Monday, August 20, 2007

DIY Dorm Rooms

It is back to school time and for many young adults that means dorm room design time.
You can design a room that is funky and bold, modern and clean or soft and sophisticated just make sure it reflects your personality.




For the sleeping zone cut up old t-shirts and stitch them into easy pillows. Just sew around all the sides, leave a little opening, stuff with pillow stuffing and stitch closed. Or cut your old tees into blocks and stitch together to create a quilt. Use fabric paint and stencils to add fun sayings, shapes, poetry or song lyrics to plain comforter. If you need extra storage try using bed risers and under bed storage boxes for items that you don’t access everyday.



Decorating the walls is a great way to show off you personality! You can custom print your own posters with linen paper or check out websites like the poster list for cool artwork. Add polka dots to your walls by placing vintage fabric in embroidery hoops and attach to your walls with poster adhesives. Add an art line by stringing wire across the walls and clip art, postcards and magazine cutouts to the line with small clothes pins or paper clips.


Create an organized study area by recycling tin cans and decorate them with wrapping paper scraps. Add style to plain desk by decoupaging a poster or color copies of photos to the front and top of the desk. This can also be don on a small table or a dresser.





Keep refreshed and look cool with a custom painted mini fridge! It is easier than you think and the results are so cool. So grab a brush, get creative and do it yourself.



Mini Fridge Make Over Supplies:
square
coarse-grit sandpaper
clean rag or towel
primer
low tack painter's tape
paintbrushes
pencil
three shades of semigloss latex paint
round objects to use as circle tracers

Steps:
1. Lightly sand the outer front and sides of the refrigerator. Rub the refrigerator with a clean rag or towel to remove any dust.

2. Tape off any hardware or trim with low-tack painter's tape.

3. Prime, allow the primer to dry and apply a second coat. Allow the second coat to dry. The primer will help the paint adhere to the plastic surface and prevent flakes and peels.

4. Paint the entire refrigerator with the medium shade of paint. Allow the first coat to dry and add a second coat. Allow the base coat to dry for about 3 days so that it completely cures.

5. Use round objects, such as mixing bowls, pots and pans, to trace overlapping circles on the refrigerator in pencil.

6. Apply the lightest and darkest shades of latex paint to the appropriate portions of the design. Allow the paint to dry and apply another coat. Allow the paint to cure for three days.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

The 99th Birthday Party!


My Grandmother on her 99th birthday!

By now lots of people know that my Grandmother taught me how to sew and that she is super crafty, thrifty and creative.

What most people don't know is that she just turned 99 and she is still full of creative energy. Her eyesight has failed her but that does not stop her from being creative. For her party she made all the favors and painted so many items for every one to take....bird houses, doll furniture, jewel boxes, sail boats, flowers, etc.



Just a tiny sample of what she created for the party!

Tornado in Tulsa

I totally felt like I was in a tornado while in Tulsa. So much to do and so much fun to have! I got to see tons of family and we celebrated my Grandmother's 99th birthday!

The trip started with a famous Oklahoma meal! Chicken fried steak at the Tulsa Press Club. It was so good! My uncle Bill told me it was the kind of meal that sticks to your ribs.

Chicken Fried Steak at the Tulsa Press Club

Newt we were off to Good Day Tulsa. The host, Kirsten Dickerson, was so sweet and fun to work with. On the show I made flower glazed brie and a green salad with flowers, honey glazed walnuts and a raspberry vinaigrette. Steve made flower printed napkins by using a mallet and pansy petals.

Setting up for Good Day Tulsa.
(My cousin Mikey came along with us...she was an awesome assistant.)

The host Kirsten Dickerson.

Flower Salad - so beautiful.

This is a party favorite! People go crazy for the flower glazed brie.


Next stop Grandmother's Party....

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Cathie's Bio

She’s crafty!

Cathie Filian, created, produces and co-hosts the popular lifestyle show, Creative Juice on DIY Network & HGTV. In 2007, she was Nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Lifestyle Host category for her work on Creative Juice. Cathie has also produced and co-hosted the mini series Witch Crafts on DIY network. In 2008 Witch Crafts was Nominated for 2 Emmys one for Outstanding Lifestyle Program and the second for Outstanding Lifestyle Directing.

In 2008, Cathie became a National Spokesperson for Plaid Enterprises one of the largest manufactures of art and craft products in the United States.

Cathie’s first book, Creative Juice – 45 Re-Crafting Projects, is filled with fun and funky recycling craft ideas that can be made for pennies. Her second book, Bow Wow WOW - fetching costumes for your fabulous dog, will be released Fall 2008. Her third book, Untitled Baby Book, will be released Spring 2010. All books are published by Lark books a division of Barnes and Noble.

Cathie also writes a monthly newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service and a blog as well as contributes to national shelter publications such as Life Magazine, Real Simple, Redbook, Quick and Simple and many others. Cathie can be found regularly at etsy.com and myspace.com.

Cathie Filian grew up in the Midwest and has been getting crafty since she can remember. She began sewing when she was 8 and her love of stitching followed her all the way to collage, where she studied Textile Science and Fashion Design at Ohio State University. In her senior year, Cathie was awarded the Outstanding Senior Design Award.

Before Creative Juice, Cathie worked in the film business creating costumes for such films as Rushmore, Twister, Heartbreakers and Vanilla Sky.

Cathie lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Eddie and their dog Max.

Monday, August 06, 2007

DePaul Book Signing!





We had such a great time at DePaul! We met some lovely CJ watchers. One gal (Dawn?)makes the cutesiest Little Kiddle jewelry. Her earring were so adorable...she said she will start selling on etsy soon. I know I will getting a pair of her earrings. :)

We met tons of kids! Everyone choose their own kooky kritter supplies and took home bottles of Mod Podge!





This young fella has been working on our disco ball project!





Chicago was so fun....The best part was getting to see all of Steve's family! xoxoxoxo


After the signing we had delicious appetizers and cocktails with comcast at The Chicago Firehouse restaurant. They were comcastic!



We still had a little energy so we headed to the CUBS game! Check out all the people on the roof. We did not actually go in the game we went to the famous "Cubby Bears"




I am still tired from Chicago! Tomorrow morning I fly to Tulsa, Oklahoma for my Grandmother"s 99th birthday and a book signing at Barnes and Noble on August 9th at 7:00pm. The best part about the Tulsa trip is that my hubby will be joining me and I get to see my family! YEA!

Friday, August 03, 2007

About Last Night

So after a full belly of pizza...Steve and I caught the L train to Mothers! Mothers is the bar that the classic 80's film "About Last Night" was filmed. We had so much fun!





Do you think we are having fun?

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Book Tour: Chicago Pizza!



Last night Steve and I have the most fabulous and delicious pizza at Gino's East in Chicago. This place is a classic Chicago Pizza restaurant. The walls are covered with signatures, love notes and phone numbers. When Steve was in school he penned his name on the walls but of course we cold not find his name. The food was delicious!




Check out the WALLS!


YUMMMY!

Book Tour: Play Time in Chicago

We landed in Chicago! Steve is in hog heaven (he is from here) and we are doing all sorts of fun stuff. We walked around downtown, checked out the buildings, shopped and of course ate piazza!

Here are a few pics:







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