A FREE bi-monthly home decorating ezine!
published by KatieDid Design
September 2001
brought to you by:
KatieDid Design
www.katiediddesign.com
mailto:contact@katiediddesign.com
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August 25th, 2001 ------ September Issue ------
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This free e-zine is published monthly for
5000+ subscribers. Thanks for joining us!
We do not spam, and keep a record each
subscription request.
Links for Subscribing, Unsubscribing, and
deleting duplicates are at the bottom of this
issue.
Past issues are posted on-line:
http://www.katiediddesign.com/ezine.html
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Hello Dear Readers!
It's back to school time again! I know many
of you have been busy checking school shopping
lists and immunization schedules and bus
schedules and all that lovely confusion. ;-) But
soon everything will settle down into the school
routine again.
I've got a number of announcements regarding
changes this month. As with any successful
business, things must be altered to suit changes
in orders, time, demand, etc.
First, I'm sure most of you realized that
I've moved the list to Yahoo... it's now a
YahooGroup. This doesn't change anything as far
as you all are concerned. I am still the only
one who can send a message to you through this
group, and your e-mail addresses are still secure
and will never be sold or shared. This change
just makes it MUCH easier for me to manage all
5000+ of your e-mails... no more duplicates! And
from now on all those wishing to subscribe or
unsubscribe will receive confirmation e-mails from
Yahoo before their subscription status is
changed. There is also now a YahooGroups home
page for this subscription list with past
messages, subscriber totals, subscribe and
unsubscribe e-mail address, and more. Feel free
to visit!
KatieDid Design YahooGroups homepage:
http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/katiediddesign
Second, I replacing the 'Challenge of the
Month' with an 'E-zine of the Month' section. The
featured e-zine will be one that I have personally
read and enjoyed, so check it out!
Third, I will no longer be offering the
florals - both regular and Christmas - and the
Invitation Keepsakes. I am going to be focusing
only on fabric items. BUT, I will be soon adding
a Baby Decor department! This department will
offer baby bedding and accessories for the
nursery.
This change will be reflected on the
website in the next month, hopefully. The four
new departments will be Window Treatments,
Bedding Coordinates, Fabric Accessories, and Baby
Decor. I will be updating the look when I make
this change, but the basic format for the site
will stay the same, so you shouldn't have any
difficulties finding your way around. :-)
Finally, I am also discontinuing the monthly
drawing. I know that there were many of you who
had hoped to win it. So, if you still want one,
take a look at this month's subscriber special. I
am willing to design a 12" fabric covered fan for
you at 40% off - $17.97 plus whatever fabric you
wish me to use. If you'd like to take advantage
of this offer, just mention it when you contact
me.
That's all the announcements! So on with
the issue!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. THIS MONTH'S SUBSCRIBER SPECIAL
- 12" Fabric-Covered Fan
2. TIPS & TRICKS
- Removing Grass Stains from Clothing
3. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Finding Your Style
4. E-ZINE OF THE MONTH
- Good Fixins for Chocolate Lover
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1. THIS MONTH'S SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL
- 12" Fabric-Covered Fan
This month you can get a 12" fabric covered
fan at 40% off - $17.97 plus whatever fabric you
wish me to use. This special available through
September 30th.
Fabric-Covered Fans:
http://www.katiediddesign.com/fa-fan.html
And don't forget that you've got a few days
left to take advantage of the August Subscriber
Special on samples. All subscribers can get 10%
off my labor charge for any pillow(s) style
already on my site. BUT, if there's a style of
pillow that you want that's NOT on there, you can
have it made for 25% off! Just place your order
by August 31st!
All Pillows are in the
Fabric Accessories Department:
http://www.katiediddesign.com/accessories.html
These offers are available to anyone
who is already a subscriber, or who subscribes
when they place their order. Just tell me what
you'd like and mention that you're a subscriber.
If you have something in mind right now, drop me
a line and ask:
mailto:katie@katiediddesign.com
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2. Tips & Tricks
- Removing Grass Stains from Clothing
This tip from the Queen of Clean (registered
trademark) is from her website http://www.queenofclean.com
(Used with permission)
"Most grass stains on washable fabrics can
be removed by rubbing your favorite laundry
detergent into the stained area and rinsing under
a forceful stream of the hottest water you can
use for the fabric type. stain is stubborn, try
rubbing with rubbing alcohol. Don't use alkalis
such as ammonia, degreasers or alkaline
detergents on grass stains. They interact with
the grass and can permanently set the stain."
Visit the Queen of Clean online:
http://www.queenofclean.com
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Visit GlamourGirls and subscribe to our daily
e-zine for a Free gift offer, beauty recipes and
fashion tips, answers to your toughest beauty
questions, and contests galore! We love to give
stuff away! Also, don't miss our step-by-step
online photo beauty tutorials and advice
archive. Join today... it's free!
Visit GlamourGirlsInc now!
http://www.glamourgirlsinc.com/index2.html
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Advertising Opportunities:
http://www.katiedidddesign.com/advertising.html
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3. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Finding Your Style
There is a basic, but fundamental question
that always comes up when I'm designing an item
for someone or giving them some decorating tips.
Very often, the answer is, "I really don't know."
What is the question? It's, "What style(s) of
decorating do you like?" Do YOU know the answer
to that question? If you don't, this article is
for you.
It really is important that you understand
your style before you set about decorating your
home. Why? It's like reading the recipe the
whole way through before you start to cook it.
Or organizing your grocery list by categories.
You can cook a recipe by reading only one line at
a time, and you can grocery shop one item at a
time, but you'll have a much easier time
accomplishing your goal if you have a clear
picture of the end result! It's the same with
decorating. You can search for your decor one
thing at a time by looking everywhere and
considering everything, but it will be much
easier (and enjoyable) if you have a clear idea
of what you are and are not looking for!
I'm going to lead you through the two simple
steps involved in 'Finding Your Style.' It's
not a quick, five-minute process, and will take
some visiting of bookstores, magazine racks, and
libraries. But it's an enjoyable process that is
worth the time!
Step One - Browsing and Discovery
The first thing to do is to browse magazines
and books to find photos of decorated rooms that
appeal to you. I recommend using mostly
magazines because they're less expensive to buy
and browse at home, and also because you'll find
a greater variety of decorating styles. Books
tend to focus on one or two styles only. Check
your library to see what they have available in
both decorating books and back issues of
magazines. Look for those with plenty of
pictures! Keep sticky notes available to mark
rooms you like. Some of the best decorating
magazines and books can be found in the bookstore
at KatieDid Design. Feel free to browse through
and write down titles to check for in the
library.
Now it's time to start the fun part! Start
browsing the photos. Don't look for anything
specific -- forget the colors you want to use,
the furniture you have, and what you've used in
the past. You want to look at each room with a
brand-new perspective, and see it for the first
time. Don't pay attention to the individual
items in the room; instead, imagine yourself
sitting down to read a favorite book, or
snuggling down on a snowy winter night. If the
thought of living in that room brings a smile to
your face, mark it. Go through as many magazines
and books as you can... the more you find you
like, the easier later steps will be.
Step Two - Identifying Common Themes
The next step helps you identify what it is
- exactly - about each room that you like. Go
back through the rooms that you liked. This
time, try to find common themes or techniques
that the rooms share. These are aspects of the
room to compare
- Colors - Do they use soft and light colors,
dark and regal tones, bright colors, muted
shades, lots of white, etc...
- Fabrics - Do they use florals, checks, solids,
plaids, antique-looking brocades, etc... and are
the fabrics mostly light and airy, or heavy and
rich? How much fabric is used?
- Walls - What have they done to the walls? Are
they just painted, or are there lots of moldings?
Are they papered or bordered? Walls are
important - they are the background and frame of
the room.
- Wood - Is the wood that's shown in the rooms
mostly natural and comfortable looking, or highly
polished and sophisticated? Is it painted in
clean, crisp colors, or faded and cracked to look
antique?
- Furniture - Does the furniture use large,
comfortable lines and plenty of pillows,
traditional high back chairs with small prim
pillows, or sleek straight lines with no pillows
at all?
- Arrangement - How are the rooms arranged? Is
the furniture pulled away from the wall and
brought together in a cozy grouping, or is it
spaced out? Is everything arranged symmetrically
at right angles, or is the seating at soft angles
and tables mismatched around the room?
- Knick Knacks - Are there lots of them, or just
a few? Are they antiques, or sleek brass and
glass? Are they grouped in collections, or mixed
with books and plants around the room?
- Lighting - Where is the light coming from? Is
it mostly from lots of windows? Are the lights
centered overhead? Are they recessed around the
edges of the ceiling? Is the light coming from
lamps down at eye level and on tables?
As you go back over the rooms you've marked,
and pay attention to these things, you'll begin
to see similarities emerging. You'll also begin
to recognize names such as 'Traditional',
'Victorian', and 'Colonial' and begin to have
names for what you like. And don't be surprised
if you like a mix! It's called eclectic when you
love to mix styles. I love to mix casual
Victorian, and formal Traditional. It might
sound like a strange mix to some, but it's
perfect for me! And you'll find what's perfect
for you!
Maybe you'll discover that you really love
lamps on tables, rather than overhead lights.
Maybe you'll find that you love light-weight
fabrics. Perhaps you'll realize that pulling the
furniture away from the wall makes all the
difference in the world. And maybe you'll better
understand why you love to collect what you do!
Have fun!
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This article Copyright 1999-2003 - Kathleen Peters, KatieDid Design. Reproduced with permission.
Kathleen Peters - 'Katie' - is a custom window treatment and bedding designer, and owner of KatieDid Design, her online shop. She is also the editor-in-chief of Decor, Decorating, and Design, a free bi-monthly ezine filled with articles, tips, and guidelines to help with your home decorating.
http://www.katiediddesign.com
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4. E-ZINE OF THE MONTH
- Good Fixins for Chocolate Lovers
Anybody love chocolate? Here's a great
e-zine that will bring you an absolutely delicious
chocolate recipe once a week. It comes to you
from GoodFixins.com, where "Good home cookin'
recipes are delivered to your e-mail box." Give it
a try! (...but only if you like chocolate, of
course...)
To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to:
mailto:goodfixins-on@goodfixins.com
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Remember, if your decorating isn't fun,
it isn't worth it. So enjoy it!
-Katie <><
KatieDid Design
http://www.katiediddesign.com
e-mail:
mailto:design@katiediddesign.com
PO Box 381235
Murdock, FL 33938-1235
1-877-KATIEDID
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Your FREE subscription to this e-zine
is brought to you by:
http://www.katiediddesign.com
Don't hesitate to forward this newsletter to
friends and associates, but please ask for
permission before reproducing the content in any
form -- I would just like to know who you are,
that's all. Thanks!
Copyright 2001 KatieDid Design - All
rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in whole, or in part, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
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