From My Desktop

Another month has gone by and somehow I've survived February for another year. Now is the time I dig out all the seed catalogs that have been arriving all winter. The smell of a coming Spring arrives along with Daylight Savings Time. Ah, life is good.

I've listed a new Creative Dozen on using your collectibles in your home, along with this month's technique for developing creativity. Along with this there is a new website I've discovered that has some great home project ideas you might want to use as you spruce up your home with spring cleaning.

May you all have a great month, knowing that Spring is just around the corner.

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

The Creative Workshop:
The Fairy Godmother Techinque

Until you can use your imagination, it is hard to be creative. We all know how imaginative little children are. They have not yet been programmed to "stop daydreaming, grow up, and don't waste time". All of these activities promote the growth of imagination.

So how can you get your imagination back on track? I like to use what I call the Fairy Godmother Technique. Most of us are familiar with Cinderella's fairy godmother. Can't you just see her waving her wand and with a Bibbity-Bobbity-Boo, the pumpkin turns into a gorgeous coach? Well this is what you are going to do this month.

Just imagine you are the Fairy Godmother and possess this magical wand. What would you change with this? Are you in the park with your children? Would you prefer better landscaping or more adequate playground equipment? Just wave your wand, see the stardust fall around you, and picture the changes you've made in your mind's eye. Picture the lush grass, the Swan boat in the lake, the most modern playground equipment. Take the time to really see and enjoy in your mind's eye the enchanted playground you have created.

Are you walking down the street and see a lovely woman who would look gorgeous in an Armani suit? Why not give her one? Change the paint on a neighbor's home or improve a neglected garden you pass every day.

Just remember, every change you make you must see in great detail in your mind's eye. Smell the flowers, feel the fabric of that Armani suit, bring up the color of the house.

Once you get home, use this technique wherever your eye leads you. Is the paint a little shabby in the kitchen? Wave your wand, see the stardust, and change it. Can you see in re-done in a fantastic new color? Do you dearly really want new draperies or a new rug in the living room? What's stopping you from seeing it?

You will find that once you really see the changes you want in your mind's eye, this might also affect changes in your reality. Do you believe in the Law of Attraction? Have you seen the movie "The Secret"? This is the way to begin.

So have fun with this. Start to develop your mind's eye and also your creativity with your magic wand and see what changes this might bring to your life.

Decorating With Collectibles:
12 Ways to Use Your Cherished Collectibles in Decorating Your Home

Instead of looking at your cherished collectibles and art as accessories and finishing touches, why not think about them at the starting point and build your room around them? If you have some large collections, think about showing them off and making them a focal point. Below are some indeas for you to consider.

• Turn an small entry way into a surprising gallery by hanging photographs from floor to ceiling.
• If your frames are a hodge-podge of flea market finds, paint them all the same color to add impact and give a sense of order to your arrangement.
• Everything looks more important if there is at least a 2 inch border of matting surrounding it.
• If you have a room with eaves, this is a great place to install floor to ceiling shelves or plate rails to display a large collection.
• Remember, the display background adds importance to the final view. A beaded batten background makes a pottery collection look impressive, while shelving or a corner nook painted a deep red shows off Victorian artifacts to advantage. Always remember that the background is the picture frame of your collection.
• Use a common thread of color to unify a collection of unrelated objects.
• Use a large tiered plant stand to display a valued collection. If you feel it is important enough, decorate your room using the colors of your collection and give it the place of honor.
• Build decorative shelves around and over a window to display some of your treasured glass and ceramic items. Make a roman shade in a color to match to add impact to the display.
• Create a large shadow box collage of smaller collectible items. Install an overhead wall lamp to shine on this and add impact to the collage.
• Get all those interesting old mismatched china plates out from storage and create a display wall. Use one key design element; floral, fruits, birds, etc., to bring the collection together.
• For added interest, try clustering those plates around a central large china platter.
• A collection of antique wooden game boards, mounted on the wall, stacked on the floor or just scattered around the room adds interest and is visually entertaining to the look of a family room.

Interesting Website of the Month:

Etching, Stencils, Wall Murals, whatever your preference may be, Interesting wall treatments can be found here at Blue Mountain Wall Coverings

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.

To find out 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

Are you a retiree who would love to make some extra income so that you could make traveling and visiting family and friends around the country part of your life as I am now able to do? Check out this site and see how I and other retirees have changed our lives through using this program.

Do you already own a website? Is it producing income for you? If you would like some hints to increase the income from your site download this *free* Affiliate Masters course. Read what other website owners are doing to increase their monthly 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