Taking a Short Blog Break

As you know, we have had a death in our family.  That, on top of losing two beloved pets, a wicked flu season, three in progress renovations, and a move, has left me a bit worn out.   I am still working on projects, but life needs to take priority over blog posts for a couple more weeks.

And, speaking of life, I plan on spending a little beach time with my husband this weekend.

I look forward to sharing some of my projects with you soon!

 

Condo Makeover Progress

We are making progress with the new marina condo. We lost a little time to to a death in our family and a long bout with flu, but we are still moving forward.

Upcycle a Skirt into a Cute No-Sew Apron!

I've been wanting to up-cycle a thrifted skirt into an apron like the one I shared about here.   But, for some reason, the idea of dragging out the sewing machine had me dragging my heals.  Does that happen to you?

Some would call that lazy, but I prefer to call it "energetically challenged"  :)

So, I devised a way to up-cycle a skirt into an apron without sewing one single stitch!  The trick is to find a skirt that has belt loops.

Start by cutting the skirt open in the back or on the sides.  Make your cuts about 3/4 of an inch past a belt loop on each side.

Next, use fusible hem tape or washable fabric adhesive to hem the raw edges.

Thread a length of pretty ribbon through the belt loops to create a tie.

Clip the ends of the ribbon and tie them into a  bow in the back.

It just doesn't get much simpler than that.  These are so easy, you will want to make several.  Enjoy!

Before Pictures of our New Project

Are you ready to see some interior shots of our newest project?  I can't promise you your eyes won't burn.  This condo has some truly ugly spaces.  Did I mention that there is pretty much not one finish in this condo that I like? 

Here is the fireplace wall.  Somewhere along the line, someone gave it a make-over by tacking on a tiny little mantle that is totally out of scale and out of place.  But, it is a real fireplace, and that cosmetic stuff can easily be addressed.

 This is the bank of windows adjacent to the fireplace wall.  A great view can make up for a lot.

The kitchen was remodeled a few years ago to look sleek and modern.  I don't mind sleek and modern, but not when it shouts IKEA.  Unfortunately, a total kitchen remodel "ain't gonna happen", so we will probably end up changing out the cabinet doors and possibly boxing in the fridge.  I'd also like to knock off that bar.... and get new counters.... and new appliances.... and a new faucet... and a new sink.... and add a pantry.... sigh....  all in good time.....

 The bedrooms are typical.

 Tiny and blah. 

Who doesn't love blue bathroom fixtures?

And I've pretty much always dreamed of someday having this beige linoleum!

I'm actually looking forward to the old brown carpeting.

My sweet old dog is almost seventeen and he is getting frail.  Lately, he has had trouble walking around on our hardwood floors.  His legs start to slide out from underneath him.  The carpeting will add to his quality of life....

We just love this guy so much, and we want him to be comfortable and safe.  Our kitty cat will also enjoy the new place. We took her over there the other day to look around, and she made herself right at home on the sunny deck. 

Life is Good!

Our Newest Make-Over Project

We signed our closing documents today for our newest project!    It's another condo in our building -- right in the middle of a big city, but right on the edge of a lake and wetlands.  The seller signs tomorrow, and hopefully the rest of the closing will go smoothly. (closings are different here -- sellers and buyers don't sit down together, and you usually sign a day or so before the actual closing)

I was waiting to share more on this project till the closing was completely finished, but I was too excited, so here is a peak of the views from the new condo.

I love that this new place has a southwest exposure -- light is kind of a big deal in the PNW.   I look forward to being able to photograph a entire craft tutorial in one afternoon :)

We have a great view of the portion of the marina that is not under the building (our condo hangs out over the water). That boat slip on the end is the boat slip that goes with the new condo.

Too bad that boat isn't included....

This is what we'll see when we walk into the living room in the morning.  On the day this picture was snapped there were three blue herons perched on old pilings in the water.  We also have a pair of eagles, an osprey family, some kingfishers, and many other birds.  I'm looking forward to learning about them all.

More pictures to come!

Make a Pretty No-Sew Cuff Bracelet

Do you just love a pretty cuff bracelet?

All the fabric cuff bracelets floating around are so pretty I decided I needed to make my own.  But I did not want to sew -- I didn't even want to sew on one button.  And I didn't want to spend any money, either. And it needed to be a quick project.  Basically, I wanted a quick, cheap, and easy project :)

Enter old shirt:

My inner lazy person was delighted by this perfectly good cuff on an old worn-out shirt!  Problem of how to make a cuff without sewing? Solved!

I didn't want a super wide cuff, so I just tore off the part I wanted to use (the other section can be used for a future project).  Tearing the edge, instead of cutting, gives a softer look, and doesn't need to be hemmed.  No sewing, right?

 I used some fabric glue to attach the layers of the cuff together, and then the cuff portion of the bracelet was done.  That took all of five minutes!

Next, I cut a couple of long rectangles from the same old worn-out shirt.

 Then I folded them and lightly pressed them, and cut a fringe into the cut side of each folded strip.

To add just a little bit of sparkle, I grabbed this beaded chain that I already had. You can buy this at Daiso Japan for $1.50. If you are ever visiting the PNW, you must visit Daiso Japan, where almost everything is $1.50.

To create the center of the flower, I simply looped a length of the beaded chain around my fingers, and glued it to the end of one of the fringe strips.  Then I began tightly wrapping and gluing the fringe around and around...

After the first strip was all wound up, I began winding the second strip, this time coaxing the flower into the shape I wanted as I glued.

Next, I made some leaves.  To make the leaves, simply cut a couple of rectangles from a piece of fabric.  I used a soft gray lining fabric leftover from a skirt upcycle.

These are about three inches square.  Give or take...

Fold each square in half, then fold the sides in to form a triangle, as shown.

Next, gather the long edge of the triangle together, and glue.

Now, the cuff is ready to be assembled!  Glue your leaves on, then add the flower, and you're done.

So simple, and so pretty.

And don't forget quick, easy, and cheap!

Enjoy your weekend, and if you are cleaning out any closets, you may want to give some worn out shirts a second look :)

 

What NOT to Buy from the Thrift Store

Do you ever wonder if there are certain things you should not buy from a thrift store?  Here are a few things you may want to skip on your next trip to the thrift shop:

Skip poor quality sofas.  It can be really expensive to reupholster or slipcover a sofa, and typically, a low end sofa is worn, and sagging when it hits the thrift store.  It's probably not going to be worth the investment to reupholster or slipcover a poor quality piece.  Even if the piece looks "pretty good," it's likely to look pretty dumpy, pretty soon, and you will be stuck paying someone to haul it to the landfill. 

Here are some clues to help you determine if a sofa is good quality:

• The piece should be very heavy.  If you can easily lift one end of the sofa, it probably does not have a hardwood frame.
• Press down on the "deck" of the sofa.  Does it "give", indicating that it has springs?  That's a good sign.
• Try to peak under the dust cover on the bottom of the piece.  Look for eight-way hand-tied springs.  Avoid pieces with sinuous springs, or no springs.
• Check the label on the sofa (generally found on the deck, under the middle cushion).  Is it from a high end maker?
• Try to press your fingernail into the underside of the frame.  Does your fingernail easily leave a mark?  This would indicate you are not dealing with a good hardwood frame.
• Check for cracks or breaks in the frame -- does the sofa bend where it shouldn't?
• Check to see if the arms "wobble".

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Particle board?  Pass on by!   Particle board is heavy and difficult to transport without breaking it.  Did you know that many moving companies won't move particle board pieces?  Very often, particle board pieces are already broken, sagging, or delaminating when they hit the thrift store aisles.  And, they are usually ugly and in need of a makeover. 

Your time and energy are valuable.  Why waste it on a piece that won't last?

Tip:

If you not sure whether a piece is made from particle board or not, see if you can look at the back side of the piece. Usually, backs of furniture pieces are not laminated or veneered, so you can see what the material is.

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Are you sure that safety helmet is "uncrashed"?  Here is what Cleveland Clinic has to say about used or hand-me-down helmets:

If considering a used or hand-me-down helmet, never purchase or use a helmet that is cracked, broken, or has been in a crash. Keep in mind that used or older helmets might have cracks you cannot see and might not meet current safety standards if manufactured before 1999.

We want our little ones to be safe, so inspect helmets carefully.

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Now, I don't want to step on any toes, but my personal preference would be to avoid used undergarments. 

Just my own very humble opinion.... (that said, I would scoop up used training pants and good cloth diapers in a heartbeat)!
 

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Think twice before buying that used child safety seat!

Here is a link to the National Safety Commission website, that gives information and links to more information about child safety seats:

National Safety Commission Link

Colorful Painted Paneling

We are engaged in a debate, at the beach house, about painting our paneling.  It would be so simple if our paneling was that fake wood stuff from the seventies.  I've painted that stuff before, and my other half didn't have a problem with it. 

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Our beach house paneling is a really beautiful cedar.  It's lovely, it's warm, it feels homey.  And it is dark.  During our dark Pacific Northwest winters it can feel oppressive -- not "beachy" at all.  At night, it can make our living area feel like a black hole. 

The plan (well, my plan) all along, was to paint it and lighten things up a bit.  But now my other half is saying "you can't paint wood".  I've heard this from client's husbands many times, and we always come to a workable solution that pleases everyone, but it's harder when it's your own husband.  This is his house, too, and I need him to be on board with this.  I know, if I can help him visualize how the space will look and feel, he will come around.

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For this moment, we will leave it unpainted, but paint out all the trimwork in white.  Not because I've given in, mind you, but because I don't have time to paint it right now, anyway.

{Traditional Bedroom design by Portland Maine Architect Whitten Architects}

For now, I will content myself with images of rooms with painted paneling.  My husband mentioned that the idea of painting paneling white, reminds him of the Portlandia sketch "Put a Bird on It".  I get that.  That's why I'm compiling a collection of colorful painted paneling :)

Traditional Bedroom design by Orange County Interior Designer Wendi Young Design

Doesn't it just make you happy to see all that gorgeous color?  Combined with the texture of the paneling, I think it's just. to. die. for.  Love.

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We also have tongue and groove style paneling on our ceiling that would sure reflect a lot more light if we brighten things up! 

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I pretty much love everything about this blue paneled wall....

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This yellow paneling is so cheery -- it would certainly perk things up on those long gray days of winter!

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How about chartreuse?  Personally, I adore chartreuse.... not sure if my husband would go for it, though....

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These two bedrooms are from Bed of Flowers -- a beautiful vacation rental in The Netherlands.

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I love how the blue painted paneling in this kitchen from The Carriage House Chronicles makes the wood floors and countertop pop.  Gorgeous.

Now, tell me what you think!  Would you paint your paneling?