2013 – Page 34

Mini Me Tree Gall-ery

Published on January 8, 2013January 8, 2013 by Our Humble Abode7 Comments

How about a little rhyme this afternoon? Or a little art? Today, I’ve got both. And a cold. One is more fun and interesting than the other; I’ll let you guess.

Back in December, I made silhouettes of the boys (mini me) on wood slices (tree) leftover from our Thanksgiving table setting. Originally, I planned for these to be ornaments. Instead I decided to keep them up year-round as mini art in my collection (gall-ery).

One slice has started cracking, but I’m keepin’ it until it breaks entirely. And then I’ll make a new one. All because these make me smile. Especially my little Peter Pan look-alike.

No framing necessary, just a pop tab, small screw, and a piece of felt pad to help it hang evenly.

I’m still curating the collection and hoping to add more color soon. Now, I’m going to the tv to see what episodes of New Girl I need to catch up on.

Bathroom Break

Published on January 7, 2013January 7, 2013 by Our Humble Abode6 Comments

For the New Year, I’m trying to organize more around the house. Call it a resolution if you wish. Some of that includes improving our current systems. In the words of Tim Gunn, ‘Make it work!’ First up, working out the main bathroom storage. After rearranging some miscellaneous supplies gathering on the top shelf, I cleared room for our supply of toilet paper. Yes, we buy it from Costco, so we’re stuck storing 36 rolls. Lucky for us, we’ve got a large shelf to help out there. Below that we store soap, cotton balls, and q tips in covered glass jars. A stack of clean white towels toward the bottom rounds out the closet.

Then I added a ‘guest jar.’ Basically, I took all the travel sized necessities and stuck them in another lidded glass jar. This way, our guests can see assorted items and take something they might have forgotten.

Below that we still have the storage caddy, a bottle of mouthwash, a lotion pump, and a few more travel sized toiletries.

This time, cute Burt’s Bees. Just a little something special.

In a house full of boys and DIY projects, we often need a basic first aid kit. Easy access is always nice, so I filled two plastic boxes with supplies. The top one, from my great grandma, holds an assortment of bandages.

The bottom one, an Alli weight loss container from a thrift store, has first aid necessities. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, in labeled travel sized shampoo bottles leaves space for other items.

Unfortunately, everyone in this house has a cold, so I haven’t gotten my organizational hands elsewhere. Have you organized (or reorganized) any areas of your home recently?

Gimme a Giveaway: Studio Tullia & Our Humble Abode

Published on January 4, 2013January 30, 2013 by Our Humble Abode126 Comments

This giveaway is closed; thanks for entering! See who won here.

Happy first Friday of the New Year, everyone! We’ve got an awesome giveaway today, coming from Studio Tullia and yours truly.

Studio Tullia is a lovely Etsy shop stocked with pretty, pretty pillows, so here’s a peek at my favorites.

Natural Cotton with Red Ribbon Embellishment:

Orange Ribbon Embellishment:

Chartreuse Velvet Pillows:

Now, feast your eyes on this beautiful 10 by 22 inch Ribbon Lumbar Pillow Cover, the first prize of the day.

Each pillow cover is made to order, so you can choose aqua (shown), pink, white, red, or brown ribbon on the natural cotton backing. Also up for grabs is a pair of my new Astrological Constellation Cut Outs.

Choose a pair to hang by your bed. Or keep one and give the other to someone special, the choice is yours.

The Goods: One 10 by 22 inch Ribbon Lumbar Pillow Cover from Studio Tullia and a pair of Astrological Constellation Cut Outs from Our Humble Abode. That’s a total value of $105.oo!

To Enter: Leave a comment, which can (but doesn’t have to) include our Just for Fun question.

Just for Fun: Tell us if/what your New Year’s resolution(s) is/are.

For additional entries:

1. Like Studio Tullia on Facebook.

2. Like Our Humble Abode on Facebook.

Contest Closes: Thursday, January 24th, 2013.

Number of Winners: One!

Ships: Anywhere around the world!

Other Info: We will select the winner using random.org and announce on Friday, January 25th. Good luck!

P.S. We’ve changed the length of our giveaways. Rather than one every other week, we’re spacing them out to one per month, for the whole month.

Nookie There

Published on January 3, 2013March 26, 2013 by Our Humble Abode17 Comments

In addition to the fireplace surround, we’ve also been busy building a little nook storage. We’re still not completely done (are we ever?!), but a few of you noticed it a few posts back. It was a small project, but we think it will make a difference in the function of the room. Another dead, useless corner, we need not. Ben built a basic cabinet with a floating shelf above. To make the floating shelf, Ben attached thin strips to the side and back walls. A piece of 3/4 inch MDF on top, then a few bracing boards sandwiched between a piece of 1/4 inch MDF.

To hide the gap, he added a piece of 3/4 inch MDF. Wood filler, primer, and paint covers the seams and brightens the little nook. Eventually, we plan to add a tv on top of the cabinet with decorative items and books on the top shelf. Originally, I wanted two shelves, but it would have been too tight and cramped up to the ceiling.

Oh, and I’m testing out a paint color. I picked up many of the swatches you all recommended, and Behr’s Wheat Bread was a close contender. But being on the north side seemed to bring out the blues in every color. Instead, we moved to the next swatch over and liked Behr’s Sandstone Cove. In bright light, it reads more tan, but in dimmer light (natural on the other side of the room or artificial) it has a slight gray undertone. Here it is compared to a 25% tint of Wood Smoke.

Wood storage is necessary close to the fireplace. Right now, we’re going outside to get wood. Every time we want to start or stoke the fire. So that’s how the bottom cabinet will function, once the paint cures that is.

Now we’ve got to install the baseboard, crown, and the rest of the trim around the doors in the hallway. There it is, a quickie built-in.

Have you made any storage additions recently? I’m craving a good organizational fix. Am I the only one that gets that itch after a new year?

NY, NA, ND

Published on January 2, 2013January 2, 2013 by Our Humble Abode4 Comments

Could I be referring to New York, not applicable, and North Dakota? Nope, I’m talking about a new year, new art, and a new deal. To kick off 2013, I’ve added two new cut out options to the shop. First up, a completely custom map cut out, focusing on an address of your choice.

At 12 inches square, this cut out is detailed, but still easy to frame. Pop it in an Ikea Ribba frame and you’re done. All roads are cut from white, then mounted to the background color of your choice.

Next up, a series of astrological constellation cut outs. Map out your (or anyone’s) zodiac sign. As a fun way to show who sleeps on which side of the bed, get one for your self and another for your spouse to hang on either side.

Each cut out is maps the constellation as well as the name; cut from either blue or black card stock, then mounted to a white sheet.

And now for a new deal. From now until January 10, every item in our shop is 50% off using the code RINGIN2013. Cut outs, prints, pillows, all 50% off.