Circles of light

During the course of building the bookshelves, we realized that the top shelf was too short for anything other than dust, so we decided to put lights up there for a type of light box.  We wanted to add something more interesting when I remembered a DIY project from Vintage Revivals.  It was so easy and I love the look.  We cut 2" PVC pipe into 1/2" segments, glued them together with sprinkler pipe glue, spray painted them with white paint and Voila!  The most time consuming part was the clean up.  It looked like Christmas with the white shavings all over the garage. 

                                                                    Without light

         With light on except that while I was doing this, two bulbs burned out - typical of my day!

I CAN finish a project!

Here is the new and improved dresser that I paid $5 for three (yes three!) days ago.  We just had to get ONE thing completely done. 

It will look much better all dressed up, but my sister HAD to see it done now.  With my grandkids coming this weekend and us hosting an extended family BBQ, the pressure is on to get the whole room completed.  I will not go to a yard sale this weekend and bring home another project.  I'll wait until next weekend.

Yard sale find

I went yard sale hunting on Saturday.  I followed signs in my general area and found a few goodies - a couple of necklaces, leggings still in the package and a mirror.  When I came home, hubby asked me if I saw the sign for a huge yard sale by Home Depot.  Well, I had to check it out.  And I scored big!  This little beauty cost me $5!

It has been someone else's project apparently.  It has been sanded and the legs removed, so I added legs and a beautiful shade of paint (orange to be exact) and hopefully I'll have a picture tomorrow!  I still need a few more coats of paint to look smooth.  Anyway, I am thrilled!

Shelves are done!  Details like knobs, hole drilled for speaker wire and cabinet door need some attention.  But for the most part, it's done!  Only five months!

It's c.o.m.i.n.g. a.l.o.n.g....

Yes, there is progress.  The fireplace is boxed in, the tile in on the hearth (already has a chip in it), and the base cabinets are sort of attached.  We are heading on a road trip to southern Utah for the weekend to meet up with my daughter and adorable grandkids, so I'm REALLY hoping to paint this whole project next week.  I have it off due to spring break and it would be the PERFECT time.  (I'm hoping that the fireplace elves come and finish this project while we are gone)

On Saturday, we'll be celebrating the last of our March birthdays - with our oldest daughter, Anne.  OK - here goes:
March 2 - our anniversary
March 10 - Desi's birthday
March 16 - David's birthday
March 21 - hubby's birthday
March 28 - Amy's birthday
March 31 - Anne's birthday

Only two of us left for the rest of the year - me and our oldest son - Spencer.

Spring has sprung!

I LOVE forsythia.  They grow kind of wild and crazy like they have been stiffled all winter and are ready to show their stuff.  And the color is so vibrant!.  I just have to have some in my house, even though iit is gray, muddy and bits of snow on the ground outside. - Inside, it's spring! (also, my hubby's birthday - Happy Birthday hubby!)

I couldn't wait to cover the thrift store chair I bought last week and wanting to be frugal about it, I slip covered it in a fabric I already had.  I really like it and especially like having the option to change it when I find a good deal on a fabric I REALLY^ like.  I looks even better with a bright pink pillow on it, and after looking at this photo, I realized that I need to paint the legs black. 

I think maybe a fake fur would look fun?

Thrift store skirt redo done!

If you can get past the messiness of the teenage girl's bedroom, you'll notice that the skirt is slightly big on me.

All that I really needed to do was take in the sides, HOWEVER, it is lined and the waist has small cording that makes it necessary to cut and resew in place.  I am happy with how it turned out.  I was going to make it for my 15 year old, but I couldn't get her to put it on so I could pin it to her size.  So I have ME a new skirt.
My girls think it's hilarious to have me pose and have them take a picture.  I get NO respect! So I tried taking the picture myself the first time using a mirror, but the flash necessitated me being mocked in order to have them take the photo.

                                                   Me - at peace

                                                    Me - being mocked

I'll be sure to show this to hubby - he needs to see that I can finish a project.

January projects

I don't know why - but every January we decide it's time to do a minor remodel project on some area in our house.  It does seem like the logical time to pull the house apart - right after Christmas and before the yard work in the spring.  However, hubby does taxes as a part-time gig.  So we get the house torn apart and then it sits for several weeks, until the rush of taxes is over.  Then the rush is on to get it done before spring.  We have done that for the past 4 years and probably will continue.  We just don't learn - and I will continue to complain about it.  Just saying.....

So this is where we are.....

It all began with purchasing a flat screen TV.  We couldn't just put it on a table or piece of furniture - we had to mount it to the wall.  And we couldn't just do that without adding shelving and cupboards next to it.  And we couldn't just do that without making over the brick fireplace and hearth. And we couldn't just do that without painting the room a different color.  I'm thinking new furniture, too.  Wow!  It's expensive to get a flat screened TV - and we got a heck of a good deal on it!

Anthropologie-inspired shower curtain

I really like this:

                     And I love this:

                              But the price - not so much!  So I made up my own version:

I had planned to do ruffles all the way up the curtain, but decided I liked the look with just 5 rows.  And I loved the price difference! 

Designer Textiles

I LOVE interior design and changing things up in my home.  Good thing my husband isn't blind... (well, not all the way blind).  AND even better if I can find a cheaper way to get the look I want.  In my bedroom, I wanted a bold geometric print for my drapes that hang on either side of my bed.  After pricing the fabric, I decided I could get the same feel for pennies.  I already had the white drapes - purchased at JCPenney's a couple of years ago.  I took dark brown fabric and tore it into half-inch strips and sewed them on horizontally and vertically.  At the top, I found big brown buttons and sewed them on.

I did the same thing for my daughter's room. I was inspired by Isabella & Max Rooms, so I used the color combination and recreated it here with the same process for the curtains.