Symone's room - Part I: No Sew Treatments

I know I was supposed to be working on my home office this weekend, but...

Okay, I've been promising Symone I'd fix up her room. This is the first in a series fixing up Symone's room.

No Sew Window Treatments:

Step 1: I started w/ tab top turquoise panels I bought from Wally World for my office.

They are too bold and since Symone said I was not "sharing the turquoise", I decided to put in her room.

Step 2 & 3 : Since the panels were too short, I hot glued a purple cotton fabric remnant to the bottom OVER the tab since I'm not very fond of tab tops.

Step 3 (above pic): Then I hot glued some heart ribbon trim that they didn't even charge me for at Hancock since it was just thrown in the clearance bin. JACKPOT!

Final Look:

They'll be really cute when I iron them LOL

I used some silver upholstery tacks to put the panels up with an inverted pleat in the middle.

Here's the look I'm going for from The Nester...still looking for fabric to put on the top.

Looking forward to finishing my baby's room...eventually :)

Putting Myself on Blast

Now that I have officially taken ALL my Christmas decorations down, my house feels naked. It's like when I got a weave in college, then took it out. My house feels BALD! LOL

It has motivated me to get back to business. With that said, I am putting myself on blast and posting pics of my home office I started in October.

Since November I have kept the doors closed and tucked away supplies in the room and ignored it. No more.

Here's the current state:

Unfinished walls - Yes! Since October *sigh*

Orange silk tab top panels from Z Gallerie that will be used as a duvet and curtains. I changed my mind on the red and white. It was too cumbersome to decide on curtains and accesorries. I already had 4 panels of orange silk, inclucing some pillows. Price - FREE

Swatch of chocolate brown w/ turquoise and orange fabric. Will use this for a chair for desk and accent pillows.

Video of still unfinished desk - decided to leave dark so should be simple sand and stain. The lamp is a fab lamp from IBB that still has the tag on it for almost $200, but I bought at the Frisco resale for $24.99 *that stuff is under my desk because I was working on the floor - that's the best excuse i could think of :)

Stool from resale for $4.99. Will use as an ottoman/coffee table for daybed. Not sure if will cover completely or keep legs exposed. What do you think?

*the ladder is sideways on the floor because I was painting on my side on the floor- did it work this time? :)

Let's see how far I get on the office this weekend. Pray for me!

Reality Has Set In...

Nothing like confirmation that family is coming over to shift you into over drive. Those unfinished, undecided, incomplete projects -- either get done, get a band-aid or get put in the garage.

My mama, daddy, favorite cousin and aunt are coming over Sunday for dinner for my parent's 49th anniversary. The day after Symone's 5th b-day. Can you say ooo-weee?!

Symone and I are home sick, but I went into overtime to get his house into shape!

Dining Room:

Before

In Between:

with crooked curtains

Now:

The curtains are 108" long and for a change are too long. I did this with some stretch stuff out a sewing supplies bag I got at a resale store and pinned to the wall with an upholstery tack. I've seen them do this at fabric stores. Not sure which I like yet.

The table was done based on inspiration from Centsational Girl's sidebar.

Nothing close...but inspired nonetheless. This table is one of my favorite pieces in my house. Loving the turquoise and gold.

Also, updated mantle, changed front door wreath (you see the original one is now in the diring room), changed entryway table and rearranged living room.

Tired - will post more tomorrow. As always, what do you think?

Martha Stewart Knock-Off - Wreath

In my quest to knock-off anything I can, I decided to do a wreath I saw on marthastewart.com. I loved the way the bulbs increased in size from bottom to top.

Check out my take on it.

1. I started with a 36" wreath I already had.

2. I wanted fuller so I put an 8" wreath inside and secured by twisting branches on inside of the larger wreath to brances on the outside of the smaller wreath.

Here's what it looked like afterwards.

3. Then I took miniature bulbs from Wally World and started tying to the wreath from the bottom.

4. I pulled leaves off sprays from a local craft store and started added* to the wreath.

*I just pulled the leaves off the tips and twisted onto wreath tips...some are just stuck in.

5. I mixed in medium bulbs at the middle then a few large ones at the top. I should have done this first, but, hey, I'm a rebel.

Here's how it came out.

I'm pretty pleased. What do you think?

Home Office Update - Accessories (Long Post Warning)

In an effort to once again put off painting the top of the walls in my office/guest room, I wanted to try out the turquoise spray paint I got to see if I want to accessorize in turquoise or red.

The desk in this pic is my inspiration (click to see larger). The plan was to spray paint this desk in a similar fashion, but you know I have commitment issues.

Jennifer Flanders by way of House of Turquoise

I played the "Let's just have fun and see where this goes" card and decided to start w/ the $4.99 chair instead just to see the color.

Side note: The desk I got for Symone's room for $5 has similar legs. May use it instead.

Supplies:

LiquidDeglosser (keeps from having to sand before painting)

Spray paint

Gloves

Sandpaper (to distress if desired)

Step 1: Rub deglosser on with a rag (or a torn piece of jersey pajama pants).

Notice the chair is cracked. I need some Gorilla Glue, but will fix later. Need...to...focus...

Step 2: Spray paint (no pic).

Spray Painting Tip:

- Use short strokes (bursts of paint) in direction of grain to avoid dripping.

- If drips, you can 1) let it dry then sand later and touch up; 2) do what I did - rub drip with finger and lightly spray over.

Here's the outcome with one coat (and a flower courtesy of Symone - my flower child). Can't wait to find a fab fabric.

Love how can still I see the dark finish on edges and carvings. Has worn, distressed look even without sandpaper. Don't think I'll do another coat.

Also, did these. They have cute detailing in the corners.

Tried to sand the detailing so they stand out, but it didn't work well since are metal. Will rub and wipe some stain or gold rub and buff over them tomorrow and see how it looks.

Final Thought: Very pleased with today's work. Feeling very accomplished. Now to put it all together (and finish painting)...hmmphh.

Pottery Barn Wanna-Be's

I saw these in the Pottery Barn catalog while at the car dealership Saturday...

Then I remembered I purchase two very similar lanterns at a local resale store a couple of weeks ago for $1.99 each.

- Get lanterns out of trunk (yes, from two weeks ago).

- Get big *#@ acorns out my car door that I picked up off the ground at work.

- Shop the house for random candles.

Voila...Pottery Barn Wanna-Be(s) - all I need now is some fake snow!

Bare Limbs

Remember the Demon Tree from next door I pulled down?

I noticed some really nice looking limbs and saved some.

Check out some fruits of my labor.

Candle holder turned Nature holder (may spray paint limbs, too.)

Tall twisty limbs in glass candles holders on mantle. Still not sure about this mantle.

About the candle holder - I loved this little branch top, but wasn't sure what to do w/ since it's so short.

I broke off three more from the top of longer branches.

Then pulled some of the mossy stuff out of a ratty old ficus tree (yes, I did...I still have fake trees in my house) and put on top of this candle holders, which is left over from Annette's box of stuff that didn't sell in our yard sale.

Original candle holder...

Nature holder:

Tips For Selecting Limbs:

1. Look for similar shapes - straight, twisted, buddy, etc.
2. Don't limit yourself to long limbs...break away the pieces you like and find way to use smaller pieces.
3. Consider spray painting limbs for year round or seasonal use.
4. Steal shamelessly...pick up stuff off the ground (limbs, acorns, pine cones, etc. ) any where you go. *I pick up huge acorns from work every week!

Happy nature hunting!

Let There Be Light

Remember this pic that used to be my banner (all 8 of you who follow me LOL)?

Well, that was September '08 when I moved in! Before today, the whole window was covered. Meaning, no light getting into dining room area.

Background:

That country mess of a plant/tree outside the window was growing OVER the fence from my neighbor's back yard. Neighbor is cool, but had the nerve to tell me it grew pretty flowers and there was a bird's nest on her side at top so be careful. *blank stare*

I was like, "Do you see this demon growing all in the gutter and into the siding of my house!"

Here's what I did:

1. Pulled it down (Her fence is the nice tall one, mine...the crummy little one)

2. Took my chain saw to whatever I could reach. (no pic)

3. Pulled away to alley.

I still couldn't pull the pieces out of the gutter and siding!

We have same yard guy...Wednesday, I'm telling Juan to keep that shyt trimmed on HER side...I'm getting a little indignant, if you can't tell.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Now...think I'll be more inclined to finish my dining table and chairs? Hmmph, read my sub-title again.