My New Blog Look (+ A Review of Pipdig Templates)

Some of you have already noticed the fresh new look of Dans le Lakehouse!  Even though I've been blogging for many years, I've never spent money on my blog design (or even having my own domain for that matter, because I'm intimated by the prospect of actually moving from blogspot.com).  My DIY header and social media buttons just weren't cutting it anymore though, so I took the plunge and purchased an affordable template from pipdig, which I customized a little:



I am so thrilled with how Dans le Lakehouse looks now, so I wanted to give you a tour (if you're reading via email, click over and take a quick peek!)  If you're a fellow blogger looking for a budget-friendly, customizable, and super easy template for your own website, read on for my review of pipdig.

Here's a look back at my old, DIY "design":

To the right you could spot my sad little social media "buttons," made by me.  Honestly, I'm super proud of myself for figuring out how to make them clickable, but I readily admit that they didn't look very chic or polished.

The whole look wasn't horrible, but it looked homemade.  I did, however, love the black headers and the simple, clean(ish) look, because I like my photos and projects to be front and centre.

When I decided to upgrade the look, I wanted to keep the same feel.  I looked at many different template providers, but I liked that pipdig offers something for everyone - for both wordpress and blogger.  At first I was drawn to the "Minim" template because it featured the same black and white scheme I had before, but after I realized that I would be able to customize colours, fonts, and the layout of any template, I chose "Nineteen" instead.

The "Nineteen" blog template looks like a more polished version of what I had cobbled together.  I started fiddling with the look and chose black (again) for the headers because it looks so sharp with my colorful photos:



There are so many little bonuses and fancy touches that come with the template that would have taken me months to figure out how to create on my own.  I especially love how the pages at the top ("about," "diy project gallery," "lakehouse tour," etc) move with you as you scroll down the page:

I needed some teal in the design, so when you hover over the social media icons they turn teal - please humor me and try it!  When you hover over the titles of the pages, they turn grey.  Speaking of the social media icons, aren't they cute?

The Pinterest and Instagram widgets were included in the template and I love how they feature four uniform photos each (so slick), but I still need to make my own Etsy widget.  I also have a search bar, so if you're looking for a particular post or theme, you can find it quickly now!

I also updated my favicon (the little icon beside my blog url) to an anchor - my little nod to coastal decor.  I've changed it a few times since updating the blog look because it's hard to make an image that small actually clear!

Because I mostly read blogs on my phone these days, having a sharp look on mobile devices was important to me.  I've noticed that a lot of blogs looks good on a desktop but are a hot mess on mobile devices and I wanted the look to be consistent.  Luckily blogger created a somewhat okayish mobile version that it defaulted to, but now Dans le Lakehouse looks so chic, no matter where you're visiting the lakehouse!  Here's the look on mobile devices (although you can always scroll down and choose "web version," even if you're on your phone or tablet):

The mobile version has a great menu, too:

Installing the pipdig Blogger Template:

If you're a blogger, you probably want to know how easy this template was to install.  It was incredibly easy to install (15 minutes), but I did spend an afternoon fiddling with sizing, colors, my pictures, widgets, etc.  They can install it for you, but I really recommend doing it yourself because then you start to know the nuts and bolts and customizing everything will be easier.  I had a few questions during the process and the pipdig team responded about a day later, which was pretty quick - although I did figure out one of my own problems in that time frame.  My old "link within" widget stopped working in the transition, so the pipdig folks installed a somewhat similar widget (free of charge) that suggests different posts.  Recently my Pinterest widget stopped working so I had to email the support team and was told Google had made some updates, but all I had to do was re-install the widget and it was working perfectly again.  It has been pretty straightforward and there's always support, which I really appreciate.

There is only one thing I miss about the old look: I had added some lines to the code long ago to auto-size all of my photos to the same width, but I lost that code alteration in the process.  They still auto-size with this template, but only if the photo is already a certain width.  I sacrificed a bit of blurriness for the same width before, but this template does not.  It means I have to go back to some old posts and re-size photos manually, but that's okay - every time I dig into the archives, I catch a typo, so I should probably be looking through old posts regularly anyway.  I'll be updating the pages this month and will be sure to give you a tour when they're all ready!

So, What Do You Think?

I'd love to know what you think of the new blog look!  I'd especially love to hear what makes your experience as a reader better and if there's anything I can do to make visiting the lakehouse as fun and easy as possible!

How to Dye Jeans Darker (+ Dye FAQ)

I mentioned in passing, awhile back, that I had successfully dyed a new pair of jeans darker and I received a lot of questions about the process.  I wore that pair of jeans for almost a year and was so impressed with the results!  I recently dyed another pair and decided that this time I'd share a "before" and "after," along with answering some FAQ about dyeing jeans (at the bottom of this post).

I have been on a weight loss journey since the fall and have lost 25 pounds (and a couple of pant sizes).  I am trying to lose 25 more, so I have been hesitant to spent money on pants - although I need them!  My old jeans have become insanely baggy and frequently droop, pulling my underwear down with them.  Pant shopping isn't easy though, because I don't like when jeans have any whiskering or fading on the front/back of the thighs.  I prefer a simple dark wash but, alas, jeans that fit me aren't the wash I like and the jeans with the wash I like are usually uncooperative and won't zip up.

Not a problem!  I found inexpensive, comfy, skinny jeans at Winner's for only $25 and turned them into a perfect dark wash.  Here's a look at the original finish:

And here's a look at them now:

In this photo, the colour seems lighter than real life and doesn't appear 100% uniform, but they are perfectly uniform and a lovely dark wash now.  I'm so thrilled with how they look!

How to Dye Jeans Darker at Home:

If you're read any of my DIY dye posts, you know that the procedure is really simple and not scary at all - especially if you dye in the washing machine.  Here's the how-to:

• Completely soak the denim (or give them a pre-dye wash)
• Fill the washing machine (or a large basin) with hot water
• Add a cup of salt and fully dissolve
• Pour in one bottle of Rit Dye Black and another bottle of Rit Dye Navy Blue
• Agitate for 30-40 minutes (either re-setting the machine or doing it by hand)
• Rinse and let dry (I line dry to preserve the colour)
• Run the machine through with bleach to remove dye

And now, the Jean Dyeing FAQ:

Did the dye cover the denim evenly?

Yes!  All of the whiskering and fading was covered on both pairs I've dyed, and the result was a uniform hue. 

What dye formula did I use?

The first time I dyed jeans, I used two bottles of black and one bottle of navy.  The result was very inky - I loved it, but it did add to the cost because three bottles was about $12.  This time I used only two bottles and did a 1:1 ratio of navy and black, which resulted in a dark denim blue.  I love the shade and it looks great.  Because these jeans are temporary, I wanted to keep the cost low so I didn't want to purchase three bottle, but if I'm being honest, I preferred the 2:1 (black to navy) ratio because the jeans were really dark - almost black, but with some depth.  I'd call the result a midnight blue.   

How much dye do I need?

I used two bottles for one pair of pants and was happy with the results.  The Rit Dye instructions indicate that one bottle covers 1 pound of clothing, but suggests using more for darker/brighter colours.

Will any colour work?

You can dye denim with any colour but I find that the black/navy combo looks most like a commercial "dark wash" denim.  But you could turn white jeans into teal (do it!) or go for all-black.  Rit Dye even makes a "denim blue" that might be great on its own.  It's a bit of a gamble, though, how dye will look when applied over an already dyed fabric. 

Did the dye cover the stitching as well?

No.  The stitching remained light, so they don't look like they were given at at-home dye bath.  This happened with the dress I dyed as well.

Did it wash out quickly?

No!  I was surprised!  I never had to re-dye the first pair of jeans I dyed and I washed them once or twice a week (no dryer, though).  They faded a bit, but the whiskering didn't come back and they were still a dark wash - they just looked like broken in jeans.  I was really impressed - my dyed dress has barely faded, if at all (although I don't wear that nearly as often as jeans).  

How can I make the colour last longer?

I find that washing my jeans inside out, on cold (preferably using a detergent meant for dark colours), and skipping the dryer helps preserve the colour of dark clothing, whether I've dyed it or bought it that way.  Line drying dark items (out of the sun) really helps keep their colour longer than simply tossing them in the dryer - that's probably the best colour-saving tip I have up my sleeves.

Did the colour rub off on furniture?

No!  The dye stays put once the jeans were dry.  After the initial dye, while they were line drying, they deposited dye on anything they touched while wet (like the wall and the lid to the washing machine - crap).  This contact stained, although with scrubbing I got 95% of it off.  But once the denim was dried, and especially after the first wash, there was absolutely no transfer, which was interesting because I've experienced colour transfer with commercially dyed indigo jeans.

Did the jeans feel stiff?

Briefly.  Any time I dye something, I notice that it feels a bit stiffer when it's first dyed.  But after it's ironed or worn, it immediately softens and the fabric feels completely normal again. 

Will it wreck my machine?

Nope!  BUT, you have to run the machine empty, with bleach, immediately after dyeing to remove any dye from the machine (otherwise it can stain the drum and plastic pieces).  I usually use this bleach load to wash my floor rags and scungies because I hate wasting water.

Am I missing any questions?  I've also used this process to re-dye my comfiest pants/jeans once they've become faded from wear.  However, I find that dye always "sticks" best to clothing that hasn't been worn.  So, while my brand new jeans took the dye well and stayed dark, my old and faded pants were only temporarily revived by dye as it seemed to fade more quickly from the beat up pants.  But I will definitely keep dyeing jeans because it makes it so much easier to find the perfect fit when I no longer have to be concerned about the wash.

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A Look Back at 2015

2015 was a difficult year, to say the least.  I put everything on the back burner to help my family navigate the tragedies and losses we experienced, and was away from home for months as a result.  There were so many things Hubby and I intended to do this year but couldn't, because of this commitment to family.  I ended up really burnt out, but I don't regret a minute of it because I made a trying time more manageable for my loved ones.  When Hubby and I finally had time to ourselves, we decided to just cut ourselves some slack and enjoy our life on Lake Superior.  We might have made more progress on the home, had we not set aside so much time for bonfires, canoeing, and swimming.  But it was seriously the best thing we could have done for ourselves!  I'm sure our neighbours gave us the stink eye as we paddled around the lake while our lawn was an overgrown jungle, but we have a lifetime of landscaping ahead of us.



Even Szuka seemed to enjoy the water more this year, and I shared this funny story in the spring.

  
BUT - that's not to say we didn't make quite a bit of progress around the house!  Here's a re-cap of my favorite projects, big and small, from 2015. 

Bathroom Progress...

The troubles we experienced with our bathroom renovation definitely tested our patience (things are still unresolved with the tiler, after three tries we have yet to acquire cabinetry fronts that aren't flawed, and we still don't have counters).  This year taught us what things are worth worrying about, and what things aren't.  The bath reno will come together - eventually - and I'm looking forward to decorating the space and sharing a reveal!  Frankly, I'm just thrilled that we're bathing inside again...

Bedroom Progress!

Meanwhile, updating the bedroom went swimmingly and it's been such a treat to wake up to a more finished, practical space!  Beautiful new glass-front sliding closet doors and two mid-century inspired dressers finally solved our storage woes and made the space infinitely tidier. 

We actually knocked off a lot of bedroom projects.  In addition to installing the new closet doors, we sewed new green tweed back tab curtains, built walnut storage bins, added to my vintage poster art collection, and created two DIY abstracts.  In the new year I plan to take some better photos with my new camera and share a proper "before and after" but you can see the bedroom "before" by clicking here.

Living + Dining Room Updates!

The living room got a little unexpected love, with new, softer Marimekko throw pillows that pull in the vintage blue I've been loving recently.  I'm always amazed how a small, seemingly simple change can really pull a room together. 

A whole collection of inherited plants necessitated some new planters: a DIY walnut plant stand, DIY painted terracotta beauties, and a Modernica splurge - those walnut legs still make me drool!  Although the orchids aren't thriving, the other plants love their new home and add so much life to the living and dining room.  I've treated myself to fresh cut flowers now and again too.

 
When I least expected it, wasn't even looking, and was 1600km from home, I (finally) found new dining room chairs!  I'd been wanting to replace our tired brown chairs for years but had never found something as comfortable.  These teal tweed beauties look amazing, are super comfy, and are made in the USA!  They've made such a huge change in the open concept space, making the dining room feel brighter and lighter.

Also filed under "finally": we updated the kitchen pot lights!

Front Hall Progress!

Hubs and I have worked to build a life we don't want a vacation from, so coming home is always a treat but since we replaced our old door with this mid-century modern inspired beauty, coming home is even sweeter!  I love how much light the privacy glass lets in - even the hallway and adjacent laundry room feel so much brighter.

Office Progress?

We had planned to build new walnut desks for the office and re-vamp the closet into something cool, but the office definitely fell to the wayside.  At least I tidied it, hung up the old bedroom curtains (until we sew the aqua tweed curtains), and have created a usable space to work - even if this is where all of the furniture comes to retire.  Click here to see the before!

We don't have the budget to be tackling major room renovations every month, so I focused on some smaller projects this year.

DIY Borax Crystals

The DIY borax crystal project was something my Dad and I actually worked on together!  It was SO much fun to craft with him and this goofy little project reminded me of the value of making something for the sake of making something.  It also blew up on Pinterest and that was unexpected!

 
A Bushel of Sewing Projects

My Mom and I were busy bees in the spring and we knocked out an adorable cat nip toy for Wido Piddy, boot stuffers for Mom, and a polka dot pot holder for me.  We haven't had the steam to do any sewing lately, but I'm hoping we can get back into the swing of things.

Dip Dyed Napkins + Beaded Napkin Rings

Early in the year I partnered with Canadian Tire to create a Mediterranean inspired tablescape and I whipped up dip dyed napkins and beaded napkin rings - complete with videos, plus photos I'd never shared from my honeymoon in Greece.  That collaboration was a blast and brought back so many good memories.

Jewellery Tutorials

Every year I share a few jewellery making tutorials, but this year I only made two pieces: an aquamarine tassel beaded necklace and a tutorial for how to re-string a beaded necklace and add a clasp (does that even count as "making" something?).

DIY Agate Wreath + DIY Evergreen Wreath

It was so exciting working for Leon's Hello Holiday - I loved having carte blanche to create some beautiful holiday projects.  No one even noticed that mine were distinctly "wintry" and not "Christmassy" (shhhh).  The DIY agate wreath is one of my favorite DIY projects to date!

That's not to say I didn't like the evergreen wreath I made!  It's just that it was notably stickier and pricklier to make.

DIY Dyed Bottle Brush Trees + Poured Soy Candles

The dyed bottle brush trees and poured soy candles were both projects I'd been wanting to try for years and I was so thrilled for an opportunity to make them.  I have a newfound appreciation for handmade candles, now that I realize how much time they take!

The earl grey tea cup candle was definitely my favorite candle of the bunch and it created such a beautiful aroma as it burned.

Wintry Tablescape

The idea to dye some doilies teal was simple, but I really love dyeing things so this project was immensely satisfying.  I love an excuse to bust out the bronze flatware!

DIY Ornament Stand

This ornament stand was a gift for my friend Ashley.  Hubs and I made these last minute before my flight and I was so relieved when they made the journey in one piece!

Wood Burned Ornaments + Cranberry Centerpiece

While I spent time with Ashley in Ottawa, we made some wood burned ornaments for her tree and created a pretty cranberry "snow" centerpiece.  I think that resisting the urge to make these projects aqua shows considerable willpower ;)

Nautical Table DIY

Hubs and I participated in our first furniture building challenge this year and made this cool table using rope and marbles!  I love creative challenges because I think they keep the right side of my brain whirring and buzzing.

DIY Doggie Biscuits

Szuka is such a sweet girl - I don't know what I'd do without her.  I brought her to Toronto when I was dealing with my family emergency (it's hard to believe such a large dog is so portable) and she was so good.  She would sidle up to my sad relatives and present her bum for rubbing, as if to say "Hey, you'll feel better if you scratch my back. Yeah, right there, that's the spot. Feel better?"  I bake her treats whenever I have a chance and obligingly rub her bum to show I care.

 
DIY Paint a Pot Class

We recently took our niece for an afternoon of crafting.  I actually tried to enroll in a proper pottery class but there's such a long waiting list, so this will do.  We had a blast!



I don't tend to share a lot of personal details on the blog because I've been more comfortable keeping it project-focused.  I did share some thoughts on money, but the best "personal" post I shared was a tour of a neat exhibit of Hubby's grandpa's artwork.I get a lot of questions about Bert's art.  It was so incredible to see some of his larger pieces that we've only ever seen in the book published about his art.

This year life really threw us some curve balls, so I'm hesitant to make grand plans for 2016.  I'm going to go with the flow and try to find a great balance between productivity and having fun.  I'm committed to enjoying every day of the coming year!

I wish everyone good health and happiness for 2016!!  Seriously - I hope for nothing but the best for all of you.  Thank you so much for stopping by the lakehouse.  I love hearing your good advice and I'm thrilled when I can help someone with a decorating or design dilemma.  I'm so grateful that I've been able to connect with so many wonderful people!

P.S. If you want to see round ups from previous years, check them out here!  

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