DiligentDesigner

Hey, Y'all! I've Moved!

2014-08-07T07:09:00.001-07:00

No. Not from my house, Silly. Blog sites!

You can find me here:

http://diligentdesigner.com/

See you on the other side!

Drywall and Shout-Outs.

2014-07-28T17:31:00.002-07:00

I shall make my intro quick. Drywall. Check. Texture. Check. Paint. Check. Electric trimmed out. And, makeshift kitchen. Check. View below, y'all!

Okay. Either I did not take pictures of the finished drywall before putting up electrical trimming or I deleted them. So, Jump forward and here is my lovely temporary kitchen. When I say lovely. I mean LOVELY. I have never been so thankful for a garbage disposal, dishwasher and working electrical outlets in my life.

Our microwave and toaster oven kept tripping out our functioning electrical outlets throughout the rest of the house and my husband didn't want to mess with the electrical box. So, we dragged extension cords throughout when I needed to vacuum, cook (with a low voltage cook top), or do laundry. Good times.

The Italian, island ventilation hood was apparently manufactured to only fit at least nine foot ceilings. That, or Europeans maybe like to cook with a hood in their face. Our contractor Danny had a heck of a time tweaking it to a 32" (30"-36" recommended) height, but he made it work.

I'd like to give a few shout outs to some of my new "friends." First off, garbage disposal.

Next, hey you, 30 year beat up ol' cabinets....

I didn't forget you stapled plastic wrap over my flatware.....

And, you. tilted pantry. I will desire you, so long as you don't take a stumble into New Fridge over there.

In all your duct taped glory.

And, lastly, you, uninstalled dishwasher. I don't care if you tilt every time I open your door. You care for me and four hungry males....and your steam option....well, heh, that just puts a smile on my face.

Cabinets in next week. Stay tuned!

After much anticipation. Kitchen Remodel Begins!

2014-07-19T19:58:00.002-07:00

So, here we are. After about 5 years of saving money and patiently waiting, our kitchen remodel has begun. I am a little late in posting about the progress as we have no electricity on the desktop side of the house, so I will let my photos do the talking.

If you can remember the before. On the other side of that fridge wall is my dining room.

Right here.

First demo for the boys to participate in.

My youngest excels in photo bombing.

Here is that ol' fridge wall again.

Where the kitchenette used to be.

"Why hello, Kitchen." says, Dining Room.

"Why, hello, Dining Room." says, Fireplace Room.

Meanwhile, in the front yard......

Next week, on the agenda, is drywall, texture, and trimming out all the electrical outlets. Cabinets do not arrive until August 5th, so still much more to come!

New Steel Security Door

2013-06-22T11:30:00.003-07:00

Warning: This post is kinda wordy ;) I thought it might be helpful to understand my process of finding good tradesmen on Craigslist.

Finding a person who specializes in a specific trade can be daunting. Seven of our home projects I have turned to Craigslist, and with the exception of one, I have been really pleased with the results. My trade seeking developed after a major freak hail storm that hit our area hard about three years ago. Since then, I have discovered skilled workers to refinish the cool deck around our pool (that one is my exception...really wasn't the best job), an AlumaWood pergola, upholstery for two wingback chairs my mom gave us, wood window shutters, our massive built in book shelves and storage, our home security system and finally our new steel security door. I had to write a post about the security door, because I am so pleased at the results.

So, my method basically works like this: I get a really good idea of what I am looking for. "A good idea" entails pictures, colors, dimensions, materials, price range, etc.. For example, the cool deck repair, I had dozens of pictures taken from the Internet of what I was looking for and somewhat of an idea about cost. Next, I contact as many tradesmen that I think will be a good fit in terms of 1) price (for our budget), 2) quality (usually have a portfolio of previous work completed), and 3) service (generally this is fast response time, trust, and communication).

Specifically, for this door, I originally saw a special order door at Lowes. I've had my eye on it for about 2 years now as the purchase was not much of a priority. Well, our neighbors were just recently robbed (we live in a descent neighborhood--our last neighbor lived in the same house for 11 years by herself with no trouble at all!), so it seemed like a reasonable time to purchase a security door and beef up our home security alarm system. Back to the door. I knew from a bit of research that there are basically two frame types for security doors: Laser cut and the thicker steel bars. You can customize the interior covering of the frame to be glass, a lighter screen that is flexible or a hard steel mesh screen. The Lowes door was by a local company called Titan and their quote for a laser cut door with the hard steel mesh was a little over $1,800. Our budget needed to be under $800 for materials and install. The hunt began.

I started emailing 5 different people off of Craigslist. One email looked like this:

Hi There, 

If you are able, we are looking to get an approximate estimate for an standard (36" x 80") entry security door. I am looking for a style similar to this:

Please let me know when you can.

Thanks,
Ashley

Easy, right?

Then, the emails came. We went with a gentleman located near us that gave us an estimate in our budget and seemed eager to show us his quality at his own home. Obviously, you do not want to go to some stranger's house alone. My husband and I stopped by his house and were pleased with his work. He was ready immediately to come over and measure. He followed us home and we went over colors, placement and handle options. He said it would be ready in about a week! Shocking because Titan was going to take at least 6 weeks to be ready for install.

Anyways, let us get to the pictures!

Loooove the way the light shines in through the inside.

For paint color we went with Rust-Oleum Multicolor Texture in Rustic Umber.

Isn't it kinda art deco, kinda craftsman, kinda modern? Can you get a little sense of Frank Lloyd Wright?

One thing we noticed upon meeting Oliver, is that he is a perfectionist. Remember, I gave him a teeney picture from the internet. From there he formulated three CAD configurations of what the door would look like.

Not only is he a perfectionist, but this man works HARD. He arrived at our home for install around 10:00 am with his trailer and I am baffled as to how he was able to get this beast of a door to our front porch alone (I offered to help, but he refused). He left about 3:00 pm because the door had to be.....perfect. And, it really is. I can be a tad ;) critical when it comes to design and structural details and design wise it is beautiful. Structurally is closes BEAUTIFULLY. If you know how tricky doors can be to install, the "open" and "close" really determines the accuracy of measurements and levelness (if that's a word) of a structure.

I am including Oliver's contact information if you are in need of a metal tradesman. Note: Oliver did not ask for me to write this or is compensating me for writing it (though he did offer!). He is really just that good. Contact through Craigslist Here. Or through his website Here.

I wish the weather wasn't so hot. I am eager to keep the wood entry door open all the time so I can look at it from the inside.....but, that would be a wasted foolish expense! An Arizona November cannot come soon enough. I'll just keep walking outside to look at it from the street.

Thanks, Oliver! You are an artist!

Also, if you would like contact information in Arizona for wood window shutters or home security systems feel free to email me.

Border Stripe Twin Duvet Cover DIY (with added monogram)

2013-06-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Well, this was supposed to be some awesome DIY tutorial (refined version of the Olatz Copy Cat HERE) about twin duvet covers. But, alas, when I upgraded some new software on my computer it mysteriously ate the last years worth of my photos, including all the ones covering my process for the twin duvets. So, if you are looking for a Border Stripe Duvet Cover you can gander over HERE at this tutorial in a king size. This project was much easier than the Olatz one because 1) it is my second time making a duvet 2) the size is smaller and 3) I took the TWO border stripes straight down the sides to the end. In the Olatz copy cat I made joined the borders together with a third making a kind of rectangle.

What I used for this project are as follows:

4 White Twin Mainstays Flat Sheets from Walmart $4.47 (you may have to peek in a few Walmarts as inventory is scarce. Perhaps people are catching on a pretty great material for a low price)...or alot of people need twin flat sheets in white. I originally bought Ikea flat sheets, when I took them out of the package they were super thin-see through and overall cheap. The Walmart sheets are higher quality for about $0.50 more.

Border Material. I used another Walmart Mainstays Sheet in beige that was leftover from my Peshtemal Towel Pillow Project Here.

Coordinating Thread (White & Beige for me)

Zipper or Whatever kind of closure you prefer for the opening.

Total Cost Was $12 per Duvet Cover (without the Monogramming). Monogramming was $7.50 per Duvet making it just under $20 per Duvet!

And, Here is how they turned out!

And, here is a before.

And, I thought I might include a few shots of the Monogrammed Pillows on our bed. I found this gal through the Yellow Pages (online) who is located a few blocks down the street from me. She has a Monogram machine the size of a large SUV in her home. I asked her how much something like that cost, and let's just say you could buy two actual suvs for the price paid over the last 10 years! I showed her a few pictures of what I was looking for. Generally a Monogrammer will charge a base price of $6.00 (which is good for about 20,000 stitches) and charge per stitch after that. Our euro pillow shams cost $6.00 a piece and the boy's duvet covers were $7.50 a piece.

Here is a Before. The shams were clearance at Ikea for about $3.00 a piece. Up close, they are white (obviously) with a light grey blue stripe and dot pattern.

I think it is the southerner in me that hearts monogrammed pieces. Growing up we had our names/initials on our backpacks, cheer bags (don't laugh), socks shirts.... Too much monogramming can be overkill, I know, but I think a little really adds a nice tailored element to a room.

And. Now you know all my family's initials. Yay.

It is summertime, y'all!

Peshtemal Towel Pillows!! With DIY Piping.

2013-05-11T15:03:00.001-07:00

Do you remember the Turkish Towels I purchased HERE?

I loved the material so much that I decided to make a few pillows out of them!

Here is what I started with:

Now, you may ask, "why cut up a beautiful towel and not just purchase some striped beige and white fabric?" Well, 1) I was really torn about cutting them up....heh heh "torn" 2) I love the feel of this fabric And, 3) I could not find this size stripe for the life of me. I specifically wanted about a 1/2 inch stripe....not a quarter and not an inch or 2 inch. The 1/2 inch seemed to be such a nice medium between modern and traditional. Just to note: I am using the excess towels scraps to make two hand towels and a few wash cloths.....

I wanted to give them a more tailored look by adding coordinating piping. The piping was also useful in drawing a distinct contrast between the differing back (a white Walmart Mainstays Flat Sheet) and front material (The Towel). I chose to go this route because of cost. The towels come out to be about $15 with shipping from Turkey and the flat sheet was $4.47. I used a total of Two Towels and One Flat Sheet for Two Throw Pillow and Two Euro pillows, which comes out to be about $9.00 per cover (total cost, not including inserts).

The piping is made out of another Mainstays Flat Sheet in beige.

I cut about a (4) 2 1/2 inch wide strips on the flat sheet. No need to cut the whole length of the strip, just cut about 4 inches up from the bottom and tear the rest of the way.

Fold your strips around the cording.

And, sew as close as you can to the inner cording.

I used about 10 yards of cording.

We then look out the dining room window and see this:

Look closer.......DUCKS!

Back to the pillows:

Then I pinned and sewed my piping around the towel fronts. If you need more of a detailed tutorial on piped pillows view my post HERE.

I made these pillows "envelope style" because I didn't want to deal with zippers. There are many great tutorials out there on easy envelope pillows.

What is great about these, though, is I did not have to finish those inner seams. I just used the existing factory seams on the sheet.

And, here are the throw pillows for our bed.

No Shams on those three Euro pillows in the back. Those will be coming up in my next post.

And, Here are the Euro pillows I made for the boy's beds.

Here is a shot of the back. Can you see the finished factory seam on there? Easy!!

I think he likes it ;) This was immediately after I finished up late at night.

Start with This:

End with This.

Up Next are some coordinating Duvet covers for the boy's beds.

Happy Mother's Day Weekend, Mommas!

Dipped Captain's Chair

2013-04-27T11:23:00.001-07:00

Hey Y'all! We have about five projects completed and I'm just now getting some time to post.

So, we picked up two of these captain's chairs about 7 years at yard sale for $2 a piece. I did not ever want to paint them. Then, one Saturday my husband and kids were out cleaning the garage when I walked out to my sons painting one of the chairs white. WHAT?!! My husband thought it would be a fun project for them. The half painted chair sat in the garage for about a year....we really only used them when extra seating was needed for guests. I had been using the non painted one as a landing point for the things that I needed to take from inside of the house to the car. Returns, library books, gifts etc. I admired the dipped furniture look and was planning to paint a small campaign side table so I thought to get to work on the white painted chair while I had my oil based brushes out. My 5 year old painted about 95% of the main coat (my husband and I helped with the drips).

Here is the non-painted one. This is where the dipped one sits now.

They gave about 3 coats of Rustoleum Gloss Almond that I had left over from here.

I let it dry for about 3 days and then taped off the legs.

Have you seen the line of Valspar Spray paints at Lowes?? The array of colors is vast compared to the limited color selection at Home Depot. The is just one half of the cage.

I was overwhelmed and came home with more than I needed. The two whites are for another project to be revealed soon. They had about 4 different shades of white. Awesomeness.

I wanted a satin finish to contrast with the high gloss of the Rustoleum. I was looking for a deep bluish gray. I went with Indigo Streamer.

Isn't this moment like opening a present?

And, now for a plethora of pictures. And, you get a somewhat of a campaign reveal.

I whipped up a little pillow cover for the pics hehe.

I'm on a beige kick, I know. Nice to be back for a bit. I hope to post another project next week.

Have a blessed weekend, Everybody.

Kitchen Makeover (Well, Little Play Kitchen)

2013-03-28T17:47:00.003-07:00

Since we are not quite at the budget line to gut and remodel our home kitchen (but maybe next summer, y'all!), to satisfy my kitchen reno urges I made over a beat up wood play kitchen for a very good friend.....well, her toddler daughter, that is. And, Here she is!! Not her daughter, the play kitchen.....

There is a pretty funny story behind this one. So, I'm on the look out for a wood play kitchen for my friend. This one pops up on Craigslist for $25. I send her the link and her hubby goes and picks it up. It's night time, he's tired from work, he hands the gentleman $25 (or was it $20?) for the play kitchen and lugs it home. Upon arrival and wife's inspection, to their dismay, the kitchen was in bad, very bad shape. We are assuming the seller put up a different photo for his listing, but whatever. I felt pretty awful sending them a rinkidy old kitchen link and went over to see the damage. The kitchen itself is really solid and very heavy. I thought it would be a fun, worthwhile fix. Here are some before pictures.

This thing was bad. Wood trim missing, broken knobs, and diiiirrrrty.

We start off by giving the whole piece a good scrub down. My two assistants below.

Next, I used some Klean Strip Liquid Sander and Deglosser which proved to be very useful for the laminate wood. Will definitely be using this product for future projects.

Next, I had an old can of Rustoleum spray primer that I wanted to finish off.

Now, I commissioned my dad to make a new wood surround for the sink with his fancy tools. Worked out like a charm. He also picked up an old sink soap dispenser and attached that as a play faucet. So resourceful, Dad.

A bunch of paint and glue annnndd.........Here is the new sink.

Another before. Plexi-glass was missing too.

I really love how the colors turned out. For the inside shelves and burners I used some left over black chalkboard paint. The wood trim is painted with a bit of leftover ocher yellow I had from a previous project. I scraped and spray painted all the knobs with Rustoleum apple red paint. And, the main surround is Sea Anemone by Martha Stewart. I love the scheme because it is really gender neutral which was a surprise. I actually thought it would look really girly, but it looks great in our more neutral decor. So, if down the road when my friend wants to donate or sell it to someone, it can be used for boys or girls.

I actually made two sets of curtains. The black and white fabric is Ikea and I honestly just made those for the blog pics as the graphic black and white pattern stands out more than the original fabric I chose. The other curtains are below and you will know what I mean.

Here are the original curtains. These are what I based the whole color scheme upon. See what I mean about standing out in the pictures? They are super feminine and cute in person though. I also whipped up a little matching linen dishtowel and apron.

This was such a rewarding project. Each new step with this one I kept thinking, that there are but a few things in this life that are greater than seeing a work be completed before your eyes. Rewarding, indeed. Enjoy little, E. Miss Ashley loves you very much!

It is spring break and we have been crazy busy with projects, inside and outside the home. Coming up are a campaign side table and captain's chair redo. Also, some throw and euro pillow covers, twin duvets out of sheets and some monogramming! Wowza. Have a great weekend, Everybody.

Inexpensive Peshtemal Towels

2013-03-12T14:22:00.001-07:00

Have you heard of Peshtemal Towels? Last Fall, I began researching alternatives to our standard Charisma towels that we purchased years ago from Costco. I stumbled upon a recent trend in American bathrooms called the Peshtemal towel. Or, in other words Hamam / Turkish towel. Manufacturers and Blogs claimed them to be very light weight, beautiful and to get better with time. Travelers seem to love these towels for their ease of use. When I viewed the pictures of these towels there was no turning back. The vibrant colors and designs are fabulous. Practical and fabulous. Win! Then, I saw the price tag for an individual towel. Some Turkish towels companies sell each towel anywhere from $30-$70. Each. What?!! I generally step away when I see a towel price at $15.

I have had success buying a reasonably priced Moroccan pouf off of Ebay years ago, so I figured with the recent Turkish towel craze there must be some good sellers to be had. I wanted a range of styles and colors from one individual seller as I did not want to pay for shipping from Turkey more than once. I spotted Barbo53 on Ebay with very reasonable prices ranging from about $8.99 to $17.99 in loads of different styles, fast shipping and raving reviews. But alas, most of his colors (in the style I wanted) were sold out. About a month ago he posted some new styles and I ordered. Quickly. A birthday present from my family :)

Both Pictures are from Barbo53's Ebay Store.

Peshtemal fans suggest that you buy bamboo/organic claiming that they last longer and are better made. But, you will pay a few dollars more for organic. The two tan (non-white) towels that I purchased are bamboo / organic. I do agree that they are better quality in materials and design than my striped tan, red and charcoal towels. But, the non-organic ones are only getting better with time.

Oh. Please disregard that 80's pastel wallpaper that is torn off in some places. Oh. And, the orangey brown floorboards. Those will (hopefully) both be removed this summer. Stay tuned :)

The verdict on Peshtemal: My husband will take some warming up to. Literally. I asked him to continue with our old towels until I have washed the Peshtemals a number of times so the absorbency will be better. By then, hopefully his opinion will have changed. These babies dry FAST! Towels dry pretty quick here in the desert, but when I went to photo these this after noon and moved my husband's old terry towel out of the way it was still soaked from this morning at 6:00 am. It is 80 degrees out! The Peshtemals were completely dry. In my front load dryer, they take approximately 5-10 minutes, and are ready to be folded. They do take some getting used to. Others have compared it to drying off with a small bed sheet. So, on the practical side for bodily use; they are a yes (but do take time getting used to). On the pretty side, YES! I love the pops of color and pattern on the walls. They evoke some kinda chic and serene calmness to the space.....I am a sensual weirdo, I know.

I love the material so much on these that I plan to order a few more of the tan striped one on the towel bar to use as pillow fabric for our bedroom and in the boy's room. More on that soon!

Update** Baran (Barbo53) now has their own website. You can find them at http://www.peshtemalandmore.com/.

Bunk Bed Lighting

2013-03-08T12:25:00.001-08:00

Anyone out there with bunk beds find it difficult to read (at least on the bottom bunk) once the sun goes down? Even when we would have the fan light and dresser lamp on at night it was still an eyesore to read to my boys before bed.

I set out to find some wall lamps that were a unique style, with a low wattage and did not jet out too much from the wall (I really love the look of those accordion ones that pop out) but, they are ill suited for for crazy, wiggly sleeping boys. There were a few at Ikea and Lowes that would work....but, they were a big meh. I spotted the Urban Outfitters Eyeball sconce in brushed brass months ago but alas they sold out.

Daily Design Elixer

The white one went down in price from $29 to $24 so I decided to go ahead and order two for the boy's beds.

Doesn't a unique, quality light (lights) sometimes just make a space. I love the way the mid-century modern style kinda flows with the steel bed and modern Minka fan.

When we first installed them, my eldest, on his bunk, in a serious gaze, slowly nodding his head in somewhat disbelief and whispered, "Mommy, these are just so great. Just, so very great." I gotta say, I do know that boy very well, and I knew he would really appreciate the gift. But, I did not expect that response. SCORE!

Yeah, that is my middle child looking at book upside down. What??

My Wheels are Turning

2013-03-01T14:23:00.001-08:00

Hey, Y'all!

You may or may not have noticed that I have been absent from the blogosphere for some time now. Our family has been experiencing much in the spiritual trial area and the creative aspect of my life has been on hold. Now, we are renewed for a new season, my mind is clearer, and my wheels are spinning...like crazy. The weather is warm and I have a strong sense for everything around me to be freshened up, as in cleaned and revamped.

We are making an Ikea run in the near future and on our shopping list is drinking glasses, dish towels, frames, and I am doing some serious considering of purchasing new curtains for the front living area. I adore the linen Aina Ikea curtains we used as a shower curtain in our guest bathroom and would love to purchase a white pair (or two) for our front room. To pull the other colors in, I'm thinking about sewing some yellow greek key trim as an accent. The ikea coffee table has got to go, but the kids love it and I like that I don't really care how much they bang it up, and it takes a beating for sure.

Here is my mock up of the Ikea curtains with greek key trim.

Also, I was on the hunt for a new narrower hutch, because the dining room was jam packed with the table, hutch and Paul Mccobb dresser in the foyer. We moved the McCobb to the guest room after we found this little iron and copper x table. More on that table next. With the lighter table, the hutch should work. I do like the hutch, just not the color. The plans are to paint it a shade darker than the Sherwin Williams Nonchalant White on our walls. Maybe I'll do something fun like wallpaper or some bright paint for the inside too.....

A few months ago I spotted this foyer table on Craigslist for $40. It is iron and pretty solid. The top is a distressed copper. The mirror is from Homegoods. We originally purchased a metal sunburst mirror from Lowes that I loved, but it was too much metal in one place. I like the mix of materials in the mirror and table.

And, I nixed my mod southwest pillows that I made here. Well, not nixed, but I will probably make new covers and move them elsewhere. Too many prints going on at once, I think. The greige pillows are Calvin Klein from TjMaxx. The texture is nice and simple. The color matches the walls and kinda anchors the room better.

The light is probably gonna go and we will revert it back to a flush mount fixture. I would love to find a modern sconce like this Hanna Gold Leaf Sconce below to put above the light switches next to the mirror.

Eyes are peeled.

It is good to be energetic and busy again. Lots of projects to come, including a girly play kitchen makeover, some loot that we thrifted and many more revamps of furniture and accessories. Stay tuned!!

The $20 Vintage Brass Chandelier (Part 2) Install

2013-01-23T08:51:00.001-08:00

It's UP!!

Now, let us begin the install of the vintage brass chandelier. Here is the original post when I first picked it up off of Craigslist. And, here is the cleaning process of the chandelier. First, my husband and his friend, Danny, had to move the outlet over about a foot to be center with our dining table.

Here is the existing outlet.

Some of the supplies needed for rewiring and patching up the old hole.

New electrical box and patched up old one.

We had to extend the chain and wiring in order for the light to hang about 36 inches above the table, which is about how high your dining light should hang. Danny thought best to replace the original wiring since we were having to extend it. The wiring was over 50 years old, so we thought that might be safer too.

Now, I'm gonna be honest and tell you that I have no clue the technical terms and actions that are about to unfold...but, I did take some pictures!

Danny uses some wire nuts on the old wires (???). What he is going to do is basically pull the old wiring through the base finial with the new wiring....

New wiring is some lamp cord. I went with the clear colored one.

Nice tool bag, Danny.....hehehehe

Sorry, I was too busy with my kids to take pictures of the actual install.

But, here are the guys putting up some spray texture. The cheap spray texture does not match perfectly with the existing texture on the ceiling, but I told them I was OK with that. Look how happy they are.

Texture immediately after application.

And, magically.....

Old outlet hold patched, painted, and dry. You can obviously see the difference, but really how often do you look at the ceiling unless you're laying down.

My old toile seat cushions will be recovered in this cream and black polka dot fabric that I picked up years ago.

Now, back to reality and what my dining room usually looks like. Coming up is the tweaking of this adorable Chinese Canton lamp that was picked up at Goodwill.

The $20 Chandelier.....and Sconce Duo (Part 1)

2013-01-14T10:15:00.002-08:00

Back in November my husband and I celebrated 7 years of marriage. Have you heard of the traditional gift ideas that match each year that you are married? We have loosely followed this list over the years and the price / material range has definitely varied year by year depending on our finances. Take a peek at this site here to view the list. Did you notice the modern material for year 7? This year we were on the lower end of our price range but, it is a treasure we will hold dear. We purchased this vintage brass chandelier and sconces for a mere $20 from a lovely couple off of Craigslist. It took us a while to get it up in our dining room because of busy holiday schedules and we wanted our handy (very-- professional contractor--handy) friend, Danny, who made and installed our walnut fireplace mantel here, to give us the peace that the chandelier would work (as in turn on) and hang without crashing into our dining table potentially killing someone.....seriously, this light is Heavy! There was much cleaning and prep work to be had before the install. This is how we started out.

Fresh home from a post off of Craigslist:

A close up of grime and dust.

I started out mixing a bit of mild detergent with warm water.

Scrubbing.

Wipe off with dry rags.

Making Progress.

Thirsty??

Now for a bit of tarnish remover. The acidity in the ketchup is supposed to gently break down some of the grim without harming the brass. I did not want to get the brass shiny, so I only had to use a bit of ketchup and a little rubbing.

Next, I did a finish wipe with a mild cleaner to get the ketchup off.

Now to clean a bazillion crystals.

And, now to figure out where they all go.

Finished install coming up next!!

Craigslist Thursday

2013-01-10T14:08:00.005-08:00

Hey, Everybody! Well, I'm not having much of time finding what we're (somewhat) needing. I would like to replace our foyer table with something iron or metal or acrylic...whatever, just not wood (we've got a lot of wood furniture going on in the living / foyer / dining area right now) and significantly smaller than what we currently have. Our leather sofa is just a beast and the space around the sofa and entry way feels....heavy. Also, a narrow tall curio / china cabinet. Oh, and I want to get both for under $100. We shall see! A few reasonable finds today. The usual wood, campaign, brass, leather and some great vintage and antique pieces. C, to the L, to the Thursdaaayyy!

Campaign Style side table with granite top. $20.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3483763932.html

Black Hutch. This is a really great piece sans the painted flower detail. $300.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3529290413.html

See More after the Jump.

Hutch 1950's. As you could probably tell, I'm still on the hunt for a hutch. I love this style but it is too big for my space. $125.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3476908817.html

2 Caramel Colored Wassily Leather and Chrome Chairs. $100 Each.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3499742177.html

Antique Radio Cabinet. This would be a fun toy storage cabinet. $60,

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3486871029.html

French Side Chair. Fun Project Piece. $35.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3497964165.html

Chest of Drawers. $45.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3536314022.html

Dresser. $60.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3536228362.html

Mod Crib. $150.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3516836989.html

Pair of Brass Side Tables. $25.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3534901058.html

Entry / Foyer / Console Table and matching mirror. $155.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3515116105.html

Oriental Rug. $140.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/atq/3534711008.html

Henredon. Kent Coffey style coffee table. $100.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3528811657.html

Brass Serving Cart. $75

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3487187964.html

Have a stupendous Weekend, y'all!

A Few Resolutions for the New Year

2013-01-08T13:02:00.003-08:00

Welp, this holiday season has gone by in a whirlwind. Am I the only one who really struggles keeping it together from mid-November to January 5th-ish? I am just now gathering my reflections of this last year. The last few weeks have been projects, parties galore, a lot of food (not the good for you kind) and finishing off with some nasty viruses....enough to convince me that we will, eventually wallpaper all toilet rooms....yeah, that bad..... I will not look too dismally on last year as there were some pretty wonderful moments, like having my third little one, my better half getting teacher of the year for the state and beginning homeschool. But, there are some definite needs for improvement.

How about a little poem to get us started:

Be Strong

Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle--face it; 'tis God's gift.

Be strong!
Say not, "The days are evil. Who's to blame?"
And fold the hands and acquiesce--oh shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God's name.

Be strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong,
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not--fight on! To-morrow comes the song.

-Maltbie Davenport Babcock

I welcome 2013 with open arms and a renewed spirit. Grasping hope and trust with all my might.

I know you're used to the whole, "I gotta lose 15lbs, and not to be as busy, and get off my iphone....." As I do need to do all of these things, I would much rather get to the root of these goals. So, lemme break this down for ya. Two Main Focus Points In Red. Two Sub-points underneath. One (sub-point) being what the root of the matter is, what goes on the inside (Inward). And, Two what I can do practically (Outward) to make steps to achieve this goal.

1) How I Look

Inward: Be happy with my body. This doesn't mean eat Oreos and Cheetos all day long. And, sometimes I would like to...maybe not all day....for just an hour or so. This means, yeah, I have a good 15lbs to lose since baby #3 and would be wayyy more comfortable in my clothes if a few pounds were shed. But, hey it is baby #3 and that is an accomplishment, friends! (I have to keep reminding myself of this). I want my focus to be more on taking care of my body building up energy / securing my health in the long run for my family, and not the number on my bathroom scale.

Outward: Eliminate some...well, alot of refined sugars and starches. Exercise. For me, this means eliminating the excess refined starches and sugars and grabbing some veggies instead. Baby steps. Every time I go all crazy with health, spur of the moment, everyone in the house ends up grumpy. Also, a reasonable exercise routine. 30 minutes per day. I long to spend hours at the gym and jogging for miles on the Arizona mountains as in the pre-kid days, but it just ain't gonna happen. At least not right now. So, more veggies, 30 mins., and a big "mmmyetthhsssss" for mom bods!!

2) My goal and Work in Life

Inward: Focus on the goal. This is a repeat and will probably continue the rest of my life! There have been two occasions these last few weeks that were convicting to my recent negative, complaining outlook on life. I'll explain one. So, I'm reading this book one night and pretty much finished it upon opening. The next morning I'm scanning the radio and hear a Katy Perry song about crazy partying on Friday nights. Back to the book. The author, a holocaust survivor gives his psychological account of his two long, enduring years at several concentration camps, the horrid Auschwitz, to name one. This man and his companions were doing everything just to survive. That was the only goal. To survive. Some did survive after being brutally beaten, starved, frozen, and having to lay in their own filth hanging on to mere memories of their loved ones....and....here. here I am fretting over my kitchen, my clothes, my kids, others and having to change a few too many diapers. Hearing Katy sing about maxing out credit cards at the bar, making out with strangers and dancing on table tops had me nauseous and crying in a moment. It was a sobering reminder of what the people before us have suffered and here we sit privileged with our freedoms and prosperity, indulging ourselves in whatever fleshly whim of fleeting happiness we might have. This, instead of focusing on what we cannot see...what is inside of ourselves and inside of others. What has happened to the culture? And, what is a person of privilege to do? Change it or conform to it? Let us ponder the Salmon:

Outward: Turn off the television and eliminate aspects of the Internet. This allows more time reading, talking....learning, growing..... We limited our TV time to a few movies the last two weeks and I finished three books (Taming of the Shrew, Man's Search for Meaning and Wuthering Heights). Three books!! I will admit, though, that I am a bit of a speedy, reading junkie once I open a book. I eliminated social media and cut out about 80% of the design blogs I usually follow. It has freed up A LOT of time. and let's face it, when pondering the world around us, really, how important is it to see every status update from friends I hardly know, television shows that are just plain trash (with the exceptions of Downton Abbey and Parenthood--that show is some serious good acting and writing--sans the mother that used to be on Gilmore Girls). And no, I don't need to know of everything design like who redid that, which fabrics are new and what furniture is in.

As our friend Dr. Seuss once said, "Life is a great balancing act!" It is so true, isn't it? And, so fast paced. I will continue to remind myself that I am not perfect. I will not have the perfect body, perfect house, perfect kids, perfect meals, husband, friends, culture, world.....and that is OK. I will set aside my romantic ideals and continue to balance my work, fighting the little battles, and keep my spirit strong grasping hope and love to the best of my abilities.

A blessed new year to you all.

Recap: Work hard, Rid the ideals, and Be like a salmon, y'all!

2013 here we go!

Oh, and on a different note, we did finish a few projects over break as well. Posts to come. But, my time for the day is up.

Craigslist Thursday

2012-12-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody. I'm making this short because I want to spend some more time with my kids lately in light of everything that has transpired in the last week or so.

Twin Headboards, night stands, a modern lounger, a few antiques, some leather and a game for giggles.

Here we go. Some great finds today. Craigslist Thursday, Everybody.

Pair of Vintage Twin Headboards. $80.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3478101847.html

Nightstand and Dresser. $65. $285.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3490158779.html

MCM Wire Eames Inspired Lounge Chair. $75.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3474075448.html

Foyer Entry Setee. $65.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3462896956.html

Pair of Wood Bamboo Mirrors. These would be fun painted in a double bath or in an entry. $50 for both.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3456941451.html

Antique Chest of Drawers. $100.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3489136316.html

Cute Desk & Chair Set. $75.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3488892381.html

Tufted Leather Loveseat with Nailhead Trim. $150.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3453527714.html

Stonecreek Leather Sofa. $400 if you take it before Sunday.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3488402354.html

Robb & Stucky Rug. Ok, this is a lovely rug, but check out all the miscellaneous items scattered all over the place. Eye Spy (my kids favorite) one comb, a potential pair of underwear, some tea from the desert and a silver apple in the rear. You know you love my rhyming attempts. $200.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3489519040.html

Breakfront Chinoiserie China Hutch. Would be beautiful if your space is large enough. This is the largest image they had. Steal $100.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3460500508.html

Tell someone close that you love them.....right now.....

I promise new posts to come. Slacker.

Some Great Finds

2012-12-17T12:24:00.005-08:00

It's Monday and I had a bit of free time to peruse Craigslist. Some pretty great finds today including a few contemporary sofas, a couple of brass coffee tables, some gorgeous wool rugs, a some solid hutches.

Extra long and deep leather sofa. Steal. $300.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3480377200.html

Campaign Style Brass Coffee Table. $35.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3484226348.html

Drexel Armoire and end tables. End tables $50.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3450087042.html

Hutch. $195.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3468968126.html

Leather Sectional Set. $260.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3484433032.html

This one is still available. Fun project. $100.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3482934815.html

This one is a little much for my taste, but is an absolute steal. Lexington is a superb brand of quality furniture. $100.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3461715388.html

Modern Brass and glass coffee table. $199.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3428183325.html

Wrought Iron Patio Set. $125.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3445899138.html

Rug. Oh Boy, I would consider ditching the carpet in parts of my home for this one. $300.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/atq/3484611514.html

Rug. $35.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/hsh/3480935776.html

Handmade Wool Rug 4x 8 ft. $200

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3447731317.html

Craigslist Thursday

2012-12-13T09:12:00.002-08:00

Slim Pickins' on the Craigslist front. Usually I have about 30 finds and choose the best 10-15 and complete it in about 30 minutes. I am having a hard time finding even three really great ones. Maybe its the economy, maybe it's the holiday season, maybe people are just hanging on to the good stuff, or maybe it's just me. This took me about an hour. Whatev-ah (Kyle that was for you). Today, people are unloading their MCM furniture and we have a whole lotta wood so get out your Pine-Sol......or, your naturally based cleaners......

It's Craigslist Thursday, y'all. I wish you could here me say CL Thursday in my head each week. That was kind of a low, cowboy mellow gruff growl.

Here we go!

Uh, STEAL. Pick this one up now! MCM cabinet. $20.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3452544716.html

Danish MCM Desk or Dining table. This table is all kinds of awesome. Wish I had use for it. $129.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3455202729.html

Interior Designer Custom Furniture closeout. Looks like some great pieces. And, I bet he is flexible with pricing.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3474033347.html

MCM Octagon End Table. You could find this one for cheaper at a yard sale or thrift store for way less, I'm sure. $50.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3460765652.html

MCM Retro Chest of Drawers. This one is really beat up. Usually I would not paint MCM furniture, but this would be a fun project piece in a really subdued muted tone like one of these, but lighter.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3474351799.html

MCM Dresser Set. Steal. This would be mine if not in mesa. $75.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3473817957.html

Antique Chest of Drawers. The listing picture is flipped sideways. When I went to rotate it upright I realized what a truly wonderful piece this one is. Check out that seriously deep storage. I'd say a Steal. $75.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3450771807.html

Dresser Set. Fair condition. But, looks really solid with great curvy lines and fine wood veneer. But, you would probably have to paint it so that really doesn't matter about the veneer (unless you pay to have the veneer professionally mended. $100 for set.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3466495370.html

Mod Crib. This is kinda pricey. But, used modern cribs are hard to come by generally cost wayyyyy more. And, includes organic mattress. $269.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/bab/3452654977.html

These club chairs are super cute and would be a fun project. $125 for the pair.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3428656257.html

Have a super weekend, Everybody. People are unloading MCM so go and get your MCM furniture on! Yet, steer clear of the cheap stuff that you will, yes will, get sick of. Look for solid pieces or name brands that will last.

Craigslist Thursday.....nooooo Wednesday.

2012-12-12T07:45:00.002-08:00

My time clock is soooo off, everybody. I did it again, yet a day early. I will post some more tomorrow on the real Thursday. I am going to blame it on the season. Welp, here you have it. Craigslist WEdnesday this week. Maybe next week, to really confuse you, I will do CL Monday.

I'll make this short: chesterfield...who knows what condition because they stored it outside....what?!?, some awesome rugs, a hutch, chest, and ugly lamps....

Green Leather Chesterfield. $75.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3472650744.html

Ugly White Lamps. No seriously "Ugly White Lamps!!!!! w Shades - $20 " They actually are not bad. Just need new drum or barrel shades.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3472685789.html

Outdoor Table. I wish this one wasn't so far from me, because it looks solid and will work with the set I have. $40.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3456332895.html

This Henredon Cabinet is a splurge. But, I love it. $375.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3439884910.html

Chest of Drawers. $45.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3444369590.html

How many of you remember sitting in front of one of these bad boys? Speaking of which, I called the DVD player the VHS player the other day and my son was like, "what is that?"

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3448430899.html

I think it's the Texan in me that hearts cowhide. $70.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/hsh/3452902769.html

Rug. $190.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3448746455.html

See you again tomorrow!

Craigslist Thurs....FRIDAY?!!

2012-12-07T13:45:00.003-08:00

Wow. My good friend reminded me that I hadn't posted this week. I told her it had been a busy morning and I will get to it later...that sometimes I do CL Thursdays later in the day. She looked at me perplexed. Then I realized it was FRIDAY. What!?! Today we have a stumpy table, a few outdoor patio sets, a ridiculous rug, a few tables, a number of splurges.....like the ridiculous rug, and something I will hopefully get my hands on this weekend.

Oh, projects and more posts to come. We cleaned out our garage a few weekends ago and my husband wanted me to begin research / buying camping gear for spring and summer break. So, any extra time has been devoted to camping gear. I have found some stupendous finds, but I'm sure you're not interested in camping gear. Home thrify design has been on the back burner for the time being. But, Christmas break is approaching which means we will assuredly be project busy.

CL FERIDAY, Y'all! I will try to not say that again in the future.

Tree Stump Table. These tables are red hot right now and go for way more than $50. I would switch out the base though. $50.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3455251074.html

Bamboo Desk. $70.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3455251074.html

Solid Brass Entry Table. $75.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3429486205.html

Aiden Shade Print. I am not looking to buy an Aiden Shade Print, but I had to post because it reminded me of the beloved Joan Cawley Gallery where I worked as assistant director. Boy I loved that job and my director (still do :). Aiden's original work was in the back showroom of the gallery where I would usually be editing files, rearranging/organizing artwork and station myself during shows for buyers....this image conjures up many memories. $50.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3405519632.html

We are picking this up today.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/hsh/3429266360.html

What!?! In my dreams....even if I did have $790 to spend, you know it would be goin in my kitchen fund, y'all!!

This runner is more in my price range. $40.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3431446782.html

This coffee table is another splurge, but I'm looking for one similar. Solid rosewood. Beautiful. $250.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3456351278.html

Tall wood china hutch. We are probably picking this one up tomorrow. I have been looking for a taller thinner one to replace my other hutch. I plan on painting it chalkboard black.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3431514069.html

Another, "In my dreams." Herman Miller office chairs. $500 EACH!!! WHAT?!

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3460114636.html

This tufted leather modular set is super deep and looks super comfy. $500.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3458658271.html

Glam brass desk / vanity chair. $10.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3422584094.html

Who doesn't have an affinity for cool chairs?! MCM chair. Fun Re-upholster. $55.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3461548763.html

Large Dining Table and 6 Chairs. I would ditch the chairs. Needs Refinishing. But, check out that leg detail. Love! $250.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3426754866.html

Wicker and Steel Patio Set. If you have ever shopped patio furniture before you know that the good stuff and even the not so good stuff is E'SSPENSIVE. And you know that $165 for this set is not bad @ all.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3462280240.html

I love the lines on these loungers. $100.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3460653489.html

Have a great weekend!

Stay TUNED, y'all!!!

Craigslist Thursday

2012-11-29T16:18:00.003-08:00

I'm back on, everybody!! My computer is fixed. Lots and lots of good finds on Craigslist this week. The influx was pretty overwhelming that I didn't even get a chance to post all the ones I fancied. I'm gettin' some good buying vibes for this weekend. Might be a good time for garage selling and thrifting. Sorry this is coming so late in the day. My little one is waking up 3 times during the night and it is throwing my whole schedule off. I sleepily say...tis Craigslist Thursday!

Large MCM dresser. Looks SOLID. $100.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3443728682.html

Set of Six Captain's Chairs. Steal! $40.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3381331247.html

Set of 2 ikea Trollstra tray tables. Love these. $60.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3401000316.html

Large Black Dining Room Table. $85.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3443830124.html

White Mod Chairs. Pair. $80.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3443016570.html

Metal Rocking Outdoor Chair Duo. Steal. $10.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3443728682.html

Crystal Chandelier. $95

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3442884001.html

Ikea Docksta Coffee table. $75.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3443728682.html

Mirror. Not sure how big this is. $20.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3384207816.html

Long nice lines couch. This would be a fun one to reupholster in a rich velvet with contrasting piping. $30.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3422966952.html

Demi-lune Foyer Table. I have been considering a less bulky foyer table. Demi-Lune tables are light and airy for smaller foyers. I was going to recruit my dad to make a modern one, but this might be nice to paint a chalkboard black, bright high gloss teal-gray or orangy-red. $20.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3442840826.html

Pair of Swivel Club Chairs. Fun Re-Upholster. $75.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3442827768.html

Mersman Hexagon Table. $20.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3431591657.html

Pair of Twin Headboards & Frames. $79.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3442668849.html

Restoration Hardware Maxwell Sofa. This one is a splurge. But, I have seen this sofa on CL before for $1,000. Retails for about $5,000. Never have to buy another again. Look how deep this beast is. $2,300.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3429243487.html

Genuine Leather Sofa. White. I love lighter fabrics, but with kiddos it is impractical. This set looks like it could take a beating. $800.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3400792487.html

Matching Chair and Ottoman. $400

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3442026590.html

MCM China Cabinet. $75.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3442026590.html

Asian Watercolor Set. Gorgeous. And, wouldn't those frames be cool painted a matte, muted lime? $45.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/art/3401342673.html

Queen Brass Bed. $150.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3381331247.html

I know everyone is gettin' crazy busy. That time of year. Hope you have a relaxing weekend before the next workweek. Remember to hit up some sales, y'all! Bet you find something good.

What's UP...

2012-11-24T10:56:00.001-08:00

So, here is the deal. My cell phone is out. As of this morning my desktop is out. Right now, I am finishing a few posts on the Ipad, which is not pretty...if you have ever posted from an Ipad. I apologize now if my formatting and grammar are all wonky. Oh, and I deactivated my FaceBook for the time being just to get my house in order. I am reminded that this stage of life with my third boy (almost 6 months) requires a particular amount of physical work. Add another two children in the mix (one in diapers) and the whole scenario can become overwhelming physicallyand spiritually. You should see how many bouquets of flowers I have in my house at the moment......hehe if you read this post. The multitude of flowers does not necessarily mean I've had some extreme bouts of depression though. We just celebrated 7 years of marriage. I picked up a bouquet for myself thinking my husband wouldn't have the time...I was already @ Costco. Then, he came home with two bouquets from Costco. My home smells all kinds of pretty at the moment; With the exception of the two dipes I just changed. So, anywho...anyhoo, anyhooohoo. I'm having to eliminate certain areas that might draw me away from a fleeting time with my kiddos. Priorities. But, here ye, here ye. In no way do I think FB is bad and draws one away from their kiddos or family. But, my husband described it like this. Some alcoholics are fine bar tending, others cannot even look at a drink without desiring it. I am finding myself deflecting to the Internet when I am having a particularly trialing time. To avoid having to deal. So, until things slow down and I can find some time to self reflect and gain some self control, certain things will be cut out. Also, My posts are probably going to be reduced to about two per week. This season of life requires some sacrifice of self-life and I'm ok with that.

Don't forget me, y'all!

The $2.00 Pillow Cover....with Piping and Invisible Zipper

2012-11-20T12:57:00.002-08:00

Why, Howdy. Remember when I bought this fabric from the Goodwill Store? I have been meaning to switch out the covers on a couple of Ikea Stockholm pillows. The fabric is vintage and I wanted make it a little more mod with some black piping. Each pillow cover cost me a total of.....wait for it.......$2.00!!! You already knew that because it is in my heading. So, this tutorial will go over the following:

How to Install Piping on a Pillow.

How to make an invisible zipper on a piped pillow. Now, Say that 5 times fast.

Here we go, y'all!!!

Supply List:

Fabric. 2 panels that need to be the size of your pillow plus an inch on both measurements.

Scissors.

Piping / Bias Tape.

Tape Measure.

Zipper. Coordinates with your piping. About an 2 inches shorter than the length of your fabric. Or longer, because I will show you how to cut it to fit.

Thread that coordinates with your piping and zipper.

Sewing Machine. Obviously. Unless you want this project to take a bazillion years.

Pillow Insert.

Pins.

Chalk.

Get the measurements of your pillow insert. My Ikea ones have the measurements on the tag. Now, add and inch to both the length and the width for the seam allowance.

You can trace your measurements on the fabric. And, cut.

I am doing a total of 4 throw pillows. So I have a total of. 8. Squares. Pretty Difficult, right?

Now, pin your piping to the right side of one fabric piece with the bias tape facing the outside.

Pin all the way around.

When you get to the end, overlap the existing piping that you started with, by about an inch and cut.

Pull apart the bias tape a bit to expose the pipe cording.

Cut, JUST the CORDING at the same place of where your pinned piping is.

Now, overlap the bias tape onto your original start of piping is and pin into place.

Get your zipper footer.

Start sewing right on the same seam of the your piping.

I kinda just worked my way around the edges.

You might have to raise your footer to adjust.

Piping complete.

Now, this is the tricky part, so pay close attention. All the tutorials I found online were really no help to me so I kinda just figured out my own method. Look close at the pictures.

Place the zipper (zipper pull face down) onto your piping.

I pinned my zipper at the point where the teeth are pretty close to the piped cord.

Sew into place.

Mmkay. Zip your zipper. Flip your fabric and zipper over, wrong side facing up and pin the other fabric onto the other side of your zipper. **You will want to iron about a 1/4 inch fold on your fabric.**

Sew other side of zipper.

Important. Unzip a couple inches on your zipper and put the right side of of both fabrics together.

Line them up and Pin into place.

Sew the pieces together.

Clip off excess fabric on your corners to avoid bunching.

Clip off any access fabric. I was impatient when I measured and cut my original pieces and my squares were all wonky.

Mmmmmhmmmm. All done. Unless you have more to do. If so, then get to work.

Can you tell I'm really proud with all my pictures? Go pipe some pillows, y'all!

Craigslist Thursday

2012-11-15T13:27:00.002-08:00

Why Hello, Everybody! YOu know what time it is.....time for a whole lotta leather, a big ol' table, some solid modern seating arrangements, a Henry Link Bali Hai dresser combo, a King canopy bed set and a fermenting table set. That last one is my best attempt to form a riddle. Craigslist Thursday!!

King Bedroom set made in Germany. Looks like like Ikea, but hey, Nice lines and a good deal. $265.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3384931503.html

Arizona Leather Couch 2 Recliners. The two ends recline out. 2 years old. Not too shabby at $1,200. Even better at $800.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3410162862.html

White Leather Ashley Sofa. $250.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3379655148.html

Pair Modern Chrome Leather Chairs. $40.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/fuo/3407990627.html

Large Dining Table. $175.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/fuo/3409855120.html

Vintage / MCM chest of drawers. Fun to paint or leave as is. $119.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3399214229.html

Henry Link Bali Hai Style Dresser and Nightstand. Hey, and y'all....only serious people text. $160.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3395451353.html

Inspiration Pic Below from Here.

Tolix style metal cafe chairs. Pair. $60.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3384322572.html

Wrought Iron Bar Stools. These would be fun to paint and recover. $50.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3391484740.html

Wrought Iron Patio Set. $125.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/fuo/3391484740.html

This is your new kitchen set. A real eye catcher. Only $200.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3368860382.html

Make some furniture out of barrels, y'all!!!

Make Your Own Mrs. Meyer's Reusable Cleaning Wipes

2012-11-14T07:35:00.000-08:00

Do you use disposable cleaning wipes? I started implementing this cleaning schedule used by Jenny Komenda over at Little Green Notebook. Part of my daily routine includes wiping down all the bathroom counter tops AND toilets......I have four males in this household...Well, my 6 month old doesn't really count in the toilet department yet-- but I like to make it known that I have four males in my house. Not for sympathy, though, maybe it's pride.....thinking....Maybe it's that it makes me a rarity because I'm the only female in the house....so, it's Vanity.....Did I mention there are four males in my house?.... It can be kerAzzzy! ..Well, I absolutely cherish my Mrs. Meyer's natural scented cleaners. Is it weird that their Geranium scent encourages me to clean? Anyways, I DO use cleaning wipes to make things more efficient around here and a lot of them. I usually alternate between Costco's brand of cleaning wipes, Seventh Generation wipes, and Mrs. Meyer's wipes. Why do I alternate? I love the Costco brand's texture. Same texture as their baby wipes, but soaked in a cleaning agent. The downside is the harsher chemicals and the smell. I like the Seventh Generation wipes because of the thinner texture and Thyme scent. But, they streak like crazy and they don't have the little scrubbie bubbles on them like the Costco ones. I obviously love the scent of the Mrs. Meyer's wipes and the texture is ok, but the price is astronomical. The cheapest price I have found for a 24 count package of Mrs. Meyer's wipes is $3.89 not including tax. That is about $0.16 per wipe. I use at least 3 to wipe down my 2 1/2 bathrooms 6 days a week. That is about $3.00 per week, $12 per month and $144 per year. And, all that waste! Anyways, I sought to find/make the perfect cleaning/disinfecting wipe that cost less, has the smell I love, and is just the right size and texture. So far, my homemade ones are working fabulously.

***UPDATE*** After the 3rd time washing these, I noticed that the Scotch Brite Brand of reusable wipes are starting to separate on a few on them....like, getting holey. I think the last few times I washed them on a HOT setting. So, I might try some other brands and test their durability in the laundry. Or, you might consider washing these on a cold, gentle cycle.

All you need is:

One or More packages of Scotch Brite Reusable Wipes or Other BRAND of Washable WIPES. (Walmart) around $1.77 per package of 6. Read ABOVE "UPDATE"!!!!

A container to hold the wipes. Should be tightly sealed to retain moisture and easy to pull from. I like my old Seventh Generation container because it is oblong, but a square container will work fine too.

Your favorite cleaner. If you want your wipes to have a Mrs. Meyer's scent, the cheapest method is buying the condensed All-Purpose cleaner for about $7.89 at Walmart. It goes a looonnngg way. I purchased the bottle below over a year ago. Or, you can make your own natural cleaner with essential oils.

Open your wipes.

If you like your wipes on the smaller scale.Cut in half.

This is what they look like unfolded, after they have been washed and dried in the laundry.

You should have 12 smaller sized wipes.

With the Mrs. Meyer's condensed cleaner it takes a little under 1/3 cup, sometimes less, and you dilute it with about a cup of water.

Seal tightly.

Tada!

I just throw em in the laundry at the end of the week and start over again. Not too much of a hassle, saves you money, and saves the earth from a little more waste.

Make your house and earth clean....but not your pockets, y'all!....no, not really, for cryin' out loud, wash your britches.