Fresh White Paint

I had some extra time the other day after work & decided to paint!

I love white. I don't think you can go wrong with a fresh coat of white paint on ... pretty much anything! I painted all the cupboards & drawers in our bathroom. I'm a little mad I didn't go with a semi-gloss finish simply because it's easier to wipe down in an area that gets so much use (& to keep the white whiter for longer!)

I still need to throw on another coat ... maybe after work today.


Happy painting!

Paisley Denim Pillows

Another little 'unfinished project' I'm working on for the new place: paisley denim pillows. (Sadly, my camera lens shattered & I haven't replaced it yet so all of these pictures are a bit fuzzy ... the best my Blackberry can do! Darn it! So, bear with me ...)

I LOVE pillows. They are a simple & easy way to decorate & they really help establish the style of a space. Because they are relatively inexpensive, they can be changed out as often as the seasons if you'd like. Not to mention, they are also comfortable & my bed can be stacked with at least six at any given time.

I bought several down pillows of various sizes from Ikea that came without covers. I fired up the ole sewing machine (which, let's also be honest, I haven't used since I was in a 'sewing circle' in probably middle school, if not elementary!) & got to work! I found a paisley printed denim at JoAnn's that just-so-happens to be super soft. Instead of sewing all of the sides shut, I made them with an opening (similar to a sham) so they can come off if need be & attached three wooden buttons to the front. I didn't realize how much work it is to sew button holes! Thus, this project is also still in process ...

When I get my camera fixed I will add a few more pictures & when they find a home on my new bed, I will show the true 'before' & 'after' photos.

Lampshade

When I first came across Northwest Hospitality's blog, I fell in LOVE with this lamp. I adore the feminine look that it adds to her country cottage space. So, clearly I had to try my attempt at my own.

I found a lampshade & lampstand at the Goodwill awhile back that were just sitting around waiting to be used for a good project. The lampshade had a little dent in one side that needed to be covered up. Together, they were probably about $6. I didn't know quite until I saw this project what I actually wanted to do with it! This is the 'coffee filter lampshade' because it is made up of hundreds of folded & fluffed coffee filters simply hot glued to the shade.

Here is how mine turned out. Well, I shouldn't lie ... it's not done. I cheated a little & took a picture of the side that is finished! The poor back is still bare! I ran out of filters & got tired of buring myself with the hot glue. This is one of those projects I'll be working on shortly to actually finish ... but you get the idea. I also would like to either find a larger stand, or switch it out with a another one that I already have. The shade & lamp stand went well together until I added on the extra size with the 'fluff.' Now it just looks a little disproportional to me. But, I love the look of it & I'm excited to find just right spot for it in the new place!

Western Sign

The first project I recently did wasn't actually for me. I made it for a friend of mine, Elizabeth. Her & her fiance, Danny, are getting married in July! She has been a lifelong friend of mine & I couldn't be happier for the two of them. She ended up having two bridal showers, so for one of her gifts I made a sign with their future married last name. Olson. I wanted the sign to be western, since she is! & to go with the rest of her home decor.

I found a piece of wood just the right size at the Goodwill (this worked out handy since I have no way of cutting a larger piece at the moment), painted it a dark brown & roughed it up a little with some sand paper. I used a water-based cream color for the letters. This was the tricky part! I free-handed the letters (which didn't quite turn out as perfect as I had in mind). Then I used a thin rope & stapled it to the back with a staple gun so it could be hung. Voila! It turned out to be a relatively easy project.

Elizabeth sent me this picture (below) of it hanging up shorty after I had given it to her. I told her she could hang it out in her barn since it didn't turn out quite like I wanted, so right next to the front door is an upgrade! ;)

Best wishes on a long & happy marriage - congrats Elizabeth & Danny!