it seems to involve such a large amount of time and cash that I just do not have at the moment. But I do believe that the spaces we inhabit affect our lives deeply. So here comes the inspiration train…

Portland-based interior designer Kimberlee Jaynes has written an excellent article on 2008 color trends. I love her work!

 

 

 

 

Heather from Skinny Laminx has gotten quite a bit of press lately, and no wonder! Her beautiful tea towels are vibrant and such a refresher for any kitchen. Check out her blog for regular updates. (Her recent surface decals are really cool, too.)

 

 

 

PillowHappy is a sweet little etsy shop full of “pillow art,” such as the pair of dandelion pillows featured at left. I can’t choose which one I like best…those two or the orange square pillow? Decisions, decisions.

 

 

 

Luanne Bradley from EcoSalon introduces us to the Nomad System — a clever way of visually dividing a space. These build-it-yourself room dividers come in nine colors and can be assembled in really unique ways.

 

 

 

Andrew from the Home Decorating Reviews Blog is always finding cool things to share. Such as these interesting Harry Allen wall hooks, oh my.

 

 

 

 

I am a sucker for details. And Jackie from Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle has provided them to my great delight! Her sweet nursery looks like such a welcoming place for any newborn — what a lucky little girl.

 

 

 

Andrew graces us with another cool find — a sink that also functions as an aquarium. If tapping on glass bothers fish, I wonder how annoyed they get when people spit toothpaste in their direction?

 

 

 

Kelleigh from Domestique has put together some exciting, non-traditional ideas for your home office. She’s absolutely right, too — why should our home offices be as boring as corporate ones?

 

 

 

Andrew brings us a quick-and-dirty post about how to choose a coffee table, whether you’re looking for modern, traditional, or something else entirely.

 

 

 

 

Another cool find from EcoSalon, this time from Kim Derby. Illuminated wallpaper from Jonas Samson. I did not even know this was possible until now.

 

 

 

 

Remember when it was cool to wallpaper your switchplates? Well, it just might become cool again with all the great paper designs that are out right now. Jackie from A Keeper’s Jackpot shows us how.

 

 

 

Thanks for all of the inspiration everyone! I’m off to re-paint my living room now. (No, not really. That sucker took 5 coats, and we will not be re-doing it any time soon.) And the winner is…

Jackie for her step-by-step look into her design of her daughter Kara’s nursery! Yay Jackie! Please be sure to send me an email (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com) with your address so that I can send your prize package.

I am enjoying this carnival so much…and tomorrow’s post is no exception. Join us tomorrow as we focus on Organization (cleaning included!).

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Five: Green Living

Published by Sarah Bray on May 19, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Living Well. 4 Comments

For those of you who still haven’t checked out Jen’s work at Bliss Home Goods, here’s another reminder. She’s recently added some more cool stuff to her Etsy shop, such as these awesome pillow covers (the whale’s my favorite, you see). Tremendous thanks go to her and all of our other carnival sponsors!

Green living. Sometime’s I just get SO excited about it. And not for the reasons you might think, necessarily. I mean, somebody’s got to shout a big hooray at the person who decided that mowing your grass less is better for the environment. And taking fewer showers! Washing your jeans less often! It’s like a free pass to Lazy Town. I’m so there.

But really, there are people out there who have much nobler aspirations than I for being green. And today we salute them. Here are some of the best entries we received on the topic.

Annika from Through the Looking Glass has written a wonderfully informed post on cloth diapering that will have you wondering why you don’t do it (or thankful that you do!). The photo is linked to another post of hers on diapering, and she has a bunch more on the topic. (And a note to those with a penchant for the mild and subdued, Annika’s hilarious writing style can get a bit spicy…but she wouldn’t be Annika without it!)

The folks over at Lifehacker are full of great ideas on how we can re-use disposable stuff. Don’t forget to read through the comments, too — there’s a great conversation going on about that very thing.

 

 

 

Jennifer Chait from Tree Hugging Family has put together an inspiring list of 100 ideas to make your family greener. Aside from the obvious (I’ve heard non-toxic finger paints work well), I think she’s covered just about everything.

 

 

 

Thinking of buying clothing made with bamboo fabric for its “green” properties? Victoria Everman presents a well-thought-out article outlining the pros and cons.

 

 

 

 

Sara from Walk Slowly, Live Wildly (and the famous Live Lightly Tour…and Happy Foody…and a host of other interesting things) always writes with such heart and authenticity, and I just can’t help but love her. I bet you will too, especially after reading this post on going against the American Dream and choosing an alternative lifestyle.

 

Being Green Can Mean Dirty Business. Alison from Green Me encourages us to eschew our 2-ply lifestyle and take one for the environment. I don’t know if my husband will EVER agree to this kind of sacrifice!

Recycling Is an Old Art. Randi from I Have to Say reminds us that we’re not the first generation to be concerned about the environment (though I must say…we are probably the first to use our concern to defend building giant “green” mansions and spending thousands on couture stuff in the name of green-ness!)

Stocking Up for Our Future. Rebekah from Rebekah’s Thots shares her thoughts about the worldwide food crisis and what she and her family are going to do about it. She points to Jennifer Barry’s article “Food Shock” as an informational resource on the topic.

Add a Little “Green Stuff” to Your Coffee. Melissa Moog from SparkPlugging and Itsabelly is an expert on environmentally-friendly practices. Find out how how your morning cuppa can be a toast to the planet every morning.

Thanks everyone for your thought-provoking entries! They are all fabulous, but the winner for the Green Living category is…

Jennifer Chait for 100 Ideas for Your Green Family. Congratulations, Jennifer! Please shoot me an email at sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com so I can send your prize package!

Tomorrow’s carnival is going to be an exciting one for sure as we cover Interior Design. See you then!

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Four: Food

Published by Sarah Bray on May 18, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Food, Glorious Food. 12 Comments

Today’s sponsor goes by the pseudonym “Toblerone” (I’ve never actually had one of those chocolate bars…what a shame!) and is the founder of Simple Mom. I adore this website for its clean design and very very useful information. Not a single drop of filler to be found anywhere in her writing. She’s smart, witty, and entertaining to boot.

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You also must check out the rest of our talented friends if you’re up for some good reading.

Today is my favorite carnival day. I absolutely positively adore food, and I admire all of those people who passionately photograph and write out, step by step, the means it takes to create it. Get ready for some major tummy-grumblage.

Victoria from SugaDaily is always being begged for her recipe for Taiwanese Vegan Lettuce Wraps. You think she’ll make us some if we’re really really nice?

 

 

 

 

Stephanie from Stop the Ride has shared a recipe for the West Virginia-native pepperoni roll. In answer to the question she poses in the post, no I didn’t know what a pepperoni roll was…but now I do, and I want one! She swears it’s a great solution for those days when you’re out running errands and need something quick to eat without resorting to another lunch at Chick-fil-A. (Which, although very yummy, lightens the purse after repeated indulgences!)

 

In this post, Jennafer from the Land of Lovings (I just love saying that) introduces us to the afore-never-heard-of buttermilk pie. The photo at left is of the raw pie. My guess is that they’re so good they ate it all before they got a chance to take a picture of the final product!

 

 

 

Emily from Loria Family Dialogues overcame her fear of candy thermometers to bring us this beautifully illustrated post on how to make free-form lollipops. I’m sure her kids were thrilled, as are we!

 

 

 

Valeree from Cincinnati Locavore has put together a useful post about how to shop at a farmer’s market. I love ours, even if it is a bit small and out of the way. Do you shop at farmer’s markets regularly?

 

 

 

Emily has another fabulous post for us inspiring us to romanticize our waffles, Eiffel-tower style. I never thought about making waffles this way, but it’s such a cool idea!

 

 

 

 

Katie from Frugal Fabulous encourages us to bag our lunches and save a ton of moolah. And if you’re sick of eating (and making) pb&js, she’s got a great idea to spice things up.

 

 

 

 

Victoria again challenges our tastebuds with a sophisticated dish — Bahami Pineapple Tilapia. Inspired by a dish at the Tsunami Cafe in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, she concocted this healthy tropical combination. Mmmmmmmmmm.

 

 

 

I am quickly falling in love with Emily’s photography. I don’t know anyone who can use vivid colors quite like she does. But this is about the food. Oh yes! Have you ever endeavored to make your own fortune cookies? These look so much better than the stale versions from ye-olde-chinese-shoppe.

 

 

Nichole from A Call to Higher Places graces us with a recipe for Cappucino Punch. I’m not a coffee drinker myself, but what a great spin off of the traditional fruity punch party fare.

 

 

 

 

Michelle from North of the 49 gives us detailed instructions for making a tasty loaf of no-knead bread. I am such a bread lover, it is not even kosher. I can’t believe hers looked this great on the first try!

 

 

 

Vegan Slow-Cooker Hot and Sour Soup. GeekyPoet shares a recipe that is decidedly different from most crock-pot recipes that I’ve tried in the past. Why different? It actually looks like something you’d get in a restaurant, and not from your mom’s kitchen. The mushrooms did it for me.

Food as a Ministry. Michelle from North of the 49 gives us some tips on how to use your kitchen to help your fellow (wo)man. Our friends have provided for us after we’ve given birth to our two children, and it was one of the sweetest gifts we’ve ever received.

What a fantastic lot of entries! I must say, I really am drooling at this moment. And the winner is…

Emily for her free-form lollipops! Thank you my dear for virtually fulfilling my sweet tooth today. Be sure to send me an email (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com) so that I can send your prize package!

Be sure to visit again tomorrow for our entries on Green Living.

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Three: Fashion

Published by Sarah Bray on May 17, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling. 2 Comments

Today’s sponsor is one who runs a website that I find EXTRAORDINARILY helpful. Laura from Organizing Junkie runs this incredible resource, and you absolutely must go there and get inspired to get your stuff in order.

I love all of her tips, tricks, and suggestions. Be sure to check out our other amazing sponsors, too.

Today we’re talking fashion. I have to admit, I’m starting to feel like I’m getting behind on my fashion sense. Yesterday I was out looking for sunglasses, and they were all so huge. I did not want to go out of there looking like a giant fly, so I just didn’t get any. I guess wrinkles due to squinting aren’t exactly cool either. Sigh. The following posts come from much more informed sources than I.

The things we must do to be beautiful. The money we must spend. But artist Jessica Gonacha has put together an article on how to make your own hand/body cream that will save you some money AND ensure that you’re using the best stuff for your body.

 

 

 

Ever wonder what kind of bathing suit you should get this season? Erin Quinn, writer for sheknows.com, has written an article on finding the perfect suit for your body type.

 

 

 

 

Craft or Fashion? This is one of those posts that could go either way. These adorable DIY Hermes Kelly bags can be crafted out of paper or more durable materials. Love ‘em! (And the patterns are free, so that doesn’t hurt!)

 

 

 

 

Need a floppy hat for summer? Anna from MarmaDaisy has a sweet tutorial that might be up your alley. I love the idea of using newspaper to draw your patterns out on.

 

 

 

 

Alana from Alana Lillie Designs crafts these beautiful photo necklaces that I just NEED to have. One for each of my children. I know Mother’s Day has already passed, but there’s always my birthday…or, ummm…Memorial Day. You get gifts on Memorial Day, right?

 

 

 

Kelleigh from Homemaker’s Haven has an excellent post on growing older gracefully. As you get older, do you plan on going “bo-toxic” or “no-toxic”?

 

 

 

 

Callie Micks‘ California-based company makes adorable, premium-quality kitchen aprons, such as the “Julia” pictured at left. The materials are extremely high quality, and the company pays its talented sewers a living wage, rather than utilizing cheap labor. Kudos to them!

 

 

Sam from Healthy Savings has found this solid perfume by Pacifica that is healthy for your skin, smells great, and costs a mere $8.95 (gotta love a bargain like that!).

 

 

 

 

Morgan from Running with Heels has put together a list of wardrobe essentials for your next warm weekend getaway. I love that pink ruched top!

 

 

 

 

Such fabulous entries today. It is always so hard to choose a winner! Yet we must. And the well-deserved winner is…Jessica Gonacha for her DIY hand/body cream! Thanks Jessica! Please send me an email (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com) with your address so that I can send your prize package.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to get a glimpse of our next category…food. My FAVORITE!

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Two: Eco-Fab

Published by Sarah Bray on May 15, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling. 7 Comments

Before we get into today’s rather serious post (can I ever really be serious? Come on now), I want to take a second to thank another fabulous sponsor…Heather and Ivy from Home Ec 101.

One day when I was feeling especially whiny and petulent, I wrote three blogger-idols to gain insight and information about how in the heck I was going to make this carnival work. One of them sort of kindly ignored me (who was I, anyway, but a lowly peon in blogland?). But Heather and Ivy took compassion on my tendency to blow matters completely out of proportion, and pushed me in the right direction. For that we are all grateful, aren’t we? So I’m sure you’re already visiting Home Ec 101, but if not, you should go there now. It will make you happy. And be sure to visit my other favorite people.

Moving on…

Eco-Fab is a rather confusing term, I admit. In this sense, I used it as “economical.” Basically, anything related to saving money or doing things on the cheap. Our picks for today are a little less illustrated with pictures…it seems all of those eco-fabulous bloggers don’t really need images to show that the cost of gas is going up, and cheese, and butter, and…everything.

We’ve all got to deal with the rising costs somehow (our employers sure aren’t doing their part…or at least mine isn’t!). Here are a few articles that especially caught our eye. (Entrants, forgive me if I’ve re-categorized your entry. It’s amazing how many categories some of your posts can fit in! But rest assured, it will be covered if you’ve gotten an email from me. Email me at sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com with any questions.)

Toblerone from Simple Mom has made me pine for carnations…a flower that I’ve never been particularly inspired by. Now I’m imagining all sorts of places I could stick them. On my nightstand! In my bathroom! Next to my dog’s bowl! (Yes, they really are that cheap of a flower.)

 

 

Frugal Wedding Present: Creating a Cookbook. Stephanie from Stop The Ride has put together a great idea for a wedding present — a personalized book of recipes. I would definitely have appreciated such a heartfelt gift at my wedding, and you can spend as much or as little time on it as you have available to you.

Eating Well on Your Budget Vacation. Sarah from The Eclectic Female has some interesting ideas that I’ve never thought about — going to a farmer’s market at your vacation spot, for instance. (Not that we GO on vacations, mind you. That sounds like something for the especially time-privileged at this point in our lives!)

The Use of Grocery Credit Cards to Save Money at the Supermarket. I can’t even type the phrase “credit cards” without grimacing. I haaaaaaate them. Hate them. They gobble up my money every month without ever seeming to slow down with their insatiable appetites. So if someone out there can actually get the better of the credit card companies by making money off of them, go for it. I have tried and failed numerous times. Perhaps this article from Money Blue Book can help you succeed at it.

5 Ways to Use Vinegar. As far as household products go, you can’t get much cheaper than a bottle of vinegar. Samantha from Some Healthy Savings shares 5 of its little-known uses.

Virtually Organized Giveaway: Mrs. A’s Coupon Organizer. I always get so flustered with my coupons in the check-out line. I can feel the people behind me boring their little beady eyes at me like laser beams. I sheepishly hand them to the cashier in a little wad and pray that I pulled the right ones. Oh please let there not be a problem! (I know, I have self-awareness issues.) I seriously need to enter this giveaway from Virtually Organized, in other words.

A Better Way to Organize Coupons. But let’s face it, folks. I rarely win anything in my life, and you probably don’t either. There’s hope for us yet! Nichole from A Call to Higher Places has put together a guide to creating a handy coupon book all by yourself. Yippee!

The Benefits of Line-Drying Your Clothing. The much-revered Amy Clark of MomAdvice.com has put together a thorough article convincing me that line-drying is definitely a good thing. And for those of us who sheepishly wonder the process of this quaint past-time, she even includes a bit of a how-to.

How to Live on Less: A Guide to Thrifting. Ivy from Home Ec 101 is a bit of a thrifting pro (actually, she’s kind of a pro at a lot of stuff). Her readers have also chimed in with a lively discussion on the topic.

The Debtor’s Toolkit: 12 Effective Tactics to Use when Tackling Debt. Debt can be a nasty opponent. (Believe me, it seems to always be winning in our house.) Trent from The Simple Dollar can help you get mean and nasty right back at it.

The Secrets Credit Card Companies DON’T Want You to Know. The title sounds like the title of a late-night infomercial, but it is all so completely true. Credit cards are truly evil. Here’s proof from Gather Little By Little.

And the winner in the Eco-Fab category is…

Amy from Mom Advice for her helpful and informative article about getting started with line-drying (And be sure to shoot me an email with your address so that I can send your prize package!)

See you tomorrow for the next installment!

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day One: Art and Craft, Part II

Published by Sarah Bray on May 14, 2008 in Art and Craft and Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling. 5 Comments

Our first carnival post was bursting at the seams, so I decided to follow it up with a second part so as not to overwhelm. Be sure to scroll all the way down to find out who won in the Art and Craft category!

Alex from Home Life Weekly has a set of free printable thank-you cards for us. The one to my left is my fave.

 

 

 

 

 

Anna from MarmaDaisy has graced us with another wonderful tutorial…this time one for a simple “mouse mat” (known here in the states as a mousepad). Because every little mouse needs its own pad.

 

 

 

Emily from Loria Family Dialogues has put together an apron tutorial that requires 20 minutes and $4 or less to make. So kitschy-cute…you have to love it.

 

 

 

 

Jennafer from the Land of Lovings shows us how to make our own anti-granny recipe box. Looking at Jennafer’s photo, I’m not sure I would eat anything that came out of there…isn’t the skull and crossbones the universal symbol for poison? That’s the fun, you say? Oh yes. Of course!

 

 

Anna from MarmaDaisy sure has been busy with the tutorials…she sends us another one that details how to re-cover a boring old lampshade. I have so many great fabrics I could do this with…my wheels are spinning…

 

 

 

Crystal from JewelFaerie Creations shows us how to pamper our pets in style by making them a pet bed out of an old vintage suitcase. I love the fabric that she chose for this project. I just wish my miniature schnauzer was more…miniature! I’m going to need a biiiiig suitcase.

 

 

 

When I first saw Anna’s tutorial for shoe fresheners, I thought, “Wow. How very useful!” I have a pair of stinky shoes that I just can’t wear socks or hose with. But they’re so adorable, and they just sit in my closet because of their smelliness. Now maybe I can break them out again after making these!

 

 

Awesome Mom has put together a hilarious step-by-step tutorial for making burp cloths. Make sure you read it all the way through…yes, she does manage to eventually finish them amidst the chaos of being a mom!

 

 

 

I just love this little afternoon project that Emily did with her family. Aren’t the little stuffed creatures adorable? Just love ‘em! I’ve nicknamed them stuffies.

 

 

 

 

So…is the anticipation killing you?! It is me! It’s almost time to disclose today’s winner. BUT FIRST. A little note about how I chose them: I just…did. I chose the one I liked the absolute best out of all of the Art and Craft entries. But you must know that I deem every one of these entries amazing, or they wouldn’t have made it into the Carnival in the first place! Next time, perhaps we’ll have a judging panel, but for now, it’s all me. I didn’t want this to be a popularity (or link-ularity!) contest, so that’s why I chose to do it that way this time around.

And the winner is…

Toblerone from Simple Mom for her easy-peasy artwork! “But,” you ask, “What about Heidi? Didn’t she actually come up with the idea in the first place?” Why yes, you’re right. She did. In fact, I think that’s a photo of her work that I posted (sorry for the faux pas, Toblerone! I’ll change that photo post-haste!). So in fact, today we have TWO winners, I am thrilled to say. Please email me your addresses so that I can get your prize packages in the mail (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com). And CONGRATULATIONS!

(Oh yes, and don’t forget to visit some of our tres cool sponsors. We love them very much.)

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day One: Art and Craft, Part I

Published by Sarah Bray on May 14, 2008 in Art and Craft and Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling. 12 Comments

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling

Hello beautiful people. Today is the very first day of the very first ever Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling…welcome! So much work has gone into this, and today I especially want to thank Jen of Bliss Homegoods.

Jen has been kind enough to donate time, shipping costs, and beautiful creations from her shop, and the winner of today’s carnival will be receiving a gift package that will most likely include something from Bliss Homegoods. Jen also blogs over at Welcome Home, so give her a visit! She has become one of my dearest friends in blogland, and I’m so grateful for her support. You should also check out the rest of our very spiffy sponsors. You’ll be meeting more of them throughout the week.

So on with the show! We had so many entries for this category that I’m going to split this up into two posts…the next installment is coming your way later today and will include the overall winner in the Art and Craft category, so don’t miss it!

Crystal from JewelFaerie Creations has turned a couple of old medicine cabinets (at least that’s what they look like to me) into some roomy, chic nightstands. Complete with tutorial!

 

 

 

 

Beth from Sunberst Illustration & Design has put together an excellent tutorial detailing how to make a linoleum print. Great starter project for anyone wanting to try their hand at printing.

 

 

 

I never intended to feature entire blogs as entries in this carnival, but what else could I do with Marichelle’s lovely homage to all things handmade? I am always marveling at the collages she makes with each and every post, and I wonder…where does she get the time? Regardless, Heart Handmade is an excellent blog featuring indie artists and crafters. The inspiration quotient is extremely high, so be warned!

 

With everybody wanting to get on the green train, reusable grocery bags are in high demand. The Charlie bag is an adorable free pattern from BurdaStyle that is really, really versatile. And with the lowest difficulty level possible, I bet even I could make it!

 

 

 

Anna from MarmaDaisy promises that these panties are oh-so-easy to make. I don’t know if I believe her (I always pride myself on my healthy bit of skepticism when it comes to such matters) but who can resist a panty tutorial as adorable as this?!

 

 

 

Kate Dixon, a finalist in the design*sponge 2008 diy contest, came up with this wonderful tutorial for do-it-yourself wall sconces.

 

 

 

 

 

Felicity Tepper, writer and frequent contributor to wikiHow, shares a podcast on One Minute How-To detailing how to choose embroidery fabric. Besides being a great podcast, I’m in it for the accent. You know how I love British accents (and if it’s not British, forgive my ignorance. I really am a stupid American sometimes.)

 

 

Toblerone (yes, that’s her real name! Just kidding) from simple mom has made up an example of this incredibly easy, cheap (and beautiful) artwork that you can do in an afternoon. Or even less! She got the idea from Heidi at Mt. Hope Chronicles. Love it!

 

 

 

Is your frumpy ironing board cover cramping your style? Well. We can’t have that. Condo Blues has an excellent tutorial about using your old ironing board cover as a pattern for a new, way cooler one. Or in this case, hotter.

 

 

 

 

Jennafer from the Land of Lovings (been there yet?) is apparently a very crafty one. She was able to update her beach chair by using the old fabric as a pattern. Love the blue…so bold.

 

 

 

 

Come back for the second installment later this afternoon for more entries and to find out who won!