Your throw will steal the show

This afghan in cool colours is part of Universal 

Yarn's afghan kit collection. The kit includes yarns 

and instructions and costs $99. Stix & Stones can 

also create kits specific to what you're looking for 

in cotton, silk, mohair or any other yarn. Start 

envisioning your perfect throw! 

Enhance your living room with a cozy throw this winter. Not only does a throw keep you warm and toasty. It's also great for pulling the colours of a room together, and for introducing an accent colour that will make your space come alive. If you can't find that perfect throw in the stores, think about making it yourself. With North Bay's Stix & Stones around it has never been easier! This downtown knitters' paradise has everything you need for the project: needles and hooks, afghan kit collections, beautiful yarns and an enthusiastic knitting community to support you in your efforts. A visit to Stix & Stones is sure to get your creative juices flowing. And if you're hesitating about taking on yet another project, you have the option to buy one of the fantastic throws displayed in the store. Just take a look at these:

This throw is knit as a square and comes

in a range of beautiful hand-died variegated 

wool yarns. You need two skeins at $16 each,

thick needles and one very bad movie night to 

complete it. The result: a gorgeous, highly 

personalized afghan. Tempting! 

Let yourself be inspired by Universal

Yarn's afghan knit collection.

This amazingly colourful afghan is 

made by Dianne Giroux and is for

sale at Stix & Stones. If you prefer 

a calmer colour scheme, the throw 

below by the same knitter could be 

an option. $295 each.

This baby blanket is also knit as a square and should

be a piece of cake (says the time optimist). It is made

out of wool yarn and requires four skeins at $9 each.

Whether it's a throw or a quilt, who doesn't want

to see our little ones warmly wrapped up and

happy? In a future blog, I'll show inspiring quilt photos

and beautiful quilts available in our local stores. 

Creating happy rooms for kids

Make your kids' room a happy place, one they will want to spend a lot of time in. Focus on soft, light wall colours, lots of baskets and storage for all their projects and toys, and a desk for school work. Try wallpaper or a mural on one accent wall for a splash of colour. These cheery motifs are from the company 4walls' kids' portfolio, carried by Stewart's in North Bay. They are sure to trigger the imagination and up the fun factor for young family members!

Nursery essentials

All mothers and soon-to-be moms: this posting is for you. What an exciting and life-changing time! To help you in your transition to motherhood, here are a few tips for the nursery:

Furniture: Let safety be your guide in all purchase decisions. In addition to a crib, you will need a comfy chair or love seat in the nursery, for late night feedings. If space is tight, leave the change table and dresser in the bathroom. Maybe you have a counter in the bathroom that can act as a change table for a few years? If that is the case, securely install a smooth board along the counter edge, to prevent your little one from rolling off.

Colour: Rather than preparing a room that your child can "grow into", think about what you want for your baby right now. There will undoubtedly be scratches, wear and tear, and by the time your little one is about to start school, his/her room will need an update anyways. For now, think soft colours. Avoid bright red and orange walls, they are too intense and energizing for a baby's room. I would also stay away from dark blues and greens, brown and black. You want to create a space where your child can flourish and grow, so opt for lighter colours. If you want gender-neutral walls, buttery and creamy hues are good choices. Combine them with colourful drapes, patterned nursery sets and fun artwork.

Window treatment: A roll-down, black-out blind is highly recommended and will help your little one sleep during daytime naps.

Flooring: You and your child will spend a lot of time playing on the floor, so invest in a warm and soft area rug.

Artwork: Suspend any of these cute fabrics on a wooden frame and mount on the wall. Or simply hem the edges and tack to the wall:

This fabric would be beautiful on soft green, 

cream, or light blue walls. Three Gables Studio,

North Bay.

Would look sharp in a pink or light green

room. Three Gables Studio.

This fabric would be a good choice for a 

room with soft, buttery, creamy or light

green walls. Three Gables Studio.

Detail from "Boys will be boys".

More elephants and monkeys, this time

on a fabric from Stewart's Deccorating. 

Would look crisp with a neutral or light

blue wall colour.

Why not combine this "Alphabet soup" fabric with

lime green? Stewart's. 

Also at Stewart's, this animal fabric would go well

with creamy walls.

Happy Mothers Day!