Re-decorating: Kitty Bartholomew where have you gone?

I loved Kitty Bartholomew on HGTV! I know that dates me but I cannot help it. In fact, I woke up the other day thinking how much I missed those HGTV shows that inspired me to create and recreate. She made me feel at home in my home because the message was that little changes made a big difference. I could do it myself.

Kitty Bartholomew's Decorating Style: A Hands-On Approach to Creating Affordable, Beautiful, and Comfortable Rooms

I still watch HGTV but after a while every show is the same. If you have wasted enough time watching Property Brothers or Love It or List It, you know what is coming next because, in the end, every decor is the same. Nothing reflects the fact that anyone lived there. If you do it their way, a trip to the local big box store is  all you need to decorate any apartment or home. What each place is missing is the layers of life we bring to our dwellings. A home is so much more than furniture placed correctly or even the pictures on the walls. It is those personal items that make the difference.

Moving is a real test of your ability to make a home. Downsizing is a challenge in particular. All the "stuff" you have chosen to keep comes with you and now the task is to make a nest where you can feel as though it reflects who you are. But most people don't move with the thought of hiring a decorator...it is expensive to move. Yet we all want a fresh look. As a result, you have to take what you have and make it work. Someone told me once that when my husband and I moved, you could not tell we had just arrived. It was just us from top to bottom yet it all "looked" new.

The fun is in taking what we have and putting it together in a different way...like a recipe that is changed in small ways creating a totally new dish...familiar yet refreshed.  I love to take all of my wall decor, for example, and mix them together in different way. I do that several different ways:

• color combination, i.e. all black and whites or muted colors or genre
• texture, i.e. all antique frames or woods
• eclectic, i.e. a mixture of colors, textures, 3-d items (musical instruments, etc.)
• shapes, i.e. round, rectangle, square
• themes, i.e. travel photos, pictures of flowers, family photos, landscapes

I use this same technique when I arrange furniture or gather a table top arrangement.

I can use my formula for my home and it looks okay. But Kitty knows that a home is where you live. Every item in her rooms seemed to say that she put her hands on it and made it her own. I always had the feeling that each piece had a story and she could tell you where it was from and why she loved it. I want to be like her.

When you come in my house, you will know that what you see is what my husband and I love. My husband is the ergonomically correct person and he wants to have his things at his finger tips. I have come to love that. His clutter is a thing of beauty because it tells me that he is at home too. I suppose this fact explains why the walls are not pink and covered with flowers. Our home is a shared space.

So, Kitty Bartholomew wherever you are, thank you for making it okay to "live" in my little house with a cat that sheds and a husband that nests. Even as our home gets smaller we feel comfortable. In my eyes it is beautiful. You have given me a very special gift.

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County Homes, Books and me (of course)!

Country Homes:
I was looking at magazines today and thinking about what we will come next for us. My husband and I are always dreaming of little changes.  After a wonderful 4th of July spent with my family in our little home, I came away feeling that this place is important to our family because it tells the story of their life. They see little pieces of their history each time they cross the threshold.

Ice cream table from my grandfather's country grocery

I suppose that is why I am thinking about decorating with things I have stored away. I have always wondered what it would be like to live in a home put together by a decorator. In the end though, I know that what I have is all about the way I live. The Roseville pottery was owned by my grandmother and mother. The Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar was a gift from an aunt when I was a child. Pictures painted on glass graced the wall of an ancestor. Even the toys in the toy box were played with by children that are now nearing 50.

Don't bet me wrong, I am not a hoarder. I give things to my children so that they might treasure them as I have. But still, there is always plenty for everyone. I love my country garden my husband has built for me and will tell stories about each plant, where I bought it or how long I have been moving it from one house to the next.

My beautiful country home is just that because we use what we have always used but in different ways. We love it.

Books:
We have just returned from a trip to Barnes and Noble. I don't care how much I use my Kindle, there is something about a real book that speaks to me. Barbara Kingsolver has a new book out called Flight Behavior: A Novel (P.S.)that is beautiful. The jacket has a sleeve that folds inside like a hard cover book cover. I didn't buy it but I was tempted because I liked the feel of it in my hand.

I picked up several others, some that I have on my Kindle already. It was reassuring to see a printed copy for some reason. Among those was The Amazing Life of Henrietta Lacks  and Gone Girl: A Novel. Both were notable books that Barnes and Noble had on their tables. I enjoyed both of these books but for very different reasons.

Then I saw Cleopatra: A Life written by Stacy Schiff. The author wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) and I am hoping this one is equally as good.


While I am at it I may as well mention my obsession with the writers of our constitution. I have read John Adams by Davic McCullough(beyond excellent), Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson (author of Steve Jobs biography) and am in the process of reading Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by John Meacham. This is a great way to read books like this, each written by a different author with a different style about men that lived and worked during the same era. Jefferson was very young, John Adams was middle aged and Franklin old. What a lesson these books are teaching me!

Me:
I am having a great summer...I hope you are too.

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Illumination Matters: Making Your Home More Pleasant by Upgrading Your Lighting

Whether you're completely remodeling your home or simply want to create a “homier,” more pleasant atmosphere, there is one easy way to make your space more inviting: upgrade your lighting. It might be the last thing you think about, but the way a room is lit has a profound impact on a person's mood. A bedroom that's too brightly lit can make it difficult to fall asleep, even after the lights are turned off. Conversely, reading in a poorly lit den can lead to eye strain and eventually the need for corrective lenses. If you're ready to completely change your mood or improve your sleep patterns, here are a few ways to make your experience at home even more pleasant by upgrading your lighting. 

Where Soft Light Is Best
Softer light works best in the rooms where you basically spend the majority of your time, including the living room, den and your bedrooms. The softer lighting allows you to relax and doesn't disrupt any activities that are taking place, including watching television or playing a game of solitaire on your laptop. Softer overhead lighting is the best idea because it allows you to flood the space with gentler illumination. However, there are instances when you will require brighter illumination, such as when reading or doing a crossword puzzle. In these instances, consider placing a desk or floor lamp near your bed or couch. You can enjoy your steamy romance novel or an epic adventure without disrupting anyone else.

Consider Bright Light 
There are two rooms, however, where it's generally best to illuminate the space more brightly: the kitchen and bathroom. The reason is quite simple: You'll need adequate light to safely perform any necessary duties. For instance, have you ever tried to peel a carrot or expertly slice bok choy in a poorly lit kitchen? What happened the last time you tried to shave in a bathroom in softer lighting? Chances are the outcome of both these scenarios wasn't good, which is why it's always the best option to choose bright overhead illumination in both the kitchen and bathroom. 

Create a Lighting Plan 
Now that you've determined the ideal amount of illumination for each room of your home, it' time to construct a lighting plan. Basically, a lighting plan helps you determine where to install fixtures or place lamps based upon the room's layout. For example, let's say your living room is quite large. You've determined one end of the room is strictly for watching television, while the other end is ideal for playing boardgames or curling up with a great novel. In this instance, softer overhead lighting throughout the room allows everyone to comfortably enjoy whatever they're doing. Providing additional illumination through floor or desk lamps, however, allows individuals on one end of the room to enjoy a book or play a game of cards without disrupting others engrossed in their favorite television show. 

Nightlights Aren't Just for Kids Anymore 
Fear of the dark isn't a new phenomenon, which is why so many parents install trusty nightlights in their children’s bedrooms. You might have conquered that particular fear years ago, but this doesn't mean you still wouldn't benefit from subtle illumination throughout the home. Installing nightlights in the bathroom, hallways and the master bedroom allows you to safely walk through the home without disrupting anyone by flipping on a stark overhead light or lamp. 

Outdoor Lighting 
Outdoor lighting serves two basic purposes: increasing your home's aesthetic appeal while warding off potential vandals or burglars. If you're concerned with your home's safety, consider installing motion sensing lights around your yard's perimeter. Uplighting also helps illuminate and draw attention to the striking architectural features of your home's exterior. Whatever you choose, just remember to position the lights thoughtfully to avoid accidentally lighting up your neighbor's bedroom in the middle of the night. 

From installing the ideal bathroom lighting to making sure your home is safe and protected, proper illumination can and will make your life much easier. In the end, just remember that the bathroom and kitchen need to remain well-lit, while the lighting in the bedrooms and living room should remain more subtle. 

About the Author: Heather Richards is a columnist and interior designer. Heather recently installed antique light fixtures throughout her home and is using them to illuminate every room properly.

Hoarding the Good Stuff...decorating with door knobs?

From Style at Home.com

Click image for source!

How do you describe a hoarder?  Is that the person that saves screws, hinges and drawer pulls?  Or are those okay and it is just the bank statements, margarine containers and pieces of paper in the drawers and on the floor that make you a hoarder?  There is a very fine line between what is thrifty, frugal and smart and what is weird. I suppose that somewhere inside of every person there is an urge to keep something that does not have any value and they don't even know why they might need it.  That is for the psychologists to figure out.

Getting Ready for the 4th of July!

As for me, I did saved a few door knobs and drawer pulls...through many moves!  Then we lived in a house that needed some pizzaz and I used the glass drawer pulls and cabinet knobs to dress it up.  Someone is living with my grandmother's knobs even now.  I don't think a hoarder would do that?  Do you?

I posted a picture of a door knob from Style at Home.com on Pinterest this morning.  They had a list of summer decorating ideas and the sea shell inspired door knob turned out to be my favorite.  I like door knobs.  I have one from an old house that my family owned...I think it was my grandparents but who knows.  It is in a drawer of my china cabinet...I even displayed it once on the cabinet.  So my husband should not have been surprised when I was digging through a box of door knobs at an antique salvage store and found another one, in much worse condition than the one at home, and insisted that we buy it. I did not need it at all.

Welcome to my House!

When my daughter was going to throw her old screen door away, I my husband carted the broken old door home and we hung it on our front door.  Now my "new" old door knob has a home.  I think it is beautiful!

I don't see myself as a hoarder.  I think I am part archeologist...every box we go through when we move is like a dig and I love it.

Be well.

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Before and After: the kitchen re-decoration with paint1

Before

After

Oh my gosh...when I began to post these two pictures of my before and after kitchen I noticed something very strange.  On the day that I took the picture of the kitchen last August, my display space above the cabinets had been packed with every piece of bric-a-brac that I owned.  When we were moving into this house, my son and daughter began unloading the boxes and before we knew it the whole top was filled with everything from Buddhas to a Red Riding Hood cookie jar. There sitting next to the kerosine lantern is our black cat.  I really have no idea how he got up there but pictures don't lie.  The cat can climb the walls.  Really.

In the after picture you can seen the green paint under the cabinets and a tan above.  The green shows a lot greener than it really is or if I am to believe the first picture, it is a lot greener than I thought.  Pictures don't lie!

Note:  My husband made the spice can holder out of a piece of welders metal.  We bought the cans at our local Krogers store (Fred Meyer).  He also made the gadget hangers over the counters.  He painted molding and spray painted cup hooks after straightening the hooks slightly so the gadgets would slide on easier.

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Related articles

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Technorati Tags : home lifestyle decorating

Fall-to-Winter Decorating...RetireInStyleBlog's Way

Note:  If you see something you think others might be interested in on this blog click the Stumble button at the bottom of the post and share it with the world.  Thank you!

I don't think that bringing the season into the house is all that difficult.  In the world of interior design it seems that each seasons needs it own style or new "stuff".  Really, for those of us that live in a world dictated by finances and space, the need to be creative takes the front seat.  It is only logical.

For example, the wreath on the front door.  I know, I have seen those beautiful dried hydrangea wreaths and I have also looked at the price tag and gasped.  Most of us have a wreath from days gone by hanging in the garage, attic or in the box of Christmas decorations.  All you really need it a can of spray paint.  I had an old rose vine wreath that had shed leaves everywhere.  But, I had paid a fortune for it originally (6 years ago) and I could not think about throwing it away.  I needed to get one more season out of this beautiful piece before it went into the garbage.  Enter Home Depot spray paint department.  We were looking for a copper pipe to use for a pot rack in the kitchen and I passed through the spray paint aisle.  Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of this beautiful red/orange color in the shiniest texture ever.  On a whim I bought the paint and brought it home for the weath.  It is perfect for fall.  It will hang on the front door until Christmas and be embellished with seasonal decorations.

With a little spray paint and a lot of creativity fall can be hanging on our front door in an afternoon.

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Becoming your own interior designer!

Links:  Moontea Artwork, Artist from Grand Ronde, Oregon
Flickr by me:  Always at Home

I have been a collector for all of my married life.  In fact when I was in college, my bulletin board was covered with pictures of art torn from magazines.  I was becoming my own interior designer back all those years ago.  I always feel a personal connection with the things we have laying about in our home.  I think that for those of us that cannot afford a designer or are not willing to give up the control in our home, the things you surround yourself with should reflect where you have been and what you have seen.  If you are using a designer, it seems to me that he/she should be aware of your taste, lifestyle and most of all, memories.  After all, without memories, I don't think a home has a heart.  And our artwork and decor should tell a little story about our life.

So I guess I have a very defined philosophy about what I collect.  Everything we have on our walls or shelves is there because it is the physical embodiment of a person I knew or travels or even just family.  If you walked around our home and stood before the artwork I could relate a story about each item.

Sometimes the found object is beautiful when I find it and the memory is a by product of the experience.  Sometimes the occasion is so important the artwork is found just so we won't forget.  It has always been that way.

Cactus Fruit by Always at Home

Our Sunday market is starting to have that fall feeling about it.  If you come early in the morning it will be misty and the colors of fall will fill vegetable and art booths.  I love this time of year.  When I found Moontea Artwork at the market on one of those days, I knew I had to have a piece of their cloth art.  The look of the linens reflected the feel of an autumn market.  I ordered a table runner for the dinning room table we have owned for 40 years.  When the artist and I missed each other at the next Sunday market I was afraid my memory linen had just moved out of my reach.  I emailed Moontea and they put the runner in the mail that day and I paid out of my paypal account.

Berries linen runner and napkins from Moontea Artwork.

I had a number of designs to pick from but this designed called simply "Berries" reminded me of a photo I had on my flickr account.  I called my picture "Cactus Fruit".  The photo was taken in Arizona in the fall of 2009.  I haven't seen the cactus do this again so it must not happen every year.  It was something I had never seen before! I can almost feel that fall desert air on my face when I look at the photo.  When I looked at the design on the linen that memory was in my mind.

I opened the package that very next day and found not only the runner but 4 napkins as well.  Kristin makes the tea towels, napkins and runners using linen and simple block prints or silk screen prints.  Each one is a work of art with that individual look I value.  Mine came just in time for me to set my table up for fall.  It is gorgeous.

So now I have added another little something to the story line I call my home.  I think this is the only way to collect beautiful things!  Don't you?

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NOTE:  The tea towels are only $14.00 and make a beautiful placemat or covering for an end table.  Shipping and Handly is $-0- in the USA.  You would need to contact the artist for prices on special order items.

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Making our house a home!

You know that ad selling storage boxes.  They suggest you clean everything out so you will have more space.  Then you can buy all those beautiful baskets and boxes that look gorgeous on your shelve.  The last and final chapter in the story is...you need to fill the boxes with lots of new stuff.

Well, selling your old house and buying a new one is a lot like that.  We sorted and disposed of all the old stuff.  We bought a beautiful new storage unit (house) and now we really need new stuff.  Some of it can wait but some things just will not wait for even a month.  The list goes like this for us:

• Pot rack for the kitchen
• Gadget hooks for the kitchen
• Curtains and Blinds for the windows
• Some plants for the window box
• A new TV (you saw this one coming didn't you?)

My husband made the kitchen stuff for me...he is very handy.  Then today we went out shopping for curtains and blinds.  I decided on curtains from Target for our two bedrooms and the office/tv room.  My husband has very good taste so we are good at the job of choosing.  I love sheers so I am putting them in the guest bedroom where most of my antiques have found a home.  We will wait on the living/dining room.

The curtains I found for the master bedroom have tabs on the back of the top hem to give a beautiful pleated look when they were hung.  These blackout curtains matched the bedroom decor and it turned out that they were a lot less than the regular lined curtains.  They almost feel like canvas and press beautifully.  The curtains we bought for the office/tv room are  silk-like in a beautiful copper color.  The match stick blinds came from Home Depot.  We were very lucky to find them in the right size off the rack so we could hang two side by side and they fit the windows perfectly.


The total for 4 fabric panels and 2 sheers plus two decorative rods came to  $126.  I thought that was very good.

I might add that our office/tv room is a mishmash of traveling treasures and momentos.  A designer would have a fit but you know what, it is just kind of comfortable.  The room has two chairs and will probably be used by the two of us all of the time.  So we can just let it be.

Curtain from Target...match stick blinds from Home Depot

Desk/TV Stand!  Odd but very practical!

We also bought a new flat screen TV.  Our old tv from the condo was 11 years old and huge!  The flat screen fits on top of the desk and leaves room for my husband's laptop when he needs to use the desk.  Our furniture has never fit so nicely in any house before.

I bought a rosemary plant because I cannot cook without rosemary and I love to step out the back door and cut some from the plant.  I bought lavender and coreopsis for the planter that hangs under my kitchen window.  We brought some plants from our other house and they are already in the ground.  I want a bed of shasta daisies and coreopsis in the front yard but they will wait until later this fall or next summer.

The most important
thing that makes it really feel like home
is a visit from our grandchildren.

So there you have it...the first steps in the process of settling in.  It is a lot of fun.

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• Primer: Choosing Your Curtain Length (casasugar.com)
• Pot Light Conversion Kits & Spray Paint...like new again! (retireinstyleblog.com)

Shopping: How To Choose a Pair of Curtains!

     It is ALL about shopping this week. My husband has even been going along. Did I tell you it is raining a lot?  I don't why but he keeps stopping in front of the curtain displays.  Those are really nice curtains he says. I just get a blank look on my face. I have no idea where to even start when it comes to buying new curtains.
     I am not alone I guess. Those curtains are just another part of our home, they are there to keep out the light and nosey neighbors peering through my windows. I also think they add a touch of cosiness on an evening as we draw them to keep the warmth and light in. But they are simply part of our life and not something that we give too much thought to.
     But what if you had to choose a set of new curtains, would you know where to start? How would you go about choosing the right pair for you? Are there even different types of curtains to choose from? I did some research and it turns out choosing new curtains isn’t as difficult as one may think.

Tips and Information

Love these Celeste Lined
ring top curtains from
Very in the UK

     Simply pick out a pair you like. There are a few main types out there. The valance, which is used in conjunction with blinds to let in as little or as much light as you want. This piece of material is usually colorful or patterned. There’s also the box pleated curtain (my favorite), as its name suggests it is gathered in to pleats at the top to give it the tailored look. And most common in bedrooms is the blackout curtain, perfect for shutting out the light and getting a good night’s sleep. 
     First off all you need to measure up the size of curtains you need. Simple. All you need to do is measure the window right? Well almost! Most houses come with curtain rails, so all you need to do is measure the width of that to get the width of your curtain. The length depends upon your personal preference and the layout of your room.
      In older homes many rooms have, for some reason, radiators underneath windows, presumably because this is the part of the room that’s likely to be the most drafty, it makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is having long curtains covering up the heat from the radiator. So if this is the case in your room, simply opt for a length of curtain that falls below the windowsill but near the top, or preferably above the top of the radiator. If there’s no radiator, the length of curtain you choose is up to you, just as long as it falls below the windowsill.


Shopping Online
I love the idea of shopping online.  It opens the whole world up for me.  Even overseas products are at my fingertips.  Maybe Very is the place for me!


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How to...Sawhorse Table Examples and Links

Image from Habitually Chic.  Photo of Todd Romano Showroom at the Fine Arts Building, Los Angeles

I wrote last week about a table made with saw horses (Living in a Doll House)....here is the upscale version of that table.  If you look at this closely you will see that it is put together with pipe fittings.  I think it is absolutely gorgeous. 

The outdoor version from RE-Nest

I found this one on Re-Nest.  They are using it outdoors as a dining table. Sara Rae Trover wrote the article about the many uses of sawhorses.  She said:

We've used saw horses for everything from tables to kitchen counters in the past and they've always served us very well. But with Fall in full swing and the days growing shorter, it's a good time to remember to make the most of the daylight and warmth you have and get outside. Try this quick idea to make an outdoor dining area that can be disassembled for the winter months.

Anna White table!

On a website called Anna White you will find the plans for making sawhorses that look like the one shown here. In fact this is a very cool website with more projects for those of you that like to "how to do-it-yourself". 

I just thought you would want to know....

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Arizona and Living in the "Doll House"...Apartment Therapy helps!!

Note:  If you are interested in anything mentioned below just copy the information into the google search box at the side of the blog and it will take you to a list of websites with that information.

I loved this image from Apartment Therapy DC. The article called Pong's Punch of Color Pad they tell about the 568 square foot studio apartment that Pong calls home.  You really should take a look at it.   It is the perfect example of what you can do with a little imagination and not much money.  The picture frame painted the same color as the flowers and table made with two sawhorse and a door or what ever you have are the perfect restrained accent for this room.  This is very cool!

FYI

Sawhorses in the world of carpentry are made of two metal brackets with slots for two by fours.  You would need 4 brackets (two sawhorses) and 2x4s cut to the desired length.  Each sawhorse would require 4 legs and one 2x4 piece for the spine of the sawhorse.    You could add the door as I mentioned above or a glass top.  It would be very inexpensive and a great addition to an apartment or a first home.  The legs on the table above are quasi sawhorse.  Mother Earth News has plans for the "Worlds Best $6 Sawhorse".  You can go to your big box lumber store for the metal brackets or they are available on Amazon.   

I could not help notice the idea from Apartment Therapy Chicago from an apartment dweller.  This person had enough space to hang bikes on the wall by the wheels with the seats out into the room...it really did make such a wonderful statement.

You really should link to this website or their blog.  I am always so inspired.  Incidentally they run contests and you can enter and maybe your small space will be featured.  Behr is running a contest called Room for Color 2010 and by going to the website and choosing your favorite rooms you can enter the contest.

AS FOR ME...
It rained here in Arizona this evening.  The temperature was around 80, a storm moved in and the temperature dropped about 20 degrees in 5 minutes.  Of course the wind blew like crazy but it smells so beautiful now.  We just came back this morning and it was a lovely way to begin our 6 months in Arizona.

Be well and come on back soon.

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A fabulous faux-llections...best Apartment Therapy idea yet!

...from apartment therapy!  That is a phrase I use frequently.  There is a good, absolutely sound reason why!  Apartment Therapy is a website written and followed by some very creative people.  The ideas they come up with just blow me away.  And yesterday, when I checked the latest email notice from them, I found a whopper of an idea for people that live in small spaces.

iphoto book making application!

It is called "faux-llections"...the idea being that although we love to shop for beautiful things where ever we are, we cannot possible buy all those beautiful things and live in our small place at the same time.  This is how Apartment Therapy put it:

 What's a Faux-llection? Well a faux collection of course! What's a faux collection? Well we're glad you asked! It's the easiest way to collect awesome items without filling your home with "stuff and things."

Physical space will not allow us to gather up "stuff" willy-nilly.  So what can we do?   They suggest that you click pictures when you are out window shopping or "just looking".  Then after you have a collection of the most beautiful things in the world...on your camera... you can publish your own coffee table book.  Of course the better your camera the better your book.  It just stands to reason.

Cover Picture? (Las Vegas)

After you down load and edit your pictures all you PC users can sign up with a website like Blurb.  By searching for self publishing photo books on the google search function in my sidebar you will find that there is more than one place you can go.   If you are a Apple user, Blurb probably will not work for you.  All you need to do is go to your iphoto application, create your little book and order it from Apple.  I have even created these and printed them on my printer. 

Mexican market...better in a picture than in real life!

Your collection of items in photograph form can go on your coffee table for you and your friends to enjoy.   Put that nicknack duster away and create a book...wouldn't that be fun!

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