The Yvestown Blog

Pom Pom Garland: how to

2010-02-22T12:08:02Z

After I published my last Christmas photo I was asked where I bought the pom pom garland. I made it myself and here's how to.

You need:

1. scissors
2. thick fishing wire
3. long needle

and lots of pom poms. You can get them at most arts & crafts shops. I got mine from the arts & crafts department of the HEMA - and I left the really big pom poms out.

Cut a length of fishing wire to your desire (mine is about 1.50 m) and tie a knot with a loop on one side and place the needle on the other side of the wire. Now all you need to do is thread the pom poms through the needle. You have to make sure not to thread all the same colors in a row or all the same sizes, just mix and match. When you're done you tie a knot with a loop.

Introducing Black

2010-02-17T20:50:02Z

My homes are funny things, I sit in them and look around in them and than all of a sudden they tell me what I need to do. This new home told me to use black. So I've started to use black. What do you think?

Ingrid even sneaked in some black yesterday and I just didn't want to give it back to her.

I've bought the botanical rose poster from The Evolution Store, the chestnut seller closed her Etsy account and the tree chalkboard is from here. The rusty Y was a gift from Marné many moons ago.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T11:10:15Z

I'm not a Valentine day celebrator. Maybe because it's not a very acknowledged holiday in this part of the world. But any excuse to make something or to decorate with hearst gets me off.

These are the stitches:

dc = double crochet
ch(s) = chain(s)
sl st = slip stitch
tr = treble (triple) crochet
sc = single crochet

Here's the pattern for the hearts:

First round

ch 4, sl st in first ch to make a round - work next stitches in round, ch 3, 2 tr, 3 dc, ch 1, 1 tr, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tr, ch 2, sl st.

Second round

ch 3, sc 1 in tr, sc 1 in tr, sc 2 in tr ... before the middle tr, sc 2 in dc, ch 1, sc 2 in dc ... and repeat to end, ch 2, sl st.

Enjoy and love xox

The TV Room Today

2010-02-10T10:56:49Z

The TV room so far. The walls are a bit empty and it quite echoes in the room, which freaks the BooBoo out, but I'm pleased with it so far. A room always needs to grow on me and over time I'll add, remove and replace stuff.

This is what the room looked like when we bought the house. We took all the old plaster off and the wood ceiling, replaced all electricity, made a new ceiling, re-plastered, took the carpet out and painted the wood boards, made a new windowsill, new radiator and that's about it. The ceilings are 3,40mtr high which makes me look like a gnome with my 1,64mtr.

I used Loom by Histor (S 1002-Y50R) for the walls and All White Estate Eggshell by Farrow & Ball for the all the woodwork. For the floor I used Sigma S2u primer and Sigma S2u Satin for the top coat. I didn't use the recommended S2u Gloss for the floor as you'll end up with a mirror compared to the F&B Estate Eggshell with only a 20% sheen level. If you're in Germany, Belgium or The Netherlands and you find F&B paint too expensive, try the new Histor One as it's fabulous.

You can find more info on the stool and cupboard in my previous TV room post.

I love to crochet while I watch TV so I've made myself a little corner. The bunny and bird vase are by Joanna Mendicino.

I'll shoot some more pictures as the light outside is getting a bit better, this is the darkest room of the house. I'm really ready for spring as this winter is taking quite long.

Let's Discuss

2010-02-04T19:59:19Z

I've finally updated my blog's publishing software. I'm now on Movable Type 5 just like Zachary Quinto - as I would give a rats ass. I do dislike this about big commercial companies. Like if it really matters that I'm on the same platform as Zachary Quinto and Britney Spears.

I also have this cool new feature that's replacing my comments - I'm so so sorry but I couldn't save all my comments. Echo is a mini forum and now I can interact with you. If you have a question about my blog post we can discuss it in Echo. Click on the 'Let's Discuss' icon under a post and it will take you to the entry page where we can discuss matters. I love it!

Tomorrow I'll have heating in my TV room, so watch out for some TV room updates :o)

Back in Business

2010-01-26T11:23:35Z

Just a quick post to let you know that The Yvestown Shop is open again. After receiving so many e-mail and so many orders asking me to come back, I just couldn't resist. I also really missed it. To celebrate, 5% off on all your orders :o) Thanks so much for your support.

I'll be upgrading my blog publishers software tomorrow so maybe there might be some difficulties viewing my blog for a little while. Just that you know.

The Nina Plate

2010-01-22T11:06:47Z

It was September 2009 when Nina and I met Ingrid for the first time and on that same day Nina gifted me this plate, known in my home as 'The Nina Plate'. I've been meaning to photograph it and send it to Nina, to show off, for ever and never got around to do it as 1. I've been living in my car for the past few months and 2. because of bad lightning.

Today I got my hopes up as the sun is out and she makes my kitchen so bright and shiny. That's why I devote a blog post to 'The Nina Plate' and show off my new kitchen cupboard doors I'm dead happy with. Later today they'll have glass too as I can now just grab everything inside without actually opening the doors, but you can't see that.

I'm off to play around in the kitchen a little more. And also in my study as we found some amazing old tiles for my fireplace ... oh and ... crap the sun is out, I must go outside.

Will be back more often, I promise and try to keep away from the car ;o)

My Study in 2010

2010-01-02T14:18:46Z

Happy 2010!!

This is what I did over the holidays.

I'll be writing, telling about color numbers, places to buy and showing more during the week as I'm still unpacking and painting. But damn I love my study so far.

The Homies 2009

2009-12-28T22:32:33Z

I'm in the list again with a shy 12 votes - one from myself ;o) I'm never much for lists or groups but it's quite cool to be acknowledged. So if you'd like to vote for me or if you like to know who I have voted for, you can do that here and here.

Cheers xox

The Day before Christmas

2009-12-24T11:22:32Z

East, west, North or South, Winter or Summer I want to thank you all for your support and kindness throughout 2009 and wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas and a wonderful 2010.

With love, Yvonne xox

TV Room Preparations

2009-12-21T14:32:03Z

The TV room of my house is almost done. It still needs a new (old) radiator, a ceiling lamp and the TV! I also might swap sofas tonight.

This afternoon I just sat in the TV room (without TV) looking around. The Boo came to join me.

Last night I quickly crocheted these stars to add a bit of Christmas to the room but I've already decided to keep them there after Christmas as they make me happy. The paper lanterns are by Jurianne Matter and are sold here.

I've repainted this cupboard in the same color as my front door, Vert De Terre by Farrow & Ball, and removed the white knobs and replaced them with various porcelain knobs I've collected. The TV will be on this cupboard. I also made a new slipcover for the footstool, I used washes roses by Cath Kidston.

The Boo likes the room too. This is her 'I love it' look or I would love to think so as she always looks at me like this.

SALE SALE SALE

2009-12-17T08:43:18Z

After two years of happily running The Yvestown Shop I've decided to close shop. The reason for it is that I can no longer offer you cheap book prices as Paumes is selling them directly for just €13 a book. I think it's a crazy world when a publisher is forcing their retailers to sell their books for €24 while they sell them for €11 less.

I started this shop to make the édition PAUMES Books available to us all, I did this almost profitless. I just can't make it fair anymore. It's a sad day people.

All édition PAUMES Books are now €15 while stock last! The MilK books are sold for the regular price while stock last.

Scary Age

2009-12-06T10:30:43Z

All my life I said that 35 was my 'scary age'.

At 35 I should have met the man I'm going to be with for the rest of my or his life. At 35 I should live in a nice house and have a fun job. At 35 I can't slob around anymore and move from here to there, I should be settled. And at 35 I have to accept that I'm definitely not going to be someone's mother.

Today I have reached that 'scary age' of 35.

And so far everything turned out the way I wanted it to turn out, it's not scary at all. During breakfast I told the Bo that I thought I was going to be really old at 35 but I haven't aged, I only have four grey hairs and no wrinkles. But that must run in the family as my 94 year old grandmother still doesn't show much wrinkles. We must be very lucky ... and I am, at 35, one lucky pig!

Bo bought me the brightest pink roses, the MilK Déco books are now for sale in The Yvestown Shop and the print is by Sugarloop.

At Ingrid née Astrid

2009-11-26T10:09:06Z

Last Thursday Roel and I went to Ingrid to shoot some pictures for a new product Roel and his partners are working on. Ingrid and her husband invited us to stay for dinner. Henk cooked us a gorgous meal while Roel, Ingrid and I were expoloring Villa Augustus again.

Lots of laughs, lovely food and a lot of inspiration ... it was a lovely day.

Twitter The Saga

2009-11-23T16:14:38Z

Just because this device is brilliant to keep up with friends. But I still haven't changed my mind about what I said before.

You can keep track of me again at http://twitter.com/yvestown