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Selasa, 08 Maret 2011

An E-consultation

I had an opportunity to work with a client in California who was the recipient of a prize from a Nestle contest, which included a one hour phone consultation with an interior decorator/designer. I was honored to have been chosen by the prize administrator to be that interior decorator.

To work with this client in California, it was basically an e-consultation, which I offer. I was able to email the winner and not only get some information from her as to the rooms we would be talking about, but get some pictures of each room as well. I made notes on the rooms, sourced out items and did an online design board for her.

This Sunday afternoon {still morning her time} we spoke and just prior to my calling her, I emailed her the design boards. I’d like to share those with you, but first a little background: She likes an Asian feel; she has already ordered a couch and side chairs that will incorporate red and gold, which she has in her existing valance in the family room; she was interested in paint colors, a media center, accessories, tables, and lamps. These pictures show her entry/foyer. The clock and large cabinet are to be removed.

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Here is the board for the entry/foyer.

Prize Winner 2

I suggested the red console table for the wall where the large cabinet is {the other table was another option}.  There are two Chinese silk framed prints hanging here.  I wanted to keep these and it turned out these were important to her.  I suggested the smaller, wider one over the console table. There is no outlet on this wall, or I would have liked to see a lamp here. I suggested the dragon sculpture and clock in keeping with the Asian feel here.

For the stairway wall, with the clock gone, I had suggested the cabinet be positioned somewhere in between where the clock currently sits and the small wall hanging that is there. In lieu of the cabinet, although not pictured, I suggested an armless accent chair.

The longer framed Asian piece I suggested on the wall that is going up the stairs. These pieces were obviously special to her and she was very happy to know they could be reused in this area. My final suggestion for this area was the light fixture. It felt to me like a “soft” pagoda type lantern fixture, however, she didn’t care for it thinking it looked too Colonial.

Two of the paint colors I suggested were: Sherwin Williams Friendly Yellow and Butter Up.  These are not “in your face” yellows; they are pretty soft looking.  This is what they look like in a room setting. The other two colors were one number up {I believe} from the ones I am showing here, so they were just a little darker {or lighter, I can’t recall}.

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Sherwin Williams Butter Up

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Sherwin Williams Friendly Yellow

Overall, she was quite happy with these suggestions and glad for the ideas. Due to the length of this post, I will continue with the family room in another post this week.

The great thing about the design board site is that it lists the resources and pricing so she got the budget built into the plan. I find this is wonderful for my e-consultations because really this service is for those clients who are going to be doing the work themselves. To have a source and budget for the items makes it that much easier for them to move ahead with the plan.

Kathy

proof whisky, let the good times roll, Vol. 23


Happy Mardi Gras 2011! 
We are sending out a Tuesday post, simply because we want you to include this classic Mardi Gras favourite in your Shrove Tuesday indulgence. Enjoy et laissez les bons temps rouler! To learn more about our brand visit www.proofbrands.com. Become a friend on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proof-Brands/181641835185326 and Twitter http://twitter.com/proofbrands to get last minute updates on all of our tastings, parties and events.


Creole apothecary Antoine Peychaud, who moved to New Orleans from the West Indies and set up shop in the French Quarter in the early 1800s, is credited with the earliest version of the Sazerac. He mixed aromatic bitters from an old family recipe with brandy, water, and sugar for his ailing clients. What precisely ailed them is not known, but enough people suffered from the affliction that the concoction became the basis for what some historians claim to be the first true cocktail. While this is open to dispute, few will argue that the Sazerac is New Orleans’s preeminent contribution to mixology. By the 1850s, the drink was served at the Sazerac Coffee House, which took its name from the Sazerac-de-Forget et Fils brandy imported by the establishment’s owner, John B. Schiller. The bar changed hands, and new owner Thomas Handy updated the recipe by substituting American whiskey and adding a splash of absinthe for color—if not color-blindness. (www.chow.com)


The Fat Tuesday
(Sazerac)
3 oz proof whisky
3/4 oz simple syrup
1 dash Peychaud bitters
Absinthe
lemon twist
Chill an old-fashioned glass with ice. In a separate glass mix simple syrup and bitters. Add proof whisky and ice. Empty ice from old-fashioned glass, and rinse glass with absinthe (pouring a small amount in glass and swirling it around to coat sides, then discard liquid) Add whisky mixture & garnish with a lemon twist.

These amazing Mardi Gras decorations came from Amazing Party & Costume (www.amazingpartystore.com)









Senin, 07 Maret 2011

Drink Me

My daughter had saved this green bottle for me to alter for her.  She loves green and loves Alice in Wonderland so wanted me to incorporate “Drink Me” into this bottle.

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We started with the Alice graphic from The Graphics Fairy which I printed out on cream card stock and distress inked the edges.  We chose a font and I printed out “Drink Me” and then cut it into a tag.

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I used seam binding for the tag and to put around the top part of the bottle where the cap would screw on, adding a decorative button for a little interest and bling.  A quick project that I can now cross off my list!

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Linking up with

Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy

Kathy

Jumat, 04 Maret 2011

What Do You Think Of This?

So you know the screen I put in my living room?

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And this fabric I bought recently? 

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Well, it struck me that this fabric would really be great for something other than a pillow.  I first thought it would make a nice piece stretched and stapled to a canvas for the wall.  But I already have those canvases I did with the outdoor mat {you can see them in the first picture, but I’m not married to them}.  So that is still an option.

Then I thought, what about behind the screen.  I don’t have enough fabric so I just clipped it up to get an idea.  Since it’s not long enough, I’m just giving you the portion of the screen that the fabric covers.

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Since one side doesn’t show me too much, I opened it up and covered two sections of the screen.

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What do you think?

I’ve also been eyeing this little foot stool for a makeover.  I pushed it off into a corner for the longest time and I think it’s time it comes back out into the daylight. 

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This would be a quick project, too.  A little paint and new fabric on top to replace the fabric and trim I put on it umpteen years ago!

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We’ll see how the weekend goes.  Little projects like these actually help relax me, while also making me feel like I’ve accomplished something!

Kathy

Kamis, 03 Maret 2011

proof whisky, poker face, Vol. 22


Looking for an excuse to get the guys together? Why not host a friendly poker night at your place? This week we are talking about everything poker-related and our Thursty Thursday recipe, the proof Manhattan is a hands-down favourite. To learn more about our brand visit www.proofbrands.com. Become a friend on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Proof-Brands/181641835185326 and Twitter http://twitter.com/proofbrands to get last minute updates on all of our tastings, parties and events.




proof manhattan (single)                                     
1 1/2 oz proof whisky          
3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth      
1 dash Angostura bitters     
Cherry
Stir well in a mixing glass filled with ice. 
Strain into a chilled rocks glass and garnish with a cherry.

proof manhattan (pitcher)
1 bottle 500 mL proof whisky
8 oz Sweet Vermouth
10 dashes Angostura bitters
Cherries
Mixing instructions:
Stir all ingredients in a pitcher. Serve beside ice bucket and bowl of cherries.
 

If you're hosting a poker game with friends, chances are, they are not professionals. Your game is not going to be as riveting as the ones you see on tv. With this in mind, you need to focus on the fun of it. This means comfortable chairs, appropriate lighting, and background music. (don’t play music so loud that people will not be able to chat or concentrate) Try to instill an atmosphere where players socialize while playing. The game will be extremely dull if played in silence. Snacks and drinks are key here.


INSPIRATION: For a great music compilation check out the 'Entourage Soundtrack’






Watch one of these classic poker movies for inspiration pre-game or play them in your ‘losers lounge’. The Sting, Lock, Stock & Barrel, Rounders, Casino, Croupier, The Cincinatti Kid, The Gambler, High Roller, The Cooler, A Big Hand for a Little Lady, Kaleidescope, The Gambler, Loaded Pistols, Maverick and California Split.




DRINKS: If you are actually planning on playing a few hands, you will not want to be constantly fetching brewskis or mixing drinks for your pals - the solution – DIY bar. Here are some important tips for setting up a perfect poker DIY bar. 1) Make it close to the playing table. When things get more intense in the game, nobody is going to want to leave the room for a second. 2) If it is not close to a refrigerator, make sure that you have a bucket of ice or cooler set up for beer 3) Put out a good assortment of mix. If you choose to make your party BYOB, you can still supply the mix and garnish. This may include, Clamato, tomato, oj, soft drinks, sweet vermouth and bitters. 4) Have the right tools handy – meaning a spill cloth, spoons, tongs, glassware, stir sticks. You don’t want to spend the next week cleaning up your place, because somebody sock-mopped a spill and then trekked it across your carpet 5) Ice! Ice! Ice! Ice!



FOOD: We could give you a list of wonderful Martha Stewart recipes to perfectly match your theme, but let’s face it  – your friends won’t care. Instead, set out lots of quality nuts, chips, dips, and make your own sandwiches and put your energy into getting all of the other things right. If you really want hot foods, pick up some frozen appetizers (m&m meats, loblaws) or better yet, order in.



To make the evening even more successful make sure to think about a ‘losers’ lounge’. Your lounge’ can be whatever you want it to be, as long as it is an enjoyable place for your guests. You do not need to be fancy here, just provide an area, ideally close to the card table and the DIY drink bar, where those who are not playing can hang out and have fun. (Set them up in front of a tv with video games or movies)

 


For a solid poker game you will need the following items: good quality poker chips, a good playing surface (one of more decent tables), at least 2 decks of playing cards, a dealer button (if you are doing tournament-style: tournament timer, card cover and spinner) Here are a couple of locations that carry them: www.fgbradleys.com, www.strategygames.ca, www.straightpokersupplies.com

Tip: Make sure that you have established and announced all the rules before the evening begins. You should know how much money guests can expect to be betting, table rules (such as blinds, and antes), and most importantly, what game you are going to play.



Texas Hold’em poker is by far the best game for a beginner to learn. It can be learned in a few minutes and you can be playing fairly well with a few hours of practice. Depending on the limit and betting structure players will place out blinds and antes so there is an initial amount to get things started. This is called posting. The dealer shuffles up a standard deck of 52 playing cards. Each player is dealt two private cards face down. These are called your hole cards or pocket cards.  Then there is a round of betting starting with the player to the left of the blinds. This is the pre-flop betting round. Like most games of poker, players can call, raise, or fold.  After the betting round ends, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called a burn card. This is done to prevent cheating. The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. This is called the flop. These are communal cards that anyone can use in combination with their two pocket cards to form a poker hand.  The player to the left of the dealer starts another betting round. After the betting concludes, the dealer burns again then flips another communal card onto the table. This is called the turn. The player to the left of the dealer begins another round of betting. In many types of games, this is where the bet size doubles. Again, the dealer burns a card and places a final card face up on the table. This is called the river. Players can now use any of the five cards on the table or the two cards in their pocket to form a five-card poker hand. There is one final round of betting starting with the player to the left of the dealer. After that, we have the showdown. All of the players who haven't folded reveal their hands. This begins with the player to the left of the last player to call. Players use a combination of their pocket cards and the community cards to form a five-card poker hand. The player who shows the best hand wins! 
For an easier way to learn the game, you may want to search you tube for some great how-to videos.



If you feel like getting out of the house, take a little road-trip to one of the Ontario Casinos: Casino Rama (www.casinorama.com), Brantford Charity Casino (www.olg.ca), Great Blue Heron Charity Casino (www.gbhcasino.com), Niagara Fallsview Casino (http://fallsviewcasinoresort.com/) or Casino Niagara (www.casinoniagara.com)


Weekend Forecast:
Saturday: Light rain and a high of 6 degrees
Sunday: A few flurries and a high of -2 degrees



Rabu, 02 Maret 2011

On The Market!

Wish me luck! We officially put our house on the market last night and we are hoping that we will be able to downsize this year.  It is definitely time that this house has a young, growing family in it again.  When we first went on the market {about two years ago} I shared this picture of the front of our house.

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Well, since that post we put up new vinyl siding on the front and I painted our front door black.  Photo below is pre-black door, but with the new siding.  I can’t wait for the temperatures to warm up for my plants and flowers to bloom! 

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Although, maybe we’ll have sold by then!

Kathy

Selasa, 01 Maret 2011

Fabric Sale!

I got an email this morning from Fabric.com about an “Under $5.00 Sale” they are currently having and thought I’d share.  I purchased these fabrics this morning.

Moda Scandinavian Woven Red Toweling for $4.98 a yard.

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This would be great for a couple of towels, a table runner or even pillows.  The same with this Woven Jardin Texture Toweling in Natural/Rose, also $4.98 a yard.

naturalrosetoweling

The last one I got was this Osnaburg in Natural at $3.98 a yard.  This can be a very versatile fabric and I’m sure I could find lots of uses for it. 

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They had other colors in the toweling fabrics and what is good is that the edges are finished on both selvage edges.  Plus, if you spend $35.00, shipping is free!  They have lots of other fabrics, too, but these were the ones that caught my interest.

Kathy