Friday 13 March 2015

Vacation in San Diego!


I have been away for a week to sunny San Diego! Hubby had a conference there and we took some extra days for us to enjoy. It was 14 degrees when we left Illinois and San Diego was in the 70's and creeping into the 80's with beautiful sunny days! I will show some amazing pictures and facts that we learned.

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We stayed in downtown San Diego at the US Grant Hotel. It is upscale and beautiful with

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Canoe + Baby








My friend's Mother-In-Law 

asked me to paint

a decorative baby-sized canoe

for her...



It was made by a family member

and the craftsmanship executed

so  well...



Here is the original raw wood...


She wanted it in a dark stain contrasted with white paint. I also distressed the canoe but it was tricky to paint with the small details on this piece, plus the hard to reach areas.

Saturday 28 February 2015

DIY Ideas For This Weekend

You may want to try your hand on some easy DIY this weekend. Here is a list of newspaper crafts that I have shared earlier on my blog. Click on the respective link to know the complete procedure.


I have made different kinds of trays and baskets using newspaper and let me tell you no one believes that they are made of newspaper. If you want to have a look of them then click here to see my newspaper baskets and click here to see my newspaper tray.


Newspaper Craft



Newspaper wind chime is what I never saw or heard about. So I gave it a try and was a big hit. Do you want to learn how to make Newspaper wind chime, then click here.

Newspaper Craft


First I tried making simple newspaper coasters and then tried making them in different patterns and designs too. Coasters are liked by one and all. All my customers and friends are happy using and flaunting them. Click here to check out the video tutorial on how to make newspaper coasters. 

Newspaper craft

Newspaper Crafts


I am so sure that you will enjoy making these paper crafts. 
Wish you a creative and happy weekend!!

All images are mine and subject to copyright. Please don't use any image without my permission. Thanks!!


Thursday 26 February 2015

The Historic Mansions of Summit Avenue | Saint Paul, Minnesota.

It was one of the last weekends of late summer in Minnesota, when the heart yearned to spend every warm minute outdoors soaking up the beauty of the season. 
The Twin Cities which consist of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have distinct personalities. Saint Paul is influenced by early Irish, French & German Catholic heritage.
We decided to explore Summit Avenue which is the preserved heritage neighbourhood of Victorian mansions. It extends from the very majestic Cathedral Of Saint Paul with it's copper dome to a 5-mile length of the avenue.
There are many organised tours held by the Minnesota Historical Society, since ours was an impromptu trip we just decided to walk as far as our legs would take us, enjoying the weather and marvelling at the 19th century architecture.


Most of the mansions were built in 1860's by Railroad and Lumbar Barons.


The gateway to a bygone era.


As we passed each Victorian style mansion, we realised they very so unique and distinct in design.

 Come sit a while and watch the season making an exit.

The walk was so breathtakingly beautiful with fresh tender vines entwined around age old rusty iron fences.
 One single puffy cloud.


The Old Smith 'Vine' Masion
This mansion covered with vine was built 1858 and probably one of the oldest in the neighbourhood.


 Our vibrant path.


There are many notable buildings like the James J. Hill HouseF. Scott Fitzgerald House and Frank B. Kellogg House in the neighbourhood.



Addison G. Foster Home 






 Mrs. Porterfield's Boarding House and George W. Freeman House.

The George W. Freeman was built in 1884. The blended style of the orange stone home is called Romanesque Revival, but they took it to a new level replacing stone columns with white Corinthian period Roman columns and even capped it off Spanish style red terracotta roof.  For its day the blending of this many differing styles must have made the house a great statement piece of art.


 Cyrus B. Thurston House

Mrs. J. W. Bass House was built in 1891 as a Victorian style home but soon remodelled it into a Colonial Revival style by adding Roman columns.

 The elusive Monarch butterfly poses for me!



The famous F. Scott Fitzgerald row house. This is the place where he spent most of his youth and apparently wrote his first novel 'This Side of Paradise.'

 The delights of summer!






The House of Hope Presbyterian Church

Hope readers of Rang Decor liked the historical walk on Summit Avenue with it's rich 19th century architectural styles. While researching I learnt a lot about the Victorian, Colonial Revival, Classical Revival styles.

Do click on the links to read in detail about the history of various mansions. If you find yourself in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The historical tour of Summit Avenue is a must do:-)

(Photographs by Arch & are copyrighted. Reference from Wikipedia, Minnesota Historical Society)

Wednesday 25 February 2015

Wainscoting To The Rescue!




Hand prints.....
            Scuff marks....
                         What seems like miles of hallways...
                                                                 AND Four young kids...




The only answer was wainscoting in the form of Board and Batten. I realize that this friends home was built and is owned by a high end custom home builder, but this is something that anyone can do

Monday 23 February 2015

Tuesday 17 February 2015

It's a Girl!




It seems that

I have been buried


this winter with


living and breathing


Baby Girl stuff!




You see, my daughter is having our first granddaughter in April...




And I have been working and having fun, making and planning the cutest and pinkest baby shower!


I bought these invitations at Hobby Lobby. They already had the ribbon and "It's a Girl" on them, so all I had to do was design