IKEA hack

Our new IKEA hack- Converting Snille Visitor Chair into Baby High Chair

One idea for small space apartment dwellers. Recently our IKEA Snille chairs seats broke again after being replaced for the second time so we decided its time to get a new set of chairs. The two seats were discarded and the frames reused to create the base for baby highchair. We are using this convertible car seat around the apartment as a baby seat, and now the baby can join us at the dining table.  

The frame after the seat was removed and additional cross frame (from another Snille chair added)

The baby seat sits on top of the frame, it is secured by one of the seat belts looping under the steel frame and attached on the sides.

Side view showing the attached seat belt.

And a detail view of the second steel bracing reclined to support the back of the seat.

HOMEMADE BOZA

Boza is old and popular drink in Macedonia, usually sold in the pastry shops. It is made from various kinds of grains, corn, wheat, bulgur... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boza

It is rich in proteins, vitamin E and all natural. For this homemade boza I used:

-1 cup bulgur

-1 cup sugar

-1/2 teaspun vanilla

-3 cups water

PART 1

wash and drain the bulgur, soak in water and let it rest overnight. Transfer the bulgur in large pot and add 3 cups water. Cook on medium temperature about 3 hours, if you have a pressure cooker you can cook for 30 min. on constant medium heat.

PART 2

Take the boiled bulgur out of the stove, add additional 3 cups of water and squeeze all the liquid out using cheesecloth. The result will be thick and milky liquid. Add additional water if too thick to achieve milkshake like consistency. Add sugar to taste, you can increase the amount if you prefer sweeter.

PART 3

Let the liquid ferment for about 2-3 days until lightly carbonated, and fermenting bubbles appear on the surface. Store in refrigerator until cold and serve as a refreshment in the hot summer days.

***You can speed up the fermenting process by adding about 5 grams of dry yeast about 1/4 of the package.

Photo of the Week, Oct, 27th, 2010

one of the many photos my 5 year old takes around the neighborhood. Woodside, NY

Aluminum Kitchen Backsplash

One of my recent projects this year, installing cheap and durable backsplash in my kitchen.

After long research considering tiles, stain proof plastic, glass and stainless steel, I decided to use aluminum panels. It has the same clean look as the stainless but much more easier to work with , lighter, easy to cut and does not hold fingerprints as much as the stainless.

This backsplash was about $100.00 off course I did not pay for the labor as it was all done by my super crafty husband. The aluminum sheaths size 15"x24" were purchased on e-bay, and they fit perfect because i had only 18" space between the overhead cabinets and the countertop + I wanted to add the suspension rod above the backsplash for my cutlery basket and the dish drainer.

For backing 1/4" plywood was used. Important is to find as much straight piece of board as possible. Measuring and cutting openings for the electrical outlets on the wall.

Before applying the glue (we used contact cement) all the outlets are cut in the aluminum sheaths also. I used the first piece of aluminum at the edge of the wall outlet because it was easier to cut the rectangular opening like this and it made sense for the joint to be positioned here.

The first piece is installed. Next to follow.

At the end after the aluminum sheaths are all glued and dried, aluminum "L" edging was also glued to the panel. The corners were mitered. I had to use some caulk at the wall as it was not perfectly straight.

Perfect!

Make Memories with Memories

Happy holidays everyone!

as always, this year i ended up getting lots of Christmas greeting cards from my dear friends and family, and i have such a hard time throwing them away. i actually found few from the last year attached on the refrigerator. i got an idea to recycle them and make nice homemade picture frames.

i measured piece of felt to fit to the size of the greeting card. allowed 1/4 inch space for the stitching.

then i crocheted the frame around the stitched felt. i used different color thread to separate the stitches, and added thread on top for hanging.

left one side of the frame unstitched to slide the card and the photo inside,

the finishing touch was adding little purple butterflies at the edge with matching color thread as the stitching.

Pinecones Holiday Ideas

Here are few ideas what to do with some pine cones that you can find in the park or in the woods. Every year i collect pinecones that i use for christmas decorations. shown on the picture below is everything you need for these craft projects.
1. HOME DECOR, LIGHT FIXTURE ORNAMENTS

in case you don't have a room for a christmas tree you can decorate your light fixtures. this is plain and simple decoration as I like the look of the pinecones alone. i used twine jute rope to tie these three pinecones together.

then i hung them on the ceiling light fixture and added a velvet ribbon around the tie. if needed additional christmas ball ornament can be added.

2

PINECONE COCKTAIL RING these are beautiful little pinecones that i found in Central Park, and they make a beautiful cocktail ring and broach. first you need to finish the surface of the ring. if no lacquer available, just use clear nail polish.
i used cheap acrylic green ring for the ring



and here it is!

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