TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1) From My Desktop
2) Feature Article: Creative Workshop
3) The Creative Dozen
4) About “The Home Dec Lady"
5) Legal Stuff

Welcome to the premier edition of “Creative Home Decorating”

Getting this Ezine launched has been quite the creative process, but the growth I have attained from this project has been immense. If you find yourself just going through the motions of getting through each day, pick something you have never done before and declare you are going to learn everything you need to know to accomplish your goal. This will immediately turn your life around.

I discovered this when I wanted to build my own website. I was going to hire a designer to do this for me, but I didn’t want to give up control of my site to another person. Since I know absolutely nothing about web design and wanted this published by the first of the year, I had to immerse myself completely in this project in order to meet my deadline. Suddenly, I felt alive. Every day I woke up thinking of new ideas for my site, wondering how to do this or that, setting tasks to accomplish each day. On the day I published my site, I was so excited I spent half the day on the phone calling friends and family, sending them to the website. Now that it is an accomplished goal, I can see I am becoming a “goal junkie.”

This Ezine has become my latest learning experience. Although if often has been difficult, and sometimes downright scary, I find completing this initial project has been most fulfilling. It is a great feeling to push our limits and grow in proportion to our efforts. So in the upcoming month, pick a new project, try something new, learn a new skill. Then sit back and enjoy the feel of new growth and success!

Your friendly neighborhood (even if you are halfway around the world) Home Dec Lady,

Gloria

Feature Article of the Month: The Creative Workshop

One of the first steps necessary in the development of creativity is the honing of your powers of observation. It is necessary to see and observe the world and your immediate environment and note what has already been created around you.

In order not to confuse you and create a jumble of your senses we will choose one object to use as we go through this exercise.

When you are relaxed and not rushed (developing creativity is not an instant process) walk into any room in your home. Sit down, relax and make yourself comfortable.

For today's exercise I will use the living room. Sit on the sofa, put your feet up, have a cup of coffee if you have time, take a few deep breaths and and relax your mind.

In your relaxed state, look around the entire room. Take your time and do more than see it. Really look at it. Look at the walls, floors and furnishings. Get a general impression of the room.

You are creative. You have created this room. Whether you love it or hate it, whether you feel good, bad or indifferant about it, you have created it. It matters not whether or not the landlord won't replace the scuffed flooring or fix the windows. What you are looking at is what you created with what you had to work with.

So let's move on to the how and why this is so. Pick an object in the room. Any object will do. For this exercise I'll choose a lamp on an end table by the sofa.

Look at this lamp and ask yourself these questions:

• Does it look like it should be here?
• Is the size in correct proportion?
• Is it too big, too small, or like Goldilocks did you find one that is just right?
• Does it fit into your color scheme?
• Is the lampshade suitable for this lamp and this room?

Next think about why you are using this lamp:

• It was a gift
• It was a freebie
• It was bought at a flea market because it was the right price
• It was bought for just this spot

Do you really like the lamp in that spot? Does it make you happy? Is it just holding space until something better comes along? Is it an item you absolutely, positively love and no one is going to separate you from it?

At this point you know quite a lot about that lamp. You probably haven't given this much thought to it since the day you put it in place. Now you are going to decide what you are going to do with this item. Your choices are to move it, replace it, or leave it as is.

During the month, when you have some time, repeat this exercise with other items in your home. Start small and get into the habit of creative observation and thinking. You will be amazed at the objects you have had around, sometimes for years just because you put them there and never gave them another thought.

Next month we will discuss things to think about once you have made a decision to replace an item.

Until then look around and observe your surroundings. You may be surprised at what you discover not only about your possessions but also about yourself

The Creative Dozen

Each month I plan on giving you a dozen new decorating tips and ideas. Hopefully, out of this dozen, you will find one or two that will excite you and start your creative juices flowing.

Do one thing each month to improve your home surroundings and you will be surprised at the energy and confidence that comes from this small undertaking.

Not only will you be improving your home atmosphere, but you may find other areas in your life expanding as you stretch and grow in this area.

Below is the list for the month. Enjoy!

1. Look at the furnishings in each room through fresh eyes. Sometimes a room can be improved by taking something away.

2. If you have a lot of different types of furniture, they can often be unified into a whole by uniting them with a common color.

3. The addition of one or two antiques can add warmth, personality, and character to a room.

4. If you are starting from scratch with a new home or apartment, choose your largest pieces first. Leave the details and accessories until last and let the room grow into them.

5. If you have a large living or family room, create more than one seating area. Two small cozy seating areas will make the large space more inviting and useful.

6. Candles are a natural in the bedroom. Place them in front of a mirror and let the light be doubled by the reflection.

7. Tie long sticks of cinnamon together with raffia to make a mat. When used as a hot plate, the wonderful spicy aroma of cinnamon is released into your kitchen.

8. If stenciling isn't your forte it is still possible to achieve a quick decorative wall border. Consider stamping. A border of shells stamped above the bathroom tile using latex paint, will add interest to your wall. Using the same stamp and fabric ink, co-ordinate your towels and face towels with the border to achieve a custom look.

9. Before you throw out unwanted furniture, consider other uses for it. Can it be used in the garden? An old table, painted and stenciled, could be recycled as a potting bench. Cut down the legs and it could be an interesting sitting bench.

10. If you love bold color but are afraid to use it in large quantities, consider painting the inside of your bedroom closet in your favorite shade of royal purple, hot pink, bold citron or whatever color your heart desires.

11. If you don't like color and patterns in your home, compensate by using bold textures in your fabrics, floors and wall papers.

12. If your preferred style is Contemporary and you have some great views, cover your windows with no fuss Roman shades and forget the draperies.

So there you have it, my list of creative dozen for this month. May you find some inspiration and experience the joy of creating with at least one idea this month.

Happy Creating and Decorating!

Dare to Dream, Dare to Hope, Dare to Believe, Dare to Live!

About the Home Dec Lady:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, visit my website and learn to develop your creativity and create the home you dream of by using my **free** online home decorating workbook.

If you would like to know why and how I am building a web business visit the Mysite/Myself page on my website. I am having fun and building a good income at the same time. If you would like to do the same, check out this page while you are visiting my online home

If you are a stay at home Mom because your family is your first priority, but you would like to start building extra income, download this *free* work from home course here. Read what other mothers are doing to help supplement the family income.

All products recommended on this site have been actively researched and used by me. I only recommend products and services I use myself, and hope you find some new and interesting ideas for developing and using your God given talents and creativity.

Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated! Feel free to email me and let me know of your comments and suggestions now while your thoughts are fresh in your mind.

Please feel free to pass on this issue to friends and associates --just keep the entire message intact and unaltered.

Published Monthly “Creative Home Decorating" is a newsletter geared to the individual who dreams of creating the perfect home atmosphere of peace, harmony, comfort and relaxation.

Designed to help the frustrated decorator and creatively challenged, this ezine will inspire you to jump in and take a chance on your inborn talents. By doing this you will grow from the inside out.

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Gloria Daniels, Publisher
http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com