My favorites from Euro Style Lighting

Modern lamps from top to bottom: Planetarium Chrome Ivory Fabric Possini Euro Ceiling Lamp, Vienna Full Spectrum Stacked Chain 26-1/2-Inch-H Table Lamp, Opal Glass 37-Inch-W Possini Euro Design Pendant, Lilypad Etched Modern Possini Euro Ceiling Light Fixture

Now that summer is almost here, some of us tend to look for new ways to liven up and refresh areas around the house. Sometimes this task can bring excellent results with minimal changes. Maybe a new cushion here, or a big mirror there can do the trick. But what about changing the lighting fixture of (lets say) the living room? I can guarantee that this simple change will bring new light to your space. 

Enter Euro Style Lighting, a company that has a large collection of contemporary lighting besides offering a wide variety of European inspired lighting that includes modern light fixtures, ceiling lights, lamps and shades in every size, color and style to fit any area of your home.
Some of their designs come from European lighting sources while others find their inspiration on design icons such as Karim Rashid, Holtkoetter and Jonathan Adler. From retro modern looks, contemporary art shade lamps and pendant lights to dramatic crystal chandeliers and more, Euro Style Lighting has an unique approach to all thing with light!

So before you make a final decision about what to do or what to change in that same old same old living room, I invite you to take a look at my selections from Euro Style Lighting.

Industrial inspired lamps starting from left to right: Industrial Atom Edison Bronze Modern Mini Pendant Light, Cerno Silva Baltic Birch and Ebony Table Lamp, Planet Chrome and Black Possini Euro Pendant Chandelier and Antique Brass Web Sphere Ennis Table Lamp.

Succulent cupcakes

Yes, you read correct! They taste good, look good and the best part is that they are very easy to do. I know, I know... these are not real succulents, though some might look as the real thing. I made this tutorial base on a great Pinterest finding a I did a while ago. You can check out my "Easy tutorial board"  here. For this tutorial all you'll need are some vellum paper, scissors, skewers or toothpicks and some cupcakes that can be store bought or you can make your own.

Here is the recipe I used. I have to say they came out perfectly moist and soft and the frosting was just perfect. Both recipes can be found on the Simply Sweet magazine but I'm putting here the cupcake recipe for easy access.
Butter cake:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all purpose soft wheat flour (I used regular all purpose)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
2. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
3. Place paper baking cups in muffin pan (I used the aluminium one since with the black one time varies). Spoon batter into cups, filling two-thirds full.
4. Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes. (I waited around 6 minutes and then turned the pan around for the other half of the time. This way they cook evenly.) Take them out of the oven and leave them to rest for 10 minutes.
This recipe was way too easy and the results were spectacular. For the frosting I used the basic vanilla frosting but you can used any type of flavor and color.
While the cupcakes cooled down, I started preparing my succulents. I took some pictures and placed them all outlined on a Photoshop document. After they were all arranged, I printed them on vellum (available at Michael's) and started to cut them out. I'm sharing with you the hi-res one that I used for you to print it. Remember to adjust the size so it will fit in a letter size vellum paper.

When I was done cutting, I used a pin to make the hole on the center of each succulent so I could pass the skewer through them. To decorate each cupcake, I combine some small and the big plants to make a great mix. This is how they end up looking. These mini yumm-ariums (Yummy terrariums) are an attention grabber and a fun thing to do for a party. Hope you enjoy this easy tutorial and let me know your feedbacks. I really would love to read what is on your mind!

Fast and easy camera strap

This was one of those projects I've been procrastinating, but finally I taped myself to the chair and in front on my sewing machine. If it weren't for the beautiful fabric samples I've received from the new collection of HGTV (now available on Jo-Ann), most probably this idea of making a camera strap would have been shelved already!
As a warning before I start with this tutorial: "I do not know how to sew". Having said that (and feeling a lot of relieve) I have to add that indeed this was very easy to do and fun.

Easy Kokedama

A rounded based plant surrounded by moss, is how I can very briefly describe how a Kokedama looks like. There are some people that think this might be an evolved form of a bonsai, but for me it is like a mini- ecosystem as round and almost as perfect as our planet Earth.
These plants are very easy to do and take care of. And the best part is that they can go almost anywhere in your home like a hanging garden. The selection of plants is of your choice, thought I recommend to keep in mind the place where this Kokedame is going to be living: direct sunlight, indirect, etc.
Because this project is so easy to do, I'm going to give you a step-by-step with photos. This way you'll have a better idea on how to do it.

All you need for a Kokedame are a good potting mix (I use organic), peat moss, sheet moss , plants of your choice and some string rope. I bought all of these materials at Home Depot.

I made a mix of 3/4 potting mix and 1/4 peat moss and pour some water over the mix until the consistency was strongly enough to hold into a ball shape.

Before placing the plant in the ball, I remove all the soil it had from the previous pot.

Making a hole on the dirt ball, I placed the plant and its roots on it and proceeded to close it with my fingers.

You should end-up having something like this

After I finished placing the plant inside the ball and molding it to make sure it holds its shape, I started placing the sheet moss around my dirt ball.

To finish it all, I wrapped my moss ball with some string rope. The beauty of this step comes on trying to be as creative as one can with the way you wrap the ball. There is right or wrong way. It just works out like a  piece of art.

After my Kokedama was finished, I dunk the little fuzzy ball on water for 2 minutes to let it absorb some water. Remember to spray it with water , maybe once every other day. 

Here is the recap step-by-step of the Kokedama.

So there you have it, your own little moss world. So peaceful and full of life it is an astonishing thing to look at. Hope you like this tutorial and if so, drop me a comment. I would love to read you!

Country Living: The little book of big decorating ideas (Preview)

Hitting the shelves on your nearest bookstore on June 2013, the new book from Country Living, The Little Book of Big Decorating Ideas is soon to be on the top list of designers and decorators enthusiasts. Filled with easy to do home projects (287 to be exact) and ideas on how to give new uses to old things, The Little Book of Big Decorating Ideas is like having a D.I.Y. agenda for each day of the week.

This compilation from Country Living Magazine best decorating advises, has everything from ideas for storage solutions (my favorite is #71: to put away flowerpot saucers, use a sink dish drainer) to great wall art options (the best is #240: using beautiful framed paper bags as wall accents)  It even has the famous "How to Instructions" at the end.

It also has something for the gardeners (the professional or like me, the "green-less thumb" ones) with so many beautiful well illustrated photographs. To give you an idea of how easy and inspirational The Little Book of Big Decorating Ideas is, below you'll see how with some day-to-day items I can rapidly arrange a towel display with a simple apple ladder. Perfect for the visitors bath!

So now for the good part, I'm giving away one of this spectacular book to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment below for a chance to participate.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

HGTV new fabric line at Jo-Ann

If you like to sew, now you'll love it even more. Jo-Ann has join forces and creativity with HGTV to bring a new and colorful collection of fabrics. This new line has upholstery, print and outdoor fabrics besides a great compilation of beautiful trims and the best part is they are all available either on their store or online.
Jo-Ann has kindly send me some beautiful pieces to make something for my readers. So I decided to start by making some new toss pillow covers. Since these were covers, I placed a zipper on the bottom of the cushions for easy cleaning. If your are doing these using an old pillow, measure it but remember to add 1/2 inch to each side for seam purposes. For the zipper, I just followed this easy tutorial.
These were very easy to do. The fabric feels strong and resistant which is a good thing to keep in mind when one has children around the house. I love the colors and patterns because they can be mix and match with so many other things and in so many places. Here you'll see how I placed them in my room over my bed, but also in my sofa and they were a delight to look at.

From now until May 4, Jo-Ann is having a 10% off on the HGTV fabrics collection. Take advantage of this great deal by printing their coupon available here and bringing it to the nearest Jo-Ann store. If you need some ideas on combinations, I've arranged some great ones so you don't arrived empty handed to the store.

These fabric swatches are from the HGTV upholtery collection. From left to right: Pop Art Quartz, Looseleaf Citrine, Boho Lattice Emb Platinum and Dazzler Platinum.

From the HGTV print fabrics collection, left to right: Color Study Berry, Artistic Streak Berry, Circling Passion Fruit and Fully Laced Quartz.

From the HGTV outdoor fabrics collection,  left to right: Hazy Days Spa, Treillage Spa, Palm Perfection Jade and Treillage Jade 

Color impact on your walls

One can select from the Color Block the "Slant" or " Parallel" collection.  (Photo: Blik)

If you are tired of having blank walls around your house, but hate the idea of painting (either because it is a rental or the mess of the paint itself); here is a great to solution to add a pop of color to your space. Color Block wall decals by Mina Javid (architect and owner of the design firm Mina Javid Design) use color and crisp geometry to change the perception of your space. Dramatically change an area and transform the feeling of a room through the use of bold, overlapping colors on smooth walls, ceilings and floors.

These wall decals come in four color combinations to chose from. (Photo: Blik)

These creative wall decals (design to be mixed and interlocked) come in sets and are available in four color combinations, all of which complement one another. Here is an interesting video on how these Color Block decals are placed on walls. It is a very easy and fun task.