Chandelier DIY

Yes, of course I'm loving this budget friendly chandelier DIY! I certainly hope you will too!

I just checked one more thing off the living room list. Pillows! The sofa is now filled with fluffy goodness perfect for sitting back and reading a great book.

I made all the pillows out of remants from the window treatments and other projects. The pink pink and ivory pillow was picked up at Homegoods. I initially liked it, but I'm not 100% certain that it works with the orange chair (notice the blue tag on it still). What are your thoughts?

Cheap & Chic - Ikea meets Serena & Lily

Remember yesterday's post about the Serena & Lily Cabinet? If you loved it, but couldn't stomach spending $835 on a shelf, then read on! I have found a way to rework an Ikea shelving unit that is inspired by the Hayworth Shelf for about half the price. (Okay, I think I may have been inspired by Janell and her son's cool IKEA bedroom)

Consider sprucing up the Ikea Hemnes Storage Unit pictured below with a few cans of spray paint. I chose Maine Cottage's spray paint in Zinnia because I love the bright pop of color! Spruce up the glass with your favorite geometric pattern and a can of glass frost. Replace the hardware, and voila! You've just made yourself a storage unit inspired by Serena & Lily's Hayworth shelf. Click on the link to enlarge.



The Details:

The price was estimated using the following math:
Ikea Cabinet: $350
Spray Paint (4 cans)*: $72
Stencil*: $25
Hardware (6 ring pulls): $5.70
Frosted Glass Spray: approx $5
_________________________
Total: $457.70

* To further reduce the cost involved in this cabinet, use less expensive spray paint (try color matching at your hardware store) and create your own stencil!


Please note: The Hemnes Glass Door Cabinet with 4 Drawers is not currently available at my IKEA. Therefore, I have not had a chance to try this project. I've typed up these directions for reference. Let me know your thoughts and any experience you've had with these products!

Laaaaaa Laaaaa Laaaaa Love! Quatrefoil Shelving Unit

If the following statements are true...

1. You are looking for a new storage unit for books, accessories, etc
2. You consider yourself to embrace the old Hollywood Glam look, and would like to find a way to incorporate it into your home.
3. Your budget currently includes $835.50 for a bookcase.
4. Pink is your favorite color, or a color you'd be willing to live with.

... I highly recommend you take a look at the Hayworth Shelf in Melon from Serena & Lily.



Quite the little beauty, I'd say! I love the geometric design along the sides of the shelf and the two small storage drawers. I envision coasters, candle snuffers, and the like being stored in the drawers.

If thats not in your budget, come back tomorrow for a tutorial to make a shelving unit inspired by the Hayworth Shelf. It will be chock full of Hollywood Glam and quatrefoil!

Stencils

I had forgotten about Sunny's Goodtime stencils until today when I was looking for a potential stenciling project! Wow do I love this elephant stencil! It reminds me of Rickshaw Design's newest bedding collection! What a cute accent to a little girl's room. Possibly pink or lavender painted walls with gold elephants stenciled. Too cute!

Small project, cute results!

Another day ... another cute tutorial. This time found on Leslie's blog - A Room Somewhere.

I could see this method being used on a vintage mirror with cute feminine details. Or on this Ikea frame (replace the glass with a mirror).

image and tutorial found here

More ruffles

More ruffles ... this time for little girls! Too cute!

found here

There is also a tutorial for the flowers. I think that these flowers would be perfect along the neckline and button closure of a woman's cardigan.

Oh, and wait... there are more cute dresses here.

Inspired yet??? I am!

Making a list

I have a long list of things I want to sew and create in the near future.

This style bag was just added to the list...

I love the burlap handles and the shape. Super cute for the Spring! I'm thinking this fabric... an old favorite of mine. The tote will need to be able to hold magazines, a design binder, fabric samples and blueprints.

originally found here

Purchase from DrikaB's Etsy shop if you need instant gratification!


Love it!

Made By Moi

A new little something to add to the wardrobe made by moi:



I can't take all the credit for this shirt... I was inspired by J.Crew, and needed something to compliment my favorite Stella and Dot necklace. The plain slubby knit v-neck tee is from Old Navy. I added the pleated ruffle neckline. Lots and lots of folding, but it was a fun activity and a great use for the sewing machine.

Sunday Sewing Project

Because its so cold outside (and due to all these repeat snowstorms), I have had more time to sew on the weekends. I love how relaxing it is to sit down with a project and think it through. Two weekends ago I made a slipcover. This past weekend I took it easy on the sewing and made two zebra pillows. Before packing the sewing machine up for the weekend though, I threw together some ruffles for a tank I bought at Target.

The results were not exactly what I expected...



I love the front, but the ruffles are very thick and scoop too low on the back so I can't wear it with any cardigans. Unless ofcourse, I choose to look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I think I"ll pass though.

This will have to wait until its truely spring and I can wear it without cardigans. In the meantime, I'm searching for tanks with higher backs so I can do the ruffle look right now!

Zippy Zebra Pillows

I made a pair of zippy zebra pillows over the weekend. I love the colors! So fresh and fun. Now I need to throw together a whole set of spring inspired pillows for the sofa!

Before and After - the Green Chair

Remember this?

+ one snowy weekend

+ inspiration photos:

Found here

Found here

Found here

= slipcover pattern

A good use of a snow day, I'd say!

Slipcovering Chairs

These chairs need some serious help:



They were destined for the dumpster, but I saved them from their fate and gave them a second home in my little apartment. I was never in love with the green striped fabric, but figured it was in good enough condition for them to be sitting in our living room until they could be reupholstered.

Halloween passed... chairs still green.
Thanksgiving passed ... still that ugly green stripe!
Christmas... do I even need to say it...
The clock struck 12 and 2010 rolled in - but the chairs were still green!
Now its February and I need to do something with them.

The longer the chairs sit here in my living room, the more that green just annoys me! And the truth about what has been holding me back from making a quick decision? Well a few things...

1. I don't know any good upholsterers around here.
2. I'm not sure that reupholstering is the best idea. These aren't "forever" chairs. They're just here for now. They solve a problem (we need additional seating) and they were free. Basically, I don't want to invest a ton of money in them.
3. I can't decide on a fabric! This should be an easy decision for an interior designer, but I blame it on seeing too many fabric options over the course of one day. Keep in mind my small budget, and that I don't want something that is too trendy. No Chiang Mai Dragon or Imperial Trellis. Love them, but they're so overdone! And no more white upholstery. Our sofa is white and most of the walls are white (renters... so we can't paint).

Those three big reasons make me think that I need to stick to slipcovering the chairs. No frumpy country granny slipcovers though. Definitely fitted, fresh, and maybe even a little sassy? They can be girly, because they won't always be in the living room. Though, Michael did suggest that we put them at the heads of our future farmhouse dining table (Yeah, we still need to find one of those... one day). I'm loving that idea though.

So, dear readers, I want to hear your ideas. Do you have any favorite fabrics? How do you see these recovered? Do you see long skirts on these, or something short and sassy? Maybe with a box pleat? And what about details? Contrast cording? Buttons? Since I'm snowed in, this is the perfect weekend for me to start thinking about these chairs. You send me your ideas and I'll start working on the slipcover design. Can't wait to hear your ideas!



UPDATE: Just searched slipcovers in my google reader and found a link to this homemade slipcover created by this amazing seamstress/blogger:

Found here

I hope mine comes out looking something like this! And I'm rethinking white. Its so lovely, and as I was saying before, the chairs won't always be right next to the sofa.

Valentines Day

If you're like me, you start planning holiday gift and decor ideas months in advance. Please keep in mind that this does not necessarily mean that I act upon the planning and start "doing" months in advance. But the ideas are definitely up there in my brain... just waiting for a spare minute to start a project.

For each holiday, it seems as though I plan out ideas like I'm crafting for Martha Stewart or arranging a party for the White House, even if I'm only handing out a small card and a homemade cookie or two. Details details details... I love them!!!

Valentines Day is coming up and I think its the perfect opportunity to show you some of my favorite projects and gift ideas. So stop by L.Alden in the next few days and let the creativity begin!

65,205,843 Spots and Counting...

I made some sweet little dalmatian cookies for my Grandfather's 80th birthday this month. He has always been a fan of dalmatians, so when the idea of party favors came up during the planning session, dalmatians were at the top of the list. I made over 100, but only 97 were iced and given as favors. I keep thinking to myself, why didn't I ice 101? Anyways, the guests loved the cookies and they were a great little "take-away" to remind everyone of a fun Saturday lunch celebrating my Grandfather's Big Day.

Happy 2010!

I hope you thoroughly enjoyed the holiday season. I spent time with family and friends and did plenty of traveling. I also had the opportunity to work on some exciting new projects. I'll be back with more blogging this week. In the meantime, please take a look at the new items I've posted in the shop. They're sure to brighten up your home in 2010!

Etsy Shop Updated

I have updated the shop! Look to your right and you'll see a link. Actually, I basically just set it up tonight. For now, there's only one pillow listed, so you all will have to fight over it. Don't worry, I have more here in my "inventory," I just haven't had a chance to upload the photos. In the meantime, if you have any Etsy selling advice, I'd love to hear it. I'm new to Etsy and will take all the advice I can get. Thanks!