Wing Back Chairs

I just decided I need a pair of wing back chairs for the sitting area in my bedroom.  'Wing back' often screams 'old lady' but I am honoring that little old grandma would resides in my soul and going with it, of course adding modern and whimsical fabrics.  I excitedly boughta pair of chairs on craigslist for $12 each and am now scoping out fabric to have them recovered in.  Yes, they are totally vintage, claw foot and all and I am already obsessed with them...just not in their current, garish state!

Here is what I am thinking of having the chairs recovered in:

I always think of a set of chairs or a couch as a man in a nice suit.  

So, I am all about classic, solid, wearable fabric.  I am not 

too much into flash on a set of chairs or couch...that's where the pillows

come in!

Side note: on a single chair I would throw caution to the wind 

and go funky!  Especially on an old vintage chair that is screaming

for some funk!

 I just can't decide if I wan to go dark or light???

and pillows in these (I like to think of pillows as the 

neck tie accompanying a classic suit...be bold) :

 I just love this, and think it will play off our bedding nicely.

Thinking a nice medium sized square pillow

click here to see our bedding blog

I am totally gaga over this fabric!  I think it will pair

nicely with the pattern above.  Thinking a lumbar 

pillow to sit in front of the square gold/cream fabric.

I literally want to glaze my walls in this pattern!!! 

I am also liking this, but not as much as the birds!

So, I would love your feedback.  Call me, text me, leave me a comment...give me your thoughts.  Then, come spring, come read books and gossip with me in what will be the coziest little nook.  I cannot wait!

DIY Baby Shower

My sweet friend and neighbor was pregnant with her first baby, so two of her dear friends and I decided to throw a bash to celebrate her and the soon-to-be baby!

Scrabble pieces added to a spring

wreath announce the theme of the party

We put touches of 'baby' all around the areas that guests 

would mingle

 Baby blocks spell out the theme.  Frames filled with baby pictures of the

mom and dad-to-be made this party perfectly personalized.

  It's sweet to imagine what baby might look like

editor's note: I am a blog fail...the baby is way born and SHE IS WAY CUTE.

Vintage baby clothes that once hung above my daughter's bed,

were strung on twine and clipped with small clothespins.

 My sweet Logi wanted to add to the festivities

 Paper pinwheels and flowers.  Very simple,

DIY, decorations for this celebration.

Here's how I made the pinwheels:

I had a lot of scrapbook paper sitting around.

I do not imagine I could scrapbook to save my life, 

but I do love the color options and use the paper often.

When I started thinking about decorations for this party, I 

decided I could probably use the same technique 

I use to make puff pastry pinwheels, out of craft paper.   

 I only had single sided paper paper on hand.

I would imagine (but don't quote me) that

one can purchase these squares of paper

with patterns on both sides.

Since I was working with paper on hand,

I used a glue stick to glue the backs of 

2 pieces of decorative paper together.

I mixed and matched the papers looking

for funky contrast.  

After the glue fully set I cut from the 4 corners

of the paper square leaving about the size of

a half dollar coin in the middle.  The square

turned into 4 triangles of paper, attached at the center. 

I put a dot of hot glue in the center and quickly

folded the right side of each triangle to the center.

How cute are they!! So fun and funky and

OH SO EASY!!!  To cover up the gluey mess

I used random buttons, and an additional dot

of hot glue to secure the button.

 

How adorable would these be hanging in

a nursery?

 I used a paper punch in one corner of one of the

protruding triangles, then used fish line to hang

them above the dining table and outside on the

porch to help welcome guests to the celebration.

 DIY floral arrangements.  Use what is seasonal, and

just pop them in jars or buckets you have on hand.

Spray roses in spring neutrals and button mums were my go-to 

favorite all spring, so it was a no brainer for this party.  I placed

them in a vintage milk bottle crate.

 The mom-to-be opening presents.  Her sweet

mom (and a couple of aunties were able to fly in

for the celebration)

 

Mom-to-be with her mama.

 I bought this felt banner in the $3 bin at Target.  It was just the felt 

letters on ribbon, so I dolled it up and with little rounds of burlap and fabric 

(a few layers, held together with a decorative brad).  

I then glued the circles on the store bought banner.

 We of course threw it down with the delcious

spread of food.  I will blog that at a later date...

goal: before baby turns 1

 xo

A Sitting Room

This little area, as you enter our home, was until recently

empty, except for an oversized canvas and wood tent that my in-laws

made for the kiddos when we moved in almost 4 years ago.

Then...I inherited the two chairs shown (see blog post) in the top

 of this photo and that started a snowball effect of:

a. moving tent to the playroom

b. searching for a couch           

        c. oh hell, pulling together this room 

I told the friends who handed down the chairs that the chairs

had become a character in a rewrite of the children's book,

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, because these chairs 

demanded a couch, then a rug, then a table and on and on!

I hope you enjoy the eclectic little pull together, in my new

favorite room to sit and read.

Foreground: chair, small camp seat

that I picked up for 10 cents at 

a yard sale in Minneapolis.  My

MIL recovered it with a scrap of

awning canvas.  

Background: Coffee table that 

I grew up with, once in a 90s green, 

repainted with a chalk gray.  The wood is old

and rugged and I LOVE IT! This

couch, that I found on craigslist for $10.

When I picked up the craigslist couch, I was nervous it was garbage, 

but it was worth a go, as I would only be out $10. 

I called the company that reupholstered

the chairs, and had them pop out to see

my cheapo couch.  They said the construction

was very strong and sturdy and could be reworked

BACK IT UP...

I had originally purchased a couch for

this room from West Elm.  See link.

When the couch arrived the cushions were

an ill fit and one of the tapered legs was too

short.  I was beyond disappointed with the

craftsmanship, but in love with the fabric.  After

the run around from West Elm, I decided to

return the janky couch and order bulk fabric

from them.  The results...AMAZING!

All this, pulled into one with an oversized

tumbled jute rug that is as soft as can be

and a small rug, under the coffee table that

my sweet friend asked me to love.

One of the chairs responsible for this

madness and a darling foot pouf!

When the upholstery company

came to fetch the couch and fabric

to fix it up, I also sent with an old blanket,

that I also grew up with.  It was always

tucked away as a kid, but I loved it

and was excited when it became mine.

Thick wool, this traditional 'Hudson Bay'

style blanket is super iconic, but upon

close inspection, it had a tear in it and 

a big stain that I could not remove.

So...it sat in a cabinet in my home for the last

few years, which felt a shame, so I sent it

to be reworked, with a small drawing of

how I wanted the blanket oriented on a 

foot pouf.  I had this created with firm

foam, so it could double as a seat, if needed. 

Isn't it absolutely darling! 

I am so happy I did this.

It's a good reminder that stuff

serves zero purpose if it is tucked away,

and it you love it, by golly find a way to use it!

I found this sideboard the week we moved into the house, on 

craigslist.  It stores linens for the dining room on one side, and
my kid's craft stuff on the other.  

I can't recall how far back this chair

goes back in my family, but at least as far 

back as my maternal great grandma. 

It is a treasured piece.  

It along with the hand embroidered 

pillow (also dating back to my great grandma),

a coffee sack pillow and a throw blanket that

I bought at Marshalls (I bought the throw for a 

concert, because on the way to the venue we 

realized we had forgotten a blanket...so it 

makes me happy to look at every single day!)

Oh, did I mention that it took West

Elm nearly 4 months to pick up the

defunct couch?  So annoying!

Here's a nice side by side to see the

West Elm Couch (upper) and the

rework (lower).  You will note

that we decided against buttons

on the seats, as we they are 

dirt collectors and can

get caught on pant

pockets and can tear.

Gaaaaw, this couch!  

Bonus: the rework came in at over $400

less than the West Elm purchase!!!

Worth EVERY (saved) PENNY!

xo.

Dining Room, A Rug Update

Before.

A fine area rug, just never really my style.  

 

After.

If I could wrap my house in herringbone, 

I likely would.

Design Tip:

Do you know the difference between herringbone and chevron?

Very similar designs, but chevron is a straight zig zag, 

whereas herringbone  intersects with the opposite, 

as you can see if this up close snap.

xo

Throw Pillows

I think I am going to update some throw pillows.  I like these patterns and textures together, but...does anyone else agree?

Deck the Halls...

Hodge Podge cuteness, if you ask me! 

It all started with some bulbs...I bought loads of shatter proof bulbs

at Target after last Christmas.  Great deals and I just knew I would

find a tree-free purpose for them, this holiday.  New (deeply discounted) 

bulbs, a few old bulbs, fish line...and I was off.

This old dresser (a fantastic mid-century Craigslist find) usually is

the base for family photos, some family art and the candles (as seen).

I pulled the photos and art and moved in some holiday cheer.

My mom gave me the Twinkle sign years ago and it is still a holiday favorite 

and looks cutie with the (once again,a cheapy find at Target) felted trees.  

I pulled out my trifle dish, filled it with bulbs and balanced it with a holiday postcard 

that I plopped in a frame (the postcard looks vintage, which I totally love).

Simply plopping the glitter bulbs on top of the well used 

candles adds quick and instant holiday pizazz.  To add a bit 

 more dimension, I threw the remaining bulbs (that were housed in 

a tube, 8 bulbs total, in the $1 section at Target...which I 

 proudly paid 50 cents for) in a vintage mason jar.  

The BE MERRY sign was also sourced from the 

$1 section at Target (again, a 50 cent score!)

I just picked the table runner up at Home Goods (because, as they 

say, Home Goods makes you happy) and pulled out a rad enamel bowl

that I picked up years ago at a garage sale (for $1...for reals) and filled it

with several of my favorite, oversize bulbs.  I filled a vintage mason jar with the

 garland beads I usually string from a cut tree.  I topped my favorite little cake

stand with a glass dome (filled with bulbs).  Major props to that cute little

dome.  I picked it up at Goodwill (it was the topper of a wooden cheese board).

I just bought the topper, for $1.  Keep watch for them, as they seem to be plentiful 

on the shelves of thrift stores, and make a wonderful statement for a birthday cupcake,

stack of cookies or...a pile of Christmas bulbs. 

I want to live in this potpourri of colorful holiday cheer!

Seriously, how fab is this bowl?  I am mildly obsessed with it's beat up beauty!

I went fish line crazy with the table lighting.  Super random, yet balanced.

Logi has stood on the table no less than 10 times and asked me,

 is it snowing? while she bangs these around.  Lawdy!

Super simple, quick and wicked cheap holiday creation!!!

I purchased a few packages of faux greenery 

garland (last winter, after season sale, of course)

knowing that I wanted to doll up the stairs.

Using fish line I bundled random bulbs and 

tied to the posts.

Bundle of bulbs!

I tucked this gorgeous winter picture of my nieces

on my metro rack of crazy.  It looks perfect.

In other news...

Logi is ready to take on winter!