The Eccentric Leopard

How to Make an iPhone Dock (charger) Using a Vintage Camera

2013-03-27T22:31:00.000-05:00

Last year I bought an adorable retro Brownie camera made into an iphone dock for my computer on Etsy for about $50. I wanted to get one that I could use to just charge my phone at the office (I don't connect it to my work computer), and when I went looking, I found that they had gone up to $100 and up.

Since I have a large collection of vintage cameras, I decided to grab one and figure out how to make it myself! It turns out to be quite easy! You just need a camera, a drill and drill bit that is as wide as the USB end of your cord (that is what you will thread through) and some good glue (I used E6000.)

I will admit that it was a little painful to drill into this camera. I chose this one because it is low and wide so I wouldn't have to worry about it toppling, and because my family used to have one just like it when I was a kid. It reminds me of family vacations to Hawaii!

First, open up your camera and make sure there is nothing extra sitting in the film compartment. Decide where you want your doc to sit, and then begin to drill. I found that I had to drill through plastic, thin metal, and more plastic. It wasn't as easy to get through as I expected, because you are drilling through the main housing for the film and lens.

I drilled three holes and then drilled in between until I had the width I wanted. When I tried to thread the usb cable through, I realized that the outer hole was the right size, but inside the housing I had to make it wider, so I went back in and drilled some more, being careful not to widen the outer hole.

Once it was through, I threaded it through and then glued the iphone attachment end into place.

Next you need to decide where you want the cord to come out of your camera. I decide the door was the easiest spot, so I drilled a hole in the side of the door so that it would close without crimping the cable. (Sorry I didn't get a photo of this with the door open). I used the side of the drill bit to just drill a little "U" shape in the side of the door panel, and kept trying to close the door until it would close easily. Then I chose to just close and lock the door normally, rather than gluing it shut.

And here is the final version sitting on my desk at work! I love it, and it is both a conversation piece, and something I love to look at when I'm working!

State Pride Pillow

2013-03-11T19:33:00.002-05:00

When I'm not giving into my yarn ~~obsession~~ hobby, I do still work as a portrait and landscape photographer. Recently I was asked to have one of my landscapes featured on a local phone directory! That was very exciting!

So, in my vast amounts of spare time (ahem), I took a part-time job working with our local Chamber of Commerce. I did it for a couple of reasons; first, I think using your talents to give back to your community is an important thing. In addition, I work alone so much that I knew this job would be the perfect way to meet people in my little town, and hopefully use my skills to benefit them.

For those of you that don't know, I'm one of those people who have done a million things; I am a licensed lawyer in California (on inactive status as I live in OK), I have published three books, I've been on TV many times demonstrating arts / crafts, I was CEO of a technology company for five years, and I taught New Media Marketing for UCLA and Cal State Long Beach extension programs. As a result, I have a pretty good skill set to help people in business, and since the job was only part-time, it seemed like a perfect fit.

I've been doing the job for a month, and so far I am loving it. Of course, you know that I am redecorating the office . . . slowly, but surely! Someday I'll show the before / after photos, but I wanted to share a quick project.

I purchased these plain red lumbar pillows on Etsy.com.

I found a map of Oklahoma online and printed it, and traced it onto card stock Then I used the card stock to trace the design onto white felt and cut it out. Using black embroidery floss, I stitched the design on unevenly, as I wanted it to have a little bit of a homey-rustic air to it.

Finally, using a heart-shaped pin I found dirt-cheap on eBay, I placed the pin where our town is located in the state.

Voila! For just a couple dollars, I embellished two pillows for the guest chairs in my office! Perfect for a Chamber of Commerce office, I think. I love it. What do you think?

I'm Alive - And Yarn Has Taken Over My Life

2013-03-11T19:23:00.000-05:00

Just after Christmas, my very good friend (and partner in crime), Tammy, decided to take up crocheting again. Like me, she had learned as a child, and so she showed me how to make this simple treble crochet infinity scarf. Then I started getting "fancy" and adding trim on it.

Okay, I know if you are a long-time "hooker", this isn't all that impressive, but for someone who hadn't touched a crochet needle in 30 years, I was impressed with myself . . .

And then I discovered that YouTube had all these videos on different stitches, so I started experimenting. Here is another infinity scarf with a different stitch:

Below is my first attempt at a hat - which looks pretty good, until you know that I was trying to make an adult hat and it turned out newborn sized! Yeah, that's when I started reading about gauge and needle size and taking things a bit more seriously . . . which, of course, required more yarn . . . and needles, and cases for yarn and needles . . .

Talullah, btw, contributed nothing to this process except a bit of dog hair - which I figure just makes the scarves warmer.

And then I thought . . . I don't have to do infinity scarves . . . I could do a regular scarf with fringe . . . this one is made with a chenille yarn.

The good news is that I finally mastered hats . . . and then everyone wanted one . . . so I made about fifteen in a row. No joke. I'm a whiz at the magic circle now!

Yes, here is the fancy scarf / hat combo . . . with trim!

Scarf and hat combo with no trim (who said I can't be flexible?)

Eventually, I made several scarves for Talullah. As you can see, she was very impressed.

Then my friend Tammy said, I really want to learn to knit, and I said "Me, too!" Seriously, Tammy and I should not be allowed to be together . . . we are dangerous . . . however, we are definitely good for the economy.

Tammy jumped right in and made a full length scarf. I decided that knitting is a little too slow for me (or I'm too slow for it), and since I felt like a baby giraffe trying to use it's legs for the first time holding the knitting needles, it took me a while to warm to it. As a result, I made several full length dishcloths! (Tammy is a show-off, anyway! ha!) On the plus side, however, I have discovered that knitted dishcloths are GREAT!

Did I mention all that with all the yarn I had to buy, I also had to buy a new shelving unit for my recent Craft purchases (left), and added that jumbo metal crate unit for my yarn. I took this photo before I put all of my yarn in it because at some point I realized that it was getting embarrassing. Let's just say that where you can see space in the crates in the photo . . . not so much now.

Oh, I have also branched out and made a couple of handbags. This one was made with yarn my mom found at Big Lots!

Here is Talullah in a babushka I made to keep her hears warm. I know you can feel how much she loves it. Or not.

In addition to dozens of scarves, and hats, a couple of handbags, a cell-phone carrier, and a few other goodies . . . what I'm working on now is lap afghans for the residents of the Nursing Home where my mom works, and where I take Talullah to visit every two weeks. Here is a photo of Talullah visiting one of the residents, and the shawl around the resident's shoulders is the first one I made for the home. My mom says she just lights up when they bring it out to her - and that makes me feel great about this new ~~obsession, er,~~ hobby of mine!

Happy Holidays!

2012-12-24T18:58:00.000-06:00

The last four years have been very difficult for me for a variety of reasons. There have definitely been low and high points, but last Christmas was probably the worst of my life. As a result, I'm highly aware of how much better my life is now than it was just a year ago!

Among the many good things that have changed in my life was the addition of Talullah to my pack of dogs after having lost Keeley in October of 2011.

Recently, Talullah and I have begun visiting the residents of the local rest home every couple of weeks. My niece gave me a set of antlers, and although she isn't thrilled about it, Talullah will wear them for me.

Although, as you can see from this photo, she isn't really thrilled about it!

Here she is at the rest home on Sunday, with antlers and infinity scarf!

For those of you that don't know, Talullah was rescued by a dog rescue group as she'd been left at a kill shelter. She was pregnant with pups, and based upon her health (she was 35 lbs under weight) and body issues, it was determined that she'd been used for breeding. She is a pure bred Great Dane with a merle / merlequin coat. When I adopted her, we found that the reason she'd been dumped was because she had tumors throughout her breasts. Three weeks ago, she had major surgery to have the lumps removed (they had continued to grow despite the fact that she'd later been spayed.)

She is now a healthy, at her correct weight, and is a happy girl. She shares my life, and everyone loves her. (In fact, the only issue I have had with her is that she wants to go everywhere with me, and will all but knock me down to get out if I tell her she can't go - you try arguing with a 157 lb Great Dane!) Other than that, she has the perfect Great Dane personality - ultimately zen and easy going. She likes everyone, is curious, and has even let other dogs nip at her without reacting! She knows who she is, and is quite comfortable with it!

Talullah has given me the opportunity to give back at the facility where my father spent the last year of his life. Talullah is still getting used to the floors (she much prefers carpet to linoleum or wood) but she is a trooper and gamely lets everyone pet her and cuddle on her, and take her photo.

We are expecting a white Christmas - beginning sometime in the morning - which will be great as last year we had virtually no snow at all. Somehow, it feels more special that the first day we get snow all year is on the holiday itself. It will be fun to see how Talullah navigates in the snow, but I know my other two dogs will be filled with doggy delight in "catching" snowballs and romping through it all. I'll be right out there with them!

Just to give some "equal time", here are Jake and Bandit.

Bandit - in a rare still photo . . . she is usually moving too fast to get a clear shot!

Jake and Bandit waiting for me to kick the ball for them to chase.

Jake on the bench at the end of my bed . . . in his defense, he has no idea that he doesn't actually fit there.

God bless, and Merry Christmas!

Mirror Mosaic Table DIY

2012-12-19T22:46:00.001-06:00

Several months ago I saw a table that I LOVED on Etsy, but it was outside my budget, and I really didn't need another table. But, it had been in the back of my mind for a while.

This table has been through a couple of makeovers . . . this was what it looked like before I got it.

Then, I painted it cream about six months ago.

To do the project was actually pretty simple. First, you need a mirror that is roughly the size of your surface. One of my besties gave me a mirror she was no longer using, so I didn't have to buy one. (And it was big enough that I may be doing this to another table, or two!)

You also need adhesive and grout, sand paper, thick gloves, old cloths you don't mind throwing away, glass cleaner and paper towels. I used Mosaic Mercantile Adhesive and Mosaic Mercantile Premix Grout Quart, White. I used the leather outdoor work-type gloves.

The first thing you have to do is break the mirror - which is far more difficult than it sounds because you need a lot of smaller chips. I broke my mirror outside and then put all the pieces into a box. I ended up having more large pieces than I wanted, so I had to break more inside, but having it inside a box made it easier to control flying chips.

Once you have broken enough pieces to get started, make sure that your table top is lightly sanded to give it enough "tooth" for the adhesive to adhere. Next, simply apply adhesive to the table, and then begin to place your mirror pieces over it.

I found that wearing the gloves for this step was not practical because of the thickness, but you may want to wear them. I just was very careful with the broken pieces, and managed to get the entire table laid out with only one small scratch.

I didn't worry as much about pattern as I did filling in the space. The adhesive dries quickly, so work in small areas, and then apply more adhesive, and repeat.

Once all the pieces are glued in place, you need to wait for the adhesive to dry. This is important otherwise your mirror pieces will move when you apply the grout.

To mix the grout, follow the instructions, but you basically just put the grout in a bowl and add water, then stir until it is the consistency you desire.

The instructions tell you to wear latex gloves for this step, and it might work with the kitchen type latex gloves, but thinner gloves would be shredded by the mirror and sandy grout. I didn't use anything on my hands, but then I'm reckless that way. Listen to the manufacturer, not me!

Keep applying the grout, pushing it down into all the gaps between the mirror until it is completely covered, and then let it dry. The directions said 15 minutes, but I waited about an hour as the grout still felt damp to me.

No matter what the mosaic project, the next step is the most tedious for me . . . you have to wash the grout off the top of your mirror (or tiles if you are using that.) It takes quite a few trips to get it all off. The photo below is after I had rinsed the table down about five times.

You need to get all the dried grout off the mirror, and then get rid of the cloudiness that is caused by residual grout over the mirror. Just keep at it. A word of advice, though, use towels you don't want to keep - because getting all that sand out of a towel can be a nightmare.

Finally, when the grout is all dry, you can clean the mirrors with glass cleaner and a paper towel to get the last of the cloudiness off the surface.

And here is the finished piece.

I've had a couple of questions about my centerpiece; all of the pieces are gold mercury glass from discount centers and Hobby Lobby. I had a hard time finding a try that was large enough to hold all of those wide based candle holders, so I ended up purchasing the Winware 20-Inch Aluminum Pizza Tray with Wide Rim and then spray painting it gold, then adding Speedball Mona Lisa Composition Gold Leaf over the top. It is a simple project but has big impact!

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Holiday Wish List 2012

2012-12-18T01:15:00.000-06:00

I'm an online shopper . . . so I always have a long list of things I'd love to own, but probably never will! I thought I'd share some of my current favorites . . . and maybe you'll discover something you can't live without!

So, without any specific order, here are some of my "wishes":

Corral Women's Turquoise Cortez/Cream Fleur de Lis Boot

I have a hang-up about Cowboy (cowgirl) boots . . . I love them, but I have to find boots with design on the top of the foot. I rarely wear cowboy boots with my jeans tucked in, so if the only design on the sides, you can't see it. I love the color of these boots, and the design on the foot!

StealStreet 11.5-Inch Tall Look Roses Curvilinear Art Nouveau Vase Pewter

I love all things Art Deco. This Art Nouveau piece isn't Art Deco, but it is certainly evocative of the era.

Canon P owerShot D20 12.1 MP CMOS Waterproof Digital Camera with 5x Image Stabilized Zoom 28mm Wide-Angle Lens a 3.0-Inch LCD and GPS Tracking (Blue)

There are many waterproof cameras on the market, but I really like this one for fun / vacation shooting. It is a nice size, and isn't cumbersome. It is high enough DPI to take good photos, but not so high that the cost is through the roof.

STEPHANIE JOHNSON iPad Case, Arctic Gold

I love the wow bling factor on this case! I have a beautiful case that opens like a book, but this case is really something special!

Silver Beaded Frame from Pier 1 Imports

Another lovely blingy item! Pier 1 had a beautiful line of silver and mirrored furniture, and this is part of that set. I think it is gorgeous!

Silver CZ Pave Antique Victorian Cross Pendant

I have quite a few cross necklaces, but not one that is as special as this one. I can see this being an "every day" blingy kind of necklace for me. Of course, I live in Oklahoma, where bling is a pretty common thing for women!

16" Glitter Marquee Letter LED Night light

Are you getting the theme of bling? Yes, I love it. I would love to have a capital "L" for my living room!

1VintageSoul Pink Radio iPhone case

Handmade Geometric iPhone case for 4 or 4s, Gold and Black Art Deco Design

These two cell phone cases are adorable! I love the retro radio because it reminds me of one that my older sister had when I was a kid. I love the lower one because of the Art Deco theme.

Art Deco Rhinestone Assemblage Bracelet

When I was getting ready to write this blog post, I pinned this bracelet on Pinterest to a board to help me organize my thoughts . . . and almost immediately it sold! Darn it! Oh well . . . I hope whoever gets it will appreciate it as much as I would!

1930's Medallion Purse

This is another item that sold since I pinned it, and I'm kind of bummed I didn't buy it for myself! It is such a gorgeous piece! I love the color contrast.

Recycled Kodak Brownie Camera Clock.

As a photographer, I tend to love things that involve retro cameras, so this clock made out of a Brownie makes me happy!

Blackbird Fly Twin Lens Reflex Camera

I love using a wide variety of cameras, and these are really special!

It's a TLR - The Blackbird, Fly, is a Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) camera, meaning that there are two objective lenses: One for taking the photograph, and one for the waist-level viewfinder. Behind the viewfinder lens is a mirror at a 45-degree angle (hence the term "reflex"), which reflects upwards through a matter focusing screen surrounded by a hood/enclosure used to block some light and reduce reflection on the screen. This creates an image on the screen identical to what will be captured on film through the photographic lens.
It uses 35mm film - Most TLR cameras use 120 format film. Although 120 film is very cool, it can be much harder to find and even harder to get developed. With 35mm film you can just drop it off at the nearest 1-hour photo!
3 formats - You can shoot in 3 formats (using provided masks): normal 35mm (24mm x 36mm), square format (24mm x 24mm), and large square format (36mm x 36mm).

Vintage Art Deco Sterling Silver Hand Mirror

This hand mirror makes me swoon. Soooo lovely!

Person of Interest: Season One

Finally, my last "wish" is for the Person of Interest DVD set. This is remarkable for me because I am not a big TV watcher, and I rarely know the names of TV or movie stars. It's just not my thing. However, I've developed a big crush on Jim Caviezel, so I've taken to watching this series regularly! Thank goodness for the DVR!

So what is on your wish list this year?

Christmas Wrapping

2012-12-18T00:11:00.001-06:00

Every year I go out and buy wrapping paper for Christmas. I like to coordinate all my packages. This year I chose a silver on silver theme.

At Hobby Lobby I found these lovely papers. I chose a swirly damask like print, and a zebra. I added several different kinds of silver ribbons - from the sheer wire ribbon seen below . . .

To this narrow silver ribbon . . .

And this adorable polka dot print ribbon. I found two different styles of tags in silver, the polka dot, and an all over glitter.

These are just a few of my packages, but I think they look lovely together. Don't you love that big round package? In our family, we have a joke whenever a package is huge, or awkwardly shaped, or obvious what it is from the shape, when we hand it to the person, we deadpan, "It's a neck tie." Don't ask. We all have a strange sense of humor. I blame my dad.

And speaking of "wrapping", here is a photo of Talullah in her cowl. It goes with the HUGE dog coat I got for her which she still isn't sure about. She isn't sure about the cowl either, but she will wear it. The coat I bought was made to measure and is based on a dog blanket. When you have a 157 lb dog, you aren't going to be able to buy a coat for them at Wal-mart!

She just cracks me up. I think she looks like a little old lady wearing a babushka!

So what are your Christmas wrapping designs? Do you think I'm crazy for planning a theme each year?

Oh, and if you are wondering about "left-over" paper for the year, I always try to buy prints that will work year round so that I don't have to only use it for Christmas. I also use wrapping paper inside out (if there isn't a print on the back) and use rubber stamps or paint on it for a new design.

Updating a Faded Summer Wreath for Winter

2012-12-17T23:34:00.003-06:00

After looking for a reasonably priced wreath that went with my decor, and failing miserably, I got the idea to update my current wreath - which was sadly faded by the Oklahoma sun.

I wish these photos did the wreath better justice, but the gold and "ice" are very subtle. Because my living room, which this door opens up into, is decorated with gold accents, I wanted to go with a gold theme.

This is what the wreath looked like when I started. I picked it up last Spring at Walls, a local Oklahoma discount store. At the time it was a deep green with purple flowers. Not so much anymore!

These are the supplies I used: Gold paint, spray glue, plastic "snow flakes" and clear spray paint.

The wreath, surprisingly, only took two light coats of the gold to cover.

Here is a close up of the painted wreath. You can see that the purple "buds" were a slightly different color of gold, but I liked the way it looked, so I didn't make an effort to cover it further.

Next, I used spray glue all over the wreath. You need to read your directions carefully. In addition to shaking the can first, most glues work best if you wait a few minutes before you apply whatever you are trying to adhere.

Next, I cut a hole in the corner of my bag of "snow flakes" and lightly sprinkled the m over the wreath. Then, I applied another layer of glue over the top, and added a second layer of snow flakes to the wreath.

You can see that it looks much fuller with that second coat.

Finally, I added additional spray glue to the side of the wreath I planned to use at the "top" because if something was outside, the top would naturally have the heaviest concentration of snow. (see below.)

The final step is to spray the entire wreath with the clear spray paint. You do this to neutralize any glue that might not have something adhered to it, as well as to set the snow flakes in place.

Here is the wreath on the door. It is simple, but I really like it. If I was going to do it again, I think I would add a light misting of gold glitter over the wreath before I added the glue. Regardless, I think it looks lovely, and is a simple, but elegant addition to my holiday decor!

So far I haven't done a thing to decorate my front porch! The photo below shows you why . . . my house is placed in the worst possible spot for wind. We also have had a run of wind storms, and every time I get my porch cleaned up, the wind comes up and knocks everything over! I hate to put decorations out there only to have them all blow away!

My current plan is to add drapes to the corners, which I'm hoping will block some of the wind. (I plan to use a combination of hooks and velcro to put these in place. Crossing my fingers that it works!) I'm not sure if that will happen before the holidays, though!

Christmas Projects DIY

2012-12-05T00:11:00.001-06:00

Here are three quick projects I did for my own house for Christmas. The first is this simple cone tree:

I bought a round plaque, a foam cone, and a the In Bloom one pound bucket of rhinestones. (You can find similar flat-back rhinestones online here.)

I painted the plaque silver with spray paint, and then glued the cone to the plaque with Tacky Glue. I then glued each of the rhinestones, varying the size, to the cone with tacky glue. The project is very easy, but it did take a couple of hours to cover the cone.

I was happy with the simple blingy cone tree when I was finished. The great thing about Tacky Glue is that it dries clear.

With a second cone and plaque, I painted the plaque gold, and then using clear tacky glue, I glued strips of pink fabric in layers over the cone.

I kept doing the layers until I reached the top.

Finally, I added strips of burlap that i secured to the fabric with hot glue.

Finally, I wanted to do a version of this Santa inspired wreath project I found on Pinterest. I used a simple wood wreath form, two red boas, black satin ribbon, a rhinestone buckle, and a wood "ho ho ho" piece. I purchased all of the items on Amazon.com.

Simple wrap the boa around the wreath form. I chose to secure the ends with zip ties so I wouldn't ruin the boas, or the form. Next, I added the ribbon, and hot glued the ends of the ribbon to secure it in place. I painted the "ho ho ho" wood piece with white paint, and then hot glued it to the boa. It was very simple to make, and took only about 20 minutes!

Rhinestone Pin Wreath

2012-11-30T20:01:00.000-06:00

You may have seen this beauty on Pinterest:

via Pinterest

Unfortunately, the link goes directly to an image, not the source, so I can't credit the original source.

I decide that I wanted to add one to my glam bedroom. Here is my version:

I used a 12" foam wreath, which I wrapped with white fabric. I collected silver brooches with clear rhinestones from local sources and eBay. Ultimately, I used about 50 pins (brooch / brooches), plus a roll of rhinestone ribbon for the outer rim.

After wrapping the wreath with white fabric, I glued the pins to the form with hot glue, adding smaller pins over the top of large pins to give more depth. I also used the smaller pins for the edges, and concentrated the larger pins in the front center of the wreath.

The final step was to add a ribbon to the top. As mine is sitting on the mantel, I didn't need to use a ribbon to hang it, but it would be quite easy to do so.

My thanks for this project being featured at the following sites:

This project is linked at the following sites:

Ladybird Lane

Sneak Peek of my Christmas Decor . . .

2012-11-26T03:54:00.000-06:00

I thought I'd share some photos of my home while I'm in the midst of decorating. It usually takes me the better part of a week to get it all put together!

My trees are still "in progress". As you can see, I've gone for a teal and gold theme for them this year. I have a narrow area in my living room for the trees, so I am using two narrow trees, rather than one larger tree.

I have used a lot of peacock themed ornaments.

I found this fun crown tree topper at Hobby Lobby for half price. I added the tule to it to make it a little more stable on the tree.

The crown at the top of this tree is actually a garden stake!

I'm still working on the mantle, but I love these gold mercury glass trees I picked up at Hobby Lobby.

I added Christmas bulbs to my birdhouses in the living room.

I added this wreath, as well . . . a Pinterest project I made at a Pinterest party:

I'm adding some holiday bling to my chandeliers. This is the chandelier above my kitchen table.

My bedroom is also getting attention. I've just started working on the fireplace. I already have a lot of mercury glass in the room, so it goes with the silver theme.

I looked all over for white garland for my mantle, but I couldn't find anything I really liked. I ended up twisting a basic white strand with two different strings of clear / frosted bead garland, and adding in some ornaments.

I love these large lavender ornaments atop candlesticks.

This chandelier got some silver garland and a long ornament hanging down the center.

I added silver and mercury glass bulbs to this vase in the bedroom.

Here is a simple cone project (DIY to come soon) covered with rhinestones.

That's it, so far . . . more to come!

This page is included in the following parties:

Silverleaf Canvas

2012-11-10T01:58:00.001-06:00

Trying to decide on the art for my updated bedroom design has been the hardest issue I dealt with! Here is what I finally decided upon for over the fireplace:

It started life like this:

I had purchased the flower canvas online, and then added the frame and fabric behind it trying to give it more presence, but it just didn't feel right in the space.

The other art in the room is in silver frames; mostly black and white prints of old proms, flowers, and chandeliers.

As I already have two mirrors in the room (over either nightstand), I didn't want to add another mirror, but I wanted to do something that was more neutral and in keeping with the other art, plus the era I am trying to evoke in the room. (1930's Hollywood Glam / Regency).

I ordered Silver Leaf online. The packets I purchased were 25 leafs each. I used about 20 leafs on this project.

If you have never done leafing before, it can be intimidating, but the payoff is huge, and while it is messy, it is not difficult at all.

The leaf booklets come like this. On top of the package is a small clear plastic sheet. Keep this! You will use it to hold the leafs to put them on your piece, otherwise the leaf will fall apart in your hands.

The first step is to prime your piece (clean it, paint it, etc.) and then apply sizing (another word for adhesive.) I used the spray adhesive on this piece.

Using the clear leaf, lift the piece out of the booklet, and place it on your piece, and remove the clear plastic. Inevitably, you will get some adhesive on the plastic, but you can use a piece of wax paper in place of the clear plastic if it gets too messy to use.

Just keep placing your pieces to cover your surface. I like to slightly overlap the pieces so there are no gaps, but this is a matter of personal preference.

As you work, the silver leaf doesn't look all that impressive - in fact, it looks like cheap tin foil! Don't worry! After it is all done, you will burnish it with a cloth and that is when you get the beautiful texture and glow. Just keep going and cover any spots you missed with left over pieces.

When you are all done, use a soft cloth without an obvious texture to rub the foil into place, and get rid of any bubbles. If your cloth has texture, the foil will pick it up. So, for example, you can use a brush over the foil, and you will get the look of brush lines (this can be pretty if you cross-hatch).

You can see here that even though I overlapped my leaves, you can see lines where the pieces came together, as well as some spots where the leaf didn't adhere. You can simple go over the leaf with more leaf (the brush on adhesive is easier for this than the spray), or you can leave it. As I wanted my piece to look a bit older, I didn't cover these imperfections.

After I had the leaf in place, I used a clear varnish over the top to prevent it from tarnishing. Then, using brush on Tacky Glue and some rhinestone ribbon I purchased online from Save-on-Crafts, I glued the embellishment in place.

When I said that silver leaf was messy, I meant it. Here you can see some of the many little pieces that ended up on my carpet after I finished the canvas. These are quite simple to vacuum up, however, as they will not stick without adhesive on them.

And here is the finished piece on the wall. Very simple and minimalistic, but perfect for my Hollywood Glam room.

Here you can see it in context of the room, above the fireplace.

This project has been shared at the following sites:

Cornice in an Hour: a fast DIY project!

2012-11-09T20:12:00.000-06:00

One of my many personal quirks is that I don't like the look of the top of a curtain rod when it is a gathered rod pocket type. I don't even like the look of a shower curtain, and usually add a valance over the top of it.

I knew I had seen DIY cornice projects online, and after a search, I found this project: http://www.melaniehamdesigns.com/cornice-board-diy-window-treatment/. My window is wider than the windows shown on the project, but since I already had the batting, and duct tape, I decided I could risk $2.00 on foam core boards from Dollar General!

First, I started by measuring my window, and deciding how tall it should be, as well as the depth of the side panels. I then traced the lines on for cutting using a yard stick and pen, and cut them out with an eXacto Knife.

After cutting all the pieces (in case you are curious, my width was 78", the height of the board is 9" and the side panels are 7"), I taped the panels together with duct tape. I found that I had to tape all the way around the boards to get more stability.

After taping all the boards together, I added a very thin batting over the entire piece. I also used duct tape to secure this.

Next I added the fabric over the top of the batting, and taped it in place (sort of like wrapping a really awkwardly shaped present.) Because of the length of the piece, I was worried about stability, so I used left over foam across the back where the seams were to give it additional stability. Because foam core weighs so little, I wasn't worried about weight. I also added a couple of tape "tabs" to the end of each side to have something to nail through to secure the cornice to the walls.

Once it was finished, I used four nails on each side to attach the cornice to the wall. I anchored them by the wall by nailing through the cornice at an angle. Nailing though foam core is a breeze.

As a final touch, I added some rhinestone trim (matching the trim on the lamp shade) with hot glue. I purchased the trim online at Save-on-crafts.com.

Shared at:

Bedroom Reveal

2012-11-09T19:37:00.000-06:00

In a small room, it can be a challenge to get good photos showing all the details, so I'm providing a variety of photos, including some panoramic photos, to show the room.

You may remember from previous posts (here and here), that I created the headboard with two twin headboards, some wood appliques, and paint. I added mirrors, and changed out the nightstands for a dresser and table I already had.

I am considering adding fabric to the center of the canopy behind the bed to give it more of an impact. I'll post photos if I do that.

I added new velvet drapes from Pottery Barn Teen, and a cornice (step by step project to come) using the same fabric used on the canopy, lamp shade, and pillow.

I purchased the cord covers on Etsy. I painted my existing picture frames. What I learned about working with metallic spray paint is that you need to mix up the types of paint you use, and the finish, to get a richer look. In addition to straight spray paint, I used silver leaf, silver rub and buff, and stencils with clear spray paint to mix up textures. (More on that in a later message!)

On this dresser, I used silver spray paint over a primer, and then silver leaf on the drawers only.

I took two of these photos to try to show the room from lower and higher perspective. This is to the left of the bed, and on the opposite wall when facing the door to the bedroom.

This fireplace is a new item I purchased with a heater in it. This is what it looked like when I got it from Country Door.

Before putting it together, I painted all of the wood pieces, except the arched detail piece. Look for a separate post with more on this. I also added Rub and Buff on the detail pieces to mix up the silver finish on the piece.

You may have noticed that on previous photos I had a larger furry photo under the chair. I found that the fur was backed with a fabric that I could cut, so I cut it into three strips - one for each side of the bed.

This is what I finally decided on for art over the fireplace. I will be posting on how I created it.

I made the lavender pillow cover with some of the fabric I used for the canopy. I found some lavender rhinestone pins on Ebay and have added them to the pillow, as well as the tie backs on the canopy.

Here is the before / after on this corner . . . new chair and table, and I painted the frames and changed out the art.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I painted the black lamp with the rhinestones I purchased at Hobby Lobby. I covered the lamp shade in the same lavender fabric that I used for the canopy, and some rhinestone trim.

I purchased new plates for the light switches and plugs, and then spray painted them with a paint appropriate for plastic. Next, I added Mod Podge gloss and silver glitter.

Finally, on the right side of the room is a console table and some art. This is actually an area I'm still playing with. The room has cathedral height ceilings on that side, so I may bring the art all the way up the ceiling on the central section of the wall.

As you can see, I painted the table silver, and then added a stencil texture with gloss clear paint on the top. I also painted the tray a lavender color. The candle sticks came from Etsy.

How to Get Started on a DIY Project

2012-10-22T20:37:00.000-05:00

Recently several of my friends have told me that they want to do a DIY project, but either don't know where to begin, or that they feel overwhelmed at all that will need to be done, so they don't start.

I thought I would talk about how I go about my DIY projects. Maybe my approach won't work for you, but it might, or it might spark an idea on how to get yourself started.

Pinterest

When I decide I want to do a project, the first thing I do is start collecting images. I used to do this with magazines, glue sticks, and sketchbooks, but now I primarily use Pinterest. Even if I find an image in a magazine, I can usually find that image online with a little searching. I create a different Pinterest Board for each project.

For example, I am currently working on my bedroom, and I'm sure you will see the correlation between my Pinterest Board for my bedroom, here: http://pinterest.com/teraleigh/bedroom-redesign-inspiration/ and the Bedroom so far, as shown here: http://www.eccentricleopard.com/2012/10/update-bedroom-photos-still-in-progress.html.

The Power of Lists

Once I am ready to commit to the project, I start to make a list. My first list is wild and random, listing everything and anything I can think of that I will need to do. I usually break it down like this:

Things I need to do (give away, sort, paint, ask, borrow, etc.)
Things I need to buy

My first version of this list is always overwhelming, and sometimes repetitive. I don't try to be organized, I try to just imagine every corner of the room, plus the ceiling and floor, and what will need to be done there, and what I need to do to make it happen.

My next step is to create a new organized series of lists. I go into the "things to buy" and sort it by type (for example, things I would buy at a hardware store, things I would find online, things I might go thrifting for, etc.) When I have it organized, I use a highlighter to highlight the things I need first, and what I can currently afford.

Next, I go to the "things to do" list, which is usually a crazy mess. I sort it by categories; things to sort/give away, things I need to physically accomplish (paint, sand, cut, collage, etc.), and then a miscellaneous list of things like - questions I need answered, things I might borrow or beg vs. buy, etc.

Again, I go in and highlight the very first things I can do / afford.

Figure it Out! There is Always a Way!

If you are looking at your list and think, there is no way I can afford to do this . . . then you weren't creative enough in making your lists!

You don't have to have the latest / newest item. There is no reason you can reupholster a piece of furniture, or paint it, etc. I know from experience that things you create yourself have way more meaning for you than things you just buy and set up in a room.

There are SO MANY step-by-step resources on the internet, that there is no reason you can't DIY anything you need to do. I have learned to wire lamps, hang chandeliers, and change out a manual thermostat for a programmable one - all by looking for online tutorials!

Don't forget inexpensive sources for materials such as Restore, local thrift shops, Craigslist, and garage sales.

If you want it bad enough, you will figure out how to do it.

Do What You Can Do as You Can Do It!

Not every room redesign requires getting rid of existing furniture. If it does, I usually try to get rid of things I won't be keeping in the room at the same time I'm getting whatever I will be replacing it with, because I don't love living in a place with no furniture! But, I like taking photos of things I'm getting rid of and offering them to family and friends, so that when the time comes, I know who is getting it, and how I'm going to get it out of my house.

If possible, I repurpose things in my house (never underestimate the power of paint to give an item a brand new look!), and I tend to keep pictures and art in storage because even if I don't use the art again, I may use the frame, or repaint the canvas, and those are things I don't have to purchase.

I also like to talk to local friends and family about projects, because you will be amazed at how many times I've said I wanted something, and someone said, "Oh, I have one of those in my garage . . . you can have it!"

Money Saving Tactics

Free Shipping Options

I shop online a lot, and I have paid for memberships at Amazon and O.co for their free shipping plans. Because between myself, my family, and my clients, I have so many things delivered, these plans have more than paid for themselves.

Another option is to go to FreeShipping.com and look for sites specifically offering free shipping.

Be Willing to Customize

One way that I have saved a lot of money in furnishing this house is that I never worry about the color of furniture. I have repainted many of the brand new pieces I've brought into the house, but I have saved a TON of money over being forced to pay more for an item that is an exact match to something I already have.

If an item is the right shape and size, and made of a material that can be painted, I will purchase it in the cheapest color, and then customize it to my home when it arrives.

The upside to this is that all of my furniture is unique - even if someone wants the same piece, they would have to be willing to do the same work to get their item to look just like mine! (Which would be fine with me, if they want to do that work!)

Beg / Borrow Limited Use Tools

I have accumulated a lot of tools, but if I need something for a one-time project that I don't foresee using again, I will start asking around. Friends will often lend me a tool. Because my house is organized, and I take good care of my own tools, they know I will take care of theirs as well. (Plus, on the rare occasion that someone hasn't wanted to lend me a tool, I have had friends offer just to come over and do whatever I needed done for me!)

Get Started

Once you have your lists completed, and you have highlighted those first couple of affordable / doable steps, then get started. Projects tend to have a momentum of their own. When something arrives for the project, it is hard to let it just sit there! You want to get to work on it, and the more you do, the more you want to do.

Each time you cross something off your list, highlight the next item to be done. I often write my highlighted items on a post it note and keep them in my calendar so that if I'm out and about and see something that might help, it is there to remind me. This is especially important with shopping lists!

Update Bedroom Photos - still in progress

2012-10-12T01:32:00.003-05:00

The bedroom is still in progress, so I thought I would show you how things are moving along . . .

So, this is what the bedroom looked like last time I showed you . . .

As I mentioned, I added a chandelier to the center of the room. After searching for a small, but affordable chandelier, I found this one for $79.99 at Overstock.com. It started like this:

I removed the crystals, and spray painted it purple, and then replaced the crystals, adding more with purple crystals I purchased on eBay.

Here it is after being hung, the color of the chandelier doesn't show as well with the bulbs lit.

The color of the chandelier is much closer to the color of the drapes and canopy, as shown here:

I also added a side table to the left side of the bed, and added a scarf and a few knickknacks.

You may notice a small change on the headboard between the two photos above. I added an embellishment I purchased from D. Lawless Hardware. The pieces come in raw wood.

I spray painted it silver to match the headboard.

Here it is on the headboard.

I think that it makes a big impact to the headboard; and much more in keeping with the overall Hollywood Regency theme I'm going for!

I've had a few questions about the mirrors I used on either side of the bed. They were called Versailles, and I purchased them through a catalog site called Home at Five, but they are no longer available through their site at present.

My new chair arrived today, but I'm still awaiting the side table and rug, as well as a new print for the wall.

This is the chair I purchased (for just $129!), but I have painted the legs silver:

This is the side table to go with it:

And this is the art for the wall, which I purchased in 18" x 24" canvas. I will be adding another canvas, but I want to see this one in person first!

Other work to be done:

My original plan was to paint the tables on either side of the bed silver, but now I'm unsure that I want that much silver together. I may decide to paint them silver, and then silver leaf it so that it would have a different look from the headboard and not be so "matchy-matchy".

Also, my bed linens, etc. are still in progress. I'm looking for shams the right color, etc.

I have to re-hem my drapes, as well. I got confused with the measurements the first time, and left them 8" too long - but much better to have it be too long than too short!!

I'll be writing more, soon!

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Dinner for God

2012-10-10T17:18:00.001-05:00

My good friend Rayme Sciaroni has written an inspirational book that promises to be ‘earth and soul’ changing!

Entitled, “Dinner for God”, this delightful non-denominational story follows a woman, Jenny, in her early fifties who receives a letter from ‘God’ requesting her to host a dinner party – in God’s honor! Not sure whether the letter is a hoax or not, she decides to do as the letter asks.

Thus come the questions for all of us: If God were coming to your house for dinner, what would you serve? What would you wear? Whom would you invite? What would you talk about? Find out as Jenny handles these questions and many others as she journeys through to find the perfect dish she chooses to share, the guests she wishes to invite and the conversation that brings fresh and enlightened ways of viewing ‘God’, ‘The Highest Source’, ‘The Universe’…your pick.

Information on “Dinner for God” by Rayme Sciaroni book/cd is available at:

www.dinnerforgod.com

The book/cd is also available at Amazon including Kindle, and the songs are also available on MP3.

I can guarantee you this is one book you won’t want to miss! (P.S. also available for Kindle!)

Progress on the Bedroom Project

2012-10-08T02:14:00.000-05:00

I still have a long way to go, but I thought I'd share my progress on the bedroom project!

Here is where things are as of tonight (okay, this morning as I am writing this at 2 AM).

Pardon the unmade bed . . . all of the bedding hasn't arrived.

Here is what I have accomplished so far - got rid of the old headboard, and night stands that came in the room, painted the two twin headboards and put them together (still working on that - more on that on a future blog post), painted the new chandelier (which will hang above the center of the bed in the center of the room - not shown as it is not yet hung, also more about that later), painted and hung the two mirrors, hung the curtain rod above the bed and draped the fabric.

The fabric above the headboard is silk shantung, and it matches the velvet drapes that I hemmed, and hung. They don't show in this photo, but I'm still waiting for the sheers, so I'll show that more later.

I still have TONS to do!

I will be painting the tables on both sides of the bed - the one on the left side of the bed is MIA, but it will be in the room tomorrow. I have to pull it out of a shed.
Add wood embellishments to the headboard (painted.)
I also have to paint a console table that is on the right side of the room.
There will be some new art coming into the room.
I need a large rug for the space.
Hang the chandelier. (Because all bedrooms need three chandeliers!)
I have to repair and recover the bench at the foot of the bed, as Talullah put her big doggie foot right through the cover of it.
Possibly getting a new chair for the room, or an armoire . . . I haven't decide what I'm doing with the corner to the left of the window.
Find some coordinating linens in soft gray, or perhaps dye some if I can't find the color I want.

Just to take you on a little journey from where I started. This is what it looked like when I moved in. (I was a furnished guest house on my sister's property.)

This is what it looked like since I moved in. I made a quick (but ultimately too short) cover for the headboard, and hung my chandeliers, and used my linens I had from before.)

I think it is coming along nicely! Still much to do, but it's getting better each day! And here it is as of today . . . stay tuned . . . much more action coming in the next few days, with "how to" posts to follow.

Random: some photos, and a quick project shot

2012-10-03T06:17:00.000-05:00

We've had some gorgeous weather lately . . . and storms . . . here are a few photos from my recent galavanting.

This is my favorite lightening shot I took the other night from my porch.

Talullah is my companion whenever I can bring her. She loves to travel, and she loves people.

Last Friday, I had a friend visiting from California. We took him to the food truck event at H & 8th, and then over to the Oklahoma City Regatta Festival. Talullah is always a big hit anyplace I take her! She loves people, and there is no shortage of people who love meeting her.

The Regatta Festival night races were great fun. Here is a quick phone shot from the event.

Just to keep the blog business like . . . here is a photo of the door of my local hair salon, and a vinyl design I did for their door using my Silhouette. I still have a love/hate relationship with the machine, but when I get it to cut properly, it is a wonderful tool! I have used it quite a bit, but I thought this sign turned out well. They added rhinestones to the chandelier to bling it up, which I think adds to it's charm.

Client Living Room Progress Update

2012-10-03T05:59:00.001-05:00

My client wanted to update her living room without spending a lot of money. Because the entire house is paneled, the fastest way to make a big difference was obviously paint!

We kept her leather furniture, and her grandmother's china hutch and coffee table, but we replaced the TV stand.

After priming and painting the walls (we decided to keep the beams unpainted as she wanted to keep a country look), we added a rug from Overstock.com, and drapes from Dollar General ($9.99 per panel! A great deal!)

We painted her grandmother's hutch, and moved it to the side wall. I will show closeups of the hutch soon. It turned out amazing!

The client had a spare dresser out in her garage, so rather than buy a new media center, we decided to adapt what she already had by painting it, taking the top two drawers out, and adding baskets. The client had seen this done on Pinterest, and loved the idea of it.

This is the piece after painting it, but it needed something more.

I added a stencil to the bottom drawers, and we drilled holes for these cute drawer pulls the client found at a local discount store. What a difference!

Here is a better view of it.

I didn't get a photo of it in context of the room, but we added this old window that the client already had to the far wall where the China Hutch used to sit. I added a scroll vinyl piece that I already had from another project to give the window some interest.

Here is a fun Pinterest inspired project.

I ordered this 24" wood letter from Build-a Cross online. I highly recommend them! The first cross they sent arrived damaged, and they immediately sent a replacement. The quality of the wood is great!

I spray painted the letter for the client, but suggested to her that she look at the pennies projects on Pinterest. I thought the shine of the pennies might make an interesting texture on the letter, and tie in the warm aspects of the leather furniture with the blues and greens in the room. My client did this on her own, and I think she did a great job!

Finally . . . here is the before of the kitchen. You can see it in the background of the photo with the chair and the "H" on the wall. It is open to her living room, so we really had to tackle both.

Here is is after paint, a new rug (same pattern as the one in the living room, just different colors), and painting the kitchen table and chairs. We added another window to the wall in this room (client already had it) along with a rustic candle mold that the client also had before we started.

If you look along the top of the room, you will see that there is a 12" soffit that runs around the kitchen shelves. We are planning to add tin tile to it, and we are waiting for it to come in. We will also be adding a new chandelier, another rug, curtains, and some other decor pieces, including some shadow boxes with antique kitchen tools that were her grandmothers. We know it is going to be adorable . . . but I couldn't resist showing you the amazing change that just the paint made. The client did almost all of this painting by herself! I just chose the paint colors, and she has been a painting machine!

Here is a shot of Talullah on that rug in the kitchen . . . yes, she is that big! That rug is 9'! I brought her with me for a late night painting session . . . the client loves Talullah, but her dog, Daisy, hid nearly the whole time. Poor Daisy. She is used to being an only dog. As you can see, Talullah finds painting exhausting!

I'll be posting more updates on projects in this house, soon!

Project Updates - What's Happening Around My House

2012-10-03T05:25:00.002-05:00

I don't have any big reveals ready yet, so I thought I'd bring you up to date on a few projects I've been working on.

This is a huge bird house that I ordered online - and failed to read the size before I purchased. It turned out to be about 28" high and 16" wide - much too big for the side table I was planning to use it for - so it got a quick coat of paint so that I can use it outside.

I loved the shabby chic paint job it came with, but it looks very cute out on my patio now. Photos, soon, when I do a reveal out there. Working on the curtains for the patio this week.

When I last told you about my kitchen, I told you I had shown you the finished chairs, and was waiting on a rug I had purchased . . . well, I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered it! I clearly had lost my mind combining this "old world" pattern with the more modern pieces the room.

Fortunately, I knew it would look good in my niece's house - and what I didn't know is that she had a black and white dot rug in her house that she didn't think looked good in her living room, so we were able to switch rugs.

The black and white rug looks much better with the furniture, but the sizing was off for the space. So, I ended up switching it with the other rug in the kitchen space.

I preferred the dots with the table, rather than repeating the diamond pattern, but the size of the rugs made more sense this way.

Here you can see the larger rug in the longer portion of the kitchen (which is L shape with the dining area.) On the list of projects is painting the kitchen cabinets, along with doing something to that pantry to make it less boring!

Anyway, back to the projects . . .

You know you are in trouble when you open a box and see that step one of your project includes about thirty steps. (see below.)

But . . . after it was all put together (which required taking it apart TWICE because the instructions didn't include up/down directions on several parts, and you wouldn't know if you got it right until you got it nearly complete, it was worth it. I am very experienced at putting together furniture, and I'd never seen anything like it. Ikea instructions were absolutely verbose in comparison! All that said . . . I really love it.

(Those short curtains in the background, and the broken shades, are both about to be replaced with red Shantung drapes.

The refrigerator in the guest house is not fancy. Having recently spilled something out of a bowl in the refrigerator, I was reminded what a pain it is to clean! So, I ordered 47'' Wide Oil Cloth Stella Cherries White Fabric By The Yard. Once it arrived, I carefully measured each shelf in the refrigerator and door.

I read online that I could cover the shelves as long as I didn't block the places where air circulates - like the sides of the shelves where they meet the walls. I cut each piece slightly smaller than the shelf.

Here is what the top shelf looked like once it was covered.

I also cut individual pieces for the door shelves and the drawers. Once everything was back in, the refrigerator was slightly darker on the lower shelves, but after keeping a thermometer in the refrigerator for several days, I found there was no decrease in temperature. It is all much cleaner now.

As you can see, the dogs are all aflutter at the changes. The bedroom is about to change . . . more on that soon!

I don't have a "before" photo, but after reading about someone else replacing their manual thermostat with a programmable thermostat, I bit the bullet and bought this from Amazon. I chose the Hunter 44272 5-Minute 5-1-1 Day Programmable Thermostat because it was inexpensive, and promised to be easy to install.

While it took me considerably longer than the five minutes they advertise, it was actually very easy to do. What took time was figuring out how to take apart the original thermostat to get to the wires, and to figure out what the wires meant. This was simply because I am completely unknowledgeable about HVAC and wiring.

Finally, I found this cute welcome sign at a local shop for under $10.00. I used the clear Command clips to attach it to my front door. I'd been thinking about adding a word to the front door. I like this easily changeable option.

More soon!

Wall Art Change Up

2012-09-17T22:52:00.000-05:00

In my living room, I have had a picture that I purchased at Kirklands. I like it, but it was more the colors, than the theme. The girl in the dress didn't really have much to do with the rest of the decor. Here is what it looked like:

I found a tin tile that I really liked from Home at Five

But when the tile arrived, the color was just a little too green for my room, and I didn't like the paint treatment, which had a "faux" rust on it. So, I primed it, and repainted it with a Robin's Egg Blue, and then I sanded it.

I really liked the fabric-like backdrop of the original art, so I pulled the top canvas off, and replaced it with the newly painted tin tile. I simply put nails into the canvas where the canvas had originally been, and then glued the tin all the way around the piece down to the larger canvas.

Here is the canvas in place. What do you think? I'm still looking for two matching pieces for the top of each tower to put on either side of the canvas.

Linking up to:

Creative Blog

Fast & Cute Ribbon Wreath Tutorial

2012-09-14T02:15:00.000-05:00

This wreath is the easiest project you could possible undertake! It can be done in all one color ribbon, or multi-color. I chose a black / white theme.

You will need a 12" wreath, which you can purchase, or make out of a pool noodle. I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby.

I usually do these type wreaths with grossgrain ribbon, which I prefer, but this one was made with a basic satin-style ribbon from Hobby Lobby. It was $4.99 for 30 feet of ribbon. It took two rolls of the black, and two rolls of the white to complete.

Simply cut your ribbon into 14" strips and begin tying. I tied my ribbon right over left, and then left over right - staying with the same technique throughout so the knots would appear the same size.

I chose to do four ribbons of black, then four of white, and repeat, all the way around the wreath.

The completed wreath is very simple - and it is a great base for other designs. For example, I can easily add clip on flowers to this, or a "boo" sign for Halloween, etc. The entire project took about 20 minutes, and cost under $15.00 (the ribbon and the noodle were both on sale the day I purchased them at Hobby Lobby.)

Linking to:

Breakfast Nook Reveal

2012-09-14T02:07:00.000-05:00

My kitchen is still "in progress", but I finally to the chairs, and the art hung, in my breakfast nook. (please ignore the tin sitting on the floor - that is for a backsplash project - to come!)

I am currently living in my sister's guest house, so it was originally decorated with her "extra" furniture, and art. I wish this photo showed the light - think standard apartment dining chandelier, brass and unimaginative. So here is the before:

The first thing I did was to change out the chandelier, and add a dresser to the room for additional storage. The red shades (which don't look great in this photo, but are actually quite lovely in person) add warmth, but I didn't use any crystals on the lamp, except the ball at the bottom, as it would have been too fussy for the space.

The story of this table, which I painted, is found here.

I found these "diner" style chairs for under $90.00 (for both!) on Amazon.com, here: Set of 2 Retro Nostalgic Style Black Finish Dining Chairs

As you can see, I added a cabinet on top of the dresser for more space, it is the Elegant Home Fashions Neal Collection Shelved Double-Door Floor Cabinet with Latticed Window Panels, White which sells for under $100. I painted the backing for the cabinet red to help tie in the other colors in the kitchen.

I really liked the original wall art, but it was just too orange for the reds in the room, and I wanted to do a small wall gallery to take advantage of the raised ceiling on that side of the room. The wall art is all my own computer designs, with a couple of Etsy purchases. The frames are all inexpensive finds from Dollar General. I also added red cord covers for the chandelier chains. These are easy to make, I show how here.

The only thing I would like to add is a rug under the table, but I've yet to find one I really like. I have a problem because my Great Dane doesn't like to walk on linoleum so I have several throw rugs between the rug in the main part of the kitchen and the back door. I really need to purchase a rug that is wide enough to go under the table, and across the room (to the right) where the dog can walk on it to get to the door. Oh, the things we do for our dogs!

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Shabby Chic Client Room Update - Projects

2012-09-14T01:39:00.000-05:00

This is an update on a in-progress room I am doing with a client. My client is actually my manicurist, and she uses this room as her nail studio, but it is also used for TV watching for the family, so we needed to make the room bi-functional. Also, we were doing this on a budget, so we did most of the work, and we we bought very little - choosing to reuse furniture from the existing room, and from other rooms of the house.

Our favorite piece so far is this chandelier, which we painted, and I added swag crystals. Below is the armoire. It was a traditional heavy oak piece. We removed all the doors; and I added some wood embellishments to the upper corners above the TV niche.

Here are the "before" shots. As you can see, we painted all of the wood in this room, as well as the the adjoining hallway. This room is the first room you see when you enter her house.

The chandelier came with the house, and we both loved it, but new it needed updating. It was an unusual design, and I felt that it needed both a pop of color, and some sway crystals added to it. The TV armoire, and the chandelier, along with the table she used for manicures, are the only pieces we kept.

You can see the TV cabinet in the photos above and below. As I mentioned, we removed the doors. All of the wood in the room, including the armoire, were primed, and then painted with a cream paint. The furniture was painted white.

This photo was taken after the room and furniture had been painted. This rocking chair was a family piece that we painted for the room.

The love seat below came from her living room. It wasn't the size or color we wanted, but we bought a slip cover from Overstock.com to, at least, handle the color issue.

There were a lot of small projects in the room - like painting this lamp, which was the client's grandmother's.

Here you can see the "after"

You can see it here, in front of the slip-covered love seat. The ottoman, and the drapes, are still in progress.

I don't have a front door "before" photo, but this is what it looked like after all the dark wood paneling had been primed. It gives you an idea of the change.

For the hallway, we painted the walls, painted the chandelier, and changed out some of the green crystals (see photo below) with icicle crystals.

The decor for the walls are window frames with mirrors in them. The client bought them about 15 years ago, but had never used them. We added matching wreaths, held in place by ribbons. The clock in the center was a custom mosaic piece, made by my sister, several years ago.

The client has a lovely stain glass panel, that we plan to frame on the inside of the front door to give her privacy.

Here is a close up of the chandelier "after". Painting an old chandelier is easy. Simply take it down; remove all the crystals, and clean them, and the lamp, well. I used vinegar, and then a window cleaner to be sure to remove all oil and dirt. Then spray paint the piece.. I hung it from the chain so I could spray all sides. Once the chandelier is back up, replace the crystals.

Here is a look at the pink chandelier with the lights on.

Another feature of the room is the purple painted rocking chair. The client saw a painted chair on Pinterest:

Source: google.com via Gayle on Pinterest

After cleaning the chair, we painted it with primer, and then spray painted it the lavender color.

I freehand painted the flower design on the back and the seat. Here are some close up photos of that:

Another project for the room was a shadow box with the client's grandmother's vanity set. I purchased the box at Hobby Lobby. After painting the box white, I added white felt to the back of the box, and then I placed the pieces where I wanted them. With a pencil, I marked spots on each side of the pieces to drill holes, as I would be using zip ties to hold the pieces in place. After drilling the holes, I laid the doilies on the back, placed the vanity pieces, and secured with the zip ties. Then I put the box together, and hung it.

It is a great conversation piece, and perfect for a shabby chic room used to do nails!

The white painted piece (this was pre-sanding, and doesn't reflect the finished piece) was the client's. It was brown, and we painted it white outside, and Robin's Egg blue inside. It houses all the client's nail supplies for her business, keeping them safe and out of the way when she isn't using them.

After painting the armoire, we added pink striped wrapping paper (purchased on Amazon.com) to the back of the upper sections. The client has a large collection of milk glass, and we needed some color so that the white pieces would show up in the space.

That is the room, so far . . . we are still working on drapes, the ottoman, a chair, and some additional storage for the client's nail tools (dryer, lamp, etc.) I also need to get photos of her nail table, which was painted, and collaged, with floral papers. I can't wait to show you the completed space!

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