Somewhere along the line I talk about my Dining Room Chairs getting madeover

It is funny sometimes how one thing morphs into another isn't it? I had to get some new knobs for a custom job I was working on for a client, (which is super cool by the way, can't wait to show you!!) so I had an evening to go to Hobby Lobby and shop.....by myself!

So I put on a little makeup so as not to scare the checkout gals and got to cruisin' in the Equinox. Now Hobby Lobby is about 25 mintues from me and it was about 7:15pm.  I was taking a leisurely drive to my destination, with my window down and the wind blowing through all five of the carefully coiffed  hairs on top of my head when a fleeting thought crossed my mind.....

"Doesn't Hobby Lobby close at 8?????"

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!! 

Yes, they do. 

Wasn't every little old blue hair out that night....YES!! 

Was I acting like Jesus when I was picking them off right and left on Rt. 65??? 

NOT on your life.

Knobs are THAT important.

I agonize over picking knobs. 

15 minutes was pushing me to the brink of insanity.

Could I do it?

Yes....

Well, No, let's be realistic...but I was going to die drying.

So I dug down deep to my wanna-be cheerleader days and started my internal chant of

 BE DE-CI-SIVE!

LET'S BE DE-CI-SIVE!

as I booked past the double automatic sliding doors.

I might have even started to do some discreet hand positions to really get me going as I browsed the hundreds of knobs blurring my vision.

I felt like I had run a marathon...I was drenched in sweat, my legs felt like rubber but I did it!

I really did it!

Not only did I nail my round off into a full one and a half back flip with a twist ( is there such a thing??)

but I managed to pick out the knobs after only 5, yes 5! minutes!

See hand signals really do work.

I sent my girl Virginia, my super cute client, a little tease over the iPhone.

She loved them too, 

totes! 

Okay all this to really say that after that ordeal, I wanted, yes needed, a little something to work off all the adrenaline flowing...

so I headed over to Home Goods, Marshalls, 

TJ Maxx cuz' they are all in the same complex and I now had proven that I have super hero powers of decisiveness and I could hit all three of them before they closed.

Guess what I got?

This was only $19.99 at TJ's. It now holds all of my throws for the living room in one easy to access and easy to clean up place. Found in 10 minutes, not even a second thought went onto this one.

Then I headed over to Marshalls and scored a ridiculous score. (Go Team!)

I found 3 table cloths that look like grain sack, and act like grain sack but do not actually hold grain or sack.... 

One did however cover my Dining Room table..

And I picked up two sets of matching napkins, one set might be made into pillow covers

One square table cloth was put away for future "fancy"use and the third was going to be used to make a slipcover for this beauty....and I use that term loosely...

 but I just couldn't get the stripes right on it so I bagged it in favor of.....

recovering my dining room chairs! Yes, we finally got to the whole reason for this god-forsaken post!

So I can check that off of the list of  things I wanted to do this summer.

One 108" table cloth covered 6 chairs and I still had some leftovers. 

Total cost? 

$14.00 

Now I know that this isn't the best color for a family with kids but I love how they look.

I thought I might just make little slipcovers so I could throw them into the washer whenever they got dirty but then realized that my seats would just look like they do now because the slipcovers would be in the wash every day.

I was then going to cover them in plastic but I couldn't make the plastic work and I was starting to NOT act like Jesus again as I wrestled with corners and staples and the general slipperiness of it all and said the heck with it. 

My children will just have to eat on the floor.

Just kidding, I do have plastic just sitting on them now for our daily use and then when we have company over, I can whip the plastic off and company can sit on the floor.

Alas, I did not get anything at Home Goods although I was THIS close to picking up a set of Pom Poms....

Always being renewed,

Please see the link party page to see where I link arms with those blissfully beautiful bloggers that host every week. So gracious they are along with these other sweet ladies!

Read more at http://diyshowoff.com/2013/04/01/that-diy-party-10/#xgMAcRCgRocl5vmh.99       

 

 

Review - the LAshop.com

While I was in Vegas, I received an email from Vanessa at theLAShop asking if I would be willing to work with the website and possibly review a product. Well, this is the first time anyone has actually asked for my opinion.....I usually give it to you without the asking part.

After looking through the website, I was more than thrilled to partner with them. The website is very easy to navigate and they had a huge selection of really fun items.  They have a nice variety! Anything from gardening to photography, tattooing tools, yes you read that right, and outdoor furniture and lighting, to name a few.

Since we are going to be working a patio into our landscape this fall hopefully, I thought I'd check out the 8 Foot Market Umbrella.

I received the umbrella within the week and today I got to putting it up!

How bout a look shall we?

I do not have a stand to put the umbrella in but it worked just as good just stuck in the ground. It is very sturdy yet easy to manipulate and maneuver.

 I love the look of wood umbrellas and the Market Umbrella has 8 wood ribs and all wood post. I just think it looks nicer than metal and less chance of rust making it look dingy.

The umbrella screws easily into the bottom

And the pulley system makes expanding the umbrella amazingly easy. No fear of pinched fingers, which is a secret fear of mine every time I open a regular sized umbrella so this made me happy.

You can adjust how much of the umbrella is expanded with 4 sets of holes and a pin. I love flexibility so this was speaking my language.

Look how BIG it is! 

Those chairs are huge and they both fit under the umbrella, as well as my little table with my fresh lemonade. 

I choose the white because I thought it would provide shade but still keep it light and airy. It did not disappoint. The material is fade resistant polyester and waterproof so this will come in handy when I am working on a project and it starts to drizzle. Now I won't have to quit just because of a little bad weather.

I spent about an hour reading outside today which is a real luxury for me. I felt like I was on vacation a bit because of my sweet umbrella.

These Market umbrellas come in multiple colors as well as in 9 foot and 10 foot options. You must also check out their other outdoor items as well.

Some other items that I was looking at are the LED waterproof outdoor strip lights to add to our steps and around our deck when we get that completed.  And the mini popcorn maker is a must have I think for our outdoor movie nights!

Right now, they have a 10% off Back to School Special IN ADDITION to free shipping! 

I have to say I am impressed with The LAShop. Fast delivery, awesome product, cool quirky items that you won't find other places and very good pricing......

 in my opinion

 =0)

Always being renewed,

Black and Linen Nightstand

I've been back from Vegas for 2 weeks now and am just getting a post up! The first 3 days back I felt like I could not get out of bed I was so tired.  Then my parents came to visit for a a few days this week so today I am finally able to sit at my computer and compose a post! I hope it is coherent.

A while ago, I completed a Highboy in black with cream drawers done to look like linen. Well, my sweet friend and co-worker Judy needed a dresser for her daughter so off it went to live in her new apartment.

Towards the end of the school year, they asked me if I could make a nightstand to match. (I know it's August, I'm a little behind in posting. I have a hard enough time regularly posting during the school year!) 

So I went on the hunt for something that would come close. I found this little gem at the Goodwill and as luck would have it got a great price on it since it was marked 1/2 off on the day I picked it up!

It actually has only three drawers, the bottom is extra deep. But I love that it looks like four drawers. And it is solid oak, including the back. No luan or cardboard there! So something that looks so dated got a really great makeover. 

Here is the original dresser that I was matching....

and here is the nightstand....

And yes, those are paper props! Thank you for noticing. When I take my "pretty" pictures of my pieces, I try to stage them as they would be used. However, a digital clock was not goin' to cut it. But since I do not have an old vintage alarm clock what was I to do?? So I got drawing and cutting and made a vintage paper alarm clock and that led to a beautiful cut glass vase.  I didn't think I could tackle a lamp with out it falling over every 2 seconds, hence the books and "ceramic" birdie. 

 I think the fake flowers just set the whole thing off don't you! Hey, sometimes you have to get creative in more ways than one.

Love those dangly pulls, they remind me of earrings.

Which when you think about it, just like jewelry is the icing on an outfit, great hardware is the icing on a great piece of furniture.

I love how these two pieces came together because it shows you how two VERY different pieces can be painted to look alike and thus add unity to a room. That is also not to say that you have to paint everything the same color because that  can get boring really fast. A wood tone here and there is warm and inviting and gives the room character and something for the eye to jump to when you first enter the room. But if you are looking at your room and think it is a mish mash of styles, paint can be your great equalizer and unifier. 

   I hope you are all having a great weekend! 

If NOT, I think painting something might help!

Always being renewed,

Please see the link party page to see where I link arms with those blissfully beautiful bloggers that host every week. So gracious they are along with these other sweet ladies!

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