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That’s It! I’m Moving In With LeeAnn Yare

by Chavah Kinloch on June 21, 2011

I mean, wouldn’t you? (Warning, photo overload)

We’re slowly working on our home and if you were to look into the future, our house would look pretty similar to this. In fact she’s got products I’ve got on my wishlist all through her home and we even have the same tiles in the bathroom. In the July 2011 edition of Your Home and Garden Magazine LeeAnn mentions that she just worked with what she had house-wise and made only cosmetic changes. This is exactly how we’re doing things too. It’s so much fun.

For us and our pretty close to zero budget it’s taking a while but creatively it’s a real challenge and I’m really thriving on it. Making use of objects I’d long forgotten about and mixing pieces of furniture from different rooms that hadn’t been put together before is giving me a natural high every time I work on a room. Which reminds me, Andrew and I have made a lot of progress on Miss V’s bedroom, I’ll have an update for you soon hopefully. I’m just waiting for a few more projects to come together first. Stay tuned!

If you’ve never worked on a home before, I have to say that working on a kids room is quite possibly the most fun project ever. With Vahnija’s room I’m really going for it, she’s a lot like me so I know I can really let loose. When I was working on it this past weekend I made joke that I was moving in and she could take my room. Letting loose creatively really makes me wish I could work on all three kids bedrooms at once; finish of  The Boss’ humble retreat and give the big boys a room they’ll never want to leave. It makes me think I should be working harder to actually bring in some money to support my DIY habit *blush*.

I enjoy seeing LeeAnn’s bold, unapologetic use of colour and pattern all throughout her home, especially her kids rooms where she’s got all the colours of the rainbow working together (much like Miss V’s room!) and where she’s patched together old wallpaper samples to create a huge mood board on the walls of her home office.  I can dig it.

Do you have a favourite room in your home? What makes it your favourite space?

P.S. Sorry about the terrible quality of the photos, I had to photograph them myself and there’s no sunshine to help get the lighting right today.

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Creating – Back in Business Baby!

by Chavah Kinloch on April 11, 2011

Boston is at a beautiful age right now (20 months). For the most part he’s allowing me to create throughout the day while he ‘draws’ alongside me or just enthusiastically watches. It seems living from such a young age with all my materials around them, my kids have grown into understanding what they are and aren’t allowed to touch so it’s only when they’re extremely young (under one) that I have issues with them touching my projects or products. I’m feeling really grateful that we’re back to a stage where I can trust each kid (for the most part) to not destroy what I’ve got in the works. It’s allowing me to create as often as I want…which is constantly right now. I love it.

So right now I’m working on a few projects and really just experimenting again.

Up next I am part of a fundraiser for the SPCA in an event called The Funky Chicken. You’ll find my creation at Jay Jays on Esk St, Invercargill from the 25th-29th of April (Easter week). After that it’ll be available to purchase via silent auction at H &J Smiths, Invercargill store. On the 22nd of May the sculpture/chicken will be able to be collected/delivered to the highest bidder.

Here is a photo from last week, it’s had a lot of progress made on it since then but I won’t be revealing any more until it’s completed! Exciting :D

Right now I am heading in a more loose abstract expressionism direction with my paintings and enjoying the freedom it offers. It might have a lot to do with my absolute despise of being ‘told’ what to do. Everyone has issues, that’s my biggie. My parents would strongly agree I’m sure haha. It runs through into my hatred for people saying what art should look like. There are certain things that make up a good creation but not everyone should use the same techniques and styles. I get really annoyed when I hear people try to argue that someone like Pablo Picasso didn’t make ‘real’ art. Yes, I have in fact heard people talk like this. The art world would stifle if we all stopped listening to our own creative prowess. These two paintings shown are recent creations and I have two complete abstracts in the works that I’ll get to once my deadlines are done.

Below: Forever in my Memories

(excuse the poor photo below – painting currently untitled)

I’m working on a portrait commission of a gorgeous wee girl at the moment too. I forget how much I love to sketch. Hopefully I’ll get her finished this week.

I’m also helping my kids design their ‘dream rooms’. They’re making little models and taking great pride in their designs.

My oldest boys actually share a room so my youngest in the photo is just painting his weet-bix box turned piano hehe. The others were painting and he didn’t want to be left out.

Coming up I have the annual NZAG collaborative project to work on but I haven’t started on that yet. I’ll be sure to share a peek of that when I finally get around to it!

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A Little Bling Never Hurt Anyone!

by Chavah Kinloch on December 2, 2010

Says she with the silver glitter on her face…

Don’t worry, I’m not trying out some new make up regime. I’ve already been a tween, those days have long come and gone. It’s only there because I woke up far too early and went to my sons kindergarten for craft day.

Me + a bunch of children + first thing in the morning = Parental torture.

I did love spending time with my son though and I was sad to leave him after our morning was over. I was even nice enough to help out another child with her crafts. Good for me lol. Really… if you knew how much I hate mornings…

Boston loved it as well but thank goodness that’s over for another year. You’d think after doing this with my other kids I’d have learned to love it by now but no. Maybe when it’s Boston’s turn I’ll love it because then I won’t have anyone smaller to run around after while trying to sit and do crafts. There’s always hope, right? I think I did pretty well though, I didn’t try to take over making the crafts, I let my son do it with just a little guidance here and there. No easy feat for this over-the-top crafting Mother. Although, I did avoid the Angel making table because I think I’d have to had made those paper doilies into something bigger and blingier than anyone’s ever seen before. Those doilies wouldn’t have known what hit them! Usually nothing is safe when I’ve got glue and glitter in my hands.

I think I woke up in a bling bling mood because even my outfit is accessorised today.

Speaking about the bling bling... one of my favourite things at the moment (and it has been for a while now) is metallic wallpaper. For many, it will be a design feature that isn’t for them but if you haven’t figured it out by now, I like bold statement pieces, so this would go great in any home for me. Hopefully one day I’ll get my hands on some but for now, I’ll just lust over these rooms in the photos.

Feel free to drool with me!

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Sexy New Subjects

by Chavah Kinloch on July 26, 2010

Welcome to the first official day of my regular routine! I’ve loved my time off but am really excited to be back painting my paintings and venturing into finishing and starting new furniture projects to take from wreck to ravishing.

This is my current project. I was going to make it extremely artistic but now I’m not sure if I want to anymore! I’m thinking I’ll change my mind and go a completely different direction.

Purchase price: $15.00

This is the lampshade I purchased in Dunedin. I loved it’s colour and lantern-like shape. I bought it the day after I visited the most kick-@$$ Chinese restaurant and was feeling inspired by the restaurants interior design. I’m considering adding some bling to this.

Purchase price $10.00

This was purchased from the dump. It looks to be part of a mid century Scandinavian design set. I love the little curves in the bars and at the front of the seat. It almost seems like sacrilege to take to it the way I want to but alas, I’m still going to do it my way.

Purchase price: $5.00

I’m not a huge fan of cane furniture but there are some pieces that I see potential in. This is one of them. Right now it has a rustic feel to it and is in need of a good spray and wipe. I’m sure it will come up a treat when I’m done.

Purchase price: $2.00

How cute is this stool?! My husband saw it first and told me he knew I’d buy it as soon as I saw it. He knows me well.
The seat is more of an olive green colour. It’s cute enough as it is but does need some TLC to bring it to it’s full potential.

Purchase price: $6.50

I looove how sexy the base of this table is. It’s REAL wood, extremely heavy. This is the project I really want to get started on BUT my rule for myself is I have to finish one thing first before I move on. So I’d better get back to it now :)

Purchase price: $20.00

Do you have any current projects on the go? Feel free to leave your link! I’d love to see.

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My Secret Love’s No Secret Anymore

by Chavah Kinloch on July 10, 2010

This is not a paid review. This is just my secret obsession.

I’ve been keeping a secret from you all but I can do it no more. I am having a love affair with another family. It’s been going on for months. Their name is Novogratz and they are just simply amazing. I have not been so inspired by anything in years. I’ve read every magazine article on them, every newspaper interview and almost every blog post ever written about them.

Told you. Obsessed.

It took me a while but I did it. If only I had paid this much attention to school, I may have stuck it out longer.

Why do I love them so much?

Easy.

They learned by doing. They’re laid back. They have great style. They have seven kids. SEVEN. Love it. It almost makes me reconsider having more. Almost. Then I remember there’s pregnancy involved and how no one but me seemed to like the woman deemed Miss B*tch that hung around for nine months.. It’s a wonder I’m still married.

The Novogratz are a gorgeous family living in downtown New York. Fifteen years ago Robert and Cortney purchased their first property, a derelict town house in Chelsea; an untouched, unfashionable part of New York at the time and began their first gut renovation.

Back then Robert was working on Wall Street and Cortney was in pursuits of an acting career.

It was through this first renovation they began to realise they had a knack for blending the old with the new; unique flea market items with designer decor to create high-end homes on a budget.

This was the beginning of an exciting journey for the couple who went on to buy and gut more property (including a gun shop!), have seven children (including two sets of twins) and create a business called SIXX Design (named after their six children and one more X for any more to come along).

If that wasn’t enough, in the U.S. they’ve just celebrated the end of the first season of their new BRAVO reality TV show; 9 by Design. I’ve been trying to get my hands on this show (happy to pay for it if you can help me!) but can’t because everything is limited to people based in America. I feel so left out. No really, I do. Ask my husband.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see the first two episodes (all legit I swear) and have so far watched them both three times. Two of those times with my children. Yes, I’ve spread the obsession to my kids. They are also big fans.

So last month I ordered their book; oops I forgot to mention this earlier. YES, they even have a book!!

I purchased it off Amazon and it arrived here much quicker than anticipated. Don’t you love when that happens?! I unwrapped it and spent the whole afternoon reading over everything. I shared it with my children and we all pointed at the different things we liked, my husband came home and read through it too (also a fan). I don’t hide my love affair from them, I get them to join me.

The Novogratz children remind me of my own, especially Breaker and Tallulah. I love the fact they called their fifth child Five and I cracked up at the scene where they joked about calling their latest addition “X” because my husband and I did the same thing when we were pregnant. We even gave it an arm action. It was the proper way to say it!…we decided to go with Davis though.

If you haven’t heard of them, now you have. It’s pretty clear to see that I am smitten with them and I bet you will be too.

One last reason I love them:

Robert’s favourite food: Pizza.          Cortney’s favourite: Sushi.
Andrew’s favourite food: Pizza.        My favourite: Sushi.

Separated at birth? What do you reckon. Just sayin’.

Disclaimer: This is my affiliate link but the book is SO worth it. I’m going to read mine again!

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Find Chavah Kinloch on Zazzle

I set up a store on Zazzle the other week and I’m finally getting around to telling you about it! You can now purchase items like magnets, mousepads, shoes, caps, tees and hoodies; created from my designs. Prices start at just $4.00. My favourite would have to be these: They’ll be available for purchase tomorrow for US$80. [...]

Today’s Favourite Finds

How lucky am I? This is what greeted me in the mail today. It’s a small package from fellow artist Amy Mackiewicz. Thank you Amy! Totally unexpected but also completely adored. I think I’ll kick back with my mag tomorrow morning and I’ll definitely be making good use of my Christmas and recipe cards! My [...]

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