Happy Holidays!

Hello lovely friends!

 t's been a week of highs and lows, 

and one that has made me realize a few things...

the first is that I need to make more time for my family right now...

and that means certain things need to take a backseat... like this blog.

so thank you for sticking by me, and dropping in and reading,

but,

I am going to take a blogcation 'til the new year...

I'll come back happier and more inspired, with heaps of useful colour posts - promise!

and...

 since I had a couple of giveaways lined up for the holidays,

 they will be here for the taking in January!

Also, last year we did a really cool re-organizing link-up party, with The Great Clean Out.

Since January seems to the the time to clean up and clear out,

I'm thinking about hosting another one this year.

I've got at least six or seven spaces that could benefit from "the treatment" around here :)

We found it was really motivating to all do it together last year -

because when you really just wanted to stuff everything back in and shut the doors,

you knew you weren't alone, and that all the other ladies were feeling the same thing!

You also knew you had committed to a reveal, and so you just got it done -

and it felt so great after!!

So, if you'd like to tackle something around your place

(anything, from a cupboard to a room!)

please email me at amezeard@10rooms.com

and we'll figure out a posting date late jan/early feb that works for everyone....

Hope you all have the Merriest of Christmases

and Happiest of New Years Eves.

x

the antler, embellished and re-thought

Okay.

This is a much discussed topic, 

but I've found some unique antler art that is making me re-think the whole antler thing.

This look has been around a while...

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And of course the last few years have brought countless faux versions

 that have been witty and clever, but are fairly common now.

(and there it is, that dirty word - COMMON :)

I do love this branch version!

But....

what if they weren't hanging on a wall?

What if they were separated, embellished in a slightly glam, tribal way,

and used as sculpture?

I found those on Etsy a while back, and can't stop thinking about them...

I can picture a gold and black version lounging atop a pile of art books

 on my future shelving in the family room....

this visualization skill is how I manage to convince myself that I need something :)

do you do that?!!

Anyhow....what do you think?

Would you have one of these in your home?

( BTW - if you're interested in this as a DIY, as I think I am, 

but don't happen to have any extra antlers lying around, 

surprisingly Ebay is a good source for antlers!)

Novogratz Event at The Foundary

Set your clocks - in a few hours The Foundary will be hosting a special shopping event,

with items hand-picked by the Novogratz duo.

I'm over at The Foundry all the time,

run by Hayneedle, it's a constantly rotating sale of a wide selection of goodies,

and you won't believe some of the deals you can find.

The Novogratz have SLIGHTLY eclectic, unconventional taste, 

so I have a feeling this one is going to be good :)

See you there!

Tech, design and eye candy :)

A few years ago I had no idea what blogging was all about.

No twitter account, no linked in account, and my Facebook was checked monthly, if at all.

Oh, how life changes!

After three years of refusing to pay huge amounts of cash, I finally got the dot com for 10 Rooms - success!

I was checking each day to see if it became available, and one day, poof - there it was...

I'm going to set up a wordpress site, and am trying to decide if I should move the blog over there, as well.

Thoughts?

Do you think an integrated site and blog are more effective?

I think the less clicks to a destination, the better!

Also, a blog format will certainly be easier to update, and add portfolio pics to....

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In any case, I have today off, and am spending the day learning wordpress - 

which will require a few hours of shopping and be-sparkling of some objects around the house

to decompress, I'm sure....

yay or nay: vintage lucite chandeliers

Received an email from Pieces over the weekend,

linking over to the newest fab finds on their site,

(oh, how I'd like to go on a shopping spree over there - 

have you seen their burled wood and lucite desk? Love.)

and this chandelier really caught my attention.

It's lucite. Not lucite trying to be crystal or glass, but lucite reveling in being lucite.

Lucite doing things that glass and crystal cannot easily do, massive arcs sweeping in perfect curves...

massive arcs that are lightweight enough to be hung from a standard receptacle.

Want some of this clean-lined glam vibe? Check out 1st Dibs here and here.

What about the classic waterfall or tiered styles?

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You can find them on 1st Dibs as well,

 but a quick kijiji search almost always reveals one around here...

and way below budget.

(right now you could pick this one up 15 minutes from my place for $50!)

With all the seventies/eighties swish happening right now, 

is a lucite chandy on your wish list?

Are you feeling the love? Yay or nay?

what are you wishing for?

Sometimes when I ignore a question or an issue around here D emails it to me...

is that weird?!

It's like, hey, would you PUH-Lease get on this!

So today I received an official request for Christmas gift ideas.

You'd think after 15 years he'd know it's all about art and jewelry!

I sent him back three links. 

this.

this.

and this.

a girl can dream...

what are you wishing for?

it's glitteriffic...

This year I'm all about sparkle...

and the way to my heart is through glitter!

(I've even glittered up the blog header, it's a madness)

Since I've bought about ten kinds of glitter at the craft stores recently,

 and went looking for some clever ways to use it.

So here's a collection of amazing glitteriffic holiday DIY's....

first off, just in case you want to go organic, glitter made from salt.

Not sure how this would do when mixed with liquids, but maybe spray adhesive?

How about skipping the tired old bows and wrapping your presents up 

with a wee strip of glitter tape, 

velvet ribbon and some mod glitter discs?

Serve champange in these sparkly flutes (wouldn't they be cute done up with 2012 for New Years?)

pack some pretty flatware for a winter picnic,

or elevate cupcakes to new heights with this charming, simple DIY cake stand.

Add bits of shimmering art, hang some chichi lanterns (you can also buy them, here),

add a scalloped border (these are from Etsy, but so cute - why make them?) 

or some sparkly love to your mantle...

Glitter in pinks, 

glitter in blues,

glitter on fingers, bags and shoes....

Small hits of glitter might just make me happy every day of the year.

how about magnets or tacks at your desk, or a

GLITTER FLOOR! LOVE!

Who's going to the store to buy glitter?!!!

If you are, a little tip I picked up along the way...

to prevent glitter from getting EVERYWHERE (unless you want it that way, in which case, go crazy :)

mix the glitter with the glue/paint/etc PRiOR to adhering it to whatever surface your shushing up -

 a LOT less messy and it stays put after.

Happy last day of November, darlings - x

so, uh, what do you know about bake sales?

Have I mentioned how much Miss N loves to bake?

This summer, a friend of her would pop over every few days and they would experiment in the kitchen...

it started out with me being called in every few minutes to answer a question,

but now she can whip up a batch of cookies or cupcakes without any help, 

and I'm pretty impressed with the results!

So when the two of them decided they would like to hold a bake sale before Christmas,

and donate the proceeds to the food bank,

I was all for it.

A few other friends have decided to join in,

and so we're making four recipes here

(as a start) and they are each planning on bringing some extras.

This weekend we made a practice batch of The Worlds Best Sugar Cookies

and I thought maybe I'd share this recipe with you (it's printable!).

These are the simplest and most yummy cookies you'll make.

We add candy corn on top for Hallowe’en, conversation hearts for Valentines...

for the bake sale, we will make green and red and add a Christmas hersheys kiss to each. 

Of course, now my head is spinning with ideas for presentation and so on...

Thoughts? Suggestions?

I'm thinking red tablecloths, white paper snowflakes (which the girls can make)

and some candy cane decorations.

How to package everything?

Cupcakes in drinking cups? Have you seen this?

We'll be making another type of ball cookie, snowman cupcakes, and chocolate dipped oreo's...

one of the girls is bringing brownies, and another banana bread, 

and another a gingerbread house to be raffled off.

I may make a few pies if there is time :)

Here's where I need your help -

we're trying to figure out price points... how much does a cupcake go for these days?!!

obviously we want to raise as much money for the food bank as we can....

I'm thinking we'll package everything to be sold for either one dollar or five dollars,

 and have two tables, one for each.

What do you think?

(I'll show you the other cookie recipe geek week - it's a drop cookie, but gingerbread!

Just as easy and just as delicious!)

x

destination friday: Veuve Clicquot Hotel

What are fridays for, if not for grabbing a bag and heading out on an adventure?

a destination friday post is long overdue....

and so...

Although it's technically a hotel,

The invitation-only Veuve Clicqout guesthouse is not a place many of us will ever set foot in.

More than decoration, more than architecture...

it's an attitude, an atmosphere...sultry, chic and very adult.

But what would you expect from the creators of one of the greatest Champagnes of our time?

the sparkle, who would have ever thought to use mirror like this? genius.

and that staircase....

more mirror, herringbone floors....

whats a party without crystal?

serenity reigns in the boudoir...

decadence.

the cellars below, imagine the champagne.....

sigh.

Another one for the travel wish list...

found via The Diversion Project - thank you for introducing me to this gem, Jules!!

happy friday, friends - hope you are heading into a long, relaxing weekend...

we're starting early with a lunch with friends today - x

(oh yes, and my black friday post can be found here - I was a week early!

This is what happens when I try to schedule posts ahead of time, lol...)