The Simple, Subtle Way to Work a Home Bar Into Your Space

<div style="text-align: center;">In my mind, a gracious home always includes a cocktail area.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This doesn't mean an enormous vinyl-covered wet bar,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but a chic little display that functions as a serving spot</div><div style="text-align: center;"> and provides an interesting vignette.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJg6jbuyzxI6HpuKSAyp5jJ4dJFoVyilKHni7D4XzBu-JLh_l6EQLYilssnY-uPHFgqEb1szO6yZhACSsgdp2hCshxDd3KYP1PT-em3t61o_H8Tq8xKPI9Qz_SQe25hmxuoyOikfSFwU/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-06+at+11.29.10+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJg6jbuyzxI6HpuKSAyp5jJ4dJFoVyilKHni7D4XzBu-JLh_l6EQLYilssnY-uPHFgqEb1szO6yZhACSsgdp2hCshxDd3KYP1PT-em3t61o_H8Tq8xKPI9Qz_SQe25hmxuoyOikfSFwU/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-06+at+11.29.10+AM.png" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lonnymag.com/issues/13-jan-feb-2011-issue/pages/1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">source</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">D and I are former bartenders,</div><div style="text-align: center;">(and certainly got over-indulgence out of our systems way back when!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">so we rarely drink unless we have company,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and then in moderation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The last thing we want is to have the focal point in a room be the bar.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So how to incorperate this space subtly and easily?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pop over to my guest post at <b><a href="http://projectgadabout.squarespace.com/projectgadabout/2011/3/5/awe-inspiring-anne-maire-guest-post.html">Project Gadabout </a></b>today</div><div style="text-align: center;">for some GOR-geous examples.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">x am</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

The Simple, Subtle Way to Work a Home Bar Into Your Space

In my mind, a gracious home always includes a cocktail area. This doesn't mean an enormous vinyl-covered wet bar, but a chic little disp...

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The Blinds Are Finished!

<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">If you've been reading for a while, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">you know that I've been working on my home office/craft room.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicApZeMdzOo09E9kJIoj63wJ3WqxLXkTAV7pLsibGYMedBdvc25TziDTz3jP-L1D-k8rjqesAF1gwTbfsLBZ1itYAa6fNHnWYps5LM7mSlaqNUVwAfXwbH02wbL-OIsLYeEpIwwph1aV4/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-07+at+10.25.50+AM.png" width="640" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">After <b><a href="http://10rooms.blogspot.com/2011/01/well-ladies-i-made-it-there-was-just.html">organizing the craft supplies</a></b> a while back, it was on to the next project.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl3KD5_MD6Cfc64uxyedt9LTBBDllrUBdUcNphCyDOy1aDXhaH_R4AjQPBOOumJg4BH0xqvkF01w4hVWbLCuugUqvHwHy61mAtJGGJwFWJlr5P3KOeZRRURWqdqB_Qy9PfoGYBZ4z4r8/s200/Screen+shot+2011-01-23+at+2.13.19+PM.png" width="135" />      <img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM31UAyrmE2C-vBIsKgs89_dI1i2PdZ74c1lcSwe6qoMDT729NZenayRPWQeSVII8KEgkK9F-GInozakgtZY1ozZzSlwTWUR2ocmesDtbG1r2aA-DzWlT1ZTII54WaFVDpHqC2MbBDL94/s200/Screen+shot+2011-01-23+at+1.44.53+PM.png" width="110" />    <img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOLvTBnEijdvzi9VDXCU4mLdRXGP-b-1J76sDuINESo1ZnbjncbOeFURAcJ_wTuqzD0TAF4ZOs03nR-gKndfBWATVjkIQ5HkV9moCxsvChfrl7pygbgpR4yAohkiTrDNiZtShvgWmEus/s200/Screen+shot+2011-01-23+at+1.52.41+PM.png" width="166" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">This room faces west, and although it's partially shaded by the roof of our front porch,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">the afternoon sun can be overwhelming some days.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">It needs a window treatment.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The fabric I planned to use was the end of a roll -</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">three precious metres!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdRglGdFciIu6FnrOXxXCU_nJsgILWrm8axjRRIvLweXUpheZXhiH6ctxlBmiq28r-qq3S2162OKbj8LG6r72WwEeRDNRBDzjGXH7Q1Qi0ixRrf_tQ2cM8vKTmWMxkvKP7KfIqm7l_Rc/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-07+at+10.29.48+AM.png" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I searched for a way to make it work back in this <b><a href="http://10rooms.blogspot.com/2011/02/cast-vote-on-office-curtains.html">post</a></b>, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and you all encouraged me to make roman blinds,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">thank you!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8B2SwPMNPfKwZOdri-JGrmTyc4LdtzeuB9bNozFrSDmy1CCuZV_YFDlmNvZGi3AMX99SaoSr1yPp60PYytkt9UQJ_U6NRx07tr4YXRAR84_zqswwZlLCGWHg3ckWvpT8n_cgymci59D0/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-07+at+10.43.49+AM.png" width="640" /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I looked into Martha's instructions for sewing Roman Blinds,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and although they would have been perfect, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">it began to seem a bit daunting </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">(her projects are always done properly and always have a million steps, don't they?)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I admit it, I was looking for they easy way out!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://ramblingrenovators.blogspot.com/">Jennifer</a></b> from Rambling Renovators had suggested roller blinds..hmmm..</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">using roller blinds and laminating my fabric on top,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">a la <b><a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/06/sewing-101-roller-blinds.html">Design Sponge</a></b>, seemed simple enough and I liked the clean look.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jbckHumH3crhSgXqvMVbw39BgrPexUN4k6ZifSpemOhNjpErGoiZwEE3vYk-oYdDy_BPXc7ngN37tYFp44hh0Y1uE7ViAPMm0lbJR0mwfhGYM69vPsbx_PaHShvNXOBZjrqC0Aoik2k/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.58.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jbckHumH3crhSgXqvMVbw39BgrPexUN4k6ZifSpemOhNjpErGoiZwEE3vYk-oYdDy_BPXc7ngN37tYFp44hh0Y1uE7ViAPMm0lbJR0mwfhGYM69vPsbx_PaHShvNXOBZjrqC0Aoik2k/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.58.16+AM.png" width="458" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">A little research, however, revealed that the narrow width of the windows</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">would have required custom roller blinds to the tune of $60 each.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Onward.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://recycledconsignanddesign.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a></b> of {Re}Cycled Cosign and Design had mentioned mini-blinds diys,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">so the googling began.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Found the<b><a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/02/make-shades-out-of-mini-blinds.html"> Little Green Notebook</a></b> tutorial, which seemed to be the original,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and has spawned heaps of copycats.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">That must mean it works, right?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG_qb39PBIImIEILFi__lNTTX9Byr1AMAgRlpQCYwzeoUVCMxCAeSojeidcUikYrhyY5p6YgGIrxZr2S7ux3gdeb9yBD5hQMcAFybn77tBlN4AbWoROEtaiOfdhcslZoz0USJk4RKVDA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.59.29+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNG_qb39PBIImIEILFi__lNTTX9Byr1AMAgRlpQCYwzeoUVCMxCAeSojeidcUikYrhyY5p6YgGIrxZr2S7ux3gdeb9yBD5hQMcAFybn77tBlN4AbWoROEtaiOfdhcslZoz0USJk4RKVDA/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.59.29+AM.png" width="434" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Off to the store to buy mini blinds for $1.80 each (how do they manufacture them for this price?)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and fabric glue, which I have never used before, being a sewer.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">All set to begin cutting, I realized each blind needed to be 21" wide,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and my pattern repeat was only 17", and the print would not be centred.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">So what, you say?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">This is the window that I look at every day as I work at my desk,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and I knew that would drive me bananas... </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">(trying to overcome mytype-a tendencies!)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qI4Ssou3xNFzptQPFmr7RYQ_XSkVKmx1get9tbDN2UnwRurhy-5t2foE63lIwFsr85m8hEVtJ8UzSCWtvwfpqzgg1t_qq_8KO-bg9bkRutfx4w8WSDr9dHnG9RNh9CYxoFSYa7lXq5U/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+11.09.57+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qI4Ssou3xNFzptQPFmr7RYQ_XSkVKmx1get9tbDN2UnwRurhy-5t2foE63lIwFsr85m8hEVtJ8UzSCWtvwfpqzgg1t_qq_8KO-bg9bkRutfx4w8WSDr9dHnG9RNh9CYxoFSYa7lXq5U/s320/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+11.09.57+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">so off to the fabric store to buy navy linen,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">which was going to serve as a liner and border,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">which, as a bonus, also meant these would hold up to the sun a bit longer.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Now, the original tutorial is super-easy -</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">but of course I made it more complicated with this lining/border business..</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I measured the window, adding 8" to the width</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">(3" for each border, 2" for seam allowance)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and 5" to the length</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">(3" for the bottom border, 2" for seam allowance).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Cut the navy linen fabric, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">using a framing square and chalk to make sure everything was cut straight</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">(there's that type-a again :)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Then cut the suzani fabric,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">17" wide (pattern repeat) and the length of the window.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yZ_OxF8R5qOS5xdHIPNRdE-xbHWYjdR7y1ee5hMjuXwef23GwbTLudM2AteWoYd6rzwSc0zbxiBNwgUhjv8tNWQKeeTwJRjcczHhMy6T5vn3heKvy-i9fElw8H3GbnO3hQpfF95BPnY/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.32.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yZ_OxF8R5qOS5xdHIPNRdE-xbHWYjdR7y1ee5hMjuXwef23GwbTLudM2AteWoYd6rzwSc0zbxiBNwgUhjv8tNWQKeeTwJRjcczHhMy6T5vn3heKvy-i9fElw8H3GbnO3hQpfF95BPnY/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.32.16+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Ironed all the seams into place, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">using a guide cut to the border width,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and mitring the corners.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">This took the longest of any step, but DON'T skip ironing,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">this is how you get that crisp finish that makes your finished product looks professionally made.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8145FNPmUxG1URQX6p_mWMr-qBrAw1jY3zRVS5Z8CBf9xnkbRznWZin_8cRjGIVia9ZBJGXoWW4rbhJvJw0O3txZsrclRG7N6gMhGviwgxRtSKPKkNXLXX0wZ06-VhNt0Hqqh5NcKxU/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.31.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8145FNPmUxG1URQX6p_mWMr-qBrAw1jY3zRVS5Z8CBf9xnkbRznWZin_8cRjGIVia9ZBJGXoWW4rbhJvJw0O3txZsrclRG7N6gMhGviwgxRtSKPKkNXLXX0wZ06-VhNt0Hqqh5NcKxU/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.31.44+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Placed the patterned fabric inside and sewed them up.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_I6KdQ996C9IhCDpVTnRgwGRtFxAH9XKFXWq9Yn0dfxcRM5AopknFB6XIwn_B65P9LEI8RYqin84lbYdj-fUqghrJiK_OHpVktYR46De79j-_pMSumOYYNcq31u7T9VMSDjR5nmX-PnQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.30.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_I6KdQ996C9IhCDpVTnRgwGRtFxAH9XKFXWq9Yn0dfxcRM5AopknFB6XIwn_B65P9LEI8RYqin84lbYdj-fUqghrJiK_OHpVktYR46De79j-_pMSumOYYNcq31u7T9VMSDjR5nmX-PnQ/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.30.03+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The Little Green Notebook tutorial has all the additional steps,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">which involve removing the majority of the slats from a set of miniblinds,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and literally gluing the remaining few to the back of the fabric.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Because I used two layers of fabric, there was A LOT of glue used, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">so that it not only adhered the mini blind slats to the fabric but also to each other,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">ensuring they would hang properly.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">They dried for a day and, voila - </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypbKdatHmizGlIJq2puUMiBPWKwsUZt5oVW_urqKCavxgWwF8uCmyXYdhmlASYjP2I0N78i6Hf0_YCumOja1klJ9FMZwvrfW-NVcn-MMbbjt5lhehoa2MDwi41ydkHbxc8nSEt33bSuA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.28.50+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypbKdatHmizGlIJq2puUMiBPWKwsUZt5oVW_urqKCavxgWwF8uCmyXYdhmlASYjP2I0N78i6Hf0_YCumOja1klJ9FMZwvrfW-NVcn-MMbbjt5lhehoa2MDwi41ydkHbxc8nSEt33bSuA/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+10.28.50+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Perfect little spot for sewing now, isn't it?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">This is a great method to create some more attractive window treatments</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> if you already have those dreaded miniblinds in place.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">I know that the sun will take it's toll on these and I will be replacing them every few years, </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">so I didn't mind doing it the easy way -</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"> but if you are making roman blinds to last a long time,</div> I would say bite the bullet and use <b><a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/article/make-your-own-roman-shades">Martha's</a></b> method.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNwrhQ_-M8-Gn1ffAQuAo0dMU_BVvYKwwr5lKtrcklums3BXcAjOgXJPoqM3myvFMgCpFY5BpzaQ0aezIp7AjXd3byovVozim0WWwWL6mx-SLwk1mQz-JtnARUARv4rxu78IrEPTj96Y/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+11.13.18+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNwrhQ_-M8-Gn1ffAQuAo0dMU_BVvYKwwr5lKtrcklums3BXcAjOgXJPoqM3myvFMgCpFY5BpzaQ0aezIp7AjXd3byovVozim0WWwWL6mx-SLwk1mQz-JtnARUARv4rxu78IrEPTj96Y/s320/Screen+shot+2011-03-04+at+11.13.18+AM.png" width="251" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />1 project down, 3789 more to go :)<br />next I'll be tackling a desk update, and a really cool wall display...<br /><br /><br />Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,<br />and please pop over to Project Gadabout for my<br /><b><a href="http://projectgadabout.squarespace.com/projectgadabout/category/glamorous-gadabouts">Glamorous Gadabouts</a></b> bits.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17_h2mHbZgZ3_R6P7t_clfz7A7gdWqcHt21WFqEvaSVD0uS73HPEI5ttzLOiVMKu9raMFfccEAA3dpFXSpbLAN55rIfPU9D93XoOQKHhmnACRw39I-rTR6dGKm2-5-p_whPPYKiwpX6Y/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+1.42.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17_h2mHbZgZ3_R6P7t_clfz7A7gdWqcHt21WFqEvaSVD0uS73HPEI5ttzLOiVMKu9raMFfccEAA3dpFXSpbLAN55rIfPU9D93XoOQKHhmnACRw39I-rTR6dGKm2-5-p_whPPYKiwpX6Y/s320/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+1.42.45+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />I can never get over how gorgeous Poppy's blog is!<br />Yesterday she created a fantastic post with my<br /><b><a href="http://projectgadabout.squarespace.com/projectgadabout/2011/3/3/glamorous-gadabout-cocktail-party-must-have.html">Secret Cheese Fondue recipe</a></b><br />(D. and I are fondue junkies! Even the kids get into it now, lol)<br />So many people have tried to get that recipe from me over the years,<br />and it's yours for the taking!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUPXdLOAIng4v1dnQq8z4FlDd8CCfj-qTymwgW2Xz2-B6DS6EMqdcAaYeT-APxHf6TCwZGG1U-DMAldytMyVscaRXRo_OOJG7woS72wWFy0vFU2cjnx6CAUbkf9hyVPjDW0vzu5snrcM/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+7.01.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUPXdLOAIng4v1dnQq8z4FlDd8CCfj-qTymwgW2Xz2-B6DS6EMqdcAaYeT-APxHf6TCwZGG1U-DMAldytMyVscaRXRo_OOJG7woS72wWFy0vFU2cjnx6CAUbkf9hyVPjDW0vzu5snrcM/s200/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+7.01.17+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>

The Blinds Are Finished!

If you've been reading for a while,  you know that I've been working on my home office/craft room. After organizing the craft suppli...

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Two Exciting Tidbits..

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Exciting things happening around here these days!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First of all, because I am off to Florida at the end of next week for two weeks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(can you see my smile?!!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have something really special lined up for the blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I asked six of my favourite design bloggers if they would consider doing a</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">guest over here, and they ALL said yes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What fantastic ladies, I am so blown away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Their posts are going to kick off a new series around here,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">called.. drumroll please..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuH9Jkd_Dc1D-8ieV9lbXxWAZWDxL0k-R1jWFvi4L6EVxNjNePhGO6MsfMfrB_7dKyMQOeDvSzH8bTSgP0w44E4CWN2_-Ir_zAa-agUzaeTWukoeq0sQgYU1h9_vv9WLLncjM2OqVCKo/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+1.24.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuH9Jkd_Dc1D-8ieV9lbXxWAZWDxL0k-R1jWFvi4L6EVxNjNePhGO6MsfMfrB_7dKyMQOeDvSzH8bTSgP0w44E4CWN2_-Ir_zAa-agUzaeTWukoeq0sQgYU1h9_vv9WLLncjM2OqVCKo/s400/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+1.24.19+PM.png" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The posts will centre around their favourite color, or color combo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I always feel like someone is revealing a bit of their secret self </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when they tell me their favourite color, don't you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm not going to tell you who all will be posting but let's just say you won't want to miss a single one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The second big news is that my week as a <b><a href="http://projectgadabout.squarespace.com/projectgadabout/category/glamorous-gadabouts">Glamorous Gadabout </a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">over at the dee-lightful Poppy's Project Gadbout has begun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYmUP9Xw58PfiguspGzmLxehuXS5mobvDF7bx55CkSkgPSxKV7uEClh8fPZsRS1ELDIxioZsbpGfhhJEpdQanaS9jZ8ZkvPwfdB6DGp2vwwG0aTcZp8dHtG6T7V6s6ybyWe_-KyDCKGI/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+1.42.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYmUP9Xw58PfiguspGzmLxehuXS5mobvDF7bx55CkSkgPSxKV7uEClh8fPZsRS1ELDIxioZsbpGfhhJEpdQanaS9jZ8ZkvPwfdB6DGp2vwwG0aTcZp8dHtG6T7V6s6ybyWe_-KyDCKGI/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+1.42.45+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When Poppy asked me if I wanted to be a part of this series, </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought it was going to be a single post - </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">turns out it was five (!!) plus a guest post.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I'll be there in bits and pieces all week, til next wednesday, lol!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://projectgadabout.squarespace.com/">Project Gadabout</a> is one of my favourite reads.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poppy's goal is to entertain and inspire,</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and she certainly does both.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYjsUy4IEEelVQaVTDCYiJWW6M5ovUdjZ9_6QatklrH2iuiuT9yAJ3GWUw6NuXUn7CGd6xbuJivpUyx3DO5FKK1pWKFbVNIMRYCDkPvDJ2znAYmnHzg41hSdMOYGdZwO8dXTgGsx0e_E/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+5.56.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYjsUy4IEEelVQaVTDCYiJWW6M5ovUdjZ9_6QatklrH2iuiuT9yAJ3GWUw6NuXUn7CGd6xbuJivpUyx3DO5FKK1pWKFbVNIMRYCDkPvDJ2znAYmnHzg41hSdMOYGdZwO8dXTgGsx0e_E/s640/Screen+shot+2011-03-02+at+5.56.14+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one you'll want in your blog roll, ladies, I promise!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Roman blinds for the office went up today -</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so glad you all encouraged me to go for blinds, I love 'em!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pics to follow shortly :)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS3c5kPiNe5MXdM9pYi86U3aKKiOvvr3ZFvJTOblAkg0cppY9-CsMKlv930BqGbZ80DtKVnHKUojAFc1-JGO-JMzaGlMjYVmwj-0UAzmy-1I_4qVH1p8U9NTs0Zn0wp3KG37JXNIwixY/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+7.01.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS3c5kPiNe5MXdM9pYi86U3aKKiOvvr3ZFvJTOblAkg0cppY9-CsMKlv930BqGbZ80DtKVnHKUojAFc1-JGO-JMzaGlMjYVmwj-0UAzmy-1I_4qVH1p8U9NTs0Zn0wp3KG37JXNIwixY/s200/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+7.01.17+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Two Exciting Tidbits..

Exciting things happening around here these days! First of all, because I am off to Florida at the end of next week for two weeks (can you s...

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destination friday: absolute sanctuary in thailand

<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />We haven't had a Destination Friday in a while,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and so here is a lovely one for you.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.absolutesanctuary.com/index.html">Absolute Sanctuary</a></b> is a wellness resort in Koh Samui, Thailand.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdXyudQks46A8t0obgjZ5JCBqPE_VUBMZ3Rsiup_kVPyUbiXzgtTVpXG2_1pC5XlH0DiugfYrQXXkPwfmns_NC3fsrhXlpNW-ntbA4vs3z1glRTa3KeRYkVHTgHR98rVsTB_SrQju8_E/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+8.54.28+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdXyudQks46A8t0obgjZ5JCBqPE_VUBMZ3Rsiup_kVPyUbiXzgtTVpXG2_1pC5XlH0DiugfYrQXXkPwfmns_NC3fsrhXlpNW-ntbA4vs3z1glRTa3KeRYkVHTgHR98rVsTB_SrQju8_E/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+8.54.28+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The perfect place for a little cleansing and rejuvenating of mind and body.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Spa, yoga centre and healthy fare.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Think my time would be spent right here :)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-ArBeRkXQ6MJXZalKUAeS7vFYGIFSEtByAYPC75-wJls45u61r-eYPjsboFNd1PejHXnEPSrVZrCP_sL3WIGNjfpEX7GHbn2ZjLAh6uBfjNzUZZutOFTHllweY3c17gfR3eSQBkSBsU/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+8.55.13+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-ArBeRkXQ6MJXZalKUAeS7vFYGIFSEtByAYPC75-wJls45u61r-eYPjsboFNd1PejHXnEPSrVZrCP_sL3WIGNjfpEX7GHbn2ZjLAh6uBfjNzUZZutOFTHllweY3c17gfR3eSQBkSBsU/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+8.55.13+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(the color - look at that luscious color!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVzyxJ1TbsP5izCaf08IVF65MkQ1FcAUsN3lIXvWU1rqH57uNKJiQBzhZV25WJ4UT68be8R-8o2b56rB2k6Zx6hc_CE_xJas76lFl8kQGK3pDWaaUCDLPFMMFYKoWLi1i15wm1HD5dsE/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+8.54.49+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzVzyxJ1TbsP5izCaf08IVF65MkQ1FcAUsN3lIXvWU1rqH57uNKJiQBzhZV25WJ4UT68be8R-8o2b56rB2k6Zx6hc_CE_xJas76lFl8kQGK3pDWaaUCDLPFMMFYKoWLi1i15wm1HD5dsE/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+8.54.49+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">ahh, the spaaaa.. how I love that word.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILT7yMO7o0g1PlgBJGX6xqW5pPEfE5BLftSDhADKO1IFCkJ7kuj6mZwnZGgaAwwL5gw3r6b8yNPIwBrCPkB1okZ22nBJNDWlfIHdMoWEDFuiIRZNt04c8Ar7aLTb8qA7SadSMS3GApas/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.13.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgILT7yMO7o0g1PlgBJGX6xqW5pPEfE5BLftSDhADKO1IFCkJ7kuj6mZwnZGgaAwwL5gw3r6b8yNPIwBrCPkB1okZ22nBJNDWlfIHdMoWEDFuiIRZNt04c8Ar7aLTb8qA7SadSMS3GApas/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.13.16+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">find a sliver of namaste...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByZ2sD3L-qrysVDpd3fhhi_bqwAQZqjawlLjyvBGWofmZ377YPDoTw-7aJlXoIAYtUb82DVyMWU7zJg2Di0uPxbiSY6YCe7-OVZ95MJoboYHjJ4S7Rr3NMAQFGpszbVVKHbpmqdijEVA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.23.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByZ2sD3L-qrysVDpd3fhhi_bqwAQZqjawlLjyvBGWofmZ377YPDoTw-7aJlXoIAYtUb82DVyMWU7zJg2Di0uPxbiSY6YCe7-OVZ95MJoboYHjJ4S7Rr3NMAQFGpszbVVKHbpmqdijEVA/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.23.44+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the Love Kitchen menu is tantalizing.. and healthy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3QorkPt8v98lw2vPw6joPPldJ7yvCSedg51LEmdQoaVkQIJCxMIw2EIm8L3M93VKTnUiFLPOHFCXzfIF_SSDDA5QS2CyEyKQOPxvEYgkjkSIQ50IncXI1Fw_LeSGAXe58qjlxmUVpzQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.15.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV3QorkPt8v98lw2vPw6joPPldJ7yvCSedg51LEmdQoaVkQIJCxMIw2EIm8L3M93VKTnUiFLPOHFCXzfIF_SSDDA5QS2CyEyKQOPxvEYgkjkSIQ50IncXI1Fw_LeSGAXe58qjlxmUVpzQ/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.15.32+AM.png" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YyoAqX2h086OkaTU5Trk5nWdyNmXeAoPnvYOaClbRB0fQ_Fv3dGqyrfCg3_wkSTkQ8zNlJW9pd5dNh4PKuecLXkok_pQLjWy9-w-Qr-fGphXA0b7CgQsRLuxPnQEJBEYKeevInpZun8/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.17.19+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YyoAqX2h086OkaTU5Trk5nWdyNmXeAoPnvYOaClbRB0fQ_Fv3dGqyrfCg3_wkSTkQ8zNlJW9pd5dNh4PKuecLXkok_pQLjWy9-w-Qr-fGphXA0b7CgQsRLuxPnQEJBEYKeevInpZun8/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.17.19+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Afternoon naps are a holiday must...<br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByZ2sD3L-qrysVDpd3fhhi_bqwAQZqjawlLjyvBGWofmZ377YPDoTw-7aJlXoIAYtUb82DVyMWU7zJg2Di0uPxbiSY6YCe7-OVZ95MJoboYHjJ4S7Rr3NMAQFGpszbVVKHbpmqdijEVA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.23.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>how wonderful are these rooms? </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCK7bbHA6j6Mqb_5jlNnBDU9mUZMMgiCw4alBqfOMsHtAhgiQdbxGLF-IeeZ01b9JLdzQM24aLx7vIOAVW7UP1sP4zkaDLd8UYc9xuBpGar2yyliO7UsBqomnfPAKTukUL1MALybLm8s/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.49.18+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCK7bbHA6j6Mqb_5jlNnBDU9mUZMMgiCw4alBqfOMsHtAhgiQdbxGLF-IeeZ01b9JLdzQM24aLx7vIOAVW7UP1sP4zkaDLd8UYc9xuBpGar2yyliO7UsBqomnfPAKTukUL1MALybLm8s/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.49.18+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I love white bedding - it always feels crisp and cool,<br />here it provides great balance to all the color.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_mfH8f8tvEehJEt0VjV-qLBNIWy3Y18WqWqjsqusY81sXSMmtqpoME-bpOjuij1ika3UnhkP8nOYtzfqA1tZs4x68-rwjmp_aP7hh9Eu3LjANxpzjHuA4wXqJHAUCTlBJJbXH-rBn-I/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.52.42+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_mfH8f8tvEehJEt0VjV-qLBNIWy3Y18WqWqjsqusY81sXSMmtqpoME-bpOjuij1ika3UnhkP8nOYtzfqA1tZs4x68-rwjmp_aP7hh9Eu3LjANxpzjHuA4wXqJHAUCTlBJJbXH-rBn-I/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.52.42+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Think leaving the computer behind may stretch you a bit thin?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you must :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMjaxcmZql61ea63Rgksln452vDsXYB_4Dn9ZUmmQLim7e6EVhclnA_d2QP_ejoMdaJVd20IFGltXPkgmefE7cYhG4j-15K11R6LtkP3xx0zB893iBX53op_HGBIb_7SUmmhizUhgV2w/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.22.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMjaxcmZql61ea63Rgksln452vDsXYB_4Dn9ZUmmQLim7e6EVhclnA_d2QP_ejoMdaJVd20IFGltXPkgmefE7cYhG4j-15K11R6LtkP3xx0zB893iBX53op_HGBIb_7SUmmhizUhgV2w/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.22.02+AM.png" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can feel my muscles relaxing...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hard to leave this one, isn't it?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">imagine a whole week...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's been crazy here for work, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">spring is on the way and everyone is beginning to get that</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"let's freshen up the house" itch..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's hoping we all find some moments like these this weekend...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">although they definitely won't be beside an gorgeous infinity pool,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">immersed in the warm sea air ... sigh :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodQ_eh8qj3T3rbnPwVRQDaFsGwTSFt-9VyaWFKHf3psKzhxwbqK4ToeL08lMwf-k0EXo2VcQzxBe6n7KbZoS1uFpIOBUJ7Amfabbua0ztSEHwBWt_QqwvU7tkCxgb_PeFJwZHb2PgTko/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.24.39+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodQ_eh8qj3T3rbnPwVRQDaFsGwTSFt-9VyaWFKHf3psKzhxwbqK4ToeL08lMwf-k0EXo2VcQzxBe6n7KbZoS1uFpIOBUJ7Amfabbua0ztSEHwBWt_QqwvU7tkCxgb_PeFJwZHb2PgTko/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+9.24.39+AM.png" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI19i01m8YFruayTGNz110i9snnCQz9B7pBTTRDKUsNP0lpe50MXC-XuOgL7q9GSXTXWWzan0GPUzm4r1s7_WEHJ_dJj-Chk2Iq4Fq2BO-PSrQ0Nbd9JlT5eFvidGJvsyx_7aOO2AZfE/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+7.01.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI19i01m8YFruayTGNz110i9snnCQz9B7pBTTRDKUsNP0lpe50MXC-XuOgL7q9GSXTXWWzan0GPUzm4r1s7_WEHJ_dJj-Chk2Iq4Fq2BO-PSrQ0Nbd9JlT5eFvidGJvsyx_7aOO2AZfE/s200/Screen+shot+2011-01-04+at+7.01.17+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">**just a quick note - next week I will be over at <b><a href="http://projectgadabout.squarespace.com/">Project Gadabout</a></b>,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the fabulous Poppy has done a series of posts about her fellow bloggers </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and generously invited me to take part - pop over if you like! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4h8hdhW_sMPPqAv34Pi2zaYV1LdkrPIP_R6pZM1saO9SCmZeyv_qltpBDsg0kNvomHUJDqVpzCfeUktLIVK455LhRbLslVLIRxoaRysrQh8aDx5HyFHIv39NqXY9FFGyLsj-WCNuhHk/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+10.10.54+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4h8hdhW_sMPPqAv34Pi2zaYV1LdkrPIP_R6pZM1saO9SCmZeyv_qltpBDsg0kNvomHUJDqVpzCfeUktLIVK455LhRbLslVLIRxoaRysrQh8aDx5HyFHIv39NqXY9FFGyLsj-WCNuhHk/s640/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+10.10.54+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since Poppy's blog always makes me feel like</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> throwing on some red lips and dashing down to the beach in a convertible,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I am going to have Palm Beach Week on the blog :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipK1U8WmOfhtDkFuTLM5y8RVfT6O6fB68_vDzevsjrWa8IrcchvSPb5jcLRIqFbrHPhCmok6zTFYYvYK48suuMzpQnZ17oiwmyU248VxyqPz3e71D67dkbTKpWzjy098kkCEcSQ1QLPU/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+10.21.01+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipK1U8WmOfhtDkFuTLM5y8RVfT6O6fB68_vDzevsjrWa8IrcchvSPb5jcLRIqFbrHPhCmok6zTFYYvYK48suuMzpQnZ17oiwmyU248VxyqPz3e71D67dkbTKpWzjy098kkCEcSQ1QLPU/s320/Screen+shot+2011-02-18+at+10.21.01+AM.png" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eye candy galore! You're going to love it - x ***</div><br /></div>

destination friday: absolute sanctuary in thailand

We haven't had a Destination Friday in a while, and so here is a lovely one for you. Absolute Sanctuary  is a wellness resort in Koh Sam...

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