World Market dining chairs
I have been looking for two parson chairs for the dining room table at the river house. I couldn’t decide if I wanted a slip covered or upholstered chair, but I knew I wanted a solid color. I wasn’t having much luck, and wouldn’t you know it, when you aren’t looking for something you find it. It happened last week when I was shopping with my friend for her granddaughter’s birthday party at World Market. I spotted the perfect chair for the perfect price, $97 each.
This is the color they sell on their web site
I was featured in the Calico Corners Newsletter
Pretty darn exciting to get an email from Calico Corners saying they loved my work and featured it in their monthly newsletter. Even more exciting was to read the article and see who I am on the same page with
Video on how to make a tailored valance
I thought it would be helpful to make a video on how I made the tailored valance along with the step by step instructions I did. It is really hard for me not to gush about this video that Brady {my nephew and assistant} did because I am his Aunt. But I think he did a pretty awesome job! It was our first video, and it was a learning process for both of us. {after watching it, I think I need to get some botox injected into my wrinkly hands, or use one of my daughters for the video}
One King’s Lane starburst mirror
I subscribe to the One Kings Lane’s emails to get their daily sales. A lot of their stuff is pretty pricey, but they also have some reasonable items that I find affordable.
One item I kept looking for was a 24″ starburst mirror for our river house. They seemed to have a variety of these mirrors pop up on their sales, but they were $200 and up plus an outrageous amount for shipping. But I kept looking every day, just in case. And sure enough I found one that was affordable and the exact size I needed. $59 plus tax and shipping. You know what I always say…Score!
Even though I originally wanted the finish in gold and this one was dark brown, I knew I could easily gold leaf it if I needed to
How to make a tailored valance
I finally put the tutorial together on how to make the tailored valance I did here. My “assistant” Brady came over one day and took pictures and video of the process. He hasn’t finished the video, but I will post that when he gets it done. I didn’t take pictures when I actually made my valances, so I had to do a mock up version for this tutorial.
With this type of valance you can get away with not lining your fabric. The majority of the valance is against the upper part of the wall above the window, very little is in the actual window. Whenever you can see a valance or drapery from the outside looking in, always line the fabric to give your windows uniformity from the outside view. Also, make sure the type of fabric you are using is not a thin cotton, otherwise you might have to line it to give it more visual weight and to lay properly.
Here are the supplies you will need:
- 1″ x 4″ pine board {make sure it is straight} the length of your window plus 4″
- White fabric to cover the board
- Fabric for your valance {quantity depends on the size of your window}
- Sewing machine {this tailored valance can be made into a “no sew version” by using iron on sewing tape rather than the sewing machine}
- Iron
- Staple gun
- “L” brackets
How to make water bottle labels
I am so darn excited that I figured out a easy and inexpensive method of making water bottle labels! We did water bottle labels when my daughter got married almost 3 years ago and it was a pain. I wish I would of thought of this back then, it would of saved so much time and money. {The actual bottles have now changed to a smaller label, since I did these}.
Grey velvet foot boards
I had some left over fabric from the settee in the “fun” room so I decided to re-do the foot board inserts on the bunk beds. I originally had lavender fabric inserts, but I decided to take them off since the color no longer went with the new room design. They were attached with velcro, and when I pulled them off, some of the wood came off with it. {in this progress picture you can see the missing wood in the bottom foot board } So either I needed to sand and paint or just make new ones.
$15 Brass chandelier makeover
I have been looking for an inexpensive {well cheap actually} brass chandelier that I could makeover for a charity event I am helping out with this week. So I did what I always do when I need something cheap, I went on Craig’s list. That turned out to be a bust. I saw lots of things that would work, but no one seemed to really want to sell them, because they never got back to me. I just don’t get why people don’t respond if they are selling something. It is really frustrating. So I went with plan “b”, and decided to go check out Habitat for Humanity Re-Store.
I had never been to the one we have here in San Diego, but I figured it was worth a try. I was pleasantly surprised on how organized and clean it was. Not as big as I thought it would be, but that is ok, I found what I was looking for, and at a perfect price, $15.
A 14 armed brass chandelier. SCORE! Take that Craig’s list.
