How to Make a Reading Chair

Imagine... a good book, a glass of wine, time to yourself...

With all of the good things above, you need somewhere comfortable to sit and enjoy the moment.

This is definitely a post that will be added too.....

Not quite a relaxing chair for adults, but a fun option from Kojo Designs none-the-less.

Unfortunately, you do have to pay for the plans from Carlyle Lynch, but what a gorgeous chair, that will look sophisticated and stylish in your home.

A fun idea from W. P. Wentzell on eHow! Seek out those handsome books and create your masterpiece.

A comfy looking chair by Ana White. Not quite one that you can snuggle into though!

Stan's Plans features this lovely rocking chair. A few cushions and you have that relaxing chair to read away the hours.

Gently rock yourself, with this chair by How to Build Plans, whilst reading that 'can't put down' book.

This chair by Larry Cotton on Make looks so comfortable - I want one!

If a comfy chair is what you are looking for, a bean bag is the perfect compliment. This bean bag from Making It Fun would look great in your home.

6 Jazzy Ideas to Make an Umbrella Stand

After a bout of 'singing in the rain', you return home with a dripping umbrella and no where to store it! Heck! At times like this, an umbrella stand is the perfect solution.

If you desire a clean and tidy look for such important storage, the solutions below are a perfect compliment to any hallway.

This umbrella stand, by Amy Hughes at This Old House Magazine, has a mixture of styles - rustic but grandeur. Offering space for several umbrellas, this stand would be a stylish storage solution.

Should your look be funky; this stand, by Bruno on Curbly, is spot on! Made from PVC piping and lit up for an added effect.

You can decorate this stand to suit your decor, but the presented image is cute. Vicky O'Dell, 'The Creative Goddess', has jazzed up a simple French flower bucket with bright colours and a decal.







There is no picture of the finished product available, but 'Do It Yourself', present a full-size wooden stand.

Eeny Meeny & Moe also utilise a French flower bucket for their umbrella stand.

Martha Stewart offers the simple solution of decorating a French flower bucket.

Martha Stewart's simple solution of storage hooks is a great idea and it should take us less space but still look good.

How to Feng Shui Your Entrance and Hallway

What is Feng Shui? How can I gain a positive energy flow through my entrance and hallway?

Let's start at the beginning! Feng Shui is the art of positioning and creating environments that result in the positive energy flow being able to move freely. Once a harmony between human and their environment is achieved, Feng Shui is believed to create positive impacts on personal life, mental and physical health and success.

There are many ways to adapt your entrance and hallway to ensure that a positive energy flow comes into the home. Some suggestions are below to welcome Feng Shui into your home.

Naturally Friendly Home.com offer excellent tips that ensure good Chi leading to your home, front door and within your hall. They also offer a good tutorial for beginners on using Bagua; the energy map of your environment.

Health 24 define colour meanings; which are essential for positive energy.

Feng Shui Blog list things that you can do to ensure that your front door creates good Chi, including the size of your door in comparison to your house.

Woes.com introduces 'success direction', which is important for positive energy.

By implementing the tips found on the above sites, hopefully you should be able to master the best positive energy flow through your entrance and hallway. Obviously, if we were going to build a house we would consider these points in our designs, but as we already own a home, not all suggestions are plausible. Introduce the tips that you can.

As we move through the house, Feng Shui for each room will be posted. Keep an eye out!

17 Lampshades and Lamps to Make

I often find a lamp base that I really like but the shade is a no-no! Help is at hand! We have sourced some lamp shades that will stand out in your homemade home and will be wanted by all who set sight on them...

Pretty Handy Girl	Apartment Therapy	Amanda Brown on Design Sponge
Channel 4	Kathleen Hackett on Country Living	Design Dump
The Guardian	Grathio Labs	4 parts Minni on Nimi Design
Tatertots & Jello	Marie Darby on Under the Sycamore	Shelterness
Midwest Living	Four Corners Design	Instructables
Craftmel on Curbly	Brittnimehlhoff on Curbly

50 Gifts to Make for Children

Who knows what to buy a child in your life each year? Not me!

Homemade gifts are loved by all, as the thought, time and attention used to create the present is often admired and thanked.

So, if you desire to give your child a unique present, look no further...

Cdawisconsin on Instructables	Elsie Marley	Frog, Goose & Deer
Spearmint Baby	Emily Martin on Martha Stewart	Kids Activities Blog
Sarah Mara	Kids Activities Blog	Martha Stewart
Kids Activities Blog	My Poppet	Mom's Crafty Space
Sew Can Do	Nathalie on Mama Pea Pod	Skip to my Lou
Martha Stewart	Joann	bperry042 on Craftster
Forty-Two Roads	Just Another Day in Paradise	Just Another Day in Paradise
Homegrown Happy	Saltwater-Kids	Childhood 101
Delia Creates on Apartment Therapy	Hart & Sew	Andrea DeHart on Make Craft
Hello my Name is Heather	Little Pink Monster	Sew Much Ado
Hidden Sisters	The Frugal Granny	Subtle Tee
Feeding my Kid	Busily Spinning Momma	Homemade Gifts Made Easy
All About You	Myrtle & Eunice	The Purl Bee
Merriment Design	Prudent Baby	Soule Mama
Grosgrain Fabulous	Alisa Burke	Small Types
Love Charla Anne	Markham Street Design	Trendy Pegs on Apartment Therapy
Sherri Osborn on Family Crafts	Sherri Osborn on Family Crafts