September 23, 2022 Eclectic Homes

Guest Picks: Bite-Size Plates for Noshing

The thing that I hate the most is committing to one entrée in a meal. I like to get a taste of everything (from everybody ). Appetizers and tiny dishes of all kinds (think tapas, izakaya snacks, sushi and dim sum) are my absolute preferred things to eat. This group of dishes is ideal for bits, pieces and bites of all the yummy food you can dream up to get a dinner party. — Mariko in The Tiny Foodie

Pottery Barn

Gabriella Snack Bowls – $6.50

These cute bowls are excellent for dipping sauces or round appetizer snacks. Sometimes I prefer a bowl that food does not go rolling away.

Etsy

Green Sparkles Small Plate by Sirius Fnord – $35

I love these tiny plates. The muddy green and just-right-for-your-hand size make me melt.

TouchOfModern

Dune Plate

I want to cook up something molecular just to show off this unusual plate.

QVC, Inc..

Trudeau Manhattan Set of 6 Appetizer Plates With Serving Tray – $28.46

Cute appetizer-sized portions could fit on those plates. I’m imagining a single bruschetta or a slice of tempura — something easy to hold and easy to eat.

CB2

2-Piece Green Clothespin Chopsticks and Dunk Sushi Plate Set – $23.80

These are the individual sushi plates of my dreams. They are complete with a dunking space so that you don’t have to worry about extra pieces. I also appreciate the clothespin chopsticks for guests.

My Sushi Set

Blue Sushi Serving Plate – $19.95

I am in love with this deep azure sushi platter. 1 bit that does not match all of the others can make a statement on the table.

The Raw Food World

Bamboo Plate, two Tone – $32

Bamboo comes across as such a humble material, but the simple geometric layout of this square platter becomes a celebrity.

CB2

Weave Server – $11.95

I appreciate smart layout, and the easy-to-grab lip with this cheesecloth-textured serving platter is genius.

Overstock.com

Midnight Alabaster Slab Serving/Display Tray – $42.99

Natural patterns in this slab double as a trendy place for fresh veggies or cold appetizers.

Amazon

Nambe Currents Winter Snow Salad/Dessert Plates – $75

This is a gorgeous way to show a slice of cake. It isn’t distracting and unique. Additionally, it’s big enough to hold all of the bites I need.

Etsy

Chalkboard Tray by Halle’s House – $19

These chalkboard trays have been popping up at the DIY circuit lately. I think they’d be so enjoyable to get a sausage dish. I could only label all the exotic cheeses instead of repeating myself all night .

BHLDN

Sur La Sorgue Serving Platter – $178

I have something for pieces that are handmade. These are completely flat and are somewhat reminiscent of lace. I need some macaroons or alternative vacation cookies to tower up on a plate in this way.

BHLDN

Galvanized Treat Pedestals – $38

How can you get industrial and adorable at the same look? Galvanized metal pedestals for the most adorable desserts in the world. Some elevation changes are wonderful for making the star attraction stick out.

Bonanza

Missoni Black/White Chevron Puzzle Tray Appetizer Floral Serving Dish Plate – $59.99

There can never be too many chevron designs. This three-piece puzzle tray could be complete with some xiao long bao (soup dumplings).

UncommonGoods

Agate Plate – $70

I can not believe that is the first I’m hearing about those agate plates. This is child wonder captured in a dish.

Amazon

Rosseto Liteware Party Dishes, Arc Style Serving Plates, Black – $24.99

I struggle with plastic plates — I hate the thought of throwing them away, and that I hate the way they look. The convenience, however, is a factor. These arch plastic plates are very trendy and can be washed to get a few uses. Additionally, they come in a group of 50, making locating and saving plates for all your dinner guests much, much easier.

UncommonGoods

Eclipse Nesting Bowls – $400

This gorgeous set of bowls adds so much color and intrigue. The colors could complement whatever you are serving.

myTableware

Christina Covered Oval Vegetable Server – $129.99

I really have a passion for lids –whatever to find the saran wrap off the dining table. This print is classic, and I would love to serve samosas in this dish.

Overstock.com

7-Piece Porcelain Tasting Spoons With Bamboo Tray Set – $20.99

I give enormous points to some restaurant for giving me an amuse-bouche. This spoon set is ideal for a slurp of deliciousness.

The Glass Co..

Custom-Made Glass Plate

Until the food stands up on its own, skewered food could be bothersome for presentation. I have to have this ingenious custom glass dish.

Next: 10 Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Hosting

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July 4, 2022 Home Cleaning

How to Restore a Bamboo Chippendale Chair

You may have left them in the shade, where they became damp and weakened. Or you may have left them in the hot sunshine, where they became dry and brittle. Though bamboo Chippendale chairs look — and also to a large extent, are resilient, they’re not indestructible. With a couple of simple steps, you can save your bamboo chairs in the harshness of the outside. You may not be able to fully restore them to their initial state, but you need to be able to come near.

Set the chair on an old blanket or dropcloth in a well-ventilated location.

Remove dirt from the chair using a rag or the vacuum. Blend 1/2 gallon of soapy water and a couple of tsp of ammonia, and wash the chair using a soft sponge. Rinse with a damp sponge and cool water. Blot the chair dry using a clean rag.

Repair any cracks in the bamboo by trimming trouble spots with fine-grit sandpaper. Remove the dust with tack cloth. Then rub the chair using a paste wax, or use linseed oil or furniture oil specifically created for bamboo furniture.

Apply a coat of lacquer to protect the finish. Pick from a brush-on or spray variety to produce a tough and lasting effect.

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July 1, 2022 Furnishings

The Way to Redo White Factory End Cabinets

Whitewash is a stain that’s similar to paint. It is wiped on just like stain, but leaves a large amount of solids on the surface of the wood. It is then sprayed with lacquer to seal and complete the cabinet. To refinish whitewashed cabinets, the lacquer has to be eliminated first. Then they may be sanded down to bare wood. The cabinets can then be refinished any color you would like. You ought to use a chemical stripper to expedite lacquer removal.

Remove all doors and drawers from the cabinets and place them on sawhorses. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the hinges from the doorways. Spread a drop cloth under all of cabinets, doors and drawers.

Place rubber gloves. Open a can of stripper. Use a paint brush to coat the surface of one cabinet, drawer and door at a time. Wait 15 minutes to the lacquer to soften. Use a putty knife to scrape off soft lacquer. Let it drop off on the drop cloth. Do each of the cabinets, doors and drawers where there’s whitewash stain.

Sand the surface of the cabinets, doors and drawers with 100-grit sandpaper attached to your hand block or oscillating sander until smooth.

Open a fresh can of stain. Use a sponge to apply the new stain to the cabinets, doors and drawers one at a time and wipe off immediately with a soft cloth. Wait 30 minutes for the stain to dry.

Spray the cabinets, doors and drawers with one light coat of aerosol lacquer. Wait 30 minutes to the lacquer to dry. Sand the cabinets, doors and drawers by hand with a folded piece of 180-grit sandpaper. Don’t wipe off the whitish lacquer dust.

Spray another coating of lacquer on the doors, drawers and cabinets. Allow the lacquer dry overnight before installing the doors and drawers.

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June 27, 2022 Furnishings

How to Clean Rust From Old Furniture

Rust can easily diminish the overall look of your furniture. Most metal furniture is vulnerable to rust, since rust molds when metal comes in contact with moisture and combines with oxygen. This oxidation process is very likely to occur when metal furniture is subjected to changing temperatures, rain and sunlight.

Brush It

Removing the top layers of rust is a crucial first step, and wire brushes are great tools for your job. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, wire brushes could be connected to power gear or managed manually. If you’re using electricity, use a lighter touch to make sure you’re not scarring any intact metal beneath. Otherwise, you are going to find that some persistence and a little elbow grease will go a long way in removing the rust and old paint in the furniture. Steel wool, which is easily bendable, can be used to remove the rust in tight locations or tiny crevices. Even if the rust on the furniture is thicker than the surface, it’s still wise to remove as much of this outer coating of rust as possible before proceeding with different procedures.

Dissolve It

Another way of removing rust from furniture is by way of a chemical reaction with formulas which contain malic acid. Sold in many stores as Naval Jelly, rust remover or rust dissolver, the products can be found in thick gel type, which makes using the chemical to vertical and sloping surfaces simpler. Following the manufacturer’s directions, the gels must be used and left to sit down on the rusted areas. The formula works by converting the rust to black ferric phosphate, which loosens the rust and can be wiped away. You then clean off any remaining residue with a damp rag. Because this is a chemical reaction, it’s important to follow any and all safety precautions, including wearing masks, eye protection and gloves.

Acids and Pastes

Items commonly found in the house have been known to work as rust removers. As an example, the acetic acid in white vinegar is acidic enough to dissolve rust. The vinegar can be wiped on to the furniture or poured directly within rusty spots. Based on the amount of rust on the piece, you need to check on the furniture every hour or so to ascertain when to wash the vinegar off. You can also combine baking soda and warm water to create a thick paste for rust removal. Apply the paste and let it sit on the rusted areas before scrubbing it off with a wire brush.

Prevent Flash Rust

After removing the rust out of furniture it’s necessary that the thing be properly dried to avoid flash rust. Flash rust takes place when water — even a thin coating — is present on the surface of metal, steel or iron for a brief time period. Corrosion takes place fast and leaves a blot, which negates all of your hard work. Using clean cloths or even a hair dryer can help to remove all moisture before priming, painting or using the furniture .

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June 22, 2022 Home Painting

Paint's Kind to Use on Jute Rugs

Transform a fundamental jute rug into an eye-catching accent with the ideal type of paint. A natural fiber, jute proves versatile and sustainable. Jute rugs give practical doormats, hallway runners and area rugs. With an extremely absorbent character, jute frees up latex, acrylic-based paints and spray paints well. Select fabric paint if brushing or sponging intricate stencils onto jute, and latex or spray paint for creating thick edges and block designs.

Latex Paint and Finishes

Paint designs on jute rugs with latex paint, which offers higher color retention compared to oil-based paints perform. While some paint products can harden and crack, latex offers flexibility. Use foam rollers for painting thinner machine-woven jute rugs and chunky brushes to get milder patterns. Go with a matte finish for concealing a blot on your jute rug, but select a lasting gloss or semigloss finish for shielding rugs in high traffic areas. Gloss also gives a patterned layout brighter sheen.

Spray-on Paint for Large Rugs

Jute absorbs upholstery spray paint well. This sort of paint does not fade in a space with direct sunlight. Use spray paint for a large area rug, in addition to covering the numerous curves and also indents common on jute rugs. Apply a mildew-resistant primer before adding your coloured paint. Spray-paint jute rugs with slow, even flows to prevent running. Let the rug dry between each coat of paint. Complete time for upholstery spray paint is 72 hours. Utilize a nontoxic spray paint for crafting, but nevertheless work in a well-ventilated location.

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June 18, 2022 Home Painting

The Way to Weld a Crack in a Plastic Shed

Plastic garden or tool sheds are the least expensive choice for keeping resources dry and from the components. Eventually, a plastic drop may crack as a result of sunlight exposure, which dries the plastic. Cracking is common from water draining down on regions that have overlapping seams using screws holding them together. Weld all the cracks at a plastic drop at once to maintain your shed watertight and safeguard your valuable resources.

Clean the crack in the plastic drop using a wire brush to remove any plastic particles in it. Brush the area having a paintbrush to remove particles left behind from the wire brush. Use the wire brush and paintbrush on the inside and out of This shed in the cracked area.

Pour isopropyl alcohol on a shop towel and then clean out the crack on both the inside and outside of the shed. Allow about five minutes for the alcohol to dissipate and dry.

Put on latex gloves to protect your hands in epoxy.

Scrub equal amounts in the 2 tubes of quick-setting two-part epoxy onto a paper plate. Based on the brand you’re using, it may be in two different tubes, or have two tubes using one plunger to spread equal levels of each at once.

Mix the contents with the paper plate using a popsicle stick or other disposable object, such as a plastic knife.

Spread the epoxy onto the crack from the drop on the inside and exterior. Quick-setting epoxy starts curing within about five minutes.

Shine a torch on the outside of the crack and have a helper inside the shed to see if the light penetrates the epoxy. If lighting is observed through the crack on the inside, apply an additional coat of epoxy into the crack.

Dispose of the paper plate, applicator and gloves.

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June 14, 2022 Home Painting

The Way to Paint Initials on Ceramic Tile for Coasters

To produce personalized and affordable coasters, paint ceramic tiles using bows. A premade stencil provides a specific font typeface and much more control over paint application, or you could make a personalized stencil if you would like your own design. When you have confidence in your painting capability and want more originality in your project, paint the ceramic tile coasters freehand.

Wash the tiles with mild soap and water, scrubbing with a stiff brush to remove dust or dirt. Implement tile cleaner if you’re using used or old shingles for the coaster project. Allow to dry.

Plan the design by selecting a veil style and paint colors for the initials. Calculate the size of the initials you wish to paint based on the size of the tile. Paint the foundation of the tile or leave it unpainted, as desired.

Squeeze paint on a palette or into little mugs, separated by color.

Attach the stencil into the tile and carry it place with painters tape to keep it from moving around. Apply paint with a brush into the inside of the stencil. Skip this step if you plan to paint the initials freehand.

Sketch out the outline of the first on the tile lightly with a pencil to make a rule to follow. Apply paint to your tile using a paintbrush based on the rule.

Allow the tile to dry fully. After it’s thoroughly dry, spray one coat of acrylic or polyurethane sealant to protect the design and increase the durability of the coaster. After the first coat dries, sand the tile lightly with 400-grit sandpaper, and then dust with a soft cloth. Apply an additional coat of acrylic, then sand the tile lightly once again following the second coat dries. Gently wipe with a soft cloth to remove the dust. The sanding creates a slightly rough surface so that moist cups or items do not stick to the tile.

Attach self-adhesive cork dots to the base of the tile so it doesn’t hurt the surface on which it sits.

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June 11, 2022 Home Painting

The way to Maintain Beds Free From Mites

As disgusting as it sounds, to dust mites, a bed can be a cocktail of discard skin. A properly cleaned and protected bed, nevertheless, is not going to invite mites in for a meal. Humidity control, regular carpet vacuuming, window treatment washing and dusting are a good beginning to a mite-free bedroom. Keep your bed free of mites by looking at a few relatively easy fixes and changes that involve the mattress, box spring and bedding straight.

Sanitizing that the Unwashables

By washing your washables to a sanitizing, hot water placing weekly, you can help control dust mites. Comforters, pillows, duvets and anything else that you can’t wash this way can nevertheless maintain real estate on your own bed, but require regular sanitizing. Prior washing cold- or warm-water washables, make them tumble in a hot dryer for 15 minutes to destroy some mites. Placing nonwashable items in the freezer for 24 hours eliminates dust mites, but obviously does not clean the linens.

Regarding Fido and Fluffy

If your pet considers your bed, you’ve some guidelines to adapt to maintain your bed free of pet dander — a different mite snack. When banning your cat or dog in the room is not a choice, bathe him twice a week and wash his bedding as frequently as your own.

Mattress Sunbathing

Placing your mattress and box spring from the sun during the hottest portion of the day is a way to sanitize such large items. After a soak in the sun, thoroughly vacuum each piece — especially focusing on the creases or piping round the perimeter. Vacuum your mattress and cushions whenever the bedding is being washed, or at least monthly. Make mattress sunbathing a quarterly or biannual practice.

Take Cover

Guard your clean mattress, box spring and pillows with plastic or allergen-proof covers. The tightly woven fibers of these covers maintain any present or remaining whales as well as their allergy-causing feces included; if they can’t forage for sustenance, they can’t survive or colonize. It may not be possible to eradicate or remove all dander, but by maintaining a clean or new bed insured, and with regular washing and sanitizing campaigns, you are able to keep mites to a minimum.

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June 8, 2022 Tropical Style

Species of Cherry Trees

While they are genetically different, different species of cherries (Prunus) are still able to crossbreed to produce similar trees. You can identify a cherry tree in springtime from its white or pink flowers and shiny, red-brown bark having brown or gray horizontal stripes. It is more difficult to identify the species of the tree; distinct species have somewhat distinct flowers and leaves, shapes and growth habits. Cherry species include both fruiting and flowering trees.

Sweet Cherries

The cherry species whose fruit you find most often in grocery shops, sweet cherry (Prunus avium), grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8 to approximately 35 feet tall with an erect and spreading contour. Like all cherries, sweet cherries do best with complete sun, regular watering and well-draining soil. Varieties include “Bing,” which produces large, dark red fruit, and “Van,” which produces smaller black fruit.

Sour Cherries

With fruit used primarily for baking, sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) grow about 25 feet tall in USDA zones 4 through 9 and create purple or red fruit throughout the summer. “Surefire” produces bright red fruit that truly has a sweet flavor so that you may eat it fresh, while “North Star” has very sour fruit with reddish skin and yellow flesh.

Standard Upright Flowering Cherries

Standard, upright cherries incorporate those located on the Washington Monument grounds in Washington, D.C., such as the Yoshino flowering cherry (Prunus x yedoensis), at USDA zones 5 through 8, and also the “Kwanzan” cherry (Prunus serrulata “Kwanzan”), at USDA zones 5 through 9. Standard cherry species grow up to 40 feet tall and 30 feet wide, with white or pink flowers. They function nicely versed above flower beds to offer partial shade, lining a drive or growing in a prominent spot in your lawn as a tree that is standalone.

Other Flowering Cherries

Flowering cherry trees arrive in weeping, spreading and columnar shapes as well as vertical shapes. Weepers grow from 10 to 15 feet tall, and include the “Pendula” variety (Prunus x subhirtella “Pendula”) for USDA zones 5 through 8. Spreaders grow wider than they are tall, like “Shirotae,” a variety of the species Prunus serrulata. Columnar trees have a tall and narrow shape, growing from 40 to 60 feet tall.

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June 5, 2022 Tropical Style

Information about the Key Lime Tree

The Key lime tree (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle), also popularly known as the Mexican algae or West Indian lime, is precious across U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 as an ornamental because of its kind, foliage and blossoms, in addition to for the little, acidic fruits it produces.

Habit, Form and Hardiness

The Key lime tree is an evergreen, meaning it keeps its foliage year-round. This plant grows very vigorously, reaching a mature height of 6 1/2 to 13 feet. Key lime trees possess lots of slender, spreading branches, appearing bushy with a curved, umbrella or vase-like canopy shape. The Key lime is vulnerable to cold damage, suffering injury to foliage below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and timber damage or death if temperatures drop below 29 degrees Fahrenheit.

Foliage and Bark

The evergreen leaves of this Key lime are mild purplish when young and dull dark-green when mature. These leathery, elliptical leaves measure 2 to 3 inches long with little, curved teeth. The foliage grows densely and has a pleasant scent. The slender branches of the majority of Essential lime trees have lots of sharp 3/8-inch long spines. There are a number of spineless cultivars; those selections produce less fruit, have darker green foliage and are more streamlined.

Flowers and Fruit

Key lime tree blossoms, appearing on the plant in spring, are faintly fragrant, white and measure 2 inches across. The key lime fruit that develops from these flowers is born singly or in clusters and is around or slightly elliptical and sometimes has a small nipple at the same end. The fruits generally have a diameter of 1 1/2 to 2 inches and have a thin peel that is greenish yellow to yellow in maturity. The greenish yellow pulp is juicy, acidic and split into 10 to 12 segments.

Site Preferences and Applications

The Key lime tree performs best if planted in full sunlight and at least 12 to 20 feet away from structures and other trees. It may grow well in a range of soils, including sites that are highly alkaline or acidic. Good soil drainage is very important to Key lime tree growth; nutrient deficiencies and disorders can occur where excessive moisture lasts around the plant’s root system. The Key lime tree can be planted as a specimen, utilized as a screen or hedge or espaliered.

Care Considerations.

Recently planted Key lime trees require watering at planting, every other day for about a week, after which one or two times per week for the first two or three months following planting. Once shown, only occasional watering during prolonged dry periods is warranted. Occasional, though not excessive application of a balanced fertilizer will encourage Vital lime tree vigor. A paling or mottling of leaves may indicate a nutrient deficiency. Excessive fertilizer can stimulate a feeling of new growth especially vulnerable to pests and diseases. A light pruning to thin out the canopy and remove problematic crossing or rubbing branches is best done soon after fruit harvest.

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