My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Projects Keep Popping Up!



This post has turned out way longer than I intended, so settle in and enjoy. Sorry 'bout that!

You know how it is when you're excited about a new project and can't wait to see it to its fruition. That's how I've been feeling about my living room redo at the moment. Several days ago I ordered my new sofa but it'll take 8 to 12 weeks to arrive from the factory in North Carolina. I can hardly wait! But meanwhile I have some other projects in mind. I've been doing a bit of shopping. Bit?! That's an understatement! But I'm watching my pennies pretty well. If I know I can do it myself, I'll give it a try; if not, I'll think about it a lot before I buy something.

For instance, I saw a photo of a room that had 2 different curtains on one window. I mean one side of the window had a completely different curtain than the other side. Pretty neat actually. Then I saw a room that had 2 curtains on one side and one curtain on the other side of the same window. That got me thinking what I could do. So I bought the pink and cream taffeta curtains—btw, those curtains I got from Overstock.com and they are extremely well made, lined and everything—and then I purchased a french-looking floral print fabric to put with  them, a yellow background with red/pink roses and a tiny blue morning glory. I'll put one of each on each side of the living room window. Here, let me show you what I did as I just threw the yellow fabric over the rod. In reality, this looks beautiful! I also knocked over a pot with a fern in it on the table beside the sofa, knocked over a bottle you see on the shelf, had to stand partly on the sofa and table, lost my footing and almost killed my self trying to hang those 5 yards of fabric for the photoshoot. What we bloggers won't do for a photo. :-)


Okay, I got back upon the sofa and pinned the fabric up there after cutting it into manageable lengths. I also think I should take down that shelf and extend the rods out further, but the other side of that window doesn't give me the ability to do it. I may be stuck or come up with another solution. Hmmmm...I have a feeling Love Bunny is going to kill me before I'm through if I don't accomplish the task for him by falling off the sofa.




Then I looked at my chandelier shades and decided I wanted some new ones, a different look. So I purchased 5 and am redoing them also. There will be roses on them and ribbon but a bit less fancy than those on there now. I'm so excited I could just scream.

Then I got the idea of painting a tall bucket I purchased recently from Joanns to hold wrapping paper for me. (Can you tell now I've recuperated just fine from the surgery 6 weeks ago?) It was a mottled green or slightly verdigris color. I wanted pink and yellow stripes. Hubs told me that would be very difficult since it was wider at the top than the bottom. I purchased some artist's tape at Michaels, which actually looks and acts like the blue tape house painters use but with a fancier price. (Don't be fooled, chicks, get the blue tape at Home Depot.) I measured a couple of times and put the tape on. (Hubs was still giving me attitude that it would be difficult.) I had to position the tape about 3 times and let it "fall" naturally to the bottom. Several trips outside to give it light coats—I say that but I screwed up at one point and had to wipe some serious yellow drips with a paper napkin—and then I looked for my pink gloss paint and had none. I had white gloss though, so as I was impatient to see how it would look and knowing I could repaint it if I wanted, I painted it white. After about a half hour of drying I brought it inside, whipped off the tape, showed it to hubs and gloated. Here are the photos of both side. Stripes? Perfect! My first try. I tell ya, I'm on a roll!
 



Then I wanted a "wash and wear no-iron, put right back on the table from the dryer, white ruffled tablecloth."  For everyday use we have a white piece of vinyl but every single time we have spaghetti or lasagna and, since I'm a slob, there are always red splotches on it. The red does NOT come out even with vigorous scrubbing with a sponge and detergent. The problem is I want 2, 3 or even 4 or 5 ruffles on it and I have no idea how to do multiple ruffles around the edge unless the top where I would sew it on shows but I don't want that part to show. I don't know if it's even possible to do it without cutting a bit of the cloth off, putting on one ruffle, sewing the piece back on and then putting the next ruffle on the bottom. I think multiple ruffles make it a bit lovelier. Okay, I googled it to see if I can find the trick to how it's done. Here's one made from a bed skirt. This lady did one that way.


This lady did it from scratch with lots of drop cloth fabric.


Another bed skirt ruffle.

Okay, since I have lots of fabric from a very soft old sheet and I've already torn it into 4" pieces and I have a ruffler, I may as well make it myself from scratch. The one tablecloth on the table sitting outside I like better than the other two. I want a very ruffle-y cloth and I can do that with my ruffler. Sigh. It's just another thing to add to my to-do list. But this project might just push me over the edge!
~*~


I've told my daughter I want a clock like this. She's a mosaic artist and can definitely do it. I love this little beauty.


What a delightful way to serve ice cream to friends! Wrap the cones in scrapbooking paper.


Cute and small bedroom.


Another house on a waterway. I believe this is one of those towns in the Netherlands, Belgium or somewhere near them that doesn't have any roads in their town. All shopping, etc. is done by bicycle or walking.


Sweet blue door on an old stone cottage.


Frosted or sugared rose.


An early snow? Beautiful no matter what.


A bouquet of roses to enchant your heart this morning.


Sweet place to sit and relax.


Another beautiful way to display your flowers—on an old rustic cart.


This is one, just one, of my all-time favorite places to have in my backyard.


Beautiful in pink satin and lace. An envelope to hold some letters or hankies.


Do you remember these? I do.


A rose-filled room. A favorite with me of course.


And I wouldn't say no to this little beauty either!
~*~
Linking up with Inspire Me Monday
and
Mosaic Monday 
and
WOW

24 comments:

  1. I am catching up with you sweet friend...and having such fun doing so! The eye candy is glorious! Have been a bad bloggy friend, not always leaving comments, and not getting around like I should. But you are always in my thoughts!
    Love,
    Sue

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  2. Hi Connie! So happy to see you're feeling better. The fabric you picked in gorgeous!

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  3. Connie, your project is going to be so amazing! I think it should figure in Country Living.

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  4. Don't we all fall and knock things over when we do projects! My husband doesn't get it either. Your living room is going to be beautiful. Ladders help, but I always miss the last rung! Go figure. Good luck. I love the different pictures you post after you share. Thank you for sharing. Paula Lusk

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  5. It was a long post,but I enjoyed it all. It's all looking really nice. I made a ruffled cloth from a bed sheet too. They look great. I am visiting from My Romantic Home. :)

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  6. Hi Connie, Thanks for visiting my blog! Love the pictures you show here. The one of the waterway is in The Netherlands, I think it's a town called Giethoorn (I live in The Netherlands and have been there once). It's true that a lot of people walk to the stores here or go by bike to do their groceries, but not all of them :-). In smaller towns they don't even have shops, so people go by car.

    Nice to meet you, too! Have a nice weekend! Liz

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  7. Prettiest Pinks I've seen today! Love the clock, and I would LOVE to live in that house on the water.
    HPS
    ~~Dorothy~~

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  8. Lurvs the ceramic dollies!

    Popped in from Pink Saturday.

    thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com

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  9. Howdy there…Oh my gosh, LOVE the ice cream cone wraps!
    OF course I love all things pink. *smiles!
    Thanks for sharing!
    I am here because it is my first time participating in "Pink Saturday"
    If you get a chance.. come on by and visit my "pink" entry.
    Happy weekend! Now that I have read a few of your posts, I am wanting to read more. :)
    Take care! ~Kimmer

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  10. Hello Connie
    I love the ruffled tablecloth...I have seen a few on some peoples blog......they are beautiful!!!
    Love the mosaic clock also.
    Have fun "fluffing" your home!!!
    Suzann ~xoxo~

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  11. Mercy me, dear one...you do have a talent. Your curtains are looking awesome...I am trying to decide what I want in my dining room. I am tired of the sheers...I am not big on curtains, liking shutters and blinds (probably due to the fact that we have so much dust in West Texas...curtains seem to just draw the dust right into them. ) but YOURS sure are looking pretty.
    Love all your eye candy pictures, as always.
    xoxoxo

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  12. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
    I am having issues with the "reply" feature not working on my blog.. but I wanted to stop by and say thanks!

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  13. I love, love the idea of using the two different curtains together, Connie! Go for it1

    xo
    Claudia

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  14. I am lovin' your stripes! Can't wait to see your room all finished! Hugs, Penny

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  15. Just browsing some pinks today - boy do you have a story going there. I never thought about ruffled table cloths -but they look really neat. I'm glad you didn't hurt yourself in the process of demo-ing the fabric. Yes, what we bloggers will do for a post! I had a friend who talked me into different fabrics that I would have never done - though I liked each fabric never would've put them together. It was stripes, florals and lace too. It turned out beautiful. Hope your new sofa gets there soon and you can enjoy the whole thing. Beautiful photos of this and that - can't imagine living on a wonderful waterway like you've shown. Lots of neat pinks - Happy Pink Saturday -I'm not posting pink today - have a post, it's just not pink.

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  16. Lots of goodies here! Just found your blog and so happy I did...now I'm a follower. I have to return to check everything out. I love the "techie" part of you 'cause I'm certainly not! :) I hate all the adds & pop-ups on blogs so will check out your guidance to avoid those.

    Stop by and say hi when you can! I'm trying to get back to blogging regularly.

    Pat

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  17. Just left me speechless!!! So many treasures here! Cathy

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  18. Your photos are so inspiring! It makes me want to pay more attention to my decorating! You are superb, my friend!

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  19. Glad you are feeling better. What wonderful projects! Lovely eye candy ... so much to see and enjoy!

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  20. Wow a ruffles table cloth that is awesome! So loving your curtains too!


    Kim,USA

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  21. Wow, you got all the beauty there:) I like the clock the most..

    Visiting from PS- hope you can stop by..

    http://dsahmblogs.com/2012/08/bratz-blanket-and-numbers.html

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  22. Enjoyed every one of these photos. This post is full of inspiration! Love the idea of the paper wrapped cones.........Sarah

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  23. So many cute ideas... the ice cream cones wrapped in scrap paper.. how simple but elegant.. Come and see me.. Hugs, Cindy

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  24. So much fun! Love the ice cream cones! Aw....sweet stuff!

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.