Homework

est

2011-04-22T12:09:00.000-04:00

I'm loving this new Australian online shelter/lifestyle magazine. Lots of drool inducing material and the photography is outstanding.

Adventures in Block Printing

2011-04-17T14:11:00.000-04:00

This was a satisfactory experiment for two reasons: I've been wanting to try my hand at block printing, plus I've been itching to recreate this Herb Lubalin ampersand since I first saw a picture of it at Wary Meyers . Not having any luck locating on the internet an example of the type that I could print out and copy onto the block, I made an attempt to draw the ampersand myself. The outcome of my efforts isn't perfect, but after spending hours drawing and revising, I decided I was close enough. To my suprise, carving the block was far less time consuming.

Not having any printing ink at home, I excitedly broke out my stash of acrylic paints when I arrived at the point of printing. I watered down the paint to make it more ink-like, and not in possession of a brayer, I rolled it on the block with a foam roller. Well, the paint stuck a bit causing the paper to tear slightly, but the bigger disappointment was the realization that the printed image was backwards. Yep, it didn't occur to me that I needed to carve the image in reverse. Doh!!! Back to Hobby Lobby I headed. I returned home with additional carving material, a brayer, and some proper ink.

The second carving is actually my third drawn version of the ampersand. The first carving was copied from my second version. I'm thinking I like the second version better, so I might be carving another Lubalin ampersand. Regardless of subject material, this block printing thing could become addictive.

Dharma Trading Company Tutorial

I'm really wanting to print on fabric, and in researching for information on fabric inks I came upon this great block printing tutorial. As one would expect, there's a wealth of information on block printing to be had on the internet, but the Dharma Trading Company tutorial is one of the better that I've seen. As back up I've ordered Lena Corwin's book, Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens. I've been eying her book for a while now, and I can't wait for it to arrive. I'm super excited to be delving further into block printing.

Road Kill

2011-04-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

I found this chair sitting at a dumpster last Friday. Its side profile caught my attention as I was driving past it, and I have been consumed with refinishing it since I brought it home. Despite its obvious abuse and neglect, the chair is very solid.

It's not completely finished, but it's close enough for some pictures. I still have to glue decorative braiding around the top's padding so the staples will be hidden, and there are a few other details that need attention. The upholstery fabric came from my stash. It's a pretty safe choice, but it was economical and fitting of the chair's style. Mostly I shopped my stash because I had already shelled out $15 for new foam and another $15 for a wood repair kit. Although a yard of fabric will easily cover the upholstery, I couldn't justify spending yet another $20+ for a chair that I don't really need. All of these little random projects can quickly add up. Not to mention, they're time sucks. With that said, I'm very pleased with the outcome of this project. While the finish is far from perfect, it certainly is way better than where I started.

An identifying emblem and a paper production tag on the chair led me to the manufacturer, The Gunlocke Company. Now I'm wondering if this chair is also a Gunlocke. Wouldn't that be cool?

Project Bedroom

2011-03-22T18:45:00.000-04:00

Lately I feel as though my life is a continuous loop of projects. With the staple gun handy after recovering the sewing bench, I decided to take on my headboard. This has been on my mind for a few months now. When I hung the headboard, I covered quite a few screw holes in the wall that I opted to fix at a later date. They weren't going to be visible, and I was in a rush to get my bedroom together. Now I've decided to hang the headboard lower on the wall, so I have additional wall damage to address. With that revelation, it seemed like a good time for me to suck it up and pull out the Spackle. Can you see where I'm going here? Since I'm going through the trouble to properly patch my wall, a couple coats of fresh paint are in line. Finally, I needed to come up with a plan to remedy the lack of matching bedding for my newly recovered headboard.

Working within a minuscule budget, here's what I have so far:

Summer Quilt Cover

Pillow Cases or Shams

The Headboard

Not Too Matchy Matchy

Existing Ikea Wardrobe

Maybe

Detail

Maybe

Inspiration

Stay tuned...

Finito Benito

2011-03-22T15:50:00.000-04:00

Chipping away at the perpetual to do list...

Secrets from a Stylist via the Internet

2011-03-20T13:24:00.000-04:00

I gave up my Direct TV service months ago, figuring that I could better spend the money elsewhere. There are things I miss about satellite/cable television, but I'm doing fine with the cheapest Netflix subscription and Hulu. One program that I really regretted not being able to view is Emily Henderson's Secret from a Stylist. It airs Saturday evenings on HGTV. I still had the dish when Emily won Design Star, and I felt that eventually there would be a way for me to catch up on her new show sans the monthly satellite bill. So I was thrilled to find through reading her blog, Emily's show is available for viewing here on HGTV's website. Actually, there's a whole bunch of shows to check out on HGTV's website. Gotta love the internet!

Sewing Bench

2011-03-14T15:01:00.000-04:00

I've had this bench and the matching sewing machine cabinet for quite some time. The spindly legs of the set give it a lot of character. I purchased a Singer 301 sewing machine, found on craigslist, and the cabinet and bench were included. I don't have room for the cabinet, but decided there had to be somewhere that I could use the bench. So here it is after spending way too much time in the process of being sanded. Painting is going to be no less time consuming. I could tell already at the early stage in which these pictures were taken. It will take three coats to cover it. The paint is Rustoleum's Safety Yellow oil paint, leftover from this project. As oil paint is being used, each coat will have to be spaced out to allow for drying time. It may be optimistic of me to promise after pictures within the next week, but I'm setting goals.

The top of the bench will get reupholstered in a durable commercial grade upholstery fabric that I found at Walmart. The fabric is in medium gray with a woven honeycomb texture. I am super excited about how cute it's going to be when I get done.

In other news, my sewing time took a hit when I embarked upon the above mentioned project. I did, however, find time to hit up Hobby Lobby on Saturday and take advantage of their Simplicity Pattern sale. Then yesterday I took advantage of the fine weather and scrubbed my front porch and porch furniture. Doing so made me feel a little less guilty about spending hours sanding a silly little stool.

The Weekend Blouse Muslin

2011-03-07T15:21:00.000-05:00

I cut the medium as printed. The construction is pretty simple. I did some research beforehand so I expected the sleeves to be long, the neck opening to be low cut, and the overall length to be short-ish. All of these issues were present on my muslin. None of these issues will be difficult to remedy.

The last two pictures show how I used stitch witchery for the bias binding, to set it in place before the final row of stitching. A very narrow strip pressed into the seam allowance does the trick. It does take a little extra time, but the effort pays off with a very neat finish.

You'll be seeing more versions of this blouse being made, soon.

Weekend Sewing

2011-03-05T13:47:00.000-05:00

Finally, I'm feeling some sewing mojo coming on. The Weekend Blouse in Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing looks like the perfect project. I'm going to start with a muslin and take it from there. Walmart's fabric department has been good to me lately and I have all kinds of goodies to play with.

My Bedroom Late February 2011

2011-02-26T18:42:00.000-05:00

The peg rail is up. I still have some touch-up painting to finish.

It's about time for a headboard recover and the expected domino effect might forever retire the bedroom's current look. I decided to take some pictures for posterity's sake.

Weekend Projects

2011-02-20T11:38:00.000-05:00

I went on a bender with the orbital sander yesterday. I don't know when I'll actually finish these projects, but I wanted to take advantage of the mild temperatures we're having. I probably could have skipped sanding the fixtures on the lamp. The original colored paint was flat. Now that I see the aluminum shining though, I'm tempted to sand them down completely and leave well enough alone. Although I do think the lamp would look awfully smart with white fixtures. Decisions, decisions.

I've had the lamp for years. It is a Todd Oldham for Target piece. I'm tired of the colored fixtures so I bought a couple of cans of Rustoleum's High Heat spray paint in white. This was months ago. Then I decided that I'd rather sell it than put a whole lot of effort into it. Last week's listing on craigslist generated little interest. I don't really have a place for it right now (there's a floor lamp where it used to be), but I'd probably like it a whole lot more if it were neutral. And if I liked it a whole lot, I'd probably find a place for it, and so on, and so on, and so on...

The table is a Goodwill find. I blogged about it here, near the end of the post. I'm thinking of partially staining, partially painting the finish. Its Mid-Century deliciousness had me at hello. The legs will get stained for sure. I have this gray stain that I picked up at Habitat's ReStore. Gray and white...gray and yellow...pondering.

Here's a picture of the table after being sanded.

Cute, isn't it?

If you're wondering about the status of the Shaker peg rail, fear not. I exhausted myself to the point of being too tired last night to cover the rail with its final coat of paint. Instead I will slap on the last coat as soon as I finish this post. The wall where the rail will hang needs to be patched. A coat of paint wouldn't hurt the wall either. I'm also seriously considering reupholstering my headboard, changing the window treatment, and rotating some artwork. It never ends.

To be continued...

Painted Peg Rail

2011-02-18T16:01:00.000-05:00

I accomplished a couple of other tasks associated with this project before arriving at the point of painting. First I drilled the holes for mounting, then I filled in any gaps at the base of the pegs with wood putty sanded the entire rail. Please accept my apologies for the lack of documentation in photographic form.

I decided to paint the peg rail white. In all honesty, I thought it looked very pretty in its natural state. I considered treating it with some oil or rub on poly, however; I knew that a good coat of oil paint would be like an additional coat of glue. White is safe and practical. I just happened to have a full can on hand, so Rustoleum Satin Oil in White it was. Thus far I have one coat on the rail. I suspect it will take three coats to cover.

To be continued...

Shaker Peg Rail

2011-02-17T16:30:00.000-05:00

I've been wanting to make a nice length of Shaker peg rail for a while. As the space between the end of my bed and the opposite wall is narrow, it would be the perfect place for Shaker pegs. I did check out Shaker Workshops peg rail but decided I could more economically make it myself. I mean, how hard could a simple peg rail be? Well, as it turns out it's not terribly difficult, but if I had to do it all over again I might modify my design. Since I'm not planning on hanging heavy objects on my rail, I simply glued the pegs in place. If I were planning on hanging heavier loads, I would definitely enlist the strength of screws to secure the pegs. I'll have to delay my sense of accomplishment until I see how well the pegs hold up under use.

If you're interested in building your own peg rail, Martha Stewart has a simple tutorial. Between some general directions on the internet and the example of a short length of peg rail that I bought at Goodwill months ago, I went about creating my homemade version. I was able to find some nice pegs on Ebay, but a Google search will lead you to additional suppliers of Shaker pegs.

As usual, I ended up making several trips to Lowe's during the process. In the end, I found the 1/2" Irwin Speedbor drill bit to be what I needed. The 7/16" drill bit recommended in Martha's directions was not the right size for my pegs.I also decided that I wanted my pegs to be spaced more than 6" apart, so I got my tape measure out and played with the spacing. I went with a 7" space between pegs, which looked a little less cluttered and a bit more modern.

Be very careful with your measurements if you try this yourself. I ended up making a mistake with my first attempt and had to cut my board down, losing a peg in the process. That I was functioning on three hours of sleep didn't help matters (I'll never learn). The weather here has been spectacular and I figured that I could sleep when the cold, crappy weather returns. After all, it's only mid February.

I'm blogging while I wait for the glue to dry. The next step is placing the holes for mounting the rail and then finishing. I will more than likely paint the rail, but I'm not 100% committed to a finish yet. I promise to post pictures once I get it hung.

Buster's Rockin the Pink

2011-02-11T13:25:00.000-05:00

There seems to be some debate on whether real men wear pink. Let me assure you, not only do they wear it, but some of them rock it!

Diversions

2011-02-07T17:31:00.000-05:00

I am in the planning stages of making a market bag that will incorporate a bit of vintage crewel embroidery. Although I haven't completely committed to a pattern, I'm leaning toward Amy Butler's Reversible Everyday Shopper from her Style Stitches book. Remove the "reversible" in this case. The crewel work will be protected by a layer of clear vinyl. I have a spotty past with vinyl so I am a tad worried.

On a related note, I found this tutorial on making pleather handbag straps (but why stop at handbags?) via Adventures in Dressmaking. Those nifty clips that are utilized in the tutorial are a pricey $25 for a dozen. What's wrong with these?

I am super impressed by the outcome of the method that creator of the tutorial Cheryl Kuczek employs, but still a skeptic until the method works for me.

Fabric Shopping at Walmart

2011-01-23T12:41:00.000-05:00

I ran into Walmart yesterday to see if anything new was on the racks in their fabric department. Things have been kind of bare lately and I was afraid that might be a sign of end times for the fabrics at my local store. Last time I asked a salesperson about the department closing she told me it wouldn't happen until 2011, but she seemed to be unsure of details. So the obvious addition of new fabrics in the department is keeping me optimistic.

One can't help but be fascinated by the selection of fabrics at Walmart. My Walmart carries a lot of quilting cottons and fleece, and then there are the odd lots of discount fabric. This is where things get interesting. These discount fabrics range from god-awful to gorgeous. You really have to dig for the gorgeous, but many times the digging pays off. As evidence: exhibit A, my latest haul.

Here's the breakdown:

3 yards 60" wide hot pink stretch fleece, $2 per yard

2 yards 60" wide lavender pin-wail corduroy, $3.47 per yard

2 yards 60" wide lavender broadcloth, $2.00 per yard

3 yards 45" wide brown canvas, $1.50 per yard

2 yards 60" wide greige checked bottom-weight cotton, $2.00 per yard

3 yards 45" wide pale gray fine broadcloth, $1.50 per yard

The wovens coordinate beautifully with each other as well as some existing yardage from my stash. Here they are with a floral and some synthetic suede.

I passed on a beautiful lavender suede-backed shearling fleece because it was priced at $13 a yard. I might have to get it next time if it's still there.

If you're lucky enough to have a Walmart that still sells fabric, take some time to dig through the piles. I had to spend a bit of time in a squatting position to uncover several of these gems, but it was so worth it. Besides, I need the exercise!

Your Design Fortune Cookie

2011-01-23T10:35:00.000-05:00

This is a new-to-me style quiz at Stylish Home found via How About Orange.

Here's what the quiz says about me:

Results: You most resemble a California Country

Details...

An intimate home of modest proportions. The living room envelops your kitchen in hip cool. Build a roaring fire and jump into your cozy bed. Art that definitely does not match the sofa. A sense of rolling hills and vineyards surround this table. A cool refreshing drink - and often more than one! Pre-war, upper east side attitude. Loving a good project, best to keep your head on.

Suspected "California Country"
- Sandra Bullock
- Harrison Ford
- Jeff Bridges

The quiz is a visual one, which makes it kind of different. Stylish Home suggest taking it "...just for fun. Think of it as your design fortune cookie."

More Books

2011-01-21T16:06:00.000-05:00

These should keep me occupied over the weekend. They were three separate orders placed with Crafter's Choice, but all arrived today. I've paged through all of them already. The only one I'm feeling meh about is The Homemade Home. Maybe it will grow on me? I can't tell you how many times I've picked up Weekend Sewing at Borders and I've been coveting Simply Scandinavian for some time. This stack set me back $33 and some change. Not too shabby. Four more books are on their way. That's will have to tide me over for a while. I'm maintaining a wish list, but it consist mostly of books that are "arriving soon." Now I need to put all of the inspiration that I'm gaining into action and start crafting!

Horrorscope

2011-01-15T07:13:00.001-05:00

Did you know that changes in the earth's alignment have changed the dates of the signs of the zodiac? That's if you follow the reasoning of astronomer Parke Kunkle.

Of course you'll find that Mr. Kunkle has his share of dissenters if you follow the comments to articles such as this one in the Huffington Post. Either way, I remain a Saggitarian and unaffected by the shift.

Geninne Zlatkis

2011-01-15T04:59:00.000-05:00

This is woman of immeasurable talent. Every time I visit her blog I am in awe. Now I see that she is selling some gorgeous pillows. How unbearably beautiful is this?

If you want to see pictures of the pillows styled in her own home, go to her blog. You'll stay to see much, much more.

Trust Me

2011-01-15T04:33:00.001-05:00

So this winter is turning out to be a harsh one. December turned out to be unseasonably cold, and January has been worse with the addition of snow and ice. My body is in hibernation mode. Lately, all I want to do is sleep. It's just about too cold for anything else. I am so ready for Spring.

On a positive note, my craving for low levels of activity and sleep has been conducive to reading. I've been trying to make my way through a few of the design books that I ordered during the frenzy of sales at Crafter's Choice Book Club last month. On my bedside table at the moment are:

I am very happy with all three of these books, especially in light of the fact that each one set me back $11 plus tax (free shipping). I'm beginning to feel like a broken record when I repeat my amazement at the Club deals. I really can't report any negative issues in my dealing with this club. You are expected to keep your end of the deal and purchase two books within the first year of your membership. And as far as I can tell, that's it. They will charge your account at the end of the one year time period if you haven't fulfilled your end of the agreement. They did this to me, but I called them and they were more that happy to let me select a couple of books. I had one other glitch where they sent me an email offering their 2-for-$22 with free shipping promotion. I place an order but it kept getting cancelled because I hadn't fulfilled my two book obligation. I had to call customer service to get that one straightened out. I would have to blame Crafter's Choice for that snafu, as they shouldn't have sent me an offer that I wasn't eligible to partake in. But outside of a couple of minor bumps, I have no complaints. Their shipping is quite efficient as well. Ok, end of unpaid endorsement.

Back to the books. I almost always research my book purchases and it really pays off. All three of these books were positively reviewed on Amazon and throughout the blog-sphere. Crafter's Choice has sneak previews of most of their selections, and I find the previews to be helpful too.

I have been randomly picking up one of the books and reading, so I'm not finished with any of them. The text in all three is as interesting as the photographs, so I end up getting sucked into each book. I'm so pleased to have a volume with more than pretty pictures, although I'm not knocking the gorgeous photography included in the books. They are, after all, design books. And they are design books that represent very different styles, which appeals to my schizophrenic tastes. So, all of this to say, or write, that I heartily give all three books a thumbs up. If I ever find my motivation again, I may try to go into more detail, but until then you have the lazy man's version of a book(s) review (also known as the "you'll have to trust me" review).

The Big Reveal

2011-01-07T14:15:00.000-05:00

Remember this project? The constructed piece has been sitting in my bedroom waiting to be properly finished, but I never got around to it. Notice a trend ?. I thought it would be nice to have a table that I could use while lounging in bed. The table started as an experiment and turned out to be very functional, although it impedes the traffic around my bed. Buster hates it because the bed is his domain, so it stays pushed against the wall most of the time. I've gotten used to throwing my clothes on it before climbing in bed. The jury is still out, but it's leaning for a conviction. At any rate, I figured I'd post some pictures just in case I decide to put the table in storage. I apologize for the poor pictures and the state of my wall. It was dusk when I took the pictures so I had to rely on my bedside lamp for light. As for the wall, no excuses.

The mirror is leaning against left-over plywood, which is also leaning. I kind of like the way they look together. Serendipity. Remember my jubilation at unloading some items on craigslist? Well, one of those items was a huge framed mirror. That move left me without a full length mirror. Sorta. Truth be told, I have several full length mirrors of the unframed variety in storage. Necessity...invention.

I've switched my bedside table yet again. The Kent Coffey table is a Goodwill find. It is staying but needs to be refinished. I'm waiting patiently for a break in the weather to tackle that project. The slatted bench that was my bedside table is now in my living room, where it is serving as a bookshelf-slash-end table.

And that concludes this episode...

Interesting Discovery

2010-12-25T19:27:00.000-05:00

I see that Zinio is now offering subscriptions to Burda. Can the instructions be downloaded in English? I find this all very intriguing.

Mina Perhonen

2010-12-19T06:01:00.000-05:00

I am always blown away when I visit the Mina Perhonen website. I never did finish the Mina Perhonen knock-off purse that I blogged about here.

My Version of Hardware Chic

2010-12-18T20:55:00.000-05:00

Really, I'm not trying to be chic. More like flip. Remember the giant-ass piece of glass?

Taken earlier in the day when there was available light.

And after a trip to Home Depot for supplies to make the Five Minute Desk Lamp from Home from the Hardware Store.

Home from the Hardware Store

2010-12-18T05:18:00.000-05:00

I've been out of control when it comes to books lately. Crafter's Choice has been sending me daily deals that are too good to pass up. I'm still trying to figure out how they make any money when they practically give books away. The free shipping offers slay me. So it was with just a tad bit of guilt that I slipped Home from the Hardware Store into my cart. This was part of a two-for-$22 with free shipping offer. The other part of the order consist of Elizabeth Hartman's The Practical Guide to Patchwork. The Practical Guide to Patchwork might finally demystify quilting for me, but that's for another review. On to Home from the Hardware Store.

At first glance I was rather let down by the book's 9" x 7 1/2" size. Also, it's a paperback. I'm not one to snub paperbacks, but I guess I prefer my paperback craft and design books to be larger. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. I googled co-author of the book, Stephen Antonson, when I was researching my options and became very intrigued by what I saw on his website. Upon receipt, it took little time for me to arrive at the conclusion that this book rocks! I have decided to not give too much away in the photos that I'm posting because that would be a spoiler. Let's just say that I'm already planning on tackling one or two of the lighting projects.

The book has projects ranging from furniture and accent pieces to kid's stuff. None of the projects look impossible to execute, although some may be more involved than others. That's a round about way of saying that there's something for everyone in this book. The ubiquitous pipe shelving is included, but there is so much more. And it's not just about the projects, it's about being inspired to find beauty in, and alternative uses for, hardware. The book is not hurting for great styling and photography either. These projects look good.

I wouldn't mind having a Royal Robot Floor Lamp of my own.

In a separate section of the book instructions can be found for each project. The instructions are sufficiently detailed and well written.

I'm a sucker for a good DIY project, and there's no shortage of DIY inspiration in Home from the Hardware Store.

Cyber Monday at Crate&Barrel

2010-11-29T16:54:00.000-05:00

Crate&Barrel is offering 15% off on almost everything for Cyber Monday. I've had my eye on the Jepara Basket for a while now. It was already discounted and in their outlet, but the extra 15% off sealed the deal.

There are other items that I could have easily loaded into my cart to bring the total to $100, thus earning me free shipping as well. Alas, I am not in a position to blow $100 on non essentials at this time. The basket was pushing it, but it is so pretty and practical. Although many of my magazines arrive to me in digital form, I still get a few publications in paper, including catalogs. This basket will stylishly contain the clutter.

So go check out Crate&Barrel's Outlet if you haven't done so already. I always feel as though they have some of the best deals on their mark-downs.

More Pictures of The House Book

2010-11-27T10:58:00.001-05:00

I thought I'd share some more pictures with you and apologize for hitting the publish button on my posts before properly proof reading. When I'm blogging I have a tendency to start thinking about all the other things I should be doing, hence the trigger finger. On to the pictures...

As you can see, there's a lot of information packed into this book. I expect that I'll find something new each time I pick it up. Although the book was published over 35 years ago, much of the information remains relevant. So I guess you can tell that I give The House Book a big thumbs up!

Random Thoughts on Books and Related Subjects

2010-11-26T16:52:00.005-05:00

Whew, what a wordy title for me!

What could have possibly sparked this tangent? For one thing, I ordered a couple of books from Crafter's Choice Book Club just a short while ago. They sent me an email offer of BYGO with free shipping. Logging on to the website I spotted the banner telling me that the weekend special was two books for $22, or three for $33, etc., also with free shipping. The Club is rather limited in selection, although I always manage to sustain a wish list from their available titles.

So I spent a bit of time perusing the selection and made a few choices. At first it seemed I was going to get the two for $22, but in the end I ended up getting the BYGO deal, causing me to reconsider the contents of my cart. The two books I settled on set me back $20.75. I keep telling myself that there are worse afflictions than a book addiction. I'm not sure how the Club manages to survive by selling two books for $10 with free shipping, but I'm hooked.

What did I order, you ask?

I can't wait to pour over the contents of both books. I follow Lisa Lam's excellent blog, U-handbag. She is author of The Bag Making Bible. This book is getting rave reviews, and I suspect that I'll be singing with the choir when I get my copy. As for Easy Concrete, who doesn't want to play with concrete? Given my love of sewing bags and my love of dirty projects, I don't expect to be disappointed with either book.

Crafter's Choice has a fair selection of decorating books as well, but my most recent book acquisitions have been decorating related so I figured a couple of craft books would balance things out.

Which brings us to this picture that I spotted at Roseland Greene (via The Selby).

What, you ask, does this have to do with books? Because this picture could have been plucked from a vintage decorating book, and while I have several retro deco tomes, the one freshest in my collection is The House Book by Terence Conran. The House Book could be the decorating book for the ages. Iconic. I vividly remember the cover of this book from my teenage years. However, it took a mention by John Meyers to jog my memory. And being a devoted follower of Wary Meyers, how could I not invest in my own copy of The House Book? John Meyers insists that the first edition is the one to own. Could I argue? I have pictures of pictures so you will be defenseless too.

It seems I've hit a snag and blogger.com isn't going to let me upload any more pictures. I hope I've piqued your interest. This is another $10 (incl. shipping) book I bought from an Amazon Marketplace Seller, the_book_escape.

John Meyers blogged a few weeks later about another book, High Tech, that I felt compelled to investigate. A fabulous book, but I'll have to save High Tech for another time.

Reflection

2010-11-16T17:18:00.000-05:00

In spite of the title, I'm sure you weren't expecting me to bare my soul and think deep thoughts in this post. And if you were, you'll be relieved to find out I'm not.

This is all about glass. Namely, the giant-ass piece of glass I found several weeks ago. At the curb. At about the same time I found the mystery sign plywood letters. I had a run of good junking. Ahhhhh, the thrill!

It sat out on my front porch for a couple of weeks before I brought it in. There is no way in hell I can pick this thing up by myself. Although picking it up by two is very doable. It's actually an insulated window pane. So it is two layers of heavy glass. Amazing.

I would love to convert it to my dining table. My first plan was to take the top off of my current table and sit the glass on the base. I thought that would look pretty cool, as the old wooden base is kind of interesting in itself. However, when I went to remove the top, I quickly realized that there was some glue involved in the manufacturing process. So now I must decide whether or not to chance destroying a table in order to see my plan through. There would probably be a jig saw involved.

Of course there are options. Ikea has a good selection of trestles, but I would be limited to desk use if I go that route, as my Winsor chairs won't work with most. Then, if I had a giant-ass piece of glass desk, I would have to find a new home for the enormous dining table, my current desk.

Why is everything so complicated?

Weekend Projects

2010-11-15T15:28:00.000-05:00

Continually inspired by the DIY dynamo Morgan at The Brick House, I made a terrarium.

Finally, after switching out my media credenza weeks ago, I decided it was time to reconnect the a/v components. The new cabinet was missing its shelf and had no output holes when I brought it home. I had the missing elements to bring it up to par, but the project kept getting pushed back. This happens frequently when I know there's going to be a lot of dusty work involved. I finally got motivated to do something about it after an uncomfortable Saturday night movie. I still have some loose ends to take care of, such as mounting the power strip on the back of the cabinet, but it's getting there.

Next, I need to face the mounds of leaves in my back yard...

Spotted

2010-11-12T12:55:00.000-05:00

I didn't find what I was looking for, an architect's lamp, but I did spot a few interesting fixtures in my search.

Humbled

2010-11-11T22:03:00.000-05:00

By the extraordinary talent of the maker.

Lamp Love Story

2010-11-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

Another beauty of a Goodwill specimen. I found the lamp askew on its pedestal, but not broken. Fixing it required little more that a few turns of a wrench and some eyeballing for levelness. It's ceramic with crazing in the gold/bronze glaze. Perhaps someone thought it a lost cause. Their loss, my gain.

The shade that was on the lamp was not salvageable, but I knew that I had a shade at home that would fit. If I'm out and about shopping and I spot a simple white lampshade on clearance or cheap, I grab it. The general rule is a lampshade's bottom width should be the same measurement as the height of the lamp itself measuring to just under the light socket. Even though the measurements were close enough, in swapping out the shades I noticed the new shade sat too low and obscured the top of the lamp. The harp needed to be just a bit longer. I decided that I could cannibalize a harp from one of the lamps that I have in storage. I also grabbed a couple of finials. The lamp came home with a plane jane brass nub of a finial.

Can you spot the difference between the two pictures below?

I went with the simple ball on top, which I think is better suited to the casual and eclectic decor of the room.

I'm in love with a lamp.

Changes

2010-11-04T14:16:00.001-04:00

I spotted the tile coffee table at the Salvation Army on Tuesday and returned to purchase it yesterday. It's hand made and weighs a ton. The wood is beautiful. At first I wasn't too keen on the tiles, but after sleeping on it I realized that it was perfect. That no one else snagged it I took as a sign. I would have been crushed if it had not been there when I returned to the store. Ordinarily I don't get too worked up about missing out on a thrift store item, but that little internal blinding light went off as I awoke yesterday, and in a panic back to the store I rushed. I had been scouring craiglist and the thrift stores for weeks in an attempt to find the right table, and I have two misfires to show for it. Even so, the three tables I ended up purchasing came in way less than any new table that I was remotely interested in. I will admit, however, that I have got to start listening to the little voice that tells me when a piece isn't quite right for the space. Every time I deny that voice an audience I almost surely regret it. Patience, Noel, patience.

The pictures are kind of dark because I took them late yesterday afternoon in available light. That and I intentionally wanted them to be a bit grainy so as not to reveal too much (dirt and the mess just outside the frame). The room is still unfinished, but I believe most of the major elements to be in place.

Below is a picture of what my living room looked like earlier this year.

Yeah, I think the new version is improved. I'll try to get some more pictures up this week.

Craigslist Love

2010-11-02T11:52:00.000-04:00

All of the above items: SOLD! They came for the picture and left with the mirror and floating shelves as well. No, the shelves were not mounted. I took them down several weeks ago when I found a cool steel barrister case for the books. I listed the shelves at the time I took them down and had some interest but no takers. The mirror I listed at the same time as the picture, which was yesterday.

I was over the picture long ago. I liked it when I got it, but now, meh. The mirror was huge, and has been leaning after a couple of failed attempts at hanging it. I bought it with the intention of painting it, but that never happened. It needed to go where it could be loved. Same with the shelves. I just don't have a place to store the excess. It feels so good to purge. Clearly I need to be more mindful of the items I purchase. But I think I did ok on selling them, especially if you take into consideration that I did get my share of use out of them.

Spotted

2010-11-01T23:10:00.016-04:00

On Design Sponge. Kate Schintzius' Sneak Peek:

In the archives:

Found

2010-11-01T19:16:00.000-04:00

Spotted, while I was out and about, at the curb, walking with Buster. They were a dirty mess, but cleaned up without too much effort. There are 19 of them, but I didn't have the space to hang all. This might be a temporary installation, as I think I'll tire of them in my entry way. Perhaps they spelled out "restaurant", but if that the case, I'm missing the additional "r." I hung them randomly as I wasn't feeling particularly clever at the time. They're kind of fun and different.

Staycation

2010-10-30T20:47:00.003-04:00

I'm taking some time off from work, but since I have a thousand and one things to keep me occupied at home, I'm not going anywhere. I decided to treat myself to some total non-essentials as a consolation prize for staying put. My reward:

This is a Michelle Armas print on canvas that I've been coveting. It's available at Urban Outfitters. I was able to stack a couple of promotion codes during the online ordering process that knocked the price down to $54.39. Pretty resourceful, heh? The picture is in transit and should arrive on my porch on Tuesday. It's so different than any other artwork that I already have, which is a good thing.

Also:

Mary Randolph Carter's new book. Borders sent me an email with a 40% off coupon, thus easing the blow to my checking account.

I spent a couple of hours reading my new book last night and plan on spending some more time with it throughout my staycation.

Of course there are other acquisitions that I've made in the nearly two months since I last posted. For these things I have no justification in getting. However, I have been mostly thrifty in my pursuits. I will try to get back on track with blogging and share what I've been up to.

Rugs

2010-09-03T15:26:00.000-04:00

If you're looking for a nice area rug that won't cost an arm and a leg check out Lowe's. They always have these bound Mohawk carpet remnants at great prices. I have purchased a multitude of these rugs over the years. They are durable and can be cleaned with a carpet cleaner. I picked up this 6' x 8' last night. They had a couple of nice 8' x 12's that could have worked as well. The selection varies, so you may have to wait to find a good fit for your decor. Or you have the option of visiting all of the local stores to see what's available.

Zinio

2010-08-21T23:53:00.000-04:00

I'll admit that I've become a digital magazine convert. Thus far I've subscribed to the digital versions of Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and Country Living. I've purchased individual digital issues of a Living Etc and Martha Stewart Living, and plan to add them to my subscription list soon.

If I subscribed to the traditional paper issues, eventually I would be overwhelmed by the clutter and the magazines would be handed off to family and friends. Not that there's anything wrong with passing your magazines down the line, but sometimes it's hard to let go of all that inspiration. Now I can access all the past issues of my magazines sans the storage dilemma. I'm finding that the benefits of digital print media outweigh the cons. Actually, I'm not sure that I can report any negatives.

If you're on the fence when it comes to paper vs. cyber, here's your chance to try digital without obligation: The Read Green Initiative. I know this isn't the first time I've blogged about this, but now that I've had a few months worth of experience with digital magazine subscriptions, I can honestly say I'm hooked. And if you're wondering, I'm in no way affiliated with Zinio or any other subscription service.

Try it. You won't be sorry.

Project

2010-08-21T21:55:00.000-04:00

This project started out as a 4' x 8' piece of maple veneered plywood that I picked up today at Home Depot. I had the sales person assisting me rip the sheet into two 2' x 8' boards so it would be more manageable to transport. With a loose plan already in place, I knew that I could work with the dimensions of the cut board.

The piece is assembled, but it needs finishing. Stay tuned for the reveal.

More Art

2010-08-15T15:55:00.001-04:00

At Tuesday Morning I found this picture and three others from the same series by this artist. I love the prints, hate the frames. Or more accurately, I hate the antiqued border on the inside of the frame. The cheap-o pressed board frames I can sorta live with. Fearing they would be gone if I didn't snag them, I bought them knowing that I might be returning them. Generally, I end up regretting purchasing framed massed produced art. However, I do love this artwork. The pictures were $30 apiece, and at a little over 20" square they are sizable and would make a statement on my wall. I would have to fix the hideously tacky antique border if I kept them. And I have no business spending $120 and some change on artwork right now. I will have to figure out where the money is going to come from if I am to keep them. I'm leaning toward returning them. Some days I hate having a conscience.

Folk Art

2010-08-15T15:04:00.001-04:00

Found at the Salvation Army Store on Wednesday. My pictures are poor, so they don't do the piece justice. I haven't decided where I'm going to put it, but I love it.

The Painted Table

2010-08-02T12:12:00.000-04:00

Painted in Rustoleum White Satin oil paint. I know a lot of people would say that painting a solid cherry table is a sin. I guess that makes me a sinner, and a happy one at that because I love it. The table has a home in my sewing room.

I never did post pictures of my office/sewing room after I made the switch. There were several things I knew that needed to be changed so it seemed pointless to put pictures up. Now the room is closer to being picture worthy. I will try to post something by the weekend.

Adventures In Slipcovering

2010-07-25T21:37:00.012-04:00

While I was out and about yesterday I stopped by Lowe's to check out the color selection of Rustoleum oil paints. On the other side of the paint isle I spotted drop cloths. Figuring the price was right for the yardage, I bought the largest available drop cloth at 12' x 15'. I have a drop cloth that I bought over a year ago at Big Lots. The Big Lots cloth is considerably smaller, too small to cover a sofa, but made with a much better grade of canvas. If fact it's woven so tightly and smoothly that it could be stretched and painted. I've not been lucky enough to encounter these drop cloths on the few occasions that I've returned to Big Lots. The Lowe's cloth is of very poor quality, rough, nubby, and horribly linty. It was pieced together from three separate lengths of canvas as well. Not really what I was aiming for, but not totally unexpected. I was willing to try and work with the yardage. I washed the Lowe's cloth hoping, with the sizing gone and some shrinkage, the fabric might lend itself to a slipcover. Washing didn't improve it as I'd hoped. You can see in one of the images above a fraction of the lint that collected on my floor. This came off of the fabric after washing it. I'm returning the drop cloth to Lowe's. The poor quality could not be overlooked. All was not lost though, as I had a chance to practice draping the massive piece of fabric.

My plan is to construct a loose cover with twill ties. Unfortunately the book that I'm using as a guide, The Sewing Bible: Slipcovers, is more than a little ambiguous. I'm finding that how-to books with the word "bible" in the title are usually lacking details. With my confidence waning after trying to make sense of the book's instructions, I headed over to Hobby Lobby. I knew that they were having a .99 Simplicity pattern sale, and I knew that there was a Simplicity pattern that gave sewing instructions for casual slipcovers. Armed with book and pattern, I went about the business of draping. My reference materials take different approaches, so I just kept at it until I was close to satisfied with how things looked. I'm am now feeling surer of my ability to conquer the slipcover. Eventually the right fabric will find me.

Good Wood

2010-07-23T16:32:00.001-04:00

First of all, please try to overlook the horrible (for so many reasons) pictures. Yes, thats my Bath and Bodyworks Sensual Body Lotion, and my flashlight/intruder skull smasher. All in the same picture. Nice. We won't even go into the dirt on the floor, or the rogue thread hanging from my (once again) unmade bed, or my month old pedicure. Golly, why is it that my blog gets no recognition??? Whew, glad I got that out of my system. On to the nitty gritty!

I found the slatted table at Goodwill. I made a round late yesterday and spotted the piece. Left, mulled over it, losing some sleep in the process, and returned for the kill this morning. Half price furniture at Goodwill today, yes-sir-ee. It's a low table at 13 1/2" high. Good for my bedside. I may paint it. It's heavy for its size, and sturdy. I can't help but wonder if it performed some other function in a past life. Like maybe it had a cushion on top and was used as a ottoman?

The stool is a Salvation Army find. I spotted it last week when I scored the table and chairs. It was still there for half-price Wednesday. A sign, I say. It's heavy too, and measures just short of 16" high. I will definitely paint the stool in a bright and cheerful color.

Meanwhile, my house looks like a disaster. When will the insanity end?

Blog Redo

2010-07-19T16:53:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure who I'm addressing here. Blog Patrol tells me to expect zero visitors today, so this post is probably unnecessary. On the chance that there might actually be someone out there checking out my blog, I'm willing to bet that you've noticed the change in template, etc.. You can expect more changes as I'm playing until I find something I like and that represents me. The current template is too monochromatic for my tastes. I'm a color person, so it's not a good fit. What I'm trying to say is, bear with me. Changes might be frequent over the next few weeks and somewhat unsettling for the reader(s). My apologies in advance. Thank you for understanding.

The Table

2010-07-19T15:25:00.003-04:00

So here it is. Like the chairs, it's marked Pennsylvania House, but the table has the additional identifying stencil "Lewisburg." I guess it's entirely possible that the original owner bought the table and chairs together, but the scale seems a bit off. At any rate, it's a very nice table. Someone started to restore it, but they obviously abandoned the project and eventually the set found a new home at the Salvation Army. I think $90 for the whole shebang was a very good deal. The three leaves expand the table to a whopping 96 inches.

I'm still undecided about whether or not I'll keep it. I could probably sell the table for what I have in the whole set or at least half of what I have in the set. The guilt of not waiting for half-price Wednesday would certainly be alleviated if I were to go that route. Truthfully, I am becoming rather attached to the behemoth.

Green Things

2010-07-19T01:25:00.000-04:00

Vintage suitcase from Habitat's thrift store. Okra from my neighbor's garden.

Score!

2010-07-18T08:08:00.000-04:00

I found these beautiful Windsor chairs at the Salvation Army yesterday. Wednesdays are half-price days, but I was afraid they would be gone if I didn't grab them. They were a steal at full price. I actually made three trips to the store before I pulled the trigger. The set includes a table, one arm chair, and five side chairs. The table is awaiting pick-up, scheduled for Monday. The table is also Pennsylvania House, but I doubt it was original to the set and I may list it on craigslist. It is a very pretty table, oval and solid wood. Three leaves were included. I will refinish the chairs, and the table if I keep it.

Sew Serendipity

2010-07-17T11:54:00.001-04:00

Crafter's Choice Book Club sent me an email offering two for $22 + free shipping. The last time they offered me this deal, it turned out to be a fiasco. I won't go into the details here. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I narrowed my choices to four books, one of those being Kay Whitt's Sew Serendipity. My craft book buying decisions are usually made more informed by researching Amazon for reviews. Sew Serendipity had only a few comments, but all were positive. Upon preview, I would have to concur with the Amazon reviewers.

Basically, the book bases the projects on three patterns: a skirt, dress, and jacket. All of the patterns are included and can be found in an envelope at the back of the book. The patterns look simple enough. What really makes the clothing stand out is the use of fabric, pattern, and color. The samples in the book are beautiful and inspiring. Although many of the garments in the book are bright and colorful, there is certainly room for interpretation for the more neutrally inclined sewer.

Keep in mind that I have yet to create a project from the book, but it looks as though the directions are sufficiently detailed and illustrated. The drawn illustrations are every bit engaging as the photographs. The book includes a chapter on custom fitting. The models wearing the garments in the photographs are of all shapes and sizes. The clothing looks good on all of them.

I'm majorly impressed by this book, and I hope Kay Whitt is already working on a sequel.

Another Mail Sack

2010-07-09T07:11:00.000-04:00

New Bag

2010-07-05T15:08:00.000-04:00

Made with Pink Chalk's Mail Sack pattern . This is a great pattern that makes a very unfussy but striking bag. The pattern's simplicity invites all manner of embellishment. I've made the smaller version before, and I've been asked many times about its origin.
The larger bag is quite roomy, enough so for a full size laptop, I believe. I'm working on another one. More pictures to follow.

Unplugged: The Bedroom

2010-06-25T13:18:00.000-04:00

This is my new sleeping space. It's substantially smaller than my other bedroom. As you can see, Buster has adapted. The ceiling fan was the only thing that I purchased when I swapped spaces. The room doesn't have the airflow that my other bedroom has, so a ceiling fan was a necessity. I decided to keep the Capricorn picture in my bedroom since it ties in with the Palace Portrait quite well. The wardrobe is massive and ordinarily I would have thought the scale wrong for such a small space, but because of its reflective doors it works well. The wardrobe actually helps to enclose the sleeping area a bit and contributes to the coziness factor. As evident in the pictures, I still have wall patching to do. I'm also planning on hanging wall hooks to the right of the window so I'll have a place to hang my clothes before I get in bed.

Painting

2010-06-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

I'm finally painting the base to my cutting table. This is a project that's been nagging me for a while. The red and yellow combination was hurting my eyes. Dismantling the table means displacing all of the books that the base holds, so I put it off for sanity's sake. Since I had to take the table apart to move it to its new location, I decided now is the time to paint. Even with one sloppy coat it looks a thousand times improved.

Disheveled

2010-06-10T17:05:00.000-04:00

I'm still trying to restore order after switching out my bedroom and office/sewing room. It's something I've been considering for months but didn't want to deal with the turmoil. Turned out to be a good move. Details soon.

Buster Love

2010-05-26T16:17:00.000-04:00

In Between

2010-05-15T13:00:00.002-04:00

This project is neither a before, nor after. It's an in between. You may remember this post. Yesterday I spent a few hours up close and personal with an orbital hand sander and the chair. Chuck has kindly left his sander over here so that I may use it at my convenience. What a blessing. Anyone that dabbles in furniture refinishing needs an electric sander. So far I've used it on this table and, of course, the chair.

I'm debating in which direction to go now that the chair is just about ready for a finish. Safe would be a shade of white. Probably a Rust-o-leum oil. I think they have a satin white enamel. Or I could use the Safety Yellow Rust-o-leum gloss enamel that I already have. Or maybe I need to investigate my other options. Blue perhaps? I know I don't want to stain it. Opinions?

Bueller...

After

2010-05-15T12:32:00.000-04:00

The mirror was a quick project. Perfect for an instant gratification buzz. I took pictures of it in two locations. Right now I'm leaning toward the drawer unit.

I couldn't make my bed as it's a protected sanctuary for cute dogs (and their toys).

Weekend Project

2010-05-14T13:32:00.002-04:00

Last week brought me some good luck in the thrift department. Not only did I find the sofa, but I also scored a fun mirror. I live within close distance to several thrift stores, and, on average, make a thrift round every other week or so. Sometimes I get lucky. Most of the time I leave empty handed. The mirror was spotted several weeks ago at Goodwill. Thankfully it was snubbed during the last 50% off sale, for which I missed. I vowed it would be mine next time. As it happens, I was rounding late last week when, as I was nearing the exit at Goodwill (empty handed), I thought I overheard the cashier telling a customer that there would be a 50% off sale over the weekend. Taking a chance that I heard the clerk correctly, I returned the next day (Friday) and was welcomed at the store's entrance by a sign verifying the half-off sale. The mirror was $12.50 plus tax when all was said and done.

What you see in the picture is a WIP. I managed to not take before pictures once again. I really need to quit doing that. Anyway, the mirror has been separated from its frame so that I can paint it. The paint is Rust-o-leum oil enamel in Aluminum. The mirror is going in my bedroom, probably next to the huge Ikea wardrobe. As I'm writing this, the first coat is curing. I'm hoping for a swift completion. After pictures to follow. Soon!

Score!

2010-05-06T17:29:00.001-04:00

Found at Habitat's Home Store, a Lee Industries sofa in flax upholstery. Eighty cabbages and seemingly from a non-smoking and pet free home. The furniture was flying at my house today. My sister is taking the futon off my hands. I feel better knowing it's going to a good home. Happy, happy day!

Spring Color

2010-05-03T16:25:00.000-04:00

Living Room Part 2

2010-05-03T11:18:00.002-04:00

More pictures. I realize some of them are nearly identical to yesterday's post, but I'm not in the mood for editing. My living room is by no means finished. The red futon cover is old and rarely used, but it's time to replenish my supply of covers, preferably with ones in a natural color. I would love to have a slipcovered sofa, but it's not in the budget at this time. At least the futon frame is a very good one. I've had it for years.

The picture over the entryway table needs to be replaced. Originally I bought the picture on clearance from Tuesday Morning so I could cannibalize the frame for another poster. That was several years ago. I really need to make it my next project.

There are lots of things that could be improved upon, but time and budget are always limiting factors. I'm just trying to make it an inviting and comfortable space, and I believe it's getting there.

Living Room

2010-05-01T19:06:00.006-04:00

First off, pictures of the canvas before I started the actual decoupaging of the collage. That is the last before picture I'll show. From here on you'll see it hanging. It's still not complete because I have to coat it some more, but it's done enough.

Artsy Fartsy

2010-04-25T19:19:00.001-04:00

This is the original art project I mentioned here . The numbers are made out of Grungeboard. I found them at Tuesday Morning. I've had the stretched gallery canvas forever. I need to return to Tuesday Morning for another pack of numbers as my canvas is quite large and I am falling short. First I'll fill the canvas, then I'll tweak, then I'll affix the numbers to the canvas. I'm coating the whole thing in flat white, a protective coat, and I'll probably leave it at that.

This Grungeboard stuff is fun, fun, fun. The packages include a lot of extra product that I won't use on this project, but that I'll be sure to use elsewhere.

After Pictures

2010-04-25T13:20:00.000-04:00

Ok, I really didn't take a good before picture. When I first revealed this table here, I had already cut the beveled rounded edges off of it. I still have to break out the Restore-a-Finish on the legs, but I'm posting unstyled pictures anyway. Yup, my living room has ugly old false ceiling tile. It's true. I deal with it. I need new mini blinds and a futon cover (in white or natural) too. I have an idea for some new original artwork to replace the picture that's in the corner. Details to follow.

Kenmore 1020

2010-04-25T12:13:00.001-04:00

This is a cool little machine that I'm selling. I hate to see it go, but I have more machines than I need and use. The 1020 only does straight and zig-zag stitches, but it does those beautifully. It's a great travel machine because of its diminutive size and cute carrying case. Don't let the size fool you because this baby ain't for play. It can pierce some layers. I know there is someone out there that will love it and feed it.

Craigslist Bounty

2010-04-24T16:45:00.000-04:00

I'm listing the Windsor chairs on craigslist. They are beautiful chairs, but they are too big for my table. I have two mismatched pairs of ladder back chairs in storage that will be more appropriate for the table, or I'll keep my eyes peeled for other options.

Honesty

2010-04-19T15:43:00.000-04:00

You know what? This table is the fourth table that I've put in this space. All the others that came before, they just didn't feel right. I was never really happy with any of them. They were too big, too small, the wrong scale, etc., etc.. I've invested a small fortune in dining tables and chairs (including the latest set of chairs, which isn't going to work once again). I could have purchased a high end set for all of the money I've wasted. And you know what else? I actually like this latest, inherited from my mother table the best. I mean I really, really like it. Love it in fact, and the bench, which I bought for a very reasonable $35 years ago. While I haven't always had a place for the bench, I've always made a place for it in storage when not in use.

I'm not sure what my point is here, other than to make public the fact that I waste a lot of money trying to achieve perfection. Unfortunately, the chase only makes me more flawed.

This post was inspired by this lovely blogger's post.

Projects

2010-04-19T14:22:00.000-04:00

The table is finished, at least for now. I'm going to use some Restore-a-Finish on the legs until I can muster up the motivation for another sanding project. The bench is a WIP (work in progress), but I'm aiming for wrap by today or tomorrow. It took me hours to sand the top plank of the bench. The maker must have dipped the thing in polyurethane. Although I've been using an electrical sander, the coarsest sanding pad I had on hand wouldn't do more than dull the finish. I broke out the sanding block and wore it out, and wore me out too.

I can only claim a small role in the seeding of my front yard. Yard Boy, aka Chuck, spent the better part of Saturday making it happen. I did chip in some raking and straw spreading labor, but I got off relatively easy on that project. The scraping of paint off my front porch made up for it though. I still have more scraping to do, but I'm taking a break from it today.

Onward...

Urban Outfitters Markdowns

2010-04-15T16:22:00.000-04:00

On sale now, the UO Beaded Cord Kit marked down to $29.99 from $48. Because I have high ceilings and it needs to hang lower over a dining table, I ordered two cords to splice together. It can take a 100 watt bulb which is becoming a minimum requirement of mine.

The stars must have been in my favor, because I sold my blue chest of drawers just yesterday. I was elated to spot the beaded cord kit on UO's sale pages today. I've been keeping watch for a couple of months. A google search netted me a coupon code, UOUOUO, good for an additional 10% off. With the purchase of a drum shade, I'll probably have a little better than $100 in the fixture. Now I'm super motivated to get that table finished.

Free Digital MagazineSubscription

2010-04-12T19:36:00.000-04:00

It's been a good digital magazine day. I read on several design blogs that the latest issue of Lonny is available for perusing, and then I received an email notification from Zinio letting me know that my digital copy of Elle Decor has arrived. Like most people, I tend to favor the real thing. That is, I like the paper version in my hands. I also realize that there may be a time when we fondly recall the days of paper periodicals. I'm trying to embrace the digital medium and Zinio's Read Green Initiative has made it easier for me to do so in offering a free one year subscription to the magazine of my choice. I have to admit it's kind of nice knowing that I can have a clutter free collection of magazines, available at the click of a button.

Dining Table Project

2010-04-12T16:11:00.002-04:00

Forgive me for the poor pictures and lack of a before picture. It was dark when I decided to tackle this project last night

I'm working on a drop leaf table that belonged to my mother. The table is really banged up from use and multiple moves. While it's not exactly my style, it's sturdy. I didn't really care for the top's rounded edges and thought that sawing them off would make the table look much more Shaker-ish. I love the simplicity of Shaker design and that Shaker furniture looks great in a traditional or contemporary setting. So I broke out my circular saw last night and didn't look back. No regrets. I like the table so much more now. Of course it's still pretty much a mess, but nothing a little wood putty, sandpaper, and paint can't fix.

I've had the bench you see in the pictures for years. It fits perfectly along the side of the table. The chairs, not so much. I'll probably end up listing them on craigslist and finding another bench or more suitable chairs to place on the other side of the table. There's really not enough room at either end of the table to place chairs. Or I should say it looks very cramped to place chairs on the end. The blue cabinet will have to go as well. I kind of figured that would be the case and I have been trying to unload it on craigslist for a couple of week now. I finally got a bite today.

I am really excited to finally find a direction for this space and I think it will look awesome when the pieces are finished and all the clutter is out of the picture.

Coming My Way

2010-04-09T13:15:00.001-04:00

I belong to Crafter's Choice Book Club and couldn't resist the Buy Two for $22 offer. Shipping was free too.

Although their selection is limited, I would have to give the club a thumbs up because they offer some really good deals (like I could have gotten Thomas OBrien's new $50 book with this offer).

I'll be stalking the mailman next week.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T15:18:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter holiday.

The yard sale I planned never happened as I woke up at 5 am on Saturday with a horrible stomach ache and then a bout of liquid s**t. Yeah, probably more information than you needed. I'm not sure if it was a bug or something I ate, but I was positive trying to have a yard sale under the circumstances was not a good idea. At least I managed to drag a lot of furniture out of storage on Friday evening and give it all a good cleaning so it's ready for selling. Perhaps I'll try again this coming weekend, or maybe I'll take pictures and list it on craigslist.

May your Easter be one of joy!

Yard Sale

2010-04-02T11:20:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow. Ugh. I'm committed since I just placed the ad on craigslist. Every year I threaten to unload a lot of stuff, but then I consider all of the work and lose steam. The last time I had a yard sale was right after I moved into my house and that was well over 4 years ago. Even worse than the work involved is having to deal with rude people that want something for nothing. Oh well, I'll just have to suck it up for a few hours.

Score!

2010-04-01T19:28:00.001-04:00

I took a quick tour of Goodwill late yesterday and spotted this chair. After mulling over it for the night, I decided I would return today and buy it if it was still there. Of course I didn't expect to find it when I returned. I figured that "winning the prize" would require that I'd be waiting at the door when they reopened. Well being a night owl didn't help my cause, and after a trip to the post office at about 2 pm today I wandered back into the store. The chair was still there. Amazing, considering it was only $10. Yeah, it needs some elbow grease, but it's old and sturdy, and totally worth it.

Score!

2010-03-31T19:02:00.000-04:00

I found this at Walmart today for $2 a yard. It's gorgeous. My pathetic photo skills don't do it justice. It might be silk. Seriously.

Belson Outdoors

2010-03-24T15:33:00.001-04:00

I love these thermoplastic coated benches and could see them working indoors in a contemporary setting. The backless benches would look great at the end of a bed or at a dining table, and the backed benches would be colorful fun in an entry way and elsewhere. The benches are just a sampling of all the neat stuff at Belson Outdoors. One of their fire rings belongs in my backyard, for sure.

Posterhanger by Jorgen Moller

2010-03-22T18:34:00.000-04:00

These hangers are a great inexpensive alternative for hanging posters and textiles. Available in silver and black anodized aluminum, they range in lengths of 12 to 72 inches.Their sleek profile allows the hanging object to be the focal point. Nice and simple.

Pending Credenza Project

2010-03-19T16:55:00.001-04:00

This is a Thomas O'brien piece that I picked up at Target several years ago. It has good lines, but it isn't the most well made piece of furniture. For sturdiness I give it high scores, but the finish leaves something to be desired. The veneer is thin and easily chipped. It doesn't get a lot of use, as in opening and closing of the drawers and doors (or dusting), but if it did it would probably be a wreck. It has the darkest finish of anything in my home. I liked the dark stain a few years ago, and I actually used to have a few more pieces from this line which I have since sold on craigslist. Initially I thought I would unload this piece on craigslist as well and replace it with something lighter and brighter. Then I got to thinking that because of its simple lines, it would be a perfect candidate for decoupage. A little paint and paper can make a world of difference. So now I'm on a mission to find some cool pictures, or paper, or something that inspires me.

Hagemann

2010-03-18T04:06:00.005-04:00

Quite a few years ago I came across a flip chart of four life science educational posters in a local antique shop. It was more than reasonably priced, the artwork was stunning, and recognizing my good luck I wasted no time in purchasing the set of pictures. I separated the posters from their hanging frame and at times throughout the years have used them to decorate my walls. I made the oak hanging rails, as I knew framing the art in the manner it deserved would cost a small fortune. The posters are mounted on canvas in their manufacture, so they are actually very sturdy. The two pictured above were most recently in my bedroom before the redo. Thinking that I might sell them, I took (crappy) pictures before releasing them from the hangers. When they aren't hanging on a wall, they're stored under my mattress. They are quite large, and my unconventional storage system has served me well.

Some time ago I decide to see what I could find out about my posters and googled the information that was printed on the bottom of the charts. Eventually my search landed me here. In recent months I've seen several posts in various design blogs, such as a Black. White. Yellow. (a favorite), giving recognition to the beauty of life science posters. Oddly, I haven't seen the original source of many of these gorgeous educational charts, Hagemann, named. Hagemann's website isn't the easiest to navigate, and unfortunately the Hagemannstore is friendly only to the brave or those who speak German. I know there is at least one American source for a respectable selection of these posters, but to my knowledge there is no American source for the entire Hagemann catalog, and I would encourage you to examine the entire catalog if you want to see some spectacular works of art.

Edit: I may be wrong about the above linked source not offering the entire Hagemann catalog. After perusing the site, I am pleasantly surprised by the large selection of charts that are available. Given the quality of the posters, the price is very fair.

Trumeau Mirrors

2010-03-15T20:10:00.037-04:00

Links in order of pictures:

Richard Rothstein
Jasper Jacks Antiques
Town and Country Framing
French Interiors
Becky's Rose Cottage
Restoration Hardware
La Belle Nouvelle Orleans
C. Mariani Antiques
Lavender Hill Studio

And a couple of fantastic DIY trameau mirror tutorials:

Kristen's via Matters of Style

Susie Harris

I can totally see a thousand variations and getting kind of radical with pattern and color.

Woolypocket

2010-03-14T14:24:00.004-04:00

I'm obsessed by these things to the point where I lie awake at night formulating a plan to make my own. How I wish some crafty person would post plans for a home made version so I could just be done with it.

The Blue Chest

2010-03-13T19:24:00.012-05:00

So here it is. I'm leaving it for now, but I haven't ruled out further embellishment. The pictures sitting on top are temporary until I find a place to store them. I'll probably take the hanging light fixture down and use a table lamp instead.

Word is light wood and pastels are making a comeback. I guess I'll just have to be unfashionable.

Pondering

2010-03-08T13:49:00.011-05:00

I broke out the Barkeeper's Friend of which I learned about on the amazing blog, Little Green Notebook. The hardware polishes up nicely. I may leave it alone. Not painting it will certainly cut down on project time.

I think I made a mistake in priming the chest first. The primer is causing my foam brush to really drag. I'm going to get some super fine sand paper and sand between coats. I haven't primed the drawers, and I may not. I'll see how subsequent coats of paint go on the chest. I'll ditch the brush for a roller as well.

In the meantime, my house looks like a cyclone struck...

Progress...well sort of...

2010-03-07T12:34:00.023-05:00

The chest of drawers jumped ahead in the queue. This piece of furniture belonged to my mother. Yesterday I managed to sand the chest. Today I'm going to tackle the drawers. My goal is to make the piece look a lot more contemporary, so I'm going to be brave and paint it a saturated, glossy blue. The hardware will get coated with a Rustoleum Metalic, Matte Nickel. No words can describe how happy I am to be giving this pretty piece of furniture the attention it deserves.

My grand vision is one of a lot less brown wood in my living room. This is going to be labor intensive, as I have a lot of furniture to paint. Almost everything in the room is stained wood. Oh well, one piece at a time...

Weekend Projects

2010-03-06T09:14:00.007-05:00

Anticipating the good weather, I pulled a set of these chairs out of storage a couple of evenings ago. The set consist of two arm and two side chairs that I found months ago at Tuesday Morning. I'm going to sand and paint them. Probably white. My goal this weekend is to complete the sanding.

I also have a lovely chest of drawers that belonged to my mother that I'm going to pull from storage as well. The chest will get painted too and possibly a contemporary decoupage treatment. I'll post more pictures as these projects progress.

Pottery Barn Bistro Chair

2010-03-05T21:54:00.002-05:00

I just noticed these cool chairs. Going through an anti dark wood phase at the moment, I would love to see them painted.

The Palace Portrait

2010-03-05T20:25:00.008-05:00

Sunny Forecast

2010-03-03T16:21:00.003-05:00

Yay! We're expecting a sunny weekend and relatively warm temperatures. The temperatures have been substantially below average around here, so this is welcome news. I'll have three days to soak in the light and get things done around the homestead. Excited? Yes!!!

Urban Outfitters Markdowns

2010-02-27T10:17:00.012-05:00

Urban Outfitters has taken additional markdowns on many of their sale items. This 18 inch girl bust has been reduced to $19.99. I know it doesn't seem like my style, but I love it and have been watching for it to be reduced from the previous sale price of $29 (it was originally $48). There are a few items that I'd like to have, but I'm stopping at the bust.

If you find multiple items that you can't live without, there's a coupon code, "JUSTFORYOU", good for $10 off a $75 purchase (excluding electronics, furniture, and bikes).

Sewing Fun

2010-02-21T14:18:00.007-05:00

I splurged on these patterns last night. The fish pattern is Mimi Kirchner's. Her work is fantastic. The super cool burlap nesting bags are from Maya Made. I'm way excited about both patterns and I think the recipient of a gift made of either pattern will be very pleased.

Changes

2010-02-21T13:21:00.015-05:00

Here are some pics of my new duvet cover. Buster has given it his seal of approval. Sorry about the grainy shot and Buster's toys on the floor. I'm playing with the shutter speed and my tripod. Obviously I need to practice adjusting the aperture as well.

The yellow headboard has been covered in a durable gray commercial grade fabric that I found at Walmart. It has a texture that closely resembles burlap, but it's definitely a man made fiber. The color certainly makes for a more serene space.

Lastly, I treated myself to a new Sharp alarm clock. My old clock is a Timex with a similar travel design, but I've had it for years and the battery cover was lost long ago. The new clock was a Target find. I like its sleekness.

The bedroom is finally beginning to take shape. Most of the major components have been addressed. I really want to switch the ceiling fan for a brushed nickel model (I have to have a ceiling fan in my bedroom), but that will have to wait until I find a bargain. I'll be adding art and probably a mirror to the walls. The palace painting is still in its shipping tube. I never did return it, so I guess I'm keeping it.

That's all for now.

Deja vu

2010-02-16T13:39:00.013-05:00

Here we go again. The red tool chest is sitting on my bedroom floor waiting to be repacked and returned, yet I decided to run into Sears one more time to see if a clearance tool chest I spotted weeks ago when I began the quest for a bedside table had been marked down any more. Bingo! This is a navy blue top chest that was marked to $168 and further reduced to $99. The intermediate chest was discounted to $78 and further reduced to $55. So for five dollars more than the purchase price of the red chest, I bought both of the blue boxes. I'm keeping them too. I tried talking the department manager into giving me an additional 30% off of the navy boxes when I first spotted them. Since Sears was having a 30% sale on all tool storage, I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. He wouldn't go for it because they were on clearance. Funny thing is, they would have made more money if they would have sold them to me when I asked for the markdown.

Why will this combination work when the red tool chest wouldn't? For two big reasons:
the navy color and the drawers in the intermediate chest. Red is probably my favorite color, but even I know that too much is, well, too much. The navy is a lot more low key and will be way more adaptable to any changes I make in the room, and the drawers in the intermediate chest pull out independently of the top chest (which means the top of the top chest can remain closed).

I'm still working on the headboard. Right now I'm leaning towards covering it in fabric...maybe this (scroll down to see all of the color choices).

The red duvet cover is done. I'm going to try to get some cleaning in by the end of the week and then I'll take pictures. We've had dreary weather for weeks, which makes it difficult to find the motivation to get anything done around here!!!

Duvet Cover Number Two

2010-02-10T16:36:00.005-05:00

I was so happy with the outcome of my first duvet cover that I decided to make another. Again at Walmart I scored a nearly full bolt of red stretch denim for $3/yd.. This denim is soft and fine, so I expect the final product to feel wonderful against my skin. I've been working diligently on the cover over the last couple of days and I just about got it licked. These tied covers are time consuming. Although I'm finding ways to streamline the process, they're still a big project. Honestly, if someone asked me to sew one for them, I would have to charge a couple hundred dollars in labor to make it worthwhile.

I'll post pictures ASAP.

Lytegem

2010-02-07T13:15:00.005-05:00

Now at Tuesday Morning, the Lightolier Lytegem. I can only speak for the store nearest me, but the colors are limited to black and persimmon. At $20, I'm going back for more. This is the perfect little light for my bedside without a table as the lamp can be wall mounted and it's unobtrusive. I only regret that they don't have the white Lytegems.

My Boy

2010-02-06T14:51:00.004-05:00

Yesterday we spent a lazy evening browsing Veranda, Dwell, and the internet.

Lofty Aspirations

2010-01-27T16:16:00.010-05:00

This book was my guide in The Great Duvet Adventure. I purchased it a Joann's using a 50% off coupon. After bringing it home and thumbing through it, I decided that calling it a bible is pushing it. While it does contain some good information, the instructions accompanying the projects are somewhat vague. With that stated, the book is a helpful reference for a sewer with some experience under his or her belt.