Great table runner idea..

Am just ducking out from reading wonderful posts over

at 'Anzu' (you will love this blog), and felt I had to share

this great table runner idea that Ellen found via 'Brooklyn Bride'.

Image from 'Brooklyn Bride' via 'Anzu London'

I love the idea of using old photos (read: scans and printouts of..)

as a unique and arty table runner like this. What a great treat to have

old memories scattered on a table like that - imagine the lovely

conversations the pictures will inspire! Would be great for a family

reunion, wedding anniversary or birthday party. Endless uses indeed!

x Charlotta

D.I.Y. - Fragrant candles..

I just realized that I am not doing enough D.I.Y.  posts.
In fact, I don't do enough D.I.Y. full stop. Must change this!

I love crafty self-made projects and could spend all day

doing things just like this one below if only life allowed. 

The post is from the wonderful '100 Layer Cake' and is

written by a guest blogger, 'Truly Smitten'. Both of these

blogs are amazing for crafty little projects and fantastic

for general inspiration and eye candy. I love them dearly!

Below is the essence of the editorial guide by Sarah, the writer;

Sarah warns that if you are a first-timer it might get messy and

she says it is always best to do a few batches at a time - bite size.

Here’s what you’ll need:
Glass tumblers
Wax chips / or microwavable wax
Candle wicks
Fragrance
Decorative paper
Natural twine
Double sided table
Skewer sticks

First you have to melt the wax in a double-boiler or in the

microwave if you manage to find that kind of wax flakes.

I actually don't know what a 'double boiler' is, but assume it

is a bowl inside a vessel of boiling water. Is this right?

Make sure the wax is properly melted before you pour it into

the tumblers and make sure you put the candle wick into the

glass before you do. The base should be attached to the

bottom end of the wick and top end tied to a skewer.

The scent is added before you pour the wax into the tumbler.

It will take a couple of hours before the was is solid and

cool. Once it is you can start the decorating. This particular

design uses Japanese rice paper and decorative crafting paper

applied in layers as the pictures below show. Needless to say

the options are endless here and you can design your own.

I would love to do this for a newly married couple and use their

monogram on the label, or for a housewarming gift, or for Christmas.. 

I am so going to try this one day, and if you do my lovelies, please

don't forget to tell me about it. I'd love to see your designs!

To read the original tutorial please go HERE.

xx Charlotta

P.S. If you like this project, do check out Sarah's other guest post
and tutorial about how to make 'Rosemary infused honey'.. So cute!

How clever and cute..

From HERE.

xCharlotta

Christmas spirit

Just a little mixed bag of Xmas goodies..

I can never get enough of candle light..

source unknown

Love this little tree in a glass bottle..

By Swedish Åhlens

Have shown this before, but the tilted tree is

so charming that it doesn't hurt repeating..

via Tine K

Adorable silver deer

source unknown

xCharlotta

Egg-tastic!

If you aren't familiar with the 'Sweet Paul' blog, please do

scroll down to his link located towards the bottom right

of my blog, and jump across right now..
You won't be sorry - I promise!!

Here is a little snippet of loveliness from Paul...

An ostrich egg bought by the sweet man himself in Curacao

and decorated by hand by his good friend Claudia - so cute!

Wouldn't this be wonderful idea for an Easter breakfast table

- or just a loving touch for any breakfast gathering really...!?

Off to bed now to dream about what to write on my egg...

G'nite my dears!

xCharlotta

For the love of nature

I truly love a piece of nature mixed in with my interior decor

and scattered around our home are examples of this.

A neat stack of perfect grey stones picked at the bottom of

a waterfall in the remote North of Sweden, a perfect bunch

of bare tree branches on the mantle in our dining room, a jar

of white star shaped shells that I found on a beach a few hours

South of Sydney, a sculptural piece of drift wood picked in

New Zealand, and a large heart shaped sandstone rock...

I like how these objects help ground our home, and how they

add a touch of warmth and personality at the same time as they

bring back some lovely memories about how we found them.

Here are a few lovely images of nature brought inside..

xCharlotta

Halloween treats

Thought this would be a cute treat for all

spooky little door knockers at Halloween..

You could either make the stickers yourself, or buy ready-to-use

ones at your local super market or toy store. Either way they are

bound to make the little Trickers & Treaters very happy..

If you unlike me are a handy baker, these creations look fab!
Will make the fiercest of vampire visitors go vegetarian for sure!!

Ideas via fab Australian online magazine 'lmnop'.

xCharlotta

Halloween DIY

One of my regular blog reads is that of

'Eddie Ross'.

Not only are his ideas & projects inspiring, but his

skillful guiding also makes it easy & fun to carry out.

Great if you like me, have to be very time-efficient

with any extra curricular crafting activities.

Today's post was about these really adorable

little felt napkin holders - 'batkin holders'.

Click into Eddie's blog for instructions.

HERE

xCharlotta

Pine cones

 Pine cones (and other cones for that matter) are
such a great decor resource for Winter.

I love decorating with them for Christmas and

it is just such a thing my mother and I used to do

when I was a wee little girl. We'd spray them

white, silver or gold and hang them in the tree or

put them on the Christmas table with candles & twigs.

Though these glammed up cones look great -
especially mixed with a few rustic basics,
a bowl of natural pine cones is just fabulous and

perhaps more in line with a Swedish style Christmas..

Here is some more inspiration for you.

I realize that some of these pictures are a little bit out
of date, but I love the ideas behind the actual execution..

Happy decorating!

xCharlotta

Crayon Rocks

Barbara Lee DaBoll, a special needs teacher

invented these fantastic 'crayon rocks' in order

to help children stimulate fine motor development.

The crayons are designed to stimulate the development

of the so called 'tripod grip' (thumb, and two fingers)

that help kids prepare for handwriting later on.

Since children often use crayons as their very first

writing or drawing tool, Barbara wanted to provide one that

was easy, fun and safe to use for all ages and skill levels.

 The crayons come in a range of fantastic natural mineral

colours (!) with a base made from organic soy wax,

making them non-toxic, eco-friendly and extremely smooth.

Crayon Rocks

What a great gift!

xCharlotta

Ben & Kate Gatski

People who re-cycle are brilliant in my mind.

 They are even more brilliant if they manage to

create something fun & unique out of the material.

 Like artists Ben & Kate Gatski have done as they

collect machine parts from across Pennsylvania.

More from HERE

xCharlotta

Chalkboard craze

Mmmm..

Bit like the sad & tired menu at our house this week...

(perhaps not that bad, but still..)

Have blogged this one before, but am doing it again

as I love the idea of the bench in a kid's room.

 This is a DIY chalkboard - surprisingly easy to make.

 Recipe

Find suitable vintage frame.

Paint it in desired colour.

Measure inside frame.

Have wood cut to size.

Paint with chalkboard paint.

Fit to frame.

Et voila!

 This gorgeous beast is from 'Room', however

you can easily make one by painting any desired

shape or pattern straight onto your wall, using

chalkboard paint. Fun little project..

 Same with this - easy to do if you have time

or the strength. I love the idea and result.

Or you can go full throttle and paint your entire

bedroom (or nursery) with chalkboard paint like

Jenna Lyons did in her fantastic NY terrace home.

See a post on Jenna's home HERE.

xCharlotta