Makely School for Girls - Page 2 of 86 - Lessons in Making Your Home Awesome

My 40 Favorite Free Modern Fonts

by Lindsay Ballard on June 5, 2013 5 Comments

When I started blogging a hundred years ago, I had no idea that I would one day figure out how to make my own graphics, watermarks and titles in Photoshop. I would have been all, “Shut up!”, if 2013 Lindsay would have run into 2008 Lindsay with the news.

Since then, I’ve developed my own taste in fonts. Sometimes I go for scrolly and sometimes I go for handwritten, but most of the time I’m really drawn towards the clean, modern fonts for my graphics. My go-to font these days is one called Hype, but others that I’ve just discovered, such as The Copenhagener and Vintage Straps, are quickly making their way up to the top of the list. Some of these fonts are too thin for things like making signs or using in your Silhouette machine (Did you know you can cut out any font installed on your computer with your Silhouette?), but they are great for online graphics and image watermarks.

Below is a list of 40 of my favorite free modern fonts. Under the graphic, there’s a link to the website where you can get the free download for each one.

Grandma’s Southern Summer Squash Recipe

by Lindsay Ballard on June 3, 2013 2 Comments

My grandmother was the world’s best Southern cook. She could make homemade chicken and dumplings like nobody’s business. She grew her own fresh veggies in her garden and taught me at a young age the joys of a homegrown tomato sprinkled with a bit of salt. Everything she made was coated in butter and pepper, and I’m certain she could have given Paula Deen a run for her money.

Feature Wall Friday: Black Chalkboard Paint Feature Wall

by Lindsay Ballard on May 31, 2013 2 Comments

Today, I’m launching a new weekly series on my blog called Feature Wall Friday!

My favorite part of any room transformation is always installing a feature wall. I love the element of surprise and creativeness that goes into making a wall or two stand out. The rooms that wow me generally always have an accent wall of some sort, and I’ve been saving bookmarks of great rooms I see online long before Pinterest even existed. There is so much more you can do with a feature wall other than painting it a different color than the rest of the room, a la Trading Spaces.

So, each Friday, I’m going to share a great feature wall with you. Some may be put together by interior designers while others may be from creative DIY bloggers. At any rate, I’ll share ideas with you on how I think you could install a similar wall in your own home.

Our first feature wall comes from none other than Anthropologie. As you most likely know, Anthro has some of the most unique and stunning window displays in the retail world today. The styling for their catalog shoots are no exception. In this image, Anthro is selling its Illusorio Console, but I can’t get past my love of the black chalkboard paint wall to actually “see” the console.

Join Me Tonight for a Live 5(ish) Minute Demonstration of My Paint Dipping Technique

by Lindsay Ballard on May 29, 2013 Leave a Comment

This is a reminder that your friendly, neighborhood DIY blogger will be demonstrating her paint dipping technique LIVE via Google’s Hangouts on Air at 8 pm Central tonight. EEK!

I’m not actually nervous about how I will do – in true Lindsay form, I’ll probably say something dumb and knock over my bucket and dip paint myself. Okay, wait. I am a bit nervous. But, I’m terrified that I don’t have the technology bit down, and there’s no good way to test it until you are live streaming. Talk about flying by the seat of my pants!

Bright, Modern Birdhouses and a Lesson in Paint Dipping

by Lindsay Ballard on May 28, 2013 4 Comments

I’ve been in love with the trend of paint dipping since I saw Michelle’s smart kitchen footstool idea last fall. Since then, all sorts of great ideas having been popping up – like wooden spoons and ceramic bowls. I knew I wanted to get on on this trend, but I couldn’t decide what I wanted to dip.

Win a $150 Throw Pillow Giveaway from The Pillow Studio and Personal Room Styling from Me

by Lindsay Ballard on May 24, 2013

This is a post sponsored by The Pillow Studio.

I have a really warm, fuzzy place in my heart for throw pillows. If I didn’t have kids and pets (and a husband), I’d have about fourteen throw pillows on each of my sofas. The five I have now just end up on the floor anytime the kids/pets/husband walk into the room – an amazing feat since none of them own up to being the pillow tosser. I think they are in cahoots, or else I have magic pillows.

Living in a home full of pillow tossers, you’d think that I would quit buying pillows, right? Wrong! I will gladly pick them off the floor three times a day when I know what big changes they can bring to a room. A different color here, a different pattern there, and a fresh take on a room you have. Maybe pillows really are magic!

Today, I’m joining with designer and seamstress extraordinaire (and Makely reader!) Suzi from The Pillow Studio to bring you an amazing giveaway. She’s giving away $150 worth of handmade pillow covers from her shop and I’m helping you pick the best ones to help transform the room of your choice!

I’ve had such a hard time keeping this a secret, since Suzi and I are so excited about it! She makes stunningly gorgeous pillows from really beautiful designer fabrics. She’s a former nurse turned certified designer and workroom professional, which means she’s been trained to have a strict eye for those little details that make a big difference.