Nightstands

For some reason, getting our bedroom together has been extremely difficult.  I can't seem to find what exactly I want for it, and I have an even harder time even imagining what I want.  I tend to move from one idea to the next.  All I do know is that it needs to be a calm and clutter-free area, mostly by request of my dear husband.  Thank goodness he can offer some sort of direction.

But once I came home from my vacation, you might remember that I mentioned getting in a nesting mood, so last weekend Erik and I spent some time in Ross looking for a few things.  Our main goal was to get two nightstands, as we only had one ugly plastic drawer.  The last time we entered Ross, it turned into a frustrating adventure looking for dining area wall art.  However, this time it was a much less frustrating, and actually quite enjoyable, excursion.  Immediately we found these small stands for only $8.99 each!  After setting them up, I think it's already vastly improved.

Also, don't you love this One Line a Day journal?  It's been sitting in my wishlist for months now and finally got it.  I leave it on my nightstand so I can fill it in before I go to bed.  Journaling is something I do sporadically, but I think with such small entries, I can keep at it regularly.

What room do you have the hardest time decorating?

This week in crafting land..

Not only was I busy cooking, but I wanted to keep on spicing the house up.  The living room/dining room area is especially lacking in the decor department.  Here's what I did!

I found this DIY for yarn covered wine bottle vases and decided to give it a go.  I always knew there was something I could do with wine bottles but never had the inspiration--until I found someone else's idea!

Another DIY that I found was how to tint your own mason jars--because buying them is expensive!  I got some globbed mod podge at the bottom, but when they're filled with flowers or stones, you can't tell.

And finally, for the new table I pulled a few ideas in.  I've seen tons of people using cake stands to use as a centerpiece but those are expensive.  I just took one of my plates and hot glued a candle holder to the bottom.  It worked out pretty well!  And you can see one of my homemade tinted jars is on the table, too.


I linked up to Not Just a Housewife's link party

Our bathroom has needed a little love.  The guest bathroom is great, mostly because it doesn't need a whole lot except some soap.  Everything is just decoration.  But the master bathroom.... we've got the washer and dryer in there which already doesn't look good and all our daily hygiene stuff on the counter so trying to make it look pretty is rough.

I was reading Miss Indie this morning and she showed an awesome way of organizing your bathroom stuff with cake stands and it got me thinking...

I've had these cake stands since our wedding, because I had my sister help me out with making it.  It was a great idea, but now I've had these stands hanging around with nothing to do.  So I covered the inside circles with scrapbooking paper I picked up about a year ago (remember that papering everything stage?), hot glued a thrift store brandy glass between to the two layers, lined it with wedding cake lace and voila! Pretty solution to a clutter problem.

I'm considering a third layer, since I've got one more cake stand left.  Any thoughts on the final result?  

More Entryway Projects

This week has been full of projects and it's been awesome.  Whether it's finishing up school projects (which are now done!) or household projects,  I've been busy doing one thing or another.

Here is my most favorite of the week.  I found my inspiration on Pinterest several months ago and thought it was such a neat idea.  Mine isn't an exact replica, but I took the idea and ran with it.

I had so many scratched up CD's around the apartment that I've just been dragging from one place to the next, attempting to find a use for them.  Once something has expired from it's original use, I try to find a new one.  The fabric was left over from when my sister and I made bunting flags for my wedding.  As a side note--don't put that project off if you ever decide you must have bunting flags at your wedding. 

Another project I worked on this week was a wreath for the inside of the front door.  Using scrap fabric and some yarn I purchase over the winter, I think it goes well in this space.  I remembered having seen something use newspapers and weekly ads to create the base for a wreath, but I cannot seem to find the original tutorial.  So I just kind of made it up as I went along.  It's slightly lopsided, but I chose to leave it that way as I think it gives a nice "imperfect" look.

So that's the kind of thing I've been doing lately.  What about yourself?

Painting party

For me, I tend to spend my Monday's catching up on whatever was neglected over the weekend.  However, this Monday, I painted.  A whole heck of a lot.

This isn't even all of what I was painting yesterday, but it gives you the idea.  That stand and the drawer are what the TV sits on, the crate--that's for something in the office that I'll show later.  

Remember that little thing I pulled out of the dumpster?  I haven't quite fixed it, but I at least painted it.  So far, I works out very well even if it is missing two legs (who needs them anyway?).

So that's the extent of my entryway furniture.  I have more plans for the walls, but this is the only thing that will be sitting on the floor.  There just isn't enough space.

When accidents make for the best surprises

When Erik and I got engaged, I immediately set out to looking for absolutely everything we would need to pull this thing off.  We had about a 2.5 month engagement (AH!) and had to get everything done as fast as we could.

One thing I really wanted to do was find mis-matched dining ware at thrift stores.  I made some great finds, shopping at Goodwill as often as I could and finding pink/green/blue/red tagged items whenever those were 50% off.  And then I found out the town we lived in at the time did a Plate Project, so we could just borrow mis-matched plates, cups, silverware, napkins... everything.  Amazing, right?

Well I ended up with all these plates and bowls that I had started picking up.  I realized, however, that a lot of these plates are gorgeous and would definitely earn a place in our home.  So I picked through all the ones I liked and re-donated the ones that were leftovers.  

These are my favorite dishes and I have a lot of little plates, which makes eating reasonable servings a tad bit easier.  One other thing I have ended up with a lot of after the wedding (and not so much by accident) is lavender.  So much lavender... 

Lamp shades for any room

We discovered that our bedrooms don't have any light fixtures.  Totally weird and something we didn't even think to look at before we took the place.

But no worries!  I'm purchasing basic lamps and lampshades and turning it into a little project :).  Only, how should I redo these little shades?

  I found this DIY tutorial for making cute doily lampshades.

                   Curbside Style

This is one of my favorites!

                   Young Wifey

And I just love the simplicity of this one.  The basic ribbon detail adds a little elegance.  Although I'm not so sure about the base.

                        Alicia B. Designs

I may end up making one of each and theme each of the rooms a little differently.  Because I simply cannot pick one that I like best.

Any ideas?

New Space

Since we're moving to an island, we chose to sell or give away most of our furniture and some home decor items.  Basically, we're starting over.

So I've been looking at specific decorating styles and scouring craigslist for things available over in Hawaii.  Erik likes a clean, modern style but I like what is often termed "shabby chic" so we're trying to find a little common ground with our new place.

                                                                                 ShabbyChic.com

                                                                       modernhomefurniture.com

                                                                               shabbychicblog.com

Pinterest has been a great inspiration.  I know practically everyone else has talked about how much they love the site, but I'm going to put my own plug in about it.  Because it's great.  Go take a look if you haven't yet.

Happy Monday!

Blue is the new black

Finally, I am completely out of the old apartment.

12 days later.

So now it's on to getting a place for everything in this new space.  And trying to paint everything blue and white.

I'm interested in making some paper garlands for some spaces on the walls, like in the entryway along the arch.  Here are a few I've found for some inspiration.

This delightful garland from Creature Comforts is fantastic and would match the color scheme of my decor ideas.  And I have so much newspaper lying around (and books I can tear up from the recycling center) that it would be a cinch to create without wasting.

And then there is this one from Pam Garrison using coffee filters in various colors.  I love the floaty-ness.  And if I changed that little dash of pink to a blue that matches my paint, it would be perfect.  So pretty.  Not to mention all those coffee filters I have in my cupboard that no longer get used since I'm a French Press coffee drinker now.

And finally, what to do with all those elements that simply do not match what I want?  I don't want to just toss them, but we've collected all these random items for the walls.  I can always re-paint things like candle holders and the black furniture, but paintings and posters aren't so easily changed.  Hmm.  Decisions, decisions..

My Construction Zone

So we are finally about moved into the new apartment.  A few odds and ends remain in the old apartment (which is right next door) and we still need to clean it up, but mostly we're done moving.  It's just that the darn place is a mess.  School gets in the way of organizing, decorating and deep cleaning.  Needless to say,  I'm currently living in the middle of a construction zone.

I'm pretty sure I should just plaster my doors with this sign.

I painted my bookshelves a lovely blue, but then the big one broke.  It's now in pieces on the balcony.

However, we bought this fantastic grill and had a bbq last weekend, which was fabulous!  It rained cats and dogs, but we had a good time anyway.  

And now we have enough room that this gigantic desk can fit in our apartment!  Erik really wanted one so we made it work.  Even though the entertainment center kind of leans forward due to the waves of the old floors, it still works.

I promise I will post actual pictures once the house gets in order.  But between work and school, there just hasn't been enough time to dedicate to making sure everything is sorted and put away.  Next weekend though, that will be the day!

Cheers!

New Life--To The Apartment

Yesterday I was informed that I will be taking two classes this summer.  I have no choice.  Six weeks of Biochemistry for two hours Monday through Friday.  On the bright side, it's only six weeks, I won't have to take a 7:30am class for the Fall semester and I get to take Buddhism online.  There is always a silver lining.

I love redecorating.  It's like getting a new hair cut or new clothes, except for your entire home.  It gives you a sense of rebirth, a time to renew your place of comfort.  Currently I am considering a new look for our new apartment.  While the one I live in is full of black furniture with red, I'm thinking to change to a white and blue theme.  I need a brighter home.  And it will probably look better with the wood paneling and wood floors.

                                                        http://www.seasonsforallathome.com

This look is a bit more vintage

                                                  http://8rd.org

But this look is so clean and modern. 

The only issue is my bedroom kind of looks the same.  Perhaps if I added red accents?  

                                                        http://www.seasonsforallathome.com

Never would I guess that I would live in such a patriotic home.

Food and Art: Beauty in Both

Today I came across two incredible things.  The first being a cookbook I received called "Simply in Season" part of the World Community Cookbooks series developed by the Mennonite Central Committee. This cookbook is organized by season, then by dish creating an easy-to-use format.  It also includes many resources such as a list of many vegetables and fruits, when they are in season and suggestions on preparation.  Not only that, but it does offer many tips for making a difference in the way you purchase and prepare your food, in order to positively participate in the World Community.

The second is The Graphics Fairy.  Oh my goodness.  I first found it through Shoregirl's Creations, where one of my followers suggested I check out since she had just redone her bathroom  in the French style (take a look if you love vintage-y, French, girly decor.  It's beautiful stuff!).  The Graphics Fairy has thousands of *free* clipart, printables and craft projects available--again, for FREE!  Everything available is beautiful and I had to stop myself from printing out all the French stuff that was available.  I currently have one hanging in my bathroom now.  Isn't it pretty?

While printing millions of things out may not be very eco-friendly, if one can do so responsibly and not go overboard, this makes an excellent tool for responsibly decorating.  Other than the cost for the ink, these are entirely free pictures and it sure beats buying home decor from Walmart (ick).  You can find frames at thrift stores to make this a very affordable (and more earth friendly) project.

To end--I made two book bags for my aunt who requested one in a bright blue color for her friend and a purple on for herself.  That was the only criteria.  So here's what I came up with!

This one is linen, with a muslin interior and small inside pocket.  There are five pockets total, two on each side of the exterior and one on the inside.

This one is my favorite.  I made a few flowers to put on the outside.

I think one of my favorite parts of this bag is the interior.  I found matching fabric in white, so you can just barely see the same pattern inside.

What free or local cooking resources have you found helpful?

French Inspiration

The last few weeks I have been entirely obsessed with everything French.  French books, French decor, French food, French music... the list goes on and on.  There is something classy and elegant about French culture (if not perhaps a tad uppity, no offense to those who may be French).  French "vibes" just make me happy.  It may be that I love movies such as "Julie and Julia" and "Chocolat" who give a romantic, charming feel to the French life.  Maybe in reality this isn't the case, but the France in my head most certainly is. 

In celebration of my current life inspiration, I wanted to share some beautiful French inspired home decor.

I think my favorite thing about the decor is an "aged elegance."  Most pieces look as though they are at least 100 years old, but there is a certain beauty about that.  While much of Western culture tends to go for the new, hip and modern, the French design seems more used in a glamorous and easy way.  I also love the use of colors.

What country/culture/style inspires your decor and/or creativity?

The Week's Round-up--Spring Cleaning!

This week has been a complete "Spring Cleaning" type of week. I've been doing so much organizing, reorganizing, decorating and deep cleaning. Homework has been a little neglected, but I'm sure it won't be too brokenhearted. I also got to work on some new little projects, since there were birthdays coming up. And I've made a few sales in my Etsy shop which is incredibly exciting!  There are few things that are better than actually getting to sell your work.

The biggest accomplishment of the week was cleaning off the balcony.  Ever since we moved in, there was a pile of garbage full of empty bottles, cans and meat containers.  The huge garbage can filled with snow over the winter and everything rotted.  It smelled completely awful.  But now I can look out my back window and not have to see a gigantic pile of crud.  We also strung some lights around the back so we could have little soiree's during the summer :)

soi·ree 

[swah-rey]

–noun

an evening party or social gathering, especially one held for aparticular purpose: a musical soiree.

Along with the rest of my big cleaning projects, I went through drawers such as the jewelry and make-up drawer and sorted through everything.  While many of us can forget of these places, they tend to pile up a bunch of unusable items that just take up space (and my home has too little space to be taking up excess!).

I also took a trip to Goodwill for a few decorative items for the house.  I found some beautiful china to use as a soap dish a spoon rest.  Not only that, but I found the greatest skirt by Style & Co. for $4!  It's somewhat like this, but a little shorter and the pattern is smaller.  I can't stress it enough--Thrift stores are the place to be!

Here are some of the projects I did this week.  I had so much fun figuring out some new things and really  appreciated some fabric Christine gave me.  It took a while to figure out how to get the machine to like it since it had embroidery all over, but I think I got it down.  I also tried my hand at some smaller bags with pleats, which I had never attempted before, and elastic ribbon to make a headband.  Phew!

A pretty little make-up bag

The book bag I made from Christine's fabric gift.

A delightful little headband I whipped up tonight!