Connect, Converse, Collaborate

Those three words that can be found on the cover of the BlogPodium Program could not sum up that day/event any more perfectly!

I am still in absolute awe after hearing Sarah Richardson speak. To say that woman is genuine and passionate about what she does for a living and the company/brand she has built around her is the world's biggest understatement! It is very, very apparent that she has worked extremely hard to get where she is today and that every step along the way, she has gained a new piece of wisdom and taken them with her to this day. The most poignant part of her keynote for me was when she put up the email that contained the "not so nice" comments someone had sent her about her new show. She talked about relationships, about how every interaction we have is an opportunity to form a new relationship and asked us to always remember to be careful and cautious of what and how we say things to others. 

Margot Austin of House and Home also echoed Sarah's sentiment during the "Let's Talk: Traditional Media, New Media, Social Media" panel discussion. Margot said, "We're all running the race together and we all have our success stories".

Essentially, these two amazingly successful and driven women reminded us that at the end of the day, we're all in this together, be the better person and support those around us as it will also in turn help us as individuals. Simple, sound and sage advice from two women who would know best!

From top to bottom (L-R): Rhonda Riche (Covet Garden), Jacquelyn Clark (Style Me Pretty Living), Emma Reddington (Chatelaine), Margot Austin (House and Home), Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault (Hue La La), Stephanie (A Paper Buffet), Myself, Sara  (Saige Wisdom) and Sarah Richardson.

In addition to a room full of inspiring and lovely women, there were also some wonderful sponsors at this event and their booths just made me want to go home and get decorating!

Chapters Indigo 

Urban Barn

Tonic Living (this will be the fabric for my dining chairs)

Sarah Richardson's new fabric line with Kravet

Chapters Indigo, Tonic Living and the Business Card Display.

I have so many new ideas and made many notes about goal setting, prioritizing, making tough decisions, getting organized, networking, time management and leaving time for personal time. This event is really what I needed to give myself that 'push' to help me re-focus on both myself and my blog/business.

CHEERS to all of the amazing ladies (and gentlemen) I (finally) met and be sure to pop over to our new FB page...
Canadian Home, Decor & Lifestyle Bloggers (The Canadian Blogging Belles)  ...let's keep this energy alive!

A HUGE THANK YOU to Jennifer (Rambling Renovators) and her team for making this event such an overwhelming success! I can't wait till next year!!

RR

Faux Bois Reveal...

Remember these..??

And this....?

I had plans to have these chairs (with great bones) re-upholstered with this faux bois fabric from Tonic Living.

Well...

They're done.....

FINALLY!!

And here is the finished product!...

It may have taken a bit of time, but I am soooo happy with the end result! I really do love how they turned out!

Now....to find the perfect pillows for them ;) .....

RR

Just meant to be.....

A few weeks ago, I had posted the link to Dwell Studio's Calvin Leather Chairs on the RR FB page.

When I saw these tub chairs, I loved absolutely everything about them...their shape, their lines, their colour...everything! Then,... I noticed the price....not unreasonable whatsoever for such a timeless piece, but definitely out of my range.

I also realllly liked this version in the Glazed Linen fabric shown below!

So.....I happened to be out and about on Saturday with a good friend, checking out a new Flea Market in the area when......we stumbled upon these 2 'diamonds in the rough'............

Now I know they aren't EXACTLY like the Calvin chair, but when you remove the skirt, they're quite close! They're incredibly comfie (we did the 10 mins sit and chat test), they're in really good shape and best of all...they were only $20 each!!

As we were sitting there chatting, I got out my phone and went straight to the Tonic Living webpage to  see if I could find an upholstery weight fabric that I could cover them in. 

Needless to say, I would have had to have purchased about 20 chairs to re-upholster for all the fabric choices that I loved, but I was able to narrow it down to the option below....

It's called "Willow Storm" and it is a 'faux bois' pattern by Premier Prints.

Here's another view...

My friend and I had fallen for the chairs and when I posted their picture along with the fabric choice on my Instagram page, so did everyone else! The responses were all in complete agreement....GET THEM!!!

And this is where the story gets ever more interesting!



When I had been looking at the Calvin chairs, I had also noticed and really liked this Mallory Chair, also by Dwell Studio.

Again, it had great lines, it looked extremely comfortable,  I loved the exposed wooden legs and the Glazed Linen Pearl option below had me almost drooling!


So...on this same day of treasure hunting with my friend...what else did we happen to stumble upon?!?!

Wellll.....This!!!! (see below)

Another chair that was very, very close to the Mallory and again, after another 'sit and chat' test for comfort, I got it! Just like the other 2 chairs, it too was only $20, is in great shape and has fantastic lines!

On to the Tonic Living webpage we went again and found this.... This is called "Cameron Storm", a more rustic, hand drawn chevron design, also by Premier Prints.




My friend and I were hooked, but I again turned to my Instagram followers and again received a resounding response to GET IT!!!

The only thing that concerned me was the actual re-uphostering....I had never done an entire chair before and thought these may be a little beyond my level of expertise until I had a bit more practice. As we were checking out, my friend and I were talking about this when the woman at the register said, "if you're looking for someone to redo your chairs, I know just the man and he's here right now".

THE FATES WERE WITH US ON THIS SHOPPING TRIP!

She took us to one of the other booths and introduced us to this lovely gentleman who had a look at the 3 chairs, we came to an agreement on price for all 3 for his work, I left them there for him and as they say, the rest is history (until I get the fabric delivered and can get it to him that is)......

It was one of those days when everything just fell into place....and by my calculation, I'll have 3 'new' chairs for just less than $200 each!!! Talk about something being meant to be....

It really does 'pay' to shop local and support local artisans!

RR