Designer DIY – Chantsy’s Creative Conundrum

 Chantsy from Ottawa tells us about her latest reclaimed treasure and asks our opinion on her creative conundrum:   Here’s what our readers suggest: ‘I vote change the shade keep the enamel’ - Melissa ‘I say paint it white only because it's already been ruined with paint. You could sand

Bike Repair-DIY Style

 No amount of rain, sleet or snow will keep Ottawa pedal pushers off their bicycles. But now with spring weather officially here and summer creeping around the corner, more people than ever are hopping on their two-wheelers to get around the city. Ottawa supports the cycle culture with bike lanes,

Woodworking in Ottawa: How One Man Stumbled Upon A Niche Market

 Vincent and Robert Millaire, Ibuildfurniture If you cannot find the style of furniture you are looking for, why not build it yourself? That is how Vincent Millaire, founder of Ibuildfurniture, stumbled upon a niche market in Ottawa. After months of searching for a coffee table, Vincent faced the fact that

Tips On Cleaning Your Grill

 Grilling season has finally arrived in Ottawa; hamburgers, hotdogs and steaks are all on sale at the local grocer, along with potato salad and fresh corn on the cob. As the season gets underway, avid Canadian grillers diligently search the hardware stores for the newest grilling accessories, while the seasonal

Lindi Ortega – Shootin’ Straight from the Heart

 Lindi Ortega loves telling stories. That love comes out in the form of haunting, warm and honest music. Ortega's voice is beautifully evocative, charming and rich… filled with a sweet sense of longing and regret, floating over and caressing each word as she lays her heart bare. She thanks the

DIY: Cut-Out Shoulder Blouse

 The cut out shoulder blouse is one of this summer’s hottest essentials and fortunately it is very easy to make. The cut-out shoulder blouse is versatile as it can be worn with dress pants or with a pair of shorts for a weekend brunch, lunch or simply for a day around

DIY: Metal Frame Collar for your Blouse

 Blouses are one of the staples in anyone’s wardrobe. They can be dressed up with pencil skirts or dressed down with a pair of boyfriend jeans. Blouses are always in style and one can see that the metal collar blouses are the latest trend. Instead of buying a new blouse,

DIY: Hemp Bracelets

 Remember the friendship bracelets back in grade school? While we may not see those colorful bands much anymore, the idea of it is still around. Hemp bracelets are the new friendship bracelet of 2012. They are easy to make and can be customized in so many ways, and who could resist

DIY: Fringe Necklace

 Living in a cold climate such as Ottawa can really put a damper on one's wardrobe. However, no matter how fridgid the temperature is, you can always use a statement necklace. Frindge necklaces are flashy and can be used to dress up or down any outfit. They look great over

Handmade Holiday Gifts for Beginners: Part III

 Basic Cross-Stitch: Make a Fridge Magnet First rule of cross-stitch: it looks much more difficult that it is.  Cross-stitch is done on Aida cloth which has a grid (much like graph paper).  Each stitch is made up of two smaller stitches that form an “X”: the first stitch travels diagonally

Holiday Handmade Gifts for Beginners: Part II

 Basic Sewing with Felt – Make a Tree Ornament Many of us have basic sewing skills learned long ago, or perhaps no sewing skills to speak of.  But don’t let your poor memory or lack of practice stop you from learning!  Here is a basic sewing project using inexpensive felt

Holiday Handmade Gifts for Beginners: Part I

 Venturing into the world of handmade gifts can be daunting to those of us who don’t think of ourselves as especially “crafty”.  But all you really need are some very basic materials and skills to get you started.  In the next 3 days, and just in time for the holidays,

Recipe: Holiday Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

 Everyone loves holiday sweets, how can you not - it's one of the few times of the year that we can indulge in sweets and treats without feeling guilty about our diets, waistlines etc. The holidays are also a great time bake some goodies for friends and family or share some

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas…

 Many people dream of a white Christmas – but what about a “green” Christmas? While the holidays are notorious for being an environmentalist’s worst nightmare (think tonnes of extra waste, overconsumption, and chopped down trees, just to name a few)! This holiday season Ottawa Life magazine offers ten suggestions to

DIY: Christmas in a Jar

 December is finally here and with it the Holiday festivities are about to begin! It's time to dig out your holiday decorations, festive lights and other yule-tide goodies. One of my favourite Christmas decorations are Christmas Villages. These are fun and adorable but it takes years to collect a perfect