::Making simple things beautiful::

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Bedroom Inspiration

Hey Hey Hey!
I have been super busy lately but I thought I would pop in to say hello!  I have decided that I am finally going to take the plunge and finish my last three terms and get my degree already. I could already have had my PhD by now if I had actually been going to school all the years I have put it off!

Before I start back, I really would love to get my bedroom looking presentable.  Many months ago I fell in love with the blue staircase wall on the Modern Family set.  So wad'ya do when you love a color on a TV set?  Put it in your  bedroom like I did?  No waaaaaay!  I love it on their walls, not mine: )

It has taught me a very valuable lesson though.  I can love a color I see on TV or in someone elses house, but just because I like the color doesn't necessarily mean that it will mesh with my style.  I am really not sure what I was thinking.  All I can do now is try to find another color that will coordinate with my style, and lighten things up a bit: )


I do, however have a couple of design dilemmas to deal with.  I have a very old farmhouse dresser that belonged to my grandmother.  It is a gorgeous dresser but has some truly hideous hardware on it.  I have to find some pulls that are a bit more me, and then try to incorporate the dresser into my room somewhere.  It is a big mamma jamma but I  can't part with it so this a must: )

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I also plan to use a sweet white metal bed frame that belongs to one of my friends.  It happens to just be sitting on the side of her house just begging me to bring it home.  On my next IKEA trip (next month!!!) I hope to buy a lamp very similar to the one below.  There are many expensive versions floating around out there, but I believe the IKEA version is only $39.  I love its vintagy quality (yes that's a word!!!).  It is also reminiscent of the PB look which I love too, and I think  it will fit right in with all of my funky stuff.  There we go, I just talked myself into it: )

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I still can't find just the right inspiration picture for my room.  I want it to be light and airy and simple.  Hmmmm...not sure I can accomplish this.  Wish me luck!
 XOXO
{Brittany}
PS.  I am off to sew some linen heart pillows and a ruffled tote for a special someone.  Melissa!  I will have it to you by Thursday I promise!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Vintage Crate Valentines

Valentine's Day has been on my mind this week.  I have been wanting to make some simple, understated Valentine's signs.  I found these old crate sides out in my garage (I am a hoarder for real) and I thought they might be cute to use for the occasion.


Before I could stop myself, I had already started painting the border on this one.  The jury is still out, I can't decide if I love it better than the one without the border.  Either way, it is a nice alternative to the traditional VDay decor out there.  






I also have a couple others in the works.  I am making some that say {Love} and Be Mine on old weathered fencing.  All tied with vintage ribbon : )

With this wacky weather we have had I feel like I am in a major uninspired funk.  I am forcing myself out of it though.  Well really the pile of furniture in my garage is forcing me out of it.  I have a dresser, a buffet, and a cabinet to paint.  I am also excited to start making slipcovers for the pile of chairs I have collected.  It is overwhelming to sit and think about it all, but I just need to get my arse in gear and get it done.

I will post pictures as soon as I get some of it done!  Enjoy the lovely wintery weather: )

{Brittany}

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

My new skill



 This is just a little quickie to show off my new computer skill.  That's right...you can teach an old dog new tricks ; )

I have been fiddling around using Picnik.  It is so user friendly, even to a person lacking any computer skills whatsoever (me in case you are wondering).  I decided to try my luck at creating a watermark for my photos.

Here is what I have come up with so far.  I may still tweak it, but I still wanted to share.



I have several projects in the works to share too as soon as they are finished.  I am working on more signs for my booth, some new pillows, and a couple pieces of furniture.

For those who are wondering, my mom's garage sale will be starting tomorrow.  Her address is 1505 sw Park Terrace.  Look on craigslist for more details, there should be an ad listed later tonight.  I am going over tonight for a little sale preview.  It is sure to be a great time!

I hope your week is going great!  I am super excited to do a little junking in Portland later this week.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will find some good stuff : )

{Brittany}

Thursday, January 5, 2012

This girl loves to move furniture

It was so nice and sunny outside this afternoon.  When the sun comes out, I get the urge to clean and rearrange.  I think it may have something to do with the fact that the sunlight exposes every single speck of dust and dog hair and filthy window, but I could be wrong : )  I really should have been doing so many other things today, but I just got to it and tore into my house.

First I found a place for the new jar my mother in law gave me for Christmas.  That led into swapping my farm house desk and dresser from the dining room.  Then I decided to try my luck at completely moving my husband's desk.  Then I brought in a sweet little antique cabinet that I had out in my garage.  I worked on it all on and off for a few hours but eventually got it all done and I am very happy with how it turned out.

This was what it looked after all of the Christmas was packed up and I had just moved around a few little things.

 


I am not sure if I shared this old tool caddy yet or not but it is one of my finds from my mom's garage a few weeks back.  Side note-speaking of my mom's garage, she will be having one gigantic garage sale next week. I will update with days and times but I think it will be either wed and thurs or thurs and fri.




I know that it is not technically lavender season yet but I just love it so much.  To me, if it is not Christmas, then it is appropriate to decorate with lavender.  You too may use this logic if you are a fellow lavender lover
 ; )  I am working on getting fresh and dried lavender bundles for my booth this spring.  It will be fun to use in my displays.




I love flipping through all of my old magazines so I stuffed some of my faves in the caddy.




Here is the jar my MIL gave me.  I use the lavender buds in a lot of my sewing projects but I thought it might be nice to enjoy looking at them rather than shoving them in a cupboard.


Here is that same corner after I moved the dresser over.  I wasn't sure if I was going to like it in the living room but I really love it next to the couch.  I love white just as much as the next gal but I have to have a little bit of wood every now and again ; )  I love the height it adds on that side of the room.  It is different in scale than what you would usually see beside a couch so I think that is fun.  I like quirky.



Here is a wall that I have seldom shown on my blog because it is where our eyesore of a desk has always been.  I moved that baby over to the dining room wall and made room for my favorite little farm house desk.  The antique cupboard that is on top of it is one that I had out in my garage.  It was left over from when we closed the shop.



I thoroughly enjoyed displaying some of my ironstone collection inside.






This cupboard shows some serious signs of it's age, but I love it even more because of that.


It also still has the original glass knobs.  
{LOVE}






Sorry for all of the pictures but I can never decide which ones I like the best so you are getting stuck with them all.  Despite the beautiful light today, for some reason my pictures are not that great.  You still get the idea though, I rearranged my heart out and loved every minute of it.  You know, some girls love to go to the salon or go shopping.  This girl loves to move furniture.
I am lucky enough to be going away to the coast for the weekend with Tim's mom and sisters.  It is sure to be a fun time.  Enjoy your weekend : )  I will be back next week to share some fun new signs I am making for my booth.
{Brittany}