Summer Projects

Being a teacher, I value my summers off!  I cringe when I have to make doctor appointments or do a workshop for school - I mean, that is taking up precious summer time!  Between catching up on all my shows that were sitting on the DVR from the school year, visiting family, welcoming visitors, shopping, etc - I managed to squeeze in a few projects this summer.  I really thought I would get more done with my time, but I just couldn't drag myself off the couch some days! And I did NOT feel guilty once.
I added a few new pretties to the collection.

I had been eyeing this pouf at Target for months - finally on clearance so I snagged it!

Added some beauties to my M wall. If you are ever in the Austin area check this store out.

Kitchen rug (I painted the kitchen cabinets and my old one just didn't go - you understand right?).  I swear Murphy can find his way into a picture no matter what - he loves the attention.

Goodwill frames spray painted and hung to fill up a large blank wall and old plastic mirror framed with some old fence wood.  This is in my guest room that is a revolving door - one guest in one guest out.

My big project this summer was painting the kitchen cabinets.  I will post about those soon, I need to take some new pictures of  my fresh paint job!  I love how they turned out - but now I need a new back splash...subway tile here we come...

New pillows, New paint!

We have got some new little friends in the house.  And by friends, I mean, new accessories. I have been working on some small projects around the house, while we are saving money for some larger ones.

Recently, my grandfather gifted me with my grandmother's 1960's Singer sewing machine.  She looks like new and works like it too.  After a few evenings of reading over the manual (almost throwing in the towel) and lessons from my mother in law - I have some new throw pillows for the couch!

I must tell you that the new elephant pillow - I picked her up at Pier 1 on clearance.

I am addicted, people! I picked a simple first project, so that I could have instant gratification.  It worked.  One couch is full of new pillows, while the other one looks "blah" now.  I must push on and sew some new pillows for it - darn...not!

I used 18x18 inch pillow inserts and created a simple envelope closure for the back of the pillow.  I like to be able to take the pillow covers off and throw them in the wash when needed.

Guests are in and out constantly at our new house (welcomed of course)! We are trying to fix up the guest room so our friends and family feel comfortable.  We received an old piano bench that was going to serve as a luggage bench at the foot of the bed in our guest room.  It was definitely in need of some TLC and it came to the right place!

I sanded her down to begin with, then spray painted the whole thing white.  After several light coats and some dry time, I taped off the bottom of each leg.  I used metallic gold spray paint on each leg to add a little pop.  A little more dry time...then some polyurethane spray to top it off.  Our "new" piano bench got two thumbs up from Hubby's parents on their last visit. Hubby and I love tackling big projects - but I also love these little projects that I can do on my own while he is at work.  Sewing machine here I come.

Craft Room Progress

The craft room is under way!  In the back of our house (leading out to the backyard) we have another add on room that we really consider a mud room.  It has 3 great doors that have windows top to bottom.  They let in great light.  The room also came with a built in cabinet and counter top.  Since we moved in, the counter top has really only housed Hubby's tools and projects (pretty much an eye sore).  Let's be real.

One day, while standing in the room with my thinking cap on - I decided this was to be my craft room.  I consider myself a crafty person and figured Hubby would like all my crafty things in one spot.  Brilliant.  With built in cabinets already in place - this would be the perfect spot to get messy.

I like to be inspired when working on a project or writing a post.  Nice, pretty, creative things around me usually help!  YES, this room is still in progress, but so far - we have painted of course (this room was an interesting shade of green), we added a solid cedar shelf above the cabinets, I painted the cork board, and we cut out some chicken wire. Still left to do - more storage, shelves for printer and  printer accessories,  I have my eye on some Nate Berkus accessories for the desk.  Also, in time I would like to have this counter top magically turn into a butcher block (maybe when we redo the kitchen).

Painting this floor dramatically changed the look of the room.  Before - the floor was a brown vinyl that looked like tile. HIDEOUS.  It was faded to green from the doors never having window treatments on them.  Hubby and I considered many options before painting.  All those options totally busted the budget we had set for this room.  While browsing Pinterest, I came across several pins about painting the floor.  Showed it to Hubby - we were painting the next night.  I plan to post a tutorial about painting the floor, so if you are interested in that - come back to me soon!

The turquoise stools were originally brown and in my parents' kitchen until they built their second home and finally upgraded.  They sat in the attic for several years until Hubby and I moved into our second apartment and had a bar that needed some bar stools.  Mom and Dad - your stools made another move and live on (with a little face lift)! 

Tripp is making his debut and loving every minute of it.  He is very photogenic, don't ya think?