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Showing posts with label project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label project. Show all posts

Monday, April 29, 2013

Peony Power (Guest Post By Shanda Neighbors)

I have developed a full blown love affair with flowers. Now, it's not to the point where I'm talking to them yet...Well actually, I did speak to one today so cancel that. I said something to the effect of "you have to get better." Hey don't judge. Besides, you'd do the same thing if you were in my shoes. One of my all time favorite flowers (and only for the sake of this post will I admit I have one) is the peony. For those of you who don't know what they look look like, see below:
l.KANSAS(red) - Click Image to Closel.FESTIVA MAXIMA(dbl wht)
Oh, and yes these happen to smell as beautiful as they look. They come in a variety of colors, coral and purple being the most stunning (my opinion). They are reasonably priced, but when you have a project the size of mine, and a limited budget, they are not reasonably priced enough, which brings me back to my story. I was out in the yard today (where else would I be on such a beautiful day) surveying my latest project (I'm landscaping a slope in the front yard). I've planted a row of rose bushes, and thought that something with lush, green leaves would add contrast, and look nice there. That's when I remembered the lone peony I inherited from the previous owner of this property. Unfortunately, it was planted in a shaded location. Peonies are not a shade plant. I also learned that they are finicky about being moved. In attempt to save this plant I actually debated cutting down the tree that was causing the shade. My husband wouldn't go for it. After a year of stalling, and with the plant near death, I was forced to make a decision. Today, and far to late in spring to transplant the poor thing, I gathered the courage, dug it up, and gave it a sunny, new location. I'm not sure if it's gonna make it, but hopeful. I'd love for this story to have a happy ending. I don't even know the color of the flower on this particular peony bush. Only time will tell. I'm hoping it turns out looking like this:

But for now it looks like this:




Pathetic. I know. I've heard that talking to plants help. I'm not saying that I willing to have a full blown conversation, but given the looks of this one,  and despite the "looks" I'll be getting when I do, I'm at least willing to say hi. I'm thinking we'll be be on speaking terms for a while...



Thursday, July 12, 2012

1 Whole Tee + 1 Half = 1 Fabulous DIY Dress!



I saw this adorable little DIY dress by lhdctv yesterday, and I just knew I had to make this. Problem is I can't sew to save my life.  Seriously.  But hey....the instructions looked so easy I decided "what the heck!

And so, armed with two blouses that I decided to sacrifice....ahem, I mean sew.  I began making my dress.

First I cut the bottom of the first blouse in half.  I like the more fitted blouse for the top portion of my dress so I cut the floral blouse in half for the bottom.


Of course I eyeballed this.....I just cut it as straight as I could but no ruler was involved. At all.  (Use a ruler if you are not cray cray brave like me)

Next, I got an orange hue thread (since it matched my dress) and hand sewed the floral piece to the bottom hem of the blouse.  Now, I could have stitched this with a machine like they did here but I am more comfortable hand stitching so I decided to go old school with this.


And there it is....all done! My bloggie pal Laura from my grandma reads my blog  would be so proud.  She posted her very chic DIY dress a week ago and it really inspired me to learn how to sew.  Thanks Laura!
Your grandma reads your blog and I am sure she is proud too.  Shhhhh, my mom reads mine and my sister's but she has no choice......lol, I set our blog posts to go straight to her email)


Cherio!






Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Drab To Fab - Old Dresser Makeover

Top pic: pennypincherfashion  Bottom pic: designsponge

Maybe it's my penchant to pull for the underdog or maybe I just like the challenge of fixing broken things. ....whatever it is .....it makes me gravitate to old dressers like a moth to a flame.  I mean seriously.  The more messed up the better, I aint scared!  My only criteria is, the piece has to have good bones or a solid structure. Once I have a good base to work from, the sky is the limit.

Here are a few ways to put new life into old beat up dressers. 

PAINT IT!
As a artist, whenever I get a chance to use my creativity for something practical it makes me all sorts of happy.  So, when I saw this gorgeous redone dresser by go.tipjunkie I just knew I had make one of my own.  It is hand painted, the dresser was painted white then the branches was added in acrylic.  The birds however were cut out images that was decoupaged unto the dresser. How smart is that...hand painted furniture like this cost thousands.



I adore the color on this piece from migonishome So fresh, romantic and glamorous.  All that from a can of paint.  


Who wouldn't want a piece like this, the color is delicious!


And check out this stunning piece, could you believe it once looked like the picture below? 
Dark brown paint and metal studs from Walmart transformed this ugly duckling into a swan. 
 A-m-a-z-i-n-g.


WALLPAPER IT!



By far the easiest technique to do, wall paper is instant gratification.  Find a tutorial here on this process.




ADD SOME BLING!


In the decorating world, mirrors and crystal chandeliers = BLING.  If you are a little more adventurous like I am, add mirrors to your dresser.  Just measure and have them cut for you.  After that, all you have to do is glue them on and have your husband/hubby or some one handy to drill holes for your draw pulls......and viola!  Not bad for a piece of furniture that you are gonna love! It sure beats spending $2,000 on a ready made mirrored dresser.  This one looks fantastic for less than $50.00.  Cha- ching!

Well, there you have it.  I hope this post makes you think twice before you toss that old dresser to the curb.  It may be a diamond in the rough.

Cherio!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Trash to Treasure Accent Chairs



Every time I see an old chair with good bones, I instantly turn into Smeagol from Lord Of The Rings totally obsessed with "the precious".   Its true.  I know it sounds crazy but no matter how beaten up the chair is, in my head I see it all decked out in fine fabric and looking fabulous.  Like the reupholstered chair above for instance. I love this chair.  How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.....



Think about it.  You can take an old battered chair with little or no value and give it a whole new life.   Am getting drunk with power just thinking about it.  There are no limits to what one can do with a little fabric and paint. Just take a look at these make overs and you will see what I mean. Enjoy and be inspired!




Image above: chair makeover by Design Sponge reader Melissa


Image above: chair makeover by Design Sponge reader Teresa


Chair Makeover by Jessica Jones 




Image above: chair makeover by Design Sponge reader jennifer

I found this chart online and its so useful I just had to share.  It shows different types of chairs and the amount of fabric it would take to cover each piece.   

For a tutorial on doing your own chair makeover visit curbly