Recover a Desk Chair

This chair is in my husband's office. It is ugly, and old. I had some left over fabric that had been used in his office a while back, and thought, let's get out the staple gun.

I did take apart the chair, that took the most time. Then went to stapling.

Free, did I say free! Yep, and much better. When it get's dirty, which I am sure it will, I will simply change up the fabric.

New Year's Top Under $10

Found this amazing top at the Chico's Outlet, under $10. I wore it for Christmas Eve. I am wearing it for New Year's Eve, and maybe even Valentine's Day. I love it that much.
Best part, is it can be worn down and loose, with a belt, or tied-up at the waist. Tons of options.

Art - Hanging - Unusual - Fun

I love art!! Always have. All different kinds and styles. These vintage Jean Jansen Lithographs were my husbands. They were done in 1968 and framed in the 70's. They are hanging in my office/work-out room. The frames are worn out, beat up and falling apart. But, I love them none the less. I also like to hang art in different ways. These were hung vertically, instead of horizontally. Gives a different impact.

Tutu art! Who doesn't love tutu art? I don't remember where this picture is from, but I love it. How fun.

Graphic impact walls. Still love them, but don't have any stairs.

Shooting Star Outdoor Christmas Decorations

The other day while walking on my treadmill, I was reading the 2005 Issue of Martha Stewart Living, and I fell in love with their shooting star decorations. So, I decided to create one for my large tree out front. I am on a corner by a school, and it looks fabulous. Super easy, just bend and light a star, I also added the silver tinsley stuff, for daytime. Then connect the tails and light up. Mine is about 20" for the star and the tails are about 17 - 20 feet long.

My front door is red all year long. This year, I put my topiary patio trees out, some left over garland, and a giant stocking. I change it every year.

How did you decorate for Christmas?

Wine Room - Dreaming

I will be posting pics of our Wine Room in progress this weekend, or Monday. The hubs is on his way out of town for a football game, and I think I will do some work on it myself. Kind of tired of it just sitting there.

Oh, and the nail head trim is in for my bedroom chairs, so I will be finishing them too.

Lots of projects, busy weekend, I guess I should Christmas shop too, as I have done none of that either. Hmmm.

I will be dreaming of these amazing wine racks. Wonder what they are made of, or were in a previous life?

Fabric Wall Headboard - Done in a Day!! Cheap

For those of you that follow, you know I live in a house built in 1947. It has the heavy knock off texture walls, and I mean heavy, sucks up the paint. This is a tight bedroom, barely walking distance at the end of the bed, (think it was an old one car garage), so we never really had a headboard. Since I have been coveting the Gossip Girl, gold and cream polka dot one, I decided to make one. This was made for my wedding anniversary, less than $150, and I love it, oh and I made it myself.

You can make it in an afternoon, I did.

Pic below is finished, I just recently painted all the walls white, yes love true white, it is a color.

Not a bedskirt person, so still contemplating that one. The lamps, are from Target, and make great nightstands.

Bedroom before, scary.

As you can see, super small bedroom, window on one side, closet on the other, and super small bathroom. But, hey an on suite bathroom none the less.

I went to Michael's Arts and Crafts, (any craft store will do), and purchased 16 x 20 size canvas, (I have a Cal-King bed), and I wanted it to look like a wall of fabric, measure, and search your canvas sizes.

They were on sale in packs of 5 - I bought 2 5-packs. Oh, and they were the cheap ones. So go cheap.

I went to Target, just love that store, love their Christmas Commercials too, haha. Went to Target, and bought the cheap foam for a twin size bed. Not the memory foam, the old fashioned cheap just foam, foam.

I bought some batting by the role, at the fabric store, and my fabric was commercial fabric on sale. Those costs will vary depending on your fabric choice, my batting was also the wide commercial width. (Can you tell I don't sew?)

Layed it all out to make sure it would all fit, it was tight, but hey it worked.

Then, cut and staple. Boy did my hands hurt, I used just a standard staple gun, I have since upgraded to a more commercial one.

Keep cutting and stapling, and make your corners kind of neat.

All done, now for the fabric. I admit, I did not match all my dots, as mine are small, and I liked the random effect. If this is not for you, then choose your fabric accordingly.

Layed out and ready to cut the fabric.

In the process of stapling the fabric to the backs of the canvas.

A few of them done.

Now, all done, lining them up on the floor, to see which ones I want in which position. As you can see, it appears when the bed is pushed up against it that it is a wall of panels, in reality, the space behind the bottom of the bed does not have any panels. Why waste the money?

Now to attach them. Cheap wood from Home Depot. Just drilled them on.

Flipped it over and placed behind the bed. Pushed the bed up to it. It looks magnificent. I love it. I am going to make one in a black pleather for my daughter. Maybe in time for Christmas. Hmmm, good idea.

Another view. How many times can I say I love it? I love it. I smile everytime I walk in that room, and now I make my bed.

Now for that ugly closet. Maybe some velvet hangers from Costco?

What are you waiting for? Make one.

Wine Cork Wreath

As you know from my previous posts, we have done a wine/liquor armoire, and are working on a wine room.

Then, I ran across this great wine cork wreath, (sorry don't remember where photo is from). I may just have to make one for the wine room. It is amazing. It looks like it was made from new and not used corks. You can purchase new corks by the bag, at a wine/beer maker's shop. Just look in your yellow pages under "brewing supplies".

Now.....do I make one? I just might.

Department 56 Christmas Houses

I have tons of Department 56 Christmas Houses. I also, have tons of just Christmas Houses. This year I decided to go less is more and only put out my favorites. It has blossomed a bit, but here are a few pics of some of my personal favorites.

The white house with the trees was a gift in the 1980's from my stepmom and my dad. They hid it under the tree and our dog Sandor, kept pulling at the pillow.

The green San Francisco row house, I carried all around San Francisco, pregnant. Lauren, if you're reading this, someday you have to put it in your house.

I light them with colored lights because I love the glow.

These are on top of our wine/liquor cabinet. No coincidence they are a Brew House and a Wine Cellar.

These are in the front office. Bringing a bit of cheer.

Like I said, just a small sample of some of them. Hope you are enjoying your Christmas decorating.

Swimming Pool Dreaming - In Winter

Swimming pool dreaming in the cold of winter. Ran across this at a blogger's site (don't remember which one) and fell in love. It is by Leslie Willamson Photography.

I love the line of plants by the pool. I know, not very practical. But oh so amazing to look at. And, no one ever gets in my pool, so it is now all about the looks.

Now, hmmm, how to get this same feeling? Something to think about over the winter.


Photo above by Leslie Williamson Photography.

Photo below, my pool, wishing it looked as amazing as the one above.

Re-upholstering Boudoir Chairs for Bedroom

We have had these boudoir chairs since about 1990. They are ancient. As you can see we have put multiple colors of fabric on them, one on top of the other. So, it is feeling like a daunting task. But, I am up for it. Here are the fabrics being stripped off.

Wow, down to the original fabric. Looks kind of sad.

Love the pleating.

Now with the new brown pleats. The fabric you see to the right is for the back and seat. I have a solid gold/tan for the wall back part.

Still pleating. Takes much longer than I thought.

Back of the chair, looking sad.

This project will not be completed until next week. Please check back for the afters.

Candle in wine bottle. Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving. My turkey in a bag in the oven. Yum.


Remember candles in wine bottles at all the italian restaurants? Probably not politically correct anymore, but fun to do. I am starting one with my anniversary wine bottle. Love Cakebread. Finding candles that drip is harder than I thought. Most are drip less.

Jennifer Aniston's New Movie

Jennifer Aniston is filming a new movie "Wanderlust" with Paul Rudd. I am in love with her "Wayne" asymetrical jacket. It is classy, and relaxed all at the same time. I do have to admit, I love her style, both theatrical and personal as well. I could be lusting over this jacket.

Kindle and Bookshelves

I got a Kindle for my birthday and Love it!! Love it!! Love it!!. Ok, that said, will it affect bookshelves? We have bookshelves in our house, as do most people. Ours has current as well as some antique type books. So, what do you think? Just putting it out there.

Pictures below via Pottery Barn.

I love the large platter with books under it.

I love the crates on the wall as shelves for objects and books.

I love a saw horse desk, and I love the magazine, and bookshelves.

Controlling Cord Clutter

I hate cord clutter. On my desk, there are 2 laptops and 1 monitor, so I have tons of clutter. Best way to control it, Free. Ha, ha, when I was browsing thru my garage I ran across this old apple crate that someone gave me apples in. It is perfect. And best of all it is FREE. Yay!!

Homemade Pot Pie and Tomato Salad

It's not a secret I'm not a cook. But, I do make a mean Pot Pie!! I just poached some chicken breasts, (or use leftovers), then shred, add a can of cream of chicken soup, a touch of milk and 1/2 bag of frozen mixed veggies, top with a bit of pie crust, (crust only on top, to control carbs and calories), then bake at 400 degrees, until brown on top. Yum. Costco had the best beefsteak tomatoes, we couldn't resist, and pared with some fresh mozzarella, and basil it was a great meal.

Yes, that is a concrete counter top, we poured several years ago in our kitchen. We sealed it with food grade sealer. We still love it today.