Crafty Woman: Flight Chandelier

Lighting is such an important aspect of interior design and décor that I wonder how so many people manage to neglect it so. The right light bulb(s), the perfect fixture and an ideal location make for a happier and more productive environment.

I usually use a bunch of lamps around my room but I also have a standard ceiling fixture that I wanted to make the most of. I really do love the classic crystal chandeliers out there but I was hoping to make something a bit more in line with the whimsical and crafty character of my room. So, voilà!

I had been seeing some gorgeous paper plane mobiles around Pinterest and Etsy but it was only when my friend suggested it, did I realize this could be translated into a chandelier! And it was actually really simple to create:

1. Cut out a whole lot of different sized rectangles from parchment paper (I think I used almost 100 to cover a 12" wide fixture! But it didn't take more than a couple hours of folding in front of New Girl to get to this.). I wanted two different styles and sizes so I cut about half my pieces at 10cm x 10 cm and the others at 15cm x 10cm.

2. Then I folded the smaller pieces according to this basic style, for narrow planes. And the wider ones were done according to this tutorial.

4. I used Weldbond to put a dot of glue on on the main fold of each plane to just help hold it together.

5. I strung each plane by alternating styles with about 4 planes on each string. You can use white string (like I did) or fishing line—either should be fine! Just double knot the end of each string and thread through the planes with a needle.

6. Lastly, I just hung all these strings from the frame of my standard ceiling fixture, adjusting the height of each string by eyeballing it before tying the knot at the top to secure each string.

And there! An easy and fun little chandelier-thing to brighten up your room. I used parchment paper planes because I love travel and the translucent paper worked best for my room. But you could use pastel tissue paper flowers, origami boats and cranes or maps folded into planes—anything really! It's such a versatile craft so…no excuse for a desolate standard light fixture!

—Sabbie

Beating the Heat: Dreaming of Cooler Times and Cooler Places

It's been such a hard winter to endure this year…so why am I so apprehensive about a heated summer?

Left, middle, right

I guess I just can't stand the idea of not being able to add layers and keep out fluffy duvets and throws.

Also, my reasoning for hating on summer: in winter you can at least jump around, put on more layers, and light a simple fire to get warmer. Summer leaves me wanting to peel my own skin off—it's inescapable (sorry AC, you're just not good enough).

Since the heat affects me so, I know popular places like Florida and California will never be my home. I need my four seasons, I can live with six months of parkas but I can't live with anything over 30ºC for very long. Canada is good to me for all that.

I'd move to wild and beautiful B.C., by the ocean, lakes and mountains in a heartbeat if it weren't for the natural disaster aspect… *sigh*

(Aw, look, these asterisks look just like little snow flakes ****)

Where's a girl to go?

A Dose of Perspective with a Dash of Eccentricity

Perspective is everything. At least that's how I feel.

Source

So much so, that I've spent my life eagerly exploring different perspectives, changing things (even little things) just to get a new look at life.

For as long as I can remember, I've tried to create and understand opinions or ideas someone else may have of something that I experienced or thought about. It has been a way for me to satiate my inquisitive soul but to also soothe my fretting mind. If I ever felt bad about my own life, I would imagine how happy and perfect it may look to someone on the outside and that would help me emanate the positivity of that idea until it felt more tangible in my real life, or I would just realize how inconsequential and incorrect façades can be. Instant comfort.

Thus, perspective became something I crave. A therapeutic exercise. But it isn't always just about keeping it all in the mind, either. Another crazy important thing to be is weird. 

Try doing something the weird way, not the normal way.

I definitely seem a little kooky to my family, but even they have come to (more or less) accept that it is perfectly normal and to be expected that I may be found lying face down in the snow in the middle of the backyard one afternoon or drinking tea from atop a bookcase, the next. Really.

I always think "Alice in Wonderland" whenever
I think of  perspective! Source

Every night, I like to sleep in a different corner of my bed. Sometimes against the wall, sometimes balancing right on the far edge. Sometimes the headboard becomes the footboard or the width becomes the length (good luck trying to find my head in the mornings). I like to keep things changing because, well, first of all, why not?

Second, it just keeps this sort of creative energy weaving in and out of my life, keeping my eyes fresh and me from ruminating on the dull, unchangeable facets of life.

So, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go brush my teeth in my closet. What can I say? I like keeping myself on my toes…

—Sabbie

P.S. I totally dare you to try it! When you pick up a book tonight or a cup of tea (or a plate of cookies!), take it to a new corner in your home. Maybe you can nestle into a kitchen nook on the counter or just sit on top of the table, whatever it is, just try it! And take a good look around.

Meanwhile in Canada...

Source

Okay, so maybe I'm just propagating stereotypes here but, really? Canada? Really?

A Canadian Car Chase:

I know some Canadians despise this commercial but it cracks me up every time! 

(psst, don't think this is how it goes down in real life though!—no, for that 

we'd whip out our emergency bobsleighs—duh!)

Source

Like, literally everything freezes when we walk out. Trust me, there have been times I have been afraid to move my hair in case it had frozen (never mind the plausibility of that situation!). And I can't forget all the mile-long line ups for the bathrooms during recess (anything to get a minute of the great indoors)!

Anyways, I've seen my share of bloggers living it up in the sun while I'm pulling on layers upon my layers so…I'll admit it. It kind of gets to one and sometimes, the quest for warmth can take over (from the frozen tips of one's hair to one's long-forgotten toes)…

But, hey, I adore this lovely nation, so, I'll share a little secret. The secret to loving it.

When the temperature gets so low that even the most minuscule nose hairs freeze, when every breath you take from your car to the door is like a lungful of ice, and you wake up on Monday morning realizing you didn't step out of the house for three days, well…it takes a lot of humour to keep us Canadians sane. Right, Jim Carrey? (What? I had to bring him up!…And Mike Myers…Seth Rogan…not to forget Russell Peters… :)

Well, this one is less funny because it
really hit home for me :( Source

And that, dear blogosphere, is why over thirty four million people still choose to call this Great White North their home (never mind that this is still less than the population of the state of California!)
Because when you are out there every four hours, breaking your back shovelling through yet another fresh foot of snow, you can bet that there is another Canadian out there, somewhere, going through the exact same thing you are. (Or, hopefully, your entire neighbourhood is out there and some kind soul has volunteered to do a Timmies run). And because your situation can be so darn ridiculous that there really is no choice but to laugh. And laugh. And laugh. But you can also bet that when summer comes, we make the best of each and every moment. No matter what. ;)

In the meantime, here's a few more exaggerated truths about Canada. Aren't they magnificent?

Hockey is never just hockey. Ever. Source.

Because our cars aren't just cars. They are Cars. Source

Our "gangs" are lovely. Source

Here's to keep sane, you crazy beautiful country, you!
—Sabbie

P.S. It's okay, anyways. We have poutine.

P.p.s. And this guy's clearly on our side!

Jim Carrey Explains Canada

Crafty Woman: Making Chandeliers!

Hi there!

So, as I tried to point out in my last post, I try to keep my room evolving. You know, keep up with new ideas, new phases, etc.

My next move, I think, will be to install a new light fixture. Even my little brother can distinguish that there is something lacking in the current set-up: A great blank, white expanse of popcorn ceiling only punctuated by an out-of-proportion run-of-the-mill little lamp fixture. Yeuck!

However, interesting light fixtures are often ridiculously overpriced. It's way too easy to fall for these amazing chandeliers that one just can't afford. Luckily, the internet offers a plethora of DIY alternatives! There are literally ways you can make replicas of your favourite designer fixtures! The best part? You can take pride in knowing that you not only (cleverly) saved yourself some cash but you got to flex your creative muscles and can take pride in what you made yourself.

Above: Capiz Shell Chandeliers are quite beautiful but also pricey. The one on the left is from West Elm and the one on the right was made by LisaRoy. I am actually making a smaller version of this chandelier for my room (and also following these slightly different instructions). Isn't it cool that the DIY is made of wax paper?! I actually began it by ironing the sheets together and began painstakingly cutting the "shells" with scissors. Yikes, I know. I'm looking for a hole-punch now!

Above: And, of course, rope chandeliers are ever-charming! The one on the left is from West Elm again. It's quite nice and has a geometric quality to it, but I actually prefer the DIY one created by Remodelaholic. This is a really interesting way to have both a traditional, formal shape and a trendy, casual material. Lovely!

Above: Lots of people admire the classic crystal chandelier, right? But I've always dreamed of making my own and am planning on following The Pink Little Notebook's instructions to make something similar to her project, as shown above, for my parent's room.

So those are my own top three DIY favourites, all found on a fab little index that I totally encourage you to take a look at!

20 DIY Chandeliers to Brighten Up Your Space

My top pick for ingenuity on that index? The Test Tube Chandelier! :

It's just so fantastic! Just imagine someone walking into your space and seeing this… I couldn't actually find instructions for this piece, just a sold-out message on Etsy, though. But maybe I'll figure it out one day!

Happy Crafting,

Sabbie

P.s. Come find me on Pinterest at: http://www.pinterest.com/sabbienarwal/ 

I'm building it up but I have found some pretty neat fashion, interior design and vacation inspiration!

Changing Faces

Hey!!

So, this is my first official blog post on here and I am sooo excited!!

I could have started it a long while ago but I was always too lazy or too full of doubts to actually go through with it. Luckily, this time, I've somehow pushed myself into actually getting down to putting my ideas, thoughts and life out there! So, here's to a brand new year full of trying new things! :)

Being an interior design student, I have always expressed a penchant for doing artsy things and personalizing everything. Naturally, my room was an outlet for this creativity, my blank canvas. I am grateful my parents encouraged this, even praising the time that (as a ten year old) I took Magic Markers to my walls and glue gunned things everywhere.

My family moved in 2006 and I was jumping for joy at the prospect of a new blank canvas, so, here is what I did then:

2007: Amateur attempt, I know. And rather stark and awkward. But I promise it aged gracefully!

2010: This was my pride and joy! I painted it myself and hit up IKEA (forever, my love) while salvaging and redoing some older pieces. This was a very colourful stage!

July 2013: I was pining away for a loft bed for years when it suddenly dawned on me that I would not be getting one (size and availability options sucked!), so my brother spontaneously suggested a shuffle of my room layout and…I loved it! Opened up so much space!

August 2013: An awkward in-between stage, here you can see elements of the old room giving way to what would be. As beautiful as all the colours had looked, I was tired of them and found that style too visually overwhelming for my own room, so I broke out the grey!! And I love it so much...

January 2014: My pride and joy again, walking into my room at the end of a hectic day is a real relief. Before college started, I decided to purge everything (visual and physical clutter) to create a serene getaway that complements (not overpowers) my life and mind. I love this style so much: it's endlessly beautiful to me and oh-so-practical!

So that's a quick look at the transformations my room has undergone over the past seven or so years! It's been a frustrating, confusing, overwhelming, exciting and inspiring journey. But it was necessary for me to explore all the different ways of creating my environment. And I can honestly say that my room is a true extension of myself, and looking back at it's phases, it's a looking glass right into my own life. That's why I'm mad about my room :)

One quick question, though, (I always find it interesting to hear the varying opinions on this): Which phase looks better: 2010 or 2014? Or maybe July 2013? Let me know in the comments!

Happy New Year!

—Sabbie

P.s. I'm planning on posting a little bit about how I actually went about creating these looks, so that should be fun! And I've been getting a few requests from family and friends for design help, so that should make for a some exciting posts this spring!