Thread and needle can be taken to paper

Dear Sandi: I know your company sells handmade and printed papers. Recently, a friend said that she was going to try sewing on paper. Do you know if this can be done, and if so, what type of paper do I need to use?

—Ruth Marie, Salem - May 13, 2005 - Real Living

Before grabbing for that same old vase, think again

Dear Sandi: With all the flowers starting to bloom, I was hoping that you might have some ideas on some interesting new ways to display them. I’m really tired of my same old vases.

—Joanna D., Salem - April 22, 2005 - Real Living

Choosing a color combo needn’t be by the book

Dear Readers: As you probably can imagine, lots of the questions we receive are similar.

Of all the decorating questions we see, however, the one topic that seems to pop up more often than any other, in one guise or another, is color.

Color seems to be the simplest and yet most fear-inducing aspect people have to confront when it comes to a DIY project.

So, I thought it would be good to take a look at color.

—Sandi Reinke, Salem -April 15, 2008 - Real Living

Color, fabric, accessories reshape kitchen

Dear Sandi: I’d like to redo my kitchen in a whole new look. For the past 10 years, it has been done in a sort of country look with soft pastel colors. I want more punch, and I would like to give it a sort of Tuscany look. What do you suggest?

—Charlene P. Dallas - April 8, 2008 - Real Living

Faux onion, garlic spice up the kitchen

Dear Sandi: My sister gave me a bunch of artificial onions, garlic and a few other fake vegetables that she found while cleaning out my mother’s basement. Some of these are quite old. I think they are from the late 50s or early 60s. Since they were Mom’s, I would like to do something with them. Got any ideas?

—Julian E., Salem - April 1, 2005 - Real Living

Accessories give character to porch lamps

Dear Sandi: I picked up an old porch lamp at a garage sale sometime last summer. My husband was cleaning out the garage, found it and was going to toss it out. It’s not in very good condition, but I really like the style and shape of it and I think it might still work. Help me salvage it please.

—Jacqueline, Salem - January 14, 2005 - Real Living

Animal prints

Dear Sandi: My daughter will be turning 10 years old soon, and for her birthday present, we are going to re-do her bedroom in a “wild animals” motif. She is so interested in animals, especially African ones. I have promised her we would do this together for her birthday. She is so excited, and I could sure use some ideas.

—Heidi W. Salem -January 7, 2005 - Real Living

Garden bounty

Dear Sandi: I know you like to gather things from the yard and garden that others might consider weeds. This last week, with the kids home from school, we took a mini-field trip, and everyone had a great time picking pods and dried grasses. The kids were so excited that I’d love some ideas on something we can do with our bounty now. Thanks.

—Mandy L., Salem - December 31, 2008 - Real Living

Wreath

A large evergreen wreath would be studded with all kinds of the wonderful hard candy that only is available at this time of year. Candy canes, ribbon candy, rock candy and decorative nougats all were tucked in between the juniper branches and sprigs of holly. The colorful treasures were to be ogled and eventually eaten.

—Sandi Reinke, Salem -December 17, 2008 - Real Living

Nature tree overflows with spheres

Dear readers: Finishing up our series on themed Christmas trees, another of our favorite subjects to explore is what we call woodland, though the possibilities are so inclusive that the finished creation can easily morph into a garden, forest or perhaps even a meadow look.

—Sandi Reinke, Salem - December 10, 2008 - Real Living