Transforming drop cloths into curtains

I took these first two pictures with my phone on July of 09, the day I bought my condo! As you can see, I have a great view of the woods with sufficient sunlight. And notice how the fireplace that backs up to the sun room is covered with mirrors on three sides from floor to ceiling? Well the reflection floods the space with natural sunlight. On a sunny morning it’s likely you’ll see rainbows all over the room!  This space could not be more perfect for me.

Throughout the past year I’ve enjoyed observing the changing of  seasons through these windows. I watched as the leaves turned to their beautiful fall colors.

And I had a front row seat to one of the biggest snow storms of the decade on the east coast!

Now that it is summertime, my need for shade has increased, along with the 90 degree temperatures. My poor air conditioner just can’t keep up with having to keep the place cool everyday on it’s own. It needs all the help it can get and the vertical blinds that came with the place only cover the lower portion of windows.

During the day I’m always skimming through my favorite design blogs. I came across this video from the bloggers of The Lettered Cottage that included a great solution for some low budget, but expensive looking curtains! It was perfect timing because I was looking for a weekend project.

It’s really the only thing that would work because I only found one place that sold 11 foot curtains and they were way over my price range. I spent $40 on 2 drop cloths and cut them each in half to make 4 panels. This allowed me to splurge on some nice curtain rods and matching rings, so I could just clip the curtains right on! There is also room for an inside rod if I choose to add another layer of curtains in the future. I’m already working up a plan for some low budget bed sheets.

Notice how I chose to hang the curtains above the top window panel.

It definitely blocks all the sunlight from coming in and creates a more dramatic look. I think my pets enjoy the shade as well. And in the evening when the sun isn’t so intense, I love how they frame the windows.

Thank you Layla for this fabulous idea! My bank account thanks you too!

Decor advice

One of my favorite bloggers once said “shop the house when looking for accessories.” It saves me money. And when I’ve run out of options, I use my pets as a decoration! Isn’t it great how they match my color scheme?!

Cabinets done!!

I have become more optimistic of this kitchen transformation after seeing how great the cabinets turned out—compared to what they looked like before.

DIY Chandelier

I’ve been obsessing over this chandelier idea for about a year now. I decided last weekend that it was time to take action, even if it ends in failure. At this point, I think I at least need to try and create it! Inspiration came from Craftynest. They posted a step by step blog on how to make this great lamp.

And their inspiration came from west elm’s chandelier…

Plan A has already been shot to sh@#. Instead of having someone else do the lamination, I thought I would be saving money by doing it myself. I found what I thought was a great laminater that would get the job done, but did it? Nope! It broke the first night I used it. I guess my only option is to go to an office store and have them do the laminating for me. However, that will not be my biggest challenge. I need to find a way to make it look like a chandelier and not a table lamp while keeping the price down. So far I haven’t found anything promising. Maybe I could use the frame of this light from Ikea.

The wheels are still turning on how I can make this work. If only I knew how to bend metal rods into a perfectly round shape!

Progress!

I have been devoting my attention to my other blog, which is why I haven’t posted since February. I figured that since I haven’t actually switched my readers over to this one yet, it’s not big deal. But when I started, my intention was to post on this more often than the other. Obviously, that hasn’t been working. I plan to catch up though! There are a lot of “behind the scenes things I have been doing that I don’t like to post on the other blog. And this Fourth of July weekend was busy busy, with home improvement projects! I was surprised that I devoted so much time to this and actually enjoyed doing it! These photos are just to show my progress, the rooms aren’t quite ready for the final reveal. But look at how far I’ve gotten. What an accomplishment! I found these book shelves at Ikea. I love how they match the wood of my dining room set. Four lights were added to create a little detailed ambiance. The trinkets on display will probably change. This was a quick stage for the purpose of this post.

There is my handy man, Brian, hanging curtain rods to hold the new curtains that I made out of drop cloths. Yes, I did say drop cloths! We are both so amazed at how great they turned out. It looks like they cost a fortune! Splurging on fancy rods and curtains rings helped bring them to life and create the full effect. More details about how I made these are to come!

And here is my beautiful new kitchen floor.

I have made a ton of progress, but still have some of the details to finish. And the cabinets are almost ready for their big reveal! I’m hoping that a section of them will be done tonight, so that I can post them tomorrow.

Kitchen remodel

When I bought my condo, I knew I wanted to change EVERYTHING about the kitchen! The appliances are twenty years old, The hidiously WHITE counter tops are stained and warping and bubbling from water damage, the floors have vinyl tiles, the wood cabinets are ugly—there is nothing about it I like. But just the thought of spending twenty thousand dollars on a remodel stressed me out. So I’ve chosen to do it in phases, and do as much of it as I can—myself. Cutting corners will make me feel better knowing that I’ve spent the money where it is needed and I will feel a sense of accomplishment by adding in the DIY projects. I’ve been extremely lazy over the winter months, but as the snow melts, I’m started to climb out of my funk and I’m ready for phase one. So here are my “BEFORE” photos of the kitchen and in chronological order, here is my list of phases for my kitchen makeover:

Phase One, Cabinets: Paint wood cabinets and drawers black. Replace hardware and hinges. Remove old molding and add new.

Phase Two, Lighting: Replace the main florescent light with track lighting. Find options for lighting under cabinets and above the breakfast bar.

Phase Three, Counters: Select granite counter tops and stainless steel sink. Hire a company to do measurements and installation.

Phase Four, Appliances: Do research on the best products determined by customer satisfaction. Choose matching stainless steel appliances; Fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher.

Phase Five, Flooring: Find a friend to help. Rent a stone saw. Pick out flooring.

Phase Six, Accents: Backsplash and paint.

I’m hoping to accomplish this before the summer. I don’t really have a budget. I’m not trying to buy the cheapest materials, I want quality. I’m just hoping it’s cheaper than $20,000.

Thrift store find Thursday-container clusters

For my work blog site, I came up with the brilliant idea of featuring my thrift store finds on Thursdays! I’d like to carry on the tradition because I enjoy it so much! And it is very fitting considering that my theme is all about saving money, and creating on a budget!

I moved into this beautiful condo with vaulted ceilings last June and I’ve been embarrassed to admit that I still have no wall art on my unpainted walls that have been screaming for color—“PAINT ME!” I guess I have a hard time deciding on something that I want to look at every day and, because I change my mind so often, I haven’t come up with anything that appeals to me. I know my plan was to stick to neutral tones so that I could add bright combinations of accessories, like pillows! So I finally broke down and hung a set of shelves. I chose a narrow wall surrounded by windows in my living room. They are the main focal point of the room and one of the first things that catches your eye when you walk in the front door.

I experimented with displaying different trinkets and picture frames on the shelves, but nothing seemed to work. There was no balance. No chi. Until one day an idea came to me as I was walking through the aisles of my favorite second-hand store. I noticed that there were an obscene amount of unappreciated glass containers of all different shapes, sizes, and colors. And at fifty cents to $2 a piece, they were a steal! They seemed to look a lot more fascinating to me in clusters. So I picked out a variety of clear glass pieces that worked well as a group and decided that my theme would be natural objects. I used a combination of things that I found outside along with a bag of potpourri. I added plants, candles, shells, rocks and voila! Wall art! Amount spent on glass containers, $23. Next challenge? Paint!

NOTE: Be sure to use a wall anchor that accommodates the amount of weight your shelves will hold. Read this online article about Choosing and Installing Wall Anchors to help you decide.

Natural Attraction

Well, I kept plenty busy while the snow had me trapped inside. I’m working toward being in a craft fair and actually selling some of my jewelry this year. I am quickly learning new techniques, so hopefully I will have some strong pieces to sell. I’ll be sharing a booth with a colleague of mine, so I think that will help with my anxiety. We are shooting toward an event in the summer or fall. Stay tuned!

Last week I made a series of necklaces using dyed coral and another using gemstone chips—and a few others that were floating around in my thoughts.

I am obviously drawn to turquoise. It just goes with everything! I’ve heard artists say that they try creating a variety of pieces in order to attract a bigger audience. I think that’s good advice but working with turquoise makes me happy. Ideas incorporating this stone come more naturally to me than with anything else. It is also obvious that I like to use natural elements like gem, stone, shell, or wood beads. I’ve already explored paper beads, which I also love. Maybe one day my passion will lead to fabric and metals as well. I can already sense the wheels turning in my brain!

Snowbody move, it’s Snowmaggedon!

Nestled in between Baltimore and Washington D.C. is my home. The area is over-populated with an overabundance of things to do. But if you add three feet of snow into the mix, you might as well call it a day—or how about a week! The hustle and bustle of this busy community was brought to a halt after being hit by two back-to-back snowstorms. The amount of snow we received broke records! It also caused thousands of cases of severe cabin fever!

Most people weren’t able to get out before the second storm hit. I’m just lucky that my grocery store is in walking distance. That came in handy when I lost power for 12 hours on the Saturday of the first storm. And I was able to make it into the office on Tuesday, but I was trapped in my house for the rest of the week with no sign of a snowplow.

On Sunday after the second storm was long gone, the sun came out and everyone began to emerge from their igloos. Everyone in my neighborhood was out! Children were laughing, dogs were frolicking in the snow, and helping hands were all around with courteous gestures and shovels. But once we were able to make our way out onto the roads with our aching backs and mounds of snow still left on the roofs of our SUVs, we soon discovered that our world wasn’t quite back to normal yet, and it caused a lot of drivers to be impatient and rude.

Most people were out and about for no apparent reason; they just needed to be out. The parking lots were like mazes with mountains of snow that forced one-way traffic and blaring horns. Roads and highways were cleared in a rush with icy exit ramps, no merge lanes, and lanes that just disappeared with no warning. It was the most interesting when trying to make a turn at a stop sign. I just loved playing chicken with the closest lane of traffic as I tried to inch my way out just enough to see past the five-foot mound of snow that blocked my view. Things definitely weren’t back to normal, and it appeared as though it might take weeks before it was again.

This photo was taken after the first storm. You can see the storm clouds off in the distance. Can you tell this parking lot is filled with cars? Can you tell this is a parking lot?!

After 32 hours and 38 inches of snow, the sunset appears!

And I just love this photo! I don’t know how long it will take all of this snow to melt, but I am ready for spring!

Welcome!

Welcome everyone! If you are reading this, I would like to thank you for stopping by!

Let me start out by telling you a little bit about myself. I started blogging a year ago through the company I work for. I publish a blog a week about the crafty things I’m into. Things that range from home improvement projects, thrift store finds, art shows and the usual, but not so usual, handmade crafts. I’ve learned what I’m most passionate about throughout this experience. I lean toward interior design, and love to use my house as my canvas. I’ve developed a love for paper art and jewelry making. And since I’m such a big animal lover, my cats are included in some of the photos. Starting the blog has really helped me grow and learn about my talents.

Now it’s time for a new beginning. I would like to share more about my life through my blogging, but I feel like I am limited with my work blog. With this new blog, I want the freedom to write about more! I don’t want to just limit myself to crafts.

So I hope that you will visit again, and who knows, maybe you will bookmark me as one of your favorites!