That Much Closer To Spring

The Audra Slipper Chair ~ a blank canvas waiting for you to dress her up {from Pier 1}.  Or as I’m seeing it ~ like the snow covering my yard.

Here’s what I want my yard to look like ~ right now, please!  A short skirted slipcover with some lovely flowers and multiple ruffles.  The promise of Spring.

A long skirted slipcover ~ a flirty toile ensemble.  This one makes me think of my hydrangeas when the flowers dry.

I am so ready for Spring!  Meanwhile, I will content myself by looking at all the new Spring catalogs coming out and pretty pictures online.

Kathy

Slipcover For My Ottoman

I have an ottoman in our sitting room/closet/changing area, which is basically one big open area.   I got a white slipcover last year from Ikea for one of our Ektorp chairs, which is in this area.  Love it!  For $25.00 what’s not to love?

The ottoman is on wheels and the fabric has a green stripe.  Very soft and comfy, but I wanted to tie it in with the chair. 

Browsing on the Ballard Designs website I came across this ottoman slipcover.  I couldn’t resist for $45.00!   It’s a little bigger than my ottoman, so it’s going to be more of a “loose” slipcover look.

For the money, I think it’s an update that will work!

Kathy

New In Etsy & A Snowball Fight

Really quickly, I just want to mention that I just listed these frames, with prints, in my Etsy shop.  This first one is for blog lovers, like myself.

This second one pretty much expresses what a lot of us are doing lately.

As for the snowball fight, I was thinking that many of us have been hard hit by snow in recent weeks.  Some of my bloggy friends are seeing untold amounts of snow in states that don’t normally get snow.  So to keep our sense of humor, I thought we should have a snowball fight!

Rather than do it as a swap, I’m thinking you pick five of your bloggy buddies; maybe someone who needs a pick-me-up.  Make a snowball out of your choice of material {mine will be made with styrofoam balls} and mail them out.   Include with your snowball that the person should write a blog post about it with a link to you {so you might want to choose people that you know will do a post for sure}.  Don’t let them know ahead of time that you are sending them a snowball ~ it has to be a surprise, just like being hit with a real snowball! 

In a few weeks, I’ll do a post and set up a linky and we can see everybody’s snowballs.  Feel free to take pictures of the ones you make before mailing and link up. 

What do you think?  You in?  I’ll be doing it either way, so you better duck ~ I’ll be throwing my snowballs out there soon!

 

Kathy

 

Clearance Frames

When I made my trip to Michaels this past weekend, I also visited the clearance section in the back.  I found these great frames, which were most likely mistakes from the custom framing area.

The larger frame is 16 5/8 x 25 7/8 and the smaller one is 13 3/8 x 18 1/4.  I like the color {they are both the same color} and the detailing on each.

I’m thinking chalkboard for one and bulletin board or magnetic board for the other.  Although, I could even do a magnetic chalkboard.   Price: $8.00 each!

Two more projects to add to the “to do” list!

Kathy

Redo Of A Redo

On my first trip to Goodwill ever, one of the items I found was this decorative urn/pot.  I didn’t keep a picture of it in its original state, but it was a white with some gold detailing.  I spray painted it black.

Hated it!  I put it on the side until I felt like spray painting it again and figured out what color to go with.  I finally decided today was the day and I went with Heirloom White {basically back to what it was when I bought it!}. 

I used up my Michaels gift card today and was looking for some greenery while I was there.  I saw a Maidenhair Fern, but it was too green, not quite the right green.  Then I thought boxwood, but all they had was boxwood garland.  I bought it anyway  thinking I’d figure out a way to use it.  Kind of like the beauties I bought from Polly at Make Mine Beautiful, which I shared here.

I snipped and placed pieces into some foam that I placed in the pot and I am kind of liking the way it turned out.  I still wasn’t crazy about the design on the pot, so taking another cue from Polly, I got some ribbon and hot glued it over the design.  It’s a pretty brown and cream color.

And then, because it needed a little bit of bling, I pulled out this earring I had purchased at Goodwill.  These were clip-ons.  I snipped off the clip part and hot glued that to the part where the ribbon ends met.

Ta Da! Done and I am liking it so much better.  I have also learned that not everything I get at Goodwill needs a paint job!

Linking up with:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Boring to Better at Savvy Southern Style

Kathy

Frilly, Feminine & Fabulous

When I was at Goodwill this past weekend, I did have a specific item {or items} I was looking for.  Amazingly enough I found exactly what I was looking for!

Gorgeousness in tulle and cream!  The detail is just as lovely.

Here is another one in white.  A satin and tulle confection!

The skirts are what I’m really interested in.

The last one.  Not as “fluffy”, but the right color and enough skirt.

If you’ve stuck with me this long, let me assure you that this is not turning into a fashion blog.  {Although, I do love that first dress and it just happens to be my size}!  Enter a plain, old decorator table that I have had stored in the basement.

My daughter wants a “ruffley” table to use in the baby’s nursery area of their apartment.  I had the table.  A tablecloth like she envisions can cost a lot of money; store bought or custom. 

And so, my outside-of-the-box idea was born. 

This is the first dress pictured above.  Our favorite so far.  As the other two are white, I told my daughter we can work the two of them into a crib dust ruffle.

Of course, a little cutting and sewing is involved {and some hot gluing and stapling, I’m sure}.  That lovely bodice will have to come off and will either be saved or reworked into a flat tabletop piece.  The little floral embellishment my daughter would like to work in.

Fluffy and feminine!  All for $16.99 for a Nine West dress from  Goodwill.  Gotta love it!  I can’t wait to show it to you all done.

Kathy

Thrifty Finds

I went to Goodwill this past weekend and, as typically happens when I go, I dropped off my donations and wound up going home with probably the same amount of stuff.  It’s a good thing I only go about once a month!

I was happy to find a few of the things I’ve been thinking about.  One is this great little collectible shelf; apparently for these bears called Cherished Teddies.

Picture it Heirloom White and in the place of the bear emblem, a wood embellishment.  It will be a beauty to hold those little china tea sets I picked up last year.  

I also found this tall iron stand.  I’m guessing it’s for small plates or maybe cups and saucers.  I’m not sure but I’m debating whether to use it to hold craft stuff or should I make a little coffee/tea area in my kitchen.   I’m going to leave this “as is” and just clean it.

I also found this cut-out metal basket/tray thingy.  I think a bit of scrapbook paper for the bottom and this will remain “as is” as well.  Again, this may work well for a coffee/tea area, so I think I’m leaning that way.

A couple of wood frames.  I love to get wood frames because I find they are easier to just give a quick coat of spray paint. 

This candlestick which is taller than the one I recently purchased at Pier 1 and was three times cheaper.  

I have a few other things I picked up, but I’m saving that for another post.  It is a transformation that I hope comes together as I am seeing it in my mind.  I can’t wait to get started on that and share it with you!

Kathy

A Mix On The Entry Chest

I wasn’t going to participate in the Table Top Tuesday linky party over at Marty’s A Stroll Thru Life this week, but then I remembered I added a few things to my entry chest.  So, I thought I’d share the little things I added.

I found the candlestick at Goodwill and just put the crown on it not thinking it would work, but for now it suits me fine.  My cloche is not filled with the styrofoam snowballs I wanted to make, but paper mache eggs that I covered with a few different papers.  Not thrilled with it, but I can’t stand to look at it empty!

I added my decorator books to raise up my little fern and reading bunny.  I also got my little bunny print {thank you, Marty!} in a frame and thought I’d try it out here.  Except for a different easel, I think it’s found a home for the time being.

Just a few little changes, but they are good enough for me!  Thanks for visiting!

Kathy

Lampshade Love

What a difference a lampshade makes!  I got this little lamp for a corner of my kitchen countertop at Target about a year ago.  I didn’t really care for the burgundy shade that came with it, so I used pliers to cut it off {apparently, they weld these things to the base and a hammer only bends the metal} and used this white shade with gold trim that I had found at Tuesday Morning. 

I figured this would work for the time being.  Until I found something I really liked or felt like splurging on.  I had also covered the candlestick part with scrapbook paper, to go with my scrapbook covered books.

The other day, for some reason, I went on eBay.  I don’t go on there too much anymore.  It is much safer for our bank account that way.  However, this day, I saw this lampshade.  Angels sang, the heavens opened up and light beamed down upon my laptop screen.

Toile and a black & white check, with black trim and black beaded fringe. Heaven.  Perfect size, perfect price.  I did the “buy it now” and it was in my hot little hands in a matter of days. 

I took the above pictures at night with my new Sony camera.   

Isn’t she beautiful?  I am thrilled with it and am now happy with my little lamp.  This has got to be the simplest decorating change I’ve ever made!   

Linking up with:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Kathy

Decorative Books

This is what I made for myself.

This is what I made for my etsy.

Available now in my etsy shop.

I love ‘em!

Kathy