Final Kitchen Island Plans

My favorite new gadget

Hello all! How is your week going? It’s been a slow one for me…it feels like molasses or something. I’m continuing on Decrapification 2013 (yeah, I named it) and it’s going really well. Our whole front room is a pile of stuff and I’ve decided I may leave it all till I’m totally done, just to get the full effect of how much I’m purging. It feels goooood. Today I’m sharing a gadget that I LOVE. Let me introduce you to my little friend(s) – these things have changed my life!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zfJ7cyKUkWczpLuZH3lORo7K0KFAHIzuYun0dSz2xsmDZsEHh6YaTquKRlR2qifRqwAbj8tSYylUdV-PLR34bS9-lHCSqu8yCZBdR-aEmAFJGfGjSh_2jf0d4RXAnIxbzndXsqS8kNY/s1600-h/IMG_5001%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C3YHyRdrUiUGUurX2nsZ07afPLJuUWE7xiWSeqfV9QHUIiN2nGWk_82n__FrnZOOfY2SxLGwvzEyBEmF4H0Yr8V5rgyX6oycxvkRmjVsqWh6dIrrMlx48LdOeqEUBCTTCjpf8k_-iPE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="400" /></a> OK, maybe that’s a bit of a strong statement, but they sure have made my life a lot easier. Throughout the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/basement">basement finishing</a> process I took on a bunch of the projects myself in order to save some money (like all the painting and installing baseboards), but I’m not always so good on the finishing touches, like caulking the trim. I have baseboards and crown in this house that I installed years ago that are still not caulked. I don’t know what my deal is, I just get that trim up and call it done. But the thing is, the caulk makes a much bigger difference than you think. It hides all the imperfections and gaps and stuff and makes it look pretty, clean and finished. I used a TON of it on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/10/library-bookcases-done-boom.html">DIY built ins</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLjhJVb-XoJb_hZbJDywkBpT1aGuYhiYlbZ50g3hOjClO9Z1lC4OLXRFzwib6Etx0iTTJSgUHVVs1enr2_ciGQ2bkEW9E6e9V9aylYMWf-BKH-vjMVmN0vXqPgb2vQVoUA_rtBGa_aeo/s1600-h/IMG_3445_thumb%25255B5%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY built ins kitchen cabinets" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XG3yqEokKcek6GGGqQ5XC636cezoY4y-_Amd1dwEmU_1j_kDB_mHg2RN47kUPOTsH3g-5eSt9synev8M-uPfxsDDJ0ew9rzYP77AoVL7V0xR8L9U9OueHF_UlVCTusetTEtyf1lT3H8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY built ins kitchen cabinets" width="450" /></a> I found those little caulking tools above last year and tried them out on all the little gaps near and on the built ins. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised – that rubber wedge makes it SO much easier and less messy. I used it everywhere: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCRoXFoh5wtM87qRZk2DY0sxDddMeqFaxcOVAjjrLggjpg0Vkd8mljRE3J8D_6U_8yIO-Nx-9S6Gr9un6UUWXvP8kdh4TSXWln2ZbqxrT1hkdzFAR5L6XziW9Z-H3QUu6nq5pbHUMIvI/s1600-h/IMG_3414%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWVRlCYeEn4NKs-ZuaOMZ5TNPdNip5dw2G_MK_EoyH3LFwJLo9wom7sW3yAWbcqwpdFeAVyV_yWAHhVxDXZCrE7Vjc-1x5poZ574ixXkJIrkKTIhpU0qmxDC3SMM6VCsAvG6wXBwMEQQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7E3lTcFhrFYsZUhInLLzLSjcOBNDmvCGD4UMSsdPb7LLL5DB5rN0hcUJ3H0J9H7MSmy57e1mScTyFUrreAZafnNOp9B4I4sH9GOCqOSmP4xt2WyWQ8iX6FuolHuOCBd263poC4KyEAY/s1600-h/IMG_3415%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKgzemfF3TXrYfgCNDzLxjgRMWk4QvUiOslUV3VWAScOiOTjToY_W-ZCkpF7FxtKb-rYamlIeufOIMraKShJXuppQoimWhYEqI8uuXwguhffYAfp0oeEBmTbGh9lpPiWHPCpFD9Dx3nQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> I’ve shown you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/caulk-and-spackle-my-bffs.html">how I caulk</a> before and how much I rely on caulk and spackle to finish up projects. They hide a multitude of sins, let me tell you. That little corner had gaps everywhere (every house will have not perfect walls, angles, etc.) and after the caulk you wouldn’t even know: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-Y4KZexDXU_9MwfdnNzpWxJhunYZA13DvCfYE3EJIA0oChEaw_4n3cnnLeBST409P7qe9iI3wRZiI6Ba7FEK164EhaskhvM60Vi0qQIkZDl5PjUA14jgidYnPh-2uQp7UT7R3pAuEQs/s1600-h/IMG_3472_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_YWPIW2yqKZOkYX2qH3P4itIQfavF3yZtznsz3VYW8NADijGra4rNm1DS4rrRCJHLffVvSMmnTtGUmjAE69FtzFk9HbT5bv4-sx2RUk2GT8LJfLfyc3SmsRioXy4_9zAjIMAAQDAEKA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="400" /></a> I was doing some laundry last night and noticed the awful gaps behind the baseboards down there. I grabbed my caulk and little blue tool (no idea what the call it) and it was done in no time flat. See how the base is snug on one part of the wall and has a bit of a gap (mind the gap!) at another part?: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5JbSOdje6DmFAHgi-vv05tohepmdwuhpUypi8oSIqcj6wkGJZrd_uWtDyCIyj-MGk2hmctr6OkLUySZi5zt2BzazZUtOjuHIJWK06LF_Isv62vflllDJraPPMG168gxB2xsnN-OHywA/s1600-h/IMG_4989%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_4989" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBn3RgZbcVBiGtOSo_fA1y-Wrz-HY6aK66OzeNsYmb9J2h3PY1Lf58GlPZapdcbVQnHnzbeztBxjafGpeENnZSwGNT5B51Jv9vI2ea4tHwOTimyOmyID_myaB8U0krjbdmsKi_6irRmQc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_4989" width="450" /></a> Well, it’s annoying. I happens with crown occasionally too. And yes, I went from laundry to sitting on the floor caulking, that is how I roll. Oh look, a butterfly! Anyhoo, here’s the thing, always use paintable caulk. ALWAYS. Did I mention always? Always. You may think you won’t need to ever paint over it and then the day will come you want to and you’ll be screwed. I speak from experience (it’s not fun): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk4yKnWzDBZPzJboRSdrGLmKYfpjbIOa5guht3ybeaSVoCR6HWXGRokLwEYIVPfHsLY2Mnx6gI6RN6vgT_B4vEtnYF8OiSmhqh-lCTnrnSyqkW_leDluVAWyzvXE5FAbK0pRxb601How/s1600-h/IMG_4991%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGMnI88fH0COxxgCLNm8BNDRtZ1YQ8ul6PT3DkL-jPIvAyzZePSyWjbn5J4hwSgMQdkl2dCfunBaXynwQkssYK_ClRaLeMo2CnBwZt-KZTBySYTiS7l75zr_MF8WUAvvNdHqOopBzlZo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7FEo_ljA9nNiuQ0Nxo9tFavWdjKBa6HFTjrt-ys4Bb4UDFPJskjol4oillx15Efdb55solDeA3GqenFAoYu1M1IMW-XHlMCmrqnPhVut_4KUIsKJpx13BZhz0hG_PSH4bOHbWdZWkVs/s1600-h/IMG_4992%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="caulking tool" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzcUkstC8RaP47wFlfJb1nyh4G4szx6ZhnCpuQkbwYKEGW65tozzeDWWsDd-7Hz3gmC86M1cqevdpUr8M0OoXVZfNsi3_D97FehRgg0NGHUWR-MMfQ7E8Pl9aar7Oj00Z6ajoM3ipDV4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="caulking tool" width="290" /></a> I just use regular tape to close up my caulk between uses, it works just fine. Just make sure it’s air tight. It’s hard to get a picture of using this tool (I guess I did above) but you just put a bead (or line) of caulk down the trim, then instead of your finger, you run the corner of this tool right down after it: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9-fWWPFn_OUtMqSh-_0aMLQBbZLZQdoVPtGg6sv8TJGhxLGUOxHG2VcCN3F_h5kqaHkincJ8ecqOXTlYCoY3RM1cNwh-k79C_92YODc89Z86bfRkFsGQii7vQWE0_23CNDjOFuL35n0/s1600-h/IMG_4995%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="caulking tool" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyYrGxkjoUf-6LWRl26tAFH0lNXd4tYQ03UKkWOqHjJUrEbpsS95rkFH0te_y4CnD6jt5tJ93bdXUZFHOfky1OCIuB7J314s3JNoTJPhJDBmoQRK-GmGZIhcruQ4k3lejjhgKzoqk920/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="caulking tool" width="450" /></a> It’s BRILLIANT!! I can’t tell you how much easier it makes this process. And cleaner, so much cleaner. I take a wet paper towel and do a quick swipe afterwards to pick up any leftover caulk, but that’s it. It takes half the time and look Ma, no gaps!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViVp4aYH3fJ0eZu5BgwhpgxUppjooSuL4eAmLqZ-25v0oML6hHTQCZrlI9iujUUVNbEw9JHxoDU8Qo6yE-h47rJkcLO1GWKuRIqUXdK3OxeHQOAjFSFK6eErRk28gpGCD4jHKRPditdM/s1600-h/IMG_4997%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9b1nVSAtwC5fem6FFOP1uu08VSh2-Fkgj3iFmcM7wCYwU-dOC4GAG-WPGLNXDyGPTilxOrNRnGzHMbxkpVKp-5oDyG6TvHNhtPXDYsGbXpMIX9qByqiWmuAs1bAqZCylbmLLc5ECTwU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="450" /></a> Here’s a good before and after shot for you: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHrHVSQPpcPwJ35gzNYQRJrTM796ZAp0y6i8ZX0eK82DgPJt-57meyQ4nuk9gacRH89vWQv5ZF-MXu5IbQ4zTVswggbDMCekWoMjjjhesOTGw0k_iSPpvOEHzw7oYUBW28jkpVyqVAAw/s1600-h/IMG_4990%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEQcQWqFsWRKMUOvLk2RIaCGzvNKUMS8hVVcnJxC8nGkUiQdH6JKKZVpoaE4pffKaHWT2kAQXa79GImbmN95VWglZxL5ckW1qMsuiryigO-2eYWRWpMRgbvW_4ghaxP_xg5ZNaVm3p50/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTNjvnQ4L7VDv5avgd5NZYTq7WRnY6q5Dw1DcQ7z3uAXnDEUCpM-CDo7uBmaqOsn18x3Bj_oIGWzO2kv7uSaL7b8xEmbpYCLxInh_CYHJeykPePQSv1ANnd4RpZ0iwbFA6vIM6CmL6x8/s1600-h/IMG_4998%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GKM7r6pPOW-EZCMfkzuxfRIzOtUPlYw2GwWhXgFAVYeyc4z2GGFspFKSILNTtar2o0UGhZvk0WjVnz9kHolphy_ZbNL-5embajS8tqTMbuqQ-FQAL5o7jFdC7k60f9cTx39m_ikLA-M/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="290" /></a> See what I mean about making it look so much more finished? It’s such a little thing but I think it makes a big difference. I still need to paint these, but one thing at a time… It’s a little easier and quicker on projects where the white caulk is going down on white trim. When we built the bookcases in the dining/library I was a little concerned about the caulk showing on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/06/butcher-block-love.html">butcher block</a>, so I tried out this little trick I saw on a DIY show awhile back: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Fgpb_yyRrEt8lzvo39f7oVVz0XqkQuVSPqr0tp4DjP-nRkA9JHiwezJzqljc22Mp_g8nyIxh7DMENuPwRe6KiHUwCYIAo4z2dkiPijJnXGhOzGSTqXj2BCTYposPvQ_lNxHs36mQ8E0/s1600-h/IMG_3417%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEkMyiAJ5hDoWdk7MrDu0pddWItDc8VzaZFMUphbXN865uI0KSF16RVhAQ4FM4DEWm4Kuq543GvmT1j9VbnX9uXtje6q0a442KNBp-RZXIwE1NHLPS36NNf13NK0zcLYxTx8Nuig81JM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="450" /></a> You just lay down some painters tape – I used my green FrogTape obviously. Then you put the bead of caulk down, then swipe it (I used my blue goodness): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysTNHqPdV_E_59gKj31cefooEF6ioY0E5Dm1Tjtu6TdiudEo0IV76fPrw1fVVErm1l3VCTTOIZnurYbrFKbjpt29laXl21IUIFQ7tOmIijIcwlDf7TF1qt6v15W1tV0W9_v_hH85Biog/s1600-h/IMG_3421%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zPYPsr6Ov3pfOxiO6Vtvb6bMxuFVW2IcYLAaxtHW1NfvRMaZ2DgmzGVGrtBTt_vRzvGcFSMfRVushmdyDwkmpjXRt3kPPjXCnxKQTfa4sjZ3W_7wNR7Q0tPxpRe4idjnUku-n9ThPS4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="360" /></a> And when you’re done (I pulled it up when the caulk was still wet), you have a loverly clean, perfect line of caulk: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvRutmExHR6ndLngn4_Zdv1O06tmyztxZq5G5-S34bxwnA61YnvkX0arsvanNmwnHEHBLEilKOYQIhzSW-Jo-drd-HsprGF-AEnLuhhlFXQfVNnMGzFyCCshzYC75o1zKYnhXn29uyh8/s1600-h/IMG_3427%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to caulk" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNauXybk4h2SFCkESm9pL0V-EZOTV09Jt-alCeYKZmAz_wGxj-Z5v9zXjFlR62anoLk9vmKn2g9KGloZpAWYUZNVIqJN_bhmpQANbzqwoTUaClnGMegYhms_5wx4XPpWvmxN8ZkFDpaE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to caulk" width="450" /></a> Ahhh, so nice! I used this method on every support on the bookcases and it worked great. It would be a bit of a mess to caulk on a darker surface like this without that tape laid down first. So much better! I love sharing new tools that actually work (I guess you could call this a tool?) – I got this from a hardware store and it came with four (or five?) of the blue jobbies. It was only a few bucks if I remember right. SO worth it in my opinion. Have you found a tool or gadget that makes life easier for you? Honestly, now that I have this one caulking isn’t that bad – dare I say almost enjoyable? It’s kind of a relaxing, therapeutic thing for me. And it’s instant gratification, which I love. :)

My favorite new gadget

Hello all! How is your week going? It’s been a slow one for me…it feels like molasses or something. I’m continuing on Decrapification 2013 (...

8:44 AM

My kind of plant

Hey all! How are ya? I feel like poo today, and the weather matches – cold, rainy, icy. Poo. Remember when I blogged about that fun <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/thrifting-heaven.html">vintage mart</a> here near Indy? Well, while there I found something I had been looking for forever – air plants. I’ve seen these cool little plants for a year or so now and they’ve always intrigued me. I’m a little plant crazy overall lately – since Christmas I think I’ve added quite a few new plants to our house, which I’ll share with you soon. They are all doing great, shockingly. Who knew I could keep them alive all the sudden? Not me. Anyhoo, I found a booth at that mart that had hundreds of these little air plants and I was SO stinkin’ exited. I grabbed up a couple of them to try out. A few weeks ago I shared them on <a href="http://instagram.com/thriftydecorchick">Instagram</a>: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9Y-hc_ZVlVvPUDnj3BFlE0jJWdUtpEO52679i15boSEYg33ughh1IoeNtaToCJkPy4cX5jjNQU13R9hXquLTW8aLig-ci0MX7HAGEa-opaHkRFoUZ6ECeF4_TfK8m5QMKIJmhsxo1xI/s1600-h/photo6.png"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3yYRJagyocGJJn7s_9V2UKa3XAPSI1w_MoKfxKRlD1rQN_5QgMBhyphenhyphenyaXkaMXnQUGm0AEhgOZXatk3SN3Wfk0fe02bXxBp6v-HEjme1cYqFvLif05TI68ur6sd6zWBXCHJr7qgxwKMZ4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="air plants" width="360" /></a> The guys at the booth told me to soak them in water a couple times a week and that’s all the care they really needed. Right up my alley baby! Although when I posted this on Instagram <a href="http://www.mykindaperfect.com">Andrea</a> mentioned that she only soaks hers every few weeks so I decided to try that out myself. Actually I just totally forgot to soak them again for a while, but at least her advice made me feel better about it. ;) Turns out she’s right – they are THRIVING and I’ve only soaked them a couple times in four weeks. These little plants are the coolest!! You can’t really tell how much they’ve grown from the photos, but it’s just crazy. The light wispy one started developing a little surprise a couple weeks ago: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKplVDPfgppLgyvj8wP5M1cL2_IyDUIS8f4SfBs_ywE-6lFmFHqZi_JIC_GVOES3RzftGZ5Ffgg0PT-xBDW0SjRWHrBcCJddykVLf9ZbkzD-11P2jNOmWgS4vjvxs0NAx0zQtJHUOvEFs/s1600-h/IMG_49513.jpg"><img alt="flowering air plants" border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_2EOhUVNI7asFkupm7f-CUGtKjDK8lNpYI67pRf13MEmQfqBYo5ye4oYnJ952XU98fUJNav_bWYWBH7lKRbzNcBNWCf8lkGmbMcPymdvxvYZPco2yggccM_tr1eitRpa58Cb8zI0uGQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="flowering air plants" width="320" /></a> Just beautiful! Isn’t that amazing? No soil, hardly any watering. It really boggles my mind. I’ve had them sitting on the window sill by the sink and they seem to love all the light. This one has grown a ton too, they sprout new plants at the base: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFQZWSCBhNquZ9RXdqJHZSRIHqxDvtmFRiIAX8AfqY205Mydc5tzcmhKIhZEn0tOLJ5cfx6uHNMoUlIVIXLM_VthiY5AVR89qEAlFyL98AiAi7EeazaLV-uq_EaPg-FtqXai48NL6BR0/s1600-h/IMG_49545.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Z_Jzm3CtTDaMKGo9R_z1uuoYYcrjmqzyWfMQfebyZ9-sCdpuC4XOtZFlI7N7UaC_MYakdY4eLtxlCSmD_1Roklg8kJa55LwvpIcJIix4fRh-pXEN6TNEKkidlPSTyW1QA3I8KE8YYfo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="air plants" width="320" /></a> So I was at lunch near the fancy mall in town the other day and decided to stop in West Elm, and I walked out with these precious little bowls: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zI1q-waRLSGXDCEwaUKHVXybSzMM-ziiGNwE-Gc7LIQUpJVyXFmGdwz28XVwMHmWuM1Evo0wLuOR7tps4xRnt4z12_DFOpuwFHMbabvWQdLxTUEih9Usd25pzK4t6P5Aj91OuJBewyg/s1600-h/IMG_49603.jpg"><img alt="west elm bowls" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1seCC-lh5ABKr2YN6rBVT00miV68vcwrNpJRimvZHGt7Zp0dCC8EulaeU6gBB9SnRPKO8GL2WngGj1trQMOcG-5-oThA83_RBgbWdoCVBNuyDJHIcSCXsnNr5_zjG3ZE3Zqk_bFcrMI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="west elm bowls" width="360" /></a> If you follow me on Facebook you may remember these. ;) I saw them a couple months ago and passed them up because I didn’t have a plan for them -- but now I did. So darn cute! I found air plants there too, so if you are looking for some check out West Elm. This one was cheaper than what I paid at the vintage mart: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Djmz5PMK2xVbM62jsH72PzRrRSbNLmcZGTxKkgLkZEcAuOGcs6KplCd1CdWGKfLFRbGJp763If4Vbwe_MPx50OezrvS9DE1HQAwIZhrgsU4lEeYTqT5LYgiR9ecUIrvHOvg7yhyphenhyphenjEYs/s1600-h/IMG_49564.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG84YOIX-FN9BMR6niTpZphwgxQl56bVnJg8NcAH_fowudni628AuEY6SH69qTTRU90H3_5sEE-x31D1RuKD3WAeN2ABlgv_BPdlWCXSnyyxK7JZw5kb5M0U6kR2TnQkQFazv-oCgssmE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="air plants" width="320" /></a> I pulled out some filler, which is actually shell stuff from the pet store I picked up a while back just because I thought it was pretty: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHkvvvpugQDr1nW5JfFyVs-wL4B-SfSPVpOktMVcl0wZ3oVFON9Rd-sSIbFeLXnABzUyruJ3MXwC8fhZnXHZsIo-GCCFKLc44q3HKBzGU3G3VEmWAMdIlgCNSKs2ThtKVYFXPT49Hm5o/s1600-h/IMG_49613.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJByma8jTWtH-TbcG5ZY7Xmb2QWGhYOvhF4GWaHi_3tWpl0DVx9VI3DS30_096IWgfzlYerwhh94KeDeUs4Jw-zkw9aiDdKmkG97UUip5AvUX0ZDfyb_rIfPqv7S0hWZklTPQ8txCT0dE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a> I poured a little in each bowl, just enough to give the plants something to settle into, and then lined them up on the window sill above the kitchen sink: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_PzKxvNnsHeJkIA7FGHEfFJr5hU8cQW2V_xusu2_EMQxqiLcjsMROL062SsnD6YXX1aGigVFSPXb-WQ8_-WyMM2bDIb3N_KxD9TFnM5Zz4TVDPfJv1Aiut1e2vbfWXO5XIOxMY1BDz0/s1600-h/IMG_49654.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-kCBni64EO1tjc6R1qz80MDK8beTIHzZ7h7dKLQ1q6uAKJ1BtZAmI-oO1r91eBujLfnlPRh347wBqE7zOuwV8sGa8se03N35X6F7J239kEr00tkrmjAb7loEKE2sqIrZZLMIhLDSV4s/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="air plants" width="500" /></a> I just love them all! The flowering one is my favorite though – so delicate and pretty. I call this one my tiny dancer: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTiOVHbdpUfOUXVuFt5xeclGn0XwTv7OL2ZMORz4HTjLqGk1SZILTCMDEKmEjTqyKo2A-oY_OO9mvSGg-D9OwSyftQBsc7NAZ1bfmdqXIBPDJ8wKSkPQ_We2DvRm-c9OY7LWQf1ftmVE/s1600-h/IMG_49703.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFr697h1a0qeblytQx-iCFCG6LIrYkEFxoX5wX4rfZNHSo4XM9TcVNU82LJznCokx0k61FIGtc0SLJEzvNekGvhEinyl-T51hyOI9mjiPpoU7OXYWuOJhZZeB8kTTvQEKV1yNf5Jm4cE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="air plants" width="360" /></a> I didn’t realize till I got the bowls home how well they work with the drapes on that window – the blue, green and yellow tie in perfectly!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmiHLwEaua3hf6O-C2ukAgmMQUVLwum5uxTyKM6lm0eS51DXjZKKsFDjLf_F2ZXjYCNGdw90l5VuVDOcKLa3je1qFevfbYV9qDC8j1ZJd0trur1arEow-gocHwqG7wq2YkOHCbUTm4hA/s1600-h/IMG_49795.jpg"><img alt="air plants" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRNi0SAxSywLQfk3HgJz1swotxQYRm8jqUGIj3EggDpJzFJhgLibcDiTDZZczvliXM02hSz7GZeGqJYuol2TBgo9mqnV7HUWxnxr-F3xIL7Lt28HvDjhJOyCQ7BNXdkug28ZK-qEbUx0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="air plants" width="450" /></a> They’ve done great in this spot so far, hopefully they’ll continue to flourish. They join the little fern that could by the sink and I love the life they bring to this spot: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxETyj5-FNP_fKoCkYr-tS_JVkb3KDjTCldynzaIe65dL_qp7MUg_0f9foFxPg-wYZGFZ4rdnDVL2sgwSRGLiNNIV6XKdu0T6zAHbRpIG4ew1knTRJs6dQXuMaDs2Z04L2xi8BlmlviYE/s1600-h/IMG_49764.jpg"><img alt="beadboard backsplash" border="0" height="609" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOl5uIOpp3fvWjoqYlTgmli_NmRb0l8Wz6yiBWEi5Kx830Xonj5gilNXRaPuD6TIt4l0vE00pEUMA-TlqMe76rjqy-A1BdrxY5y1rChNiDS3fsC1ct-KnxAOqYpJtXA4FBKUD2mGBgNQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="beadboard backsplash" width="400" /></a> Have you tried these little plants? Succeeded or no? The cool thing is you can place them just about anywhere – mine were just sitting out on the windowsill for weeks and did great. Like I said, they seem to love sun, but I think they’d do OK in less light as well. So fun! P.S. The technical term for air plants is Tillandsia – you may be able to find them under that name too. I’ve seen them sold on Etsy!

My kind of plant

Hey all! How are ya? I feel like poo today, and the weather matches – cold, rainy, icy. Poo. Remember when I blogged about that fun vintag...

9:15 AM

Threshold in the foyer

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2hyphenhyphenAtNYTt7zLM9EmutEGKKfFZenV6AwIAII72C5Zob9CTSxsxFDnjWXabBqwG4waMjTd0gG71YQ47YqZjxRAguV50PQxzsmMw6GTweeGFO-x9Qz0Ifcnb4WIEezHP0t2SkWKlsZJxLg/s1600-h/header%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="threshold items target" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aiU4UJoUgWA91ckh6kfZ204BEdGzd6sUArd7YRSbq4A2-E8qmicvwqJ7lHkQQN5gDMEpC8qjYQWU2bZkBP57G1brDUVTg7D3YfhPpx5nyNGtpMINfd8QxLudYa8B-stsB98YBssze14/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="threshold items target" width="360" /></a> Well hello all! Hope your weekend was lovely!! I’m pleased to say the basement storage room is organized and CLEAN and there is no sign of <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-mouse-story.html">the mice</a>! WHOO HOO! It took forever, seriously. I’m sure I’ll share it’s organized bliss with you soon. Today I’m kicking off a fun little shindig I’ve got going…I’m pinching myself because I’m partnering up with Target over the next few months to show off some of their new items in the Threshold line. Have you seen it? Do you LOVE it?? Of course you do, it’s awesome. (And I’m not just saying that, I’ve been drooling over it for months.) Target calls this line of decor a “casual-traditional look” and when I read that I was like – bingo, that’s my style! That may explain why I like it so much. You’ve probably seen the brand popping up for the past few months, but it’s about to get even better! They challenged us to spruce up the foyer this month and I’m so stinkin’ happy with how it turned out! You may remember how I changed up the black buffet in our entryway to the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/aubusson-blue-in-foyer.html">beautiful aubusson blue</a> last month: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-fl5lDjhhvFVGALzbw0rBQSYcHzlfLjjD9Ydlm0Uiw0yKJmcYMLDjI1Ypw64WA9z8KZvKB7gAe0kKHn_9bta7oo9lcHrz2-ryJp0xWdL-WZKqoB2UwSJK-IiCOLnHq-Ffj_u62Q9kMBA/s1600-h/IMG_4397_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="aubusson blue chalk paint" border="0" height="685" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0t2Fe7KKhg8Zg7T3km0yzkkkP6pI5KPi-S5zo7qGSAG4bjSEbmdVAWzejjNJ48PyFKeSp8L1YnY6vi-7rBcY42OneblMa957Grz72VriDgC4BkAV0XGhamTezgOrCA2ZoLIw0VYNX-4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="aubusson blue chalk paint" width="450" /></a> I think that was one of the best decorating decisions I’ve ever made by the way – it makes SUCH a statement now. Well there’s an area off the the right of that buffet that I consider still part of our foyer, but it’s an odd little spot. It’s right by the stairs, kind of in the dining area, but it’s still part of the entry into the house. It’s one of those spots I’ve struggled with for years now. Over the past year or so I’ve had a settee and a wall of old vintage windows on the wall, but with the blue on the dresser the settee looked all wrong, so it got moved up to the <a href="http://http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/changes-in-master.html">master bedroom</a>. I had an idea to lighten up the spot and replace it, and I started with a trip to Target. Who doesn’t? :) I knew I wanted a little bench or stool, so I headed to this aisle: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxKBBdm15pHVciEn-R5CeArrY2a7l0T_gExQyCstpPQzdBXarM5GyV7Z4xfOPko18V3am5C1RTC1rUNQ18EjC9H1aKa3C-IbkrKDGbTEnqb9M-2dpesuO0UY9LKXshii4N93vhar4dYI/s1600-h/photo2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="target benches" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzSKPWSvYnE4EDDnP6nXdEumceYK4eEV66S68dqigNiMY1AK-c6CGjp6K8Qxp6O8mvWgkiQc7xO-3pfWQm9DrE2j6lQhfhJr96A8ncu-NIEgkhfhttw0dUdXVqGRBAr6YsYyq2IavyGc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="target benches" width="320" /></a> I loved this dark brown one – it was uber sophisticated and had TONS of storage space inside: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaMBIYMD5Nsk3Fa7v9NHTcIpPL3PfbLyfZhw4TTU99MnULMVHzz7e80ydLQOoG8IvkSwO9ycbvrDsuMC1M10dpSSLK7DFhdhMtYCGQs9tsakrbFAc48XlImqtN1zEMHb6Yufad7sJarw/s1600-h/photo%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4koaAvZj3YB_AO5c5YvnGTnwelczDhUK5kuAFlGroOu1Z7K9lLwvFCghMtnHhb9PEDQonawcFE4cAZtm-BvCCkkZaIcUpTDPXMRoe6vfeufRJlLlAITN5krPNkm2Zqa0nNZgM0eKC4FI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="280" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DZdghiG5h2AhICwQbbkZjz8TFQGktQBJmam4hGaUASE8OiLb4oB4qAVmEnnBgEDBVUTQ_Is7TCTGsHtahYXrk7QFBpyc6-QJyUyBfoo8nE-EWUGAmr0E4WPTKLFMNL-ITocAGW7nEE0/s1600-h/photo3%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB-Iw_iVSIycZDeddeVUK-JzXptRg1zR3WfwYJPtLEqoCseyjgcV3mziUu-rWUg41QKVHE8hFbnMgGxDvgiFAEFZEErMP6Kgr5b_oLmNi8q-B1xD-0W7QgPbGgfnA3gIAZWragZ1vtG8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" width="280" /></a> But it was too big and a little too dark for what I was going for. I also loved this one, with the dark wood legs and the tufted top: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmdNUggQR9qY3WVixn44u-kp_6LkAwXv0XiAHrvdUAPvxbhEK9TMrKYkPY8r6ZdUyrUcHRHLYVsBrwdecw9duhPDIDyvdYQYRnQk1l50CkV9YVYq-CNU9rlOlI0mpJPOgr3dV8YIGqi4/s1600-h/photo6%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMyglaXMgcRgcSTayzbW4CoSat5a5fPN2n2Oukl0mybs-9OcVZ0uqo_BFfkBT0ocYWy3JpAv2QHVLJRxIwzsYiIKBbfSmscz08olPSfttjQqNQQHWn_bXGgX8A543PH-X2D_NtmYtzmN4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a> It had storage too, that seat lifted up! But it was too modern for what I wanted. THEN. I found her. The one: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYH6ckqKE2hOD7mVs5_dGQxvtmcshfRKshkfE_VTyuAuIB0u8og5f2xIlydnHz-jO4ft3K-xyExCEfYCB8EQI3v9-Fc3T2z6fMPZGhqG7gnHNgAuvWcZRLcM_IcxEGLP0RIC6gEC-LPA/s1600-h/photo7%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxIFG80ZTJR7XBmtN48gkU08uFH8ig6MtzsQEIc_MycbxRytXVJfYIXdl3mdhfUom7e51RyhAHuwOAOAxdheXussHq3R1wncSvIMlr4vqOPjBCxA7dRBqbRU1qe1RXQVjAJQtljpxYi0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a> She’s a she cause of her pretty little (short) legs and tufted top and of course…nail head trim. Add in plenty of storage inside and I was in luuurve. I brought her home with me and then started a little redo to finish off the spot. I grabbed a chair I bought at Goodwill eons ago that has been sitting in our closet: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2Nj5oNj1-cJr6rCLWWZYF8UQdIfqPyuGtbSIbb9aN0JOsOD8t9sWlg2rNV07SDZKkWrPu51WzkR5kJqvdcYWc7rJ2CGKGwIxZJtCY-3Bt0g5H-rWkywUSPbbW3sc1tSp9lETBsD2rqA/s1600-h/IMG_4883%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to recover a chair seat" border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLujThE8b2jc559PVZTbuQZL5vCkxXAatwrF7dLwDAc4J_rYqe0ty6GHQbjKjR1nEQs4FY_ULwDfLlYJu8Q_7751IWe53_JxOkkFO7uUbavEiYVbie5u_97H-NMeBjRq6WYBLaIiote70/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to recover a chair seat" width="320" /></a> I painted it and recovered the seat forever ago and my plan was that it would be a nice little spot to sit to put on shoes or socks in our closet. Instead it became a spot to pile purses and clothes on three feet high sooooo…it came out. It’s SO easy to recover a seat like this! If you haven’t attempted it I promise you can do it! Just cut your fabric down so it’s big enough to wrap around the edges and then start stapling: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgdDwUYvVcDGrMHG5E_T4f5hfQMxHN6F-PoAaFgjt_jyqDphpS69TX1mOqn8Q1xS_oK0ArISxd8jhtDjfQutPdVj1S3c51_53DQFJOprp0LKBc3Qoq3ylCYOZd2ADaXxxmrt8H1gOoPE/s1600-h/IMG_4884%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to recover a chair" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBFRmtPXbPrKYo7wCUqhL8EZuszN-Vh023200ufLI-6iTLT1WFhIU-UjQRlG2U8TNyLqa17K0UXL5w7vqMKkKoZp1BA-yFNrhQCmnIB2KZ0GBSdybd_cu7G-94Md8qGQI0vKvR2am7a8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to recover a chair" width="450" /></a> I usually start on one side, staple, go to the other side, staple, and work my way around, pulling the fabric tight as I go. The corners get a ton of staples – start with one: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBXEXsZKY9bgQW8EaXKl36ZHz4D2Pl9RuAcwiXLxZ8T6_OrFnWHz5jeiw1NJWspdo0_o1ZBhB1PzynrCnKIE_gtODdeZPaFCMYnk3wsjmSWoZRYq6lm1oblBGpRSnQSOEr_nIXWw-sRw/s1600-h/IMG_4887%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to recover a chair" border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDyADSNvHqCQRKWs8B4hiGiKMJn19AQAUct3Dpehm_bz0_pRumNZUE5KccR8QV-h7yMmErm7TB4FXZ6chHWsWIAnSh4CVBavUx6BVIWJgBfhG2NDmV1ZnwRwv1tdNiZbXz8EP-sAIVsw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to recover a chair" width="425" /></a> And then staple the heck out of it to get a nice little corner: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURqCPsXf6lYs75w1treLqZdZQd6Lk0aN25qXJi5HNoMaEYxA3xqiOYvmMqJoYmrxpLMdRmkwOLGfTI_Ch6y-fQCCMpvncStPjBiqT9tdkiOHVNw76RQqfwebUbHHFqCtAO42MLQqkKZA/s1600-h/IMG_4888%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to recover a chair" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa2xKm1qsApzX0nsghx5v9iQcj9oxJD8OCZ2IdlfKkhDXp8b4KP-MgXpOxBBZWWJuxcUS9fyIboBhs1-nM8dMdJpuNpdYdtaccs6Z-8x24xi1L9Lv9LhgSx-GLf03N2BUUFRiOJ044nc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to recover a chair" width="450" /></a> Remember, NO ONE will see it. I promise. Unless they’re a freakity freak who looks under your chairs. But then do you really want them in your house anyway? Staple away. I used the fabric to trim out the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/02/trimming-out-drapes.html">drapes in our living room</a> near this spot, so pulling it over to this area worked out perfectly! I added one of my placemat pillows that used to sit on the settee, and I LOVE how it came together: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU5y2yYIKRTmPvWo1Bs4ouyf2nFf26jG2FW1ReyydczL2Bp2oPchB-v-ixKoM1ufcaopSbV525S5zF5RNP2ks_ldx8a2F-hY4WqobGpbnBVxuGo2AyHfFadPuex5-R5VEfkrHLqg2oCg/s1600-h/IMG_4900%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to recover a chair" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTpzVuvgnGvNhdrt0be4ehlKgchN1qekq_NkrI9kGYS9u0sYUU__ceefKYTLOjM2BD9UcHi2hFMV9-Ieu8AoaSlWlh7ti3H0r-HaLvbwcGmP9G2UfxgfML05dYTQH577kAD8BbcJWtck/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="how to recover a chair" width="400" /></a> Yes, that was a placemat – I filled it up and then sewed a button in the middle to give it a little tuft. :) I had been eyeing this Threshold mirrored tray like mad every time I went in to Target, so I finally picked it up for this spot: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Kim6kiKKlB4byPngkYN6gGFfpEqRr3qugrDYPat11Yeui3j9TCzlkXLMAhw60VjHYpGDT_6ScXRCVX6W63YD1DP91SxThcowikyHPxxeWn2kD0UJz81R4SGazkAlcaqclz2Idb5uqu4/s1600-h/photo5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="round mirror tray target" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6gqAXqGko5jYG-2wUjRFdycEnAhWiG6DiMWscuqdWEAHMD5c7OQ-OvqUVG3KrcIlV3TxqOGmz_dJYbHIXzulRJmGdgp-MIgZKGdWLVcs-mwmgZFl7hCC9AndLO3c4vUZKJwdM6abv4w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="round mirror tray target" width="320" /></a> Love it! I’m not big into the decorating with bugs trend – like the vintage prints I see for example. I think they are beautiful but also think it would freak me out to have them in my house. This little votive holder I couldn't resist though: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jPI-KP7OIi0scqmCOVUzwmZy_02rZCrGUSJtxn_yLt-Cz5D-CzaIoohqCVqCmdMrarPRoGphCAKjyXwBbH8CApEYeB0vX6zrWP2qmyS36lacp_8zlHv5w_mN3WT50Rz2axaajiNIhM4/s1600-h/IMG_4912%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bug votive" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq_SHSUFzoBPE8EyverENmNKub-wHCUJBQJoeVy_eSEdZKDFawrxaXeZayzvfHOMYdsy4t7MXVjQeavEfZKRJfGsWLVjj0sXV3VwXlucOER9yEhI74T_9JYXJmvKYSr95UR-m0WPHoBE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bug votive" width="360" /></a> You only see really see the image when there’s a candle inside, I just thought it was cool and I loved the bright yellow. (I used an LED votive in mine.) I like using things differently from their intended purpose, so I used a blue votive holder and a green glass as vases: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-js0i3i8Binstv7vRMm6RDWZNb1aWZSe2_C91dkiQM_-0ziUBdSYuda-4Lhl8aCPQahqyfU6x6XIYdz536I2-t6kn6FLn3T2vbcfiPbUmH2fzv5F1I-fwtO5dHT0rEzg8sDT0XuAdZuU/s1600-h/IMG_4924%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="entry decorating ideas" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSzzgBiI5KTAv3sElbiE0DNc7QqkaLl62to71eILfyS-M61YNb02v38DIehIXc1YF7wSK3RmuwfYGCe9BfOFhkOD7At94Ytf5TX-Z3Dp51m7Gy10PFnwNt4Skxos1t1WnhD3W7F1J6JI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="entry decorating ideas" width="400" /></a> It was all coming together beautifully, I was SO happy. But those vintage windows hanging above were just feeling so heavy. That wall has always stumped me because it’s big but I couldn’t do a mirror (there’s one above the buffet), I couldn’t do a gallery wall (one on the staircase right next to it). So what the heck do you put there that’s big but not heavy feeling? I looked over above the sofa at my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-art-reusing-old-canvas.html">DIY painting</a> and knew it would be PERFECT!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CRlGUyEySqTrdOUJSBUCSvuTj2WQ1bk5zbXQvw-GpBZnrRKbTJzNR9j4JZDwZztbEQYsfS5MikbU9mnlK34SZGlNiT9gG7_4-qZ-Gby1ld4OxSaJcM1eDy8hxJXdcUJiShfBhw0THbs/s1600-h/IMG_4932%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="entry decorating ideas" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIOYix4dooCBovvdEUy2FsKIdOuHB1Ko84nk8C6s-DNy1ed5cbhyphenhyphenZW78Q7TDzf-NCh-L_0_CPqwgc7qRbSzwEBqIgTAwLUkO1E2zzozVxXx_GOqGCHm_Er7h681E6_wZ8sNWgKE4kL_E/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="entry decorating ideas" width="400" /></a> It was too small for above the sofa anyway, so this works out even better. (And now the wall above the sofa is now completely empty, but I’m OK with it. For a while.) I LOVE how it pulls in the color of the buffet – it was like it was meant to be!: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aGwtjIGqo-7r4i7c8qxfMSTW8QOaa0770rwtQfIjbK_GpLto1_2tfJTmI1txq_Uxztk6zJP8_A3PuWmSS1cG1TDljWRM-YvqwdJ9V2SOhk9z_UJstVnf1zXHq_wi_kY_gH4vTIEN84k/s1600-h/IMG_4940%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="foyer decorating ideas" border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-lPF4QYehasjxtqAQVdad0UFAguGQnpjKLGU_DpevKTHTGjy1yiNgBMRqNWfSpiON0-SoY2qbWpUVbnnvukEBtPVm-qQMbtvtfm4nPORpsqNt5fW6cfI1w4CQWJ-pARga0G5RE3od2k/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="foyer decorating ideas" width="500" /></a> Crazy. I don’t move furniture around much in this house but the accessories and art get moved around constantly. Now it’s so much calmer in this spot – it works well with the area to the left and with the stairs…I felt like it was all fighting before: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxkjgyKCDKpu966R-zvg_3TsJLQcnNJbHoaox3AY0O_2dIqqkonxvwbQhLIrm79XwT1gOS91SutGfplpN7iQu4MTISKRkVboDO4cGMQnc1Bw-ngXky40Tz5CGSSjXrvbN0yeytLuImXU/s1600-h/IMG_4931%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="entry decorating ideas" border="0" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1BC_dCmVyy2TvziMiaK4s5MjKrJny51Z8I6ybwipKdiH-zTDQm0o_D_PBqtMDUzNqk_yjAUnzPybehY_yaPY4ggIlKo572ixddAXKazKP5bWbZrN6jYM6_AST6Qou5EiQrSMUjCO80Zs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="entry decorating ideas" width="450" /></a> We’ve moved most of the Bub’s toys to the basement, but I did keep some of them up in this bench. Things like foam swords that him and his buddies need quickly when they’re playing outside. You don’t how how often I hear “MOMMA, I need my swords!!” It happened just the other day because we’ve had some days that feel like spring is here…they are brief but they get me excited. I love how bright this spot is now, and that there is so much color! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVfQTSFfKz_kDXnGXfxnQ8dNy2HronOA9IwGNshkkzebz__hK-WcYOnoiTScC0VfMEAvrpnfKCG7-A3Ptw8qnB2Je5SwB_PY9bj7tGlbVWm2y-e1PKhd6p24voGr4ppLYX1ElbCxStm8/s1600-h/IMG_4942%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="entry decorating ideas" border="0" height="639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrcpXNpBbScPHW446D8bYGRAHXKF0IDLH9H-7p2K9dyG6lnoAVnSVTPs37coffo2CF36cpDBSkZt0xRTzRRqxJYTqAZ9M5Ro4cMak6v3-Qvh0x6ya01DEJ7dDv_kz8UNevGWelNB9cM0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="entry decorating ideas" width="450" /></a> Funny how our tastes change. Six years ago this would all have been red and black. Five years from now it may be all white. But for now I’m a big fan of color in our home, it makes me happy. Especially this time of year! So are you getting the spring bug yet? Do you decorate differently when the temps start to warm up? Are you obsessed with the Threshold line at Target too? Here’s a little tidbit – the full line isn’t even out yet! It will all be released in March and I cannot wait to see what else they have in store! (In store…get it? Har.) So do you like my Threshold items in my threshold? OK, I’m done. :)

Threshold in the foyer

Well hello all! Hope your weekend was lovely!! I’m pleased to say the basement storage room is organized and CLEAN and there is no sign of...

7:54 AM

Kissing objects and other design issues

This is the first post of a series I have planned to focus on arranging objects in a pleasing way in your home. <div style="text-align: left;"> The same principles of design that are the backbone of a good painting can be applied to designing a room or a vignette.  People often know when something doesn't look right , but they might not be able to articulate why they have that feeling. I thought I would focus on some of the finer points that can move a space from fine to fantastic. </div> Do you have.... Kissing objects  That's the best way to describe objects that touch each other or look like they are touching  thus causing an odd tension/confusion.  Is it one object? Two objects? Why are they side by side? etc. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGlgVR9mZgZKOtYWY2mQEkp0E6b9TLZ52XBWmgE82fpzNDKP54-ZhXNfe-Kfg5B_ZzoHQj5DkW9mc-MaILinx-_ALOpf8WGKxEQddp3tN36WdF9EJc56U8haakcLAYRt2wc-1PTj-wciy/s1600/tutorial-009-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGlgVR9mZgZKOtYWY2mQEkp0E6b9TLZ52XBWmgE82fpzNDKP54-ZhXNfe-Kfg5B_ZzoHQj5DkW9mc-MaILinx-_ALOpf8WGKxEQddp3tN36WdF9EJc56U8haakcLAYRt2wc-1PTj-wciy/s400/tutorial-009-300x225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jolieguillebeau.com/stories/2010/07/17/saturday-tutorial-composition-2/"> source </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">These two nesting dolls tell the story.  Do you want to move them apart? Another thing that happens when object touch or are too close together is the creation of boring negative space especially when the objects have the same form. You can see that the shape between the two dolls in almost symmetrical. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT8zy90b6EUGbUQutinL6o-v4RS8qZ8awBXv3PZS8h8HNbf7c_yAIWD3pC-swMDG_AYubTcsMb0bzW_cMRpRmCha2_Wv-h9mVuINVLXDQgxU9M6L0cFRCffXlYYgdIqtjfr9rKR5qHgHC/s1600/tutorial-016-300x225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrT8zy90b6EUGbUQutinL6o-v4RS8qZ8awBXv3PZS8h8HNbf7c_yAIWD3pC-swMDG_AYubTcsMb0bzW_cMRpRmCha2_Wv-h9mVuINVLXDQgxU9M6L0cFRCffXlYYgdIqtjfr9rKR5qHgHC/s400/tutorial-016-300x225.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">  When the objects are overlapped slightly you create more visual interest and depth.  If you can add a third object for variety, so much the better. Note the spacing in the middle. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwWkmUxwQueccOkKt2ClnjH7qglz0FZAojCKGgwDuzWCzLZYvBwXENJFnbMRPXqg9DFR2IPDYG0rpHNQLLem9qIxrMfauYOAI-hACvcPtTehyphenhyphen-TWc0WSbdEcvAtkZC5tF5kq9Nh-fcLlh/s1600/132363676518440139_PFkFNsOw_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwWkmUxwQueccOkKt2ClnjH7qglz0FZAojCKGgwDuzWCzLZYvBwXENJFnbMRPXqg9DFR2IPDYG0rpHNQLLem9qIxrMfauYOAI-hACvcPtTehyphenhyphen-TWc0WSbdEcvAtkZC5tF5kq9Nh-fcLlh/s1600/132363676518440139_PFkFNsOw_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwWkmUxwQueccOkKt2ClnjH7qglz0FZAojCKGgwDuzWCzLZYvBwXENJFnbMRPXqg9DFR2IPDYG0rpHNQLLem9qIxrMfauYOAI-hACvcPtTehyphenhyphen-TWc0WSbdEcvAtkZC5tF5kq9Nh-fcLlh/s640/132363676518440139_PFkFNsOw_c.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://houseandhome.com/design/photo-gallery-blogger-jen-selks-favourite-rooms?page=9"> House and Home</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I would be the first person to admit that there are beautiful objects in this collection, but I want to appreciate them individually. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> If you have a huge quantity of objects in a collection you might be better served by choosing a more thougtht out way of displaying them rather than massing them together randomly.  This collection reads as quantity and the beautiful forms are lost in the "gathering".  </div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH2aq5G69PYgrMS57kJKoswJHK8JdiGpBDUBX-NxCxJ7oNbq5aanPg0APcfP6qXfa6pb6GAT3XvRpJScQwhk0dZ18E7oLS8T6haL2bLAbcMI-DQNKop1LUKRWb8yneiZzI1LG5S4x_ycS/s1600/392939136207730753_hwHdAge4_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH2aq5G69PYgrMS57kJKoswJHK8JdiGpBDUBX-NxCxJ7oNbq5aanPg0APcfP6qXfa6pb6GAT3XvRpJScQwhk0dZ18E7oLS8T6haL2bLAbcMI-DQNKop1LUKRWb8yneiZzI1LG5S4x_ycS/s640/392939136207730753_hwHdAge4_c.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>  Exception to the rule Then there is the exception to the rule. I don't think having the two pots touching in this vignette is at all boring because of the variety in direction and shape created by the small trees.  The enclosed space between the pots is interesting because of the legs.  There is so much else going on that this just works well. <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsC8gojynOqhSgBJHyukCzRnDXtkMzrKwTc6PIuEwPA7vbEwDeJBw8o_IYL-DgW3CxaX2-QUVHqhyjPqowP71ziGYghkjrK5ANqYEgjV5CsrC-Rt8vDV_YBhK71CAbXc1K7EyUscc6x1y/s1600/Smg3c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsC8gojynOqhSgBJHyukCzRnDXtkMzrKwTc6PIuEwPA7vbEwDeJBw8o_IYL-DgW3CxaX2-QUVHqhyjPqowP71ziGYghkjrK5ANqYEgjV5CsrC-Rt8vDV_YBhK71CAbXc1K7EyUscc6x1y/s400/Smg3c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>  Furniture can kiss too!  When you have a curved/slanted arm on a sofa or chair move your end table out so it is not touching the sofa. It frees up space and creates visual ease. If the arm of sofa is curved you often have to move a table out even further.

Kissing objects and other design issues

This is the first post of a series I have planned to focus on arranging objects in a pleasing way in your home. The same principles of desi...

8:49 AM

Do-It-Herself Workshop (and giveaway!)

Hey all! I am so glad it’s Friday!! We had some ice accumulation here last night and I was hoping for a snow day for the kiddo, but we made due with a delay (and sleeping in). ;) I cannot wait for a weekend of relaxing and puttering around! Last night I was honored to co-lead the <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_DIHWorkshops&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053">Do-It-Herself workshop</a> at a local Home Depot and let me tell you, I was SO impressed with how they put it together! The set up was just adorable – since this month’s project was Pinterest-inspired, they pulled ideas from there to create some fun vignettes. This was a DIY workshop, and I will get to that more in a minute, but just loved how cute the set up was so I have to brag on them for that first. They pulled out their stock of outdoor furniture for the audience so it was comfy and colorful: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7jTvzqWAFaKJtSiczygN8j5wd_auzdy_9pJsXSNLpQznk3JbQFbyK4NG2efcca3KzinRKNfM8xcmdrJboco73GJamlqCGzZ6Z_gxcvsM1LSQGKEJyhZoPZDaFWLWy9nnqi3XupK-YB4/s1600-h/IMG_0085%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJcLNcewA2Ci86UVLzpQn2OGdiOsTZ2PkGuzzDBv-T3t4n0BWpo9fnh90qJNc7w0Q73BuUgQcx2lX7DzIrAjCA4dwbD-yMd2NA5s8rQCwV8VK9hDpYqzEYengCLzmY1dX3AwjJ0wObgY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> Brilliant idea! The sign-in booth was just so cute – everything was made from pallets and wood they had at the store (hellooo Pinterest!!): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPfNC3T7EPsU8yRwKNEGh_wGwmJ1LSZ7CacJVNtc4p9u5romDtrHDtizcSgZLF2Uw7EhsC3OhbtjhTSiFC0HxQX3QyNUhCJ2rei-9PU0Vco5aXSO98TPvN_SB1yv8ugrfAn7s75CGu4g/s1600-h/IMG_0096%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevMwTNLR2TEDeMg_lLm3EK5d8L8d8XCn7EMS-tVQ1TApZWuGHJJZGOfPi4ikjQmf5SsMSiUNLBPutBj868kalID9XeHWMJCcPI80LwSqysC81j3dnzMf684R1IqKfzkXvPjvFcr83Y6g/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> Don’t you love the pennants they made from scrapbook paper? They had super cute bags with goodies for each attendee too: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVprlY7GUxdIjxzgVavnaFfcfJYppcKKmP3bMlFYYS93MrNKoyC0gLgCKam90bV3ypdnRj8__FF1HSJD9vVvexMJd1riRUveAQLVltkW9G17GuJXNNdYweseQjyZ1qisL36k8Km6EtfPU/s1600-h/IMG_0099%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself worksho" border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdWg2SBYT_Vz2ZAZZG1Lx8TEEmMBVu5QmfY3FRdt2hwJbvkt5b4UtuWG0GQrhgTo-wMFQ2CbBeGmStd7GvqmeW_9N4riK1gfn9ufZMGDT7Oc47bLsjV8lHxaM7f75SiW_lxHLt9V5iVk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="home depot do it herself worksho" width="450" /></a> I don’t know if you can see my apron there, but one of the staff members painted mine just for me and it is SO CUTE. She used colors from my blog and it is precious – I love it. OK, I know I should be talking about the DIY, but the food table was amazing too: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEQdjcoINR80O30Wjc12FjQDn-DI9L-gGC4vGFnk5cmM0DazHwXCuJIx0xz6oy5YmOfY-YUO6TAu5gFkeyPCXLW1VRodJayXlgSPGBljT9RXVpeSMUJ369IQNO-6v-styM_vy7zjRQQ0/s1600-h/large_upload3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pallet table " border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTdhBwZXUWe6O144E7_BlfaWRyMS22bBg_GFBhvhwT061kREfjNOguXUlTuHqGWDr1e_QR_E7vcsmgY_uMKgSKEHgvsIb66Qa6WktuvfafUNN1_H2rBtf-j5hUcJ5sIUyhzpk5toBwog/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="pallet table " width="360" /></a> More pennants, more pallet tables, and I LOVED the idea of lining the barrels with lawn bags and using them for the beverages. Seriously? So fun! The workshop leader Janice did a great job of sharing the process of tiling a frame around a mirror. They had smaller ones there for people to try out, but this is a great idea for those basic builder mirrors so many of us have hanging in our bathrooms too. These were my favorites of the night: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes3WscwzCmIzH6Vlb9f1t5s2mvzsWBj4phOlu-RxyZpZTu_itcL0QAHLhLthXbgqBIr2uXC-3cX1BjDAZJHH3Jm3SjSZf8JSF0Ns-yvc16mSKVb2_qU2EkJlFYh-Rqh4JPkF8bKZsjn4/s1600-h/large_upload%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tiling around a mirror" border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUU7-342lVB0z7JslDF3AFl8Ricbg3GbMHPQwWqoc74nLcKdw3TtisVqEcKAkxLcTOofqkXe33Tgi_lgr-gy-2iibEnMLauabg4ktihGDuOurdCLbsfpPXeBqD23-8PjAnwNbUA6xKUtU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tiling around a mirror" width="360" /></a> I was obsessed with that smaller one with the small tiles – it had such a pretty beachy vibe. Janice shared a tip she uses for smaller projects like this that I would never have thought to do. She just puts on gloves and then smooshes the grout in between the tiles with her hands. Loved that – it’s messy no matter how you do it but that makes it even easier! I think my favorite “tool” of the whole project was the tile setting mat – it’s just sticky stuff you put down instead of mortar. Way less mess and so much easier! (I’m Vanna Whiting it here): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk52DvUw-HOnvz_uvfuGSP_PR6Ndxo7mt_cYjDgeKTXglbk3lA7Yx4ONJ2W52UWGqLIh-y4hYUlj0Be81LUPi86Y5bO4PWGpKBT-cJwyE0zKPIC-s7igJfQjxq2A7klu4uCxjqnPH1Puw/s1600-h/IMG_0105%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNkVgEpLqx_0DubniYRPASjBhu3m7NFDJ-hMcZJS2DMC-cFUrU98BCMu80iVS_apxt0oBiuwRtUvu29NNtAjEX1wbIYzDOq2Pyd4NyA6jTfZbPIAL58fvKhzXtac06bmansvjPW-sq2Q/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> I’m planning on using it in the laundry room so I’ll let you know how it works. The ladies (and some gentleman) got to shop for their own materials as well – they had some beautiful mosaic tiles to pick from: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLL1e6692eJH2Z_jEAUkTwJ_AzORgbIDzX8QXxEsxZWIYFN6V4YD5TIivmX7PI-xa45Od70EtJhN2RxBp0eJ3hePME6lnY6djxGKm2YZcoEWDef1IG53jUBSjlMlHg_x5obg-mt3OyFw/s1600-h/large_upload2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself workshop" border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Y58W8ytlgr3Hw-k1BkwFVxHQYUhuCwr5UOEuWNhNARnSu7cdZAkU9pZ3Cj5z4os3KBFCT0wpQMB1l7LlPIfx82udtF8eUqZlIbcFgmWGUS_cpNnpWXKSwAwhLm0_33JoMow7lJpZV8c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="home depot do it herself workshop" width="450" /></a> I found a perfect one for the basement bathroom, now I just need to decide where to put it. :) It was a fun night and we had a great turn out, especially with the weather we had coming in. Hope everyone got home safe and sound! Thanks to Janice for leading the workshop and Celeste for her help along the way and beautiful ideas for the set up: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBpEemRTTw7Xq2xW-dcd5z1HnoMXnPnR9Nl975d_CM24y__8agg1bh8WKnkuIJmQxtflaEq6xXNvpTx6xjBbIytLNxcj0Jf8veTXirrkNg74jldaYXWwkN5xwog-PGGtSBB3nCa4w4iw/s1600-h/IMG_0137%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="home depot do it herself worksho" border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcc3ZT9Il5XbTq6IGXx-bq0NROansuFwH9SluUEHfPjiS4rGVfxgQzfWwXusHHDzwdPPqiM46FXlLTuATqL_RPs9DhwZ7d3c7-XZOutQDqWxte5OqxbJ0Oayihrta0oXDkuFCEj09JLY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="home depot do it herself worksho" width="360" /></a> Don’t forget – the workshops are offered every month on the third Thursday and are free to attend. Next month is how to install dimmers – one of my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-install-dimmer-switch.html">very favorite</a> things to do in our house. It would be great to see how to do it first hand if you haven’t done one yourself. (Go <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=HT_WS_DIHWorkshops&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053">here</a> to find out more.) It was an honor to work with everyone from Home Depot this month! To celebrate, they are giving me a $100 HD gift card to give away to one of you! <img height="268" src="http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/home-depot-card.jpg" width="400" /> Here’s how to enter to win $100 to the Home Depot!: 1. Leave a comment here. That was easy. :) What home project would you tackle with the help of this gift card? I can think of a few. Or ten.  2. If you attended the workshop and tried out this project on your own, pin a picture of yours with the hash tag #DIHWorkshop and then comment here with a link to that. (This giveaway will be open till the 28th so you’ve got time!) * You can enter one or two times – it’s up to you! All options are not mandatory to win – they’re just extra chances. :) * Remember if you comment anonymously or you have a private blog, please include your email address in each entry, and spell it out with “at” and “dot” to avoid any spammy emails coming your way. This giveaway is open to the contiguous US only. It will be close Thursday, February 28, at 9 a.m. EST.

Do-It-Herself Workshop (and giveaway!)

Hey all! I am so glad it’s Friday!! We had some ice accumulation here last night and I was hoping for a snow day for the kiddo, but we made...

9:09 AM