There is nothing more gratifying than finally getting to work on some long-delayed home projects! While some are indoor projects others are outdoor ones that – for this self-confessed homebody – are a great way to get sunshine into my routine this summer. If you need some home DIY ideas – or just love to snoop around other people’s homes like I do 😉 – then read on and see a few of the home projects and random activities we’ve got lined up this summer.
OUR PLANNED HOME PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES THIS SUMMER ☀️
Foyer Update
For those following me on Instagram, you know that we recently purchased this spindle back bench for our front foyer. It was on sale on Wayfair (I had been waiting months!) and was happy to share the moment with our cat, Burger.
It’s the first step towards updating this space. The next is to paint these walls which are badly in need of some TLC.
In order to brighten this very dark area that hardly gets any light, I decided to go with Benjamin Moore “Cloud White” which is a nice soft white that will really liven the area up.
Follow me on Instagram to see all my updates along the way!
Landscape Edits
When we first moved into our 2-bedroom bungalow over 12 years ago, my husband and I decided to create a low-maintenance landscape design with shrubs and grasses. It is incredibly challenging to create curb appeal with those parameters in mind!
Over the next couple of years, we will add some more colour with flowering shrubs, which will still keep things low-maintenance.
There are 2 areas that I’d like to target, including this area just beneath our feature window.
The next is located at the end of our lawn where we have this rock feature.
It’s likely that we’ll focus on the rock feature this year and save the window feature for next summer. I’ll keep you posted on Instagram and Facebook with all the details!
It’s a work in progress, of course, but I can’t wait to share these small updates with you!
Craft Room Tidy
Crafting can get frustrating pretty quickly if my craft supplies are not organized. Anyone else relate?
There are 2 main ‘zones’ that I’d like to tidy up this summer.
The first is this fibre crafts storage cubby zone, especially the cubbies storing my punch needle and rug/latch hook needle supplies.
Each of the cubbies storing my punch needle and rug/latch hook supplies desperately need to be sub-divided and organized within each container. Right now, everything is piled on top of one another so it’s difficult to see what’s in each container. I am hoping a trip to the dollar store for some plastic bins or kits will do the trick as I don’t wish to move things around right now.
The second is my workspace area where my supplies are a bit chaotic. The two bins above are simply jam-packed!
It could be far worse, I know. But I do find myself rooting around constantly, so I know it needs to be cleaned up.
Need some storage ideas for your office or craft room? Check out this post from the blog:
Craft Room/Office Organization & Tour here.
Weaving WIPs
Speaking of crafts, it will come as no surprise to long-time readers that weaving is definitely on the agenda this summer! I typically have about half a dozen projects in various stages of creation from planning to completion.
Number one for me is to continue working on a collection based on this water-inspired colour-block piece that I completed a few months ago. Here’s a sneak peek:
I’m planning a collection of traditional and circular wall hangings that will continue on this theme and aesthetic. They will either end up at a local art show/fair or in my Etsy shop – or both!
If you’re looking to learn a new craft this summer, why not try weaving! I have several weaving tutorials right here on the blog for absolute beginners! I suggest you begin here:
An Introduction To Weaving (2-part tutorial for beginners)
Weaving Starter Kits (Award-Winning Kits, now available in my Etsy Shop)
You can also check out ALL MY WEAVING TUTORIALS from the blog here.
& Other Random Activities…
Reading
During a recent storm and major power outage that lasted several days across our city – with no internet – ugh! – I decided to dust off an old copy of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It got me thinking about how little time I’ve spent these past few years on reading a good novel.
I’m still making my way through it (no attention span these days!) but I’d like to read more this summer.
How about you? What’s on your summer reading list?
Summer Outings
Of course, what would summer be without a few day trips thrifting, visiting antique shops, and exploring small towns or the surrounding countryside. We live in the Ottawa area of Ontario, Canada, and while it’s a lovely city, I’ve always preferred the pace and feel of a small town.
Some of my favourite jaunts are over to the Missippi Mills area with stunning waterfalls and country roads to explore. This includes Almonte, Ontario where Mill Street has some amazing antique shops and beautiful decor and gifts shops. A little further afield is Perth where the Stewart Park is so quaint and the downtown area is filled with great shops and restaurants.
With all the activities I’ve got planned (and a ‘to-do’ list that keeps getting longer!), this one is definitely staying on my list!
Keeping It Real
While I always have a running ‘wish list’ in my head, I’m also definitely keeping it real when it comes to our home project plans this summer. I’ve got a couple of priorities and will keep the rest as my ‘hope-to-complete-list’ this summer. This way, I can leave room for some diversions and rabbit-trails, too 🐇!
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