northstory + co.

About

My name is Alex and welcome to northstory & co.

I used to be a TV producer and started this blog in 2012 ago to maintain my love of storytelling. You will find a lot of DIY and holiday craft projects that even I am amazed I had time to do when our kids were little.

But as with all things in life, change is inevitable. This blog is now an archive of that decade but I do not actively update it anymore. I still pin inspiring content on Pinterest, but this chapter has come to a close. Thank you for visiting!

For information about my Copyright Policy and Photo Use, please visit my FAQ/Site Policies page.

31 Comments

  • Reply
    gonerustic
    August 8, 2012 at 6:37 pm

    Hello from a fellow Canadian who defected to Aussie Land! Don’t tell anyone, but I like Bryan Adams too … =D

  • Reply
    reretro
    August 30, 2012 at 1:41 am

    can you win the one lovely blog award twice? if so, i am nominating you!

    edwina

  • Reply
    Apartment Envy
    September 3, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    You’re so great that I nominated you for a “7 Things About Me” Award! Hooray!

  • Reply
    Leah
    September 15, 2012 at 10:21 am

    Congratulations! I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award :). Check it out here: http://inspireandindulge.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/humble-beginnings-my-1st-award/

  • Reply
    pillowsalamode
    September 22, 2012 at 10:56 am

    Good morning! I know that some of you have already seen the post, but I want to “officially” let each of you know that you were nominated by your blogging friends for the “Good Neighbor Award!” Congratulations! 🙂 Best, Katherine http://pillowsalamode.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/good-neighbor-award-winners-2/

  • Reply
    Heidi @ lightlycrunchy
    September 22, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Hello from south of seven! I was drawn in by your blog title on Pillows a la Mode and curious to see if you are also an Ontarion. Where we live, hwy 7 is referred to (jokingly, of course) as the IQ line…

    • Reply
      Alex @ northofseven
      September 22, 2012 at 1:07 pm

      HA HA! I call it the weather changing line because it could be a snowstorm north of 7 and it would be summer south of 7. Yes I am an Ontarian and ironically am debating whether or not to change the name of my blog should I get a domain – if only that all of the ‘good’ north of seven domains are taken. And if I move, that would be a hell of a predicament. Nice to meet you!

  • Reply
    thelittleredhorse
    September 24, 2012 at 6:13 pm

    Found your blog through Cobwebs, cupcakes & crayons and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Cant wait to read more!!!

    • Reply
      Alex@northstory
      October 5, 2012 at 2:46 pm

      Sorry for the late reply! I’ve moved domains since you found me so I hope you’ll see you there too!

  • Reply
    Denise
    October 6, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Hey Alex! So glad you liked my post!! 🙂
    Feel free to visit my blog anytime.

    I love yours too and from now I will be following you… (that does sound a bit scary, doesn’t it?) 😛

    Many greetings form the north of Sweden!
    Denise

  • Reply
    nicole
    November 30, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! I can’t tear myself away from your thrifting round up posts – it’s virtual thrifting – I LOVE it!

  • Reply
    Stephen Hughes
    December 11, 2012 at 8:08 am

    Variety, quality and bespoke hand made beauty!
    Love it all!

    Steve
    http://we-love-wood.com

  • Reply
    thebestdressup
    February 11, 2013 at 11:49 am

    ciao! luvFAB blog.
    thebestdressup

  • Reply
    Jessica@CapeofDreams
    April 21, 2013 at 11:25 pm

    You might have noticed a lot of hits on your older entries this weekend. I found your blog while holed up in my house fighting a cold and became addicted. Read every entry from beginning to end. Love it. Keep up the great work.

  • Reply
    Elaine Ori
    July 1, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    I LOVE your blog! Just found your blog via the Canada Day linky. Very funny!

    • Reply
      Alex
      July 1, 2013 at 10:18 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

  • Reply
    Bethany the ngnrdgrl
    July 5, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Hey, Alex! Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July. I just wanted to drop by and let you know that I have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Hope you check out my 7 factoids and play along. Have a great long weekend! Cheers!

  • Reply
    Kerstin
    December 3, 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Dear Alex!

    Sooooo, sooooooooo, soooooooooooo nice!!! I love all your things and really admire your creativity (oh, I hope, the word exists 😉 )!
    My name ist Kerstin, I’m from Austria and I found your site per accident (because I was looking für ideas for my kids in school).

    And now, my BIG question: I’m going to marry next year :-O and there I need some ideas how to decorate the tables, and so on. Habe you made anything like that or do you have ideas? You really would help me a lot!!!!!!!

    Bye and, once again: Soooo nice……!!!
    Kerstin

  • Reply
    Sandy Neff
    February 5, 2017 at 10:32 pm

    LOVE THE PINK FISH!!! LOL
    WHAT PET STORE DID YOU GET IT AT???
    THANK YOU, SANDY

    • Reply
      Alex
      February 6, 2017 at 1:48 pm

      We found Mr Pinky at Pet Smart! They had quite a few of them!

  • Reply
    Damjana @Applegreen Cottage
    November 4, 2017 at 1:09 pm

    Hi Alex.

    Such cute crafts! That’s something I’d love to see more often! Feel free to join as contributor to my popular Pinterest board – here: https://www.pinterest.com/applegreencott/totally-creative-group-board/ I’m writing this comment after I’ve just read the first line of your random facts about you: sci-fi. yiiiii! we could be friends! But seriously, you’ve got tons of adorable projects on your blog and I cannot believe I haven’t found you earlier. xoxo,

    • Reply
      Alex
      November 4, 2017 at 2:42 pm

      Thank you so much! I just followed you, so please send me an invite on Pinterest and I’ll happily join. Nice to meet you too!

  • Reply
    Kathy
    November 21, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    Alex I have a question about the hazelnuts. I made these for the Country at the Park Christmas but it seemed when we went to hang them they fell apart. We all would like to know the type of glue you used. We used Gorilla Super glue in a hot glue gun, 527 Glue, Crazy Glue, Regular glue sticks and we couldn’t get it to adhere to the hazelnuts or accorns. Please let me know what advise you have

    • Reply
      Alex
      November 21, 2017 at 5:08 pm

      I used my basic glue gun sticks and glue gun from Dollarama. They will be fragile using a glue gun so they definitely won’t last more than a season. When you’re picking them up, IF you’re using a glue gun, they will be delicate. You have to handle them with care. Mine went from the kitchen table to the tree.

      I am a big fan of E6000 glue for really good hold. The one thing I would look into is if the hazelnuts themselves have any oils on them or any residue as that will affect glue. Another is where you’re doing the crafts. I’ve used glue for projects outside in the summer and in the winter and both were disasters, as the glue had no time to cure properly. An easier way to make these without the stress is to get a wire or a pipe cleaner and create a circle or any round wooden/metal small circle, then glue the hazelnuts all around to the wire. You’ll obviously see the wire from the back view but if you’re hanging it on a tree, it may not be that big of a deal if it’s just facing you. Hope that helps!

  • Reply
    Kimberly Satterfield
    January 21, 2019 at 1:55 am

    Hello Alex! Love your kitchen, stunning job! I am curious how they have held up for you so far? You never added a sealer or topcoat, right? We have a lot of people using the space so a ton of possible scratches.. I see all Fusion had for a sealer is matte and I need a satin sheen, and don’t want yellowing at all. Thanks. Kim

    • Reply
      Alex
      January 21, 2019 at 10:51 am

      The kitchen held up great while we had it (we’ve since renovated). What I suggest to everyone who comes across this post is to check out Fusion’s Facebook group Paint it Beautiful, as there are countless kitchen Before and After’s shared in there. And every single one of them, use a different paint color or finishing, depending on the look they wanted – https://www.facebook.com/groups/PaintItBeautiful/ – but it’s a great resource to ask questions and even see similar layouts and color schemes that you may want to do.

      I did not use a top coat because Fusion has a built in top coat and the most important thing about that, is that you have to let the paint cure properly (approximately 21 days) to ensure you can thereafter, scrub it if it’s dirty etc. Some people prefer using it over that but I honestly didn’t need it. Fusion is a very durable paint on it’s own.

      For example, our kitchen table is painted using Fusion’s Coal Black and my kids are not gentle on that table. Between forks, knives, craft projects, superglue and other paint projects, I have scrubbed it with a brillo pad and bleach on a regular basis. The paint does not budge. As with everything, prepping your surface is the most important step before painting anything to make sure you get the best adherence. So no oils or waxes or grease before hand.

  • Reply
    Jessica Teige
    November 13, 2021 at 12:19 am

    Hi Alex! I just found your blog from a wreath post on Pinterest, and I’m blown away by your creativity and your storytelling. I can’t wait to discover all the goodies on your blog, and I’m excited to make a seasonal felt wreath with twigs. Probably tomorrow, actually. Thanks for the great content, and I hope to see more in the future!
    Cheers!
    Jessica

  • Reply
    Brendan Duncombe
    January 7, 2022 at 1:28 am

    Hi there,
    I have a brand new in box IKEA Domsjo ceramic sink boxed up in my shed.
    If anyone would like to purchase it the item is available…

    • Reply
      Alex
      January 14, 2022 at 10:40 pm

      I’d recommend you share this on the DOMSJO sink post. There’s a lot of people looking for one.

  • Reply
    Eve A Arneson
    January 14, 2022 at 1:21 am

    I found your Ikea Domsjo sink post in my planning for a kitchen remodel. I was very disappointed in it being discontinued, since it was actually my second choice. I fell in love with the Villroy and Boch double Butler 90 sink but I could not find it in the USA. I live in Washington state near the BC boarder. I found a company that would ship it to me from the UK, for a very hefty price though.
    My second choice was the Ikea Domsjo double sink. Now I find it has been discontinued. I am not finding anything to my satisfaction since.
    I did see that you recommended the Villroy & Boch Butler 90 sink as an alternative to the Domsjo sink. Do you know of any place in Canada that carries it and will ship it to the USA?

    If you have any thoughts on my quandary, I would appreciate it.
    Eve Arneson

    • Reply
      Alex
      January 14, 2022 at 10:40 pm

      Hi Eve, I regretfully do not know anyone over on this side that carries it. I am assuming you tried contacting the brand themselves to see if any dealers here carry the line. There is a huge demand for counter depth sinks, and I am really surprised that they haven’t made their way to the mainstream market in North America.

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