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loving the ride

~ exploring the world (with a little vélo love)

loving the ride

Category Archives: decor

holiday wreaths

19 Monday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in crafts, decor, diy

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Tags

blueprint magazine, canadian tire, christmas, crafts, feathers, holiday decorating, sarah richardson, wreaths

Admittedly, I’m not a fan of red. I’m much more of a pink and purple kinda gal. And for the holidays, the decorations I’m drawn to embody that pretty palette: lilac and pear green or turquoise and apple green Christmas balls; a glittery faux silver eucalyptus wreath; hot pink or apple green bows on doorknobs; white twinkly lights; and someday, my cotton candy pink Christmas tree!

Last year I intended to make this easy-peasy feather boa wreath from Sarah Richardson’s 2009 holiday party episode. I even stocked up on five fuchsia feather boas post-Halloween! But I got lazy with the execution, which in reality consists only of wrapping a boa or two around an LED wire wreath form. Maybe I’m just too frugal to buy an LED wreath – I have been trying to figure out how to repurpose an old wire hanger as a wreath form. And now that it’s only 6 days till Christmas, I’ve given up on this crafty pursuit…maybe next year!

And it should be of no surprise that I’ve also been hoping to make this butterfly wreath – what’s more girly than ethereal white wings? As with my pink tree, it graced the pages of Blueprint’s November/December 2007 holiday issue. But delicate faux butterflies aren’t the easiest to find, so this project also has to wait till next year. (If you sense a theme of procrastination, good on you!)

However, it should be a surprise that I LOVE this 24-inch red poinsettia wreath ($39.99) from Canadian Tire. That’s right. I said it: red. Sure, it’s got traditional red poinsettias scattered all over it (plush velvet, natch), but it also has loads of baubles that resemble rhinestone brooches!

Behold, here is my existing wreath, the silvery eucalyptus beauty mentioned above. The photo doesn’t quite capture the glitter scattered all over the sprigs, but this wreath sparkles. And makes me smile!

For more holiday inspiration, take a peek at my crafty card idea and the Christmas tree I’ve been coveting since 2007. 

cheap & chic: flowers

05 Monday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in decor

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artifical flowers, ave and dav, blooms, everlasting flowers, faux flowers, orchids, urban barn

Please, sir, can I have some more? Flowers, that is! I can never have enough blooms scattered throughout my apartment: peonies and snapdragons and tulips, oh my! And cymbidium orchids…sigh. Lucky gal that I am, I live mere steps from Ave and Dav, home of Toronto’s top flower markets, and often pop into the series of small shops lining Avenue Road (south of Davenport Road) for fresh flowers on the cheap. But this girly girl can’t always splurge on the real deal, so she’s learned to embrace the everlasting.

And what tops my list of fabulous faux flowers? Urban Barn’s über-realistic Phalaenopsis orchids in a luscious deep fuchsia they call purple (it’s so me!). In such a spectacular shade – which conveniently complements the chic charcoal grey cushion I’m currently coveting from Urban Barn – a potted single stem ($40) or a few loose stems ($14 each) will go a long way, injecting instant impact into any style of space without blowing your budget. Plus, the slender stems are flexible, so you can shape the loose ones to suit a variety of vases, or even bend the bottoms completely to fit a compact container. True, they cost a bit more than the flowers at your local market, but remember, these beautiful blooms are a hardy species – they’ll last years beyond the two weeks you might get from freshly cut ones. And you’ll never have to water or feed them!

Available potted (28-inch stem, shown, $40; 16-inch stem, $35) or as loose stems ($14 each), this everlasting orchid is a perennial favourite from Urban Barn. It's an affordable way to add some pretty to a space.

Photo courtesy of Elevator Communications Inc.

i want: this “pretty in pink” christmas tree

02 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in decor

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blueprint magazine, blueprint magazine pink christmas tree, blueprint pink christmas tree, martha stewart magazine, pink christmas tree, pink holiday decorating, treeopia pink tree

My ideal tree is tall, pink and pretty. This one would fit right in with my grey, cream and fuchsia scheme (with punches of pale pink, lilac, apple green, hot pink and robin's egg blue).

Let me introduce you to my dream tree: Treeopia‘s fabulously frothy concoction straight out of the pages of Blueprint magazine’s November/December 2007 issue. Treeopia still sells this pink beauty, which I’ve been adoring from afar since I first spotted it on the famous holiday cover of Issue No. 7, and now that it’s finally affordable at deeply discounted sale prices, it’s of course sold out. But a girl can still dream, no?

One day, the timing will be right for me and my lovely tree-to-be. And in the meantime, I’ll be collecting the delicate vintage ornaments that will be gracing the branches of my six-foot-tall future tree.

My No. 1 favourite holiday cover has to be Blueprint's No. 7.

Here's the pink classic I've been crushing on for four very long years. Sigh.

And here's Treeopia's new Cotton Candy version, which is a wee bit paler but still steals this girly heart. Now I'm conflicted...

one crafty card, pretty please

20 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in decor, diy, eco

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cards, diy, gift wrapping, gifts, green gifts, pretty, wallpaper

What’s this? The Santa Claus Parade is today? Means the holiday season is upon us (the cold definitely is!). Also means it’s time to get crafty. Over the years, at magazine prop sales, I’ve scooped up beautiful hand-block-printed wallpaper remnants and rolls to repurpose as pretty packaging and cards. I never buy gift wrap, preferring to recycle newspapers, fabric and wallpaper instead. I also don’t buy cards – why buy when you can make? And if you’re gonna make, make ’em pretty! Here’s one of my favourites.


This card is a cinch to craft. All you need are card stock, wallpaper, a button, a pencil, a ruler, an exacto knife, white glue and scissors. Here’s what to do. Continue reading →

frills & thrills: chic cushion

14 Monday Nov 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in decor

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

cushion, girly, pretty, urban barn

Oh, my. What was I saying about frilly cushions? Not like I need another one to toss on my wee sofette, but I can’t resist this felt flower beauty from Urban Barn ($39). Embellished with piles of pretty petals, it’s perfect for adding a touch of texture to a space. The sophisticated charcoal grey will work wonderfully with my fuchsia, purple and cream cushions and throws – I must snag one (or two) before they’re gone!

Another thing I can’t resist? Entering Urban Barn’s Win a Private Chef contest! Just “like” Urban Barn on Facebook for a chance to win a gourmet dinner for eight cooked by Dale MacKay, winner of Food Network’s Top Chef Canada.

frills & thrills: bed linens

13 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by lovingtheride in decor

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anthopologie georgina bed linens, anthropologie, anthropologie bed linens, anthropologie bedding, frilly linen bedding, pretty girly flowerly bedding

I. Want. This. Gorgeous girly-girly Georgina bedding from Anthropologie. Despite appearances when I’m breezing around downtown in head-to-toe sporty bike gear, I love frills. Ribbons, bows, beads, sequins, embroidery, ruching, pin tucks, appliqués…I heart ’em all. On clothes. On purses. Even on shoes. And especially on bed linens. OK, maybe I could pass on a flashy sequined cushion on which to lay my weary head. But bedecking my bed in layers of ladylike linens makes me giddy with delight.


Looking for more girly goodness? Check out this fabulous flower cushion from Urban Barn.

jennifer krissilas

A girl, her bike, a wee bit o' wanderlust...a lust for life in general. And all things pretty. We can't forget the pretty.

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about

Oh, the outdoor adventuress. Exploring the world (with a little vélo love). Disguised as a freelance editor. Just a girl, her bike, a wee bit o' wanderlust...a lust for life in general. And all things pretty. We can't forget the pretty. Or the sweets. xoxo jen

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© 2011/2012 loving the ride. No part of this blog or its content may be reproduced without prior written permission.

Recent Posts

  • happy new year to all, and to all a good (and safe) night!
  • christmas carollers bring festive cheer to toronto
  • remembrance day: lest we forget
  • TIFF in the park brings classic screwball comedies to toronto all summer long
  • toronto port authority’s sail-in cinema returns, august 16-18, 2012
  • comfy, custom-fit wolverine ics hiking shoes
  • alexi murdoch turns up the heat in toronto
  • it wouldn’t be canada if we didn’t have to stop for geese crossing the road
  • and this is why i dislike the MMVAs
  • toronto’s open roof film festival heralds the start of summer
  • world naked bike ride day: toronto cyclists bare all for the environment
  • luminato celebrates creativity in toronto and the world
  • i heart: “this bike is my car” bike bell
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  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! Just checking whether you'll be able to respond to that fact-check email by EOD today. Thanks! 6 years ago
  • Hi @DrSheilaSahni! A heads-up that I e'd a fact-check query re: a reprint of this AARP article: bit.ly/2jApnGw 6 years ago
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