I'm still here.....

Update:

Still gathering things for my living room transformation.

I found a pair of matching brass lamps at Goodwill, both for under 8 dollars.

whooohooo score!

It seemed simple, sand and paint.

I've seen pictures all over the place of before and afters, surely I can master that....right?

How can it fail?

(Sorry for the fuzzy pics, in moving things around my camera went missing.

So these are those handy cell phone pictures, everyone is raving about.)

I chose an orange color to pop in front of my dark chocolate roman shades and to also bring a touch of the color across the room. It's amazing in my head, sometimes I spend too much time there.

I even rewired them.  That was a lot easier than the painting.

What you can't see in these pictures is the drips and splotches.

I tried to paint them outside but the sun made the metal hot in one area and the wind cold in the other.

So the paint dried all funny.

It is not breath taking.

Or amazing.

Trust me I will fake it and hide it so you will not know unless your nose is sticking to it.

Looking at the below picture you are probably thinking,..."how is that going to go in that room?!?!" 

Truuuuust me, it's all in good time my dear, allllll in good time.

Not a Moody Blue

Still sitting......

If confused read previous posts of whining.

I dragged a stool to the wall and pop opened my cans of paint.

I can at least sit and paint, right?

It was NOT a moody blue as I had picked out and hoped for. 

It's more of a nursery baby blue.  >:/

boooooooooo!

< Insert sigh of defeat here >

Ok, so pack up the paint and wait til I have some spare legs and head back to HD

The lady at the counter was totally awesome and a wizard at remaking the color.

I think she nailed it

top-previous color

middle-nursery baby blue

bottom-moody blue

< now you can insert sigh of relief >

We got back our tax refund I had been waiting for.  It was not as much as I had hoped and dissipated quite rapidly.  So much so, my head is still spinning.

I was not able to get a fabulous new couch but I did get a fabulous new to me couch :) 

I am now playing with the fabric to cover the pillows I have.

I'm thinking the chevron looks pretty awesome.

Rooo agrees.

The other night (a day after the sweet men in the house drag this home, after a 2 hr drive to retrieve it) there was a kinda surprise party for me and it really came in handy.

From a couch that fit 3 to one that had 8 people on it.  It was sooooo worth it.  I only paid 150 for it.

It's almost the same color as the chairs, which was accidentally awesome.

I can't wait to paint the walls and get everything moved to where it will be best utilized.

Oh I am also moving stuff around on my accent wall.  Here is a quick peak.

It's a small tribute to things that reflect my husband.

My favorite part?

That I can just shove the glass shelve between the slats until it's nice and tight and have  an instant shelf.  Taaaa-daaa

Ok am I wearing out the ta-da's?

mixed media

So I was inspired a few weeks back.

This was my original idea.

It was inspired by a much loved short movie called "The Red Balloon"

When I was a child they play it in school for us.

Having found the movie again and being just as emotional as I was as a child.

I was reflecting on why.

It was simple, we all want a friend.

One that is big and red and floats around and only comes to you and not everyone just makes it better.

I kinda liked my original piece but wanted to do more, actually do more beyond my ability.

So I cut out the part I did like and decided to do a mix medium. 

What I truly wanted to do was draw something like this.

Or paint it with such perfection it alone would make you weep.

Then I came back to reality and decided to do what I can.

Found a piece of wood that I am not really sure what it use to be or where it came from.

Threw some paint on it (blue) and then added layers of different blue to go along the grain.

Then I used some powdered 24kt gold mixed in with some gold paint. 

Then I brought in some ModPodge and sealed it up. 

put a string on the balloon.

and Ta-Da!!

Stay gold pony-boy!

Now I'm mixing my movies.

Tales of a couch potatoe

Well, I'm still holding this couch down.

My days have been filled with Pinterest and HGTV which has left me in a funk of feeling useless.

A family member suggested I use this time to sketch all the things I want to do.

I some how fear it will only cause me to spiral down of doing nothing but looking at things I can not do.

It's like telling a kid to write down everything they would like to do at Disneyland and watch shows of people having fun there and all the stuff that can be done and experienced.

Which would be great if Disneyland was promised at the end with an unlimited supply of cash.

That would be awesome too.....Disneyland with an unlimited supply of cash and special cut in front  of the line passes.  Maybe I can sketch that as well.

But that is not gonna happen here....

So this I did instead.

The cheap fabric I found at Ikea

Plus some old pillows I re-used for the stuffing.

Actually 5 of them.

They were kinda flat but didn't want to throw them away. 

Well I finally did it!!!

My sweet girl dragged up my sewing machine.

I would give you blow by blow instructions but then you would end up saying things you might not want to say.  And also ripping a bunch of seams. 

I even went back to Pinterest in hopes of finding instructions, but ended up on a catalog page.

So I will give you instructions on how it would of worked if I knew what I was doing.

Measure (I hate this part and stick with an eyeball looks good to me method)

Make sure you have enough fabric for 5 pillows.

I removed the fabric from the pillows and just used the stuffing.

Find some ribbon to use to tie it up when done and sew it into the seam.

I folded the fabric in half and sewed up both ends.

I even double stitched it so it would be strong.

Now put it right side out so you have  a giant fabric pouch with ribbons sticking out of one end.

Now the tricky part, sewing a straight line.

I folded the fabric and ironed a straight line to follow later.

If I was professional I would have handy gadgets to help and also measure so it would be equal parts.

Place pillow stuffing to one end and sew it in (horizontal line, leave the other open to be able to keep stuffing pillows)

Oh make sure the fabric is right side, as I did not and had to undo all of what I did.

Then just continue stuffing and sewing lines.

Once all pillows had been inserted this is your choice.

I chose easy and just sew up the whole thing by folding fabric and running a straight stitch up long ways.  It wasn't pretty but it is functional.

You could be fancy and put in velcro so pillows could be removed and bedroll washed.

I am into easy and functional, but if you aren't I really do applaude you and want to be your friend so I can learn how to be like that too. 

Then I rolled it up sleeping bag style and tied it off with ribbon. 

Did I tell you to make sure the ribbon is long enough and to fold in half and sew it in like a giant V.

Did I have to? 

I had delusions of using multi fabrics that all co-ordinated.

Then I realized I would nee skill for that.

That is why sketching would not help me.

I would sketch beyond my ability thus making me feel even more useless.

At least I got something finished Taaa-Daaaa!

Hopefully I will get the red balloon art finished soon.  Just need to find some young legs to do some stuff for me.

But I don't even live in a cabin!!

If I did then I could truly claim "cabin fever"

I have been sitting here on my cushion being bored.

So I made some baby hats.

Then I got bored of that and then something odd happened.

It snowed!!!!

Yes, I live in the north but we really don't get snow in this area. 

My monkey-tail tree was NOT liking it.

The reason the whole sitting on my cushion thing started was this.

No, not the pale skin or chubby legs.  The knee, it really doesn't always look like that.

Christmas Eve I stepped out side and stepped on either a slug or decomposing leaf.

My body not know what to do and my feet not listening ended myself in some dysfunctional middle-aged cheerleader split.

I actually got up and was more concerned with the extreme pain of being bent like a wishbone. 

A week or so later things were different.  I got worse, until I finally went to the doctors.

I had tore the ligament in my knee and it was cushion sitting for a few months.

The crutches I had been using to pretend I was able to do stuff was left as mere cat pokers.

We were covered in a blanket of ice and snow. 

Gauuuuuuugh!!!!!

My living room had come to a halt.

I was now cushion to a fat cat! 

And then to top that off, the kitten decided to go into heat.

The one really good thing, was no school so I was not alone in my misery!

And they were a big help doing stuff for me, even when I was Miss Grumpy Pants.

Oh, and get this,....they were making a movie, here, in this little town.

They had try outs for extras and guess who got a part??

My son the zombie!!! 

Ok, he's not a zombie, he's infected.

The name of the movie is "The Inevitable" and he had a lot of fun chasing people around the streets of our little town.  I hope by some odd twist of fate it is huge.

So in my bored, caged up, and no where to go even if I could, mentality.

I started a project. 

I remembered I bought this awesome fabric at Ikea for under a dollar a yard.

Then on Pinterest I found this roll-up bed thingy made out of pillows.

I had some old pillows and took the cushion (that's just the word for the day) out and used it for padding.

Now all I have to do is sew it together.

Add some ribbons to one end, so it can be rolled up and tied when not in used 

Now to find someone to bring up my sewing machine and clean off the dining room table.

Hmmmmm who can I find.....hmmmm 

Hahahhaah poor baby girl has been my legs for the past few weeks.

On a random note, kinda,...is it ever really random when you're a female?

Have you ever seen the movie "The Red Balloon"? no?  well click here

When I was a child, they played it in our school and I have loved balloons ever since.

I really do think this short movie is what started America's love affair with everything balloon.

Well I found the movie again on Netflix and laughed and cried again as I did as a child.

Do we all not want a friend that is amazing and will stick with us and defend?

The fact that it's a big, round, red balloon should not change the closeness you feel.

Sigh, ok it should unless it's the balloon from this movie.

Looking closer at the movie, it really does represent a piece of my heart.  Even as a child.

So I am making a piece of art to represent the balloon and it's trials.

Unfinished  Taaaa-Daaaaa 

Don't laugh, it's not finished yet.

Crafting has indeed Occurred

It has occurred!!
I messed up my knee a week ago, not even sure how.  But I have a tendency to yell when it bends.
So here I sit, web surfing and being board.  Watching stupid movies.
That is until I convince two lovely young ladies to gather some crafting supplies for me.
They did and I was able to do something useful!
Being useful again TAAA-DAAAAA!

I found these little canvases for 15 cents a piece and the glittered fairies at Wal-Mart for under 5 dollars for a dozen of them.  The leaves and flowers I had hanging around in my stuff. 

The knobs are from Ikea, 50 cents for six of them. 

The pink duck tape is just because I love duck tape. :)

I also believe the duck tape brings a certain reinforcement to the structure that surpasses most.

I made these for my niece and her soon to be born daughter. 

She is going for fairies as a decorating style.

I'm also hoping to make and finish a mobile as well.

Ok, so hopefully I have found a solution for my fabric problem. 

I figured out why this didn't work,......to country.

This one has the wrong colors. 

This one has possibilities but is too close to the wall color. 

This one I still love, but refuse to pay more for the fabric than I paid for the chair.

Over 30 dollars a yard is too rich for my blood. 

This is my solution!!

At 14 dollars a yard and free shipping, how could I pass this up?

I even like how it's butterflies instead of birds.

I don't like birds, they are really mean.

I sat and watched hummingbirds trying to take each other out in a way that modern warfare hasn't even caught up to yet.  Then they saw me watching them and launched a full on attack.

Yeah, I like butterflies better, even if they do taste things with their feet.

Could you imaging that?

Bleh, I think I would learn to fly.

This is my year in Review

This is actually a new concept for me.  I was inspired by a fellow blogger friend (you know who you are).   When she put all of her stuff in one blog it really blew me away how awesome she was.

Here go check her out Junkin Junky you will not be disappointed.

So talking to myself, self had a pretty good idea to do something similar.

My is still a little apprehensive.

Ok, look at my attempt first and then click on Mel's link.  That way you won't be so disappointed with my lame attempt.  I'm not dogging myself, just being honest.

I lack finesse.

So I decided to choose one project from each month and then throw a link out there if you wanna argue with me.  I'll let ya :)

January brought craft items for my daughter to organize her stuff, a rewired chandelier made to look French for one of her friends, and tiling my son's bathroom. Jan 2011 stuff

This is what I chose to showcase.  (I feel like I should have an envelope)

(Play award music here)

I really did enjoy this project, it came from an old free dated light fixture and it's makeover was exciting.

Next up is February Feb stuff

It was a short month and there were only 3 posts.  A little harder to choose, would it be the cake stand, the frame or more organizing objects?

I went with organizing.  Plus I got to slip in the previous months object as well.

This is a headband holder and the upper left is matching necklace holder.

I like it because it is an original and the only one I've seen like this.

March is blowing in with lots of ideas and inspiration.  March Madness is full of beginnings.

The bedroom inspiration from brown and down to up and green. a trip to Seattle. odd findings which helped to find more things.  Winning a rug, installing a fan, and finding one of the most bargaining finds ever.  I chose (envelope please)

Flashback Find

The Woodland Trio made a comeback.

April brought many more posts.  A frenzy of activity as I finished up my bedroom.

From the giant owl, to quick change mirror and faking reupholstering a wing back.  I really loved that chair and I loved the price even more (under 20 for the whole thing) but ultimately I had to pick

The whole shebang!  The bedroom was such an amazing transformation.

I still love it and am still blown away with how dark and brown it was before.

May was not to be out done.  With my new found excitement of planning things first.  I tackled the butt ugly patio cement slab thingy.  Which led to many posts but this was my favorite.

It even got featured on Better After.  Le Sigh

June was filled with more of May and another trip to Seattle.

A friend gave me some awesome vintage chairs and that is what I chose for June.

So how about a nice round of applause for June

It just feels like summer, doesn't it?  Besides I won the sewing battle with this project.

July was just fun, fly hats, finials, flowers and finished projects.  It was flipping fabulous!

The patio was FINISHED!

On to August,..... August was not fun.  It was short and nothing fun at all. From destroying my back yard, cutting down giant primitive shrubs, and Kiki being injured and a friend of mine being diagnosed with cancer stage 3.  I just chose this pic

because no matter what life goes on and I am not in control.

September came and made up for August.  It was full of new beginnings and changes.

There were healings (Kiki and my friend) another plan to bring order to chaos and finding things and giving them new life.  I chose new life.

I actually gave this to someone who helped a teen friend as a thank you.

October brought much satisfaction with my art center complete.  I was able to craft again!!

So much more crafting going on than previous months.  I just had to choose the amazing transformation!

You really have to see the before pictures to appreciate the amazingness this picture is.

November came quickly and was filled with preparation for the holidays and a Good Will Hunting find.  Which of course won out.  I just love a good transformation.

I think I might of amazed myself on this one.  It's almost classy.

December really is the one to remember.  The grinch theme was so much fun preparing for and the new plan forming in my head for my living room exploded one day, into a wood accent wall.

So hard to choose on this one so I mixed up two.  Grinchy decorations on the accent wall.

Well, that was my year in review.  Hope you enjoyed the show, don't forget to comment and discuss this new addition.  Exits are on the left.  Have a great day and a very happy New Year.