Category: Guest Bloggers
DIY: Easy Easter Entertaining
| April 5, 2012 | Posted by Elissa C. under accessories, Celebrate, cooking, do-it-yourself, Eat, food, Gather, Guest Bloggers, holidays, interiors, living room, Outdoors, plants and gardens, Projects, Seasonal |
"Dining with one's friends and beloved family is certainly one of life's primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal." - Julia Child
I got a text message from my sister last week asking me about our plans for Easter. We don’t have children so the holidays usually sneak up on me. I decided to jump on the internet for a bit and try to find some easy and cute ideas that I could use at our celebration this year. Since the nieces and nephews are sure to get their fair share of sugary sweets from the Easter Bunny, I thought I could find a few ideas that would be unique enough to stand alone.
My hands-down favorite idea are the Chocolate-Covered Peeps. They are colorful, fun and quite frankly, I’ve never seen anything like them. They are also a good idea for families who choose not to dye eggs or who just want an alternative to their kitchen smelling of vinegar or dealing with pesky dye stains.
The Easter Bunny Rolls are also something that I plan to make. I don’t bake too often, but the idea of not having these little guys at the table is almost more than I can stand! I will make them a day ahead of time so I will have the opportunity to make another batch should I have, shall we say, technical difficulties.
However you choose to celebrate Easter (or just spring in general) the idea is to bring the vibrancy and freshness of the season indoors. More importantly, it is a time to gather with friends and family and share in the joys of love and true affection.
Happy Spring Crafting!
E
These cute little peeps will add a punch to any Easter basket.
Easter and Peeps are almost synonymous. They were created by Russian immigrant Sam Born in 1953 and have been a staple in Easter baskets ever since. This easy DIY from Leigh Ann at Your Homebased Mom, gives instructions on how to create the cute little critters, as well as how to transform them into Chocolate-Covered Peep Pops and even (gasp!) Peep S’mores! These make a great special addition to the kids’ baskets and will be equally oogled and eaten at the office — just prepare your ego for the onslaught of Martha Stewart comparisons.
Using baby vegetables adds a rustic touch to the traditional centerpiece.
I’ll admit it. When I first saw this centerpiece on the Swedish bloger Minna Mercke’s popular site, Blomstervekstad, I thought that it was a collection of foil-wrapped chocolate candies on a bed of moss. When I clicked on the image I soon discovered that they were baby onions, Brussels sprouts and cabbages. Brilliant! This is really a jumping-off-point kind of DIY. Simply find a cake stand, bowl or basket and fill it with moss, then top it with whatever spring-themed items you wish. You could use candy, vegetables or even eggs. Using candy in the centerpiece encourages interaction among the guests and kids will simply love it. I have also seen some plastic and paper-mache eggs this season that are totally display worthy. Go forth and be creative!
This egg swag can be used year after year. Try adding glitter for a sparkling touch.
Cute Easter decorations can cost an arm and a leg these days. Why pay exorbitant prices for something that you can make for a few dollars and some time at the craft table? This adorable (and easy) egg swag from The Futon Store NYC can be made with three simple items: string, glue and balloons. Most if not all of these supplies are probably in your home right now! You can use one color of string or several colors depending on your budget. A variety of color gives a festive punch to your decor, while one overall color will make a bigger statement. For a simple, rustic look, use white or neutral-colored string.
Bread is a staple at any family meal. These bunny-shaped rolls offer a whimsical touch to the table.
Whether you are a seasoned baker or have no idea what a rolling pin looks like, you can serve these adorable bunny rolls at your gathering using your method of choice. Taste Of Home lays out detailed instructions and a tasty-sounding savory recipe that will compliment any Easter brunch or dinner. If your kitchen skills are more suited to the “pre-made” arena, you’re in luck. These will work just as well with a store-bought mix or canned dough (your only task is to keep them from burning).
Using branches is an inexpensive way to make an elegant and simple arrangement.
Sometimes all you want is a simple, clean floral arrangement without all of the fuss, mess and expense that flowers bring. Kelly Bernier of Restyling Home is a big fan of using branches, and gives a great selection of ideas on her blog, as well as tips on how to force branches into bloom. Luckily for me, cherry, dogwood and Bradford pear trees are all blooming in my area of Alabama, as are forsythia and lilac bushes. All you need are a few empty vases and containers and you can create a stunning collection of nature’s beauty right in your living room.
High Flying Fun with DIY Kites
| March 8, 2012 | Posted by Elissa C. under Create, do-it-yourself, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Projects, Sustainable Living |
This week’s DIY Post is going to be short and sweet (thanks to a nasty sinus infection and a lack of coherent brain power from yours truly). Luckily, the internet doesn’t require sound so you can’t hear my hacking cough and croaky voice. I finally got it back today (sort of). I’m still working on the feeling better part.
When I was thinking of what to write about for my first March post, my mind immediately thought of the old weather adage that my first grade teacher taught me: “March roars in like a lion and out like a lamb.” It has been exceptionally windy in Alabama so far this month so I thought that a DIY kite post was in order.
These kite projects are easy to follow and fun for adults and kids alike. Because kites are easily destroyed (or at least the ones I had as a kid were) I focused on using recycled materials or other items that can be found in almost any household. So gather your string and prepare for some cheap and high-flying fun!
This DIY by GiddyGiddy is perhaps the most adorable kite tutorial (and family) that I have seen so far. The directions are easy to follow, but this one will require more than just a few minutes to assemble. The cuteness factor is upped by using colored wax paper, but you could also use regular wax paper and achieve air-worthy results. GiddyGiddy's blog is good for more than one look through. There are a number of other crafting projects that are totally worth trying out. Click the image for instructions.
We have an unending supply of plastic bags that we keep around the house. We use them for garbage bags for our small trash cans, for bagging up plan trimmings around the yard (and now that I have this tutorial from WikiHow) for making kites! All you need are a couple of sticks, a few plastic bags and some string. You could jazz it up with a Sharpie marker or fly it in it's undressed state. Either way, it's fun for an afternoon of fun (or more, if you avoid crashing it into the ground). Click the image for instructions.
This DIY from LightlyEnchanted isn't a kit in the traditional sense, but it's still fun to make. This is perfect project for younger children and will take much less time to create than a regular kite. Kids don't normally care about the engineering process, they just want to play with the finished product. This one uses the leftover cardboard tube from rolls of toilet paper or paper towels, orange crepe paper, and glue. You could mix up the colors and create rainbow fish, or stick with the plan and pay homage to the traditional Chinese goldfish kite by using orange. I remember flying kites and my youngest sister always had a hard time coordinating the running and throwing actions needed to get a kite off the ground. Even the youngest of children can still have fun waving it around in the yard and it won't fly off into the sunset when the string runs out. Click on the image for instructions.
The kite DIYs above are strictly for the pleasure of flying. However, there are apparently entire sports built around kites and harnessing the power of the wind. Power Kiting, Kitesurfing and Kiteboarding all have their own communities and terminology, and they look like a fun hobby for those who aren’t afraid of taking risks with their body.
Just try not to do it like this guy.
Happy kiting!
Chrome’s comeback…
| March 6, 2012 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Design, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, interiors |
When doing work on homes, it can seem like the decisions required and options are endless. One example of this problem is attempting to match finishes and materials- it can be overwhelming (and sometimes impossible) to achieve the desired appearance.
That said, a debate continue: when it comes to finishes and fixtures… brushed metal or chrome? Not too long ago, the answer for many contemporary architects and designers would have been simple: brushed stainless steel, preferably.
But lately, we’ve been seeing more polished products in kitchen and bath design, as well as in door hardware, fixture finishes and other details.
Perhaps it’s the influence of recent trends in contemporary kitchen design, where high-gloss, lacquered finishes are becoming more mainstream, with modular European designs installed at higher rates and with increased influence on custom cabinetry design. For a couple beautiful examples of this aesthetic, check out Boffi or Porcelanosa.
We’ve recently installed chrome fixtures and hardware in several projects, and when incorporated thoughtfully, it adds some reflectivity and interest to any space.
Oh, and one more thing- don’t fear combining the two finishes- it can work well and add some sparkle to a kitchen, bathroom, what have you… So, have some fun and explore what’s out there!
Cheers, Lauren
My Memory of “Snort”
| January 30, 2012 | Posted by Guest of the Day under Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Mind, Nurture |
This morning I listened to the quiet.
I kept listening and all I heard was the sound of nature coming to life. I heard the sound of birds, all in a nest, chirping together. Those chirpy little birds, breaking the quiet of the morning, served to remind me of a book I used to, as a child, read to my younger brothers – - ”Are You My Mother?” It was one of the books in the Dr. Suess “Beginning to Read,” series. Remember the book? Still popular today, it has a turquoise green cover with a bird standing on top of a lounging dog.
image courtesy of ShannonsBookNook.com
Namaste.
Inspired by Charles and Ray Eames
| January 24, 2012 | Posted by Lauren Moss under art, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Places, so-cal local |
To add to Linsi’s great post on her visit to LACMA to see the California Mid-Century Decorative Arts exhibit, I thought I’d share a recent experience I had at another great destination right across the street, the Architecture and Design museum, or A+D. One of the many galleries participating in the Pacific Standard Time collaboration, a program by the Getty celebrating arts in Southern California, the A+D museum is currently exhibiting a curated selection of quotations of Charles and Ray Eames, in conjunction with the everyday objects and humble tools that shaped their view of the world, and consequently, their iconic designs. For a quick refresher on the background and history of the Eameses, check out the post I wrote a few months ago here at Inspired Design Daily.
The exhibit itself, called EAMES WORDS: Eames Designs- the Guest/Host Relationship, is centered around the quotes that highlight the couple’s approach to design, as well as their view of the world, shaped by their travels and personal collections.
‘From tumbleweeds to strawberries, a bolt of cloth to a keg of nails, to elephants in India and the bread of Scandinavia, the whole world was their canvas.’ -aplusd.org
‘The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host, all of whose energy goes into trying to anticipate the needs of his guests.’ -Charles Eames
Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of Charles and Ray Eames, and for more information on the Pacific Standard Time collaborative, check out some favorite shows we’re looking forward to seeing, or the official website for a complete schedule and exhibit details.
Thanks for reading!
Lauren
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