Estate Sale Find

If you remember all the way back to my Craft List, the last item (and favorite item) was taking old, used, vintage pieces of furniture and refurbishing them.

A couple sundays ago, my friend Elisa, mama and I went to an estate sale in our neighborhood. First off, I'd like to note that estate sales are a little weird. wasn't a fan.... EXCEPT that I found this little treasure for 1$. 

And now, after a couple weeks of this smoky smelling stool sitting in my bedroom, it was time to revamp!

First things first... unscrew the legs and take off the gross leather!

 Now, to start my project!


I needed new cushion for my stool and found some cut up egg crate in my basement. I doubled that up and cut it to the exact shape of the wooden piece.  For extra added cushion I stuffed some pillow fluff in between the two egg crates... the more the merrier.

My mom had found some fabric she liked online and bought a yard or two of it. She wasn't sure what she was gonna use it on, so she let me use some for this stool (can't go wrong with free). It just so happens to go perfectly with my decorations!

She also had some left over piping she had used on outdoor furniture last year. Grabbed a hold of that for around the stool.

So... goes to my next step... Cut out your pieces. 

I started off by making the piping and sewn the edges of the top piece, piping and edging together so when turned complete, it fit around the stool. 

Once I had that sewn together, I took the legs of my stool. They are wooden and painted black with a metal piece at the bottom. I slightly sanded the wooden part down to make the paint stay on longer and headed to home depot with some fabric.

They have a small 8 oz paint jar you can purchase that you can have matched to whatever color you'd like. I brought in a matching fabric that I had, that I'm going to incorporate into my room as well, that had a fun color in it. I had Pat from home depot make it my paint color. 

 Yes, I did this on my kitchen counter, hence the butter dish.


I applied about 4 coats of paint on the legs, wood and metal part, for it to look even. While those dried, I went back to my base with an automatic stapler, flipped it so the bottom was up, evenly stretched the fabric and stapled it to the bottom. Something about using a power tool makes me feel indestructible! (is an automatic stapler a power tool?)

Once the legs dried, I screwed them back on the stool and voila! Brand new stool!

 

 I only spent $1 on the stool and $3 on paint. Everything else I had available to me at home. 

$4 for a stool that perfectly matches my decorations, learned to reupholster, fun project to do for a night... Can't beat that!

  

{L}


Partying at A Bowl Full of Lemons

Weekend Sweater Pillow

I have always admired knitted throw pillow covers, and always wanted to make one. With too many projects, and too little time, I opted for a different option than knitting my own. I thought I would used an old sweater.

I took a trip to Savers and found two sweater that would work for the look I am going for.

I would recommend using a men's large or extra large sweater, but I couldn't find any on that say that would work for me. I headed over to the ladies department and found these two. I am still debating on using the sweater on the right. The one on the left is size small, and just about completely unpractical for this project. But, I fell in love. I thought the pattern was like nothing I have seen and thought it would be awesome for a pillow cover. I also spend more than I would have liked to... This sweater would only work for a smaller oblong pillow due to its small size.

I cut off the arms on the OUTSIDE of the seam to help prevent the sweater from fraying. I then fitted the sweater onto the pillow. This is the neck and arm side.

Here is the bottom of the sweater. If the sweater was a little longer, I would have sewn it together above the ribbing on this side. I would have loved having 3 big wooden buttons as an accent, but space unfortunately didn't allow!

I had to sew by hand. It gave me a little more maneuvering power, plus my sewing machine wouldn't have made it through the thick fabric. It surprisingly went fast, which is a big plus.

And here it is... finished!

Since I put it down and took a picture the moment I finished, I had not yet fixed out the lumps and bumps. It will need a little reshaping. Overall, very happy! Now I can change out my winter pillows with my summer for added season decorating excitement.  Ah, the simple joys in the life.

Cheers to short projects done in a day.

{S}

Partying at Life Made Lovely and A Bowl Full of Lemons

Nursery: The Art

I can't draw, I can't paint. It really makes me sad when I think about it. It is a talented I have always coveted. BUT, I found a way around it. Enter once again, the over head projector.

Isn't it a beaut?

I found an image I liked on google, printed it out on a clear transparency sheet, and projected it onto my canvas.

I then began to trace the lines. I found sale acrylic paint at Micheal's Arts & Crafts, Americana brand only 77 cents!

I then turned off the overhead projector, and began to fill in the lines.

You will have to check back when I do a nursery reveal- the canvas looks great above my changing table. I plan on doing this art project once again above the crib. This is my absolute favorite way to decorate my walls on an extrememly tight budget- plus the options are endless!

{S}


Partying here!

The Craft Nook.

I have a little house. I have a lot of craft paraphernalia. How do you make the two work?

I have a few sealed bins in my basement full of yarn, a very tall basket of current/upcoming projects, and things stashed here and there. I wanted a place that was organized and available for me when I unleashed my craftiness. Having a small home presents a few prolems- clutter, messes, and no extra rooms.

I have been blessed with REALLY nice hand-me-downs from my mom. One being a smaller entertainment center/storage/computer desk. It's beautiful and from Pier 1. I used it for my computer until I got one of the best presents yet- a sewing machine for my birthday last February. Then I thought... Hey, this could work...

This is it when I first put it together. There is A LOT more in it now, but you get the basics of it. If you think you see toilet paper rolls on the top, your mind isn't playing tricks on you. They really are toilet paper rolls. If you are wondering "What on earth?!" Check out my wall art post. Unfortunately, it ends tragically.

To be perfectly honest, I hate using straight needles, therefore I don't have very many. I prefer circular for every project. I have a cd case like contraption I use to organize my circulars. Works great to separate the sizes! So how do you store straight needles? A vase of course!

I am looking forward to my next house and having my own craft space! and while dreaming of what it could be...this is what I hope to have someday. I feel more inspired just looking at it. How could you spend any time anywhere else? Beautiful. Brilliant. Oh yes.

Until then.. my little nook of goodness works great for me. Don't let lack of space get the best of you when it comes to the things you love!

{S}

Details

Whenever I walk in to someone's home, I look at their details in their decorating. Each piece shows a bit of their personality and their style. I love noticing anything from color of candles to little trinkets. I love learning about who someone is and what they like. 

Lately, I have wanted to add more detail to my home. I love the new styles of more eclectic pieces. A little this, a little that. More color. More variety. Thrifty. Unfortunately, thrifty isn't quite my style, except for redoing furniture. I just love to see it and be inspired by it.  

But I still love details. My details. I have been on a mediterranean/moroccan kick lately. These are my new additions.

Oil Lamp TjMaxx/Homegoods

Metal Lanterns- Patina. Under $5!

Looking forward to hanging these in my porch

What are your favorite details? What in your home is a part of your personality?

{S}

A Night Away

This past weekend, my husband was up in the boundary waters. Since he was gone, I had an opportunity to spend some time with one of my best friends, my mom.

I could write a book on how much I love and admire this woman, so I will save that for another time. We started our weekend out at breakfast at Uptown diner, followed by a walk around Lake Harriet with our dogs. Then to Rochester we went.

I can't help each memory that comes to mind and almost every street I pass. I went to Elementary school there. I took my driving test there. That's my favorite local restaurant. Its hard to believe its been 5 years since I have graduated high school. But I just love staying at my parent's house. It's a retreat- a place to hide from the world.

Here is one reason I love being back : My mom makes a house a home. She is one of my favorite decorators. Our tastes have varied throughout the years, but I always love her work.

 

Everything matches! What do you think? Beautiful, right? Isn't Kona a great accessory?

Not only is my mother talented at decorating, she is a beautiful knitter. She learned when she was 5, as well as taught me when I was 5! It's something we have shared for years. We love sharing new patterns and new yarns, as well as frustrations on our "unhappy projects" as we like to call them. My mom has also collected quite the library of patterns, books and magazines. I can't even express my excitement when I look through them!

As well as a large selection of yarns. This is only her upcoming projects, it doesn't even include the bins and bags of yarn she has in her storage room!

 

I wanted to catch a quick pic of one of her projects she is working on- but no such luck! She did a great job of hiding them. 

Soon we will be collaborating and opening up an Etsy shop of hand knit baby clothes and blankets! Keep an eye open for that!

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And for a fun fact- My mom and Lindsay's mom are best friends! They are the reason we became best friends. 

AND As of RIGHT THIS MOMENT, Lindsay and her mother are becoming an aunt and a grandma for the first time! Congrats Kati and Jonas! There will be more from Lindsay on that soon..

 

 

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Here's to all the mommas out there that are their daughter's best friends. You are truly a blessing.

{S}