one more thing…

I’ll prolly be busy looking for easy, SUPER quick  wedding decoration ideas in the next few days.  I found these today.

Click on the picture for more details and a tutorial.  And while I think it is a great idea to use old t-shirts, I think crepe paper would be soooooooo much easier.  And lighter.  So it would open up all sorts of places you could hang them.

And that’s it for today.  I think.  Still working on the tie shirts, btw.  Pics when I finish them.

help…?

I need help.  I love this house.  But I hate the light fixture over my dining room table.  It’s just one of those 80s horrible “chandeliers” with those flame-shaped lightbulbs.

ew.

And oh yeah…I don’t really want to change out the fixture.  I know it isn’t hard to do, but I am deathly terrified of working with electricity, so unless you want to come over and do it for me, that is not happening.

This is the only picture I have on hand of the fixture:

paper and string

I repeat.  ew.

I thought about going to the hardware store and seeing what kind of screening or something I can find and fastening it around it to make my own globe shape, but…that would really be a last resort.  (Cause I’d have to get brass and I hate brass and gold.)

So, help.  🙂  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I have this awesome fabric that I need to remember to get canvas stretchers for.  (Staple the fabric to the frame, cover the outside edge with ribbon for a finished look.  Hang on the wall.  Done!)

cough, cough

Still sick.  But getting started on the tie shirts for Quin.

Cute huh?

And yeah she’s a girl, but it will still be cute.  Especially if I get off my boot and make her some kilt skirts to match.

bleh and book art

I’m sick.  And instead of sharing with you the huge (and still growing) pile of used tissues that is threatening to take over my house, I will instead share with you this great photo that made me feel better briefly.

I had a fairly busy weekend but I have zero energy to write about it.  Crafting of any kind has come to a complete halt for me.  Mostly.  (I did knit an egg for part of my plan for Easter decoration but I haven’t stuffed it yet.  I also gave Tunisian Crocheting a try.  Neat.)  And we bought a car.  But since my head is bobbing as I attempt to hold it up and type, I can take a hint.  I’m going to go watch a Godzilla movie and try and feel better.

Forcing the issue

I have a picture to show you.

Living Room

That’s going to be my living room.  Not literally of course.   The top row are the colors I have to work with.  One wall is terra cotta and the other 3 are that golden cake-y yellow, and the floors are a soft and beautiful bamboo.  Currently our couches are dark green.  And while the color is pleasing enough, I HATE these couches.  Hate them so much I honestly would love nothing more than to drag them out into the street and set them on fire.  I can’t WAIT to get rid of them.

But money being a factor (when isn’t it?) because we are also currently car shopping, my resources are limited and I need to get creative.  I didn’t think I would have to.  We have a brand new Ikea nearby and I figured I would be able to find the solution to my needs there with little effort.  Alas, no Ikea couch is screaming “Buy me!” loudly enough.

These chairs are tho.

Ikea Tullsta Chair

And 2 of them will be coming home with me.  In dark grey.  (Please note the bottom left pic above.)  We have a wooden couch on our back porch with HIDEOUS fabric on the cushions, but it is a pretty awesomely shaped couch.  (And comfy to boot!)  And I know how to sew.  So, the cushions will be recovered and the couch itself will be painted (again dark grey!) along with the dresser we are currently using as an entertainment center and the side table we’re currently using…which (drumroll, please!) matches the couch!

Bet you are wondering where the other two bottom row pics come in.  The stainless steel will be on the legs of my coffee table.  (Ye gods, spray paint is a GENIUS thing.)  And also the new drawer pulls for the dresser/entertainment center.  (And maybe, JUST MAYBE, the facing on each shelf of the bookcases we’ll be moving in to flank the dresser and house many of our dvds…not all, just many.  Sigh.  We have so effing many.  But that’s another post.)

And the turquoise water…sigh.  I LOVE the color turquoise with all my heart.  (Not too fond of the stone, go figure.)  And the coffee table I have is this awesome mid-century (my favorite of all styles, EVER!) thrift store score that is this battered, yellow-y color currently.  But it has fantastic lines.  And should be a feature in the room in which it resides.  So, turquoise and proud it shall be.  Turquoise and stainless steel…I think I need a moment…I just teared up in joy at the very thought.

So, ask me how I’ll be tying them all together.  Ask me, ask me!  Some sort of stenciled design (Please don’t gag at the word ‘stencil’…I know, it took me a long time to get over the negative connotations associated with that dread word, too.  No ducks and lame flowers here, tho!) will be adorning each of the side tables (attached to the couch arms…no, trust me, it’s cool) and the side table…in…wait for it…da da da!  Turquoise!  (Maybe a simple lotus flower?  Or an Ohm?  Or just a stripe?  Suggestions?  Please?)  And maybe the same design on a throw pillow or 3.  (A stripe, or series of striped would work well for that and not overpower anything…hmmm…)  And, as I realized just today…the lamp that already lives on the side table in my living has a stainless steel base.  (It needs a new shade desperately, which I know I will figure out soon.  Not today tho, not today.)

Okay…now…I know I need to address this…I realize I am mixing a warm palette with a cool palette.  But, here’s the thing.  I don’t care.  I love the colors.  And frankly I love them all together.  And it’s my house.  So, I get to break every decorating rule in the book if I wanna.

Now I just have to get my hands on paint and figure out what fabric to use on the couch cushions.  Oh, weekend, how I love thee.  Pictures will be posted as soon as I get some stuff done.  Don’t worry, I’ll take a before, too, no matter how embarrassing it will be to post.  (I HATE those couches.)

*tap, tap, tap*

That is the sound of my foot hitting the floor impatiently.  No, the steam mop is NOT HERE YET!

I’ve also been shopping for a car.  Which is surprisingly difficult with no car already.  A whole lot of trust has to be extended to the kind people of the internet.  I think I found one that will work out well, as long as it is in semi-decent shape.  (Fingers crossed!)  But since that is so frustrating without being able to actually lay hands on a car, I’ve had to distract myself looking up other (FUN!) stuff online.

Like these:

Reusable Paper Towels!

Effing brilliant!  I have a hoard stash of cloth kitchen towels and rags, but I have a helluva time getting the kids and the husband to use them.  If they were out all the time, looking cute and pretty and ACCESSIBLE, they really wouldn’t have any excuses!  I have some old baby blankets I think I can use to whip some up.  But…I think I’ll go with velcro instead of snaps.