Home Wong Nga and Black Cty: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Kitchen Ideas

We're moving slowly with the kitchen. I think that anything of this magnitued I think moves slowly at first because once you start you really can't stop. We're pretty set on white cabinetry, we've picked out our appliances [I really have to show you those soon] and we think we're going with a wood floor to maintain the flow of the rest of the house. One thing we need to figure out is the backsplash. So I'm going to reveal one of the considerations we have, and that is glass subway tiles. And some inspirational pictures to show you why we like the idea...

Image via Better Homes and Gardens

February 2012 issue of Kitchen and Bath Ideas via Visual Comfort Blog

Barbara Waltman Design

I especially love the one above by Barbara Waltman Design. Isn't it divine? It shows a white kitchen but with a splash of subtle colour. Sometimes colour needn't be strong of powerful to make a statement.Anyhow, our mind isn't made up - so blogging about our ideas helps us figure out what to do. What do you think of glass subway tile? Like? No?

Once again the store is full of all sorts of new treasures from our recent New York trip! Stop in to see all the wonderful new things we have in our shop! In the meantime, here's a peek to tempt your curiosity...

Knock-off Clock at Knock-off Decor

Many thanks to Beckie at Knock-off Décor for featuring my Knock-off Clock table!

If you haven’t visited this site yet, don’t miss out! It’s a great collection of budget-friendly projects based on expensive designer items.

A solution for low resolution

Have you ever brought an image texture into SketchUp and notice that the resolution isn’t as crisp as it is in your image viewer?

Notice that the image in SketchUp (Right) is not as crisp as the original image (Left)

No, you’re not seeing things. By default, SketchUp downgrades higher resolution image textures to a maximum of 1024 x 1024 pixels because in the past graphics cards didn’t have the horsepower to render models with large textures on screen reliably.

If you want to turn off this feature, you can do so by going to Properties > OpenGL, and checking the “Use maximum texture size”. With this checked, SketchUp will no longer downgrade your image textures to 1024px. SketchUp will communicate with your video card and if everything is up to snuff, your image will display at a new maximum resolution of up to 4096 x 4096 pixels.

With the “Use maximum texture size” selected, the image in SketchUp (Right) displays at a much higher resolution

Important note! Your first inclination might be to activate the “Use maximum texture size” option and bring in the highest resolution textures possible.

But as anyone well-versed in the “science” of modeling with textures will tell you, the size of images DO matter. Large textures can bloat the size of your SketchUp model and tax your video card and system memory exponentially. If you are going to use the “maximum texture” option, you will need to be extra conscious about the size of your image textures and choose which ones need to be at a higher resolution.

Posted by Chris Dizon, SketchUp Guru

I am trying to tackle my ever growing "to do" list lately. There are so many things on that list in different categories. Home & family, sewing & craft projects, personal growth, etc... one of the things I have been trying to be better at is machine quilting. Don't ask me for how many years I have been saying that.

I feel like this year's it! I am going to get better at it, well I have to. There are so many quilt tops waiting to be completed on my shelf.

I have machine quilted some of my quilts in the past, but I can see all the mistakes and unevenness of the stitches. I am not really happy with the results.

My friend told me to use felt, the kind you can buy by the yard. I didn't have felt, but I had scraps of fleece and such and I have been practicing with those. Also, the people at the quilt shop that I go to, and where I bought my sewing machine, gave me some helpful tips for machine quilting (Thank you!). It has been really fun practicing and I think I am doing OK.

The true test will come when I am working with a real quilt. It is much harder to move around a big heavy quilt and to be consistent with the size of the pattern. If you are a quilter and have some tips to share I would really appreciate them!

Just a reminder that the giveaway for the $100 gift certificate to Olive Garden is still on! Go here to see what you need to do enter for the chance to win. :)

Hello Everyone,

It was a sunny but cold day here today but with February almost over, spring must be just around the corner! Well not quite- we did get about 15cm. of sparkly white snow yesterday and I am noticing that it is starting to accumulate.

Anyway, as many of you know I love transferware and although I have more red and white then any other color,I thought I would use my blue and white transferware today.

As usual I have a mix and match set.

I love soup tureens!

My husband gave me this teapot for my birthday a few years ago along with the creamer and sugar bowl.

I enjoy my tulip bouquets while waiting for our own to bloom.

My daughter had several of these teacups and passed them on to me.

I found 6 of these plates at a thrift shop.

These pretty plates came from Homesense which is the same as Home Goods in the U.S.

In the last couple of weeks I found a couple of lovely red and white transferware pieces that I am happy to have so I will have to show you those treasures soon.

Our bedroom is getting a makeover and when it is done I will also share those photos.However,it will be a week or so before it is done.
I hear that March is coming in like a lamb tomorrow so I guess that means out like a lion!

I am joining Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Thank you for visiting,

Carolyn