Closet Case #27

This is still in the early stages. . .

How HomeEckWreck runs a closet (since middle school - no joke):

1. Organized by color
2. Needs to be neat, pleasing to the eye, and inspiring
3. Needs to make me feel like I'm shopping in a high end boutique
4. Respect the clothes - proper hangers, tissue paper, cedar chips, sachets, etc
5. Don't forget the accessories

Our closet is open to our bedroom by design. C and I are both neat nicks and I can lie in bed in the morning surveying my wardrobe, looking for inspiration. An open closet is good for our space constraints and it's great for my lazy "what to wear" habits.

I'm ruthless with my editing. If it hasn't been worn in a year, it's gone. I give all my clothes to my Mom. My family gets to check it out and she takes the rest to a consignment shop where all proceeds benefit the Humane Society.

Closet Case #36

We are blessed with a lovely custom cedar closet. How it's utilized is an embarassment. I've been on a mission to change that. . .

Project Weekend - Table #057

Consider all the possibilities if you keep an open mind.

Consider the transforming possibilities of paint. Nearly no commitment - you can always paint again!

Consider always reusing, re purposing, doing more with less.

Consider a quick weekend makeover for one of your less than loved pieces of furniture. It could become a fav.

Consider being open to moving furniture. Who knows for sure if it's in the best place, serving the best purposes unless you experiment?

Consider stenciling or free-hand painting a beautiful design on an old table. Consider a more elaborate paint finish.

Consider using just one of of the drop leaves so the table can function as a vanity, desk, breakfast nook, foyer demilune.

Consider retro-fitting shelves below and using a tablecloth. Extra STORAGE!!

Consider covering in chalkboard paint for a child's playroom.

Consider covering with magnetic chalkboard paint for the ultimate play surface for small children. They might just stop raiding your Tupperware while you prepare dinner.

Consider a library table stacked high with books. Or a memory table stacked high with albums and frames.

Consider a potting station covered with pots and terrariums and cloches and greenery.

Consider adding casters for ultimate flexibility. The table can go anywhere. Anytime.

One simple little nearly forgotten table can be so functional and lovely. All it takes is a few hours and a little know how. You are limited only by your imagination.

Project Weekend - Table #055

I moved both of our little lemon velvet chairs to either side of the table.

Normally I wouldn't necessarily love the matchy matchy upholstery or style of chair in this spot but I think their sameness offers importance to the area.

C and I can lounge here over a nice dinner. My Mom and I can have tea here. I can open up part of the table and sit comfortably working at my computer, or read, or write. We can open both leaves and add two chairs for an intimate dinner with friends. We can offer a small drink/snack/dessert station during a party.

Project Weekend - Table #003

We headed to Sherwin Williams for some good quality latex paint. Glossy. Pure white. (C had a choice between black or white and he very wisely chose the white. I'm glad he picked white because I was leaning towards black. That would have been a mistake.)

I also purchased a couple of quality "foam" roller covers. Since I was painting furniture, I didn't want any nap on the roller so things could be as sleek as possible.

People discuss proper preparation for painting and I agree it is a key component. So I placed some newspaper under the legs. I lightly sanded some of the rougher places on the crackle finish. I wiped everything down really well. And I patiently painted in thin layers making sure the paint was definitely dry before adding another coat.

Things worked out pretty well. . .by Monday evening, the table was ready to take it's new and important spot.

Project Weekend - Table #001

For months now I've been yack-a-dackin' about how I don't have a proper dining table and our kitchen islands aren't built for comfortable eating. I wanted a drop leaf table to slide along my banister in the small area that transitions between the living room and kitchen (if you can call it that in such a small house).

I've been desiring said table for months ever since C told me it was highly improbable he was going to pay for an addition to the back of the house. Kill joy.

Anyway. . .

Once I learned that the basement needed emptied before we could do our little make-over down there, I started to look at the items I had, and I knew consolidation was in order.

That's when the light bulb went off! I had a perfectly good drop leaf table in the basement. It came from my paternal grandmother's home and it was sturdy andof appropriate scale. It could seat two beautifully and 4 as needed. It was PERFECT!!

Why didn't I think of this years ago? And a better question should be why did I think it was advisable to try out "crackle painting" techniques on it?

Yikes!! Part II

Ugh. Still not quite done with the final "vision" but it's a good start. I hope?  I have some talent and a lot of passion but these projects still depend on stellar planning. 

Yikes!!!

In the throws of sensory overload attempting to make sense of my "idea file" for our next reno-remodel project. 

Blue Print for Disaster? VIII

So far, so good. . .I am using a simple small tight-ish running stitch. I am considering a satin stitch on some of the buds or leaves - random.

I like embroidery because it's very similar to drawing/painting. You can pick color, direction, light, shadow, character, focus. . .

Blue Print for Disaster? VII

Now all you have left to screw up is the actual embroidery! hahaha!

Blue Print for Disaster? VI

If you iron carefully, you get what you see in the pic above.

Save the transfer paper. You should get another transfer or two out of it!

Blue Print for Disaster? V

Carefully, pin or baste the transfer ink-side down to the center of the fabric.

The actual iron-transfer made me a little nervous. That paper needs to stay pretty stable and the iron must be HOT. (Dry hot tho - I used the wool setting).

Blue Print for Disaster? IV

Once you have your "crease compass" you can place the transfer. In this pic, the scissors are pointing to "center." I tried to center the transfer from this point.

Blue Print for Disaster? III

Once the towels are dry, you need to iron. And iron. And iron.

Once the towel is uniformly wrinkle-free, you need to put more wrinkles in it!

You can press folds into the towel. They can help to get the iron-transfer centered.

For these simple tea towels, I folded the towel in half making sure the little "hang loop" was at the top of the fold. I pressed firmly with a hot but dry iron.

I then folded in half horizontally again. I did this because I wanted the pattern to be fully visible if the towel was folded in half over a towel bar, etc. I pressed this crease.

And then I folded the towel again. This time creating a vertical fold. Ironed the crease.

I took pics of each step. If you need help deciphering my instructions, please comment and I'll post the pics.

Blue Print for Disaster? II

I committed to doing this correctly. I want to make a gift for someone. I want to show my 93 year-old Grandmother I actually WAS paying attention when she showed me how to embroider a few years ago. (Although I'm going home this weekend and will need a re-fresher on the french knot).

So I prepped the vintage-looking tea towels I purchased by hand washing them in watered-down laundry soap. I rinsed thoroughly and put in the dryer without any fabric softener/sheets (They will make your towels less absorbent).

Meanwhile, I very carefully cut out my desired designs. . .

Blue Print for Disaster?

When I went to JoAnnes the other evening for a few supplies for the flower pins, I "somehow" ended up in the embroidery aisle. That's when my Husband C, spotted these!!!! Iron-on transfers and vintage dish towels!!

My heart skipped a beat!

I was grabbing envelopes full of transfers left and right.

C: "Let's try to exercise a little restraint."
d: "Ok. I just need to find some Krazy Glue. Get me out of here!" (moving cart away)
C: "But you didn't let go of any of those envelopes you're holding. . ."
d: "Ah hahahahahahaha!!! (AS IF!) I didn't pick up any more envelopes did I?"
C: Defeated sigh

So what I came away with are all these awesome iron on transfers (that are re-use able several times). You can iron them onto anything and embroider over.

This is RIGHT up my alley!

Last Night's Craftiness - Flower Pins 3

These pins are so affordable and easy to craft, my mind is now going wild considering all the possibilities!

Consider gluing a few of the leaves to the back of the flower as well (as I did with the red one below). Remember odd numbers are more visually interesting so 1,3,5 leave or clusters per flower. Whatever you do, don't discard the leaves, stash them for another project.

Consider making pins to dress up gift bags. Just in time for Easter, Mother's Day and summer weddings!

Consider wearing 3 flowers clustered together for a bigger statement.

Consider gluing smaller flowers on barrettes or shoe clips (also sold in the jewelry-making section of the craft store). Your ballet flats will be instantly transformed.

Consider pinning multiple flowers all over decorative throw pillows. You could neatly cover the entire pillow. You could sew, pin, or tie a contrasting fabric around the center of the pillow and add flowers centered on the fabric.

Consider pinning to the tops of tab top curtains for a cheery update to your kitchen or bathroom curtains.

Consider pinning randomly to your shower curtain.

Consider pinning them to ribbon for updated curtain tie-backs.

Consider the possibilities for a little girl's room!

Consider pinning a few on your canvas shopping tote.

Consider gluing ribbons to the back of the flower before adding the pin back for added oomph.

Consider carefully covering the edges of the petals in a thin line of white craft glue and dusting glitter over the edges.

Consider beautiful black or brown flowers tipped in silver or gold glitter for an evening look. Pin them onto your little evening clutch.

Consider pinning one to the bows/ties on the back of your dining chair covers.

Like a cleaner, more modern aesthetic? Use simple flowers in bold colors sparingly.

Shabby chic? Go crazy with creamy whites, and all shades of pink and peach in large full blooms.

Consider sunflowers for autumn and poinsettias for winter holidays.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

Last Night's Craftiness - Flower Pins 2

I popped a flower and all the leaves off the plastic-coated wire stem. I applied some Krazy Glue to the back of the flower and attempted to attach a flat-backed "safety pin." These pins can be found in the jewelry-making section of a craft store. The flat edge on the one side of the pin is necessary for stability. I don't believe a standard safety pin would work. The jewelry pins are not expensive. You should pick pins that are on scale with the flower. (i.e., larger pin for larger flowers).

I quickly realized the Krazy Glue alone would not offer a proper bond. So I applied some Aileens Sticky Tack craft glue first. On top of the white glue, I added a generous dollop of Krazy Glue gel. Then I smushed the flat back of the pin into the glue. You'll need to hold it in place for a few moments until a bond forms.

My manicure is a wicked mess this morning but Krazy Glue is easily removed with acetone based nail polish remover.

You'll notice from this pic, the back of the pin will also look a bit of a mess. I'm of the opinion, who's going to see the back of your pin? I'm also a bit sloppy with my glue. If you're concerned about the look of the back of the pin, I'd suggest being more careful with your glue application.

This is really all there is to this project. Once I got the hang of it, I banged out all 5 flowers in about 20 minutes. They need to be placed pin side up to dry overnight. You'll defnitely want to make sure the glue is 100% dry before you pin it on a pretty cardigan or blazer!

Last Night's Craftiness - Flower Pins

I had been noticing a bit of a trend towards classic, clean feminine style in a few of my favorite stores: Ann Taylor, Loft, and Talbots. I adore the idea of crisp shirts, fitted blazers, polka dots, bold broaches, and FLOWERS!

I noticed silk flowers of all size, shape, variety, and color pinned on belt loops, handbags, scarves, lapels, and clustered together on cardigans and even t shirts.

I have to admit I didn't actually look at the prices on these flower accessories. I would imagine they could cost upwards of $20 or $30 depending on the size and store. Also, I would imagine a classic cashmere cardi costs more when some silk flower pins are sold with it.

My Mother enjoys creating beautiful silk floral arrangements. Sometimes she sells them in the small town where I grew up. One evening I mentioned to her, maybe she could make some flower pins? These pins would be more marketable to a younger crowd who typically do not purchase faux arrangements.

We discussed the ease of crafting such a project. She said the flowers and even the leaves "pop" right off their stems so you don't even need a wire cutter to trim the stems.

Last night I figured I'd try it out. I went to Joann's and purchased 5 silk flowers (they range in cost from about $3-$6 per flower), some crazy glue gel, and a package of pins from the jewelry section. . .

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More info coming soon! Thank you!!