designer

Making Over a Cork Board

by Chavah Kinloch on May 25, 2011

If your kids are anything like mine, they’re constantly making little creations and sticking them on the fridge or on the bookshelves… basically on every spare surface they can find. I have been through multiple systems to keep things in order; some worked, some didn’t. We’re not even moved into the new bedroom yet and my daughter is already making things that she wants to put up in it.

Her dream (for now) is to be a fashion designer. That is music to my ears because I love fashion and design so of course I’m all in to help her. She’s got the attitude and the desire for it. She makes little sketches and cuts things out of magazines to keep so I figure this budding little designer needs her own inspiration board! I’m sure she’ll put it to good use.

Here’s what we did:

Step One: Take any cork pin board. We had this one lying around.

Step Two: Make some glue & grab a brush. We just make a really simple paste out of water and flour but here is a recipe for the same glue with a couple more ingredients.

Step Three: Cut out scraps of paper into rectangles. Ours are about the size of two playing cards sat side by side. You could use fabric instead of paper if you like. We just used some of my daughters scrapbook paper.

Step Four: Brush the paste onto the cork board (as my 1 y/o so enthusiastically demonstrates) or onto the back of the paper then stick the paper down onto the board. Layer it however you want to. I just let my kids figure out where to place the pieces!

We haven’t painted the frame yet but I will be painting it white. I’d recommend painting the frame first, I didn’t because this was a spur of the moment “Look we’ve got half an hour to spare, let’s do something” type of activity. It only shows two children in the photos but they all got in on the act. It’s a really simple activity for everyone.

Total cost = Free (we had everything on hand already)

Update: Last night Vahnija ran over and pinned this to her board. I had no idea what she was up to. I love it. *Gush*

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Six Things I’m Loving Today

by Chavah Kinloch on December 22, 2010

I love this photo. It’s of my nephew Justus with my Nana/his Great-Grandma. She’s been in hospital recently, my brother snapped this shot of them on one of their visits with her. Oh my gosh, it makes my heart melt. It reminds me of a shot I have of my daughter and her, taken on one of our trips home. She’s got the same air of happiness about her. Having her great-grandchildren around never fails to make her smile. We’re at 19 (please let that be right, sorry if I missed anyone) and counting now. 15 boys, 4 girls. If it were judged on the stats in my family, there’d be no such thing as a man drought in the future hehe.

This insanely awesome wall decal is something I’m definitely purchasing in the near future for my daughters bedroom. I’m hoping we get the last coat of paint on Boston’s room during the upcoming holiday’s and then we can move him in! It’s not completely finished, but it’ll do for now until I source the rest of the accessories for his room. After that, next stop – daughter’s room. The decal is created by talented designer David Bray.

Buy It – $95

Design your own Jonathan Adler rug! If you haven’t heard of this yet, you can get excited now because I’ve told you. I bet you end up wasting time designing your own rugs and cushions because of this post. The price is out of my league right now but hey, a girl can dream.

Design it. US $720-$3240

The Hang It All. I have wanted this coat rack for little Bossman’s room for who can even remember how long. It works with the dramatic colourful theme that I’m using. Plus, anyone who has kids can tell you that hats, jackets and bags galore are just part of the package with those little people. You can never have enough storage.

Buy It: $434.44 (Thanks Lisa for the link)

Decoded! Jay Z’s memoir Decoded, hit the shelves (and estores) November 16th. The cover features one of Andy Warhol’s Rorschach images and is a fully illustrated. It’s a narrative documenting the behind the scenes intimacies and first-hand accounts of the highly successful multi-platinum rapper’s most famous raps. If you’re a hip hop fan like me, this is likely to make a great read.

Buy It: $16-$45

Image source

Thunder and lightning! We’ve had a little bit of thunder today and a short period of heavy rain. These are some of my favourite days. As much as I like to get out and play in the sun, having a day where it’s too wet and scary outside to do anything means I get to just chill out at home. With the kids being on holiday, we’re spending our day watching Disney movies and doing word finds and crosswords. Perfection.

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Gwen Gwen Gwen, You’ve Always Been My Favourite

by Chavah Kinloch on November 15, 2010

You know how when you’re young, you’re introduced to celebrities through music, tv and fashion; and you develop slight infatuations with particular celebrities?  Well, as I’ve confessed before, for the longest time, I have been smitten with Will Smith and Gwen Stefani. GWEN!

I love Gwen.

Her style and individuality has always shone through and made me feel like we were long lost friends. Maybe even twins. I know that’s weird and so far from reality. Her with her platinum blonde hair, fair skin…me with my black hair, brown skin and all. Plus she’s a rockstar and I live a happy little suburban lifestyle, and uhh…she doesn’t know me.

Despite our obvious differences, I happily embrace everything she presents to the world, with a big ol smile and feel so excited whenever anything about her comes out. In the past I’ve mocked myself  because I’ve gone through our ‘six degrees of separation’ to see just how close to meeting we actually could get.

What’s that? You want me to share how me and Gwen would know each other? Ok, you twisted my arm.

So this is how it goes:

Me—>Savage—>Akon—->GWEN!

Look at that, we’re so close! We‘re like sisters. Ahhhhhhhh *happy sigh*.

Anyway, today I thought I’d share with you some of the awesomeness that is Gwen Stefani.

She always looks great, I love her style rock chic/Bohemia/pinup style. Those signature red lips are fantastic. I have no idea how she manages to keep them stained though. Any make up artists out there willing to offer me some tips? I’ve only worn red lips once…once *cry*. I did love them though.

Here are some of my favourite looks featuring this very talented musician, mother and designer.

P.S. – photo overload

Pregnant Gwen:

Mummy Gwen:

Gwen’s Costumes:

Gwen Being Gwen:

I LOOOVE Gwen’s Hair:

Anyone else out there a big Gwen Stefani fan?

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Update on a DIY Project for Boston’s Room

by Chavah Kinloch on September 21, 2010

Last night I got back to work on the chair for Boston’s room.

Did I happen to mention that I’ve never actually upholstered a chair before? I think it turned out pretty well for a first attempt! I’m not finished with it yet. I have to add the finishing touches to cover up my tracks but I’m feeling confident that I can actually pull this off. Exciting times!

The yellow is so incredibly bright, the only way I’ll be able to get a shot with it’s true colour is to drag it outside when the sun is shining. The above photo has been enhanced but it’s still not there. So lets hope, that come the time I finish this chair, the sun will be shining and I can finally show you just how powerful the colour is.

I confessed the other day that my sewing skills are almost non-existent, so obviously I’m attempting to reupholster this magnificent little beauty without touching a sewing machine. This next stage may need me to try to sew a straight line but that’s as far a I’m taking it!

I figure that it’s best I attempt to create my own little yellow chair instead of going bankrupt trying to purchase the likes of this:

Oswald armchair with hakon yellow velvet. RRP of £1495 which equals $3212.90 NZ.

If I had the money spare to buy such luxuries, I would. I do appreciate designers. They are, after all, artists. Like the average stay at home Mum though, their gorgeous products are a little (read: a lot) outside of my budget.

If I had the ability to choose exactly what I wanted to buy; nothing spared, no worrying about money; my home would be a  mix of both high and low end items. I’ve never been a label snob, I like what I like, it doesn’t matter if it costs $1 or $1000. Handmade items are a favourite because of the love that goes into creating them while an expensive designer item has always guaranteed me quality.

Where do you sit on the scale? Are you a bargain hunter or designer diehard?

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Time to Turn it On

by Chavah Kinloch on September 19, 2010

We’re not getting much done on the room this weekend. NZ has had a storm and the type of storm we got where I live,  was a snow storm. It’s actually been a lot of fun but it’s so cold there’s just no way we could paint the room. Up until the snow arrived it’d been really sunny and beautiful. It’s been such a contrast in weather these past few days. Beautiful though!

On the first day of the storm, Friday, when it was just cold and miserable; the electrician came over to install a lampshade I bought – once again- some time ago.

I didn’t have an electrician, so how else does one find one nowadays but through asking for recommendations on Facebook. :P

As luck would have it I knew some people, who knew some people and with that an appointment was made and I found myself an electrician.

This is what the lightshade looked like before: (Ok, I forgot to take a photo of the one in Boston’s room so this is the exact same style of shade but on his sisters ceiling – those dots are glow in the dark stars.)

and this is his new designer lampshade:

It has the most amazing glow when it’s on! Money well spent IMO. Putting it together was a mission and a half. It came in pieces in an envelope with the WORST instructions ever. There’s an online video you can watch to help you figure it out but that’s no better!

Eventually, Andrew figured it out on his own but after sitting around (where it was meant to be safe) little hands touched it and a few of the pieces came undone. I attempted to fix it and am proud to say I did it!

So, next to the paint and the cot, this is the most expensive part of the room. In saying that, for the result it gives and the actual amount it cost, it’s really affordable.

Electrician + Dangly hanging bit of the light = $50 (I only had 20′s though and he was so efficient I paid $60)

Lampshade & delivery = $30

Total = $90

Things are starting to take shape! I’ll try and finish the chair over the coming week. If it stays this cold we won’t be painting for a while yet so it’s the perfect time to finish some other projects.

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Introducing you to Decorating with Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

I headed to my local library yesterday. I was in search of Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth, I figured it was about time I read it for myself after having it recommended by numerous people. Unfortunately it was checked out so I browsed the entire non-fiction section instead and came away with four books. Last [...]

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. [...]

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