We all love color and are inspired by it daily. It is part of the natural rhythm of our lives, but as much as we love of it – it also scares us to death when we have to make “the decision” of what colors to actually pick and then finally choose when decorating our homes.
Colorful Magic Markers
How many times have you been out shopping for a shirt and you decide on a style, but there are 5 different colors to choose from? You usually let instinct be your guide or choose your favorite color that you know looks good on you.    You might hold the different colors up to your body and go look in the mirror in the store to double check that you like it before making the decision to buy it. I try to remember this scenario when I am trying to pick out paint colors for my rooms and projects.  Shop around, pick out my favorite, and try it on for size before buying.
I usually find my color inspiration from something I love and plan on using in the room as my starting point.  It could be a piece of fabric or a favorite object. I then look at photo clippings from magazines or Pinterest that I have gathered to build a color scheme.

I did this just last week when trying to figure out what color to paint my studioffice. It is getting a makeover.   I have been decorating homes for a long time and know my personal style tends to go to using neutral backgrounds.  I like when my “stuff”  tells the story in a room, not a pattern on wallpapered walls or a matchy-match scheme.    If I find a cool chair at a flea market, I like when I can paint it any color and it will automatically go in the room.

My studioffice was previously done in neutrals – dark taupe walls with white and black accents.  I have been happy with it for many years, but found I wanted it to be brighter.  As soon as I made the decision to go forward and re-do the room, I thought about how I wanted it to look and then started gathering items.

Here are the color inspiration pieces I have gathered so far.

A favorite purple box that I have had for years.  Pink peonies just make any room look pretty. I love the casual appeal of wicker and use baskets to organize all my stuff on the book shelves and my desk. I found the black and white pattern sheet set at Ross for $13 – I am of the school that every room looks better with a touch of black in it.    The green fabric I had on hand. I may not use this actual fabric, but I know I want a bit of green in the room.

 Decorating Inspiration

 Last week I showed you how I went to My Colortopia and uploaded my inspiration photo of a pink peony into  the – My Image Inspiration tool.  It gave me a few color choices that I could break down even further.

Decorating Inspiration
I chose Pink Petal White and got a little sample jar at Home Depot to try on my walls.   This is the best test for choosing paint ever. $2.94.  Deal!
Decorating with paint ideas
I brushed a swatch on my wall and so far I like it. It has been rainy here the past few days and I will make my final decision when the sun comes out again.  I am pretty sure it is a go – as my instincts are usually right.  It is not too white as I don’t want my room to feel cold, just brighter and cheerier. The only place I have painted white-white in my home is on the trim.
How to paint a wall
There is also a quiz at My Colortopia, called My Life My Colors. It is a fun multiple choice quiz that is geared to finding the right colors for you by your personality and lifestyle.  It only takes a minute – you will be rewarded with a selection of color choices that will be suitable to your personality, likes, and dislikes. You will be surprised how accurate it is.    I did it and it came up with my favorite colors. One was spot on, the others were the right color, but the exact shade was a tad bit off.   I didn’t think chartreuse would come up :)   It was fun and had me thinking more about my likes and dislikes.
If you are reading this in a reader, you may have to click over to my site to fill it out or click over to My Colortopia where you can fill it out also.

 
 

After taking the quiz, if you haven’t tried the My Image Inspiration tool, it is easy and fun to use, too.   You just have to have an inspiration photo on your computer to upload.  Everything else is done for you – well except the physical effort required to actually paint your room.

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I have partnered with Glidden/ Akzo Nobel Paints for this post and the My Colortopia program but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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Before I started moving my studioffice all around last week, I started making something to keep me warm as it is COLD!!! outside and I like it warm. This past weekend it snowed, which made for a nice snow day on Saturday, but the throw blanket I keep in my living room to snuggle up with has not been available for about 2 months now.  You will find out why below.

I needed to finish up embellishing a new throw I bought at Marshall’s to keep me all comfy cozy.  It is large, furry, fuchsia, soft and super cuddly – perfect for the winter months, plus it gives my room an added color pop.  When I bought it, it had plain edges, but I knew I would be adding big pom poms to embellish it and make it my own.

 Mondo Pom Pom Throw tutorial

This project all started when a certain new member of my household took over my warm and snuggly leopard throw. Like we humans, Kindi, my daughter’s dog, likes it is all snuggly – comfy cozy.  This is her favorite spot, perhaps the throw reminds her of Africa where she was born and lived the the first year of her life.  She doesn’t mind snuggling with my husband either. I didn’t have the heart to keep taking it away from her when I wanted to use it, so I had find something new to use.

cute dog sleeping

Sometimes I don’t even see her as she blends right in. You can see why I couldn’t take it away from her.   Dog on blanket

I got my inspiration to make the pom pom trim when I saw this photo in an old Woman’s Day magazine from the late 60’s that I found at a thrift store.  I don’t knit or know how to weave, but maybe in time for spring I can have one of my knitting friends make one for me – I will make the pom poms.  I know I want to infuse a lighter pink into my family room once I can open up my windows again. I love the colors – pink, lavender and tangerine.  This is such a classic photo – the car, the turtle neck  – very chic.  Shows you that classics – are always in style.

Pom Pom Trim Afhgan

From woman's Day Magazine Jan 1968

 

This was a very easy project that I did while I watched a movie on TV.  The throw was on my lap keeping me all nice and warm while I worked on it. 

How to Make a Pom Pom

I used 4 different colors of yarn.

1.  Cut a piece of cardboard 3 1/2” square .  Begin to make the pom pom by wrapping your yarn around the cardboard. I went around 30 times for each of my pom poms. If you are using only one color yarn you will have to wrap about 100 times to get a mondo size pop pom.

How to make a pom pomHow to make a pom pom with yarn

 

2.  Once the yarn is wrapped around the cardboard, cut the ends.  Carefully remove from the cardboard.

cut-ends-of-yarnRemove-yarn-from-cardboard

3. Lay the wrapped yarn on an 8-inch piece of yarn and then tie it tightly around the wrapped yarn.  Make a double knot to secure.   You may want to have someone hold their finger over the knot as you tie to make sure you tie the yarn on as tightly as you can.

How to make a pom pomPom pom making tutorial

 

 

4.  Hold the 2 ends of the 8-inch piece of yarn that is wrapped around the pom pom  in one hand and place one scissor tip into the loops and start cutting the loops open.  Do not cut off the tied 8-inch piece of yarn, keep it long.  You need these ends to tie the pom pom onto your throw.  Once the loops are all open, give the pom pom a haircut with scissors shaping it into a nice round shape.  You can make it small and dense or large and fluffy.

How to make a pom pomHow to cut a pom pom

 

How to Tie Pom Poms onto the Throw

I spaced the pom poms 6” apart.

Simply thread one of the end pieces from the 8-inch piece of yarn that is tied around the pom pom into a large eye needle.

How to add a pom pom to the edge of fabric or a blanket

Once the yarn is through the edge of the throw, remove the needle and tie the pom pom on using the other tied end.  Make a few knots so you know it will be secure.

Hoe to make a pom pomHow to make a pom pom

It truly brightens up the room and it so cozy and warm.  <3

How to make a pom pom

 

How to make a pom pom and embellish a throw blanket

How are you staying warm and snuggly this Winter?  I am going to make a super simple and yum-o veggie soup for dinner tonight and eat it by the fire all wrapped up in my fun new throw.

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Coming February 14th

Valentines Day Blog Link Party at In My Own Style

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Edit pillow from Etsy

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