Photo Canvas Giveaway

I was recently approached by Easy Canvas Prints to see if I would like to be given a free photo canvas which I would then do a product review about on my blog.   I was indeed very interested as I love photo canvases, however it turned out I'm not eligible because I live in Canada (don't get me started on how often this happens to us here in Canada).  While the company ships to Canada, the product reviews are only available to be shipped to US addresses.   Megan (yep I know her personally now) and I emailed back and forth and after some discussion Easy Canvas Prints have generously agreed to let me give away a 16 x 20 inch photo canvases to one of you lucky US readers.

I love photo canvases and last November bought one from another company (only because I hadn't heard of Easy Canvas Prints I hasten to add) to give to hubby for Christmas.   I chose one of our favourite photos taken at our Georgian Bay cottage which we now have hung in our family room so we can enjoy it.  We love the canvas texture and that the photograph wraps around the edge of the frame so you don't have to frame the picture.  There is something so modern and almost unexpected about displaying photos this way.

EasyCanvasPrints

With Easy Canvas Prints there are three border options - you can have the photo wrap around the edge; or have a mirror image of your photo along the edge; or have a coloured border. 

You can see the edge of the one I had made in the photo below.  I love the look of the trees and rock wrapping around the edge.

As for the giveaway, it is only open to US residents (or Canadians who have a friend or relative in the States that it could be shipped to), which is very sad for the rest of us as the prints on the website look great (sniff, sniff).  


Here are the nitty, gritty giveaway details -to win a free 16 x 20 inches canvas print:  


1.  leave a comment letting me know what you would put on the canvas for one entry
2.  become a follower and let me know in a separate comment for another entry
3.  blog, tweet, or mention this giveaway on Facebook for another entry


Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you if you win.  If I am unable to contact the winner via their blog or email, then after 24 hours a new name will be drawn.   The giveaway closes Friday, April 8th at 9:00 EST.


I'll have another giveaway soon for the rest of us. Promise!

Anthropologie Spring Displays

Kate and I went to Anthropologie in Toronto this past weekend.  While the spring displays are under construction, I still got some good Anthro inspiration.


I got some serious colour inspiration, with the oranges, turquoises, and yellows everywhere.

And some paper inspiration.

And some rope inspiration.

And some wooden spoon inspiration.

And some container inspiration.

And there was the Bangladesh connection.  I know, I know that's just how it is for me right now - there are Bangladesh connections everywhere and I couldn't help noticing the little candle with monsoon rain written on it.

After seeing all those inspiring ideas at Anthropologie, don't you just want to get out the paper and scissors and rope and start making some Anthro-inspired paper flowers and knot decorations?

Spring Must Finally Be Here

This weekend we were happy to find the first flowers in our garden.

It is truly remarkable that we have flowers blooming, because the backyard is still mostly covered in what remains of the 20 cm of snow we had on Wednesday ( you can see some of the snow in the bottom left part of the picture below).

The next photo was taken Thursday morning after the snow storm this past week.  The sun is strong at this time of the year, so even though it has remained cold the snow is disappearing.

We celebrated Earth Hour on Saturday by turning out all the lights in the house, burning candles and listening to a little guitar and mandolin music.

Kate and I went to Anthropologie this weekend to see the spring store displays which were, unfortunately, still under construction.  It takes us over an hour to get there so it was a little disappointing to find the displays only partially built.  However, we still enjoyed ourselves and got ourselves some good old Anthro inspiration.

More Anthropologie pictures coming soon.

Linked to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

My Lucky Day at the Thrift Store

Since I started reading blogs a few years ago, I've been going to thrift stores to see what treasures I can find.  I've snagged some good deals, although I swear our thrift stores have higher prices than the ones that I read about on the blogs from the southern States.  Anyway, I always keep my eyes open for original art, so that I can find a valuable lost masterpiece like they do on Antiques Roadshow.   


A few days ago when I popped into the thrift store I saw a picture that had one of the world's ugliest frames - a brilliant gold frame with a pink mat - around a picture of a some men at work launching a loaded boat.

I was so blinded by the frame that I almost put it back, but then I noticed that the signature looked like it was done in pencil and the blue background wash extended behind the mat, which probably meant it was an original. 

So right there in the thrift store I opened up the back of the picture to check.  Sure enough there were sketches on the back of the paper and it had obviously been cut by hand.

Bingo - it was an original pen and ink sketch.  I paid my $2.99 and took it home.  Once I had removed the picture from the awful mat and frame, it looked so darn cute.

I haven't decided yet how to frame it, but it won't be in a gold frame with a pink mat.  Sheesh!  I love little pieces of art and I'm looking forward to finding a great home for it.   

Linked to Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style,
Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring,
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home,
Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous
Junkin' Finds Friday at A La Carte
Thrifty Thursday at born-again crafter
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm
Twice Owned Tuesday at House of Grace

Campaign Furniture

I just might have India on the brain, seeing as how I recently posted on British Colonial decorating (which you can read about here) and am now writing about campaign furniture.   I have always loved the dark wood and simple lines that make campaign furniture pieces as elegant and useful today as they were for their original purpose.

Teak writing desk from India with removable legs (source: Manner of Style)

Campaign furniture was originally developed for the British army in the 1700s. During the Georgian and Victorian (1714-1901) periods in England, British officers of high social position would expect to enjoy some of the same comforts of home when they were out in military camps.   In order to assure themselves of as high a degree of comfort as possible special collapsible furniture became popular.  The furniture was designed to not only be elegant and comfortable, but to fold up and break apart and then be reassembled without needing nails and screws to hold it together.  The furniture also had to be light enough to be carried (by their attending servants that is).  They were stylish travel furniture in other words.   

Collapsible 19th Century Anglo-Indian hardwood campaign bed (Christie's)

One of the most well-known pieces of campaign furniture is the Wellington Chest (see the photo below), originally designed for the 1st Duke of Wellington, but still very popular today.  It has six to twelve drawers of equal depth and the right side panel opens for storage.  When the panel is closed, it overlaps with the drawers to keep them secure for travel.

Wellington Chest (Antiques Atlas)

19th Century Wellington Chest open to show the drawers and, in this case, a writing shelf (Antiques Atlas)

There were chests and beds and desks and chairs and tables:  pretty much any piece of furniture needed to make living conditions comfortable.

Campaign desk from the 1820s - note the handles on the sides to carry each section (The Buzz on Antiques)

Collapsible washstand c. 1830s (CINOA)

The White Dresser

Campaign dresser and boxes (The White Dresser)

The Roorkhe chair (shown in the photo below), named after the headquarters of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers in India, was used by the British military officers from the 1890s to the beginning of WWII.  Not only was this chair comfortable, portable, light-weight, and strong, but it was also stable on uneven ground.  The chair was constructed of individual wood pieces that fit into each other loosely and were held together by the leather arms and the leather or canvas seat.  The tension created on the arms and seat of the chair when someone sat on the chair, kept the whole structure in place and at the same time allowed for it to adjust to uneven ground.

Tree Hugger

Isn't this gentleman lovely - taking a bit of a rest in his elegant Roorkhe chair wearing his knee socks, pith helmet and linen suit.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Corbett sitting in a Roorkhe chair in Corbett National Park, India in 1936 (Coworkout)

Campaign furniture was so well suited for life on the road, that it also became popular for use while traveling and on safaris.  


Have a look at the gorgeous romanticized version of campaign furniture in a safari tent,

Roar Africa

and on a picnic in Africa.  

Roar Africa

Yep that's my kind of traveling!

Linked to Open House Party at No Minimalist Here,
Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed,
Saturday Night Spotlight at Love Where you Live