New Curtains

We have curtains in the playroom now.  (And blinds, finally, yeah I use that word a lot). 

Aren’t they nice?  They are temporary until I find the perfect riotous fabric for “real” curtains.

These aren’t real curtains?  Nope.  Where did I get them?  How did I make them?  How much did these beauts cost?  Whoa there, Nelly.  I promise, it’s not as difficult/expensive as you think.

They are twin sheets from Wal-Mart.  Yep.  That’s right.  The cheap ones – Mainstays, $5 each.  Uh-huh.  Hung with ring clips from Lowe's (they have the bigger ones for my spray painted closet rod-turned-curtain rod).  Don’t read that last sentence or you’ll know all my secrets.  

Anywho, I was going nutty from not having curtains (or blinds).  This window gets a lot, lot, lot of sun.  I managed to find one blind but had to wait for a second one to come in stock.  With one blind hung and no curtains I was really going batty.  But I couldn’t find any cute sheets to work.  I needed two sets of twin sheets for the twin beds in the guest room, so I figured if I tried plain white ones and they looked awful I’d still be able to use the sheets later.  So I tried it, and . . .  it didn’t look too bad at all.  I can totally live with this until that wow fabric finds me. 

I had a “fun” night a while back – I tried out some new things, didn’t work on any existing projects, just sewed what I wanted, which was to try out this block from the cover of the Spring 2011 Simple Quilts magazine.  I only made one, so I decided to add a border (to increase the end-size) and make it into a pillow.  I quilted it with a lot of straight lines (getting more comfortable with my walking foot) and just a touch of free-motion work (don’t look too close!).  Added an envelope back, and voila!  A 14” quilted pillow cover.

 

Fabric is Bed and Breakfast by Connecting Threads.

New Stairwell Light

Finally!  After several months of waiting, my Habitat ReStore light is now hanging in our stairwell! 

 

Before:

 

After:

She’s gorgeous!  I’m so glad I didn’t do the safe thing and pass her up.  I looked at this light four times or so before I finally asked the price and purchased it.  I was only about 70% sold on it, couldn’t quite get past the brass or the size. 

After

But it is absolutely perfect in its new home after a good cleaning and a few coats of oil rubbed bronze spray paint (and a couple of months hanging out in the basement, patiently waiting).  Now if only I can knock that left side out to create a half wall and get my gigantic tobacco basket hung on the wall . . . we will be in business!

Yard Sale Goodies

A set of stacking metal boxes . . . the bodies of the boxes will get painted - dark red, cream?  I haven't decided yet.

A bag of berry vines - to use in wreaths, wind around styrofoam balls and put in a bowl, or stick in a pitcher in the guest room . . .

Sand/beach toys

Two books for the Little One

Clamshell Club May 2011

I'm a few days late again - darn lack of home internet access!

I managed to finish the fourth row and put the green clams on the fifth . . . as my husband says, I'm going to be working on this project for years (or I may work on it more as fall and Christmas approach).

My First Antique Purchases

I like antiques.  I don't necessarily want my home filled with rickety/priceless but untouchable things, but I like incorporating solid pieces or adding little accents.  I kind of see my style as updated farmhouse, not too country but not "modern."  Cozy and welcoming.  Homey. 

I got these two pieces from the antique mall near work. 
My tobacco basket:

And my antique quilt rack, which was so different and much more "me" than most I've seen.

Spray Paint Fixes Everything

I don't have a before picture, but some outdoor ORB spray paint took this yucky, old, rusty metal pole from drab to fab (the planter helps a little too).