Monday, May 20, 2013

Basement Bathroom Redo...


Long ago I remember saying to my husband as we were having our new home built, "Let's just have some less-expensive cabinets and fixtures installed in the basement bathroom, and in a few years when we can afford better we can update." That was 21 years ago. It's amazing how 21 years can slip through your fingers. When it came right down to it there were many more things we chose to spend our money on -- like shoes, tacos, piano lessons and shin guards for our seven growing children. Truth be told there was plenty of moolaa spent on crafts during that time as well! Twenty-one years later we're finally updating that bathroom, and hot-diggity it's about time! We had this renovation set to begin in January, but "life happened" and our contractor was laid up for awhile. Then we had to delay it on our end because our daughter and her family moved in for a couple of months while their new home was being built. Today the demolition began. Here are a couple of "before" pictures taken in January. I love how I capture myself in the mirror of the first photo...



I didn't enlarging the "before" photos like I usually do for blog posts -- too embarrassing. This bathroom was begging for an update.

This is what the bathroom looks like today -- after a day of demolition...



I'll go ahead and enlarge those photos. It's sad when you'd rather enlarge photos from a bathroom demolition than the "before" pictures. It speaks volumes. ;o}

Over the course of the next two weeks there will be a lot of changes made. As you can see the bathroom has been brought down to the studs in some areas. I can't wait to finally see all the improvements. This week we leave for a family reunion in the Outer Banks, so much of the progress in the bathroom will be completed without our seeing each step. Fortunately, we have a very trustworthy handyman doing the work!  I'm so excited!

In the meantime, we'll be enjoying this view of the Outer Banks with all our kids and grandkids...


Can't wait!

Friday, May 17, 2013

Monday, May 13, 2013

"Vintage" Pouch


I've mentioned before that my mother is going through the "downsizing" process. As a result the last few months she's been whittling down her belongings to accommodate a smaller space. A while ago I became the recipient of some cute little vintage fabric embroidered napkins...


There were only three, so I wasn't sure what I'd do with them, but I knew I wanted to repurpose them in some way. Last time I was at my mother's, she gave one of the granddaughters her sewing machine. Before it was taken away, mom went through her sewing supplies and kept a few things that might come in handy in the future. We put those in a little baggie and tucked them away.


The napkins came to mind when I decided I'd make my mother a little sewing kit -- a bag for her thread, needles, pins, and scissors. I thought one of these little pouches would be better storage for her sewing supplies than a baggie!


I cut the embroidered corner off the napkins and situated it on the front piece of the pouch and made three different versions with three different fabrics...


I haven't decided which one I'll give my mom, but I'm leaning toward the orange leafed one.


I just thought I'd throw this idea out there.
I'm may not be the only one wondering what to do with three vintage napkins.
;o)


Friday, May 10, 2013

Monday, May 06, 2013

Vintage Dresses...


A few weeks ago my husband and I flew to California for a special event. My mother was celebrating her 90th birthday, so we spent the weekend with her. As a surprise for my mom our children also came from all over the U.S. to be in on the festivities. It was an amazing weekend. Here's a four generation photo of my granddaughter, my daughter, my mother and me. My mother is so beautiful, isn't she?


While there my mother gave my daughters two dresses that she had kept safe for years. They were her mother's (my grandmother's) dresses. We asked the girls to try them on to see if they fit. We were amazed that they seemed to be made just for them...


My daughter Jillian was given a gorgeous black velvet three piece dress. The sleeves were made of beautiful lace and the pocket (you can't really see it in the photo) has beautiful beading...


My daughter Shannon had visited my mother in December. While there Shannon found this beautiful beaded dress and instantly fell in love. The dress was my grandmother Lillie's wedding dress. Lillie was married in 1922 -- so the dress is 91 years old and in perfect condition. The beading and ribbon work on this dress is so amazing...


Shannon is also modeling a {real} 90 year old fox stole.
Don't judge -- they did things differently back then.
;o)


Since many of those who read my blog are sewers, I thought you might like to see these vintage dresses. I know that my daughters consider their great-grandmother's dresses beautiful treasures, and they were so grateful to be gifted them.


Friday, May 03, 2013

Friday's Fabulous Finds...

Just checking in to let you know I'm still alive. ;o) This last month has been a busy one with trips and family. We've had three grandkids (and their parents) living with us for the last five weeks while their new home is being built. Blogging has taken a back seat during that time, which is how it should be! This next month is going to be just as busy. Blog posts will be sporadic at best until mid June! In the meantime, here's a little Fabulous Friday love...

I spy with my Etsy eye...
some periwinkle!


Clockwise, starting top left:
Photograph
Fabric Necklace
Wood Lampshade

Wishing you a fabulous May!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Friday, April 19, 2013

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Our Own Worst Critics...


Are you hard on yourself? I know I am. Dove posted on Monday a three-minute ad geared to change the way we look at ourselves. It had that affect on me. You might want to watch it.

Below the video they said this in way of explanation:
"Women are their own worst beauty critics," Dove says. "Only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful ... we decided to conduct a compelling social experiment that explores how women view their own beauty in contrast to what others see."



Do you see yourself a little differently
after watching this video?

 

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Bloomin' Tuesday...


This morning, for Bloomin' Tuesday, I will feature "springtime in the Rockies" (Colorado)...


That's right. We've got a foot of snow on the ground this morning and we're grateful!


We've seen precious little precipitation this winter, but yesterday's snowstorm caught us
up to a more normal year for moisture.

On a different note...In the last two years we've lost two peach trees in our yard. I'm going to miss being able to walk out our back door and pick a luscious, ripe peach in August. The good side of having to remove those trees is that we now have the space for two vegetable gardens. Last Saturday we got busy and built one of the raised garden beds. Let me show it to you. Do you see the ceder planks peeking out from underneath the foot of snow?


It might be awhile before it looks like this (see below).
We need to thaw out for a month or so before we can plant anything.
I am excited, though, to try square foot gardening. I've heard glowing reports from those who have tried it, so we're looking forward to having our own! Have a nice {warm} day!

Friday, April 12, 2013

Friday's Fabulous Finds...


I spy with my Etsy eye...
green leaves and cerulean skies.


Clockwise, starting top left: 

Wishing you a gorgeous weekend!

Monday, April 08, 2013

HGTV Decorator Fabric...


A month ago I was contacted by a representative from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores and presented with an offer I couldn't refuse. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has teamed up with HGTV to launch an exlusive collection of indoor and outdoor home decor fabrics -- just in time for spring. They offered to send me some fabric to review. It's a given that I'd accept any offer having to do with free fabric.

I was encouraged to use the fabric any way I chose, so I decided to create a piece of wall art for my son and daughter-in law. Their bedroom has the same eggplant purple, moss green, and sterling silver tones that are in the HGTV Urban Blosson {in "Berry} fabric that they sent me...


Here's what I came up with...


Go here for the tutorial for this Deer Silhouette Wall Art.

Because we don't have a Jo-Ann Fabric Store near our home, I went to their website to peruse the aisles of HGTV fabric. Although you can find 30 different HGTV print fabrics in-store, Jo-Ann provides an expanded assortment of 74 exclusive designs at their online store. I love shopping from the comfort of my home for fabric, so this advantage was perfect for me.


Here's a piece of good news... From April 14th through May 4th, the HGTV Home line is 50% off at Jo-Ann!


More good news... From April 7th through May 4th, my readers can use the coupon below to get an additional 10% off any HGTV Home fabric or trim. In other words, during that time you can get 60% off any HGTV fabric or trim in-store or online by shopping the sale and using the coupon below!


A couple of weeks ago, I published a tutorial on how to make this Deer Silhouette Wall Art. 
Go here if you'd like to learn how to make your own.


Here is an example of some of the beautiful HGTV Home decorating fabrics that can be purchased online at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. The HGTV Fabric @ Jo-Ann Pinterest Board has lots of inspiration on how to use these beautiful fabrics!


Friday, April 05, 2013

Monday, April 01, 2013

Refinished Bookcase...


My mother was raised by a single, working mother. My grandfather passed away when my mother was very young, and as a result my grandmother raised my mother alone during the Great Depression. My grandmother bought this set of encyclopedias and bookcase for my mother when she was just a child. It was a luxury that I'm sure my grandmother couldn't afford easily, but I love that she sacrificed her hard earned money for these beautiful books. I adore this family heirloom and am grateful the bookcase was passed down to me years ago.


Because the bookcase is 80 years old, the finish had seen better days, so I decided to repaint it to give it a new life. For all you furniture refinishing purists it will be easy for me in the future to strip the paint and go back to a stain if I should choose, but I wanted to give it some color. As you can see in the picture it's going to reside under the "Deer Silhouette Wall Art" that I showed you last week.

I started by exfoliating it a bit with my orbital sander. Just a light roughing up to take off the finish and get down to the wood...


I chose a dark turquoise color for the bookcase to compliment the the damask pattern in the wall art...


Here's what I came up with...


I used Behr paint in "Grand Rapids"...


After applying the paint, I glazed it to call attention to the details and "age" it a bit. Glazing is such an imperfect science, but I do love the end result.


Here is it with the books restored to it and perched underneath the wall art...


I love how these bright pieces play off the stripe on the wall.

Linked to:
 
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Friday Favs @ Naptime Crafters

The Inspiration Board @ Homework
Knock Your Socks Off Party @ JoJo & Eloise
Made by you Monday @ Skip to my Lou