Home Front
By JUDY STARK, Times Homes Editor
© St. Petersburg Times
published November 23, 2002
Briefs and news of note
Hooked on Harry Potter?
Owls and spiders may be getting special attention these days from Harry Potter fans. Dress up the kids' chamber of secrets with these wall hooks from North River Mint. They come in antique pewter and ancient bronze. Visit the Web site at www.northrivermint.com (the horned owl is under "Animals and Birds," the spider under "Country Knobs"). Or call toll-free 1-800-914-9087.
Holiday spirit headquarters
The seventh annual Winter Gathering arts and crafts show is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Pinellas Expo Center, 10601 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park (the old Sam's Club). More than 170 artists and crafters will display and sell their handmade items: angels, snowmen, Santas, teddies, dolls, embroidery, quilts, linens, tree skirts, stockings, baskets, candles -- well, just run down your Christmas list and it probably will be there. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for 12 and younger.
Play: It's serious business
Who remembers Mr. Machine, Colorforms and Risk? Can you still sing the Slinky song? Return to those days of your youth at 9 p.m. Sunday on HGTV. A one-hour special, Toys We Grew Up With, takes a look back at the toys and games of yesteryear, has interviews with their creators and collectors, and replays vintage commercials. Experts talk about what makes a good game, the educational value of toys and the lessons kids learn (they go beyond winning and losing). Now, where is that Etch-a-Sketch?
Bring the boudoir to life
Picking a paint color isn't easy. Color expert Ken Charbonneau encourages boldness and creativity in selecting shades for private or little-used areas, such as bedrooms or halls. "Do the thing you always wanted to do in the living room but never had the courage," he advises. For a bedroom, if the head of your bed is on the wall you see when you walk into the room, paint that wall a bold accent color and the rest of the walls a calmer, less obtrusive shade in the same color family -- aubergine and the palest violet, for example. When you walk into the room, you see the bold color. When you're in bed, you see the more placid version.
-- Compiled by Homes editor JUDY STARK
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