New Projects

I have a dream… that one day this will be glam not ham.

Now that the chair is finished, my plan is to start work on some new projects for the next couple of weeks.

Project #1:
I bought four IKEA Lack tables to do this project from SpaceSays. Basically, you use the tops from two tables to make a cube and then decorate the edges with office tacks. I’m thinking of upholstering them as well. A little batting, a little fabric. Maybe an animal print or an ikat?

Project #2:

Someone really did a number on this IKEA Klubbo table… I’m going to do another number on it. But better.

Another IKEA table, this time the Klubbo coffee table. I found this with the veneer almost completely peeling off the edges for $20. It is going to replace my mom’s Lack coffee table (the larger sized one with a shelf below) in the living room. I’ll be removing the peeled veneer, priming and painting it in Krylon’s high gloss Cherry Red and painting the legs gold. Cool, eh?

Project #3:

Lamps should not be this color. Ever.

I bought these two lamps from a big box clearance section. The medium brown tone of the wood is a no go. Instead I’ll be spraying on high gloss black paint and putting on new shades. I’m leaning toward a black shade with a gold lining… really going Glam with it.

Project #4:

The dresser… holding my lovely A Giannelli horse head bookends and Design*Sponge @ Home.

The Simmons dresser. I’ve had this for a while. I’ve vacillated wildly on what to do with it. At first I thought I’d just strip it and clear coat it. Then, I decided maybe a two tone finish similar to the original finish would be good. Finally, I thought a high gloss bright would be the best option. Actually, I wont be doing any of those but I think the idea I did come up with will be pretty and unique!

Project #5:

The armoire with the doors off…

This tall Asian style armoire was a ReStore find. Originally, it was meant to house a TV and related components. I disassembled the turntable and removed the upper door with a view to converting it into office armoire. Now I’m thinking it will work out better as a bar. I’m still not sure what direction to take as far as color goes… any suggestions would be much appreciated!

So, that’s what I’ve got on my plate in the coming weeks. Now that my arsenal of tools and helpful friends and family are coming to my aid when I need them, you should be seeing a lot more DIY around these here parts!

I hope you’re having an awesome Wednesday! See you tomorrow!

Autumn Lights

The inspiration piece: a print from Volume 25.

I apologize for the late post everyone but I worked today and, honestly, I had not prepared a post beforehand! So here is something that I’m quite proud of, that I’d like to share with you (in case you haven’t seen it): my second Etsy Treasury!

Photograph of Versailles by Amanda Kay Photography.

OK, OK. Maybe I shouldn’t be so excited… but I just discovered the amazing amount of fun that can be had putting a Treasury together. And this one is getting such an awesome response…

Gorgeous macro of (one of my favorites) a hydrangea by Chez Jolly.

Check out An Autumn Full of Light for yourself and let me know what you think!

Two more days til the weekend and some quality chair makeover time!

I’ve Got Sunshine On A Cloudy Day…

The office chair project elements are coming together! Yesterday I scored this sunny egg yolk yellow chevron patterned upholstery fabric for $8.99/yd. I know, right!? I also picked up the floral that is hanging above it because, what chair doesn’t need a happy little pillow on it? I’m going to paint the frame Benjamin Moore’s Portland Gray.

So hats the quick update for the day! I hope you all are making it over the hump… I’m trying. Hard. LOL! Happy Wednesday, everyone. I’ll catch you tomorrow. 🙂

New book(s).

In a two weeks I’m going down to Portland to pick up a used sewing machine from my aunt. I’m really excited! It’s been a while since I sewed anything,  however, so I bought myself a book so that I can re-teach myself the basics. It’s called S.E.W – Sew Everything Workshop: The Complete Step-By-Step Beginner’s Guide by Diana Rupp.

I’ve read the first few chapters, which cover things like assembling a sewing kit, choosing a machine, setting up a sewing area and other helpful tips. The book is written in a very down to earth style and the author’s passion for sewing definitely shines through. Included in the front of the book are 10 patterns for you to sew, with instructions for them in the body of the book. I haven’t got that far yet but I’m going to guess that the patterns cover a lot of common sewing techniques so that you can get the hang of doing things like sewing hems, putting in buttonholes, sewing curves, adding lining or interfacing and that kind of thing.

The whole book is colorful, easy to read and full of lots of color pictures and easy to understand diagrams that fill out the text in a way that a lot of books on crafts that I’ve come across recently does not. It really is a step-by-step guide! I’m so looking forward to following along.

Even more I’m looking forward to honing my sewing skills so that I can enhance my crochet projects. In the meantime, while I wait to go pick up my new sewing machine (squeeeeeeeeee!), I’m going to keep reading and working on that sweater for my Mom… she’s showing up to see my new nephew. I’m making her the Big Bow Cardigan for her in Lion Brand’s Fisherman’s Wool. It’s going well. Much better in fact than when I attempted it before. I highly recommend Julia Vaconsin’s sweater as a beginner sweater project. It’s so simple, it’s all single crochet and it’s fast to make up. I adore her designs. She makes both crochet and knit designs, so she’s a good choice for knitter’s too! Anyway, when I finish it, I’m going take the whole sweater to JoAnn’s with me so I can pick out some cool wood buttons. I saw some there that are two toned wood that has a swirling inlay design that I think my Mom will like.

In other news, I found this very cool blog by a Finnish fashionista whose main interest is recycled clothing. Her focus is high fashion and she shares some really amazing design and cool tutorials, designs/designers, and inspirations. I added her blog to the news feed on homepage and I read every single new post. Check her out! Since I stumbled on this I’m really interested in recycled fashion and have spent a good amount of time looking for books and tutorials to use once I’ve mastered my sewing basics. Some of the more interesting looking books I found include:

 Junky Styling

Annika Sanders & Kerry Seager

I came across this one on OutsaPop. They take old clothes and turn them into some of the coolest retreads I’ve ever seen. Check out this Trouser Shirt tutorial. Unfortunately, in the US it’s import only.

 

 

Sewing Green

Betz White

I still have yet to lay hands on this book… but I’ve seen some photos from inside it online and the projects look really fun and inspirational. The design style is definitely less edgy than Junky Styling’s but they seem fun and on trend. I can’t wait to see it!

 

 

Born Again Vintage

Bridgett Artisse &  Jen Karetnick

There are some really yummy reconstructions in this book from what I can see. I’m waiting for a copy that I have on hold to come to me from the library. But the pics I’ve seen online are really getting the the creative juices flowing. So I can’t wait to see all of the projects from this.

Ultimately, I’d like to be able to combine crochet and sewing together to create some unique items… take my crochet up a notch. I’m really looking forward to ramping up to sewing, finishing up the cardi for my mom, and (bonus!) taking that little weekend trip to Portland. Hopefully, I get to go to Powell’s… again!

WIP, Part Three

This is a late night post… So, I’m not going to wax poetic. I just wanted to share my first progress picture. I will admit that it looks a right mess but I reserve the right to claim that WIPs are exempt from looking perfect.

This is what happens when you crochet in a dark hole...

My pitiful camera phone does the pretty teal color of the yarn no justice… Still you get an idea of what the rows look like, if nothing else. At this point I’m about 10 rows from working on the right front panel. A last minute decision: no bow. My mom wants me to make one of these for her so I’ll tackle the bow when I work on hers this Spring.

See you next week, YarnThings!

WIP, Part Two (and future projects too…)

In the days leading up to Seattle YarnThings first meeting, I’m working steadily on my cardi and hoping that it comes out resembling something close to designer Julia Vaconsin’s original idea. So far, so good. And the amount of yarn I have is looking pretty fabulous… I don’t think I’m going to run out before I’m finished like I thought I was.

So, now that Big Bow Cardigan is going so well, I’m looking toward my next project already. I’m still enamored of making clothing, which means I’ll probably make another sweater but I also looking at possibly doing a skirt or coat next.

Some possibilities:

Icelandic Turtleneck from Crochet Me edited by Kim Werker

Or:

herringbone-skirt by Elissa Sugashita/Knitscene Fall 2007

It’s kind of a hard decision but those are my top two picks for my next project. In the meantime, I’m continuing on my Big Bow Cardigan and it’s going really well. It’s amazing how calm and peaceful I feel after even a few minutes working on it. It’s nice to have a creative outlet back in my life again.

Digressions.

The good thing about taking a break from something is usually that you gain some much needed perspective.

I took my break with New Moon, the sequel to Twilight… Edward, Bella, and Jacob kept me up so far past my bedtime that there was no point in sleeping at all.

On an non-craft side note: I saw Twilight yesterday with my friend Jen. Ultimately, I was disappointed in the quality of the film (I think they traded characterization for schlocky sensationalism, some of the casting was questionable, the make up was horrible, etc.) but I’m glad I saw it. It makes me appreciate how well Stephanie Meyer created her characters. I think I’ll just stick with the books and be content with her writing and not getting caught up in all the hype surrounding the movies. Though, (and this is my last comment about Twilight this post…) I’m a little more confident in Chris Weitz’s ability to pull off something approaching quality than  Catherine Hardwicke did.

But enough about that!

The good news is that all that escapism had the effect of totally calming me down about Big Bow, and now I can continue without tearing out my hair out. I got my gauge under control and I’m continuing on with a little more patience than I did when I began. I forget to cut myself some slack sometimes… I mean, I haven’t crocheted for a while and it’s going to take a bit before I can actually really get back into the swing of it!

In the meantime, there is no better way to fill the hours than with a good craft project or a good book. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity, and frequently, to do both.

WIP, Part One

Oy. Do you ever get that feeling you’ve gotten in way over your head but you’ve committed yourself to a course of action and to pull out now would be worse than starting all over?

Oh, I am so there!

I started working on the Big Bow Cardigan… which only days ago I was so excited about. Now, not so much. It’s a simple, easy pattern… so why do I want to tear my hair out six rows in? Why does the prospect of following through on an apparel sized project make me want go find the razorblades that I know must be lurking somewhere in the medicine cabinet?

As a wise young actor once said, “I can’t know.”

Is it that, as a returning crafter, I’m insecure about my ability to achieve gauge? Is it that I don’t want to show up to YarnThings with a hot mess on my hands? Or maybe, just maybe, my eyes were bigger than my crochet hook?

I’m freakin’ and Beacon doesn’t handle this… so, I’m going to give the Big Bow a break, read about Edward Cullen and Bella Swan for a couple of hours, have a little mini prayerfest, and get some sleep.