Thoughts on blog monetization in Canada

My mind is still working away from last Saturday and the conversation of monetizing blogs. It's a hot topic and there are a lot of varying opinions out there. For the evening read, here are two posts I really like that I think pose two unique views:  Is your Blog the Show or the Commercial and On Privilege and "Selling Out".

At BlogPodium Nicole's keynote talk was perfect - it gave a great insight into the different ways that a blogger can make some money from blogging. What I really loved was that Nicole shared that she too was struggling to find a balance with sponsored posts - asking the audience what they felt the appropriate number of sponsored posts in a month was. After Nicole we had the panel of Canadian contributors (myself included) that offered insight into the Canadian Blogging world and monetization.

Although I think the panel touched on a lot info for the new bloggers (like getting product in kind, what bloggers charge for advertising) I'm not sure the insights from the panel were deep enough well established bloggers who really want to hear how to make a living from their blogging. For that, I've written some thoughts.

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Kids room furniture designs ideas.

Kids room furniture designs ideas.

Hearth Cabinet™ Ventless Fireplaces Featured in Hearth and Home Magazine May Edition

Hearth and Home Magazine just featured our ventless fireplaces
in their May edition. Check out the article above!

kitchen progress

Aubrey took down the upper cabinets! We posted the cabinets on Craigslist and found someone that just wanted to buy the uppers. So much better than seeing them go to the dump. Baby steps!

French Toile and Montreal

I am in a great mood...you know that anxious/excited feeling you get days before a vacation?...that is how I am feeling today! I am anxiously waiting on a weekend getaway with Nick to Montreal. We went last year for my 30th birthday and decided to do it again this year. So for my 31st, we will ring it in like the French do! French Canadians that is...

Picnic 30th birthday lunch in Montreal. And
oddly enough, my house offer was accepted that same day...
 I became an adult quickly over night.

Nick standing in front of his graffiti art in Montreal. Still thriving years after
the install.

Nick is also jazzed for the weekend away. He's been working day and night for his upcoming art show at Defacto at Mulberry. He needs a break, badly. Things are shaping up though....frames are built, assembled and complete...his furniture installation piece is the last project on the go to complete the show.

Frames handcrafted by the artist himself, Nicholas Hamilton Holmes.

Working away in his studio, finishing up his furniture
installation.

I have been helping him where I can. One of our "together" tasks was to find a wallpaper to install behind his furniture pieces, so I was a natural fit to source this out. We headed down to Ottawa St, where we hit up a few stores. We ended up with a French Toile motif.

French Toile Wallpaper

The reason behind the Toile pattern?...It's a historic print and brings a sense of nostalgia to the wall hangings Nick will install. Toile, or Toile du Jouy was originally made in a factory near Versailles, France in the early 19th century. Classic Toile is made on linen or cotton fabric with prints of landscapes and figures. Traditionally, Toile has been most commonly used in French style interiors, but today, this pattern is infused in many different mediums and cultures. Maybe I will find some Toile while we are in Montreal...ya think?

French inspired interior with Toile wallpaper.
via

Toile hits the runway.
via

Samples of Toile
via

For those of you in the Hamilton and GTA area, please come and see the Toile, photography and furniture pieces at Nick's show. And if you do come, please say hi to me, the girl working the room. And for those who can't make it...I will blog about the event in the coming weeks. I wouldn't want you to miss out.

Show Info:
Hamilton Holmes Art Show: Photography, Handmade Frames and Furniture Accents
June 8th, 2012
7pm-11pm

Defacto at Mulberry -DFM
193 James St North
Hamilton ON

Alright, I am out of here or as the french would say...À bientôt!

Resources:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/598143/toile-de-Jouy

Tivoli Audio

One thing I'm really looking forward to is "accessorizing" the new kitchen. One thing that is on my wish list  is a Tivoli radio that I heard about from Lesley (@smidgeboxdesign). Do you have a radio in your kitchen? I think it may be quite nice to put some classical on very softly at night, or listen to conversations on the CBC. Anyhow, just a little product love. xo Lindsay

Cómo Decorar una Fiesta de 15 Años - Quinceañero - XV

Aquí te traigo varias ideas de Cómo Decorar una Fiesta de 15 Años. Tu quinceañero es una fecha muy especial, porque pasas a la adolescencia. Eres ya toda una mujer.

Estas ideas de decoración, harán que te ayuden a saber cómo puedes arreglar tu fiesta más importante. Y además tus compañeros, amigos y primos disfrutarán de una noche súper especial.
Los colores más utilizados para una fiesta de 15 son el rosa, fucsia, verde manzana, naranja, lila y violeta. Qué te parecen estas ideas para Decorar una Fiesta de 15 años:

Casas Decoración

Closets Modernos de Madera para Jóvenes y Niños

Closets Modernos de Madera para Jóvenes y Niños
Hoy te traigo varios modelos de closets o armarios modernos de madera. El closet es uno de los muebles más importantes de un dormitorio o habitación, sin contar la cama. Existen de muchos tipos y tamaños, pueden ser altos o bajos, de diferentes materiales como madera, fierro, plástico, melamine, triplay, cemento, entre otros. Y también de combinación de todos estos.
El closet o armario es ideal para la habitación de jóvenes y niños para mantener la habitación ordenada y ahorrar espacio.

Los colores de los closets dependerán del estilo del dormitorio. Aquí tienes algunos ejemplos de Closets Modernos de Madera para Jóvenes y Niños:

Casas Decoración

Cómo Decorar con Globos en Fiestas Infantiles

Cómo Decorar con Globos en Fiestas Infantiles
Hoy te traigo algunas ideas para la Fiesta Infantil de tu niño o niña. Los globos son elementos de decoración bastante usados para eventos y celebraciones de todo tipo y más aún para un cumpleaños infantil.

Los globos servirán para decorar la entrada, decorar las mesas, paredes, techos. Y pueden ser con formas de arcos, arreglos florales, esculturas, centros de mesa. Qué te parecen estas ideas?

Casas Decoración

lost in a sea of boxes + selling my art

Excuse the radio silence today. I'm lost in a sea of boxes as we pack up the kitchen to prepare for demo. I'm also lost in a sea of laundry as I pack to move into my Mom's house with Oscar. (While Aubrey stays here to renovate) I've closed my shop for a few weeks which has relieved some of the pressure. I hate closing my shop but I just needed to unplug for a bit.

As I'm running around like a crazy person, I've forgotten to mention that I'm thinking of selling the huge piece of art that painted for our living room. It's 40" x 40" and although I'm slightly attached to it, it's huge, and I would love it to be in a home where someone loves it and can enjoy. I just have a really hard time staring at my own artwork. Shoot me an e-mail to lindsaystephenson[at]hotmail.com if you're interested. Sadly, I can't ship this lovely so either pick up from my house in Toronto or I could have it couriered outside of the city. xo Linds

Update: Ok, I got a crazy amount of e-mails. I'm not sure why I didn't just post the price in the post. Nothing secretive about it ... I'm selling it for $500 which I appreciate is out of budget for some but based on the size I think it's pretty fairly priced. xo