Sock Dolly

I have really been getting into embroidery lately. My latest creation is this little cutie-pie.

I embroidered this one with lazy daisys and "Sophia" for my friends little girl on her 3rd b-day.

I love how this turned out. I am thinking of selling these in mass quantities on Etsy.

What do you think? Would you buy one?....

Shifting

You tell yourself that you agreed to this-
what has been done with your life,
willingly.

Still, there is a constant tug-
a stretching,
and what is left of you is pulling loose.

Suddenly, you find you are shifting
into what you hate most.

The warped closet door that no longer opens,
the paint-worn wall in the hallway,
the water stained floor in your children's room,
the weed-torn garden that you never set foot in.

And he is too tired,
his tools left collecting dust
in some far corner
of the darkened shed, too long,
to fix you.

So again you fold the sheets across their creases,
arrange the chairs at the dining table,
allign the spoons and forks,
and wipe handprints off the windows-

all while staring out at that faded shed
as it casts its crooked shadow across the yard-
as though it holds something that can save you.

Yarn Letters

CRAFT DAY: Yarn Letters

Supplies you will need for this project:

Large letter of your choice, tacky craft glue, and yarn in the color of your choice. For Medium letters, you will need almost the entire roll of yarn. Scissors.

Time it took to finish this project:

About 3 hours.

Cost of this project:

15 dollars. Letter A (2 of them): 7 dollars, Tacky glue: 2 dollars, Yarn: 4 dollars, plus some tax.

STEPS:

1. Gather all supplies

2. Start wrappin'. I found it was easiest to start at the joints of the letters and work out from there.

3. Use the tacky glue to glue the yarn into place when gravity will not naturally hold it on for you. (the upper sides of the letter A were a pain in the butt. So I glued the yarn where I wanted it.

4. Make sure as you are wrapping, that you are starting all of your yarn ends at the back of your letter- my letter A looked pretty scary in the back after I was finished- but if you take more time than I did- you may be able to avoid that problem.

(beginning of wrap process)



(Finished Shot)

(finished shot)

*Note: When I started this project it looked so easy. All of the blogs that I had seen it published on said that it was easy. IT IS NOT! It required way more time than I thought that it would, and looked alot crappier in the back than I thought it would. I think that this is one of those projects that you have to practice at to make it look great in the end. But, at 15 dollars total for this project- I am broke and will have to try again in a few months.
All in all, I would say this guy turned out pretty cute- not perfect, but cute.

New Job

This week was the very first week of a new job for me. I am officially the Managing Editor of Weber -- The Contemporary West. Today, I completed my first ever layout for the journal, and I had a blast. I was even home in time to pick up my 5 year old from pre-school. That said, I plan to spend a lot more time sharing on this blog. Now, instead of spending all my time talking about my house reno (which is currently at a stand still) I will include little bits of craft projects that I now have the time to do.
Craft to do list: Yarn wrapped letters, ruffle duvet cover and shams, ruffles added to living room drapes, and the never-ending search for the perfect and CHEAP antique chandelier for my bedroom. With a little furniture refinishing added in. Furniture to refinish: Buffet in living room, painted a distressed. Drake's bedroom set refinished (if I ever find a set).

We will see how this all goes.

It's Official

Well, it's official.
The couch and chair set have been sent off to the upholstery shop. Both the upholsterer and my husband screamed in horror when I suggested cutting off the legs, and changing them out for more modern, sleek ones. SO, I was overridden, and I am keeping the frame the way that it is. Cost of refinishing the wood framing on both pieces- 500 dollars. Cost of re-upholstering each pieces 950 dollars....I think I am going to throw up.
But, in the end, I have been saving to have these re-finished for a while, I am ready to take the plunge, and have them re-stored to their once beautiful selves.
Plus, the upholstery guy said that once they are refinished, an antique appraisal will like come in at over 5,000 dollars for them... that is pretty cool.

So, it's official. I am committing to paying the excruciating amount of money it will cost to have my antique couch and chair set re-done. I have grown just a little tired of having 4 couches in my living room. So Rocky Mountain Upholstery picks up the antique set on Friday, and I am posting the other set on KSL this weekend for 600 bucks. I will used the 600 to find my dear husband a nice, neutral, traditional, Pottery Barn-esque sectional.



I heart this french chair (above) from Miss Mustard Seed Creations http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2010/12/french-chair-makeover.html
It was my main inspiration for how using drop cloths to re-upholster something, can make a piece turn out looking awesome, without spending alot.

I heart Cotton Love Home. Find it here http://shop.cottonlove.com.au/onlinestore.php. The chair above is SEXY-if a chair can be such a thing. I told the upholsterer that I wanted him to saw off the legs of my antique couch and chair, and reattach ones that look exactly like these. He thinks I am crazy.




This couch is a finished product from Rocky Mountain Upholstery in Utah. I think it's turned out awesome- I hope mine does too when they are finished with it. It better seeing as it is costing more than my first born to have re-done!

Couches, Couches, and More Couches

The problem with couches, is that they cost an un-holy amount more to refurbish than you would ever guess. When I bought these antique beasts (beasts, because they weigh more than I did at nine months pregnant) I thought that the 80 dollar price tag was a steal of a deal....

....Little did I know, the seller knew something that I didn't. This set would end up costing over 1200 dollars (not even including fabric) to re-upholster! Even if I stretch my budget and recover them in drop-cloth, I am appalled at the idea of spending that much on something that in the end will still only be masquerading as my true love couches from Restoration Hardware. So, here they sit. 4 couches in one tiny living room. And I am starting to think crazy. I am considering selling them all- and starting over. Buying a 400 dollar NEW set from Ikea and a more expensive slipcovered set from Evans Gatehouse. I could have 2 new sets for the price of this one- maybe. At least in my head it works out that way.

The Issue with Couches

My entire computer crashed this last weekend- We lost everything from the last three years. Baby pictures, family pictures, poems, essays, everything. SO there shall be no pictures for this posting. I bought an antique furniture set a month or so ago. I have visions of them one day looking just like the 4000 dollar restoration hardware couches that I can't afford. For now, they are green velvet, with peeling wood and a hole in one cushion.
A measly 850 dollars- and they could be the couches of my dreams- any one up for some charity work?