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Do It Yourself
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Before and After: Living Room Makeover
Do It Yourself recently checked in with Linda Thornburgh, whose living room was awash with neutral tones and outdated furnishings, and lacked warmth and personality. She wanted a space that could be formal as well as comfortable, and decided to execute a full overhaul of the space.
To see how she transformed this room, read more
DIY: Ceiling Medallions as Wall Art
Since I was recently fawning over that ceiling medallion light, I couldn't help but stop in my tracks when I came across these ceiling medallions used as wall art. Do It Yourself offered up this creative idea in its collection of quick home projects. The lightweight urethane medallions were simply painted in subtly varying shades of yellow and easily mounted on the wall of this living room.
DIY: How to Mat Your Own Prints
If you've started your art collection, you've probably encountered the high costs of having your first pieces framed and matted. Or, if you're thinking about starting your collection, you may be anxious about those costs. Either way, don't be fearful.
DIY: Fabric Wall Appliques
Renters, I know it's hard for you to Dress Your Walls because many landlords prohibit wallpapering, painting, nailing things, and doing pretty much anything that makes your crib look cool. So, you'll be interested to learn this do-it-yourself technique for making spectacular fabric wall appliqués that can be removed easily when your lease is up.
To learn the steps, read more
Definition: DIY
Short for "do-it-yourself," DIY is an adjective used to describe home improvement, decorating, and crafts projects that you could hire a professional to do but instead opt to complete at home on your own. DIY could include everything from construction, lighting, and painting to furniture refinishing, landscaping, and sewing. Though the term has been around for decades, the DIY philosophy has really caught on over the past 10 years, spawning such media as the DIY Network, devoted to home improvement, and crafty magazines like ReadyMade and Make.
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Weird Furniture: Mario Philippona Design (NSFW)
Dutch sculptor Mario Philippona developed a series called "Sexy Furniture," which mimics female forms in challenging wood. These shapes, he writes in a statement on his website, are "the most attractive in nature," and have inspired him. He designs his works on life-size working drawings and assembles his sculptures from pre-cut layers of wood, so that they're anatomically correct.
DIY: An Etched Mirror
I've been reflecting on this Budget Living Etched Mirror DIY project that I saw on A Room Somewhere, and I think you can really make a statement with it, or just something pretty to match your reflection. I like the silhouette idea, but the one shown is a little amateur. A bit more detail would up the intrigue.
DIY: Decoupage on Glass
One of my favorite craft projects is découpage on glass. With a few supplies and a couple hours of your time, you can have a très elegant home décor item to use as a housewarming gift or as a festive candy dish for your Thanksgiving party!
Supplies:
- the image(s) you want to adhere (make sure it fits on your glass item)
- Mod Podge (a glue/sealer found in most art/craft stores)
- a glass bowl or plate
- two foam brushes
- Latex paint the color of your choice
- an acrylic sealer (optional)
DIY: Halloween Pattern Pals
I just spotted these cute Halloween crocheting patterns on Craftzine from Lion Brand, and I'm super sad that I have no clue how to crochet. I did notice that the skill level required to whip up these pirate and pumpkin pals is only beginner, so they might be a festive way for me to take up crocheting.
I also spotted this felted skull crochet pattern from Lion Brand which is a fun attempt to make crocheting seem edgy.
In the News: Observing, Not Doing It Yourself
A recent New York TImes article, "If I Had a Hammer, I Wouldn’t Watch TV" by Michael Grimes, looks at the DIY movement through a most passive of pastimes — the television. Grimes spent an entire day watching the DIY Network, which is affiliated with two other get-up-and-do-it stations, the Food Network and HGTV. From the high class of This Old House to the writer's obvious boredom with knitting show Knitty Gritty (all right, yes, how exciting can a show about knitting really be?), a full day of DIY programming was critiqued from the safe confines of Grimes's recliner.
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