Happy haunting!

'Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world.
~William Shakespeare



'Tis is the night..


Happy haunting and gathering....

Victoria


Pictures by V. Zlotkowski

Smell The Roses

The past week has been one of those weeks. My mother had a serious turn and is in hospital but is now recovering well.

Thus the lack of posts. I have to say I have been enjoying being around the house for a change this weekend and am enjoying how spectacular the roses are this season, thanks to the rain.

In between writing a few paragraphs for a magazine story in the early hours (before anyone else stirs) I have been popping out to pick some more blooms to enjoy.

My favourites are my climbing Pierre de Ronsard, which has mint green petals with hot pink tips, Julia's Rose which is the most delicate cafe latte colour, and Stainless Steel, a pale grey mauve rose the size of a side plate.

The orange blooms are "Ian Thorpe" named after the famous swimmer. I love them because they are orange, definitely not peach.

Happy Halloween!

From our ghostly home to yours!








A happy Halloween weekend to you all!
xx
Victoria



All pictures and decorations by V.Zlotkowski

Artful inspiration

I just found this painting by August Macke so inspiring ...


That I recreated it at home in a corner of my dining room...





Artwork by August Macke via google image, photography by V.Zlotkowski.

Trick or Treat Mice

To create this card I used Stamps: House Mouse Attentive Friend, Mudpie Tells.  Daisy and Dandelions Aubergine and Pumpkin.  Sizzix Happy Halloween.  Card stock: White hammered, green, orange glittered.  Papers: DP Reminisce Sweet Tooth.  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Tim Holtz Distress.  Colouring: Copic markers.  Dies: Nellies Multi Frame.  Punch: X-Cut decorative.  Embellishments: Green wire.

Hints and Tips

Mix and match your stamp sets to get more out of them. I didn't have a Halloween House Mouse stamp so I used a pumpkin and haunted house from other sets to create a Halloween image.

I created this bow by using black Stazon ink to stamp onto the ribbon.  The spider web button was created from black shrink plastic.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge: Challenge #81 Halloween.

Sketch and Stash: Challenge 47. The House Mouse stamps are the new stash.

Cupcake Craft Challenge: Challenge 114 Sweet Treats with a Twist.

Flower Power

To create this card I used Stamps: Magnolia Flower Power Tilda.  Pink Gem Designs Happy Birthday.  Papermania flowers.  Card stock: White hammered, brown, orange glittered.  Papers: DP Doodlebug Designs Inc Fall assortment.  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Versamark Watermark.  Colouring: Copic markers.  Sakura gel pen Glaze.  Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One.  Punches: X-Cut Embossing Silhouette flower, leaves.  Embellishments: Wow Halloween embossing powder.  Papermania brads, adhesive gems. 

Hints and Tips

Choose your background papers first then colour your stamped image to match the paper.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Sparkle Dreams Challenge Blog: Challenge #1 A sketch, sparkles and flowers.

Crafty Creations: Challenge 91 Halloween or perhaps Autumn.

Creative Card Crew: Let's Punch It!

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Sparkly and Bright.

A Spoonfull of Sugar: Challenge 127 Let's Get Punchy.

Dining chairs - before and after

After a few hours of work on my dining chairs they have a fresh face....It took the better part of the day to cut fabric and to staple it on to the frames. I used some batting to give a bit more support to the seat and now they are done! Strict orders have been given to mind the 'new' chairs, since they will be used at every meal...









And the bench had been done yesterday by me, trying out my skills and being quite happy with the results...



Now all I need is a manicure...
PS: And just click at House and Living above to see my recent acquisitions on Etsy and Ebay.


All handiwork and pictures by V.Zlotkowski.

A bench makeover

Beginning with the bench belonging to our dining chair set I worked Sunday afternoon to re-upholster the old and ripped fabric.
I replaced it with a wonderful fabric I found at my local fabric store. Having only to spend the money for 3/4 of a yard, the project cost me $35.00. Not counting the staples... And it took about 1 hour from start to finish.
The bench looked before pretty much like the chair and has been waiting for the right moment in the attic to be brought back to life.


All I needed was a staple gun with 3/4'' staples, scissors and a hammer to reinforce the staples a bit.


Notice the apple pie which my husband served to sustain me...


The green fabric hanging over the back of the bench will be used tomorrow to re-upholster all six dining chairs. Now I have confidence enough that it will work out, the bench was tricky, the fabric rather thick and not easy to stretch over the bench. My daughter was a great help.



I am really happy with the results...looking good with wallpaper and the curtains.



The chairs will hopefully be done by tomorrow.....

PS: And just click at House and Living above to see my recent acquisitions on Etsy and Ebay.



All pictures taken be V.Zlotkowski

Adore on Friday

The new Australian online magazine 'Adore' is a great addition to the online magazine family. Fresh and easy designs, many fabulous low budget solutions. Absolutely adorable!









Have a great weekend everybody! And do not forget to check out my latest home project found at House and Living! Just click above!

Victoria

The Height of Style

This came via my husband's architects' network - an apartment in a pyramid atop the oldest skyscraper in Seattle. Apparently the tenant, Petra Franklin, heard that the space existed (it previously housed a water tank) and lobbied the building owners to let her take a long lease and convert it into a home for her family.

What a space and what amazing views!

October 31st

To create this card I used Stamps: Magnolia Broom Hilda.  Hero Arts Scary House.  Card-io Leaves of Autumn.  Card stock: White hammered, green, purple, black.  Papers: DP Doodlebug Designs Inc Halloween assortment.  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Tim Holtz Distress.  Colouring: Copic markers.  Sakura gel pens stardust.  Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One.  Embellishments: Doodlebug Designs Inc adhesive gems. 

Hints and Tips

If you are unhappy about co ordinating your papers buy a pack of papers that have been put together by the manufacturer.  Doodlebug Designs Inc do a great range of themed packs like the one I used on this card.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Challenge #49 a Sketch.

Fab n Funky Challenge: Challenge #45 "Things that go bump in the night!"

Totally Tilda Challenge: Tilda Halloween Special.

C.R.A.F.T Challenge: Challenge 73 Spooky.

Today I love

Light filled rooms. As the days get shorter and the sun doesn't shine these long summer hours anymore I appreciate light filled rooms even more.
I have been exploring artist spaces, these ones fit right in.
In Toronto a painter accustomed to crashing in his studio created an airy artistic haven with both working and living quarters for a more balanced and polished picture. Kent Monkman's
industrial style work and living space connects all the dots.



Modern living room in the Infiniski Manifesto House, Curacavi, Chile. James & Mau Architectura



This last image is a home in California. Build originally by the late architect David Boone for himself, it is now the private residence and work space for Primo Orpilla and Verda Alexander of Studio O & A.





Pictures from dwell magazine