By Anonymous
FOOTSTOOL DECOR!
The footstool started out as something practical, but over the years it has evolved into something simply "decor." For centuries, the theme of footstools seemed pretty consistent: small, made of wood, used as a foot-propper or a stair-stepper.
The footstool is emerging as a separate class of furniture in its own right. It can now be used as something to sit on, place something on, hide something in, or as a decor piece for an entire room.
The footstool was one of the earliest pieces developed by Egyptian culture. Historical furniture remains show the ancient Egyptian chair as being quite high off the ground, in stark contrast to other Egyptian furniture, which had smaller dimensions. The highness of the chair required a footstool to be reached. Once seated, the footstool was used to support the sitter's feet.
Available in a menagerie of fabrics, colors and sizes, one recent phenomena has been the cube-shaped foostool. Found in everything from simple cotton, to velvet, leather and faux fur, prices range from $19.99 to well over $1,000. Patterns are limitless and hues are off the color wheel!
Aztec-weaves and animal-print patterns appear to lead the pack in ethnic-style footstools. But Ethnic Home Decor, a catalog and online retailer of ethnic-themed home decor, has gone a step further and designed a line of footstools using mudcloth, an authentic African fabric.
"Versatility was our guiding design factor," says Cassandra Black, partner and furniture designer for Ethnic Home Decor. "We wanted to create stools that could be used for dual purposes — informal seating, accent tables — in addition to or traditional purposes. All are designed to make a decorating statement."
Here are some decorating ideas using footstools:
— Bedroom: Place two small footstools at the bottom of the bed in punchy colors. Tie the look together by placing a velveteen throw at the bottom of the bed or across a nearby chair.
— Living room: Replace the coffee table (the one taking up all that space in the middle of the living room floor) with two flat-top footstools. Experiment with a unique theme — tying them into your current decor with coordinating accent pillows for nearby sofa and chairs. They can then be moved and used as extra seating.
— Hall: Halls are usually a neglected decorating space. Place a footstool in a corner and adorn it with a pillow, place a mirror or hang a piece of wall art above it. With your family room decor in mind, choose a stool that complements it. This will enlarge the room. And, there's that extra seating again!
— Porches: Porches can also benefit from footstool decor. The crafty decorator can reupholster a wooden footstool with an outdoor-weight fabric or canvas cover fabric.
— Bathroom: A small footstool here double as an accent table for magazines and bathroom accessories. Covered with a favorite fabric, extra storage space can be created underneath.
— Kitchen: Remove that old step stool from under the kitchen counter, paint it a vivid color, place a pail of dried flowers on it, and slip it into one of the empty kitchen corners.
— Shoe Shelf: Stack three flat-top, wooden footstools on top of each other (hot gluing at legs) and use as shelving for mud-stained shoes. This is a shoe shelf that may actually get used!
Whatever your personal decorating style, you're sure to find a footstool to match. And, oh yeah, don't forget to use to simply, 'er, prop your feet on!
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Yuwanda & Cassandra Black are the owners of EthnicHomeDecor.com. Ethnic Home Decor offers soft home furnishings with ethnic themes at affordable prices. For more information or to schedule an interview, see contact information.
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By Anonymous
Portland, OR June 5, 2004 -- On Friday, June 18, City Club of Portland will hear State of the County addresses by two of the region's leaders: Diane M. Linn, chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners; and Tom Brian, chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners.
In many metropolitan regions, county government takes a back seat to big-picture state legislatures and narrowly defined city ordinances. But Oregon is different. From leading the national debate on same-sex marriage to building new and unique collaborations with cities and nonprofit organizations to deliver human services, county commissioners like Brian and Linn have become household names. On June 18, these two proactive commissioners will describe how Multnomah and Washington counties have fared over the past year-and what they see for the future of county government.
(The Clackamas County Board of Commissioners was invited but unable to participate in this forum. Commissioners Bill Kennemer and Martha Schrader are facing re-election, and Club rules limit their appearance while campaigning; Commissioner Larry Sowa's schedule precluded him from attending.)
This week's Friday Forum, which is open to the public, will be held at the Multnomah Athletic Club (1849 S.W. Salmon St.). Doors open at 11:30 AM. The program begins at 12:15 PM and concludes at 1:15 PM. Lunch reservations can be made online at www.pdxcityclub.org or by calling (503) 228-7231 by 2 PM Wednesday, June 16. Lunch tickets are $16 for members of City Club, $18 for nonmembers. Coffee/tea tickets are $5 at the door. General seating is free for members and $5 for nonmembers.
Note to Media: Media are encouraged to attend. Sign in at the registration table on the day of the forum.
About City Club of Portland
City Club of Portland is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education- and research-based civic organization dedicated to community service, public affairs and leadership development. Through weekly Friday Forums, citizen-based research reports, special programs and issue committees, City Club examines issues of importance to the Portland metropolitan region, the state and society as a whole. Membership is open to everyone. For more information about City Club of Portland, visit www.pdxcityclub.org or call (503) 228-7231.
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By Joan Bramsch & Vicki Metzger
Miniature Tropical Peacock Chair
Materials needed: Tools required: Instructions: JOAN BRAMSCH is a family person, educator, writer and E-publisher. Her articles appear internationally in print and online. Six of her best-selling adult novels - near one million copies - have worldwide distribution. Her
1. 18-count needlepoint canvas, 2-inches square.
2. small piece heavy cardboard
3. small piece seatcover fabric or paint to match.
4. bunka or thin ribbon for trim.
1. Scissors
2. Tacky glue
1. Trace pattern onto another piece of paper so you don't have to cut original pattern from instructions.
2. Trace duplicate pattern onto needlepoint canvas.
3. Cut out pattern from needlepoint canvas.
4. Glue tab "A" inside area "B", creating a circle to hold chair seat.
5. Cut out circle seat from heavy cardboard.
6. Paint or fabric cover circle seat.
7. Glue circle seat onto chair circle.
8. Cover raw edges of chair and trim around seat with matching bunka or thin ribbon.
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http://www.JoanBramsch.com mailto:hijoan@joanbramsch.com