Art Swap

Well, we did it. We had a successful art swap. People came – and they brought art. They swapped, they haggled, they considered their options, and they made decisions. They also ate and got their knives sharpened. Here’s how it broke down – what worked and didn’t, and what we would do to improve the swapping.

An Alternative Wreath and Tree

alternativewreath3Sometimes the holidays can be overwhelming. Years ago I decided to abandon much of the decorating, including the tree, wreath and garlands, in favor of sleep and holiday get-togethers. I haven’t regretted that decision, but I might be able to pull off an alternative wreath or tree without too much added stress. 

Headboard alternatives

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and start making a mental list? Stuff you have to do, something you need to remember, the solution to a problem, some awesome idea? Me too. The other night I woke up thinking about headboards. 

5 Portland vintage stores to visit

oroxleatherLet’s face it, some of the biggest shopping duties of the year are right around the corner. Have you made your list and checked it twice? Start early, of course, and try avoiding the mall for even more fun.

Four shopping outings

pic 6 1As a dedicated sun lover, this is a hard time of year for me. Very hard. And when life gets hard, there’s really only one thing to do. Shop. Shop a lot. If you also need to distract yourself from wind, rain, falling leaves and a fading tan, here are some outing suggestions.

Portland Nursery Apple Tasting

ciderman235Portland Nursery’s 26th annual Apple Tasting takes place the weekends of October 11-13 and 18-20. They expect to have as many as 60 different varieties of apples and pears to taste and purchase.

Winning kitchen design

Produced by the marketing department of Oregon Home

2013FW YS Bradlee1Janel Campbell, design consultant at Neil Kelly Company, knows what makes a kitchen fabulous. “Great kitchen design is about function foremost,” the avid home chef says. Starting with that focus, Campbell creates stunning kitchens, including the condo remodel that garnered her top local prize in the 2010-2012 Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen design contest.