Me, Myself and Irene

Sorry, I couldn’t resist!  Sunday I decided {in between a little packing} that I needed to work on something.  Anything creative at this point!  This rocker is on my list of things to do and, since I’ve found out you can’t pack paint on the moving van, I might as well do it now.

I had gotten this rocker about 19-20 years ago through Country Sampler.  {Remember them?}  I was into this very country look at the time and I had gotten it for my son.  I decided to transform it for my granddaughter to use.

I started out by adding a simple wood embellishment that I found at Michaels.  I glued it on with a Gorilla Glue because the wood glue is packed up already, but it says it can be used on wood.  I painted it with the Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint and just did the clear wax on it.  I’m kind of liking it as is {without the dark wax} for a little girl.

Of course, it needs a pretty little cushion.  I used some of the Alice fabric I still had left over from when I made her a pillow and some trim I had in my stash.

I finished it off on Monday and I can’t wait to see if she likes it!

Next up is the headboard {I know, finally!}.  I have two reasons now to get it done ~ first, I had thought it would make it easy once we move to just put it into place in the bedroom already painted and second, is the “you can’t pack paint” rule via the moving companies.  Since I’m not working now, I hope to have that done this week.  Here’s a sneak peek!

Sunday, Irene had turned into a Tropical Storm by the time it hit Long Island.  This just means that instead of 74 mph winds {which constitute a hurricane} we had about 67 mph winds.  Much of New York still got hit with flooding and downed trees and wires, but I think we were luckier than what could have been.  I hope everyone who was in Irene’s path is okay.

Linking up to

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Air Your Laundry Friday at Freckled Laundry

Kathy

A Little Bedside Pocket

I found a blog through another blog that showed one of these little bedside pockets.  I didn’t copy her, but it did remind me of one I made about 15 years ago.  Never would have thought to share it until I saw hers.  It’s not as pretty as I might make it today, but it worked {and still does} so I thought I’d share it now.  These are really easy to make even for beginning sewers and they use small amounts of fabric so it’s great for left-overs.

Our one spare bedroom is quite small and I have a daybed in there.  There is no room for side tables.  I had mounted lights to the wall, but there was no place for the television remote, some tissues or a book.

I came up with this pocket that fits under the mattress {which is what holds it in place}.  I have blue and yellow in this room and had enough of the toile and the stripe left over from other projects in the room to use for this.

I sewed two pieces of the toile, right sides together leaving an opening to turn it right side out.  I hemmed the striped fabric for the pocket.  Put those right sides together and just sew the two sides and bottom, leave the top open.  That is your pocket and you have “good” fabric sides showing all around.

Quite the little handy piece and it does work to hold all those things I mentioned, plus a water bottle!  You could even adapt this for a chair, where you might not be able to fit a side table.

Linking up with

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch

Air Your Laundry Friday at Freckled Laundry

Kathy

Pre-Blogging Stools Project

As I get things ready for my upcoming yard sale, I thought I’d share one of the items I’m selling. 

I had purchased three very plain stools a long time ago.   They had that fake black leather top and were anywhere from $6.99 to $9.99 a piece {who can remember after almost 20 years!}.  I had purchased them to use for seating around our pool table area {a place to perch while you waited your turn}.

I had found this great fabric on eBay {there was no etsy then either, and I got quite a bit of fabric off eBay} and I had purchased it to recover these stools.  I was able to use different sections of the fabric to show off the various “gaming” images depicted on it.

I used a teal {small} brush fringe that I had at the time. 

Of course, these days, I would probably have painted the legs.

Just one of my many projects done before blogs were even born!

Linking up with

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage

Air Your Laundry Friday at Freckled Laundry

Kathy

Am I Ready For Fall?

You bet I am!  Especially now that I received my two new pumpkins from Becky at Junk to Joy!  Aren’t they beautiful? 

Every pumpkin needs a bit of bling, don’t you think?  I fell in love with these as soon as Becky showed them on her blog.

I first met Becky when I bought a set of her cream colored collection of fabric pumpkins last Fall.  You may remember I showed them in a tablescape here. 

I’ll be mixing them up this year for an elegant Fall look on my table tops.

Linking up with

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Kathy

Oh My . . .

I am in love.  {Yes, again}.  I got a rolled canvas from UPrinting.com.  Do you remember my giveaway here?  Well, I got a rolled canvas for myself and used a French letter graphic.  This one, to be specific.  From our favorite sharer of vintage images, The Graphics Fairy.

I have to say I am really impressed!  I had no idea it would come out this good! 

Here is a little more of a close up.  The handwriting is just beautiful!

I had always loved the large piece that Sherry at No Minimalist Here did.  She copied one she loved from Ballard Designs, but at a much more reasonable price.  She did a fabulous job on hers! Here is Sherry’s ~

And here is Ballard’s ~

I’m on the right track, but I’m not sure how I’m going to mount it.  On a nice piece of wood is my first thought, but I’ll have to think about it before I commit. 

I was so eager to show you how it came out!  Once it is totally done I will take a picture in better lighting! 

Linking up with

Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy

Kathy

Easy Window Treatment ~ Repost

As I start to decide which window treatments are coming with me {just about all of them}, here’s a repost from February 26, 2010, about a window treatment I did for my living room.  I’ve included a current photo of the window to start it off.

~ REPOST ~

In redoing my living room I had gotten some new drapes from Ballard Designs {on sale $59.00 a panel}.   One of the treatments I removed from the window was cafe-style curtains that I used on the lower half of the windows.  These are very long windows and just perfect for people to look into from the street.

So, I’m not comfortable just leaving them open like this.  I still had some of this fabric from the ottoman I made here.  Plus, I kept the tension rods that I had originally used in this window. 

I had just enough, in fact, to use it at the windows as an under-treatment to the panels.  These are a 3-window unit.  Each window measures 24 inches wide.   I didn’t want to go the whole way down, so I measured about halfway down ~ 31 inches long.  {Pardon the glare and my filthy windows}.

I cut the fabric, adding a couple of inches all the way around for the seams.  I ironed down the seams on all four sides.  I then used my Stitch Witchery iron on hem tape to secure the seams.  I incorporated a sleeve for the tension rods in the top. 

Here’s what I got.

For the bottom, I decided to try something a little different.  I found some wrapping paper rolls and stole their cardboard roll.  These rolls just happened to fit the width of these windows {this makes it meant to be in my book!}. 

Starting at the bottom I rolled the fabric up using the cardboard roll.  I added black ribbon on both sides to tie it up and I can let it down if I so choose.   I need to get another roll of ribbon for the third window.  I did not secure the ribbon to the fabric; it is just laying on it and I moved the tied portion around to the other side.

You could do different variations with this basic make-up.  You could take the ribbon and just tie each side up {without the cardboard roll}.  You could also use pins or whatever else to do the faux roman shade look like I did here.  Or you could just leave it down, although I would probably add a beautiful decorative trim to the bottom edge to finish it off.  {I’ll bet a black and clear beaded trim would look great}!

My windows used about 1 1/2 yards of fabric {total}.  The fabric was $14.98 a yard from fabric.com and I originally purchased 3 yards.  Best $45.00 I’ve spent so far this year!  The tension rods and cardboard rolls were free, since I had them already, and the ribbon was $3.99 a roll.  {I have a coupon for 30% off ribbon that I can use on the third roll}.

Now I don’t feel like I’m right out there in the open when I go into this room! 

Linking up to

Slipcover & Curtain Party at It’s So Very Cheri

Kathy

A New Tassel

While looking at Heather from Butterfly Gene’s new craft room, I noticed all the pieces she had as supplies for making her tassels.  I contacted Heather and ordered a custom one.  Can you guess which I picked?

I got my little chocolate bunny tassel Monday {it’s always nice to get presents, even from yourself on a Monday}!   When I say little, that by no means describes the tassels that Heather makes.  These are a great size tassel and she dressed this one with creams, whites and browns.

I put it on my Frenchy dresser sitting on a crown magnifying glass.

Then tried hanging it off the lamp switch.  I’m thinking of using it in my craft room at the new place. 

Sadly, it looks like real chocolate, so that means I will have to make sure I keep some real chocolate on hand!    Here is a close up of some of the ribbons Heather used.

Look at the button this little guy has hidden just under his front paws.

A small fleur! Great touch and I love my new tassel! 

Kathy

Are You Stacked?

I hope you didn’t choke on your coffee over my title!  I’m wondering how many of you have a stacked washer/dryer rather than side-by-side.  The only appliances we have to purchase for our condo are a washer and dryer.  My hubby has given me the option of stacked or side-by-side units. 

I really don’t know much about the stacked units, having had side-by-side forever, but did a little looking around online.  I came across pictures as well as some helpful information.

Young House Love did a laundry room makeover and I love how they took advantage of the space on the side of the stacked unit.  You should check out their post on it if you get a chance.

Belle Maison shared some laundry room inspiration pictures and these are side-by-side front loaders {my washer is a top loader} and I do like that you could put a counter on top. 

Found this one on the Country Living website.  I don’t have a window in my laundry room, so I’ll be looking to keep things light.

From Arthur Palmer Kitchens. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to mix laundry with wine ~ mismatched socks, a red shirt in with your husband’s lucky white briefs. . . there could be devastating consequences there.

Apparently, I’m supposed to make up my mind soon.  Meanwhile, I’d love to hear your experiences with a stacked unit and whether or not you’d recommend it.

Kathy