Week 28 Project

Dining room wall before:

Dining room wall after:

Its really hard to take a pic of a gallery wall without glare...

 

Looks like you get a glimpse of the Christmas decor too!

I've been looking at "gallery walls" for months and months.

My wall needed more.

 

I had the basic idea before but it just wasn't substantial enough for the size of the wall. I also have been in the mood to simplify. I know, kind of opposing ideas, but hear me out.
I have picture frames of friends and family all over the house. I have a hard time once I decided a picture is frame worthy, to ever switch out the picture. And so the frames just kept adding up and spreading throughout the house. There was a picture frame on every surface in the house. It was like a scavenger hunt. Your eye never had anywhere to rest. Soooo, I wrangled them all up and filled out that wall. I used some art too, just to make it more eclectic. (Which is one of my favorite things and words. My high school portfolio was even titled The Eclectic Ladybug) I think it fills the wall nicely. I also like that it "simplifies" the rest of the house; no longer is the rest of the house hoarding picture frames. Now just this one wall gets to hoard!

Gallery Wall Done.

Week 27 Project

I took Cy up to Columbus is visit Robert at OSU this weekend.

I'm actually standing two stairs higher than they are in this pic. How unfair!

I sent Mary a text to let her know we were coming up and see if they could find some time for the Overbeck kids. We booked some Ionno time on Sunday and in her reply message she requested a necklace board like the one I have in my room for Ri!

Before we left to go buy supplies, I noticed that Ri had changed into her shirt  that I made earlier this year! I don't know if she wears it often, but I love that she was rockin' it on Sunday!

This was a super easy project since I had done it before.
Ri picked out the spray paint; pink, of course!
We did make one modification, due to Maria's father. My board used push pins. It works for me, but I'm not in grade school with a five year old brother. The idea of them falling out and being on the floor where the family often walks barefoot, didn't sit well with Jon. I thought about it and while I won't say he was right (if you know Jon, you'd know why), but I will say he wasn't wrong... We used 3M Command hooks. They were a great option now that the come with clear adhesive. We even used them to hang the board and the "GirlsRock" sign. No nail holes! I've used Command products to hang a lot of items in my house, especially now that I have ancient plaster walls. And no, 3M isn't paying for this post, although that would be awesome... 

Maria handed me her necklaces and directed where they should be hung one by one.

So easy, so fun.

Love spending time with the Ionnos!!!

Ri's necklace board, Done!

A Day with the brothers and the Ionnos!

Week 26 Project

Yet another trip to Valley Thrift with Cy lead to the following conversation:

"Laura, I need some shorts"
"What kind of shorts?"
"Khaki, like dressy, but not like uniform shorts"
"Um, yeah, most of those that would fit you, will look like cargo shorts"
"Yeah or they'll be way too short on me"
"Suck. You know we could always buy a pair of pants that fit your waist and then adjust the length"
"Yeah, cool"

Wait, did I say "We"?!?,  what was I thinking?

So "We" bought some pants. I don't have a before shot of Cy wearing them. I soooo wish I did. They would have hit him maybe four inches above his ankle with a super awesome taper. Dang.

(Side Note: Cy is 6'4" and really skinny, I think he has like a 34" waist)

I cut them off.

I hemmed them up, and promptly delivered them two month later...in September...

Pants turned shorts, Done.

Week 25 Project

A simple "inherited" chair
Fabric already in the stash
Left over spray paint (and a trip to the store for an extra can)

Before and After!

Bedroom Chair Makeover, Done!



Week 24 Project

My brother Cy is the artist in the family. His strengths include drawing and painting. My drawing skills peaked in 3rd grade. So, I solicited his skills in drawing some patterns for me.






Simple shapes, but I wouldn't have been able to do them. (Couldn't find the right light, sorry for the bad pic)





I used some of my fabric stash and created some cute little 2D stuffed animals. I love their cuddle factor! I have a nice button collection, but since I'm making these for little bitty people I didn't want their to be a chocking hazard.



Stuffed animals friends, Done!

Week 23 Project

I often get lost in google image searches. It's bad. I won't even remember what I began searching for and then I'll notice its two hours later. But, I gotta tell ya, I find some pretty cool stuff.
I will not be sharing the inspiration photo for this project. Mine turned out nothing like the photo I saw and I originally thought I'd chuck the whole thing. I hated it compared to the original. However, the thing has been in my living room for over a month now, and its starting to grow on me.


As is becoming usually, I started this project with a trip to Vally Thrift.This odd little lamp came home with me.


 Then I picked up 1500 zip ties, floral wire and two cans of spray paint from the local home improvement warehouse. I can home and tore up the lamp shade and started constructing a "birdcage".

Lots of time spray painting and zip-tieing and this little spot in the living room went from looking like this...


 to this.

Here's a close- up of the shade when its on.

And here's what it looks like when the lamp is off. I had originally put the zip-tie shade on the lamp that was in the corner, but the shinny-newness of it didn't jiv well with the retro-y shade. So I pulled an old lamp table up out of the basement and it works soooo much better.

Zip-tie lamp shade, Done.

Week 22 Project

This is my TV.

 Its probably my least favorite corner of the house. I have two ginormous trees next to the house. They provide wonderful shade and keep the house nice and cool. However, they also have a tenancy to make the interior of the house kind of dark. When I moved in, I  painted the yellow walls this lovely grey and soon realized a lighter grey would have been a better choice, but I love the color and am pretty much over the idea of painting any more walls for a while.
The combination of the shaded house, darkish walls and black TV on black TV stand created a bit of a black whole in that corner (I took this pic with all the lights turned on, on one of the sunniest days of the week) 

The tuesday before last I made up my mind to do something about this dark issue of mine...

Last Saturday I had a date with my youngest brother, Cy, to go to the Cincinnati Art Meuseum.We had a lot of fun at the art museum in Denver when we went out to visit my sister and so it was time to explore a little closer to home. The art museum was really cool and really cheap (free!) We made a pit stop on the way home at Valley Thrift. I've mentioned Valley Thrift before and this probably won't be the last time you hear about it.  Cy is a huge thrift-er and loves finding unique items there and apparently high school-ers are into that kinda thing these days (geez, that makes me sound old) He managed to find a pair of khakis (that I'll turn into shorts for him) a Reds t-shirt, and  a cor-dory shirt(that you'll just have to see a picture of some time).

I planned on buying a fabulous pair of jeans without trying them on, like my friend Mindy, but no such luck for this chick. I walked in the door and found something I immediately knew I was taking home.  I wasn't sure it would fit in my car and I wasn't sure I wanted to spend $25 at the thrift store on one item. I had them hold it for me in the back and then, then, I saw something that bumped that 1st beauty right outta the running!

Yep, I bought an old console radio. The price tag almost stopped me, but Cy convinced me that the detail work was worth the price.

This British beauty (seriously, it was manufactured in England) was equiped for 8-tracks, records, AM and FM radio! Now, I've never seen an 8-track so I don't know if that part still works, but the radio works! The sound was actually pretty good. Too bad my TV will be on top and I won't be playing her.

Since I spent sooooo much on the actual radio, I wanted to see if I could do the rest without spending much. I did end up buying an extra can of white spray paint. I didn't have enough on hand and the idea of priming all the detail work by hand sounded like a pain. With a little leftover wall and Yellow Dresser paint, the project was complete! I should have sanded but didn't and I'm hoping since this won't be a piece that is "used" ( setting cups or books or plates on) it won't be too much of a problem for me. The TV is on top and that where it will stay.

Old radio turned into "new" TV stand, Done!

Week 21 Project

My last adventure in furniture painting went well enough for me to try it again.

I wouldn't say that I make safe choices when decorating my home. However, I do tend to stay away from any bold color choices. I'm a female... and I change my mind...  a lot... often.

This dresser came with the house. Its been in this back bedroom for all the years I grew up and came to visit my grandparents. Its one of the pieces that I may not have bought but it serves a purpose. I knew in its heart, it was fun. It was just tired and wanted a face lift.


Yellow had hit me for no reason. I was thinking about it tyring to determine the kind of yellow I wanted. Bright Yellow, Sunny Yellow, Canary Yellow, Mellow Yellow, Lemon, Meringue...

I've learned to always stop at the end of aisles for clearance items. I was at Lowes for another reason and two quarts of yellow paint on clearance were sitting there waiting for me. I didn't even really think about it. I glanced at them, I decided it was a yellow I liked and for $5 total, they headed home with me.

One little problem and it was a moral dilemma for me. I have a strict rule that when you wear nail polish you should know the name of the color, the color listed on the bottle by the creative folks at the nail polish companies; the same rule applies to all paint colors. Currently, I don't have hot pink nails, my nails are "Big Daddy". There was no color name on the quarts.

I'm glad to report that I managed to get over this problem and will gladly take color name suggestions from you, my dear readers.

Here she is!

Yellow Dresser, Done!

Week 20 Project

Eventually I'll redo my kitchen in an updated retro black and white style. Eventually.

For now, I'm workin' with what I've got. I'm also trying to work with supplies I have on hand. Ending up on TV as a hoarder is one of my big fears. I purge the house (closets, storage areas, drawers, garage) regularly. I also had an unexpected, very expensive break job on my car recently. (Which happens when you commute 126 miles a day) A resourceful kinda crafting weekend it was.










Painted Kitchen Cabinets, tying the kitchen together just a bit more, Done.

Week 19 Project

My Aunt Lois (who happens to also be my godmother) saw the apron I made for my mom, here, and commissioned me to make one for her daughter Mary.  I was more than happy to do this and really excited too. When I lived in Columbus, Mary, Jon, Maria, Mario, Maggie and I would meet up, at least once a week, for a meal... and like two or three times a week for ice cream! I had my own apartment, but Mary's house was my home in Columbus.
Making her an apron was fun. It was fun because I love her. It was fun because I can imagine her daughter Maria pretending in it...maybe I should make Ri one. It was fun because so many of our memories together involve laughs over a meal. Most importantly it was fun because not many of those memories involve her cooking! I love Mar, but she is a crazy busy active mom. She would much rather mow the grass, run the kids to the library in the stroller, bike to Giant Eagle for popsicles and wrestle in the living room, (seriously, like all of those things) than spend the night in the kitchen. At least that's what I saw. Her kids are never bored and I love her for it.

Anyway, back to the apron. I still haven't bought a pattern for anything I sew. I took a bit of what I did for my mom's apron and threw in some different ideas. My use of bias tape has gotten better and for whatever reason I was scared of cutting/sewing curved lines on my mom's apron so I did that this time and it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it might be.












For the life of me, I can't get this pic to save when I rotate it. I've tried like 8763ways and every time I upload it, its rotated. Do me a favor, tilt your head to the right. Thanks.

Mar's apron for Aunt Lo, Done.

Curtains are the Eyeliner of a Home's Windows

So, I made that saying up just now. ...as an experiment...
My high school English teacher made up a word once, gahsnaffle (sp?), as a word to say when someone sneezes. It was an experiment in the evolution of the English language. I still use gahsnaffle.

Back to the point of the post, or not. I don't wear makeup often, maybe once a week. If someone asked me if I had to choose one item of makeup for the rest of my life, I might hesitate and almost say my lip plumper, but then emphatically say eyeliner. I think it makes the most impact on a bar face and makes me feel, like, well, Cleopatra. Silly I know, but she was one of those powerful women in history. I love powerful women.

Ok, Curtains.
This isn't a weekly post, because I didn't make any of these items this year, but they were, at some point, projects. I made curtains for the kitchen, which I hope will be a complete black and white masterpiece one day.

I also made curtains for the door off the steps that match. See 'em down there on the right?

Then I realized that I hated seeing my mismatch college plastic cups, so I made matching inserts for the hutch.





















 I fell in love with this fabric before I had a plan for it.



Seriously Love.
I don't think there was a better purpose for it than to be the focal point of my bathroom.


Not a curtain, but a project I'm proud of accomplishing.
I had fabric from another project that I bought at IKEA.

I tried my hand a flanged edge on a pillow and covered my body pillow, which I now use as a headboard.





That thing above my bed is a project from probably 5 years ago. I cork board spray painted blue with pushpins holding my necklaces. If I don't see my jewelry, I forget to wear it.



And now you're all caught up on projects from the past.

Week 18 Project

When I graduated college and moved into my apartment in Nashville, I had very little furniture of my own. I've posted before that a lot of my stuff is hand-me-downs from my parents. There were still three kids living at home, more or less (my sister was in college) and so there was no extra bedroom set. I didn't need a whole set. I had a huge walk-in closet all to myself. I had my sister's old day bed, and my childhood desk.


When I stepped up my "big girl" (read adult into that) game and bought a bed, I suddenly needed a nightstand. Enter the weekly Bed Bath & Beyond mail inserts including the 20% coupon. Super simple, rather inexpensive nightstand. Two things I knew a wanted: a bit of storage and space underneath. I'm not a huge fan of furniture that meets the floor. I think it cuts of the line of sight and makes a room feel smaller. I digress. Like I said I didn't have any other bedroom furniture to speak of, so it didn't need to match anything.


Well, now with the house, I've been buying more furniture and actually have a dresser I love. It's 'beaut from IKEA and its black.



Time for a paint job. I used some more of the high-gloss paint I used in the kitchen and fireplace. So, this was a no-cost job. Two coats later and this is what I got!

Not too much crafting here, but my weekly project all the same.

Hopefully in a future post you'll see how well it matches my dresser!




Painted nightstand, Done.

Home Reno

When my grandmother passed away, I bought the family home. It was built by her in-laws in 1930 and has always been in the family. There is actually a street in my town named after our family. There is a lot of history with this house.

 This is the cousins on my front porch this past Easter. There are actually 8 more cousins. There are 3 great grand-babies in the pic and two more that are missing. If you're counting, that's 18 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.Oh yeah, and miscellaneous spouses. My grandparents raised 8 children in this house, look what they left behind. 
 
This post isn't really about a weekly craft, I'm just showing off my home improvements. It's taken me just over two years, but with a little lotto money I could probably finish off what I wanna do. Maybe I should start playing the lotto.

I've tried to update the house without loosing too much of its 1930s character. There are great wide mop boards around the base of all the floors, arches between the rooms and wonderful old wood windows. I totally need new energy efficient windows, but need cash.  

Here's the family room before.


One day I went downstairs to get the vacuum and then decided I didn't want to vacuum anymore. So I went upstairs and ripped up the carpet. Totally normal rational decision.  I had no idea what was underneath, but was hopping for the same wood that's in the bedrooms. I was in luck! The floor still needs to be refinished, but I love it. I painted the walls and frosted the bottom of the front window, although that's hard to see in this pic.

This is the old view from the living room looking into the dining room and kitchen.
I don't have a the same "after" view.







The dinning room got a new light fixture, new paint and some swapped out and new furniture.

Kitchen before...

The kitchen was repainted.
I made the curtains and inserts for the cupboard doors.
My dad helped me put up the shelf for the microwave, again to add to the counter space.
I added a tin (plastic) backslash.
I hung, amateur style, the light above the sink.
I have more I want to do... black and white floor, new cabinetry, sink, facet, counter top... I really need to buy that lotto ticket.

The table and chairs were removed, since the dinning room table and chairs are just a few feet away. The island was a nice expansion of the very limited counter space. I have no idea how Grandma spent all those years bent over the table cooking for 10.

My absolute favorite reno has been the bathroom.
Tiny sink, light fixture with pull-cord overheard that I could only reach on tiptoe (which was also where the only outlet was located), not so cute pink and blue tile, no shower (just a tub)...












My dad and I put up the new bead-board.
my friend Dave came and put in the new light fixture, which was actually a fixture made for a ceiling, but I got creative. He also added a light switch at a normal level and a new outlet.
I found the sink on the floor at my local home improvement store. It had just been used in a home and garden show and I got it for a steal. Always ask and then ask for a discount.

I lost some storage space putting in the pedestal sink, but my dad and I added a cut-out in the wall behind the door.( I picture of that at a later time. Also one of the shower. So glad to have a shower!)
I made the curtain.Yep, I made that.Oh yeah, I also replaced the mirror in the medicine cabinet. I couldn't find a single new medicine cabinet I liked, so I just spruced up the one I had.
I was so glad to be able to save the old hex tile floor.




I'll probably do another post on the rest of the rooms, but just took some updated photos and wanted to share.

Thanks for letting me brag!