Decorate by Holly Becker reviewed

If, like me, you feel you need a little help and advice to get your home just how you want it to be, who better than decor8's Holly Becker to guide you? Her blog is the one I go to first when catching up on my internet reading so as soon as I heard she was writing a book I couldn't wait to place the Amazon order.

I certainly wasn't disappointed. It's so so much more than a pretty book to lay on your coffee table. It is literally crammed with inspiring homes and I love the little anecdotes and wise words from designers, stylists and writers spread throughout the book. Here is one that particularly resonated with me: "The true beauty of a room can be found in its details. Layering up a room with the items you love elevates your space."

My favourite section of the book is 'Setting your style'. I think it's too easy to lose sight of what your own style is when you're bombarded by magazines, blogs and websites from all directions so this is the chapter I'll be studying the most. The 'be your own client' advice is particularly useful.

I will also be playing close attention to 'Creative spaces' as my study desperately needs some help. It's also our spare room so it needs to work twice as hard. So I can't wait to get started on the re-design with Decorate as my guide.

If you love design, your home and want a sneaky peek into beautiful abodes from all over the world, pick up a copy of Decorate and be inspired.

It's time to vote!!

***VOTING IS NOW CLOSED*** It's time everyone to vote for the winner of the "Decorate your bra contest". The winner will walk away with a big bundle of prizes donated by various etsy artists. And you can win something too, just by voting by leaving a comment. This gorgeous metal heart was donated by re:form of etsy and could be yours:



I'll draw a comment at random on Sunday 10th June (when voting closes).

So without any further ado, here are the entries:



You can see all the entries in full size on the flickr group.

1= Pirate Bra complete with a little birdy on shoulder by Rhian.
2= Embroidered bra by faeawynn
3= Chase in the Grass by Fluffy Flowers
4= Koolaid dyed Pink bra by Wendy
5= Glitzy flower bra by Amanda
6= Felt flowers bra by small bird
7= Bright pink wooly bra by WhatKatieDidNext

So just leave a comment with your favourite bra numbered 1-7 and I'll announce the winner on Sunday 10th June. Good luck everyone. Voting is now closed!

Are you afraid of snakes?

If you are, you probably wouldn't wear this bra! But what a fabulous bra Felicia of Fluffy Flowers has created.


Chase in the Grass by Fluffy Flowers (Click to see full size)

The snake is chasing the little mice around the green bra- will the mice get away??

Felicia makes many more fun little creatures, see her shop for more of her work.

You still have until the 6th June to upload your bra contest photos to the flickr group. I'm looking forward to seeing them all.

Back to the prizes...

Next up in the prizes we have these beautiful earrings from Sakura Fubuki Designs.





Again, my photos don't really do them justice, they're very pretty and glamorous.

Sakura makes stunning jewellery and also produces some beautiful ceramic work. She's combined both talents in this piece:


(Click photo to see (and buy!) the Etsy listing).

Read Sakura's blog or visit her shop to find out more about her unique jewellery designs.

How many more reasons do you need to enter the "decorate your bra" contest today? Well, tomorrow there'll be another reason!

Decorated Bra Contest

Here it is, my first ever contest.

Take a bra, any bra, everyone’s got one lurking in the back of their underwear drawer that they never wear any more. Then decorate it any which way you wish- dye it, cover it in flowers, ribbons, sequins or whatever you can think of. Be inventive & imaginative. My last post has some inspirational links to give you some ideas.

Then upload a picture to the Flickr group that I’ve set up for the contest. The deadline for entries is June 6th. On June 7th I’ll post all the photos here and ask for votes from all you lovely readers. The entry with the most votes will win a special big box of handmade goodies from me and other talented crafters and artists. If you’d like to donate a prize please email me at bracontest(at)tesco.net

Any questions? Leave me a comment! And please tell your friends about the contest, the more the merrier.

EDIT: Here are some FAQs to answer the questions I've had so far:

FAQ
How many times can I enter?
It’s just one entry per person- if you make more than one bra, choose your favourite one to enter in the contest.
Can I post more than one photo of the same bra?
Yes you can. But I'll choose only one to post on the blog for voting.
Does the bra still have to be wearable?
No, but the bra should still look like a bra- i.e. don’t make it in to a purse.
Can I post my entry photo somewhere other than Flickr?
No. Please post your photo to the Flickr group only.
How do I set up a Flickr account?
Go to www.flickr.com. Click the button that says “sign up” and follow the on-screen instructions. Once you have an account, you’ll need to join the Decorated Bra Contest Group.
How do I join the Flickr group?
Go to http://www.flickr.com/groups/335553@N24/ Click on the link that says “Join this group” and follow the on-screen instructions.
How do I submit my entry photo to the group?
First you need to upload your photo to your Flickr account and you must be a member of the group. Then follow the instructions available here.

EDIT (24/5/07) PRIZES: See this post for the one of the prizes- more to be announced soon.