Hidden Treasures...

One of my favorite things is shopping at antique malls and flea markets. I love the aspect of "hunting" through other peoples' "junk" and creating something truly unique and special out of it.

I spent Saturday morning with my Dad at the Strathcona Antique Mall. If you haven't been there you must go - it's one of the best antique stores I have been to. The main reason I went was to find some vintage window frames. I didn't end up finding the right window frame, however, I did find some other unique hidden treasures. 

I saw an old railing piece that was in a pile of old wood scraps. It caught my eye because it was a pale yellow and had a great texture. I was really drawn to this piece and thought, "What can I do with this...", and with a little bit of thinking I decided it would make a great magazine rack! So I rotated the railing 90 degrees and leaned it against the wall and created a unique vintage magazine rack. It could also be used as a towel rack in a bathroom or a drying rack for your delicate laundry.

Living in a 900 square foot house, I am always looking for unique storage solutions. I found a vintage wooden box and thought that it would be great in my living room for storing yarn and all my knitting goods. I like the idea of pairing a modern and vintage piece together, so I decided it would be perfect under my black modern side table.

Happy treasure hunting - yarrr! :)

~ Megan

Buena Vida!

Hola Amigos!

Hope everyone had a great holiday season! I just got back from a wonderful vacation to Mexico, where I experienced some Mayan ruins, snorkeling, cenotes, cliff jumping, zip-lining, kayaking, beaches and of course- TEQUILA!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures!

If anyone is looking for a tour guide in the Mayan Riviera, I highly recommend Edventure Tours. http://www.edventuretours.com.mx/ 

We went with them on both of our tours and I can't say it enough - it was the best tour I have EVER been on!

Hasta luego!!

My Favorite Things in 2010!

Happy New Years everyone! Sorry it's been so long since my last posting.

As we enter into this new year I'd like to think back and recall some of my favorite design ideas from 2010.

Here a few of my favorite things......

1. Using Gray as a Neutral Color.

http://www.asaltulis.com/search/indian%20salad%20decoration%20pictures

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/la/060109_greyBathDbl.jpg

One of my favorite colors to use is gray, because it's a great neutral color. I love pairing it with a clean white or a bright, energetic color.

2. Stainless Steel

http://www.outinhome.com/2009/06/stainless-steel-kitchen-design-by-mark-elam-zanuso/

I have been using stainless steel a lot at work and love the way it shines! :)

3. Wallpaper

http://thecraftbegins.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/wallpaper.jpg

I have always been inspired by wallpaper, but in 2010 I saw some of my favorite collections.

4. Vintage Patterns

http://www.kristyleeinteriors.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

I love the juxtaposition of a vintage pattern with modern elements.

5. Natural Elements

http://coolboom.net/en/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/mid-century-modern-house2.jpg

I love the idea of bringing nature indoors. I love using tree branches, feathers, bark, and natural fabrics when designing a space.

6. Empty Frames

http://www.handmadeology.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/design.jpg

I love the look of hanging vintage frames as a collection on a wall. In particular, keeping the frames empty puts the focus on the frame itself, such that it becomes the artwork.

7. Chalkboard Paint

http://thetrendyhome.com/files/2010/03/chalkboard-wall.JPG

I love the idea of chalkboard paint being used in a children's room, art studio, cabinet doors, or wherever you feel most creative.

8. Antiques

http://books4d.com/images/dec_books3.jpg

Over the last year I have been collecting a few pieces of antiques. My favorites are antiques books; I love engendering a sense of history in a room.

9. Old Window Frames

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/images/uploads/at45b4c004e5cb01.61175577.jpg

A few months ago I found an antique window frame hidden in my garage. I was very inspired by this piece and started to think about unique ways of displaying this treasure (this is a design idea I will be bringing with me into 2011).

Happy New Years! Here is to another 365 days of new and inspiring design ideas!

CHEERS!

My First Craft Sale!

Last weekend Jenna Nutting and myself took part in the Westmount Community “Shop the Hall” craft sale.

We shared a table and had a variety of homemade items on display. The items I was selling included: jewelry trees, button & stone earrings, fridge magnets, knitted coffee sleeves, and holiday dog collars.

Jenna was selling a bunch of knitted items, including cowels, baby boots, scarfs, toques, fingerless gloves, and neck warmers. The baby boots were adorable and were loved by everyone!

Overall, the event was a success! We had a great time, met some talented people, and learnt a lot.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, we appreciate your support!

If you are interested in seeing and / or purchasing any of the items Jenna was selling, you can contact her at jenna.nutting@gmail.com


For any of my merchandise, contact me at myshoeboxdesign@gmail.com

Recipe Time: Martha Stewart Cranberry-and-Orange Vodka

(Image from http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/infused-vodka)

This is an easy recipe I found on marthastewart.com. Fruit-infused vodka is a great handmade gift for the holiday season. 


Ingredients: 
1 cup fresh cranberries
1 piece of fresh orange peel
1/4 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of water
3 cups of high quality vodka


The best thing about this recipe is that you can substitute the cranberries and oranges for any type of fruit and create your own personalized fruit vodka.  


Directions:
In a saucepan, heat cranberries, sugar, and water until the sugar dissolves. Pour the cranberries and the liquid into a large glass jar; stir in orange peel and vodka. Cover and let stand in large glass jar for at least 3 days. Strain before serving. 


When gifting your vodka I would suggest attaching a cocktail recipe that works with your personal fruit vodka. 

Easy Entertaining Tips for the Christmas Season...

Christmas time is fast approaching, which means so are Christmas parties. Hosting a Christmas party can be overwhelming and exhausting. Here are a few tips I find helpful when planning to host a Christmas party.

1. Choose a Theme!

I suggest choosing a theme specific to the holiday, and also using a "color palette" that compliments that theme. For instance, if you are hosting a Christmas party and your home is decorated with blue and silver decorations, I would suggest using blue and silver dish and glassware to create a unified look. 

2. Plan Ahead

You should give your guests at least three weeks notice when planning a Christmas party. Its a busy time of the year and you want to make sure you give people enough time to plan ahead. 

3. Create Stations

When hosting a party it's a good idea to have different stations set up around the house. For example, you can have a "Champagne Station" or a "Fondue Station". This creates a few different gathering spots throughout the house, rather then having one large, overcrowded area. 

Try a Milk and Cookie Station!

4. Simple is better

When it comes to food, simple is better. Choose finger foods and appetizers that are easy to make and don't create a huge mess. You don't want to spend a bunch of your time in the kitchen making food or cleaning up messes during the party. After all, it is a party and YOU should enjoy it too!

5. Give yourself some "YOU" time

Plan to have everything ready at least 15 minutes before guests arrive. It's very important for the hostess to have some time to just sit back and relax. You will enjoy hosting much more, and when you are having fun, the guests will be too!

HAVE FUN!  :)