Eclectic Studio - Tammy Morrison-Koenig

Aren't these soap molds just gorgeous? My wonderful husband made them for me.  There is a total of 3- 3.5 lb loaf molds and a 2 lb for more of my specialty soap loafs. 3 sides are attached with heavy duty pressure hinges and the one end is static. The hinges are so strong that I don't have to reinforce the sides from expansion, or at least I haven't had to clean up a soap explosion yet from over expansion. Yeah! These molds are so easy to use that when my soap is ready for pouring all i have to do is make parchment paper liners to fit and depending on the recipe I will add a wood topper for heat retention.  Once the soap is set the sides of these molds just fold down allowing you to slide the loaf out. This is our Eucalyptus and Sage 2lb loaf that has now set and is ready for cutting and curing. With any craft sometimes you have successes and sometimes you have failures, this project encompasses both. This is a bubblegum scented loaf and a personal favori...

"Sleigh Ride" is one of the fragrances from New Directions that I receieved for the more masculine soaps I made this year and I love it!  Their description of the scent includes top notes of eucalyptus, citrus, ozone floral with nuances of strawberry. Floral mid notes of cinnamon, carnation and tuberose blend into a warm base of cedar, violet, balsam, powder and musk.  It may be just be me but when I smell it I am reminded of my grandpas sweet pipe tobacco. Inspired by the name of the fragrance, I designed this soap in a white base (snow) and added a pencil line of activated charcoal (for the shadows that you would see on a moonlit stroll through the woods)and added a sharp peaked top that shimmer with white glitter (to represent the shimmery snow caps in the moonlight) . This soap is a treat for all your senses. What do you think? Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Adeps Suillus, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, tita...

Happy New Year to you all.  Where does the time go? From Mid September to the first week of January it is non stop around here trying to fulfill orders, make gifts, bake, visit, concerts... you know the holiday routine. Ahhh Now all I want to do is just sit, have a cup of tea and of course think about my next project. Well ever since my baby girl got sick a few years ago with severe food allergies to casein (milk protein) and egg whites, it has flipped everything we knew about the world we lived in upside down. We are now required to read EVERY LABLE, whether it is a whole food or not, you would be scared to know just how lax the labeling requirements are for the food we consume. Vaccinations are touch and go and even the products we use on our body is extremely dangerous in most cases. So in order to face this challenge head on, we have taken control of what we put in our body by making 95% of the food we eat from scratch and grow it when ever possible. We have also learned ...

  I am so excited to have put together this Halloween Paper doll costume this year. It will be completed with anime doll makeup and a big red buffon wig.   This is an easy no-sew, last-minute easy Halloween costume idea.  Here is how mine came together. Supplies needed:  2 pieces of poster board. This color choice will all depend on your outfit. I chose white as I knew I would be painting it.                  pencil                   scissors                  a formfitting outfit you already own                  sharpie or another permanent marker           ...

This project was inspired by a 1950's ice chest and picnic basket that we found on our travels this summer, both of which are in the red plaid patterning. Both of these were created using the separator pieces from a wine crate. I started by giving the pieces a good sanding and 2 coats of primer. I free-handed the coffee sign and used some letter stencils for the Farmers market sign and then sealed them with 2 coats of outdoor sealer as they are hung outside. (referral affiliate link- all that means is that if you click on the image, and decide to purchase, I would receive a teeny tiny %. There is no cost to you by using my referral link)

On our travels this summer, I went beachcombing for some driftwood with a completely different project in mind. I love using natural items in my projects and with keeping the nautical travel theme for the boys' room, I designed this fish bones wall hanging. I found some slender twigs for the body and some bark for the head and tail attached it all with my handy dandy glue gun and voila.

We have been busy in the yard this year planting, moving, and always adding. I find most of my inspiration and calming in our gardens so why not make it all that it can be. This is another simple reclaimed wood project that we put together in a weekend. The box was an after thought and still needs to be painted but until the "monsoon" season is over, it just wont be happening. lol Hope you enjoy

This has been on my to do list since last fall. My Wonderful husband rescued 2 of these beauties from the trash at work and thought I could do something with them. Well of course I can :D I was just looking at the industrial tables on the Restoration Hardware site. So as they say one persons trash is another ones treasure. Nothing a little elbow grease and a fresh coat of paint couldn't cure. Until next time Happy Creating everyone :)

So I have been redecorating the little kids rooms into bigger kids room and for the little man in my life I decided to go with a "Sail Away with Me" theme. We have had this icky side tabel in out possession for a long time and everytime I look at it all I saw was fish. So with a little elbow grease it was transformed from this to this I think it is just the perfect addition to his room. And the more it gets banged around - because you know it will being almost 3 - ;) the better it will look. Hope you enjoy Tammy

We have all seen these 1970's hanging lamps or we even have one stuck in the very back corners of our basements. Well this is a product of my husbands creative brain at work of turning what was once an eye sore into something useful and lovely. :) I cant take any credit for this at all, and when he first told me what he was doing I thought he was going to the birds.. hahaha But our little woodland creatures LOVE it. It also seems to be hail, squirrel, and big bird proof (jays, black birds, magpies etc...) He took out all the electrical, plugged the holes left by that and stuck rubber stoppers under the glass to lift it enough for the seed to be gravity fed. We decided not to paint it as it blends nicely into its surroundings, but did seal it with 3 coats of outdoor sealer. Hope you enjoy. Tammy Backyard Projects For Today's Homestead "Maximize Your Outdoor Living Space Through Creative Woodworking"

Its finally starting to green up around here. I have 1/2 of the greenhouse permanently planted the other half are in cold frames and almost ready to go to their outdoor location. I have radishes, spinach and lettuce that have popped through to say hello and my annuals are up and waving to the world. :D So now I have been on a search for interesting containers to put all these extra pretty ornamentals. HMMMM Have you actually checked out the prices of some of the big pots and outdoor decor. It is crazy! So off to Google I go for inspiration and this is what I came up with. This Moai planter is 3 ft tall and made of concrete, Styrofoam and reinforcing wire The inner pot can be removed for easy planting or changing out plants as the year goes by. I'm thinking of putting some big bushy purple verbena in for hair. Happy Creating :D For a more detailed step by step and another crazy head planter idea visit here:   http://tampster1.blogspot.ca/2012/05/new-concrete...

This is probably the absolutely best outdoor project we have taken on. We have an enormous yard for being in the city and for years it has been neglected. The gardens have grown over and the perennials were being chocked out by the thistles. So last year we tackled the main veggie gardens and 1 small circular perennial bed to add some interest. All veggies are started from seed and all the perennials have been graciously donated from friends that have been dividing up what they have. This year I really wanted to add some extra seating and maybe some extra pretty things - because you can't have enough pretty flowers. So few weeks ago BHG sent out their weekly newsletter - a pergola special, and after explaining to my DH that the word pergola actually exists LOL we came up with some VERY rough sketches and I sent him to work. Hahaha K is really enjoying this woodworking thing and as long as he enjoys it I will keep coming up with projects. :D This year we also tackled the ...

I have never been a big shopper - especially in high end boutiques. But when I was thumbing through a decorating magazine I came across this massive fake clock from restoration hardware. 2 reasons why I would never buy this product - 1. it doesnt work - lol - not very practical 2. It cost $1495.00 Can you imagine paying that for something that doesn't work ... Oh my! I was going to ask my DH to cut me out a big cirle from some of our left over wood projects, but my neighbours beat me to it. They had this stone tabletop (use to be a sundial) with a broken plaster pedistal and asked if I could use it before it went into the trash. **** You betcha***** And low and behold I came up with my own version. 4ft round marble. It will be sitting in my yard for the summer and I "will" find a place for it in my house this winter. I LOVE it!! And the best part is that it cost me NOTHING. I have bins and bins of paint and outdoor sealer so all it took was a little geometry and so...

Its been busy around here, Ive managed to finish 3 dresses, 2 skirts, 1 shirt for my little girl and pj pants and a hat for my little boy and a skirt, top, 2 hats and an 50's inspired apron for myself.(ill post those when my model is not so ill. Plus Ive started a new watercolor painting. - ill post that tomorrow. But the best"est" ;) project we have taken on is my prized Greenhouse. Measurements are 7 * 7 *3.5 feet :D This will save ALOT of post hail tears - hopefully. My husband works for a lumber yard which has come in handy for the summer project wish list. The lumber used was fall down (stuff they cant use because of estetics and would have been cut up and tossed away, (which is no bother to me ;)) and the poly are the sheets that cover the wood as it comes into the plant. So total cost of the project was my husbands' love and much appreciated help from our neighbour. :D I can't wait for everything to start blooming and producing.