A FREE bi-monthly home decorating ezine!
published by KatieDid Design
February 2002
brought to you by:
KatieDid Design
www.katiediddesign.com
mailto:contact@katiediddesign.com
Links for Subscribing and Unsubscribing
are at the bottom of this issue.
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January 25th, 2001 ------ February Issue ------
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Editorial
2. SUBSCRIBER SPECIAL
- Pillows
3. TIPS & TRICKS
- An Inexpensive Series of Wall Art
4. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Things to Know About Comforters
and Bedspreads
5. E-ZINE OF THE MONTH
- Maria's Place: Helping You and
Your Business Grow!
6. BOOK OF THE MONTH
- The New Decorating Book
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This free e-zine is published monthly for
9400+ subscribers. Thanks for joining us!
We do not spam, and keep a record each
subscription request.
Links for Subscribing, and Unsubscribing,
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!
Happy Valentine's Day a few weeks away!
First, while I have your attention, I have
something new for you. There are two questions
regarding this ezine for which I'd really like
feedback from you all. But I don't want to ask
for something from you, without offering anything
in return. So..... those of you who are kind
enough to answer the two questions in this short
survey will receive a MONEY-SAVING COUPON from a
talented jewelry designer's online shop! Julie's
sterling silver and gold-filled designs are
beautiful, cute, and sure to include something
you'll love.
Sooo... please submit your answers:
______________
QUESTION ONE:
What is your biggest / most frequent
decorating question?
ANSWER:
Click on this email link and tell me!
mailto:question@katiediddesign.com
--- AOL-ers: Click Here
______________
QUESTION TWO:
I want to know if I have succeeded in making
my links clickable for everyone. So, can
you click on one of these two links?
YES: mailto:yes@katiediddesign.com
OR
Click Here
IF NO:
Send an email to: no@katiediddesign.com and please tell me which email program you use.
______________
Thank you!
Next, I'm changing the 'Challenge of the
Month' section to a new 'Book of the Month'
section. These will be home decorating books
that I've personally reviewed and enjoyed. I
hope you enjoy them, too!
Now on to the rest of the issue, and as
always, please check out our advertisers and
sponsors...
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1. SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL
- Pillows
This month's subscriber special is on
pillows... pillows of every kind! I'll take 10%
off any pillows that you order before February
28th. That includes corded pillows, fringed
pillows, ruffled pillows, removable pillows,
neckroll pillows, bolster pillows.... any type at
all. Just tell me that you're a subscriber when
you order!
Fabric Accessories Department:
http://www.katiediddesign.com/accessories.html
AOL-ers: Click Here
And don't forget that you've got a few days
left to take advantage of the January Subscriber
Special on window scarves. You've got a few days
left to get 10% off all orders for Scarf window
treatments! So think about your home's windows,
and let me know what you'd like to order!
Scarves:
http://www.katiediddesign.com/wt-scarves.html
AOL-ers:
Scarves
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
- An Inexpensive Series of Wall Art
Do you have a large empty wall in your home?
Perhaps a hallway or a large space over your
sofa? Here's a great way to get a series of wall
art to dramatize that empty space. Head out to
your bookstores and shopping centers, and go
through the calendars that are for sale. No
matter what your decorating style or colors,
you're sure to be able to find a calendar with
some pictures in it that would be perfect! Then
you can purchase some matching frames and mats to
frame them. Just keep in mind that the standard
mat and frame sizes are 5x7, 8x10, 10x13, 11x14,
& 16x20. Calendars aren't often those sizes, so
you'll want to choose pictures which can be
cropped and still look great. Or you can always
purchase the new frame pieces which are easy to
put together... they're sold as two sides of a
frame at a time. So if you want a 10x12 frame,
you just purchase two 10" sides, two 12" sides,
and a 10x12 piece of glass. 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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3. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Things to Know About Comforters
and Bedspreads
Note: The other two articles in this series, "Things to Know About Sheets" and "Things to Know About the Rest of
Your Bedding" can be found in the Decorating Resources section under "Things to Know About Bedding."
Things to Know About Comforters and Bedspreads
Are you thinking of purchasing a new
comforter or bedspread? There are some things
that you need to know before you go out shopping.
These tips can really save you the lost time,
frustration, and money, and help you choose the
right bedding the FIRST time.
COMFORTER/BEDSPREAD SIZES:
Are you aware that not all
comforters and coverlets are created equal? Not
at all... not even among the same size! To be
blunt, there is absolutely no such thing as a
standard here. One company will sell an 86" x
102" comforter and call it a queen size, another
will sell their 86" x 102" comforter as a king!
Some companies sell separate sizes for full size
beds and queen size beds, and others sell 86" x
86" (or so) comforters for both full and queen
size beds. This is why you MUST pay attention to
the listed measurements of whatever you are
considering.
You should also measure your bed - start on
one side approximately 2" BELOW the top of the
BOXSPRINGS, measure up that side of the bed, all
the way across the top, and back down the other
side again to about 2" below the top of the
boxsprings. This is the MINIMUM width
measurement that you'll want for your comforter.
Then measure from 2" below the top of the
boxsprings on the end of the mattress up to the
top of the bed. You'll want to keep this
measurement in mind, since some comforters are
ridiculously short. Also keep your bed-making
preferences in mind. For example, if you like to
spread the comforter up over the pillows, you'll
need it to be longer than if you just like to
fold it down short of the pillows.
Next, while you're shopping, pay attention
to the measurements for each size. Don't take
the advertiser's word for it that the comforter
is 'oversized'. Very often 'oversized' just
means standard... an understandable claim since
so many companies are making their 'standard'
sizes shorter and smaller! On the other hand,
there are companies who still make their
comforters nice and large, and don't draw any
attention to the fact. So you MUST realize that
the measurements are the only thing to be trusted
when it comes to comforter sizes.
Check the width and the length. You may
want to purchase a king-sized comforter for your
queen sized bed. You'll find that the length is
often pretty good for most retail polyester
comforters, but often short for down-filled
comforters. (The same 84-88" length is often used
for all four sizes: twin, full, queen, and king.)
But there are two options here that may help if
you're considering having a custom cover made:
- The cover can be made with flanged, scalloped,
or ruffled edges, adding two to six inches to
each side and to the bottom edge.
- Or, if you have a full or queen sized bed, you
can purchase the next larger size and turn it
sideways. For example, I found a wonderful down
comforter that is sold in an 88" x 88" size for
both full and queen sized beds. We have a queen
bed, and this length would be about 14" short of
the TOP of the bed when the bottom is draped
properly over the BOTTOM of the bed. My husband
is six feet tall, and hates it when the comforter
is this short. So I bought the 88" x 101"
king-sized comforter instead! If I turn it
sideways, then the width is the same 88" that it
would be with a queen size, but the length is 13"
longer! Just keep in mind that you'll have to
have your cover custom made if you do this, since
all ready-made covers assume you're using it the
way the manufacturer intended.
The paradox here is that while mattress
companies are making their mattresses thicker and
thicker, comforter companies are making their
comforters smaller and smaller! And the thicker
a mattress is, the larger the comforter must be
to completely cover the sides. I don't know if I
ever will understand it, but it is making good
opportunities in business for those of us making
custom bedding!
DOWN COMFORTER CONSTRUCTION:
Down comforters
are made in several different ways... each
affecting the quality of the comforter. You'll
need to consider everything that affects the
quality of a down comforter, so you can choose
the combination that is right for you.
First, is the filling. I recommend avoiding
feathers, and going for 100% down... If you're
going to spend the money for one, then why settle
for the lowest quality available?
Second are the different weights and fill
powers. The fill power is a measure of how high
a comforter 'lofts', so the higher the fill
power, the warmer it will be. This is more
important than the weight, since it is not the
weight that makes the comforter warm, but the air
that gets trapped between the feathers. Some
manufacturers don't advertise the fill power, so
you when you have to go by weight, then you must
assume that the higher the weight is, the higher
the fill power will be. (Side note: When you
first open your down comforter, don't be alarmed
at how flat it is. Shake it out over the bed and
let it sit for several hours. It needs this time
to fluff and expand and re-absorb the air that
has been forced out during packaging.)
Third are the stitching methods. The
highest quality comforters are stitched in a
baffle-box construction. This simply means that
instead of the top and underside of the comforter
being stitched to each other, they are stitched
to the top and bottom of short 'walls' inside the
comforter. This construction is best, because it
allows the down to loft the most. These type of
comforters always have continuous stitching to
keep the down in place so it doesn't all shift to
the edges. Middle-range quality down
comforters are stitched without those 'walls.'
The top and bottom are stitched to each other in
continuous lines, forming pockets to keep the
down from shifting.
The most inexpensive down comforters are
stitched in some sort of pattern that is NOT
continuous. Some designs are made better than
others, but the down in them will eventually
shift to the edges and corners of the comforter.
Just look at the comforter and see if there is a
path that the down could follow from the middle
of the comforter to the edges.
And finally, fourth is the fabric used. You
want as high a thread count as possible, in 100%
cotton. Higher thread counts have tighter
weaves, and therefore are the best choice to keep
the down from working it's way out of the
comforter.
I must also recommend that you always
dry-clean your comforter, even if it says machine
washable. Washings will shrink the cotton, and
damage the loftiness of the down.
I hope that this information makes it easier
for you to find the comforter or bedspread that
is perfect for you. The Internet is a wonderful
resource for doing comparison shopping for these
types of items, especially down comforters. So
have fun shopping!
Copyright 2001 KatieDid Design - All rights
reserved. No part of this article may be
reproduced in whole, or in part, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
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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
- Maria's Place: Helping You and
Your Business Grow!
This is a great ezine that can give you lots
of FREE ideas and information to help in many
areas of your life. Articles include topics such
as building a strong personal foundation and
removing obstacles that may be keeping you stuck
in situations that you'd rather move through
(such as time management, procrastination, etc).
There are simple how-to tips for new computer and
Internet users, as well as important
announcements regarding genuine virus/worm
warnings. It also contains low cost home
business tips and ideas from organizing and
creating an enjoyable working space to increasing
productivity and income.
So, do you want more success? Is it time
to grow yourself to the next level personally and
professionally? Then subscribe to Maria's
wonderful ezine today!
mailto:mariasplace-subscribe@topica.com
AOL-ers: Click Here
Or Visit Maria's Place:
http://www.coachmaria.com
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5. BOOK OF THE MONTH
- The New Decorating Book
from the Better Homes & Gardens editors
This beautiful large hardbound book is a
FABULOUS decorating resource... the best I've
ever found! It's full of pictures, ideas,
guidelines, and more. And it's wonderfully
organized for reference. The first half of the
book is organized into chapters by rooms, so you
can go straight to the Kitchens chapter, if
that's the area where you need ideas. The second
half of the book is organized by decorating
topics, such as window treatments, walls, floors,
color, etc. I really recommend it!
Here are two links you can use to purchase
it or get more information - one from
Books-a-Million.com, and the other from
Amazon.com. Books-a-Million sells it for $24.46
($22.02 for Millionaire's Club members), and
Amazon sells it for $24.46. Shipping is 3.99 for
both stores.
BOOKS-A-MILLION:
Click Here
AMAZON:
Click Here
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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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