Dining Table Progress and a Sneek Peek!

I have two trains of thought right now. First is, if they can do it so can I and if I can do it anybody can do it! Let's add one more thought, "they make it look so easy and it's not!" The last few days I have been paint one of the Craigslist chairs I purchased. This chair has gone through quite a few changes. I first decided to paint the chair white, distress it, and wax it with both clear  and dark waxes. I only got to the clear wax and I kept looking at the chair with the "not sure" look. I love the white chair look however I felt like it need something else. I went hunting for more "drop cloth inspirations" and happened upon the fabulous Miss Mustard Seed blog and this french chair and the paint technique she used to achieve the look. I also found Little Place Called Home Sweet Home who used this same technique on a chair she had. What I really appreciated about LPCHSH's chair is she used what she had. She mixed a little paint here and there and came up with colors to achieve this look. I also posted a question on her blog and she responded right way, which really impressed me. So on to my chair, I invested in 4 Annie Sloan Chalk paints and really could not see my self spending any more money on paint. So working with what I had, I painted over the white with the Duck Egg Blue, let it dry, dry brushed Paris Gray, distressed, wax with clear, waxed with dark wax, showed it off to my hubby, kissed hubby as he headed off to bed, sat down looking at my chair for a half hour, and yes I picked up the paint brush again. It wasn't perfect! The dark wax gave it a more aged yellow look then the lovely antique look and the distressing had a hard look to it. So,  I opened up more Old White and dry brushed it, and wiped it off, distressed in some areas just until the white underneath showed, then sat back and knew it was finished!!!

Yesterday I started to work on reupholstering the chair. I have read many times over that any staple gun other then a pneumatic stapler is a waste of time, however after looking at some pricing on the whole thing (air compressor + staple gun) it didn't seem like an option. Plus, not everyone who does a reupholster job has a pneumatic, right? I went out and purchased an electric staple gun and got to work. Well for every 5 staples I shot, 4 of them I took out. Not only that but I couldn't pull the the fabric taut enough and get enough strength to staple. Now figure in the fact that I have weak wrists, I have tendinitis pretty bad (at times) in my left wrist, mildly in my right. I have been dealing with this for a couple of years and there really isn't much that can be done. Not only that but when I have gone into the Dr's. since my tendons don't swell up like the typical swelling they look at me like I am crazy. Top that off with the fact that the last flare up (the time before yesterday) I had was so bad they gave me Vicodin (can't take it) for the pain, something with that flare up did something and since then I have a constant dull (very manageable) ache and noticeable weakness in my wrists, who knew being a DIY required first-aid...haha! Okay I digress, but needless to say last night I started my regiment of Motrin, ice, and brace. So frustrated! I just can't handle the upholstering with weak wrists and a staple gun that needs strength and might! I complained to hubby, God love him and all is support of my various projects! Well, I think we will be getting the pneumatic staple gun. Until then my chair/s are put on hold, but I did want to show off a sneak peek of my paint job. I am pretty happy with the results and hope I can get to upholstering them soon.

What's a girl to do when she has the DIY bug and her project is put on hold? She starts another. I bought a table off of Craigslist for $25 dollars and started sanding it down, but I ended up putting a Varnish Stripper on it since sanding the edges has proved more difficult. With the sanding I got most (if not all) of the varnish off but wanted to make sure. I sanded the table and leaf on Friday night, added the stripper to the table yesterday (leaf today) and will sand and apply stain at some point this week. My older daughter has been on a mission trip to Israel since June 22nd, and comes home on Wed. (so happy!) so DIY will be put on hold when she is back.  In my search of table "how to's" I have found First Come's love and her table. I posted a comment and she responded right way. I am using her tips with my table.. Here are some pictures of my progress thus far.

Table top!

Leaf with Stripping Gel

My supplies!

Until next time!

We got the house, oh wait no we didn't!

One of the reason's I started to search out decorating blogs was because we put an offer on a house 2 months ago. Over the course of my marriage we have owned one home, sold that home, rented our current home, and have looked at a gazillion other homes. Honestly, all the "For Sale" homes should be a blur in my head, we have looked at so many. But it isn't a blur, it is very clear. We have looked at beautiful brand new model homes that make your heart race because of how beautiful they are.  Of course these come with a large mortgage, and some annoying thing that raises your monthly cost some $700+/month called Mello Roos (it should be illegal). These house are amazing, they are big, beautiful and there is nothing small about those homes except of course the yard. We have looked at more budget friendly houses, some needing just paint, some needing big updates, and I think one the houses even had the Swamp thing living in it's pool (green, yucky, smelly!) In the mix of all this we went to go look at a house that was in an area that wasn't even in our radar. We had decided to look because it was a good price and we figured "why not?" I wish we would have just skipped it all together because we loved it, we made an offer, (it is a short sale house) and 2 month's later the bank just accepted it! At this point I should be so happy right? Well, for about 1 day I was and now I am disappointed. You see the house we sold was sold on a short sale, this was a good thing for us at the time however there is a law that doesn't allow you to get a new loan for 4 years. We were aware of the restrictions but at some point in the last 5 months we were given misinformation and we were told it changed to 2 years, so we started looking for a house. Well, yesterday we found out that there is a clause for the the 2 year limit and we  don't  qualification. So now this house can't be ours. I am sad, my heart really was set on this house. It was a house we could see being our forever house and out of all the houses we looked at, it was the only one. Not to mention I could be a DIY decorator again. 
I don't know how long we will be in this house that we are renting. The truth is, I have been very happy in this house. It has a beautiful back yard, it is in a wonderful neighborhood, and whenever there is  a link we don't have to pay for it. If I allow myself to remember how I felt when my husband said we were going to start looking for a house to buy, I was not happy. I don't like change and that would be a change, not to mention I was happy (am happy) in this house.   I have however decided that just because we are renting it doesn't mean I can't decorate. I am limited in one respect, paint, hanging curtains, couches but there is a lot more I can do and will do.

So with that, I am an official Craigslist addict! The great thing about that is, i have scored some great pieces of furniture for a great price. Two days ago I purchase a round solid oak table. I am so excited about this table because of the plans that I have for it, white pedestal base and dark walnut stained top. I have seen this look all over and just love it. My current dining table is also a round wood table that I purchased along with two chairs for $25 off of Craigslist 2 years ago. It isn't anything special and it has served it's purpose it isn't the prettiest thing to look at. When I take a look around my house I don't really see "me" style. In fact there really isn't much style at all. I have simply gotten into a renters funk. The house we bought when we first got married (6 years ago come August 14) I spent months, painting buying curtains and making it home. I enjoyed that so much and I miss it. My thoughts with renting has always been, why invest when it might not fit in our new home. I am changing that slightly because if I pay $25 dollars for a table and it doesn't fit later that is okay. Today, I purchased 4 cane back chairs for $55, that's $13.75/chair. These chairs have ugly corduroy fabric but the frames are solid, heavy, and in great shape. One of the chairs does have a section on the leg that is missing wood but I can work with that. That chair is also an arm chair, while the others are not but again they match. I will be painting these white to go with my table. I have found a few blogs that have given some great tutorials and once I come back with my progress updates I will share.
I have been diligently working on my two cane arm chairs that I bought earlier this week and I really didn't realize how difficult pulling off upholstery would be. The base of the chair was quite easy, 4 screws off the the base of the chair, lots of stables and I have a base board (with mildew, yucky!), a piece of foam that has a dent ( I will fill it with something), and fabric to make a pattern out of. The backing of the chair took a lot of sweat, and might to get off. You will notice in the picture below, the chair has a groove all around the backrest, well the not only was the piping stapled into the grooves, but the backing as well. This was very difficult to pull up, I did it though. There are staples still in that I could quite get to. I will say, there has not been any tears but I bought two of these chairs!
I cleaned the seat board today with tsp, and Clorox and spay painted them, not mildew yucky anymore. I have been paint the chairs with Annie Sloan's Old White Chalk paint. Now, I am not a painting expert but I feel like I had to put on many more coats then others seem to have needed. I have put on  3 coats and in some areas, all I see is white but in others the darkness of the wood is poking through. I suppose it is the nature of the paint (best when distressed) and my inexperience in painting furniture. I started to distress the chair today but I am flip-flopping as to the look I want for it. Many of the blogs I have happened upon have a very distinct French Antique, French Country, or Shabby Chic style. I absolutely adore that style and there are elements of that I want to use, like the table idea I have, the drop cloth decor, the french stencils and many other fabulous elements. My struggle is merging that with the style that I have been gravitating towards, which is a Beachy Chic (not cottage), East Hamptonesque look.

I love the clean, crisp, bright white, neutral background, with the pop of color, and the dark wood mixed with white wood, swoon! I have googled search French Beach, Beach French, Beachy French, Frenchy Beach, well you get the idea.
I would love input into the little decor conundrum.
Well, I will say I am leaning towards either putting Paris Grey or Duck Egg Blue over the Old White and then distress down to the old white in some areas and then to the wood in others. My struggle which color? I will leave you with a few pictures of my chair progress, along with one of my newly acquired cane chairs. I am happy to say, these will be so easy to reupholster and I will be able to pull out my sewing machine to do it.
Thanks for stopping by!

Painted, and some distressing

Cane chair love! Look at the leg detail..

Duck Egg Blue or Paris Gray (side by side)

Dry Brushed Duck Egg, not loving!

I appreciate the indecision a $15 chair can affored me!

Upcycle, Thrift Store, Chalk Paint Bug!

I can't remember what I was searching for but about two weeks ago I happened upon a really great and inspiring blog: http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
I spent 3 full days going over her blog, looking at all the projects she has completed and wishing I could do that. Then from her blog I was directed to other inspiring blogs and became determined that "I can do that!"  Now, the "I want to do that/I can do that" mentality is nothing new. I usually think that when I see something I like but at the same time I know there are certain resources needed. With these "projects" I need two things, an unwanted piece of furniture and then paint. I am happy to say I have just entered into the world of Annie Sloan Chalk Paints and upcycle furniture.
Now I tend to forget that several years ago when I moved into my first apartment I  purchased some black lacquer side tables and a coffee table. I also had cheap particle board hutch type book case/entertainment centers. I was thankful to have them but boy they were real eye sores. I ended up spending a few nights and a weekend painting and glazed them. This was 8 years ago and these pieces were very reminiscent of what I see on the blogs today. The great things is I turned those things into something pretty nice looking.

Well this past weekend I searched Craigslist and hit the swapmeet. I only found a side table at the swapmeet but currently in my den I have my said finished table ($10), $25 vintage desk and chair, $20 vintage secretary (I should have skipped this one on further inspection, the side I thought was a little crack is broke straight through), and a pair of $35 French like cane chairs, and 4 chalk paints. If you haven't guest it, when I decide to do something I jump in feet first! I am so so so excited about the chairs and as the picture will show I am in for a big project. I have never attempted to reupholster before so boy oh boy, google search commence!  Now I will need to work on my photo staging but  that will come with time. Well with out further ado, for the side table I used Duck Egg Blue, and Versailles chalk paint. I lightly distress, waxed, and lined the drawers with matching scrapbook paper..

Before:

and the finished table:

Lastly here is a picture of the chairs that are a work in progress. I have to say I really thought ripping off upholstery would be much simpler. The frame of the chair is in great shape but the guts are yucky! I took mesh fabric off from under the chair and found mildew on the wood seat base. I am figuring I will have to go to the hardware store and by another piece of wood to make a new base. Once I take the fabric off of the seat I will use the base as a pattern..easy right! haha..

I will be using the drop cloth that are so popular to reupholster the chair. Well, the chair is staring me in the face, so I am off to rip out more staples..

Rag Quilts for Two Little Loves!

 In the last week or so I have come across several blogs that have really inspired me. Most of the blogs are about decorating and furniture up-cycle projects. I was so inspired that I have purchased 3 pieces of furniture off of Craigslist and plan to try my hand at painting. That is not what this post is about but just wanted to say I am inspired, which will give me some meat for my blog in the future! 
Okay onto my quilt post!  My sister Tiffany had twin boys a few weeks back.Gavin and Landon are such a blessing and this Auntie wanted to put her crafting skills to good use.  I knew I didn't want to just go and buy a gift at the store but I had no idea what I could make. The thing with my crafting is I don't craft as much as I desire too. I sit and think about how much I would like to make a dress, make a blanket, play with my Cricut Expression but in the end I just don't do it. I think a lot of my problem when it comes to crafting is that I get intimidated by the whole process. I am self taught in most of what I do and well I am no very organized.. No matter I was determined to make something for my nephews and whatever I made I wanted it to be special and something that they could use long after their newborn days. I was searching blogs and came across this tutorial on a Minky Stripe Rag quilt. I looked at this quilt and just knew this was what I was going to make. I went to the fabric store and found a cute owl print fabric, came home and got to work. Not only that but I finally got my embroidery part of my machine working again (just needed a serial converter).  These are the first rag quilts I have ever made and I am so happy I went with the stripe quilt vs. the square. I ran into some challenges but mmainly getting all the fabric to be cut evenly. Overall I am so pleased with how they turned out. The blankets vary slight in size but you would only know this if you laid them on top of each other. I will definitely make one of these again! She sent me pictures of the boys (they live in VA) with there blankets, highlight of my day. Here are a few pictures of the finished blankets...

 Yellow Owl Print

 Blue Owl Print Both together

Both together



Lollipop & Feather Clips and More!

It is time for my once in a blue moon post! I have made several paper crafts over the last few months and just recently started to make these fun Lollipop flowers. I have wanted to make these for some time. I happened upon a fabric store that was selling satin fabric for $1.50/yard, and feathers for $1.95 plus 30% off, you can't beat that! I purchased about 6 colors and love making these. All the ones I have made so far have been for gifts but I plan to buy a cheap t-shirt and use these flowers to embellish it.  I haven't yet motivated myself to start the actual sewing process however I just cut out a pattern and have gotten out the fabric to make something for Abigail. It won't be long before I actually sit down and sew. Sewing is usually like that for me, a process of preparations. Well here are a few of the things I have made, and I am seriously liking the lollipop flowers.

Lollipop Flower Headband made for Noelle's teacher

The flower detatches and can be worn alone.

Made for M & A's teachers

Close up

V-Day Cards!

Birthday Banner for my two nieces' birthday (used my Cricut)

Pixar Car decor for M's 3rd birthday, used the Car's Cricut Cartridge!

Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes!

When I decide to get creative with my cooking, I enjoy it! When I bake and try out new recipes, I enjoy it. I love the various food blogs that I run across and I always think I could blog about that. Of course as my little posse of followers have figured out I get an F in the blog world, none the less I do think about my blog and decided I should do my annual update..haha!


I have yet to start crafting again even though I hear my sewing machine and serger whispering to me through out the day. I do wish I had an amazing project to share but I don't. I do however have a delicious pancake recipe. I had the idea to share this recipe the first time I made them and figured I should take some pictures. Yes, these pictures have been sitting in my camera forever but it is never too late to share pancakes! Now, I also have pictures of Butternut Squash soup, Banana Bread, and Pumpkin Bread.. those may have to wait until the Fall.


So last year John and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. We went and stayed the night at a hotel and ate breakfast there in the morning. I ordered these divine Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes and could not stop thinking about them well after our celebration.  I knew at some point I was going to want these again and went to search out a recipe. There were actually quite a few recipes but I chose the recipe that I found on the Martha Stewart website. I modified the recipe slightly because I wanted  more of a lemon flavor, so before I folded in the egg whites I squeezed half of a lemon (maybe more) into the batter. The second time I made the pancakes I omitted the poppyseeds and decided I could go either way, with or without poppyseeds. If you are looking to make something quick these are not what I would recommend but if you want a special breakfast and can devote a little extra time, you must try these. The batter is quite different the normal pancake batter and the consistency of the pancake is also differnt so just keep that in mind.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I and now my family do!

Lemon-Ricotta Poppyseed Pancakes

Makes 16 pancakesIngredients

6 large eggs, separated

1 1/2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Zest of 2 large lemons (and additional lemon juice)

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Vegetable oil, for griddle

Maple syrup, warmed

Berries, for garnish

Directions

1.Place egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat until they form firm, glossy peaks.


2.In a large bowl, beat together ricotta, butter, egg yolks, and vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, lemon zest, and poppy seeds. Using a rubber spatula, stir flour mixture into ricotta mixture.


3.Fold a large spoonful of whipped egg whites into ricotta mixture. Continue folding in remaining egg whites.


4.Coat a griddle or large skillet with oil and heat over high heat until very hot, then reduce heat to medium. Working in batches, place 1/4 cup batter for each pancake on griddle, leaving space, as they will spread. Cook until golden and top begins to bubble, about 2 minutes. Gently turn and continue cooking until bottoms are light brown. Transfer to a serving plate and keep warm until all the pancakes have cooked. Serve with maple syrup and berries.

Recipe by: Martha Stewart

Too Long Away..

I don't actually have anything to post at the moment but I have been working on two tote bags and will be leading a craft day with my MOPS group. I have a very busy weekend planned and hope to come back and post some of my up and coming creations. Fall and Winter are usually my crafting months so I am gearing up to sort and organize my craft area, so stayed tuned...