Real Decorating for Real People
Are you tired of coloring beautiful eggs just to have them break into pieces? Try painted wooden eggs instead! So, my son, at age 7 loved the idea of painting eggs for about 4 minutes. He painted three of them, (which I touched up) then added faces and splotches that looked like we rolled the egg…
Miniature wreaths find their way into nearly every room in the home. they work well in all sorts of small places and when made of lavendar, they smell great too! If you like the idea of making a bunch of small statements around the house instead of just one big one, then this little lavender wreath…
When Spring arrives, one of the easiest places to make a change is with the linens and accessories you use on your on your dinner table. As the seasons change, we all have a tendency to want a little change in our homes as well. It only has to be in small touches to make…
What’s a floral boule you ask? Matt asked too, and it’s simply a “ball” made out of flowers and pretty ribbon to be used as an accessory. Quite some time ago on Room by Room, during a coffee break craft, I taught Matt how to make a Rose Boule. Well none of the guys on…
Any wreath can be a Spring wreath as long as it has the colors anbd motifs we all associate with this season of new beginnings, like bird nests, eggs, and spring flowers. A grapevine wreath is an excellent base for any season wreath. What I like best is that you generally want quite a bit of…
Whether it’s a bow for a gift, a wreath, a floral arrangement or your daughter’s hair, this easy method of making bows will make you an expert in no time! Many years ago, my mother taught me how to make bows and they consistently turn out so beautifully that I’ve had to make bows for everyone I know…
Sound familiar? Well, it should if you are a fast food customer and you love those egg, ham and cheese on an english muffin breakfast sandwiches. I believe I have perfected the “at home” version of the famous breakfast sandwich. My family LOVES it and I do make it for overnight guests to rave reviews. …
I love this springtime tree filled with colorful birds, nests and painted birdhouses. If you are involved in creating my year long Christmas tree, and I know there are a couple of you out there who are, I just wanted to mention that Matt is doing a piece on building a birdhouse for the Shop Projects…
Once you get started you’ll want to try all three of these creative ways to color Easter eggs. Well, it’s that time of the year again and after nearly 50 years of decorating eggs….I needed a change. I’m so tired of buying the egg decorating kit, bending the wire holder, dropping the pellet into vinegar…
Floor planning ensures that the room you are decorating will function for you and that you can fit all of the right pieces into place. I know how exciting it is to get started with a decorating project and how difficult it is to work on the projects that deal with the function of the…
Although this project is meant for youngsters, I think there are plenty of adults out there who don’t know exactly how to set the table correctly. I know I have always had a difficult time remembering which way the knife faces. I guess the answer is that you should face the sharp edge in towards…
Don’t store those buttons any longer! They can be used for so many different craft projects, but this one lets them take center stage as the artwork themselves! Many of us sewers, crafters, and gatherers of small decorative items will have scads of buttons lying around. We know that someday they are going to come…
No matter what season it is, construction paper is a fun tool for all sorts of great kid’s crafts. Even Matt can get into the spirit of kid’s crafts. Why not? It’s always a good time to take a break from making a living, keeping the house in order and cooking meals….right? Well we sure think…
After the gray of winter we could all use some bright yellow, spring green, pink and lavendar and spring is meant for all that and more! Ahh, Spring! That elusive season that arrives when it is good and ready. Unfortunately that can be anywhere from March in Florida to June in Ohio! Whether the weather…
In my family, deviled eggs are like gold because there are never enough of them to go around! There are a couple of basic recipes to know around Easter time, mainly because there are so many hard boiled eggs around at this time of year! Deviled eggs are a favorite for both of my kids, and…
There is an art to putting your china cabinet together when you combine your functional dinnerware with other accessories and I will gladly help you learn how to make it beautiful. I really should have added the decorating or accessorizing of china cabinets to my article about the biggest decorating mistakes. For some reason many people…
Because the Bear’s Paw quilt block has triangles that jut out into the background, it makes for a very exciting design in any sampler quilt. The Bear’s Paw quilt block is one of my favorites. Yes, it has many parts and is a bit more difficult to make so it looks neat and crisp, but I…
I know I say Irish Soda Bread is for St. Patrick’s Day, but this bread has a flavor you can easily appreciate any day of the year! I think this qualifies as one of those old family recipes that get handed down through the generations. However, this one was handed down to me by a great…
Without the dowel rods to keep the pleats tight, a cascade shade can be soft and flowing when your decor warrants it. Cascade Shades are the softer version of the Roman Shade. Roman shades have wooden dowel rods inserted in their pleats so they stay rigid and straight. Cascade shades have no rods; they simply…
Even I know the basics of painting walls – and it’s because I had a great teacher – Matt! The following is a video by him, full of the kinds of painting tips he taught me! I know you would expect the basics of painting to come from Matt since he was a licensed painting…
We don’t go too crazy for St. Patrick’s Day, but sometimes it’s fun to bring out the green and gold and just run around acting like leprechauns! I think there are three reasons to get excited about St. Patrick’s Day. One, you are Irish! Two, you are in grade school and the teachers make a…
It’s hard to think about function first when you want to go directly to the pretty stuff, but you’ll be glad your room is functioning even if it doesn’t look perfect yet! OK, you’ve probably all heard the line, “Form follows Function”. Basically it means you should make sure the room functions for you first, and then worry…
After several months you can really see the difference as rooms start coming together and new ideas emerge. Well, we’re into month 3 at our new house and I’ve shown you the planning stage back at the old place and then the changes we made before moving and where I’m at in the living and…
Sometimes it is nice to add a sentiment or favorite phrase to a blank wall space in your home. It can be sentimental, welcoming, even humorous, just let your personality shine through! This is a project I have wanted to do for quite some time. I have found quotes and sayings and fun lists in…
Drawstring bags can be purchased, but none of them will have the little extras like you can add, just like this pretty sleigh bells snowflake! This is a great little drawstring bag design that could work for all sorts of things. Sized right it could be gift wrap for wine, an evening bag, bags for…
We all know that the best recipes come from family and friends and that is exactly how we got this one. Promise you’ll love it! My family is in love with this chili recipe. It is from a very good cook who has been a part of the Matt and Shari family for a very…
Swedish meatballs are always a party favorite. Who doesn’t like eating their food with a toothpick! These treats are very flavorful and captured the heart of my “meat lover” little boy. I have a feeling I’ll be making these again soon, party or not! Ingredients List: 1 lb. ground beef (Use ground turkey for a…
Adults and kids alike will love these tasty chicken wings. Just make sure to have plenty of napkins around to wipe up sticky fingers! The honey in this recipe gives these wings a very satisfying sweetness. The recipe calls for Tyson frozen wings which I couldn’t find so I used my grocer’s brand and they…
These tasty beef sandwiches go great with just about anything, but I’ve served them with steak fries and corn on the cob and have gotten rave reviews. The photo doesn’t show the “beefed up” version since my family can’t handle red peppers or onions. But if you don’t have sissies around, go for all the…
Pink, red, lavender and white are the colors of Valentines Day. Let them be your guide as you make decorating for Valentines Day a family affair. There are so many decorating ideas that can get the kids involved. Here are several for you to consider or vary as needed to make them your own! Front…
Aromatic and attractive, hand made Valentine sachets are a thoughtful and unusual gift, sure to be remembered. I have owned this valentine sachet for quite some time now and I thought I would share it because it would be very easy to make. Whip up a couple of these on your sewing machine, or even…
The first few weeks into your new home can be challenging, here’s what I went through early on. Well, the move has taken place and I am currently about three weeks into the decorating of my new home. I want to talk to you about the painting I did and start right at the front…
Running out of time to surprise your sweetie with a special Valentine gift? Here’s 28 ideas to get your creative juices flowin…good luck! I must reveal that I am not a hopeless romantic. I’m a more practical person and because of this I think I’ve missed out on some meaningful moments. However, every sad beginning…
There are closet systems, and then there are closet systems. This, I have come to find out through trial and error. Or maybe I should say through, “cheap” and “alright, I’ll pay the bigger bucks”! Not that much bigger mind you, but by stepping up one quality grade, the integrity of my closet jumped up…
Are you looking for a way to give your room drama and excitement that is totally FREE? Well the answer is in the angle! An angle in a room can completely change the way a room feels without adding or subtracting any furniture or accessories. This lovely living room already had a lot going for…
Use them in garlands, on a mini Valentine tree, as gift tags or smaller ones could be necklases or pins, it’s all in the personalization! This idea came to me when my son was just born and my daughter was still interested in doing fun crafts with Mom! We had recently moved into a three story…
Triangles are difficult to sew together with precision, and this quilt block is made up of 24 of them! I have to admit I ran into trouble myself getting all the points to be crisp and line up where they are supposed to. So, what I’m saying is if you are a beginner, relax, take…
This ladder platform is a great way to safely reach higher walls and ceilings in your home when the ladder needs to be placed on a staircase. Finally, a safe way to get to those high walls that line our staircases! I’ve used this contraption for years when Shari and I would paint in someone’s…
White Color Schemes are anything but lackluster when combined with rich wood finishes and the warmth of texture. The selection of a color palette can be daunting. As a result, some homeowners decide to be safe and “settle” for a neutral palette. Well, just because you decide on a neutral color palette doesn’t mean you…
New England clam chowder is a fall staple in our house and once you taste this fabulous recipe you’ll know why! As fall arrives I start thinking about all those cold weather recipes my family and friends have shared over the years and I just start a cookin’! This clam chowder recipe is from my…
