Foxy

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to share photos of the adorable set of magnets I bought in Houston last week.  They are SUPER strong and perfect for my <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-magnetic-chalkboard-phase-i.html">DIY'd magnetic board</a> (which I am thinking about<em> </em>not painting with chalkboard paint) because, although it <em>is</em> magnetic, it does need a stronger magnet to grip the surface.  Cheap-o magnets aren't making the cut.  But these are fantastic!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The magnets designed by <a href="http://www.andreakang.com/gallery.html">Andrea Kang.</a>  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9fgvArXUpyqN8r-GGVm1xAReWrKj92qYzhW4ZGM8Qu90nyMo5zlkL-KUpoaVgZBlWCggvMNJax_U7Nd97Vvt7RBvtqmC-knb-4y7V-V5o1IAI-kkpKiwIsuWFdliS4MTYPkLBtT6O-dK/s1600/184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9fgvArXUpyqN8r-GGVm1xAReWrKj92qYzhW4ZGM8Qu90nyMo5zlkL-KUpoaVgZBlWCggvMNJax_U7Nd97Vvt7RBvtqmC-knb-4y7V-V5o1IAI-kkpKiwIsuWFdliS4MTYPkLBtT6O-dK/s400/184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxWJPlyoQRmNekvgk9a8axByLbTT9KESKizoOVP-R6_7dEtj6r9DmXRX2sOUqs-9-gWhMYa2iVzbgcYjc2mQq3xCbvqyFr1Es9R6VF5gtaeWPMWKee1cgy9mtTDr6Jj9WxFDQ_zxCN-KK/s1600/186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxWJPlyoQRmNekvgk9a8axByLbTT9KESKizoOVP-R6_7dEtj6r9DmXRX2sOUqs-9-gWhMYa2iVzbgcYjc2mQq3xCbvqyFr1Es9R6VF5gtaeWPMWKee1cgy9mtTDr6Jj9WxFDQ_zxCN-KK/s400/186.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute right?</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is a larger copy of the illustration, because tiny magnets are darn hard to photograph.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-vGDxJ4F7WbSpCvftaykF4SuFg59PQDFecOJ63s0Rm5Ldpo2a4LeWV__QviszpX2RZoCBxi37O_vPoXb_PmORqCJPRJSvI6Bq_80NSyuMGCghF7xzBXM7aeQC2tgG4ojd23QXaYx2n1F/s1600/fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="326" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-vGDxJ4F7WbSpCvftaykF4SuFg59PQDFecOJ63s0Rm5Ldpo2a4LeWV__QviszpX2RZoCBxi37O_vPoXb_PmORqCJPRJSvI6Bq_80NSyuMGCghF7xzBXM7aeQC2tgG4ojd23QXaYx2n1F/s400/fox.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.andreakang.com/gallery.html">Andrea Kang</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I kind of have a thing for foxes.  This one belonged to my grandmother.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJuZyMA5m7d7yR9MPiv5avU1Jb0hUScSMEdY2SnjHIxaCgcNbXRj08vO8wFQGSR2VMZBdweHiww-rlMa3YOyhLh-EaqAHEPeDi2wi5iCWs7ZeuOBRPNAwrAq8lxZ5Z2kfTLOqj_0dhlCB/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJuZyMA5m7d7yR9MPiv5avU1Jb0hUScSMEdY2SnjHIxaCgcNbXRj08vO8wFQGSR2VMZBdweHiww-rlMa3YOyhLh-EaqAHEPeDi2wi5iCWs7ZeuOBRPNAwrAq8lxZ5Z2kfTLOqj_0dhlCB/s400/117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>

Foxy

I wanted to share photos of the adorable set of magnets I bought in Houston last week.  They are SUPER strong and perfect for my DIY'd m...

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"New" Living Room Chair

I took a break from all the textile art (<a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-felted-bead-necklace.html">necklace</a>, <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-needle-felted-art.html">abstracts</a>, and <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/im-over-at-young-crafty-today.html">pretty yellow flowers</a>) to re-arrange some furniture, with smile inducing results.  It can be so tricky to decorate our small townhouse because sometimes I have to work with what we have and work with limited funds.  <br /><br />I've mentioned the need to find a work surface for Hubby - something small, for casual use.  After lots of hmmm-ing and haw-ing, we decided not to <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/still-nosey-newt.html">find a unit to serve as guest storage <em>and </em>his desk</a>.  We decided it makes the most sense for me to just share the office, instead of relegating him to the guest room.  With a location determined, we thought about getting a vintage teak unit, like the one pictured below, to replace <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/03/bookcase-tweaking.html">my expedit</a> and serve as his work surface.  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AlpugacxKKLOrcbGRZgAsHqyjeD6nV-O-AH25SDR5MNWG72HfOtltHsKK5HpHV376DCcEQ5DVNX11JQtVkgOXHXrAYOYbLmz09pfS5wIkbz3CasR3a4Yr7Zu7eVEEAVaiRFNMn6DuH5f/s1600/wall+unit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AlpugacxKKLOrcbGRZgAsHqyjeD6nV-O-AH25SDR5MNWG72HfOtltHsKK5HpHV376DCcEQ5DVNX11JQtVkgOXHXrAYOYbLmz09pfS5wIkbz3CasR3a4Yr7Zu7eVEEAVaiRFNMn6DuH5f/s400/wall+unit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too expensive!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />But the unit in question is $1400+ and doesn't meet all of our storage needs (one day I will show you what is behind the white door).  Plus, it seemed like just too much furniture for the office.  Then I had the genius plan of moving the office chair downstairs into the living room (not sure what I will do with the two chairs - from Loblaws grocery store - that used to live there) and finding a narrow console table/desk for the now empty office corner.  Although the office space is still empty, here is the chair in the living room.  I am loving it there!  Remember, the room will have <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/05/seeing-spots.html">new throw pillows</a> soon.<br /><br /><strong>Living room with old chairs:</strong><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnVI_mqc-eYqgwxzcG4B0UWxu0eG29Odrg9ACd7knZJTVf615bmzNSR5ZSg5no8YIYBU_kWp199f7VCbH2bPeDrxuxq5iRTJNq8R9O3LZ7mreb3cHCoB38ykHDBcVvduQds8WLnA7I0s/s1600/P1050949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnVI_mqc-eYqgwxzcG4B0UWxu0eG29Odrg9ACd7knZJTVf615bmzNSR5ZSg5no8YIYBU_kWp199f7VCbH2bPeDrxuxq5iRTJNq8R9O3LZ7mreb3cHCoB38ykHDBcVvduQds8WLnA7I0s/s640/P1050949.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like my little grocery store chairs because they are comfy (and cheap!),<br />but they just looked so blah . . . </td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NFKCSeaaQyctSBZvzP-Rqi4XwQqUJdazeR0vNvWZbjLMnZFfZNrTX-_2JeQOGFvkhhclpPztlDmTPr4ct8ocO2UIXbpUxI9QNHfH5j14MRluiDlM7BvUyx_3pAvM25xP4FUAF6dVUHw/s1600/P1060456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NFKCSeaaQyctSBZvzP-Rqi4XwQqUJdazeR0vNvWZbjLMnZFfZNrTX-_2JeQOGFvkhhclpPztlDmTPr4ct8ocO2UIXbpUxI9QNHfH5j14MRluiDlM7BvUyx_3pAvM25xP4FUAF6dVUHw/s640/P1060456.JPG" width="480" /></a></strong></div><br /><strong>Living room with my office chair:</strong><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ770nfGCAUctxuIVQ8vcfhpi2zfCyk4atDrH8CLDITPUmjMaTS-qVWKfgzPv7NTj-7uHFfGLp4bLKi0m8y-TzGDoRNvM6aY1KnSX7UmpNhMlicjN6204GlZS1nPXl3hg5vxbT8PrM9XM_/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ770nfGCAUctxuIVQ8vcfhpi2zfCyk4atDrH8CLDITPUmjMaTS-qVWKfgzPv7NTj-7uHFfGLp4bLKi0m8y-TzGDoRNvM6aY1KnSX7UmpNhMlicjN6204GlZS1nPXl3hg5vxbT8PrM9XM_/s640/153.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW6jOdQFrNAyATHN_G0kCWOOoZ8khDmj2NJOthkMjMxb4YanxfqZL5ch69bHN8qfdzAyxf498ZQkSYce6FvqazBZTLIppuIivZET8JN6C4OsBaDplI33UnSQyLzN5NSKp3l4FMJZRVgGK/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilW6jOdQFrNAyATHN_G0kCWOOoZ8khDmj2NJOthkMjMxb4YanxfqZL5ch69bHN8qfdzAyxf498ZQkSYce6FvqazBZTLIppuIivZET8JN6C4OsBaDplI33UnSQyLzN5NSKp3l4FMJZRVgGK/s640/154.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuuFHCK-D7g_M4nLD-ThnKLQUJIQ_ia2S8V6MFAklmEkkE0OrBt_67AUIfeCO2bQaihbo1xNnhkEpLGA6l-UYSz4dypt4Yy4t-70xZDoS8yjdYQ3sYwwMkn5VAvVLwxYTw53hHcDVkLUM/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuuFHCK-D7g_M4nLD-ThnKLQUJIQ_ia2S8V6MFAklmEkkE0OrBt_67AUIfeCO2bQaihbo1xNnhkEpLGA6l-UYSz4dypt4Yy4t-70xZDoS8yjdYQ3sYwwMkn5VAvVLwxYTw53hHcDVkLUM/s400/144.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole L-shaped living/dining area seems much larger now</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0UH2CwvZHiSYwZsg7c5Hgm3TaFklco5lYXB-jIms6AY5ALuviUJABJSeBjWiIobYsboU4WlOCSsyxu-1phZKhbpbJ0P1PiMqSE805oYyWHyLxy04f9Wcwn-fKOas0o2GEwpox7dzyVOg/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0UH2CwvZHiSYwZsg7c5Hgm3TaFklco5lYXB-jIms6AY5ALuviUJABJSeBjWiIobYsboU4WlOCSsyxu-1phZKhbpbJ0P1PiMqSE805oYyWHyLxy04f9Wcwn-fKOas0o2GEwpox7dzyVOg/s640/140.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally - a good shot of the fabric!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />The empty office space.  See pics of it before I dismantled it <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/help-me-pick-colour-any-colour.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sKxyJ5nFu96BNr9sUroIRwjAjE6wVARMbUXEnpSfK3eVfeuic61yxsmLHnwxuPuIor5vc054rUP-UtiQeYV4DpADKk7pVE1_W-qfuQxcsS5h3o0SR5FNr4Q6C6M_L024iCqdfack32B4/s1600/190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sKxyJ5nFu96BNr9sUroIRwjAjE6wVARMbUXEnpSfK3eVfeuic61yxsmLHnwxuPuIor5vc054rUP-UtiQeYV4DpADKk7pVE1_W-qfuQxcsS5h3o0SR5FNr4Q6C6M_L024iCqdfack32B4/s640/190.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Kind of what we're looking for - even narrower would work.  We just want something that isn't a huge executive desk.  I have already posted a "want ad" on the local online classifieds and am starting yard saling soon, so I'm hoping to find something perfect, for a bargain!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uFuWlP-artmhQKKWa1ybhcxbYdcjct-gyoHRG3AMUJG-_yLDUTqY73YqoT3V8-fkshLB0URJi5YO_xC9RxMOTL-qpLb3Xlj-eOrEcGcrSpkqcrFFN7idilp_4lxTEzktEP8T9x1t92GH/s1600/west+elm+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uFuWlP-artmhQKKWa1ybhcxbYdcjct-gyoHRG3AMUJG-_yLDUTqY73YqoT3V8-fkshLB0URJi5YO_xC9RxMOTL-qpLb3Xlj-eOrEcGcrSpkqcrFFN7idilp_4lxTEzktEP8T9x1t92GH/s400/west+elm+desk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/pratt-desk-g152/?pkey=coffice-desks">West Elm</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

"New" Living Room Chair

I took a break from all the textile art ( necklace , abstracts , and pretty yellow flowers ) to re-arrange some furniture, with smile induci...

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Help Me Pick A Colour, Any Colour

Well, as long as it is from my "approved" list:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenUH-xLIhuDHExKsTJNmx5sWv40FY5MMgrs8AdIcpxrCpbbzRLehg_tyouSdNlNfW7FNYwiA0z6wnrBSjvqy4smlKo1oEhSyiyNKBms3TqLJQgMd3dNruBSZWceAcF-MMmvL3ywvbWbHu/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenUH-xLIhuDHExKsTJNmx5sWv40FY5MMgrs8AdIcpxrCpbbzRLehg_tyouSdNlNfW7FNYwiA0z6wnrBSjvqy4smlKo1oEhSyiyNKBms3TqLJQgMd3dNruBSZWceAcF-MMmvL3ywvbWbHu/s640/002.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But if you have a better colour choice, I am all ears . . . </td></tr></tbody></table><br />What are we picking the colour for?  <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-office-before-in-progress.html">My office</a> (newly adorned with a <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/silhouette-wall.html">silhouette gallery wall</a> & <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-magnetic-chalkboard-phase-i.html">fancy magnetic board</a>) is one of our less colourful rooms.  In an effort to create more "flow," I have been injecting some pops of colour so it suits the rest of the townhouse <span style="font-family: inherit;">d<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">é</span>cor</span>.  Remember my <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/03/bookcase-tweaking.html">bookcase tweaking post</a>?  I'm on a roll.  So, next on the lengthy list of things I plan to spray paint when it is no longer <em>freezing</em> is another office item: a garbage can.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H7PC_OG2DbWCmASIC6kWLgMajVu6eZBypHRPWh5Z2lLSKwd0axIhjsdv_wZc_oTq9oOmxS_weXUpyMfrhgJvpTSXdjkWm7Psd4Y-asl04mPiR1LTurqAgJZM4ul_0Pw4omgnqFNx_hYB/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H7PC_OG2DbWCmASIC6kWLgMajVu6eZBypHRPWh5Z2lLSKwd0axIhjsdv_wZc_oTq9oOmxS_weXUpyMfrhgJvpTSXdjkWm7Psd4Y-asl04mPiR1LTurqAgJZM4ul_0Pw4omgnqFNx_hYB/s640/003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />My mom found it yard-saling and had grand plans for it that never came to fruition (hey, she has a long to-do list too).  <em>Somehow</em> (yoink) it became mine.  It has been hiding beside the bed and I have been using a white vase in the office, but it is time to switch things up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU3bngH0XlJc7DHVmdDH1l1apl_-tYxpHZFzodsrKm1SHZW4kiJUvoV0AS6ItHSi6ViDed_LyzMrrOGAKRqFdLmJaScE_X8M3yYFw8O97Hh-6ZmNRSenN1tH3-Ix3OKTO-PECbXGumYsp/s1600/P1060224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU3bngH0XlJc7DHVmdDH1l1apl_-tYxpHZFzodsrKm1SHZW4kiJUvoV0AS6ItHSi6ViDed_LyzMrrOGAKRqFdLmJaScE_X8M3yYFw8O97Hh-6ZmNRSenN1tH3-Ix3OKTO-PECbXGumYsp/s640/P1060224.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lsl70yIGO14EyQ3tbjarc2P2jwigP8CsW0xZhZ28xkec7ctPJNaOZqQLMp0avqCkue9anrcW3FuiZFP7pgoQ2F_lQtazPZ4o3Hl7O54Pzcjc96BpyMeEq1E4SpckKSnnDrnn4RBQl4Ni/s1600/P1060230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Lsl70yIGO14EyQ3tbjarc2P2jwigP8CsW0xZhZ28xkec7ctPJNaOZqQLMp0avqCkue9anrcW3FuiZFP7pgoQ2F_lQtazPZ4o3Hl7O54Pzcjc96BpyMeEq1E4SpckKSnnDrnn4RBQl4Ni/s320/P1060230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using a vase as a garbage can</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I've been using this pillow my mom DIY'd, from fabric she bought in her teens, as my colour inspiration for the office.  Scroll down for other office pics and then <strong>give me your feedback on what colour I should choose for my newest project</strong>!  But, because weather is a factor please don't expect a "results" post until July, August - you know, when it stops hailing.  Stupid Ontario.  <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ5spMqnGxU99rqfZruyqrKsjjl6Sh8ZpXUXkjmvz_ftAXXRmN_BBZzXgrDCzr90NxOfSOOau3S_IlBlfv0AmL-3jhtqR99uJSPMNCFprAP4pYLUpVUodzwIeVRzrafXdgqn4E9sOOBM/s1600/P1060173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZ5spMqnGxU99rqfZruyqrKsjjl6Sh8ZpXUXkjmvz_ftAXXRmN_BBZzXgrDCzr90NxOfSOOau3S_IlBlfv0AmL-3jhtqR99uJSPMNCFprAP4pYLUpVUodzwIeVRzrafXdgqn4E9sOOBM/s400/P1060173.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRNttE9kX-Ic85MNmItvkwi-KxFmvexymQPcFNP7C5e_uk1QW8YZ2sdbJuOlxUMedJZQTfaDIqJ0cmMEXn1rWUxwa8_BQIH1-DmOheEefrudYrRakcV0Uh7DWQpYSbSXXnM2qmOuDVnU/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRNttE9kX-Ic85MNmItvkwi-KxFmvexymQPcFNP7C5e_uk1QW8YZ2sdbJuOlxUMedJZQTfaDIqJ0cmMEXn1rWUxwa8_BQIH1-DmOheEefrudYrRakcV0Uh7DWQpYSbSXXnM2qmOuDVnU/s640/053.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit more orange was added to the bookcase</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1CvRPvZu-7kaixjhfQuD6fvylZCr4F6S5_x2Q7UTMNW3WT5PTgA7uhPq_0dLmKS53r_8vj54yWiNW5efXxa8iHR7t9EI14EdGJyMFZ6Jy5p10XVx2reDQFN-RV9wrVgcpeSvier5Wi5R/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1CvRPvZu-7kaixjhfQuD6fvylZCr4F6S5_x2Q7UTMNW3WT5PTgA7uhPq_0dLmKS53r_8vj54yWiNW5efXxa8iHR7t9EI14EdGJyMFZ6Jy5p10XVx2reDQFN-RV9wrVgcpeSvier5Wi5R/s640/017.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5hhaEGaM4XeaL0qo9sDM3WnYqV6gQrhQWAOrEbE7YYkHJOjTE417fWogkwHR9qK-JTqWTIiZJvzW3BlQs87KpqJVufay-pUGWZ3HfdNGA-PVwmiLdHDpL6HPKzbHmFk62qu4pRKrpEKB/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5hhaEGaM4XeaL0qo9sDM3WnYqV6gQrhQWAOrEbE7YYkHJOjTE417fWogkwHR9qK-JTqWTIiZJvzW3BlQs87KpqJVufay-pUGWZ3HfdNGA-PVwmiLdHDpL6HPKzbHmFk62qu4pRKrpEKB/s640/023.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This chair & footstool never photographs as "warm" as it is in <br />real life but this is a pretty good indication of the colour, which is a sort<br />of an apricot-y orange tweed</td></tr></tbody></table></div>

Help Me Pick A Colour, Any Colour

Well, as long as it is from my "approved" list: But if you have a better colour choice, I am all ears . . . What are we picking th...

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DIY Magnetic Chalkboard: Phase I

This week I posted about my <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/silhouette-wall.html">new silhouette wall</a>.  I'm still so excited it is hard to turn my chair around and actually do work because I just keep ogling it.  I'm also pretty excited about the magnetic board I made that hangs amidst the silhouettes - it looks so much better than my ratty bulletin board (which has so many broken off pins in it that removing or tacking up an item became quite poke-y).  <br /><br />As you know, it has been so cold where I live that I couldn't apply the chalkboard spray paint I bought for this project (it needs to be at least 10 degrees Celsius for optimal results, and it certainly was not that warm in the garage).  But because the metallic paint is applied with a roller, I applied it in the basement.  Here's the <strong>how-to</strong>:<br /><br />I <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/searching.html">finally found a great vintage frame</a> (it also had a mirror, which is the surface I applied the paint to).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVOFvtH0p3iGekZZZf5TOtMSAbdTverfA8bUFoS5IU6VUcFSsIgrsdVDn8XpEgDp-NrWV-jzZdTlpn7SS_HQHZpjjTMhBLqlXHfHsud7vQa8gF0OtO3ovP3NCiACR5VIfMUI6qxvNTgV5/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVOFvtH0p3iGekZZZf5TOtMSAbdTverfA8bUFoS5IU6VUcFSsIgrsdVDn8XpEgDp-NrWV-jzZdTlpn7SS_HQHZpjjTMhBLqlXHfHsud7vQa8gF0OtO3ovP3NCiACR5VIfMUI6qxvNTgV5/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Before"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCthB4-ZK_98qY55TYUHy8FNapiOl9DJV9hbyt1JCWkgTSaNmrqI30rM6FjMTjVItvCyf0E27orb91q8UQQgJM6pVYoIrlvbGhrschF083SFYNj18sABrO9KFBlrZZL7-x6xgwAAz_WsxC/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCthB4-ZK_98qY55TYUHy8FNapiOl9DJV9hbyt1JCWkgTSaNmrqI30rM6FjMTjVItvCyf0E27orb91q8UQQgJM6pVYoIrlvbGhrschF083SFYNj18sABrO9KFBlrZZL7-x6xgwAAz_WsxC/s640/018.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTPN8WSZHdEhGxM4QBuQCdOzAtHnPN_qAhJa1vVyL-wt0kr8xQuIKCIh1yckteYJs1xGhly8yXKlFKXIRoyisaVdxEtPXLhIfDnokFDBI6XOeT-ppsheE2IdKffAF-55Oo3AqpXPYzdQr/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTPN8WSZHdEhGxM4QBuQCdOzAtHnPN_qAhJa1vVyL-wt0kr8xQuIKCIh1yckteYJs1xGhly8yXKlFKXIRoyisaVdxEtPXLhIfDnokFDBI6XOeT-ppsheE2IdKffAF-55Oo3AqpXPYzdQr/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In my basement (but you should use a well-ventilated area), I applied the <a href="http://www.rustoleum.com/cbgproduct.asp?pid=127">Rust-Oleum magnetic paint</a> to my cleaned mirror with a small roller.  As suggested on the can, I applied <span style="background-color: white;">numerous</span> very thin coats.  The manufacturers say three coats will work, but they lie.  I literally used the whole damn can (minus a bit used to paint the frame).  After using <em>almost all</em> of the paint, I could finally get a magnet to stick & hold up some paper.  Then I roughed up the frame, cleaned it and applied some leftover magnetic paint with a paintbrush - it took two coats for even coverage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although it took days and days to finally get all of the paint on, the results are impressive - I created a magnetic surface from a mirror and a can of paint!  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Some tips</u>:</div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Allow more than the recommended drying time in between coats for a smooth surface</div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mix the paint <em>really</em> well each time you use it</div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Buy a nice <span style="background-color: white;">smooth</span><span style="background-color: white;"> roller that won't create "dimpling"</span></div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Keep a magnet handy to test the magnetism after each coat dries</div></li><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't fool yourself into thinking this can be done in an afternoon</div></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBttQ9EOw2HNzoUgUYKRUuMHqRhOcOjjaUj2DPk1Sc0FuOmG3d-u4faUGUZJ0hXie7P1D9yAci2Bi7YLKU5yPPAgYAmtNzHRFTSZxuiKpbjkCX7X1BjaUyUOLPCNQdto43nyY4lP8fDYE/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBttQ9EOw2HNzoUgUYKRUuMHqRhOcOjjaUj2DPk1Sc0FuOmG3d-u4faUGUZJ0hXie7P1D9yAci2Bi7YLKU5yPPAgYAmtNzHRFTSZxuiKpbjkCX7X1BjaUyUOLPCNQdto43nyY4lP8fDYE/s400/033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The halfway finished project</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-OZhyphenhyphenMZQV2MsU9YkzvLoOx1hnXv1X15E_tGR-Frc5spENAPybfZargTAKXSpRIL4RUw_BWKPj-ViqPr34RbDeRuay7QLi5O4_dbfCYYegzw1SiWcRE2kHg5fuoJxexIFTzbPvgrjRf7c/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-OZhyphenhyphenMZQV2MsU9YkzvLoOx1hnXv1X15E_tGR-Frc5spENAPybfZargTAKXSpRIL4RUw_BWKPj-ViqPr34RbDeRuay7QLi5O4_dbfCYYegzw1SiWcRE2kHg5fuoJxexIFTzbPvgrjRf7c/s640/031.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't let it dry enough in between coats, so I don't have the smoothest <br />surface ever, but it works!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCEcRrwgiw_e4yj6eMpl-fzzLQPC8OOuln8evHNTV4GtWsJQMSUTMmCKmq4slOxcotztp0x78vGZpO1lkoa3bhRdXL0Q_2nebu1HPSvsKNKfdWWJxmQlR1ottrb16hSOKKARYNKTsVxHv/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCEcRrwgiw_e4yj6eMpl-fzzLQPC8OOuln8evHNTV4GtWsJQMSUTMmCKmq4slOxcotztp0x78vGZpO1lkoa3bhRdXL0Q_2nebu1HPSvsKNKfdWWJxmQlR1ottrb16hSOKKARYNKTsVxHv/s400/030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aCmB5K81OTe-n-ncnlI4qvcz4yRIJsQYtVb017KtkqVlIf5N89nILz-Xd6oJq4aA34PBqTB2N8VhN8ND97RoDTaSb_zVclXx3awlcjitMpkiEvfEGgeX5XNLgG3nioIZwpFKlZtXUimm/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aCmB5K81OTe-n-ncnlI4qvcz4yRIJsQYtVb017KtkqVlIf5N89nILz-Xd6oJq4aA34PBqTB2N8VhN8ND97RoDTaSb_zVclXx3awlcjitMpkiEvfEGgeX5XNLgG3nioIZwpFKlZtXUimm/s640/038.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof of magnetism </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now it is time to rock the magnetic poetry . . . </div>

DIY Magnetic Chalkboard: Phase I

This week I posted about my new silhouette wall .  I'm still so excited it is hard to turn my chair around and actually do work because ...

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Silhouette Wall

Sunday was a momentous day: for the first time in the years & years of my collecting (and now months of <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/silhouette-display.html">blogging about</a>) silhouettes, my collection is finally on the wall in <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-office-before-in-progress.html">my office</a>.  Without further ado, behold:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLu8aAqTuCcAatnGesSaE2wwhMH4aVYSOpIqkEyfkFyNyV-Vk0cAAmHOkyGnmYzkjMM2Ng089D3yvTw4cDhDcxXqyN8MRuOwFTGXaqBQOhBqhiXGAAvmZCCwRtgW9GFAnUNOhrNONi83F/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLu8aAqTuCcAatnGesSaE2wwhMH4aVYSOpIqkEyfkFyNyV-Vk0cAAmHOkyGnmYzkjMM2Ng089D3yvTw4cDhDcxXqyN8MRuOwFTGXaqBQOhBqhiXGAAvmZCCwRtgW9GFAnUNOhrNONi83F/s640/042.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is my new DIY'd magnetic board in the centre</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0MX9JypzZ81lJ5P1sLrIkQ8btud6WL73AQ2yg5DiS49Eh7GvtelpBEFioS0Yz7tyqLlxpQ_z4Lfjkjz-YFTjsQJuTEN0wudmbSL5utjsqsMzxDuskrUgkxwM6Tyjk6U6f7mD5jDed_QE/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0MX9JypzZ81lJ5P1sLrIkQ8btud6WL73AQ2yg5DiS49Eh7GvtelpBEFioS0Yz7tyqLlxpQ_z4Lfjkjz-YFTjsQJuTEN0wudmbSL5utjsqsMzxDuskrUgkxwM6Tyjk6U6f7mD5jDed_QE/s640/041.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLovJN9nEtfhLkuSj294VBvtwaP90ZlhAlAjkmfcUxrOz87XD58-OagWgiEj-3GfzUOd2SxenfXGcDhyphenhyphenJolTslaJUrS4Jwmv6FRO82hfvY9r2mqDPY8rtF0bON33I2bFv3AcHybKBs6sZt/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLovJN9nEtfhLkuSj294VBvtwaP90ZlhAlAjkmfcUxrOz87XD58-OagWgiEj-3GfzUOd2SxenfXGcDhyphenhyphenJolTslaJUrS4Jwmv6FRO82hfvY9r2mqDPY8rtF0bON33I2bFv3AcHybKBs6sZt/s640/034.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6quQiLoZd-R0yAxSD2cRqz1GeBmghsn3u7yGJRYvjYKXBlMZyodgCbkSuDgdHtxdR2kUNJdSb3C5sKmp0V3wq3vWbqrGrvDHIK2AWAxd5YtM2mFi_TNI1hxiMSdxCyL0dC0QAkcjUfpym/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6quQiLoZd-R0yAxSD2cRqz1GeBmghsn3u7yGJRYvjYKXBlMZyodgCbkSuDgdHtxdR2kUNJdSb3C5sKmp0V3wq3vWbqrGrvDHIK2AWAxd5YtM2mFi_TNI1hxiMSdxCyL0dC0QAkcjUfpym/s400/033.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK0TB4OzZgYtxj3xbwWP_biOaG01ymRBaEMKYghTawWOHnpJI5nx6C-GxgEUDiUVxuxVXsaq7nQDxryQf2v6ODTL8fCLAE65su8zM4Vx0jdNexGSjjchGNBInvP8e4AhvKoodv0g6rHXt/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK0TB4OzZgYtxj3xbwWP_biOaG01ymRBaEMKYghTawWOHnpJI5nx6C-GxgEUDiUVxuxVXsaq7nQDxryQf2v6ODTL8fCLAE65su8zM4Vx0jdNexGSjjchGNBInvP8e4AhvKoodv0g6rHXt/s640/038.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I first fiddled with my arrangement on the floor, then used templates to "test" it out on the wall.  But, I ended up shifting around a few as we were hanging anyway.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JZBI-xIaKQh8Hlmr2EYaYZvAWxebdAqQer2ZhEyyYRA_1p8qBrQ8QmvilQ7ETinlwUdefQgnNv47LhA7s1HmshNNvOjIiuKADVr3Xvju56C8bjrKOZJBO9DKUlECq1u4NLOFFoil_bb5/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JZBI-xIaKQh8Hlmr2EYaYZvAWxebdAqQer2ZhEyyYRA_1p8qBrQ8QmvilQ7ETinlwUdefQgnNv47LhA7s1HmshNNvOjIiuKADVr3Xvju56C8bjrKOZJBO9DKUlECq1u4NLOFFoil_bb5/s400/013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with the arrangement before committing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqhpjq4iswjlSXVZzhFASGmWnNAteTTUPyJvYbVXazgW3e2YFO6HwcUVNBy4cfjorJYZxacN-n1eTOs80_mEcogQ1V1yawdGAtrW3CmWgsR-gmKsZFyt2RMESG0VCtnBbIuoxHGjjZf5-/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqhpjq4iswjlSXVZzhFASGmWnNAteTTUPyJvYbVXazgW3e2YFO6HwcUVNBy4cfjorJYZxacN-n1eTOs80_mEcogQ1V1yawdGAtrW3CmWgsR-gmKsZFyt2RMESG0VCtnBbIuoxHGjjZf5-/s400/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Anyone who has said that a gallery wall is an easy project LIES, or else I am doing it wrong.  It took bloody <em>forever </em>to decide on arrangement, then get everything straight & balanced.  We missed dinner for this project and ate at 9:00p.m!  (Perhaps I am extra cranky because of <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-diy-fail.html">the frame fiasco</a>).  But, the <strong>before & after</strong> difference makes me happy enough to forget the headache and tell everyone how easy this was.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-40LVRZFjSgtTx6adqgseQSWStlkZlNxpxii1lmINIDy8AnbpdcImGEKzhr-t-KA_pwx_RkVpeqh6zrP5HRus2Z3pU3gQKWlJ1yDOj6LmysdiOvxQLqbhUkyRSXfYYDBHU260U7OiepA/s1600/P1030174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-40LVRZFjSgtTx6adqgseQSWStlkZlNxpxii1lmINIDy8AnbpdcImGEKzhr-t-KA_pwx_RkVpeqh6zrP5HRus2Z3pU3gQKWlJ1yDOj6LmysdiOvxQLqbhUkyRSXfYYDBHU260U7OiepA/s400/P1030174.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The REAL "Before"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuzytODytx_jP8BqbDKW2labh_T8i5C4lEhji-kcztUgM8dB6fGAacXUR6_MniQeg1jTquaTYd8rx3PQPM9EO-IFszH8CJC2NFVr6sOvIKRvS8UM7F_x1ul9MRgvCfi1m1hghfWsJzrIO/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuzytODytx_jP8BqbDKW2labh_T8i5C4lEhji-kcztUgM8dB6fGAacXUR6_MniQeg1jTquaTYd8rx3PQPM9EO-IFszH8CJC2NFVr6sOvIKRvS8UM7F_x1ul9MRgvCfi1m1hghfWsJzrIO/s400/011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The latest "Before"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLu8aAqTuCcAatnGesSaE2wwhMH4aVYSOpIqkEyfkFyNyV-Vk0cAAmHOkyGnmYzkjMM2Ng089D3yvTw4cDhDcxXqyN8MRuOwFTGXaqBQOhBqhiXGAAvmZCCwRtgW9GFAnUNOhrNONi83F/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLu8aAqTuCcAatnGesSaE2wwhMH4aVYSOpIqkEyfkFyNyV-Vk0cAAmHOkyGnmYzkjMM2Ng089D3yvTw4cDhDcxXqyN8MRuOwFTGXaqBQOhBqhiXGAAvmZCCwRtgW9GFAnUNOhrNONi83F/s640/042.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is, one last time . . . </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Still to do: hide the closet track to make my closet-to-nook conversion complete.  We have kept the doors in case the next owners want to convert this back into a closet.  Because we installed new floors when we moved in, there are no holes for the doors on the floor.  Regardless, the doors will be an easy install project should they been needed again.  But I like the openness of the office without a closet and it suits my purposes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsWTJmcKX0L5FjtPhSwxeCxEu_qtH7UdT0AgH_8-e5IzwzhM8HQ-xUNke_SC8uQWvPPHVcjy4DFru4YK3E87AjkzPDHXqDi9J4IUGBNGkGyQh3UiCAjoHdQ2CIFvR_nBK-u04mWY2BqyA/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsWTJmcKX0L5FjtPhSwxeCxEu_qtH7UdT0AgH_8-e5IzwzhM8HQ-xUNke_SC8uQWvPPHVcjy4DFru4YK3E87AjkzPDHXqDi9J4IUGBNGkGyQh3UiCAjoHdQ2CIFvR_nBK-u04mWY2BqyA/s400/048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Tomorrow I will tell you about Phase I of my DIY magnetic chalkboard, seen on the silhouette wall.

Silhouette Wall

Sunday was a momentous day: for the first time in the years & years of my collecting (and now months of blogging about ) silhouettes, my...

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Bookcase Tweaking

I wanted to (finally) share some pictures of two of the goodies I acquired this weekend, during my shopping splurge with my visiting mom.  To do that, I'm posting some pictures of my bookcase tweaking.  Because I'm a PhD student, my home office bookcase is used <em>daily</em>,<em> </em>so I find it tricky to "curate" it in a way that is still accessible and useful (<a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/02/books-as-tables-blargh.html">you know how I hate inaccessible books</a>).  On the other hand, it is pretty much the only thing I see from my desk and I grew weary of looking at a boring bookcase.  So I tackled it this weekend and here are the fruits of my labour: <br /><br /><strong>The "Before":</strong><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxSZfYjzPeFmsglmUARZ9dDEtZw47ZijiKvr7QOGYOH-FWsQeWXcRd0VLlckGWKcDtO-gnqBdA8u9Hq7QWte_wcSjfUVuoPPSw7er9hMaJT03V6LQyg0rfrqiuzk_hNwM-qTj-F9LWHs/s1600/P1060172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxSZfYjzPeFmsglmUARZ9dDEtZw47ZijiKvr7QOGYOH-FWsQeWXcRd0VLlckGWKcDtO-gnqBdA8u9Hq7QWte_wcSjfUVuoPPSw7er9hMaJT03V6LQyg0rfrqiuzk_hNwM-qTj-F9LWHs/s640/P1060172.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><strong>Now:</strong><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRNttE9kX-Ic85MNmItvkwi-KxFmvexymQPcFNP7C5e_uk1QW8YZ2sdbJuOlxUMedJZQTfaDIqJ0cmMEXn1rWUxwa8_BQIH1-DmOheEefrudYrRakcV0Uh7DWQpYSbSXXnM2qmOuDVnU/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRNttE9kX-Ic85MNmItvkwi-KxFmvexymQPcFNP7C5e_uk1QW8YZ2sdbJuOlxUMedJZQTfaDIqJ0cmMEXn1rWUxwa8_BQIH1-DmOheEefrudYrRakcV0Uh7DWQpYSbSXXnM2qmOuDVnU/s640/053.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER SOME RE-ARRANGING</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I know, I know - not a huge difference.  But there are more notable pops of colour (<a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/lovin-orange.html">mmmm, orange</a>), the books have been grouped more by colour and I de-cluttered some of the messier areas.  I moved my grandpa's sculpture (to a better place) and added a vintage piece that adds a pop of colour.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk3i2iURueaxuScAc1hRIO145-DOEaobntAO7N6gENLmkGxrOkyT2ylC2jVfesHoGlCyyXPS0xhCzy7xb0PnF5dWILAMdW6VAOV9pwyGEKJ9l1Vp54o3iVQeA3vRSU5ybQCwsS41G7t8/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk3i2iURueaxuScAc1hRIO145-DOEaobntAO7N6gENLmkGxrOkyT2ylC2jVfesHoGlCyyXPS0xhCzy7xb0PnF5dWILAMdW6VAOV9pwyGEKJ9l1Vp54o3iVQeA3vRSU5ybQCwsS41G7t8/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RsDpkJJWAJsNwOYra0qKGmZPPw8N3tb6jkklGoj_JCwf_W7s26bCyh1r9P7-9T0qCuzse9GVAlU3y-1kmrcsjjrcp1268ITbJc-YFsTWN64zI7cDzPpDhSVxsW5wrAg_GEjC9tHhWsg/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RsDpkJJWAJsNwOYra0qKGmZPPw8N3tb6jkklGoj_JCwf_W7s26bCyh1r9P7-9T0qCuzse9GVAlU3y-1kmrcsjjrcp1268ITbJc-YFsTWN64zI7cDzPpDhSVxsW5wrAg_GEjC9tHhWsg/s400/023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi088cheyABGwzHxqCyNMtzpUQktD2eaepgF2eDxwkP08KGsq_NXhXs_OmMI3PCOh5xaYwb86_sHfOftJAyjKKIZ31H0zKHMhbexL_RMXuPfeEwe6D0XTavYoAIJjlNArZi2udjiFIpb78/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi088cheyABGwzHxqCyNMtzpUQktD2eaepgF2eDxwkP08KGsq_NXhXs_OmMI3PCOh5xaYwb86_sHfOftJAyjKKIZ31H0zKHMhbexL_RMXuPfeEwe6D0XTavYoAIJjlNArZi2udjiFIpb78/s400/024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I turned this so more of the pretty colour shows</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Here is one of my weekend finds that added some life to the shelves.  A vintage vase from Switzerland.  Don't really know anything about it, other than I like it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3Onm5SgMi2BlC-M8Q6AEkz7P3fDHpzbgQMbexwSRXbrBMFECLm7jiRoSKwn8VfFKl8008TEKUp0tMUpAPklWsGpvigiS2f5jRDQhhDpxDkeFnw1hxSwVwv2p1tUikal9KYMRwTL5i7M/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3Onm5SgMi2BlC-M8Q6AEkz7P3fDHpzbgQMbexwSRXbrBMFECLm7jiRoSKwn8VfFKl8008TEKUp0tMUpAPklWsGpvigiS2f5jRDQhhDpxDkeFnw1hxSwVwv2p1tUikal9KYMRwTL5i7M/s640/020.JPG" width="338" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivlZ6XxW-gtCcUthuwtBqLYw5RC6qfl035WMLhBIrltKEX-HXFahXMwbXBKBY9i7Ipo4NKlxDCbDgjuM5BtZT92Uod2Ye4qQI8jwM20RLVv4oi7H2MT9x7NoelVD4TQDoWLCjG_a_7H8/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivlZ6XxW-gtCcUthuwtBqLYw5RC6qfl035WMLhBIrltKEX-HXFahXMwbXBKBY9i7Ipo4NKlxDCbDgjuM5BtZT92Uod2Ye4qQI8jwM20RLVv4oi7H2MT9x7NoelVD4TQDoWLCjG_a_7H8/s400/021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Here's a second find: a vintage Hull pottery piece.  I purchased this from someone on <a href="http://www.kijiji.ca/">kijiji</a>.  The seller lives out of town, so they dropped it off to me.  But as soon as they pulled away, I saw a chip (the seller thought it was a firing flaw, but sadly it is not).  She's offered me a refund, but it is so perfect in the office . . . Don't know what to do.  Thoughts?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwZqReV6oko3gmgOYBQC-Yvqi45ys_w0WGNNjMDLccQtmKl9fxqGMxz1IaRBFgNftO8mjOJFLvgj3IJP3gxFO7fBF_cegS1Ht6uZr46dMsw9EaVFE439h1ql7Xtj0yfgnlNbv8xSxDTI/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwZqReV6oko3gmgOYBQC-Yvqi45ys_w0WGNNjMDLccQtmKl9fxqGMxz1IaRBFgNftO8mjOJFLvgj3IJP3gxFO7fBF_cegS1Ht6uZr46dMsw9EaVFE439h1ql7Xtj0yfgnlNbv8xSxDTI/s640/030.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoZpasDFhCh2Ac0iH0ucUryv6BX8MPhSwNUII943n1YiEO9I439L1RKem6JCp1CvBmIfV7WR1kx6BlHLLjV568LoETxN7gcuRl9gv9TXbj3s6SZRC_Q9UGalLtEUHRCWfVTb8jdHuHw8/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoZpasDFhCh2Ac0iH0ucUryv6BX8MPhSwNUII943n1YiEO9I439L1RKem6JCp1CvBmIfV7WR1kx6BlHLLjV568LoETxN7gcuRl9gv9TXbj3s6SZRC_Q9UGalLtEUHRCWfVTb8jdHuHw8/s400/031.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grrr.  A chip.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So, that is my spruced up bookcase with two of my weekend finds (there's more!).  I am trying to incorporate more colour and pattern to brighten up and pull together the office.  Here is the other corner.  I love the light that my desk lamp casts when the sun hits it.  (Click <a href="http://dans-le-townhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-office-before-in-progress.html">here</a> for more office photos).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7SKrer686FOwXhvwmLbwwgA8oLg8YvXRFYqwWHRrCtc73qTDZxsrGrjdYchUjPh11PuJMSEH8aG1wxlY32MZWWNyrUQrNf0vuI7rfvlcBt0aFZ6Wuc8P0H0twKh8E_fAAVYoqmRQPZ4/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7SKrer686FOwXhvwmLbwwgA8oLg8YvXRFYqwWHRrCtc73qTDZxsrGrjdYchUjPh11PuJMSEH8aG1wxlY32MZWWNyrUQrNf0vuI7rfvlcBt0aFZ6Wuc8P0H0twKh8E_fAAVYoqmRQPZ4/s640/019.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67l8Sjw4in2A8VvDGRIcEewYYqMaeuJkRjAyOhfdvNw64fjV8Y_fHWo561zx_mzheWYUd1dJh7Bbs_5_qUoSBZEBB5EfnC9DeRgRJ4JWvYH1aZ874_TCun6idykGRGvy0CIzMeHTQz4Q/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67l8Sjw4in2A8VvDGRIcEewYYqMaeuJkRjAyOhfdvNw64fjV8Y_fHWo561zx_mzheWYUd1dJh7Bbs_5_qUoSBZEBB5EfnC9DeRgRJ4JWvYH1aZ874_TCun6idykGRGvy0CIzMeHTQz4Q/s640/020.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT4BOs8vBZLDQC85MekInALhBSwquVStk5nGikSa_eWfB4h8ekKuVlk-5hDE57y1Niw4tw84S8cUwVkU15BmZpIRFvmrVN0fRUrFEQlxXAZeUwhTURQAi3i_kgcGuIw7ebNptrUmR7YU/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT4BOs8vBZLDQC85MekInALhBSwquVStk5nGikSa_eWfB4h8ekKuVlk-5hDE57y1Niw4tw84S8cUwVkU15BmZpIRFvmrVN0fRUrFEQlxXAZeUwhTURQAi3i_kgcGuIw7ebNptrUmR7YU/s640/021.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />P.S. This is my 200th post!

Bookcase Tweaking

I wanted to (finally) share some pictures of two of the goodies I acquired this weekend, during my shopping splurge with my visiting mom.  T...

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