Procrastinator Party- FINISHED DESK CHAIR

Today is the deadline for Melissa's Procrastinator Party...and I am happy to report I finished 4 days early!! I was so excited about this chair that it took me no time to finish. Funny how that works...When I am excited about a project it gets done faster...go figure!

Here is the finished chair!! The material is canvas paint drop cloth and the black trim I made from a left over material I had hoarded for several years!


One thing that challenged me were the OLD cushions. I approximate the cushions to be 40+ years old and they were a little deflated. Instead of buying a new cushion I wrapped the cushion in 2 diaper cloths (the best I could up with) and it gave it the fullness it needed. It was the perfect length and everything!! I got lucky!!



I got my daughter involved in finishing out the inside of the chair.



The finished inside compartment!!


The desk area is FINISHED!! This desk area is a combination of history. The chair belonged to my husband's Grandmother and the desk belonged to my Grandmother!! This area was destined to be GRAND!!



One last time... Here is the chair before...




After: LOVE IT!!


Thanks to my friend Karen for her advise!! I love that we can ask each other for decorating advise through email.



Thanks Melissa for hosting another Procrastinator Party!! It is right up my ally!!

ALSO: Tomorrow is my 100th post and I am having a give-away! Come back tomorrow to see what I am giving-away and enter to win!!

Procrastinator Proclamations- Desk Chair Before

I love Melissa from The Inspired Room, because every once in a while I feel like she has a party just for me! haha! She has a Procrastinator Party where we all set out to complete a project we have been procrastinating on.

I am super busy right now with preparing for some vending events with The Other Kid, preparing for the newest addition to the family (not me), and everyday life's adventures, but I decided WHY NOT!!

Recently I finished painting a desk for my den. It only took me 1.5 years to finish (nice procrastination on that one!!) And since the chair I was hoping to use does not fit in the cut out I was stuck finding another chair. Luckily my house does not lack junk (I mean stuff). So, I tried an old sewing chair from my husbands grandmother, that was in the garage, and it fits perfectly... it just doesn't match. My goal is to make over this chair by Oct 20th and not wait 1.5 years for the matching chair....

BEFORE:

Back view of the chair

I have set my goal! I am really good at getting things done when I set a goal!! Good luck to all of the other ladies out there finishing up their procrastinated projects!

Something needs to change...

Fall is a wonderful season, and I love everything about the fall...except for the unforgiveness it provides with the direct hits from the sunshine. You know what I am talking about, right? In my home, I can see how dirty my windows are, the dust in small crevices, and how colors in my home are JUST NOT RIGHT!!

See how this wall use to separate my den and kitchen, I was able to use two different reds and no one seemed to notice.


Now that the wall is open...the reds clash and it REALLY bothers me...do you see it??? Also, it seems to me that I am fighting with the spirit of this home as well. Our home is a traditional '80s home, and not that I am in love with '80s style, I feel like to honor the spirit of the home (yes I think their is a spirit of a home) I need to stick with something more traditional/classic with a 21st century designs. Right now the kitchen seems to contemporary for the house....


Since money doesn't grow on trees around here, I am not able to buy new curtains or even make new ones. Add to that, I am also getting tired of the yellow paint, but too many other projects to contend with right now. That leaves me two choices...

a) deal with it curtains
b) find another solution

I chose, B. I was rummaging through some old pictures and was reminded of the FIRST set of curtains I made 3 years ago. These might fit the bill????

The color is perfect, the design (Maridith Original) is unique, an it is FREE!! (Picture from my daughter's first birthday)

I realize as I get older the more particular (anal) I am getting. I went cheap cheap 3 yrs ago and did not line them. BIG MISTAKE... DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON LINING...

That left me this weekend lining them with an old sheet... (making a curtain liner is harder to do after curtains are constructed!!!!)


Here is the new look.... What do you think...better? If you don't think so tell me why... I can take it... I am a big girl...

Okay, there is still the chairs in the old fabric...

A women's job is never complete!!

Master Bedroom- Decor Fabric Added

I have lived in my house for 3.5 years and the one room that has gone untouched is our master bedroom. From talking with other women, I am not the only one who neglects the master bedroom. Not sure exactly why that is, but probably because us women tend to make everything else a priority over ourselves! Another reason for me, I have the oddest shape bedroom on the planet. I have two dormer windows and a half wall. It makes for a very challenging set-up.

That is all about to change!!

I pulled out some material that I purchased 2 years ago for my living room and decided it would work perfectly in my bedroom. Waste not want not!! I remember purchasing this material off of eBay for $32.00 for 9 yards (TIP: GOOD DEALS ON MATERIAL AVAILABLE ON EBAY).

BEFORE:


See all these crazy angles and how challenging this can be?




DURING:

First I made the curtains...nice but not enough...


Then came the shams I made with this beautiful trim...note to others....trim make all the difference. For years I would short change myself when making pillows and not adding trim to my pillows. I would find myself not getting the "custom" look I was going for and wanting to change them out quicker then I normally would.

TIP: ADD TRIM, IT IS WORTH THE ADDED EXPENSE!


Then came the bed skirt. As luck would have it my guest bedroom bed is the same height. So the kids got to enjoy a trampoline for a day. The ONLY time they have been aloud to jump on the bed!


A handmade bed skirt is a lot easier then I expected. I got directions on how to make it from the library, but I have found some other great resources on-line. I used an old bed sheet and made a box pleat bed skirt.

AFTER:

So here is my Master Bedroom with the Fabric added....

I rearranged and added an elephant print above the bed. It is not exactly what I have in mind but it works for right now. I also temporarily put the painted toy box in front of the bed to show off my bed skirt. It took me 3 seconds to remember why I had the long dresser in front of the bed. My son uses the toy box as a launching pad to catapult onto the bed!!

I have also completed #7, 8, 9 on my Getting Back on Track List. I love having a list and being able to check it off. ESPECIALLY when I can see the my progress around the house!!

PROCRASTINATED TIME: 3.5 years before I have done ANYTHING to my bedroom

PACK-RAT COLLECTION: I've had this material for 2 years!!

VERDICT: This is a work-in-progress still and I have promised myself to have a room that I love to go into, rather then hate!

COST: $32 for the material and $23 for the trim. Total $55 for curtains, shams, and bed skirt!!

The Desk Saga

Today is a day of rejoicing...why you ask? I have finished a project that has been staring me in the face for a 1 year and 5 months. Yahoo!! Break out the champagne! Okay, no champagne? Beer will be fine!

This summer I set out to finish some of the projects I have been procrastinating for way too long. Do you have any of those???

My parents brought this down from VA (I asked them too) summer of 2008. This use to belong and the faux finish was done by my Grandmommy. I am sure it was great 30 years ago but it was time for an update. And here it sat... Lovely, right?


I started out this summer with great intentions (I put on 2 coats) but with lots of summer travels and 2 kids 24/7 it got lost on the list.

Then my hubby started sheet rocking the garage...


I finally got my act together 1 month after the loss of my dog, Chewy, and told myself now is the time... Mementos of my 10 year old puppy.


One upset hubby (after I spray painted the concrete,)
5 coats of paint,
2 coats of poly,


I am done!!!


I decided not to replace the knobs, no need for the added expense. I spray painted them black and then with a light coat spray painted them brown so it wasn't so stark of a contrast.

I am very pleased with the outcome. I think my Grandmommy will be proud of it's face lift and now I can cross off one more item on my "Getting Back on Track"

Procrastination Time: 1 year 5 months

Costs: $0- All left overs

Verdict: Love it, however now need a chair to make this desk useful...

Functional is not Always Beautiful

I have to laugh at myself (and my husband) because right now we look like the biggest rednecks!! This summer we decided to plant tomatoes in a pot right by our front walkway. It seemed to be a great idea. It was in full sun and a place where I would remember to water it. PERFECT!! It had produced approximately 10-15 ripe delicious tomatoes. Then we had "the incident."

Here is Lawson with our first ripe tomato.


Here is my son with a tomato or as he calls it "ball" and Lawson so proud of the first harvest. See how beautiful our plant was?



Then it happened. It fell over because of the weight! Now it seems to of taken a life of it's own. See the neon florescent roping to the house??? Classy!


I would of told my husband to rip it up, but here is the thing...it is still thriving!! I can't bare to destroy/throw away anything with life in it (just like half the crap in my house)


I counted over 40 green tomatoes on it today, and got 3 red ones off it today!

Oh well, functional is not always beautiful!! It will only be here a couple more months!!

Walls are coming down: It's DONE!!

It's DONE!! (I feel like Mater from Cars) when I say that!!

My hubby has completed our picture window between our kitchen and den. He is the best at finishing a project. Unlike myself no grass grows under his feet. Thanks babe, you are the best!

Before:

After:

Details!

One other small change. I changed the color of the wainscoting on the peninsula to the color of the den. I thought it would help me like the kitchen color more....it doesn't! However, I like the added punch in the kitchen! I will paint the kitchen walls one day just not right now.

Wesley wants to be like his daddy!! He is the best little helper.

Verdict: I love it!! The fact that I can see who comes in and out of our garage door (used 99% of the time) while I am in the kitchen makes a world of difference. I know as the kids get older this will be even much more beneficial!! Plus, we have another place to eat, a place to set stuff out when we entertain (we never do but maybe we will start now), and our kitchen looks bigger!! It is a win win!!

We still need to buy bar stools but that is our anniversary gift to each other in July. Now I have lots of accessorizing to do. I am working on that this week!! Plus, I am working on July 4th outfits (yes I am cheesy like that), and my guest bathroom!!! See you all later and thanks for your support!!

Walls are coming down...

On Friday, my husband came home saying he wanted to do a home project this weekend. Instead of jumping out of my skin with excitement and saying "So do you want to do A, B or C?" I calmly (smartly) said "So what are you thinking about?" he said "Maybe the wall?"

Now flashback to 3.5 years ago when we moved into this house and during the walk-through I say "This wall should come out so it would open up the den and the kitchen" and I just hear an "uh-huh" from hubby.

Well, apparently with enough, shall we say "encouragement," hubby has decided it is time to "work on the wall." The walls are coming down and kids it is time to go to the pool!!

Before: Looking from the garage door (the door we use to enter and exit our home) to the kitchen


Before: Looking towards the den and garage door.


When I came home from the pool hubby says to me "do not yell"...It was really hard to contain myself... it was awesome!! Lawson of course says "daddy I am mad at you, you put a HOLE in our wall. You shouldn't do that!!!!"

This is the view I need with 2 kids!!!

My hubby, hard at work...

Now that it is so open I might rethink my colors....(shhhh don't tell hubby, he might flip-out). He is such a good guy!!! He love to make me happy and I am REALLY HAPPY!!!! Can't wait to show you the finished project in a couple days!!!

Note: The fish tank is still in the house, but after much discussion the beloved fish tank is now in the foyer. I will show pictures later.

Crafting Lesson with Mommy

This weekend my daughter, Lawson, and I did a quick project together to refurbish a decorative box we found at a thrift store for $4. It would have been fine on its own but it had a white matte finish, with some scuff marks, and dirt that made it not quite suitable for displaying. We decided to make it our own for a quick rainy day project (after I had spray painted it a white gloss on Friday).

After spray paint...


Inside

While we were picking out the perfect scrap book paper for the lining it occurred to me there is a lot a child can learn from a simple home project done with mom.

I involve my daughter (3 almost 4) in a lot of projects you see on this blog that end up beatifying my home rather then being hung up on the refridge and my motives could be questionable. However, there truly is no one prouder then my daughter to show a visitor all of the beautiful things she has made with her mommy (and it makes my heart sing with pride).

Note: I am not a teacher just a mom trying to teach my daughter there is lessons to be learned every where!!

The crafting lesson…
1. Picking out coordinating scrap booking paper. Lawson was in charge of making sure the box lining matched. Color coordination is vital to good fashion. (wink)
2. Measuring. I did the measuring but I made Lawson tell me each of the numbers aloud.
3. Once I made the mark I had Lawson cut along the line. Dexterity. Very good!!
4. Shapes. Tell me what shape we cut out.

5. Gluing. Mod Podge is Non-toxic and gluing is just plain old fun!!
6. Finishing a beautiful project that she and mommy can be proud of!!!!!

Lawson would not let me take a picture of her with the box, but she is proud of her creation. It is now in her room filled with lots of Barbie trinkets!!!