SilverLining Designs

I Hope they Help

2012-02-06T11:40:00.000-05:00

I have been suffering a lot of eye discomfort/pain/soreness... whatever you want to call it for the last while.

Before Christmas, I went to see my optometrist to find out what was causing me this constant pain and soreness in my eyes. He did a full check up and told me that they were healthy, but that because of my eerrr age, my vision is weakening. He told me that once you reach 40 your vision starts to blur. Great another reason why it sucks to get old!

So, after he explained all this and I confirmed that I did a lot of computer and sewing work, he confirmed that while my vision was not bad, he would give me a prescription to make it easier on my eyes so they are not strained so much and make everything clearer.

Since my checkup was right at Christmas, I never got a chance to go find glasses, so finally a couple of week after new years, I was able to get myself out to go find me some glasses. Not an easy task. After trying so many on and getting the thoughts of my daughters and the Mister, I finally settled on a pair that I liked.

Then, I was told I would have to wait a week, except it was more like a week and a half. During that time, I really tried to stay away from the computer with only short periods of time on it - resting them in between. Even though I did that, I was still suffering and I couldn't wait to pick them up. But while I was waiting for that phone call, a thought entered my mind, what if when I got them, they didn't solve the problem? What if my eyes still burned and were sore? What if there was still that ache at my temples?

I finally picked them up on the weekend. They are definitely something I am going to have to get use to, that's for sure. When I went into the eyeglass store and ordered them, the technician told me that my dr. noted readers but also had on the prescription progressive. I of course, not sure of what to get, asked the technician what they would suggest and that because I used the computer and sewed - computer/reader progressive sounded like the right choice. So that is what I got.

So to use the computer, I have to directly look through the centre of the lens to have a clear sight line. If I want to look at the corners of the screen, I have to actually move my whole head to see it clearly, unlike before when I didn't wear glasses and for anyone else out there that doesn't wear glasses, you just have to move your eyes. This is really hard to get use to. If I don't move my head the screen gets blurry and when I move my head it feels like the whole screen is moving like being at the carnival looking at the fun house mirror. Then, when I want to look at someone across the room, I can't because they are blurry because they are not for distance so I end up looking like...

Anyways, fingers crossed - they solve the problems with my eyes and I don't get a bigger headache trying to get use to them. Luckily, if I am not happy with them I have 90 days to return them and change them to regular readers.

Any of you wearing new glasses you are trying to get use to?

{image source: google}

Painted Ceiling.... love it or leave it

2011-11-22T10:34:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about ceilings lately and seeing a lot of them being painted an actual colour other than white.

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I personally love the character a painted ceiling can bring to a room.

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It can be used like an accessory in a room. It's there. It adds interest, but it is not in your face like it would be if all four walls were painted.


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It allows you to go bold, where you otherwise might not.

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It can be subtle where you almost don't even notice it.

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You can use it outdoors.

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You could even get creative.

It's a great way to introduce colour into a room or you can even wrap a room with colour so that there is no end and no beginning by painting the walls and ceiling the same colour. This way the eye will not come to a jarring stop when you enter a room and the eye is drawn up to the white ceiling. I like applying this to powder rooms and bathrooms.

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Do you think you would paint your ceiling? What colour would you choose?

For the silver lining to your design dilemma, contact me.

Colour of the Year 2012

2011-10-23T11:29:00.001-04:00

Benjamin Moore announced their "Colour of the Year". Can you guess what they chose?

Option 1:

Walls: Wythe Blue (HC-143), ceiling: Battenberg (AF-70), trim: Storm Cloud Gray (2140-40)
{images and text Benjamin Moore}

"Much more versatile than you may think, blue is truly a classic colour. It has universal appeal, never goes out of style, and is overwhelmingly chosen as a colour favourite across North America. It evokes the sea and sky, physically calms us, and symbolizes trust and commitment.

Because of the influence that blue has in our world today, we have chosen wythe blue (HC-143) as Benjamin Moore's 2012 Colour of the Year. It's a beautiful, calming hue that has an element of heritage and offers grounding rootedness, providing comfort and stability."

Option 2: Same colours different approach. Which do you prefer?

Walls: Sharkskin (2139-30), ceiling: Wythe Blue (HC-143), trim: Battenberg (AF-70), stencil: Fresh Olive (2149-30)

Wythe Blue is a green-blue hue that is a calming cool colour that would look wonderful in any room of your home. Take a look at some other rooms using Wythe Blue...

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Look at the versatility of this colour. It can be used in the dining room, living room, furniture, a porch and the exterior of your home.

So, what do you think? Would you decorate using this colour?

For the silverlining to your design dilemma, contact me.

Do you Spring or Fall Clean? {and updating your room(s)}

2011-10-20T10:20:00.003-04:00

As fall is in full swing we are spending more time indoors then out and because of that you are probably looking around your rooms and thinking about sprucing them up or giving them a full makeover..... yes?

I remember when I was younger, living at home, every spring my Mom would start to spring clean and get ready for the season by washing sheers, cleaning out closets and drawers and wiping down every nook and cranny that was not normally cleaned on a regular basis. Living in my own home, I have come to realize that spring cleaning really didn't make sense to me because spring leads to summer and summer means spending most of our time outdoors soaking up every minute of the warm weather, which is really not here for very long. Why would I take so much time to scrub and clean the inside when we are spending our time outside... right?

Doing my "spring cleaning" in the fall made much more sense to me. Every year at the end of summer I give the house a good clean, go through closets and drawers and clean them out too. Starting off the dreaded cold weather and winter in a clean den to hibernate in just makes more sense to me. It's clean and fresh and makes it more enjoyable to be in for the next few months.

Fall also is a great time to look around each room and take stock of what needs to be done, whether it be small things like changing the pillows, adding new drapery or bed linens or deciding to do a full renovation of painting and redecorating a room completely.

Drapery is a quick fix to change the appearance or update a room. It can also be the finishing touch to decorating a room.

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Drapery can soften the lines of a window and also add warmth and texture to a room. It can give a room a focal point where there otherwise wasn't one.

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Drapery is also a good opportunity to introduce colour and interest into a room.

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They can also blend into the room when you don't want them to be the star attraction.

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Pillows are another way to update and change the feel of a room from spring to fall or from cosy and comfortable to fun and whimsical.

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It is also a great way to get that favourite expensive fabric in a room without breaking the bank.

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They can also bring texture, interest and balance to a room.

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Do you think you will be doing some "fall cleaning" this year?

What decorating challenge will you be tackling this season?

For the silver lining to your design dilemma, contact me.

:: Two New Porcupine Undershirt Dresses in my Etsy shop

2011-10-19T16:26:00.000-04:00

SilverLining Designs

You still have until the end of October to receive 10% off your first purchase of $20.00 or more when you shop at SilverLining Designs' Etsy shop. All you have to do is become a fan on facebook to be eligible!

NEW Maxwell Fabrics Fall 2011 Collections

2011-10-13T12:35:00.000-04:00

Today’s design philosophies allow a world of creativity and diversity by drawing on a variety of inspirational sources, pushing the boundaries, and mixing styles and genres to create unique yet cohesive looks.

Chatelaine ~ Modern Tradition

Polished satin and sumptuous chenille fabrics, in lavish over-scaled traditional patterns, elegantly compliment sleek contemporary pieces with confortable softness, while reflecting the essence of clean effortless design

Shazam ~ Effortlessly Chic

Shazam is a silky twill weave with a beautiful soft body and sultry drape.

Mainstays ~ Knit-Backed Upholstery

This exclusive collection of highly styled cotton knit-backed upholstery was designed specifically for heavy duty use.

Disco Tec ~ Innovation in Design

Disco-Tec is an innovative assortment of natural leather looks and contemporary vinyls with a complimenting, softly shimmering, velvet.

City Chic ~ Modern Interpretations

This collection is a fusion of style, bringing together contemporary patterns and modern versions of traditional designs into one distinctively unique drapery collection.

Silk Threads ~ For the Love of Silk

Nothing shimmers better, drapes better, or exudes the essence of pure luxury, better than silk.

Air Apparent ~ Understated Glamour

Air Apparent is a stunning series of wide-width sheers designed and developed in Italy, exclusively for Maxwell Fabrics.

Gig Harbour ~ Nature vs. Nurture

Gig Harbour is a natural linen look with a heavy slubbed weave and extremely drapeable hand. Created with 95% polyester yarns and 5% linen, this fabulous fabric achieves the luxuriously beautiful look of a natural !ber with the super performance properties of a manmade yarn.

Nantucket ~ Nano-Technology

Nantucket is a complete colour compilation of our best selling textures re-colored and re-finished with Nano-technology.

To read more about this fabulous collection visit Maxwell Fall 2011 Collections.

If you would like to see any of these fabrics or are thinking of redoing your window treatments, upholstery and/or accessories, contact me.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-10-08T19:59:00.000-04:00

It's Thanksgiving in Canada this weekend.

I am cooking and getting ready for a house full... 30 people for dinner on Sunday.

It's also a very special little girl's birthday that we will be celebrating on Sunday too. She's entering the age of a teenager....ooooh scary.

It's been a long week and don't get me wrong, I enjoy having everyone over and I have been doing it long enough to have this day down pat, but I will be glad when Monday rolls around and I will be able to relax a bit.

The weather here has been unseasonably warm and is suppose to be 25c tomorrow. So I just might be able to sit outside and enjoy all the colours of fall this time of year for a bit.

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If you are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, I hope yours is a wonderful one full of good food, family and friends. Even if you are not celebrating, then I hope you too are enjoying your weekend with good food, family and friends.