DIY Copper Napkin Holders

I've been sucked in to thinking that the silly season is just around the corner and a quick glimpse at my diary tells me that is in fact the case. I love planning different table scape scenarios; textures, colours and all the little details, including napkin holders! I grabbed a stack of copper plant labels from a near-by hardware store, thinking they could make fun gift tags. I might end up using them for that purpose as well, but for now they will serve as super-stylish napkin holders. 

What you need

Copper plant labels (mine are from Bunnings, pack of 10 for $3.23!)

A hole punch (just a regular will do, these labels are thin and soft)

Simply punch a hole on the other end of the label (they already have one hole), loop the label around the napkin and tie up using the copper strings. And you're done! 

DIY Faux Leather Wall Hanging

I am always looking for new things to hang on our walls, but rarely feel like spending too much money on a piece of art I might end up getting bored with in a few months. I've wanted to make something for the longest time, something like this seemingly simple piece, but deep down I knew I could not pull it off. I know I'm not a painter, but perhaps I am a bit of a crafter, so I thought of creating a wall hanging using some of the metallic faux leather I picked up on a recent trip to Japan. I love working with faux leather fabric; it doesn't fray so you don't need to hem it, especially if used in something like this that doesn't get fiddled with too often. This fabric is quite readily available in all major craft stores, but I've even ordered some on Etsy. There is a great array of colours available so it is easy to get carried away! 

As a background I used a canvas I had picked up from a discount store ages ago. I thought of using a scallop pattern to create a bit more interest and the material I used added an extra layer of texture. You could use a variety of colours and/or different materials to create a more interesting look, but I wanted something quite subtle to hang atop a dresser in our guest room. 

I cut the pieces using a stencil and drafted a rough sketch on the canvas as a guide. Double-sided tape was great for attaching the pieces and way less messy than hot glue! Adding fabric around the edges of the canvas gave the piece a more finished look. 

I'm quite happy with the result and I can't wait to try making another piece with different shapes and colours! 

DIY Make Up Bag

I've been looking for a new make up bag for quite a while, but never seem to find one that ticks all the boxes. I came across this pattern and decided to give it a go. The size is just perfect (I made mine a bit smaller than the original pattern) and I love the pastel colours. These are so quick and easy to make I might just have to make a couple more! 

Easy Bedroom Fix - Night Stand and Bedhead in One

I have looked for yonks. but I can't seem to find night stands for our bedroom that I'd be happy with. They are often too bulky and have too much or too little storage. They are too low or too high and end up taking too much space on both sides of the bed. I have tried so many different options and looked everywhere for perfect pieces, but with no luck. Now I have finally found a solution: a shelf above the bed that works not only as a night stand but also as a bed head. And it takes no floor space! I'm really happy with this simple and ridiculously low-cost fix!

A Golden Tray

An old wire tray gets a glamorous make-over with some gold coloured spray paint. Such a quick and easy update for my desk! 

Christmas Mood Board: Pink & White

Here's some more pink goodness on your way for Christmas! I just couldn't help myself putting together another mood board with just pink and white; it must be the summer that makes me turn to the pretty pastels. 

I love how those dip-dyed candles turned out, they have almost a caramelly swirl to them. The Japanese porcelain bambis are one of my favourite things; they were a lucky found from a second hand shop a couple of years ago.

With these thoughts and pictures, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! 

PS. Don't forget to check out my Pinterest boards for more pastel love!

Christmas Mood Board: Mint & Pink

Instead of the more traditional Christmas colours (see my palettes from last year here and here), I decided to go for something a bit different this year. I was inspired by the white horse I bought as a Christmas ornament, but it reminded me of children's carnivals and along came these colours: mint, pink, grey and white. 

I used white paper as a base for the parcels and added little strips of colourful wrapping paper with string, washi tape and labels. Of course I had to add a few silver bells there too as a reminder of Christmas.

Geisha and Fazermint chocolates are by a well known Finnish manufacturer called Fazer. Although I'm not a huge candy fan (let alone milk chocolate fan), these were a must for Christmas! 

What colours are you using this Christmas? Are you going for the more traditional ones like white and red or experimenting with something different? 

PS. For more inspiration, check out my updated Pinterest boards. 

Christmas Gift Idea - Baby Girls' Dress

I found a pattern for this adorable open back dress for baby girls on Etsy. The dress was really easy to make and there are endless options for patterns and decorations. I think they make a lovely Christmas present for little girls! I also customised some wooden hangers to go with the dresses. Cuteness overload :-)

A Little Bit of Christmas

It's always hard for me to get into real Christmas spirit whilst in the middle of Australian summer. There's no need/point to burn candles and all the decorations just somehow seem really out of place against the sunny skies and lush green vegetation. Even food I grew up eating at Christmas just doesn't quite work here: oven-baked casseroles, filling salads and a hot cup of glogg are all a bit too much when the temperature reaches 30C and beyond.

I'm keeping the decorations to a minimum and sticking to my usual colour scheme of white and wood. I managed to make a himmeli (a traditional Christmas decoration made of natural straw) of some sort and although it's far from perfect, I'm quite pleased I had the patience to actually finish it. Since we won't have a Christmas tree, I've hung some decorations (hand-made and shop-bought) from tall willow branches we have in our living room all year around. The hand-crafted wooden star hanging on our window (it has a light inside) is quite old; I brought it back from Finland when I was there last year.

I think this is pretty much it for the decorations this year. I haven't even started thinking about what foods I might make, but chances are it will just be something that's quick and easy to make.

Bedroom Make-Over

We finally had a bedroom make-over this past weekend. Our bedroom was painted green by the previous owners and ever since we moved in I've been wanting to paint the room to match the rest of our apartment. I'm so happy we were able to match the paint exactly just by using some paint swatches I happened to have at home, and I am really pleased with the outcome. 

We don't have hanging curtains elsewhere in our apartment, but I wanted them in the bedroom for a softer look. I love the sheer voile that lets the light in and completes the overall feel of the room.

I moved the ladder from the kitchen in to the bedroom so I could hang extra blankets and throws on it. The cute deer fabric is a recent purchase, but I haven't yet decided what to use it for.

Featured on Rom123

This DIY ladder, built by my dad whilst visiting us here in Sydney, was featured on a Norwegian interiors magazine Rom123 this past month. Needless to say I was surprised and honoured to be asked for a feature and I hope that this little project can inspire others too.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

DIY Shelf System for the Study

I kick-started the new week with a bit of DIY for our study. I needed a shelving unit next to my desk where I could keep all the things I use almost daily plus display those things that inspire me in my work. I had bookmarked this DIY ages ago and when I came across it again this morning, I decided to try making my own version of it.

I wanted to keep the natural colour of wood because we have a lot of wooden items around our home anyway. I also happen to love the patterns in the wood so I didn't want to cover them by paint. I made the shelves a bit wider (9cm) and attached two 180cm long pieces of timber (each 23.5cm wide) together. Pine is soft enough to attach the screws by hand, so I needn't use any electrical tools; just a saw, a measuring tape, some sanding paper and a leveller. I'm sure no carpenter would approve of my work, but I am myself quite happy with the result :-)

Easy peasy and now I have new-found motivation for the coming week!

 

 

DIY Ladder

I made a simple decorative ladder for the kitchen. It's perfect for hanging a tea towel, a floor brush and other every day items. When I get bored of it here I might move it to the bathroom for towels or to the bedroom for blankets and throws.

Floor brush and rattan hooks are available on my online store Pikku-Kota

Home Maintenance

 

I have been doing a bit of home maintenance lately; organising, de-cluttering and decorating. Here in Sydney I don't really change home interiors according to seasons, except for adding a few cosy blankets here and there for the cooler months, but I do like the idea of starting each season with a kind of inventory.

The wooden chest in our living room was recently brought to Sydney by my parents. It is a traditional "bridal chest", filled with linen and given to the daughter in the family when she gets married. This one was handmade by a Swedish carpenter back in 1991 when I was just 10 years old. I'm so happy to finally have it here in our Sydney-home.

 

I'm sticking to my grey-white-wood colour scheme throughout the year. I have assorted vessels in simple, timeless designs and some wooden beads I absolutely adore. Marimekko print on the living room wall adds a splash of colour.

Our kitchen has generous storage space, but I like to keep some things on display on the bench top, just to add a touch of homeyness. When my parents were visiting us, dad and I finished a few DIY projects, including this cute little ladder for the kitchen and some new shelves for our laundry space.

I'm absolutely smitten by my new wooden clothes horse. I've always had to hide the ugly plastic stands, but no more! I can store this inside during the rainy season and it's almost like a pretty piece of furniture. I love it!

Christmas Treats - Cranberry Toffee and Finnish Prune Tarts

I had somehow managed to convince myself that Christmas is still a week away and was wondering what all this "last minute" fuss is all about. A quick flip through my calendar shows, however, that Christmas is indeed a mere weekend away and I still have a lot to do before Monday. 

We have had some hot summery weather here in Sydney and I have not spent a lot of time sweltering in the kitchen. Nevertheless, I have managed to make a batch of super-easy cranberry toffees and some traditional Finnish Christmas tarts filled with prune jam. Those tarts will be a perfect treat for myself when I work my way through the final preparations for the festivities. 

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas!

 Joulutortut - Finnish Christmas Tarts

(makes about 20)

Prune Jam

250g pitted prunes

2 tablespoons sugar

250-300ml water

Christmas Tarts

250g butter, slightly softened

250g plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

100ml cold water

(1-2 tablespoons cognac, optional)

1 egg, for brushing

1. Start by making the prune jam. Add all ingredients in a saucepan, bring to boil and let simmer until the prunes are completely soft. Use a hand mixer to purée the mixture into a smooth jam. Set aside.

2. Add butter, flour and baking powder to a large mixing bowl. Use your finger tips to massage the butter and flour into a crumbly mixture. Add water (and cognac, if using). Form into a smooth dough, but avoid kneading. Refrigerate for half an hour.

3. Roll the dough into a square and fold the top and the bottom half in the middle. Turn the dough (so it looks like a book), then roll again. Repeat three times. Wrap the dough in cling and refrigerate for about 2 hours or overnight.

4. To make the tarts, roll the dough into a large square (1/2 centimetre thick) and cut into about 7 x 7 cm squares. Make a diagonal cut in each corner of each square, add about a teaspoon of prune jam in the middle, then fold every other 'point' into the middle. Pinch the points to 'glue' them together, then transfer the tarts on a baking tray and refrigerate before baking.

5. Preheat the oven to 225C.

6. Brush the tarts with egg before baking. Bake for about 15 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. These can be frozen.

Cranberry Toffee

(makes 10-15 pieces)

200ml  cream

160g sugar

2 tablespoons dark treacle

1-2 tablespoons butter

about 80g dried cranberries

1. Add cream, sugar and treacle in to a saucepan. Turn on the heat and let bubble for about 20-30 minutes or until the mixture has reached a temperature of 120C. Keep stirring every now and then to avoid over-boiling. 

2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in butter and cranberries. Pour the mixture in to a square dish (15 x 20cm), lined with greased baking paper. Refrigerate for a few hours before cutting into small squares. This will keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge.