What Crafters Need to Know About U.S. Copyright Law

I allowed myself to be bullied.  Fortunately, on my long drive out to the beach house, I was able to "get into that place" and think things through.  (This post is participating in the Blogging A to Z Challenge.  B is for Bully.)

It was early December of 2012 and things were good and I was happily going along, minding my business and doing my thing, when I got a strange email. A woman claimed to own the copyright to the designs for some popular star weaving craft tutorials I had written for my blog.

The Tiny Apartment Trend

Micro-housing is becoming a huge (or should I say "tiny") trend in real estate today.  It answers a need for affordable housing, especially in urban cities, where more and more people need to fit into a small area.

While there is controversy about creating large numbers of tiny abodes in some areas, and tiny housing should be thoughtfully designed, today I'm just sharing cool tiny apartments from cities around the country. Micro-housing is usually considered anything under about 400 square feet and it is not unusual to see micro-housing that is as small as 150 square feet!

{15} Beautiful Ways to Decorate Your Home With Purple

I have always loved purple. The entire spectrum of purples. Call it violet or lavender or fuchsia or Radiant Orchid, I adore it. Lots of people shy away from using it in their decor, but when done right, it can be really stunning.

In our old home, the Queen Anne bungalow, we painted the walls of the butler's pantry the palest lavender, then painted the interior of the exposed cabinets in a deep eggplant. The trim was painted a warm gray. I loved that tiny room, and actually spent quite a bit of time in there at a little built-in table.

{17} Absolutely Gorgeous Painted Rugs to Inspire You!

Are you looking for a beautiful designer rug, but not interested in designer prices?  Here are some amazing ideas for creating a unique DIY painted rug!

Whether your style leans more toward traditional or modern or rustic, there is sure to be a DIY rug painting project that will work for you!

Pinwheel Art, Sunburst Art, and Star Burst Art

Pinwheels, Sunbursts, and Star Bursts, oh my!  I am loving the DIY pinwheel art trend. How about you?

It's simple and graphic, and can easily be adapted for your project. Choose the medium that works best for you, and be inspired by these creations!

Creating Moments of Beauty in Your Home

We all lead busy lives. We have children and pets and spouses and jobs. We have so many things to keep track of, and somehow, still make sure the grocery shopping is done, the laundry is folded, and dinner is on the table. Some of us have been blessed enough to live in a perpetual state of renovation on top of everything.

When your home is being demo'd and painted -- or whatever insanity is going on in your life at any particular moment -- sometimes you need to create a moment of beauty. One small place in your home that makes you smile, or reminds you to take a deep breath. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be beautiful to you.

Barn Door Hardware Guide

We are gearing up for a barn door hardware project at the beach house this spring, and have been collecting ideas, looking at barn door tutorials, and researching where to buy barn door hardware.

There is lots of great information on barn doors out there, so we have compiled a guide with some of the best tutorials and barn door hardware sources we've found.

Painting Interior Doors Black

Sometimes all it takes it just a bit of black to make a space feel more sophisticated.  In the last few years, painting interior doors black has been gaining in popularity.

Painting doors black can be just the right thing to add a little contrast and interest to an otherwise boring hallway, and it can certainly add a feeling of elegance, without seeming precious.

Trestle Table Inspiration for Your Home

Trestle tables are all the rage right now, but paying full retail for a brand new table might be more than your budget can handle.

If you have your heart set on a trestle table, but need to confine your search to craigslist and second-hand stores, it can seem a little disheartening! Badly damaged tops, and 1970's styling and finishes can be hard to overlook, but if the table is structurally sound, maybe all it needs is a face-lift!

Decorating with Colored Bathroom Fixtures

What do you do if you inherit a bathroom with colored fixtures?  I love a beautiful vintage bath as much as the next person, but sometimes vintage bathrooms are ugly. How many times have you moved into a rental or bought a new home, only to be stuck with an avocado bathtub. And toilet. And sink?

Not everybody gets to inherit a perfectly preserved period bath like this one from Kohler's 1928 catalogue.