Green paint?

The last couple of days we’ve done quite a bit of painting around here. Although I’ve been interested in using spray paint, for the quick fix-effect, I must say that I would not use anything else than water-based paints right now. Apart from being more environmental friendly, it’s also a huge advantage that we can paint in the living room, after the kids have gone to sleep. Otherwise we would never get anything done around here… :) But I wonder if there is paint out there that’s even more environmental friendly (I’m currently using paint labeled with svanen, a Nordic environmental label, so I guess it’s not that bad)?

What kind of paint do you prefer for your own fix-up projects? 

One of our painting projects - the second hand kids chairs in Ester’s room.

Yesterday

Yesterday was a productive day. First off I finally did some sewing (probably the first time since we moved here). It was really fun, so I must try to do it more often. I also took the time to cover Eo’s notice board with some fabric (even though it’s so crowded most of the time the notice board itself doesn’t show).

I also found a shelf, and some cool retro curtains, at a newly opened local second hand store. We’re going to hang it in our hallway for our mittens, hats and stuff.

Last but not least we rearranged on our walls once again… Apple papple has moved into Ester’s room.

Shelf number three and stickback chairs

Just in time for our nice, long Christmas break to be over (we had three weeks!) both kids got the chickenpox. *sigh* Johan and I are taking turns working and staying at home (which really isn’t that bad). The weekend was pretty slow because of this, and I couldn’t stop myself from pimping the old shelf with some nice paper, even though I’ve started to grow a little bit tired of these kind of re-made shelves by now. Anyways, I think it turned out great. We’ve put it in Eo’s room, above her little stove. She got to participate by choosing the papers to put on it so she was pretty pleased.

It’s mostly Ester who plays with the stove though. I thought of moving it into her room instead but that would probably take some persuasion…

On my way to work today I bought some very nice second hand stickback chairs for our dining room table. I’ll show you later!

Advent calendar

Yesterday we (almost) finished this year’s advent calendar. It consists of small gifts, paper cones, that we’re going to fill with raisins, gingerbread cookies and perhaps candy and also “assignments” - small cards with things we’re going to do that day; like decorate the christmas trea or go to a christmas fair. I hope the kids will enjoy it!

The downside is that now I suppose we’re “stuck” making one of these each year, but I guess we could always fall back on a prefabricated one… :-) And it wasn’t that hard, since we didn’t buy toys for each day. I especially like the assignments.

Four DIY-favorites

Here are four diy-projects that I found lately and really liked.

An advent calendar with little robots from Fabechs Fabrik. I’m thinking of doing some kind of advent calendar this year, probably not this one though, since it would take me too long to finish.

The re-made kitchen cabinets over at ungt blod. Love ‘em!

This very cool lamp by matsutake (via here). Oh, I really like this idea.

The coat-rack by Mimmi Staaf (also via here). Seen this in some variations and it’s a great idea.

(images Fabechs Fabrik, ungt blod, matsutake, Mimmi Staaf)

Notice board

We’ve finished the new notice board for the kitchen. We made it out of soft board, that I got at the lumberyard (200 SEK), which we covered with white cotton fabric (100 SEK at Ikea) to make it “blend in” with the wall. Then we covered it with pictures and stuff.

Eowyn’s checking out the pictures on the notice board.

Eowyn, Ester and a bunch of pictures.

Clock and pillow

Yesterday’s trip to Ikea resulted in a clock and a bigger pillow for Eowyn (so that all her favorite teddybears can sleep beside her).

She also needs a bigger bed, perhaps this one? I like old vintage child beds better (like the one she’s got now) but they’re often quite small.

Another new project around here is a bigger noticeboard for the kitchen. Since I can’t seem to find one the right size, we’re going to build it ourselves. Any tips on what material to use? Found this instruction, but I’d rather not have it covered with fabric. I do like noticeboards covered with fabric but for our kitchen I had something else in mind.

Wooden beads

I’ve got a bad cold so I’m too tired to do something myself right now. Instead I suggest you check this diy-project out over at Poppel’s blog - love it!:

Hanger

Hanging mobile

(images Poppel)