anti's Profile

I live in a big city and shop within walking distance of my home. I do buy some things in bulk, though.

One thing I found that really helps is a cart. In Brazil there is a traditional cart that people use to go to farmers markets, but anything with wheels will help, such as a rolling suitcase.

This is the Brazilian traditional version of the cart. I have one and use it for bigger trips to the supermarket, farmers markets and bulk health food stores.

Over here, way, way, way south of the border we don't get a real winter or summer, but if I would change "art" (I do agree with Rita) seasonally I would do the opposite - colorful when its snowy outside and cool blue or b&w when its steamy outside.

For myself, I just add, never reduce. I only get originals that I love and have personal meaning, so I feel art on the wall is my version of a tattoo. I don't have knicknacks or artful objects, but I love my paintings, drawings and pictures, framed and scattered around the house.

I just do not understand why people remove doors. Do you guys love to dust? I have open shelves that I had to get boxes for, because the dusting was killing me.

All you need in a sewing machine is straight and zigzag stitches. I second LovieDovie about not buying vintage unless you use it a lot and are more of a professional.

In Brazil there are not as many brands, I have a Singer, the simplest model, and love it. Even the simplest, less finicky machine, will do buttonholes, maybe not with the touch of a button, but nonetheless. I personally despise buttonholes and work my way, aham, around them.

Oh, well, in Brazil it's similar... Either you have a mastodon of a fridge with a tiny freezer on top or a tiny fridge with no freezer. I, for one, would love a twin set of tiny fridge and tiny freezer, but alas, those are not available (at a reasonable price), so I have to make do with a big empty fridge and a packed tiny freezer on top.

I took ceramics in college - and hated it - so it might not be the best or most current advice... That said...

Glazes are minerals and can be bought at art stores (or the web) and since you want to do everything in one color it wont get too expensive. Buy the one color you want and while you are at the store make sure to tell them it's intended for food and ask about how to apply it. It's usually mixed with water and either brushed or airbrushed. Many pigments are very, very toxic, remember to inquire about it.

After you have applied the glaze on all the pieces, take them to be fired as one batch.

Remember to let us know how it went. :) I'd love to see your finished pieces.

In my experience halogen and incandescent bulbs are a hazard for the painting. I worked in an antique store and we did our share of damage to paintings with light and heat. If you must, and I'm not saying you do, use the led version. I like best when the paintings are seen in natural light: less reflections, more detail to see. If you invested in an art piece, take care of it. Keep it out of the direct sun light and away from moisture so it can last centuries.

set a budget to spend on the accessories that are changable.

Changable?

I was left wondering where are the windows... it makes a big difference on the arrangement of furniture to know where the light is coming from.

Where i live there is not a culture for closets like over there. We just use armoires and dressers. The american closet leaves me dumbfounded. Its usually darker, crammed and more difficult to organize than a decent sized armoire.

I think 1 is the obvious bedroom, 2 is dining and living and the room closer to the kitchen could be an office and have a nice landing strip. Use the closet on 2 to store linens, and all the assorted stuff you have. A small armoire and a dresser should acomodate your clothing in your bedroom.

I usually spend more time on the computer than anywhere else, so it makes sense to me.

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