DIY Lavender Sachet Pillows

By Elena Koidis

These lavender-filled sachets make an elegant bridal and wedding favours for your guests, and smell absolutely divine! 

What you will need: (Yields approx. 100 sachets)

- Fabric: White Sheer, Lace and Linen (about 1 yard each)

- Lavender (about 2 lbs)

- Scissors, Pinking Sheers, Ruler, Sewing Machine, Thread and a Teaspoon

-Assorted Buttons

The How To:

Step 1: Cut 3inch x 3 inch squares out of all 3 fabrics (I made a 3x3 template, traced and cut for added efficiency)

Step 2: Layer a linen, sheer, and lace piece and sew 3 sides leaving approx. 1 inch all around. (I also made a 2 x 2 template to speed this process along)

Step 3: Scoop approx. 4 teaspoons of lavender into the opening of the pocket between the linen and sheer side. Holding the open side tightly, give a little shake. (This will allow you an ample amount of space to top stitch the lavender pocket’s open side down). 

Step 4: Top stitch the open side down, so that the lavender pocket is completely closed. 

Step 5: Trim edges with pinking sheers leaving about a 1/4 - 1/8 flange all around the lavender pocket.

Step 6: To create the button detail - use your thumb and finger find the centre of the lavender sachet and rub together creating a little space with no lavender, and sew button tightly. You can also add a small card stock piece with “Thank You” printed on it.

DIY: Graphic Easter Eggs

By Elena Koidis

What you will need:

-masking tape

-scissors

-boiled eggs

-food colouring

-white vinegar

-mason jars

-water

The how to:

Step 1: Place eggs in a large pot of water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover for 10min. Remove from stove and run under cold water. Dry eggs. 

Step 2: Cut out geometric shapes or cute silohette motifs from masking tape and stick on, rubbing the surface and flatening out any creases.

Step 3: In the mason jar, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with about 1 cup of water and 20 drops of food colouring, submerge egg for 5-10 min.

Step 4: Remove egg and either let dry in the carton, or pat dry with paper towel, remove masking tape. You can leave the motif white or repeat step 3 to add colour.

Happy Easter!!

DIY: Upholstered Toy Chest

It was time to say goodbye to my old toy chest and hand it over for my little cousin’s dress up box. I was about to give it a fresh coat of paint when I noticed that it had handy dandy inset panels about ¼ deep and inspiration struck… why not use some left over fabric, upholstery foam core panels and breath some new life (and adorable cuteness) into this old thing!

What you will need:

Fabric

Foam core

Two sided foam tape (or glue gun)

Staple gun (or glue gun)

Scissors, Ruler, Blade, Tape (masking or packing)

Toy chest

The How To:

Step 1: Measure inserts and cut foam core about 1/8 smaller to allow space for the fabric to fold over neatly.

Step 2: Lay foam core panel on the fabric and cut all around leaving about ¼” - ½” allowing you ample space to fold fabric over.

Step 3: Fold fabric and tape down, fold corners like how you would wrap a present, and cut any excess fabric away.

Step 4: Apply foam tape or glue (from glue gun) inside the insert, and press your newly upholstered foam core panel down firmly.

Step 5: Cover the lid of the toy chest in the same manner as step 2 (no foam core necessary for this part) and double fold corners neatly on reverse side. You can adhere fabric using the glue gun or a staple gun, and use ribbon to cover any staples or messy seems.  

Christmas Cocktails

It’s that time a year for fabulous food and drink. Below are a few cocktail recipes that I have rounded up to make your spirits happy and bright. Enjoy

Gingerbread Apple Cocktail
2 oz. Domaine de Canton
1 oz. vanilla vodka
2.5 oz. apple cider
A few drops of lemon juice
Orange zest
Agave syrup

Line a chilled martini glass lightly with agave syrup on a dish followed by spiced graham cracker crumbs. Place all ingredients except for orange zest in a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into glass. Freshly grate orange zest on drink and serve immediately.

Source http://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity-lifestyle/articles/drinks-cocktails-recipes-christmas#slide-4

Rosemary Gin Fizz

1 cup rosemary simple syrup (Boil one cup of sugar in one cup of water with a couple rosemary sprigs thrown in. Boil until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool.)
1 cup gin
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 bottle of Prosecco (or 2, if you want the cocktail to be lighter)

Stir ingredients together in a punch bowl or carafe, and garnish with sprigs of rosemary.

Source: http://joannagoddard.blogspot.ca/2012/05/best-party-cocktail-youll-ever-have.html#more

Pomegranate-Champagne Punch

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

2 750-ml bottles chilled brut Champagne

1 1/2 cups white rum

1 1/4 cups pomegranate juice

1 large lemon, thinly sliced

Pomegranate seeds

Fresh mint leaves

1 ice block

Bring 1/2 cup water and sugar to boil in small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes. Cool syrup completely. Combine Champagne, rum, and pomegranate juice in punch bowl. Add enough syrup to sweeten to taste. Mix in lemon slices, pomegranate seeds, and mint leaves. Add ice block to bowl.

Source http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2007/12/pomegranate_champagne_punch

Christmas Cranberry Mojitos
8 oz. fresh cranberries

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of water

20 mint leaves

2 teaspoons of lime juice

Ice

4 oz. rum

4-6 oz. soda water

http://www.wearenotmartha.com/2011/11/cranberry-mojitos/

Winter Sun Cocktail

Juice of 2 clementines (about 1/4 cup)

Juice of 1/2 small lemon (1/2 oz)

1/2 oz triple sec

1 1/2 oz vodka

Sprig of rosemary

Lemon zest

Sugar

Moisten the rim of your glass with some fruit juice. (The juice helps the sugar to adhere better than water does.) Combine zest and sugar in a shallow bowl or plate. Turn the glass over onto plate and coat with sugar. 2. Pour juices, triple sec, and vodka into a shaker. Shake and then pour over ice. Garnish with rosemary sprig. (Makes 1.)

Source: http://www.two-tarts.com/2012/01/winter-sun-cocktail.html

Evergreen Christmas

By: Elena Koidis, Interior Stylist

I love Christmas decor ideas that incorporate the use of the outdoors. This year I have been especially partial to the use of evergreen branches, not only are they readily available in nature but they add whimsy and a beautiful Christmas scent to your home. Check out these last minute decor ideas to inspire you from everything to gift packaging to table settings before your family and friends arrive this Christmas.

Picture souce: http://pinterest.com/elenarosekoidis/christmas/

Emerald Envy

By: Elena Koidis, Interior Stylist

Emerald…. Bold, Beautiful, Breathtaking! The Pantone colour of the year has been released and I have been stock piling these beautiful home decor images in great anticipation! From velvet sofas, to satin drapes and splashes of rich emerald on the wall, this powerful colour is paving the way for 2013. Look no further for inspiration, and start adding this colour to your wardrobe and home.

photos from http://pinterest.com/elenarosekoidis/emerald-envy/

Dreaming of a White Christmas

By: Elena Koidis, Interior Stylist

It’s December 1^st and when I awoke this morning the city of Toronto was covered in a light dusting of white snow! What could be a more magical start to the Christmas season? The beautiful winter scene has inspired me to round up my top favourite White Christmas decor ideas, and although I love decorating with colour, I find shades of white and cream to be calm and comforting, and that’s what the holiday season is all about.

Picture souce: http://pinterest.com/elenarosekoidis/christmas/

How To: Layer Your Tree Like a Pro

By: Elena Koidis

Interior Stylist

I love the holidays, and nothing kicks off Christmas like putting up your tree and reminiscing over all the Christmas’ before.  Below are a few tips and techniques to get that designer tree with your own crafty/traditional/modern ornaments in nine simple steps.

Step 1 – Skirt. I get so excited by the lights and ornaments I often forget the skirt until its far too late, and end up lifting up the already decorated tree to shimmy the skirt around the bottom. So in order to avoid this awkward ending, step one is to lay your skirt down.

Step 2 – Assemble & Trim. Be sure that the base is study and fluff up all of your branches and trim (if it’s real).

Step 3 – Lights! Plug the lights in and wind them around each branch as you go, this way you can see what you’re doing and it ensures that the lights are working. Start at the bottom and work your way upward, be sure to get deep into the tree to add extra depth. Tuck any loose ends in to avoid your tree looking like a mess of wires.

Step 4 – Topper. If your Star, Santa, or Angel can be hooked up to the light strand, now is a good time to check that you can reach the end plug of your lights. If your topper does not have a plug (doesn’t light up) illuminate it by wrapping a few extra strands of light near the top.  

Step 5 – Garland/Ribbon/Beads. I like to have a main thread of either ribbon or garland to spiral down the tree. Start at the bottom back of the tree and natural swirl the ribbon or garland around working your way up to the top. If you need to use 2 or 3 cuts of ribbon be sure to tuck the loose ends at the back of the tree.

Step 6 – Precious Ornaments. I like my favorite ornaments to get the prime viewing spots on my tree, these are usually at eye level. Take time to twist or trim branches so that the ornaments fall perfectly in place. This will allow them to suspend gracefully from the branches and will also keep the tree from looking over-crowded.

Step 7 – Filler Decor. Now it’s time to add your filler ornaments; glass balls, bells, apples, pinecones, etc.  These ornaments are what will help establish your colour scheme and/or theme of the tree. Don’t hang all the ornaments on the very tips of the branches; give your tree depth by venturing towards the tree trunk and space them evenly around the precious ornaments.

Step 8 – Milk and Cookies Break. Now it’s time to take a few steps back and admire your tree. Keep in mind balance and space and how objects relate to each other, look for areas that need filling and adjust accordingly.

Step 9 – Presents! Add your beautifully wrapped gifts and viola you are ready for the holidays!

photo: http://pinterest.com/elenarosekoidis/christmas/

Paper Parcel Wrapping Round Up

By: Elena Koidis

Nothing says “I love you” more than a pretty perfectly wrapped parcel. Brown craft paper is one of my favorite materials for wrapping because it never goes out of style and it’s neither fussy nor expensive. But what I love most about craft paper is how it allows you the freedom to dress up your gifts in so many creative ways.  This versatile paper can become elegant with a little lace, vintage with old pictures and tags, or personal with hand cut monograms. Most importantly no matter how you style your gift it is always unique. Above is a brown paper wrapping round up to spark up your creativity this holiday season. Happy wrapping!

images: http://pinterest.com/elenarosekoidis/gifting/

DIY: Kitschy Apron from Scrap Fabric

By Elena Koidis

Being a self proclaimed fabric junkie I have a habit of stock piling the itty-bitty pieces of left over fabrics from projects of the past. This quick and easy apron project aims at using left over scraps from around the studio. Most of the apron contrast pieces are long bands of fabric 4-6 inches in width. This gives you the freedom to use up different coordinating fabric pieces, don’t have enough of one fabric for all the contrast bands? No problem add in 2 or 3 other coordinating fabrics to get the job done. All you need is a little time, basic sewing skills and an imagination.

Materials

-Contrast fabric (36” x 28”) for the straps, ruffle, waist band, neck strap and end ties.

-Main fabric (38” x 20”) for the bib and skirt

-Double fold bias tape (36” long) for finishing the bib

-Tracing paper/ pattern paper - optional

- The Basics - thread, ruler, chalk, scissors, sewing machine, & iron

Measure, Mark and Cut

I like to measure out on tracing paper first so that I can center my pattern on the fabric, but if you are working from minimal scraps this may not be a luxury you can afford. If you are going to skip the tracing paper part, simply measure and mark out the following pieces on the wrong side of the fabric and cut them out.

Main Fabric:

Skirt – top length 21”, bottom length 27”, total height 20”

Bib – top length 10.5”, bottom length 7.5”, total height 11”

Hint* when cutting out the bib and skirt fold the fabric vertically down the middle to ensure a symmetrical piece.

Contrast Fabric:

Waist band – 22” x 4” (cut 2)

Ruffle – 36” x 5”

Tie Ends – 34” x 4” (cut 2)

Bottom Contrast – 27” x 3”

Neck Strap – 20” x 3”

Hint* mark all the contrast fabric with letters, example “R” for Ruffle, so you can identify them later on in the project.

Step 1 - Bottom Contrast

Lay “Bottom Contrast” piece and the “Skirt” piece face to face at the bottom (wide part) of the apron and stitch. Double fold and iron the “Contrast Band” so it completely encases the raw bottom edge of the apron “Skirt” and stitch together. To finish the rest of the “Skirt”, take the two long sides, double fold over, iron and stitch. Now just the top edge of the “Skirt” should be left raw.

Step 2 – Ruffle & Waist Band

Finish 3 sides (double fold, iron and stitch) “Ruffle” piece, leave the top long edge unfinished. Use a basting stitch (do not back stitch) to finish along the top long unfinished edge. Leave the beginning and tail ends of thread long so that you are able to pull and gather the fabric. Lay the ruffle on top of the skirt, matching top raw edges together and gently pull on the thread ends to create a ruffle that is the same size in length as the top of the skirt. Pin in place.

Step 3 – Attach the Waist Band & Ruffle

Finish 3 sides (double fold, iron and stitch) of each “Waist Band”, leave the top long edge unfinished. Now sandwich the “Waist bands”, “Skirt” and “Ruffle” – lay  “Waist band #1”  face to face with “Ruffle”, aligning top raw edges together and pin to the ruffle/skirt (ruffle and skirt are already pinned together in step 2). Now flip the apron over and pin the face side of “Waist Band #2” to the back side of the “Skirt” aligning raw edges at the top and pin. Stitch along the top raw edges with a ¼” seam allowance to ensure you are grabbing all 4 layers (waist band #2, skirt, ruffle and waist band #1).

Step 4 – Bib

Using double fold bias tape, finish all 3 edges of the “Bib”, excluding the bottom edge (encase the bib edges using bias tap and stitch in place). Flip up the two “Waist bands” attached to the “Skirt” and slip the “Bib” in the middle. Pin in place and stitch all along the top edge of the “Waist Band” so it is closed and ensure you are grabbing all 3 layers (wait band #2, bib in the center, and waist band #1), leave the both side ends open.

Step 5 – Tie Ends

Fold each “Tie End” in half, lengthwise face to face and sew down long raw edge and 1 short raw edge. Fold right side out and iron. Now slip the raw edge of the tie end into either side of the waistband (that was left open in step 3). Pin and sew closed.

Step 6 – Neck Strap

Fold “Neck Strap” in half, lengthwise face to face and sew down long raw edge and 1 short raw edge. Fold right side out and iron and sew open end closed (fold inside to its self first and then sew closed). Pin the strap to the back of top corners of bib. At this point I wear the apron and adjust the strap lengths accordingly. Once you are satisfied with the length of the apron top stitch the strap in place. The strap should form a “U” at the top of the apron that you can slide your head through.

Congratulations you have finished your scrap fabric apron!

Pattern inspired by “one-yard wonders” book

DIY Couples Costume

Pebbles and Bam-Bam

With only one week left until Halloween I thought this was a great time to share my quick and easy do-it-yourself couples costume, inspired by the Flintstones lovable babies – Pebbles and Bam-Bam. Not only is it cheap to make but it is also super comfortable to wear, and here is the how to;

What you will need:

Pebbles

-Dog bone spray painted white

-black felt cut into triangles

-green tee shirt and blue shorts (I purchased boys boxers from Wal-Mart for $3)

-dollar store jewelry (shell and stone necklace and bracelets)

-glue gun, scissors and string

Simply cut the sleeves and bottom of the tee shirt and boxer shorts in a triangular pattern and then glue gun the black triangles in random order all over the shirt. Put a few strands of hair in a high pony tail, and place the bone in front, to secure the bone wrap string in a criss-cross pattern (I used string that was similar in colour to my hair).

What you will need:

Bam-Bam

-2 yards of orange fabric

-1/2 yard of leopard print fabric (or a leopard print scarf)

-old base ball cap

-black felt cut into triangles

Cut fabric diagonally (on the bias) to allow for a nicely draped orange toga. Hem finish the edge that was just cut, this will be the top of the toga. Cut all other edges in a triangular pattern. Cut a slit to allow for your arm hole. Cut triangles from black felt and glue gun on the toga randomly. Stitch together the two sides of the toga so it stays on the body. Drape the leopard fabric over one shoulder and gather together at the side. Use left over orange fabric to create a belt and to cover an existing baseball cap.

Happy Halloween!!

Stockholm > Copenhagen > Amsterdam > Paris > Florence 

The Adventure begins 08/18/2012 !

Leaving today to backpack around Europe for 3 weeks! I will be flying into Stockholm, Sweden to meet my boyfriend (who has been at Alto University for 2 weeks in Finland). Very excited for the food, culture, and adventure. Be sure to check back for style posts from around the world!

Ciao!!

Elena Koidis

DIY: Upcycled Jewelry Box

I have “union jack fever” that can be easily blamed on the combination of the queens jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics… however my union jack obsession started back before even the royal wedding.  I have no idea when it actually manifested although I was always slighted obsessed with the British from a young age when I would fake an accent and sip tea while pointing my pinky finger.

I have been longing for the day when my boyfriend actually allows me to paint our dresser in a bright and colourful union jack motif. I finally realized that if it’s his permission I’m waiting for - it will never happen. He is already supportive of my career and diy projects that I don’t really want to test how far I can push it. So when I came across this old wooden jewelry box in the shape of a mini dresser at a yard sale, inspiration suddenly struck.  Why not go crazy in a smaller scale? Sure it was a little more difficult because the grooves were smaller and more intricate, but it only took a fraction of paint and time. Not to mention that I had been searching for a small sewing box to store bobbins and other smaller sewing essentials, and the tiny compartments of the jewelry box work perfectly. Now I just need to style it to match my cute pink sewing machine.

The How To:

Step 1: Remove hardware and lightly scuff sand and prime

Step 2: Paint pink! (Took me 3 coats)

Step 3: Tape the Union Jack with painters tape (I waited a full day to let the 3 coats of pink to fully dry). I taped off where I wanted the white outline to show through, and then I removed the tape and painted the orange by hand between the lines.

Step 4: Touch up any messy areas with an artist brush

Step 5: Fill with sewing paraphernalia and enjoy!

Gatsby Gold - Home Decor Trends

By: Elena Koidis

Interior Stylist

I have always loved the relationship between cinema design and interior design. A beautiful film can inspire the home décor industry in the most artful manner. This year’s buzz is classic and sexy with The Great Gatsby hitting theaters in December. Glamorous swatches of gold & art deco inspired geometric motifs have already started to make an impact on the home décor market. I am always especially delighted when a historical movie premiers; they tend to have the most permanent influence on the décor industry and awaken a classic style buried within time.  

In honor of The Great Gatsby I have put together a few of my favorite home décor items for this trend in this photomontage.

Sources:

1. Triple Tiered Pendant Shade by urbanoutfitters.com 

2. Helix Linen Pillow by modernchichome.com

3. Cube Table by laylagrayce.com 

4. 183 Modern Wing Chair by brentwoodclassics.com 

5. Murray Feiss Xenia Table Lamp by jossandmain.com

Inspiration pictures: http://pinterest.com/brentwoodclass/gatsby-gold/

Trend Spotting: Faux Bios

By: Elena Koidis

Interior Stylist

French for “fake wood” this fun faux-wood pattern is injecting personality in everything from fashion, electronics, to home accents. I couldn’t resist putting together a style montage of my latest obsession for my workplace, Brentwood Classic (www.brentwoodclassics.com). Moments after I created this collage I received an e-blast from paper-source featuring faux bios gift bags confirming my suspicion that this trend is going to be hot!

Enjoy!