tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10066487016413713682024-03-27T23:34:48.827-07:00 Morning by Morning ProductionsA blog about sewing, DIY, and life. Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.comBlogger290125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-30147838191057654932013-08-25T18:00:00.002-07:002013-08-25T18:00:55.147-07:00Hello! It's Me Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Guess what?! I'm back to blogging again! I guess once it gets in your blood, it's impossible to be free from the itch. Come check out my new blog, <a href="http://blog.chapterthirtyseven.com/">chapter37</a>. I'd love for all my old friends to come join in the fun. I have an all new store site as well!Check out the chapter37 shop <a href="http://shop.chapterthirtyseven.com/">HERE</a>. Can't wait to see you there!<br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com78tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-71253886578962128082013-04-14T14:07:00.000-07:002013-04-14T14:09:07.281-07:00 I never thought when I started writing this blog for fun, that anyone would ever read it...and here you are...all 449 of you...with all your amazingly kind comments and opinions. Thank you for making this more fun than I ever thought it could be! After much thought, I've decided to lay down my "blogging pen." As a wise man once said, "<span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">To every </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">thing there is</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">season</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" </i>(</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace;">Ecclesiastes 3:1) </span><br />
This will be the last post here on Morning by Morning Productions, although I'll still leave the blog up for anyone who wants access to any tutorials. Thank you for taking a small chunk of your time to visit with me in my little corner!<br />
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P.S. My shop is still open!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Ecclesiastes 3:17</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> ... for </span><span style="background-color: white;">there is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> a time there for every </span><span style="background-color: white;">purpose</span><span style="background-color: white;"> and for every work. </span></i><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-38642425659139286482013-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:002013-04-08T13:02:59.866-07:00Anthro Inspired Maxi Skirt Tutorial <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vA28Xye0oAE/UWK35NdXYMI/AAAAAAAAElQ/kvJXvNh1O1E/s1600/DSCF4860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vA28Xye0oAE/UWK35NdXYMI/AAAAAAAAElQ/kvJXvNh1O1E/s400/DSCF4860.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Back in the day, before we bought this old ramshackled house of our's, that's taken over every spare minute of my time, I used to spend every extra second I could find sewing something. All this painting and whatnot has caused my wardrobe to suffer severely! (Ok, actually not really. I have way more clothes than I need.) Anyway, I did a bit of online shopping looking for some things I might like to freshen up my clothing selection for spring. My idea of "shopping" is to find something I like, and then figure out how to make it myself for a fraction of the cost. I came across this skirt, and I quite liked its casual scrappy look.<br />
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<img alt="Niguel Maxi Skirt" height="640" src="http://images.anthropologie.com/is/image/Anthropologie/26748780_031_b?$$RD2012_category_item$$" width="427" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/clothes-skirts/26748780.jsp">Anthropologie</a> $118</div>
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I used it as my inspiration to make this version. I used a denim-like jersey knit, and made a <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2012/10/simple-sewing-knit-maxi-skirt-tutorial.html"> basic maxi skirt (tutorial here)</a> with some scrappy goodness added to it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxoVMaoY-Yg/UWMfg0ppalI/AAAAAAAAEm0/YmsOaN8cZIs/s1600/DSCF5016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxoVMaoY-Yg/UWMfg0ppalI/AAAAAAAAEm0/YmsOaN8cZIs/s640/DSCF5016.JPG" width="464" /></a></div>
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If you'd like to give it a try, see <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2012/10/simple-sewing-knit-maxi-skirt-tutorial.html">my maxi skirt tutorial</a> for what you should cut out. In addition to the waist band and the actual skirt, you'll need to cut out several long strips about a half inch wide. </div>
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Spread the skirt open and start laying out the strips in the design you like pinning as you go. I flipped my strips wrong side out so that the fabric would contrast, but you don't have to do that.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TtFh91clzno/UWK-dF_0pPI/AAAAAAAAEl4/Jw-gArenLeE/s1600/DSCF4850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TtFh91clzno/UWK-dF_0pPI/AAAAAAAAEl4/Jw-gArenLeE/s640/DSCF4850.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I pinned the strips all in place, and did not trim the ends just in-case I wanted to rearrange while sewing.<br />
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I sewed them on, starting front and center, and sewing down the center of the strips. I used a long, narrow zigzag stitch so that the skirt would retain all of it's original stretchyness.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZYZB1uSHhY/UWK_K9sB-HI/AAAAAAAAEmI/VUN_xOit9W0/s1600/DSCF4853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZYZB1uSHhY/UWK_K9sB-HI/AAAAAAAAEmI/VUN_xOit9W0/s640/DSCF4853.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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If you aren't using a walking foot on your machine, you might find that the fabric wants to bubble and bunch a bit as you sew the strips down. You can fix that by putting your needle down, and lifting your foot to ease out the fabric.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLx-NzD3yaE/UWK_i_MQoLI/AAAAAAAAEmQ/fpnnsMNacVw/s1600/DSCF4854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLx-NzD3yaE/UWK_i_MQoLI/AAAAAAAAEmQ/fpnnsMNacVw/s640/DSCF4854.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Once your strips are all sewn on, sew up the back seam. I matched my strips at the seam, but I don't think the Anthro version does, so anyway you like works.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qD5N3Nv7rik/UWK_2o171QI/AAAAAAAAEmY/W-K38NG3f1w/s1600/DSCF4856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qD5N3Nv7rik/UWK_2o171QI/AAAAAAAAEmY/W-K38NG3f1w/s640/DSCF4856.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Finish up with the waist, hem, and press.<br />
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Mine cost me around $10 and it couldn't have been more simple to do.<br />
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Among other things, I am bound and determined to make a decent button down shirt for myself that actually is long enough in the arms and torso! Except, I've never done one before...so we'll see how that goes. Have you done any spring shopping lately? What will you be adding to your wardrobe?<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">1 Peter 1:24,25</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> For all flesh </span><span style="background-color: white;">is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: </span><span style="background-color: white;">But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.</span></i><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com123tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-80888026917210027532013-04-01T08:09:00.000-07:002013-04-05T05:30:51.112-07:00Sewing desk #2 - Ladder style <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVOs9JTND3Qw4_knFCtDeAPG60OvNlG2wvpswYdrV9VJ9GK0TKmOnqyzbrGhddW0Y6WaJ9YqZRxau25u9jshSKClr7o90L-fjleDwq8VqX4D7RcjvX1hH64KmKmIxT7qsl6BmJRgqYu8w/s1600/DSCF4726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVOs9JTND3Qw4_knFCtDeAPG60OvNlG2wvpswYdrV9VJ9GK0TKmOnqyzbrGhddW0Y6WaJ9YqZRxau25u9jshSKClr7o90L-fjleDwq8VqX4D7RcjvX1hH64KmKmIxT7qsl6BmJRgqYu8w/s640/DSCF4726.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, are you tired of seeing desk/shelving projects around here yet? My work shop room is just about situated the way I want it, so this should be the last one for a little bit.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WudtcvXdebk/UVmVwzM-vuI/AAAAAAAAEjY/lGvdVFuebHM/s1600/DSCF4481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WudtcvXdebk/UVmVwzM-vuI/AAAAAAAAEjY/lGvdVFuebHM/s640/DSCF4481.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I decided to move my little <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/03/industrial-style-desk-makeover.html">industrial style desk</a> to a different spot in the room and put my serger on it instead of the sewing machine. Therefore, a new solution was needed for the sewing machine. Enter two old wooden ladders. One I found in a closet in this house when we moved in, the other I found at a junk store a while back. Happily, they were the same height and perfect for this project.<br />
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I laid a board across the top and screwed it on from the bottom side.<br />
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I dry brushed it with white, mint green, a bit of orange, and brown.<br />
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I painted a few scrap boards to add some more storage options.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d29kEFwUu-o/UVmXw01SuHI/AAAAAAAAEj4/YbVE7GFGgSU/s1600/DSCF4470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d29kEFwUu-o/UVmXw01SuHI/AAAAAAAAEj4/YbVE7GFGgSU/s640/DSCF4470.JPG" width="510" /></a></div>
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I already had the chair on hand, which was the perfect height as well.<br />
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Oh, and check it out! I finally got around to painting that cinder block wall <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-great-wall-of-indecision.html">to match the other one!</a> While this desk may not be everyone's style, it fits the ticket perfectly for me... sturdy, simple, non-generic, and quite functional. I adore it. (Plus it was free to make, so that's always a major plus!)<br />
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Of course, the reason I <i>needed</i> to do this project, was that I had two little Easter dresses that needed sewing...which <i>may</i> have not been finished until five minutes before walking out the door Easter morning...<br />
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...and my little girl's were just as pretty at two little robin's eggs...but, <i>maybe</i> I should consider not procrastinating next year...but, that's a different tale for a different time.<br />
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<i> <tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 37:39</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> But the salvation of the righteous </span><span style="background-color: white;">is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> of the LORD: </span><span style="background-color: white;">he is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> their strength in the time of </span><span style="background-color: white;">trouble</span><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/04/trash-2-treasures-tuesday-link-party.html">Kammy's Korner</a><br />
<a href="http://stardust-decorstyle.blogspot.com/2013/04/time-to-partyyyyyyyy.html">Stardust - Decor and Style</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/04/your-whims-wednesday-105-and-features.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20mygirlishwhims/eGPR%20(My%20Girlish%20Whims)">My Girlish Whims</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/04/whatever-goes-wednesday-164.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2013/04/8926/">Miss Mustard Seed</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-36501159410209674512013-03-28T18:59:00.000-07:002013-03-28T18:59:07.439-07:00Happy Easter!<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="He IS Risen free Easter Printable. aka design. #printable #Easter #chalkboard" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/550x/7d/7c/fb/7d7cfb775fd2d10cedd39ecd1ba3805f.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="http://akadesign.ca/he-is-risen-easter-printable/">aka design</a></div>
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Spring, Easter, life...all things that shout to us just how much we are loved by God in Heaven. I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on just how much God loved and sacrificed for us this special weekend...as fun as pretty eggs and chocolate are, they don't much compare to the special gift God himself gave us. I wish you and your family a very happy Easter weekend!<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><tt style="background-color: white;">1 Peter 3:18</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the </span><span style="background-color: white;">just for the unjust</span><span style="background-color: white;">, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: </span></i><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-16379479616876429902013-03-26T06:42:00.000-07:002013-04-03T06:03:20.270-07:00Your order has been shipped...my "mail cart"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NPuOvTl9P4/UVGd6cl8upI/AAAAAAAAEiA/OjFB-1GdiYY/s1600/DSCF4042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_NPuOvTl9P4/UVGd6cl8upI/AAAAAAAAEiA/OjFB-1GdiYY/s640/DSCF4042.JPG" width="504" /></a></div>
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I have a short attention span when it comes to projects. Like, reeeeaally short. Which is why I must have thought it would be a good idea to get a <i>whole entire</i> house that needed redoing....because I can get that done in a day of course. As you know <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/03/diy-kitchen-countertops.html">from my last post</a>, we're making pretty good headway in the kitchen. Although, every other day or so, I've got to come up for air and do something different, or I'll go batty. To keep from getting bogged down, I've been bouncing back and forth between my work shop and the kitchen.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O5Y1N4YBnFs/UVGfvwt-fuI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/HBSI_2Tm83U/s1600/DSCF4084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O5Y1N4YBnFs/UVGfvwt-fuI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/HBSI_2Tm83U/s640/DSCF4084.JPG" width="458" /></a></div>
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So, let me introduce you to the "mail cart". I love my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Abbtique?ref=si_shop">Etsy shop</a>. I'd spend all day doing nothing but sewing up things for it if I thought I could get away with it. One of the funnest parts of selling online, is getting to send my stuff all over the world. I love packaging up orders and daydreaming about where they are going.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBte5s3e2cSS8CBHFJG77oqMPksKWgpgzNt6hX7Bj-NFpLSyK0WS61dL-3zdgkkjV9WtMsQzJlSZL1ygr7UmMh3kPOMktcEJwuWPE9oqKpuBaCG_fP34crSv42J8Fa7pk8V2_4kH3VoBn6/s1600/DSCF4078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBte5s3e2cSS8CBHFJG77oqMPksKWgpgzNt6hX7Bj-NFpLSyK0WS61dL-3zdgkkjV9WtMsQzJlSZL1ygr7UmMh3kPOMktcEJwuWPE9oqKpuBaCG_fP34crSv42J8Fa7pk8V2_4kH3VoBn6/s640/DSCF4078.JPG" width="596" /></a></div>
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Here on this little cart/shelf, is everything I need to print out shipping labels, wrap orders, tag them with a business card and a thank you card, and get them out the door.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVt1p4CYBYI/UVGhn6tcx_I/AAAAAAAAEio/YTcnISKDHc0/s1600/DSCF4047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVt1p4CYBYI/UVGhn6tcx_I/AAAAAAAAEio/YTcnISKDHc0/s640/DSCF4047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Castors on the base make it easy to push around if I get a hankering to rearrange. (Which most certainly will happen, given enough time.)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcl44VZweq0/UVGiCVlyEqI/AAAAAAAAEiw/0hese3Ftgdw/s1600/DSCF4084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Mcl44VZweq0/UVGiCVlyEqI/AAAAAAAAEiw/0hese3Ftgdw/s640/DSCF4084.JPG" width="458" /></a></div>
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Random baskets, jars, crate, and an old chicken feeder help organize envelopes, labels, printer paper, pens, scissors, twine, and every other such thing I need to ship an order...and keeps me enormously happy, because it doesn't feel too stiff and office-y. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qoMUFjuhp2w/UVGjNAjzwzI/AAAAAAAAEjA/7PJV_FWItaA/s1600/DSCF4074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qoMUFjuhp2w/UVGjNAjzwzI/AAAAAAAAEjA/7PJV_FWItaA/s640/DSCF4074.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A painted thrift store frame and a bit of twine make a handy pin board to top it all off.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPUCXDeVBcE/UVGjgnMT1iI/AAAAAAAAEjI/ujK3aYe0yto/s1600/DSCF4070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPUCXDeVBcE/UVGjgnMT1iI/AAAAAAAAEjI/ujK3aYe0yto/s640/DSCF4070.JPG" width="470" /></a></div>
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Nobody said work had to be boring after all!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 91:4</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth </span><span style="background-color: white;">shall be thy</span><span style="background-color: white;"> shield and buckler.</span></i><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/03/whatever-goes-wednesday-163.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-103.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thestoriesofa2z%2FVisw+%28Home+Stories+A+to+Z%29">Home stories A to Z</a><br />
<a href="http://www.chef-in-training.com/2013/04/tuesday-talent-show-78/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20ChefInTraining%20(Chef%20in%20Training)">Chef in Training</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/04/take-look-tuesday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SugarBee-CraftEdition%20(Sugar%20Bee%20-%20Craft%20Edition)">Sugar Bee Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/04/show-me-what-ya-got-113.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/lUkHL%20(Not%20JUST%20A%20Housewife)">Not Just a Housewife</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/04/trash-2-treasures-tuesday-link-party.html">Kammy's Korner</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/04/whatever-goes-wednesday-164.html">Someday Crafts</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-42315048740259037382013-03-21T11:16:00.000-07:002013-04-02T18:18:09.263-07:00DIY Kitchen Countertops <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0ydBkOfuIkDOyKd0XW0vEw789yhSqMFF38dBn3RZN2gKinCAbZX2lLADHEQtuVIfwe1kvhz6XTA7unr8GlGqz8iEy3e3ZFaZsLpXcBptvZovwyIMmvN2VW5CrNpH2VSqe3uOxgs6xK5f/s1600/DSCF4358-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0ydBkOfuIkDOyKd0XW0vEw789yhSqMFF38dBn3RZN2gKinCAbZX2lLADHEQtuVIfwe1kvhz6XTA7unr8GlGqz8iEy3e3ZFaZsLpXcBptvZovwyIMmvN2VW5CrNpH2VSqe3uOxgs6xK5f/s640/DSCF4358-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every now and then, you come across things (or <i>whole rooms</i>) in your house that just need a little sprucing up...you know, they just are lacking <i>something.</i> Sometimes you can't just put your finger on <i>what </i>that might be...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bo2oaMEiyrc/UUs164pEQFI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/o9dt6krAmKg/s1600/DSCF2765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bo2oaMEiyrc/UUs164pEQFI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/o9dt6krAmKg/s640/DSCF2765.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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...and sometimes...you can figure it out pretty easily.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCOpXhACPabvgk3mgCzSukCb_N0CHFKAsYqfXAhCmsf_BkAL67a73X4E8BhjDpxMULp9sQFIIOED0PFz9n5gcsGQvIfURr_VsT0bs0PhJiu8Yex-AmpSfF9l0PNo4O_EudP4LVKJmGhkK/s1600/DSCF4331-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCOpXhACPabvgk3mgCzSukCb_N0CHFKAsYqfXAhCmsf_BkAL67a73X4E8BhjDpxMULp9sQFIIOED0PFz9n5gcsGQvIfURr_VsT0bs0PhJiu8Yex-AmpSfF9l0PNo4O_EudP4LVKJmGhkK/s640/DSCF4331-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you read <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-kitchen-good-bad-and-ugly-mostly.html">this post</a> about my unfortunate pink kitchen, you know I had big plans for this unsightly room of mine. "Big plans" equals "big work", and in most cases, "big spending" as well. Work, I can handle, the money part on the other hand...well, we might just have to consider that one a bit. I decided to shop our options for counter tops. We needed something cost efficient and durable. </div>
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One thing we knew for sure, labor is the major cost of any home improvement, so we wanted to the work ourselves...even though we did not have a clue what we were doing!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2RejxFpziT0/UUs4uczsM1I/AAAAAAAAEgY/VExsh74CQpg/s1600/DSCF2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2RejxFpziT0/UUs4uczsM1I/AAAAAAAAEgY/VExsh74CQpg/s640/DSCF2764.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Obviously, the first thing we had to do, what get rid of few things.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFol8BKlvw-obtxBBTH61PCCNSJpZ_ZJFRrvPuqbkTDOhGUW46GJyimRynJdtwDFGcI10WP3rX7pcy-KAcOWHIL8zlxMHQ7-5FNhTHhFYQj7NGCnI3CYzkU3nJLHb35C1HvcocA4zY5Ph/s1600/DSCF3416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFol8BKlvw-obtxBBTH61PCCNSJpZ_ZJFRrvPuqbkTDOhGUW46GJyimRynJdtwDFGcI10WP3rX7pcy-KAcOWHIL8zlxMHQ7-5FNhTHhFYQj7NGCnI3CYzkU3nJLHb35C1HvcocA4zY5Ph/s640/DSCF3416.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then, using liquid nail and screws, we attached a new counter top using pine panels found in the lumber section at <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_155333-99899-L5PAN173424S3_4294815780__?productId=3603262&Ns=p_product_avg_rating|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_avg_rating%7C1&facetInfo=">Lowes</a>. You can buy these in different lengths and widths. We used 24 inch wide and 1 inch thick pieces.<br />
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<img alt=" 1-in x 24-in x 36-in Stain Kiln-Dried Kiln-Dried Elliotis Pine Panel" height="400" src="http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/716781/716781134260lg.jpg" width="400" /></div>
My mister cut them to fit together around the corners and used a jig saw to cut out a spot for the sink. He screwed them on from underneath. I very dumbly deleted all of the pictures I took of this entire process, but it's pretty self explanatory. Glue, set the boards in place, and then screw. I pretty much think he did an amazing job getting everything to fit just right.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rBk78RFkjY8/UUs7i485mlI/AAAAAAAAEgo/7eXmnKLqh4E/s1600/DSCF3774-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rBk78RFkjY8/UUs7i485mlI/AAAAAAAAEgo/7eXmnKLqh4E/s640/DSCF3774-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At that point, I took over, and used an electric sander to even out all the cracks and make it baby smooth. The sink really should have been put in last, but we didn't figure that out until right about this point. Oh well. After sanding it down, I stained it with black stain.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6x8wW8yGeI/UUs92iTDo_I/AAAAAAAAEgw/n6Kcx-D6-tE/s1600/DSCF3827-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h6x8wW8yGeI/UUs92iTDo_I/AAAAAAAAEgw/n6Kcx-D6-tE/s640/DSCF3827-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this point, I was starting to wonder if this had been such a good idea after all. We were too far in to quit now, so next up was the varnish. I used a heavy duty Polyurethane and a sponge brush to apply it.<br />
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I gave it six coats, lightly sanding between each coat. It looked immensely better with some shine!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEr6P__ZLOEaN8lYyCEf9U2BAdiH3bpNDun46EMJb_UScAVLNHFYbwAqvSqhxdqlLvjURJ2BK2sMpbq-oXjtm0SzqeRW8bz4SG85DciTdOY9DPRgtLFG-vGi-qCPQZ-e2jPjISj47jsKN/s1600/DSCF3865-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEr6P__ZLOEaN8lYyCEf9U2BAdiH3bpNDun46EMJb_UScAVLNHFYbwAqvSqhxdqlLvjURJ2BK2sMpbq-oXjtm0SzqeRW8bz4SG85DciTdOY9DPRgtLFG-vGi-qCPQZ-e2jPjISj47jsKN/s640/DSCF3865-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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To be honest though, I still wasn't 100% sure I was on board with it though. It was all just so dark looking still, that I couldn't really tell if they were good or not. A little white paint to let the sunshine pour into that dingy old dark kitchen did the trick. They get my vote now, for sure and for certain!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2Pgt8jBtpLkTWvxQXUudptFgpxFqCJzov4dH1D4cfX4bs_3jOUzSUOfCxiLUGM-uKOzt4jwI1TkmdfXU3daXykaqgC-mskcAeGsZOe3PIgfOK2Ot_MojawjwWp87uMRduPdx3XgQ_zgP/s1600/DSCF4368-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2Pgt8jBtpLkTWvxQXUudptFgpxFqCJzov4dH1D4cfX4bs_3jOUzSUOfCxiLUGM-uKOzt4jwI1TkmdfXU3daXykaqgC-mskcAeGsZOe3PIgfOK2Ot_MojawjwWp87uMRduPdx3XgQ_zgP/s640/DSCF4368-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sometimes, looking at what things cost can be quite disheartening ..but maybe, you're just looking in the wrong department? There's no law that says kitchen counters <i>have</i> to be ordered from the kitchen department. They actually might be hiding out in the lumber isle...or the roofing section, or on the cement shelf, or you name it!<br />
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You can make just about anything work, if you are willing to give it a try...<i>even if you've never done it before!</i> What can it hurt? Most likely, even an imperfect job will be worlds better than what you started with!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7sf9Ft1jM0/UUtLmIWcf6I/AAAAAAAAEho/LkfjpNZCgaw/s1600/DSCF4375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7sf9Ft1jM0/UUtLmIWcf6I/AAAAAAAAEho/LkfjpNZCgaw/s640/DSCF4375.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Things don't happen over night, but as with anything, persistence will pay off! And now that I've delivered this inspiring pep talk, I'm off to paint cabinet doors...which anyone within a 50 mile radius has probably heard me griping about in the last week! I don't see why we need cabinet doors anyway...<br />
Have a great weekend!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;"><b>Hebrews 11:1</b></tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.</span></i><br />
<div>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2013/03/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-party-6/">Miss Mustard Seed</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/03/creative-bloggers-party-hop-104.html">Homemaker on a Dime</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/03/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-145.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20UnderTheTableAndDreaming%20(Under%20The%20Table%20and%20Dreaming)">Under the Table and Dreaming</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-102.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thestoriesofa2z%2FVisw+%28Home+Stories+A+to+Z%29">Home Stories A to Z</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/03/take-look-tuesday_25.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SugarBee-CraftEdition%20(Sugar%20Bee%20-%20Craft%20Edition)">Suger Bee Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/03/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-link-party_25.html">Kammy's Korner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/03/show-me-what-ya-got-112.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/lUkHL%20(Not%20JUST%20A%20Housewife)">Not Just a Housewife</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/03/whatever-goes-wednesday-163.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://lollyjane.com/the-scoop-link-party-6/">Lolly Jane</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/04/your-whims-wednesday-105-and-features.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20mygirlishwhims/eGPR%20(My%20Girlish%20Whims)">My Girlish Whims</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pincushioncreations.com/2013/04/homemade-by-you-45-brand-new-site.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:">Made to be a Momma</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com194tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-9087615630271746622013-03-14T05:17:00.000-07:002013-04-02T05:37:23.705-07:00Industrial Style Desk Makeover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sBqDqYH49oI/UUEtkYlGNkI/AAAAAAAAEd4/hCG1HVQlTrU/s1600/DSCF4237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sBqDqYH49oI/UUEtkYlGNkI/AAAAAAAAEd4/hCG1HVQlTrU/s640/DSCF4237.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We've been having some really lovely sunny days lately. Definitely not the sort of days I want to spend holed up inside slaving over some boring wall that needs painting. On a nice warm sunny day, the thing to do is dress your kids in grungy clothes and let them go stomp in the mud puddles to their little heart's content, while you pull out some random piece of junky furniture to fix up.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xu7ZGIp9SX4/UUG4N1HdyrI/AAAAAAAAEeI/zSr-DdlU2hA/s1600/DSCF3960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="580" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xu7ZGIp9SX4/UUG4N1HdyrI/AAAAAAAAEeI/zSr-DdlU2hA/s640/DSCF3960.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I found this beauty at a thrift store and immediately liked the sort of old school industrial vibe it had. The top was particle board and the seat was some ratty vinyl stuff, so that all needed to come off. I freshened up all the metal with some spray paint.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovooK_yEn-8/UUG5HCJEWwI/AAAAAAAAEeQ/8lAysKJep90/s1600/DSCF3961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ovooK_yEn-8/UUG5HCJEWwI/AAAAAAAAEeQ/8lAysKJep90/s640/DSCF3961.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I needed a new seat for the chair, and decided to make my own with some scrap wood.<br />
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Only one problem, I had no foam for the seat. Well, good thing I'm not picky about these sorts of things! An unused throw pillow did the trick for me just nicely.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhz5_2sGFwM/UUG5xoD-jDI/AAAAAAAAEeg/dGR57QtnPR4/s1600/DSCF3965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhz5_2sGFwM/UUG5xoD-jDI/AAAAAAAAEeg/dGR57QtnPR4/s640/DSCF3965.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using some fabric I found in my stash, I stapled it all directly to the back of the wood.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KL4Z_lbMCp8/UUG6CdsbqdI/AAAAAAAAEeo/F-luv6jb1GA/s1600/DSCF3966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KL4Z_lbMCp8/UUG6CdsbqdI/AAAAAAAAEeo/F-luv6jb1GA/s640/DSCF3966.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It made just the nicest little seat you ever saw!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jac3XV9PDi8/UUG6QNjVTTI/AAAAAAAAEew/sPdWkytuY1s/s1600/DSCF4242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jac3XV9PDi8/UUG6QNjVTTI/AAAAAAAAEew/sPdWkytuY1s/s640/DSCF4242.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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There was one other problem with this little arrangement that I needed to do something about. The desk was just a smidgen too short for my rather tall self. I scrounged around amongst my treasures and found some wheels I had saved off of some discarded piece of something who knows how long ago. It really does pay off to save things you might be able to reuse! The wheels added just the needed amount of height. Wheels make anything niftier anyway.<br />
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Luckily, I had some wood left over from making our counter tops (Which I am dying to show you, because I looooooooove them!) that was just the perfect size for the desk top.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfoO2KkofKQ/UUG6r65hBrI/AAAAAAAAEe4/me0V3dE9LnY/s1600/DSCF3969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfoO2KkofKQ/UUG6r65hBrI/AAAAAAAAEe4/me0V3dE9LnY/s640/DSCF3969.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A coat of stain and two of poly later...one super cute desk!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppmHQQwqcyk/UUG8vRZshOI/AAAAAAAAEfM/e5Ymaw-_lYM/s1600/DSCF4225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppmHQQwqcyk/UUG8vRZshOI/AAAAAAAAEfM/e5Ymaw-_lYM/s640/DSCF4225.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Totally more fun than painting walls, wouldn't you agree?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjhpoZIBlsc/UUG8_8MF9_I/AAAAAAAAEfU/WFbIjgaBUWI/s1600/DSCF4232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QjhpoZIBlsc/UUG8_8MF9_I/AAAAAAAAEfU/WFbIjgaBUWI/s640/DSCF4232.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This little desk is currently operating as my sewing table, and is pushed up against my horrifically ugly unpainted cinder block wall. Which pretty much is a daily reminder that I need to paint the thing, and fix the floor, and....ok, anyway, back to my cute desk...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qW0fm1Tqe88/UUG9ketyTsI/AAAAAAAAEfc/LWxvJfZdzlA/s1600/DSCF4247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qW0fm1Tqe88/UUG9ketyTsI/AAAAAAAAEfc/LWxvJfZdzlA/s640/DSCF4247.JPG" width="516" /></a></div>
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In other news, I'm in the midst of painting my kitchen...and if the tedious time consuming-ness of it doesn't kill me first, I'll be giving you the grand tour soon! I love what paint can do for a room! It sorta shocks my eyeballs when I walk in there, and I'm still at the priming stage! Love it!<br />
P.S. I'm having a Spring sale in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Abbtique?ref=si_shop">my shop</a>, all bags 50% off!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Luke 6:35</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the un</span><span style="background-color: white;">thankful</span><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white;">to</span><span style="background-color: white;"> the evil.</span></i><br />
<div>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/03/weekend-wrap-up-party-moo-and-puppy-printable-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/OivM%20(Tatertots%20and%20Jello)">Tatertots and Jello</a><br />
<a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2013/03/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-party-6/">Miss Mustard Seed</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-102.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thestoriesofa2z%2FVisw+%28Home+Stories+A+to+Z%29">Home Stories A to Z</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/03/take-look-tuesday_25.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SugarBee-CraftEdition%20(Sugar%20Bee%20-%20Craft%20Edition)">Suger Bee Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/03/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-link-party_25.html">Kammy's Korner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/03/show-me-what-ya-got-112.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/lUkHL%20(Not%20JUST%20A%20Housewife)">Not Just a Housewife</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-77217589364678943462013-03-12T07:40:00.000-07:002013-04-01T16:29:25.287-07:00A scrappy wall storage unit - My first building project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vslgfrEzHc/UT8tU_Mzy4I/AAAAAAAAEbI/djtcTUqybkg/s1600/DSCF4111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vslgfrEzHc/UT8tU_Mzy4I/AAAAAAAAEbI/djtcTUqybkg/s640/DSCF4111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Power tools and I have never been friends. Not too long ago, I instructed my mister to pick up a pack of screw drivers at the hardware store...and he came home with a new drill instead. I was not happy. I don't like drills. I wanted a screwdriver.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jWwYXKXt5Hk/UT8tMROdn7I/AAAAAAAAEbE/WrArZ1hUxug/s1600/DSCF4124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jWwYXKXt5Hk/UT8tMROdn7I/AAAAAAAAEbE/WrArZ1hUxug/s640/DSCF4124.JPG" width="490" /></a></div>
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Very reluctantly, my drill and I became friends. I have my inpatients to thank for becoming friends with power saws. I have way too many projects I want to get done to sit around waiting for my mister to have time to cut wood for me. What's a girl to do, but suck it up and learn how to cut wood?<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKrq3uQYpW4/UT8wK2AAHPI/AAAAAAAAEbY/BsSwgWBfazk/s1600/DSCF4118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XKrq3uQYpW4/UT8wK2AAHPI/AAAAAAAAEbY/BsSwgWBfazk/s640/DSCF4118.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Originally, I planned to make wall storage along these lines for this wall. (You can read more about my cinder block wall <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-great-wall-of-indecision.html">here.)</a><br />
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<img alt="#DIY Industrial Rustic Shelf Tutorial." src="http://media-cache-ec7.pinterest.com/550x/bf/f2/fe/bff2feae53a9a88aeed2de10afc0af39.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="http://sylvieliv.blogspot.com/2012/05/industrial-rustic-shelf-tutorial.html?showComment=1336952720655">Sylvie Liv</a></div>
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Turns out, shelves like that, the size I wanted, was not exactly cheap. Have you looked at the price of pipe lately? Maybe I'm missing some important part of pipe shopping, but it's rather pricey. I needed something more along the general price range of <i>free</i> to properly fit my budget.<br />
Plan B involved scrounging around and using anything I had on hand that could possible be turned into a shelf. I started with these two doors that I <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-kitchen-good-bad-and-ugly-mostly.html">pulled out of my kitchen</a> a few weeks back.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ymcXv6VnAfo/UT8yl--csFI/AAAAAAAAEbk/Gj_XkOc8fPM/s1600/DSCF4090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ymcXv6VnAfo/UT8yl--csFI/AAAAAAAAEbk/Gj_XkOc8fPM/s640/DSCF4090.JPG" width="460" /></a></div>
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I cleaned them up, and primed and painted them.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jRzdFPsp-pI/UT8yv6wHJ9I/AAAAAAAAEbs/pPW8I-un9K4/s1600/DSCF4091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jRzdFPsp-pI/UT8yv6wHJ9I/AAAAAAAAEbs/pPW8I-un9K4/s640/DSCF4091.JPG" width="530" /></a></div>
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Next up I made a long shelf using some 2x4's I had left over from another project. I used screws for everything so I can take this thing apart later, if I so desire.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsYnQlbhLNs/UT8zMcmUmtI/AAAAAAAAEb0/rkFY4mnuE5E/s1600/DSCF4092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PsYnQlbhLNs/UT8zMcmUmtI/AAAAAAAAEb0/rkFY4mnuE5E/s640/DSCF4092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I cut four legs from a 4x4.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8_DdFcjpNs/UT8zWmipV6I/AAAAAAAAEb8/SFqFGUoAbU0/s1600/DSCF4093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8_DdFcjpNs/UT8zWmipV6I/AAAAAAAAEb8/SFqFGUoAbU0/s640/DSCF4093.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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At this point I dragged everything inside to assemble it all. The four legs I screwed onto the shelf, essentially making a long bench.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2A2OXM1mHyg/UT8zl6R2YEI/AAAAAAAAEcI/D0wVle_HhMs/s1600/DSCF4099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2A2OXM1mHyg/UT8zl6R2YEI/AAAAAAAAEcI/D0wVle_HhMs/s640/DSCF4099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I screwed the doors to the "bench" along the back. (Uh hum, so ya, I maybe skipped painting the back of the doors. Perfection was never my stongest asset.)<br />
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I decided to my doors needed more stability, so I added 2x4 scraps to the front connecting down to the main shelf.<br />
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I made another shelf using scrap board that actually was originally in this room <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/01/1959-meets-2013.html">behind the paneling I pulled out</a>.<br />
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Using brackets I had laying around, I added a few more shelves. An old ladder, <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2011/03/reviving-old-chairs-and-nesting-box.html">a former pigeon nesting box</a>, and crate helped round out the storage options.<br />
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I couldn't help myself and added a little color by dry brushing random paint samples on the boards.<br />
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And what will I do with these super cute shelves? Why, use them for storage, naturally.<br />
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I can't stand pawing through totes, smashing everything to bits, looking for the one piece I need. Now, I don't have to!<br />
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I can just "shop" my wall. This room is my work/sewing room, and I can't think of what "art" I'd rather look at while working than loads of random textures and colors.<br />
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Besides, if I ever wanted to have a garage sale...all I'd have to do is open the front door. =) Seriously though, isn't knowing what you have so much nicer than having it all tucked away in some dark corner?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZbCrZMam-I/UT84c2i4r2I/AAAAAAAAEdY/Hraa47ti9h8/s1600/DSCF4176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pZbCrZMam-I/UT84c2i4r2I/AAAAAAAAEdY/Hraa47ti9h8/s640/DSCF4176.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And before you kindly suggest I might have hording tendencies...let me just remind you, there are only two rooms in my entire house that have been fully furnished. (See the <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/behind-front-door-before-and-after.html">entry here</a>, and the <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-very-improper-bathroom-redo.html">guest bathroom here</a>.) These shelves will clear off quite a bit as each new room is fully finished.<br />
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In the mean time, I have decided wood working isn't so bad after all! It's not much different than sewing really...axcept fabric is more forgiving and doesn't give me a back ache.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Oi9hZyVFg/UT86pfEy5XI/AAAAAAAAEdo/DDHducPVzaQ/s1600/DSCF4178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Oi9hZyVFg/UT86pfEy5XI/AAAAAAAAEdo/DDHducPVzaQ/s640/DSCF4178.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The only thing I specifically purchased for this project was the 4x4...making the total cost for my shelves $6.57. Now that's more like it!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Colossians 3:23</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> And whatsoever </span><span style="background-color: white;">ye do</span><span style="background-color: white;">, do </span><span style="background-color: white;">it</span><span style="background-color: white;"> heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; </span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/03/your-whims-wednesday-102-and-features.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20mygirlishwhims/eGPR%20(My%20Girlish%20Whims)">My Girlish Whims</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/03/whatever-goes-wednesday-161.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/03/weekend-wrap-up-party-moo-and-puppy-printable-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/OivM%20(Tatertots%20and%20Jello)">Tatertots and Jello</a><br />
<a href="http://missmustardseed.com/2013/03/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-party-6/">Miss Mustard Seed</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/03/creative-bloggers-party-hop-104.html" style="background-color: white; color: #15495d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Homemaker on a Dime</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/03/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-145.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20UnderTheTableAndDreaming%20(Under%20The%20Table%20and%20Dreaming)" style="background-color: white; color: #15495d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Under the Table and Dreaming</a><br />
<a href="http://lollyjane.com/the-scoop-link-party-6/">Lolly Jane</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-76890467604771171632013-03-07T07:16:00.000-08:002013-03-12T18:58:41.556-07:00Closet Built in Shelves Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eN9c2Q_FbJ0/UTihw3B9lBI/AAAAAAAAEYs/9Rw-57vbV-o/s1600/DSCF3947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eN9c2Q_FbJ0/UTihw3B9lBI/AAAAAAAAEYs/9Rw-57vbV-o/s640/DSCF3947.JPG" width="510" /></a></div>
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Organization. It's the difference between feeling stressed out in my home, or relaxed. I could get on a soapbox right now, and tell you all the reasons why I am a proponent of an organized home...but I'll spare you. I know some folks actually work better with everything in a jumble, organized chaos I believe is what they call it. I married a type like that in fact, and let me tell you, we both have our oppinions about whose working method is better. Mine, obviously.<br />
Anyway, I'm actually here to show how you can turn any unused closet (or nook) into well organized piece of valuable real estate in your home. You may have a closet that looks like this...the potential for it to fill up and become a major threat to bodily health is almost certain.<br />
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I have two of these closets in my soon to be work shop, and I knew I needed to something about them before they got hopelessly out of hand. The solution was quite simple and inexpensive ($12 to be exact)... built in shelves!<br />
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Music to my eyes! Here's how I did it. First measure the width and depth of your closet. Mine was 46 inches wide and 20 inches deep. You need long boards to across and smaller boards for the side supports. I used scrap wood for the side supports and some very inexpensive press board for the shelves. I cut them down using a jig saw, because that was handiest at the moment. ( Ok, really...circular saws still sorta spook me.)<br />
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My closets are weird. One side of them is cinder block and the other is wood. On the wood end I just screwed the support boards where I wanted them. (hhmmm why yes, there is termite damage on these closets...yet another reason I went as cheap as possible for these shelves. They will have to be gutted and re-built at some point down the road. Thanks termites.)<br />
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On the cinder block side of the closet, I had to glue the support boards. I don't have the tools for screwing into cinder block, so this was the next best thing.<br />
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Just keep adding supports for however many shelves you want.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoRPpBJyiYA/UTioIeifIWI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/jMDcEjt3dmA/s1600/DSCF3909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XoRPpBJyiYA/UTioIeifIWI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/jMDcEjt3dmA/s640/DSCF3909.JPG" width="536" /></a></div>
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I just laid the long boards across without attaching them. I wanted to be able to remove them easily if I ever wanted to use this as a regular closet again.<br />
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I put two shelves in both closets which created a huge amount of storage. One closet holds fabric bolts and remnants.<br />
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The other holds craft supplies and sewing notions.<br />
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An over the door pantry organizer really added to the storage options as well. I'll probably get another one for the other closet, because it's so handy for holding small things.<br />
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Here is a shot of how this room began and you can see the closets I am talking about. I think I will be doing the same thing with shelves to that center nook. I think it will make a great spot for storing all my totes of folded fabric.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l0Gyr3UXwm0/UTip1zrHA3I/AAAAAAAAEac/P31w1cKPzVI/s1600/DSCF2750-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l0Gyr3UXwm0/UTip1zrHA3I/AAAAAAAAEac/P31w1cKPzVI/s640/DSCF2750-001.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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If you missed seeing the other changes so far to this room see <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-great-wall-of-indecision.html">here</a> and <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/brick-laying-101-minus-mortar.html">here</a>. I'm currently working on shelves of a different sort for side walls ... and I am so excited to finish them I looooove them! This room will definitely be my favorite spot in the house when I'm finished.<br />
So what about you? Do you work better with things tip-top tidy or in organized chaos?<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><tt style="background-color: white;">1 Corinthians 14:40</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Let all things be done decently </span><span style="background-color: white;">and in order</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></i><br />
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<a href="http://my%20girlish%20whims/">My Girlish Whims</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-76557190959702950312013-03-04T18:31:00.000-08:002013-03-15T17:40:09.339-07:00The Great Wall of Indecision Once upon a time, there was a massive cinder block wall that was very ugly. (Actually two of them.)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L-KBsagrAF8/UTUw_He6ZvI/AAAAAAAAEXE/h0HXDiQi-mI/s1600/before-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L-KBsagrAF8/UTUw_He6ZvI/AAAAAAAAEXE/h0HXDiQi-mI/s640/before-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cinder block has many redeeming qualities like being termite proof and indestructible. It's major problem is it seriously is lacking in the glamour department (or the "mildly pleasant to look at" department for that matter). The second major problem is that it reminds me of my elementary school class rooms. Not so much the vibe I want in my work shop. Once I finished my <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/brick-laying-101-minus-mortar.html">brick wall</a> there on the end, I began devising way to use paint to hide the cinder block. At the very least, I thought I could use the paint job to distract the fact that the paint was on a cinder block wall.<br />
First on the agenda, stripes. I always wanted to paint a wall with stripes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYwZkXBSUuUomW5plyKedk9cvDbEFfYKlm7I9J-mdsp0xRsKOw5PU0F-Z3GC7jNjs3oeP8POxj161tSo9KA_bEOPIUT0KDfNYUYWaXM_bR0fSxIcyw45iFYt2L5HsUXOLuTDapKBPmiLD/s1600/DSCF3893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYwZkXBSUuUomW5plyKedk9cvDbEFfYKlm7I9J-mdsp0xRsKOw5PU0F-Z3GC7jNjs3oeP8POxj161tSo9KA_bEOPIUT0KDfNYUYWaXM_bR0fSxIcyw45iFYt2L5HsUXOLuTDapKBPmiLD/s640/DSCF3893.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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They were very nice fat grey stripes. Very pretty. Very wrong with my <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/brick-laying-101-minus-mortar.html">brick wall.</a>. They looked too, I don't know, coastal-ish or something. Not what I had in mind. Maybe a stencil would help?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q65qgst0QHk/UTU0YA6DmjI/AAAAAAAAEXc/qAmiT3sVOMA/s1600/DSCF3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q65qgst0QHk/UTU0YA6DmjI/AAAAAAAAEXc/qAmiT3sVOMA/s640/DSCF3897.JPG" width="466" /></a></div>
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Hmm, no. Looks like a wall in a nursing home. Maybe if I painted the grout white, that would do the trick. Still, a big fat no. But the contrast was nice, maybe the other way around? Minus the stripes?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y0mbE0m5PC_WtO5Gb0mtt4BVPcOFEqsPYb-tfiN52ZRmoVOTiuRN1SYqc_Sg9bx6Y_nLSQ6o1CE1Obzrk4UeaFVQlge5rifMhjepiaDGrljObxuD5-880RIUnwBaf9TRAtfFkHL1YwsH/s1600/DSCF3912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y0mbE0m5PC_WtO5Gb0mtt4BVPcOFEqsPYb-tfiN52ZRmoVOTiuRN1SYqc_Sg9bx6Y_nLSQ6o1CE1Obzrk4UeaFVQlge5rifMhjepiaDGrljObxuD5-880RIUnwBaf9TRAtfFkHL1YwsH/s640/DSCF3912.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ahhgh! Just the thing to bring joy to my eyeballs. And so the story has a happy ending...with grey grout.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyVfck-c7S4/UTU1Uwl2cII/AAAAAAAAEXs/iS0UYy-SpD0/s1600/DSCF3915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MyVfck-c7S4/UTU1Uwl2cII/AAAAAAAAEXs/iS0UYy-SpD0/s640/DSCF3915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Which, in fact, does NOT hide the cinder block at all, it <i>accentuates</i> it. Funny thing, what I thought was this wall's worst factor, was it's best. It just needed to be shown a different way. There's probably more than a few things that are like that in life, come to think of it. I think God loves to "paint" our flaws and imperfections into being our greatest assets, if we will let Him.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CBfrnxl9Aw/UTU2hFnobpI/AAAAAAAAEX4/P2dX9l1n0z0/s1600/DSCF3919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CBfrnxl9Aw/UTU2hFnobpI/AAAAAAAAEX4/P2dX9l1n0z0/s640/DSCF3919.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I really like how these two walls play off of each other with the colors and patterns. They aren't too crazy, and they aren't too snoozey.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc7yDalCRqtKnhiPmjgqcfTtVIoOoQdX3JVQkg6tjUIS3WmBm2AOLPZ7dChIrFQ3d3E1qrXRSG1aXVo6yHu5oSPE1G6UMse5SJBU4KK6a1royGHQQ4MDgUMNmMjcRD37FSMmraocWDlTd/s1600/DSCF3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJc7yDalCRqtKnhiPmjgqcfTtVIoOoQdX3JVQkg6tjUIS3WmBm2AOLPZ7dChIrFQ3d3E1qrXRSG1aXVo6yHu5oSPE1G6UMse5SJBU4KK6a1royGHQQ4MDgUMNmMjcRD37FSMmraocWDlTd/s640/DSCF3924.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I threw a frame up on the wall to see how I would like it with stuff hanging on it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-99EDbTgNMnA/UTVPv8HmU1I/AAAAAAAAEYY/bRTlRzeoYm0/s1600/DSCF3934-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="530" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-99EDbTgNMnA/UTVPv8HmU1I/AAAAAAAAEYY/bRTlRzeoYm0/s640/DSCF3934-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have concluded, my wall and I are officially best friends forever. (The other cinder block wall will most likely also receive this treatment once I have excavated it from all the boxes under which it is currently buried.)<br />
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<tt style="background-color: white;"><b>Romans 8:1-2</b></tt><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><i style="background-color: white;">There is</i><span style="background-color: white;"> therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-70548056787625814822013-02-25T06:18:00.000-08:002013-03-06T05:37:00.712-08:00Brick laying 101 (Minus the mortar!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXMpp-jokO1xkJRE0bIFyOqFLX5CItwasUSlvI4ZhxorxsiRyGcSmKHldU6sBi3jAnFu4mFWl-MyoxeF29pe-h7mXctn2qTNlHcIezf8FWmDdxk37NMBvEzkg1gBVF1Eb7QaWELVxPlzH/s1600/DSCF3750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXMpp-jokO1xkJRE0bIFyOqFLX5CItwasUSlvI4ZhxorxsiRyGcSmKHldU6sBi3jAnFu4mFWl-MyoxeF29pe-h7mXctn2qTNlHcIezf8FWmDdxk37NMBvEzkg1gBVF1Eb7QaWELVxPlzH/s640/DSCF3750.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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One of the most glorious things about this house is that I get to have my very own work room. Pure luxury! As you might imagine, I am brimming with ideas for this lovely little room of mine. I'm actually only here today to discuss one wall of it. This end one, that began like this...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRd80wv96dN01YmGY81dMC-LYWRPZC8HF7jygrXH6HTVLV1Unt_49OpoPDPLBjuoL8HvH3ibr899A69MXTC3Kg24w0nPAlUN0Ij0YjW71V4hPVVIrhNn4TWNVV-Lkz09izzfgtGoL-UiO/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixRd80wv96dN01YmGY81dMC-LYWRPZC8HF7jygrXH6HTVLV1Unt_49OpoPDPLBjuoL8HvH3ibr899A69MXTC3Kg24w0nPAlUN0Ij0YjW71V4hPVVIrhNn4TWNVV-Lkz09izzfgtGoL-UiO/s640/before.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you can see, the two side walls have cinder block (left over from it's garage days) and the end one had wood on the top and paneling around the bottom. Paneling is lovely and all that, but I decided it need to go, and took a crowbar to it. Unfortunately, on the end wall, the wood did not continue all the way to floor all the way across. The gap had to be covered, and the easiest way would be to use paneling again. Ugh. Fortunately, I had already had my eye on this brick-like paneling I had seen at Lowes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uQ9Ghmhg_QwVaI7n24_pwvcOYSaAjL8EJfl9MIJYqrBWzXUCWPr29x9HNY8TNyUfc0y9-9JYiazr5QmMzmdPJZIIth55zUvQ196mfCZJtjP7Wh1_jtwsGqvxVBryGYWzDygd26hS9IQp/s1600/DSCF3132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uQ9Ghmhg_QwVaI7n24_pwvcOYSaAjL8EJfl9MIJYqrBWzXUCWPr29x9HNY8TNyUfc0y9-9JYiazr5QmMzmdPJZIIth55zUvQ196mfCZJtjP7Wh1_jtwsGqvxVBryGYWzDygd26hS9IQp/s640/DSCF3132.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I figured that with a bit of imagination with paint, this stuff could be made to look half decent. And so, up it went. I caulked all the cracks to help even them out. I <i>should</i> have sanded over the caulk after it dried, but I did not. Learn from my mistake, and don't skip that if you try this! It would have helped to make the caulk less obvious later.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ampsi14nkEg/USfpelqyccI/AAAAAAAAEVU/L66-jKtjgBQ/s1600/DSCF3720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ampsi14nkEg/USfpelqyccI/AAAAAAAAEVU/L66-jKtjgBQ/s640/DSCF3720.jpg" width="634" /></a></div>
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Next, I painted all the mortar lines with white. If it happened to drip at all, I just smeared it over the brick.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VqFwFEqNlws/USfp03v5I7I/AAAAAAAAEVc/RB9Uf8KLL04/s1600/DSCF3726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VqFwFEqNlws/USfp03v5I7I/AAAAAAAAEVc/RB9Uf8KLL04/s640/DSCF3726.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next, I dry brushed over all of it, first with white, then cream, then grey. I did it as randomly and unevenly as possible.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BWJE4TMfTow/USfqCbEJmQI/AAAAAAAAEVk/oyEoWKBMPgs/s1600/DSCF3736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BWJE4TMfTow/USfqCbEJmQI/AAAAAAAAEVk/oyEoWKBMPgs/s640/DSCF3736.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this point, I decided it was looking a little flat and dry brushed over it with just black. You can get a nice affect if you wipe off most of the paint from the brush, and then sort of scratch it sideways across the bricks.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M8kJfVxBqJY/USfqeYgJf9I/AAAAAAAAEVs/2Y3K2--HOVc/s1600/DSCF3742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M8kJfVxBqJY/USfqeYgJf9I/AAAAAAAAEVs/2Y3K2--HOVc/s640/DSCF3742.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The black helped define the bricks, and added some depth to the lighter paint.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvpjvy3Y6K8/USfwZyqgDUI/AAAAAAAAEWE/2dkPj28uPkY/s1600/DSCF3743-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvpjvy3Y6K8/USfwZyqgDUI/AAAAAAAAEWE/2dkPj28uPkY/s640/DSCF3743-001.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I think I still might go over a few spots with the black again a little later. Anyway, I quite like the rustic affect it adds to the room. So...just in an effort to keep things real...here's what that room is looking like at the present. Please try to use your imagination, it has great potential, I promise.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y4IH5LjxwKU/USfrEgeBNCI/AAAAAAAAEV8/q7_y89-Z4uY/s1600/DSCF3755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y4IH5LjxwKU/USfrEgeBNCI/AAAAAAAAEV8/q7_y89-Z4uY/s640/DSCF3755.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is an interesting post I found that is very similar to mine, only her's is on a larger scale. <a href="http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2012/03/tutorial-how-to-paint-brick-to-make-it.html">Click here.</a><br />
I'm really excited about getting this room set up for use! I plan to make it as functional as possible, yet pretty to look at. Here are a few of my inspiration pictures, which might help you see what direction I am headed here.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="brick walls" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/550x/4f/f5/1f/4ff51f5798ae5f393da14cf47bec294c.jpg" width="425" /></div>
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<a href="http://16house.blogspot.com/">16 House</a></div>
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<img alt="black floors + brick wall" height="261" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/6e/9e/1e/6e9e1ec63232b599e13bb82b7cf98ae2.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.apartmentwiz.com/dallas_apartments/dallas_apartments_specials/dallas_lofts_apartments/943_dallas_lofts_apartments.php">source</a></div>
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<img alt="Love the walls" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec7.pinterest.com/550x/c5/72/e1/c572e1f83e2cfe8233b5fc06bd542835.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.theyallhateus.com/page/3/">source</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="#booths #craft fair" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/a5/88/62/a58862b9826180894f182492c894b440.jpg" width="464" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ohhellofriendblog.com/2011/05/craft-show-my-favorites.html">Oh, hello friend</a></div>
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<img alt="This is gorgeous!" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/01/40/bf/0140bf0ae6174c2b1ec3d36db2ffaef4.jpg" width="426" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com/">source</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="rustic, inspiring" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/6a/8e/8a/6a8e8a1a0e28da65fdf47eabcb80a73f.jpg" width="426" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=960036&catId=HOME-WALL&pushId=HOME-WALL&popId=HOME&navCount=49&color=095&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=HOME-WALL-MIRRORS&templateType=subCategory">Anthropologie</a> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="industrial touch, vintage furniture, lovely details" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550x/19/bd/8c/19bd8cc18413ae7aa431e09c0d7093b2.jpg" width="424" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.79ideas.org/2012/12/9-most-impressive-home-offices-of-2012.html#.USf3MqUm4sc">79 ideas</a></div>
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So there you have it, lots of work in the works! =) So far we have a light, and one wall. Well, it's progress one step at a time. Hope you have a grand start to your week!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 119:73</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Thy hands have made me and </span><span style="background-color: white;">fashioned</span><span style="background-color: white;"> me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. </span></i><br />
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<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/02/whatever-goes-wednesday-159.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2013/03/tuesday-confessional-link-party.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20ConfessionsOfAStayAtHomeMommy%20(Confessions%20of%20a%20Stay%20at%20Home%20Mommy)">Crafty Confessions</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/03/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-link-party.html">Kammy's Korner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/03/your-whims-wednesday-101-and-features.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20mygirlishwhims/eGPR%20(My%20Girlish%20Whims)">My Girlish Whims</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-99.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thestoriesofa2z%2FVisw+%28Home+Stories+A+to+Z%29">Home Stories A to Z</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/03/take-look-tuesday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SugarBee-CraftEdition%20(Sugar%20Bee%20-%20Craft%20Edition)">Suger Bee Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/03/show-me-what-ya-got-109.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/lUkHL%20(Not%20JUST%20A%20Housewife)">Not Just a Housewife</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-84366561204124015112013-02-21T08:41:00.002-08:002013-02-27T05:28:50.005-08:00Wood Walls are not Drywall! - How to paint finished wood walls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever had a project you thought you would just whip right through...only to find out it wasn't quite as simple as you thought? I tend to do that, a <i>lot. </i>Take these wood walls for instance...I've painted lots of walls before, how hard could it possible be?? These ever so shiny, heavily oiled and varnished walls would not be any more trouble than your average plain Jane drywall. Give me two weeks, I'd have the whole house done, <i>no problem</i>.<br />
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You know just how long it took me to get the <i>entry</i> done? <i>Two weeks</i>! <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/behind-front-door-before-and-after.html">(See more about it here.)</a><br />
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And that was doing it the cheaters way! See, the contractor who has been doing some work for us, told me that I would have to <i>sand</i> each board <i>individually, </i>before I could pant! At first I thought he was joking, but when I looked at him, <i>he was dead serious. </i>My heart sunk, fill my freshly scrubbed out house with sawdust? Not on your life! What my kind contractor did not realize is, I am not a professional, nor am I patient. I also "take" two very active and curious little girls to work with me. Projects need to be short and sweet or drastically inconvenient things can happen!<br />
If you are like me, and have a small forest of wood in your house to paint, I present to you...the cheaters way to paint finished wood walls in four easy steps. (If you are a contractor or a wood lover, please avert your eyes.)<br />
Number 1. CLEAN it! I had no idea just how dirty those walls were until I started washing them. (This has become my prime argument for white walls, at least I can SEE when it needs washing!) I used TSP which is a degrease. Do this step as many times as is needed to be certain the wall is clean.<br />
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Number 2. Sand it...using liquid sander. No dust, super quick and easy...I am a huge fan. I am not super picky about this step, just rub the wall down once with an old t-shirt and this stuff. It basically just etches the surface a bit. </div>
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<img alt="Klean-Strip 1 qt. Easy Liquid Sander" height="400" src="http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/f9/f9a9f869-882b-40f2-a698-5f168b823c91_300.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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Number 3. Prime it. Make sure you get a primer that SEALS as well as primes. Wood knots and the old varnish will bleed, so it is very important that the wood is sealed. I use this one. </div>
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This step is the most important one. You have to keep applying primer until there is no more bleed through and there is no more wood showing. You must let each coat of primer DRY completely before applying the next coat. For the first coat, thinner is better. My first wall, I did a nice thick coat for the first coat, and it gunked up and took forever to dry. I thought I had ruined the wall, but it turned out ok. I've learned go thin on the first, thicker on the second, and touch up on the third. Yes, you read that correctly, <i>three</i> coats. Fun. Even funner, all the cutting in you have to do with a pant brush. One can't simple roll over these walls with a roller brush, all the cracks must be hand brushed first.<br />
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The first coat takes the longest and looks horrific. You will wonder what on earth you have done! (I'll be painting those stairs later, that's why I didn't bother taping them off.)<br />
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There will most likely be some gunked up yellow spots where there are thicker patches of varnish interacting with the primer. Don't panic, the second coat will even it out.<br />
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Number 4. The fun step, paint that sucker! I usually only need one coat of paint, and a touch up. Easy peasy. I use the primer/paint mix of the Behr brand paint from Home Depot just for good measure. (The weird shadows are from the chandelier, I promise the final coat is nice and even!) I also use semi gloss which has a bit of shine and is very easy to clean.<br />
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So far, my method is working out nicely. I dropped a metal decoration the other day, and it slid all the way down the wall without leaving a single mark or scratch. All those coats makes for a pretty durable finish. Above all, don't be fooled, wood walls are not drywall! (But in my personal opinion, they are much prettier and worth all the extra work!)<br />
Incidentally, another piece of random information about these walls, my contractor informed me that these are all individual boards hand crafted to fit! I just assumed they were large panels or something. The fact the my entire house house has these walls, parquet floors and planked ceilings downstairs, and custom cabinets blows my mind. Whoever built this house had more patience than I would have in fifteen lifetimes! Cutting and fitting all that wood...makes me shutter to think about it! I'll stick to painting it, and maybe I'll finish sometime in this century.<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 90:12</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> So teach </span><span style="background-color: white;">us</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to number our days, that we may apply </span><span style="background-color: white;">our</span><span style="background-color: white;"> hearts </span><span style="background-color: white;">unto wisdom</span><span style="background-color: white;">. </span></i><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/02/creative-bloggers-party-hop-100.html">Homemaker on a dime</a><br />
<a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2013/02/welcome-to-112th-masterpiece-monday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:">Boogieboard cottage</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/02/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-141.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20UnderTheTableAndDreaming%20(Under%20The%20Table%20and%20Dreaming)">Under the Table and Dreaming</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/02/whatever-goes-wednesday-159.html">Someday Crafts</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-38587039911330453152013-02-18T10:42:00.000-08:002013-02-27T05:22:58.186-08:00Simple DIY Pendant Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are certain things in life that I find <i>truly</i> annoying. Parking lots that don't connect. Finding out I'm out of ketchup. Coffee spilling all over my purse in the car. Paint drips. Contacts that won't stick to my eyeballs. Little girls playing in toilet water. And bad lighting. <i>Especially bad lighting. </i>This house could win awards for bad lighting. I don't get it either, the light bulb is not a new invention. They <i>had light bulbs</i> in the 50's didn't they??!! Maybe shadowy, dark, dingy houses were fashionable back then. I don't know, but I've declared war on the shadows. This house will light up brighter than the Christmas tree in Times Square when I'm done with it. (Do they have a Christmas tree in Times Square? I don't actually know, but if they did I'm sure it would be bright.)<br />
Unfortunately, there is an extreme limit to where new lights can be hard wired into the ceilings. This house is mostly wood, and you can't just go hacking holes in wood to run wire through like you can drywall...unless of course you plan to replace the whole wall...which would require some pretty substantial funding. So, what is a light loving gal to do, but create her own light?<br />
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As you might have already read, <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-kitchen-good-bad-and-ugly-mostly.html">we have begun work in the kitchen</a>, and it has <i>major</i> lack of light issues. I'm hoping that when we replace the ceiling light, that will take care of most of the problem. But the sink needed some extra light, I don't want to be chopping of my digits because I can't see what I am doing. (I'm dangerous enough when I CAN see what I'm doing!)<br />
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(Oh, I see you peaking at my new faucet! Can't wait to show you more on that later!) I made this simple pendent light in about 15 minutes and it cost me $15. All you need is a portable pendent light, like this one. I got mine from Lowes. It is basically a super long cord that plugs into the wall with a light socket on the end, and an on and off switch attached.<br />
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Next, you'll need the shade of your choice. You can use a regular lamp shade, or just about anything else you can dream up to make work with it. (Bonus points if it's got rust on it!) My shade of choice was this metal pitcher I got at the thrift store for, oh, maybe 25 cents or so. If your object doesn't have holes in it, you'll also need tools to make some holes.<br />
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I punched a small hole in the center of the bottom, and a larger one off to the side of that. The larger one needs to be able to fit the plug through it. It doesn't have to be pretty, no one will see this part.<br />
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Pull the plug through from the inside.<br />
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Position the socket securely in the holes.<br />
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Now hunt down a light bulb and bask in the warm glow of your new light!<br />
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It makes my heart pitter patter. <i>Truly.</i> And, since I have three other rooms that most unfortunately cannot be hardwired with new lights, I expect you will be seeing several more posts on this same subject. Who knows, I may end up loving my "junk" lights better than my new store bought ones!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 119:130</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> The entrance of thy words giveth </span><span style="background-color: white;">light</span><span style="background-color: white;">; it giveth understanding unto the simple. </span></i><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/02/trash-2-treasure-link-party-and-new.html">Kammy's Korner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-97.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thestoriesofa2z%2FVisw+%28Home+Stories+A+to+Z%29">HomeStories A to Z</a><br />
<a href="http://www.chef-in-training.com/2013/02/tuesday-talent-show-72/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20ChefInTraining%20(Chef%20in%20Training)">Chef in Training</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/02/take-look-tuesday_18.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SugarBee-CraftEdition%20(Sugar%20Bee%20-%20Craft%20Edition)">Sugar Bee Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/02/whatever-goes-wednesday-159.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/02/creative-bloggers-party-hop-100.html">Homemaker on a dime</a><br />
<a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2013/02/welcome-to-112th-masterpiece-monday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:">Boogieboard cottage</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/02/the-sunday-showcase-party-no-141.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20UnderTheTableAndDreaming%20(Under%20The%20Table%20and%20Dreaming)">Under the Table and Dreaming</a>Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-32805860954049808102013-02-15T07:33:00.000-08:002013-03-06T05:35:57.368-08:00Behind the Front Door - The Before and the After<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's a funny thing about this house, it makes people give "the look". When we told our realtor we wanted to go see this house, she gave us "the look". She was very opposed to wasting our time (or hers!) with it. </div>
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I got "the look" from the nice fellow who came to change my locks the day we bought it.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8U-O6OoPLYg/UR5L7pwHSDI/AAAAAAAAEL0/LGUoWmAry4w/s1600/DSCF2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8U-O6OoPLYg/UR5L7pwHSDI/AAAAAAAAEL0/LGUoWmAry4w/s640/DSCF2751.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I have to admit, I even gave "the look" to my mister the first time he showed me the pictures of the house online...but then we went to see it...and I just knew it could be something <i>beautiful</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBqfHSBrWEA/UR5NglT_grI/AAAAAAAAEMA/1jEedYdDwyU/s1600/DSCF3598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBqfHSBrWEA/UR5NglT_grI/AAAAAAAAEMA/1jEedYdDwyU/s640/DSCF3598.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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A scrub brush...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mcuK0qlD7QY/UR5OTxzto8I/AAAAAAAAEM0/Vp_IqkLLYIw/s1600/DSCF3605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mcuK0qlD7QY/UR5OTxzto8I/AAAAAAAAEM0/Vp_IqkLLYIw/s640/DSCF3605.JPG" width="484" /></a></div>
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...and a bit of paint, can go a long way...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b56URrwZhzA/UR5PGQixO4I/AAAAAAAAENE/2OnGkxdzuN8/s1600/DSCF3628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b56URrwZhzA/UR5PGQixO4I/AAAAAAAAENE/2OnGkxdzuN8/s640/DSCF3628.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...to helping "the look" disappear for good. There needs to be a few trips the thrift store and to the flee market, to help round things out, of course.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0k5h2a6xGQo/UR5PfOdMkTI/AAAAAAAAENM/Tv0336iB0uI/s1600/DSCF3639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0k5h2a6xGQo/UR5PfOdMkTI/AAAAAAAAENM/Tv0336iB0uI/s640/DSCF3639.JPG" width="476" /></a></div>
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The goal? Make it tidy and functional...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_pb5ziGabc/UR5P3nIFKhI/AAAAAAAAENU/hYzQk3u5Eqw/s1600/DSCF3612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t_pb5ziGabc/UR5P3nIFKhI/AAAAAAAAENU/hYzQk3u5Eqw/s640/DSCF3612.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...keep it personal, tell a story...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyOpxuAdnSo/UR5QHaxfwGI/AAAAAAAAENc/6XjL9AcGeck/s1600/DSCF3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyOpxuAdnSo/UR5QHaxfwGI/AAAAAAAAENc/6XjL9AcGeck/s640/DSCF3617.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...make it feel like a <i>home.</i><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O-v49C4VwXc/UR5QXBTq3PI/AAAAAAAAENk/r_b90yRt8JY/s1600/DSCF3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O-v49C4VwXc/UR5QXBTq3PI/AAAAAAAAENk/r_b90yRt8JY/s640/DSCF3608.JPG" width="494" /></a></div>
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<i> </i>Goal accomplished.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d9xLj54xyI/UR5SCMQ9p3I/AAAAAAAAEN0/ccUP0rLAYxg/s1600/DSCF3641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_d9xLj54xyI/UR5SCMQ9p3I/AAAAAAAAEN0/ccUP0rLAYxg/s640/DSCF3641.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The nitty gritty details are below, if you are into that sort of stuff! If not, enjoy your weekend!<br />
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Silver plates - thrift store<br />
Iron hooks - Hobby Lobby<br />
Shoe picture - My picture of my family's shoes I modpodged to a board<br />
Picture hooks - Plant hooks turned upside down from Walmart<br />
Bench - roadside junk store<br />
Crate - Flea Market<br />
Rug - Walmart, I painted, <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/01/rug-drama-painted-rug-tutorial.html">Tutorial Here</a><br />
Table - actually a sewing table that was given to me and I painted<br />
Mirror - thrift store, painted and glazed with black<br />
Lamp - salvage shop, painted and glazed with black<br />
Lamp shade - I made, <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-chandelier-style-skeleton-lampshade.html">Tutorial Here</a><br />
Scrolly dodad - Thrift store, painted and dry brushed with silver<br />
Birdcage - Thrift store, painted<br />
Welcome sign - Made from a thrifted cabinet door and letters from Hobby Lobby, painted<br />
Home Sign - Hobby Lobby<br />
Chandelier - Lowes<br />
Walls - Sanded with liquid sander, primed with Zinsser Bulls Eye and painted with semi gloss Behr Antique White from Home Depot (tutorial to come)<br />
<br />
<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Deuteronomy 33:25</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> ...</span><span style="background-color: white;">and </span><span style="background-color: white;">as thy days</span><span style="background-color: white;">, </span><span style="background-color: white;">so shall</span><span style="background-color: white;"> thy strength </span><span style="background-color: white;">be</span></i><span style="background-color: white;"><i>.</i> </span><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/2013/02/simply-creations-link-party-features-89.html">Simple Home Life</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/small-entryw-makeover-add-storage-and-function-with-board-batten-wainscoting/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/02/sns-175-what-to-do-with-old-windows.html">Funky Junk Interiors</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/02/strut-your-stuff-saturday-link-party_15.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20sixsistersstuff/TUsn%20(Six%20Sisters'%20Stuff)">Six Sisters Stuff</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2013/02/show-tell-saturday-02-16-13.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeDifferentactNormal+%28Be+Different...Act+Normal%29">Show and Tell Saturday</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/02/whatever-goes-wednesday-159.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/02/trash-2-treasure-link-party-and-new.html">Kammy's Korner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-97.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thestoriesofa2z%2FVisw+%28Home+Stories+A+to+Z%29">HomeStories A to Z</a><br />
<a href="http://www.chef-in-training.com/2013/02/tuesday-talent-show-72/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20ChefInTraining%20(Chef%20in%20Training)">Chef in Training</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2013/02/take-look-tuesday_18.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20SugarBee-CraftEdition%20(Sugar%20Bee%20-%20Craft%20Edition)">Sugar Bee Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/03/your-whims-wednesday-101-and-features.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20mygirlishwhims/eGPR%20(My%20Girlish%20Whims)">My Girlish Whims</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-82445918461673900652013-02-08T09:23:00.002-08:002013-02-18T06:59:13.917-08:00A Chandelier Style Skeleton Lampshade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNRSEBLvB5w/URUrp_ZWQrI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/LDy5bup4xbI/s1600/DSCF3465-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oNRSEBLvB5w/URUrp_ZWQrI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/LDy5bup4xbI/s640/DSCF3465-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've been fiddling with my entry way. I feel like if the house looks fresh, clean, and inviting when I first step through the door, I'll feel better about the mess beyond. I'll give you the full scoop on where I started in this section of the house, and what it looks like now, a little later when I'm all done fiddling. (And you are soooo going to love the difference!) For now, lets talk about lamp shades.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxH4qjhm_A1Rhuo-x_CIZm654-8Z5B0y9vQvrWc7eWGnvr5os5dhrQZcu4_HsYGMduZNPtbygQ1c0Bvi344UEVTMCJYm-wi2vf28qzIS1RPgXUVPoJc2TscFdH6H3PyCuq2bvlOLsVLT5/s1600/DSCF3472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxH4qjhm_A1Rhuo-x_CIZm654-8Z5B0y9vQvrWc7eWGnvr5os5dhrQZcu4_HsYGMduZNPtbygQ1c0Bvi344UEVTMCJYm-wi2vf28qzIS1RPgXUVPoJc2TscFdH6H3PyCuq2bvlOLsVLT5/s640/DSCF3472.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I have this phobia of walking into a dark house. If someone is in my house who isn't supposed to be, I'd rather look at 'em right in the eyeball than in the dark! (Actually, I'd probably be fainted from fright on the floor but whatever.) Because of the way this house was constructed, it was impossible to put a light switch to the foyer light right beside the door without ripping out walls. The next best solution was to have a lamp within easy reach of stepping through the door. I happened upon a couple lamps in my local salvage shop that were super duper cheap, which filled the need for a lamp just nicely.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YlMUn5W1Zs/URUvqw73sAI/AAAAAAAAEKM/qAx-bpRynqU/s1600/DSCF3424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9YlMUn5W1Zs/URUvqw73sAI/AAAAAAAAEKM/qAx-bpRynqU/s640/DSCF3424.JPG" width="428" /></a></div>
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They were lacking a shade, so I scrounged around in my boxes and piles of things yet to be unpacked and found this rather drab brown one.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YaIYp35NiF4/URUwIVGlbkI/AAAAAAAAEKU/N_msMF3egH0/s1600/DSCF3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YaIYp35NiF4/URUwIVGlbkI/AAAAAAAAEKU/N_msMF3egH0/s640/DSCF3426.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Eh, not so much the look I was going for, so out came the scissors.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rnh6daGsbK8/URUwU_vkFYI/AAAAAAAAEKc/1H88Po0pgSw/s1600/DSCF3427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rnh6daGsbK8/URUwU_vkFYI/AAAAAAAAEKc/1H88Po0pgSw/s640/DSCF3427.JPG" width="616" /></a></div>
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Aghh, much better. Now, I need to fancy things up a tad. I used some crystally do-dads I found half off in the wedding section of Hobby Lobby to add some sparkle. (...And I forgot to take a picture, but it's a long wire strand thing and some strung together crystals.)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YH95DxO1cgI/URUx8f_1mHI/AAAAAAAAEKk/_XM5tN6Yilc/s1600/DSCF3438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YH95DxO1cgI/URUx8f_1mHI/AAAAAAAAEKk/_XM5tN6Yilc/s640/DSCF3438.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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I also painted the base of the lamp silver, and glazed it with black. It goes quite nicely with it's new blingy shade.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_XO9Pv6WRk/URUyTwaatHI/AAAAAAAAEKs/m_07P9HVwiI/s1600/DSCF3453-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b_XO9Pv6WRk/URUyTwaatHI/AAAAAAAAEKs/m_07P9HVwiI/s640/DSCF3453-001.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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And it compliments the chandelier I had installed as well, which was the goal.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8Lx9a4K-60/URUysnbOMrI/AAAAAAAAEK0/CspxyAEjC_E/s1600/DSCF3471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O8Lx9a4K-60/URUysnbOMrI/AAAAAAAAEK0/CspxyAEjC_E/s640/DSCF3471.JPG" width="382" /></a></div>
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I can't wait to show you this whole little entry, I'm so happy with how much better it looks! I hope your weekend is as happy and sparkly as my new lampshade!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 119:105</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Thy word </span><span style="background-color: white;">is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white;">lamp</span><span style="background-color: white;"> unto my feet, and a light unto my path. </span></i></div>
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<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/02/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-kiwi-crate-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/OivM%20(Tatertots%20and%20Jello)">Tatertots and Jello</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/2013/02/simply-creations-link-party-features-89.html">Simple Home Life</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/small-entryw-makeover-add-storage-and-function-with-board-batten-wainscoting/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29" style="background-color: white; color: #15495d; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/02/sns-175-what-to-do-with-old-windows.html">Funky Junk Interiors</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/02/strut-your-stuff-saturday-link-party_15.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20sixsistersstuff/TUsn%20(Six%20Sisters'%20Stuff)">Six Sisters Stuff</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2013/02/show-tell-saturday-02-16-13.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeDifferentactNormal+%28Be+Different...Act+Normal%29">Show and Tell Saturday</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-86049412056925015702013-02-04T08:40:00.000-08:002013-02-04T08:40:44.928-08:00The Kitchen - The good, the bad, and the ugly (mostly ugly) Well good morning! How was your weekend? We are <i>finally</i> all moved in, set up with internet, and even have a way to cook and wash our clothes...great progress indeed! Now that we are situated back in one spot again, and happily reunited with our belongings, I have decided to re-open my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Abbtique?ref=si_shop">Etsy shop</a>. Hurray! Honestly, I really just miss sewing! I mean painting my fingers off and hacking things up with crowbars is great fun, but it just doesn't beat sewing! I've only listed about a third of the items, because I want to make sure I can keep up with everything. (And that I can actually <i>find</i> the supplies to make said items in my small jungle of boxes!)<br />
Anyway, I actually got on here to talk to you about kitchens. See, I've got this kitchen in my new (old) house that is just not so lovely. In fact, its rather awful, not to mention hideous. It began like this...dark as a cave, refrigerator plopped in a weird encasement smack in the middle of the counter, and the dirtiest pink counter tops you've ever seen in your life! (I actually haven't seen pink counter tops before this...I hope I don't have the pleasure again!)<br />
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And on the left side over here, we have a counter top range and antique pink oven...both that have been out of use for who knows how many decades! (So, what exactly did the previous owner eat I wonder?? Cold cereal every day?) Oh yes, and don't forget that odd little window in wall...eh? Odd.<br />
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And lastly we have the laundry closet....At least I think it was, that is where the plumbing went for a washer. The closet isn't deep enough to fit a washer into it, so that is a bit of a mystery to me. It's pink too...and dirty. Very dirty.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64AGZQ85XSg/UQ_XlQl-nqI/AAAAAAAAEIE/o7bHsGwvGSY/s1600/DSCF2831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-64AGZQ85XSg/UQ_XlQl-nqI/AAAAAAAAEIE/o7bHsGwvGSY/s640/DSCF2831.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So. Now that I've seared your eyeballs, let's continue. Here is what we have done so far. I had this cabinet hollowed out.<br />
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This made space for a dishwasher to be installed.<br />
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I had the weird wood encasement around the refrigerator removed, which created a nice spot for the oven and microwave. I also removed the doors from the cabinets on either side to create open shelving. It's rather hard to see since the walls are so dark.<br />
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My mister, to my everlasting joy, removed the pink counter tops and old appliances.<br />
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Gaping holes and glue-y plywood is ever so much better, don't you agree?<br />
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And last, I removed the doors to the laundry closet, cleaned it (and cleaned it some more!), and had an outlet installed to accommodate the refrigerator. It's still pink for the time being, but at least it's clean! (By the way, that's plastic still covering my fridge, not a giant wart exploding on the door.)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlH692U-7RQ/UQ_aEZIqYQI/AAAAAAAAEI0/duTs0jFAFDM/s1600/DSCF3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RlH692U-7RQ/UQ_aEZIqYQI/AAAAAAAAEI0/duTs0jFAFDM/s640/DSCF3420.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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This closet will be the pantry. I plan to paint it some nice accent color (maybe stencil a design on the walls?), and install shelving above and on the right side of the fridge. Right now the hot water heater is on the right, but we hope to have a tank-less one put in, so that will get rid of that. I'm thinking something along these lines.<br />
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<img alt="Pinned Image" height="640" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550/31/98/2b/31982b3e5ce7303496b320da6ab50c7d.jpg" width="454" /></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/abbtique/kitchen-loves/">Pinterest</a> (original source?)</div>
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For the gaping hole left by the old oven, I plan to install drawers similar to these. I'm thinking if I had a plug put in the back, I could keep heavier appliances in the drawers, and just pull them out to use them.<br />
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<img alt="Pinned Image" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinterest.com/550/93/ab/53/93ab539ab52db2b5c8654387e8dedd64.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/abbtique/kitchen-loves/">Pinterest</a> (original source?)</div>
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The cabinets are originally custom built, solid wood, so I won't be messing with them. I like them, and they are much better quality than the builder's grade cabinets most houses have now. I'll paint them, and switch out the hardware to black or stainless steal. For the counter tops, I plan (ok really, I plan for my mister) to do a DIY butcher block using wood boards, but stain them super dark. </div>
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<img alt="dark counter top" src="http://media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com/550/33/fd/01/33fd01424c3a99f98afa4980b071ea5f.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/abbtique/kitchen-loves/">Pinterest</a> (original source?)</div>
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For the open shelving that was created around the stove, I plan to put brackets under the shelves. The whole shebang will be painted white, and the ceiling left wood. </div>
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<img alt="Pinned Image" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec1.pinterest.com/550/c2/98/2e/c2982edc8270e8c7bf0386601b12dc11.jpg" width="480" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/group/vintagecottage/forum/topics/favorite-cottage-color">I Antique Online</a></div>
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I'm not sure what the plan will be for the floor just yet, probably paint it. I'd like to switch out the ceiling fan/light for something rustic/antique looking. Over all, I'm going for fresh white, with woods and dark accents mixed in...something along these lines. </div>
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<img alt="Pinned Image" src="http://media-cache-ec4.pinterest.com/550/ea/2b/08/ea2b08a7c3d98288cc1a3b9cae3f3ee0.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://crispinteriors.blogspot.com/">Crisp Interiors</a></div>
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Of course, it is rather difficult to see <i>that</i> in what I'm looking at now...but it will get there! Check back around in a few weeks, and we'll see what we've got then!</div>
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Have a great start to your week!</div>
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P.S. I'm really sorry I can't find the original sources to some of the above pictures...if anyone knows them, let me know so I can give credit!</div>
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 16:11</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Thou wilt shew me the path of </span><span style="background-color: white;">life</span><span style="background-color: white;">: in thy presence </span><span style="background-color: white;">is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> fullness of joy; at thy right hand </span><span style="background-color: white;">there are</span><span style="background-color: white;"> pleasures for evermore. </span></i></div>
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-26015662128903515432013-01-30T07:38:00.000-08:002013-02-16T05:35:58.211-08:00A Very Improper Bathroom Redo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Did you do a gift registry when you got married? I did one. I clearly remember carefully selecting perfectly matching towel bars, hand towel rings, and toilet paper holders.<br />
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I picked soap holders, and very proper little trashcans.<br />
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The thought that one is not <i>required</i> to dress a house in perfectly matching items from an acceptable house wears store <i>never even occurred to me!!</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--F3xhYL5MYs/UQk4YaO1CZI/AAAAAAAAEF0/fW_H2jSuo0w/s1600/DSCF3320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--F3xhYL5MYs/UQk4YaO1CZI/AAAAAAAAEF0/fW_H2jSuo0w/s640/DSCF3320.JPG" width="450" /></a></div>
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I remember a great many silly opinions I had a new house keeper.<br />
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I distinctly remember throwing a fit about all the white walls in my first house.<br />
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I bet you can't guess what color every single blessed wall in this house is going to get painted?!<br />
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I would have turned up my nose at much of the thrift store "this and that" that now I love to scatter about the house.<br />
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To put a kitchen run in the bathroom would have been totally unacceptable.<br />
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One <i>must</i> do what what is <i>acceptable </i>to do!<br />
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The problem with <i>acceptable </i>... it's just so <i>bland.</i><br />
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<i> </i>I would hate to know what I would have thought of this house, if I had seen it back then.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fs6caUX6ZBo/UQk8eBDp50I/AAAAAAAAEG0/Z0RUeG3cI4A/s1600/DSCF2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fs6caUX6ZBo/UQk8eBDp50I/AAAAAAAAEG0/Z0RUeG3cI4A/s640/DSCF2754.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's funny time can change you isn't it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSVAcQxKYg17XBKXEPIGwVHNN51fiq1nn4AncDhktrCTz-a9LRExjbbmRGec6syx51yPKKj-UvLlOR_O9drqC6Gi-vL9xwbKTJT8QDVkmkkr94eTSyoeNuesuSZzHX05d35rsk_x4Ndee/s1600/DSCF3351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSVAcQxKYg17XBKXEPIGwVHNN51fiq1nn4AncDhktrCTz-a9LRExjbbmRGec6syx51yPKKj-UvLlOR_O9drqC6Gi-vL9xwbKTJT8QDVkmkkr94eTSyoeNuesuSZzHX05d35rsk_x4Ndee/s640/DSCF3351.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The lesson I'm learning in this house? Look at what it <i>can </i>be, not at what it <i>is!</i> That is how God looks at me, and I am ever so grateful.<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Philippians 1:6</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Being confident </span><span style="background-color: white;">of this very thing</span><span style="background-color: white;">, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform </span><span style="background-color: white;">it</span><span style="background-color: white;"> until the day of Jesus Christ: </span></i><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/01/whatever-goes-wednesday-154.html">Someday Crafts</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/02/creative-bloggers-party-hop-97.html">Homemaker on a dime</a><br />
<a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2013/02/welcome-to-109th-masterpiece-monday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:">Boogieboard Cottage</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thegirlcreative.com/2013/02/just-something-i-whipped-up-no-143.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20TheGirlCreative%20(The%20Girl%20Creative)">Project Inspire</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/02/the-sunday-showcase-patry-no-138.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20UnderTheTableAndDreaming%20(Under%20The%20Table%20and%20Dreaming)">Under the table and dreaming</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/restoration-hardware-inspired-bathroom-renovation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/2013/02/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-kiwi-crate-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20blogspot/OivM%20(Tatertots%20and%20Jello)">Tatertots and Jello</a><br />
<a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/02/sns-175-what-to-do-with-old-windows.html">Funky Junk Interiors</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/02/strut-your-stuff-saturday-link-party_15.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20sixsistersstuff/TUsn%20(Six%20Sisters'%20Stuff)">Six Sisters Stuff</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2013/02/show-tell-saturday-02-16-13.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeDifferentactNormal+%28Be+Different...Act+Normal%29">Show and Tell Saturday</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-7669108017544130792013-01-22T05:52:00.000-08:002013-02-04T06:51:32.391-08:00Rug Drama - Painted Rug Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTnLvlCri6M/UP3GDdp5nJI/AAAAAAAAEB0/hKRu8vMpQes/s1600/DSCF3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTnLvlCri6M/UP3GDdp5nJI/AAAAAAAAEB0/hKRu8vMpQes/s640/DSCF3244.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rugs are wonderful little things that really can add a nice statement to a room. Unfortunately they usually have a hefty price tag attached that is quite less than wonderful. I've been scouting around for a rug for my front door, and found many...that is, many that were either too big, too small, too bland, too expensive, too the wrong color, too you get the point. I have the shopping patience of a small ant, so rather than opt to wait for the next 6 months to see if I found one I liked, I decided just to paint one. A painted rug is hardly a new concept, just google it and you'll see what I mean! I've used a <a href="http://morningbymorningproductions.blogspot.com/search/label/rugs">a sharpie on a rug</a> before, but this was a first for me to try to paint one.<br />
I picked a 3 x 5 cream colored rug for $13 from Walmart. It has a low pile and is quite heavy, which for a front door is a good thing! Nothing worse than a rug sliding all around and curling at the edges!<br />
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I wanted something that would look like it was an actual rug design, not really something that looked crafty. I like decor that has a bit of drama, so I opted to put to go with a diamond pattern down the center. Rather than be all technical and actually measure anything, I grabbed a tin decoration I had lying around, and just traced three diamonds onto the rug with a grey marker.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8wjVrdjwD0/UP6TGC-LJzI/AAAAAAAAEC0/OsSu01CNSp4/s1600/DSCF3225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i8wjVrdjwD0/UP6TGC-LJzI/AAAAAAAAEC0/OsSu01CNSp4/s640/DSCF3225.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Because I don't trust my coloring in the lines skills, I taped off the edges before I filled them in with paint.<br />
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I used a silver metallic paint from Martha Stewart's paint line. Unfortunately the metallic shine didn't really come through once it was on the rug, but I still liked the color OK.<br />
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Starting at the corners, I used a stencil I bought from Hobby Lobby to fill in the edges.<br />
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Once it was finished, I felt it looked a little too flat. It needed something to give it just a bit of dimension.<br />
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I decided to use a sponge and some cream colored paint to add a bit of depth to the diamonds.<br />
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Using a very, very small amount of paint on the sponge, I patted it on randomly.<br />
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It doesn't make a huge difference, but it's enough of one to keep it from just looking like blah grey diamonds.<br />
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It's actually going to be turned length wise in front of the door, but I turned it this way so the light would hit it to take pictures. I haven't painted any walls yet, so my entry is still rather dark and tomb like...not the best for trying to take a clear picture of anything!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pW5CVAmp6Hs/UP6VrzeIrXI/AAAAAAAAEEc/yQVZYc395us/s1600/DSCF3246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pW5CVAmp6Hs/UP6VrzeIrXI/AAAAAAAAEEc/yQVZYc395us/s640/DSCF3246.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think this rug, paired with the chandelier and entry way furniture I have planned, will create just the right feel for a front door first impression. I have a thing for entries, I think they set the tone for the rest of the house.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-865brifSozs/UP6WkAHhRXI/AAAAAAAAEEo/uanyOaNY2Ig/s1600/DSCF3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-865brifSozs/UP6WkAHhRXI/AAAAAAAAEEo/uanyOaNY2Ig/s640/DSCF3239.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Now that I've bit the bullet and painted a rug for myself, the price would have to be pretty stinking amazing to get me to go rug shopping again!...that is, unless it's in the "plain Jane, less than $20" rug section! What do you think, are painted rugs too craftyish, or do you think they can look as good as the real deal?<br />
I hope the rest of your day is wonderful, thanks so much for stopping by!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 18:28</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> For thou wilt </span><span style="background-color: white;">light</span><span style="background-color: white;"> my candle: the LORD my God will en</span><span style="background-color: white;">light</span><span style="background-color: white;">en my darkness.</span> </i><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());">Linking to:</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/restoration-hardware-inspired-bathroom-renovation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29">Between Naps on the Porch</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/02/creative-bloggers-party-hop-97.html">Homemaker on a dime</a><br />
<a href="http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/2013/02/welcome-to-109th-masterpiece-monday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:">Boogieboard Cottage</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thegirlcreative.com/2013/02/just-something-i-whipped-up-no-143.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20TheGirlCreative%20(The%20Girl%20Creative)">Project Inspire</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/02/the-sunday-showcase-patry-no-138.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20UnderTheTableAndDreaming%20(Under%20The%20Table%20and%20Dreaming)">Under the table and dreaming</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/01/your-whims-wednesday-95-and-features.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20mygirlishwhims/eGPR%20(My%20Girlish%20Whims)">My Girlish Whims</a><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-41541696494376384042013-01-13T12:47:00.000-08:002013-03-07T07:16:40.322-08:00Crate Wall Storage Well hello there! How was your weekend? Mine was productive. So productive in fact, that I actually <i>finished </i>something to show you! I know, stunning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXtYfVdR8uOWnhDquP4DMqsX5IQPzqVe2EeeJRWlkgUQwWanbuGMOs5uGJMMHQyo-fbfYtyMz8YbsYhZP6wPIzhTq96jPG7oYvisuyavi0RK285D-vW3hij9g-jggqlPqS6V2W6Icdzbh/s1600/crate+shelves-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXtYfVdR8uOWnhDquP4DMqsX5IQPzqVe2EeeJRWlkgUQwWanbuGMOs5uGJMMHQyo-fbfYtyMz8YbsYhZP6wPIzhTq96jPG7oYvisuyavi0RK285D-vW3hij9g-jggqlPqS6V2W6Icdzbh/s640/crate+shelves-001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The only room in this old house of ours that has ever been painted or updated is the downstairs guest bathroom. A very small bathroom I might add. Somehow a shower, pedestal sink and toilet were all miraculously made to fit in this tiny little room. Needless to say, there is absolutely no space for any sort of storage for all the items that typically a guest might need to find in a bathroom. If there was one thing I learned in my last tiny little home, it would be the art of cramming a lot of stuff into a small space! Although this house is more than twice the size of that one, I'm finding my "small house" mentality is proving helpful with organizing this one. My method is simple, first look up. What can you do with the vertical space? Second, if the storage has got to be out in the open, make it function as decor as well as storage. So here we go, simple wall storage for my little guest bathroom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_8cRlBURPrOxMohODsJ8xrFimqTZe9fjTsLsqDlZU0frG3lpt7EZ6gZi4pI_sNwopkBHgkJjZXsN0ETtpi6lEHzPJvV4eKC4bxhhY4iW5k_h-UFB94LymkVZDE9Rwt6ovRuVjHZ7U9o6/s1600/DSCF3169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_8cRlBURPrOxMohODsJ8xrFimqTZe9fjTsLsqDlZU0frG3lpt7EZ6gZi4pI_sNwopkBHgkJjZXsN0ETtpi6lEHzPJvV4eKC4bxhhY4iW5k_h-UFB94LymkVZDE9Rwt6ovRuVjHZ7U9o6/s640/DSCF3169.JPG" width="450" /></a></div>
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I picked up two of these crates at Home Depot for $8 each. (Confession: I actually already had about 6 vintage crates I've picked up at flea markets and such that I could have used...but I have a crate collecting obsession, and I couldn't bear the thought of putting the old cute ones in the bathroom. Lame. I know.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkA8w-JG18bKp3G95z0zHcFalEV5p6QzGpqtIwQ45kmEyF1hAWu_ZRFxQZAXLSQOZfBeuV5K9wP484INHpnpv_0WSfg7rYwJmzRrRDodYWvWJOE7RtVz4MtrotbBOOFrWLFbOFBPQEKql/s1600/DSCF3134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkA8w-JG18bKp3G95z0zHcFalEV5p6QzGpqtIwQ45kmEyF1hAWu_ZRFxQZAXLSQOZfBeuV5K9wP484INHpnpv_0WSfg7rYwJmzRrRDodYWvWJOE7RtVz4MtrotbBOOFrWLFbOFBPQEKql/s640/DSCF3134.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I stained them with a dark wood stain. I wasn't the least bit worried about it looking perfect, the uneven stain adds to the affect, I think.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmWBbyYod6Y/UPMVAT18zNI/AAAAAAAAD9c/PEai26URJP0/s1600/DSCF3136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmWBbyYod6Y/UPMVAT18zNI/AAAAAAAAD9c/PEai26URJP0/s640/DSCF3136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next, I screwed on some brackets. I found mine at Lowes, I believe.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xho66XmqCPs/UPMVVNvXbII/AAAAAAAAD-M/X79x5vsh09g/s1600/DSCF3151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xho66XmqCPs/UPMVVNvXbII/AAAAAAAAD-M/X79x5vsh09g/s640/DSCF3151.JPG" width="568" /></a></div>
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I screwed them onto the wall where I wanted them, and that was it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY33jc0vGaMoq54MO9wBzzGSIds8JbfBMLaxNKmZPcHfFv4T7cURsOtQ6p_AwiaxGnG7qscJwEjw7K057bgmG97XLtNzfalh4f0eehI-9umNVLyp3VmQGTHrmE2M6xRNwnU0pS2r4-yAH/s1600/DSCF3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY33jc0vGaMoq54MO9wBzzGSIds8JbfBMLaxNKmZPcHfFv4T7cURsOtQ6p_AwiaxGnG7qscJwEjw7K057bgmG97XLtNzfalh4f0eehI-9umNVLyp3VmQGTHrmE2M6xRNwnU0pS2r4-yAH/s640/DSCF3156.JPG" width="464" /></a></div>
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I think they are elegantly rustic. Is that a style? Whatever, I like them, and they do the trick just nicely. You know, if you only had one and hung it high enough, you could stick a bar through the brackets for it to double as a towel rack too!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3p5Rsj2JZLY/UPMV91Q2yiI/AAAAAAAAD-c/vaOTCozEVOE/s1600/DSCF3161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3p5Rsj2JZLY/UPMV91Q2yiI/AAAAAAAAD-c/vaOTCozEVOE/s640/DSCF3161.JPG" width="450" /></a></div>
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I'm almost finished with this bathroom, one or two more tweaks to go. The rest of the rooms will go far more slowly I'm afraid, as there is much, much more work to be done in them! Really, just having one room looking pleasant and fresh gives me a boost of energy every time I pass the door. I know the rest of the house will get there with a little time...and the process of getting there is actually pretty fun!<br />
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Enjoy your week!</div>
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 3:3</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> But thou, O LORD, </span><span style="background-color: white;">art</span><span style="background-color: white;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white;">shield</span><span style="background-color: white;"> for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. </span></i></div>
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<a href="http://www.thegirlcreative.com/2013/01/just-something-i-whipped-up-no-140-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20TheGirlCreative%20(The%20Girl%20Creative)">Just Something I Whipped Up</a><br />
<a href="http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/01/creative-bloggers-party-hop-94.html">Homemaker on a Dime</a><br />
<a href="http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/01/sns-170-link-up-to-crazy-for-crates.html">Funky Junk Interiors</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2013/01/your-whims-wednesday-94-and-features.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20mygirlishwhims/eGPR%20(My%20Girlish%20Whims)">My Girlish Whims</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/02/the-sunday-showcase-patry-no-138.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20UnderTheTableAndDreaming%20(Under%20The%20Table%20and%20Dreaming)">Under the table and dreaming</a><br />
<a href="http://betweennapsontheporch.net/restoration-hardware-inspired-bathroom-renovation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29">Between Naps on the Porch</a></div>
Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-69620804063177673042013-01-06T20:25:00.000-08:002013-01-06T20:25:18.022-08:001959 Meets 2013 Happy New Year! Yes, I'm late, I know. =) It seems this year has started off with me running to catch up with it, and I sincerely hope that's not an indication of how the rest of the year is going to go! I hope your holidays were all very relaxing and wonderful. Mine was, and now I am happy to be back in regular work mode. I thought I'd give you a rundown of how the house work is progressing. If you missed my earlier posts about it, the basics are we just bought a house built in the 50's that needs some major loving, a whole lot of paint, and a good bit of updating.<br />
Unfortunately, things have to get ugly before they get pretty with house renovating. Electrical work, AC work, pluming, gutting rooms, and that sort of thing all have got be done before any beatifying of the place happens. So here's whats gone on lately...<br />
This room here used to be a garage and was enclosed at some point after the house was built. It had lovely green and orange dusty (very, very dusty) carpet, ugly paneling on the walls, and an old heater on the wall.<br />
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As lovely as all of the above were, we decided to gut the room entirely. That involved prying off the paneling.<br />
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Unfortunately, I found a nice surprise that the former termite tenants had left for me. Thankfully I didn't find any live ones, and none of the damage seems to be on anything structural. Just as a side note, if you live in termite country, I'd HIGHLY recommend getting regular inspections and treatments! It will save you grief later, I promise!<br />
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Next up was the carpet. This sucker had been glued down over some sort of tile stuff. I think it might have been a floor leveler of some kind, but who knows. At any rate, it took more scraping, hacking, and whacking to get that stuff up than I would have imagined! If you want a New Year's work out, go find a floor to scrape...your muscles will scream at you.<br />
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It all paid off though, because now the room looks like this! I do believe this is about the only time I'd consider cinder block and cement to be beautiful! I have big plans for this room, it's going to be my future sewing studio! I get to be as creative as I want with the design of this room, and I plan to do some really fun stuff with it...but more on that later.<br />
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While we were busy here, my trusty contractor was busy heading up the installation of our air conditioning system.<br />
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Hurrah for heat! Of course, having all that put in caused even more mess....like dry wall dust EVERYWHERE, and large holes cut into my ceilings.<br />
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Nothing that a few friendly dry wall guys couldn't fix though!<br />
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They also patched up the rest of the top floor's ceilings too, since they were in pretty sad shape. That was totally fine with me, because now I could actually paint something! I completely and utterly enjoyed painting over those pink ceiling, I just have to say! This is a shot of the master bedroom ceiling in progress. It's paint color has just a tinge of mint green, but all the rest are just done in a nice clean white.<br />
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One more bit of de-pink-ification (yes, that's a word!) took place on this rail that divides the living room and dining room.<br />
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I spray painted it with Rustoleum's hammered black spray paint. Agghh, one less thing pink makes me so happy. You know, that parquet flooring is starting to grow on me a little...what do you think of it?? Paint it? Replace it? Leave it?<br />
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Anyway, that about sums up how we rang in the new year. My great resolution is to make this mess livable, and move in already! =) This week should see the end of the major mess making operations, so then the really fun stuff of putting the beauty back into the house can start.<br />
I'm planing and pinning away on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/abbtique/">Pinterest boards</a>, so feel free to take a peak and see where this old house is headed! Have a wonderful week!<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><tt style="background-color: white;">Psalms 19:9</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> The fear of the LORD </span><span style="background-color: white;">is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">clean</span><span style="background-color: white;">, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD </span><span style="background-color: white;">are</span><span style="background-color: white;"> true </span><span style="background-color: white;">and</span><span style="background-color: white;"> righteous altogether</span></i><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-34099406526128080012012-12-24T18:42:00.000-08:002012-12-24T18:42:08.705-08:00Merry Christmas!! The last of the presents have been wrapped, the stockings stuffed to capacity, and I am warm and snug in my new Christmas pj's looking every inch like a large, plaid Christmas present. When I was kid, my Dad would read us kids a story on Christmas Eve. No one, absolutely no one can read <i>A Christmas Carol</i> like my Dad! Why, when he read it, old Marley might as well been standing right behind my chair! My favorite part of the story is the very end, when Scrooge changes. He finds out that loving others, and giving, brings a satisfaction and joy that all of his money never did. He says, "I don't deserve to be so happy"...that is how I feel this Christmas. While so many are lacking, so many hurting, and so many lost and lonely, I am as safe in my Heavenly Father's care as a little bird in it's mother's nest. My little family is all together, and we have been so blessed. I want to wish you and your family the very best Christmas Day, and I do thank you so much for stopping by my little blip of the blogosphere.<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Matthew 1:21</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for </span><span style="background-color: white;">he shall save</span><span style="background-color: white;"> his people from their sins. </span></i><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-21213151738227776532012-12-18T18:39:00.000-08:002012-12-18T18:39:22.079-08:00Personalized Calender - Simple Gift Idea Well hello there! Merry almost Christmas! So, if you are like me, a perpetual gift procrastinator, here is a simple little calender to put together with a nice personal touch for someone on your list.<br />
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All you need is a wood picture frame, a picture to put into it, two hooks, and a calender that's size fits with your frame. Screw the two hooks into the bottom of your frame. (That's why it has got to be a wood frame!) Make sure they are closer together than the width of your calender.<br />
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Separate the calender from it's cover, like so.<br />
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Punch two holes on the top of the calender where it will hang on the hooks. When the month changes, just unhook the calender, and flip the page.<br />
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So there, short and sweet, just how I like my projects! Christmas is seven days away...ready or not, here it comes! =) Have a lovely rest of your week!<br />
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<i><tt style="background-color: white;">Deuteronomy 7:9</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he </span><span style="background-color: white;">is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and </span><span style="background-color: white;">mercy</span><span style="background-color: white;"> with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;</span></i><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-42530245760940789082012-12-14T05:26:00.000-08:002012-12-14T05:31:23.078-08:00Change of Address - Week one in review It finally happened, one week ago today. Over a month late, we finally got to let the ink dry on the closing papers for our new home. "New" as in "new to me"... this house is in fact, the exact opposite of new! Of course I couldn't just be normal and fall in love with regular house; one in great shape and ready to move into. Oh, no, not me. That would just be too easy. Instead I fell in love with an old creaky house built in the 50's...that has no heat/air, old dim lights, no appliances, pink counter tops, avocado green bathroom, and enough dust to make a small mountain! Oh, but I just love this old drafty house! It has stories to tell, it has unique features not found in modern houses, it has it's own personality. It also LOTS of work to be done in it...I now have blogging content for the next century at least! =)<br />
I thought I'd round up what we have accomplished on it, just in the first week we've had it. The goal is to at least get it clean and livable by the end of next week. So, here we go!<br />
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1. Day One: Have locksmith come out to install door locks. Investigate house throughout. Decide red carpet must go. NOW.<br />
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<img height="425" src="http://photos2.zillow.com/p_f/IS-l8xo8f4mdk65.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Pulled out carpet...happy to report I did not suffocate on the dust that came flying out!<br />
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2. Day two: Decide damaged parquet that was found under carpet must also come out. Learn all sorts of new respect for wood glue. Very nearly broke my hand by putting it at the end of the crowbar where it gets the most force....I do NOT recommend doing that!<br />
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Decide I never want to see a jenga puzzle again. Small wood pieces are evil! I recommend having a husband handy to do most of the hard stuff.<br />
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3. Day Three: Electrician consulted with to determine wiring issues. He proceeds to pop all of my bubbles about installing new lights everywhere...it seems this old house has all of it's wiring buried under solid wood. Intense cleaning from ceilings, to walls, to windows, to floors begins.<br />
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I decided to use a sponge mop for walls and ceilings to save my back, and the trouble of climbing up and down ladders.<br />
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4. Day Four: Chimney man arrives to clean/inspect chimney. He adds a rain cap to help keep the water out, and takes out the old gas logs/connection for me so we can burn wood in it. Contractor arrives to discuss putting in appliances and HVAC system. More cleaning....I rediscover my hatred for scrubbing old window screens.<br />
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5. Day Five: Contractor and AC guys arrive to determine how to get AC installed. I discover my "cost researching" is no where near accurate. Major bummer. More cleaning.<br />
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6. Day Six: I have used more cleaner in six days than I have in my entire life! This stuff works wonders for getting unidentifiable gunk off of walls.<br />
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Don't use it where you don't intend to paint...this is what it will look like.<br />
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So there you go....what my life looked like this last week. I'd say we are off to a pretty good start! I will feel much better when I am sure everything is clean and sanitary...the cosmetics will come over time. I have decided for the time being, to close my shop. Between two little ones, and this house, I just don't have enough hours in the day! Once it is cleaned up and habitable, I think I'll be able to get back on track with my shop. So how's your Christmas prep coming? I'm thinking I'll get to mine...oh, say around Christmas Eve or so! =) Have a great weekend!<br />
P.S. You can follow me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abbtique/252884514762452">facebook</a> for current updates!<br />
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<tt style="background-color: white;">Ecclesiastes 3:1</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> To every </span><span style="background-color: white;">thing there is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white;">season</span><span style="background-color: white;">, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: </span><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1006648701641371368.post-40414732036324169812012-12-11T18:16:00.000-08:002012-12-11T18:16:22.026-08:00Simple "I Spy" Alphebet Quiet Book for Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of our family's Christmas traditions is that at least one gift per person must be handmade. It's a fun way to make a gift personal, and not just throwing money at more stuff. I decided my handmade gift for the little girls would be a book. The rules for the book were: it must be water (slobber) proof, rip proof, interesting enough for my oldest and simple enough for my youngest, easily transportable, and be somewhat educational.<br />
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I really liked some of the handmade quiet books I found on Etsy. I figured I could come up with my own version that was personalized to my kids. I put each girls picture on the front page so they would always know which book was whose.<br />
To make the book itself, I used plastic badge holders and book rings. Both of which I found, very inexpensively, in the office section at Walmart.<br />
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For the page fillers I used a small wooden alphabet set, buttons shaped like objects, and random items I had on hand.<br />
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I laid out the alphabet set and then matched up the objects that started with that letter.<br />
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I stuffed each page and then sewed the page shut. I absolutely do not wish for the small objects inside to be accessible in any way, hence the sewing shut of each page.<br />
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After each page is sewn shut, put them in order on the rings. Lastly I sewed a clip clasp on with elastic to the first and last page so that it can be kept shut. Besides, clasps are fascinating to small children so that in and of itself will be a hit I'm sure.<br />
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I think all the little things to look at will fun for them.<br />
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I tried to use real objects whenever possible. "L" for "label"....<br />
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...."E" for "earring".<br />
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I used colors on some of the letters that I was just plan stumped on, like "O" for "orange". I mean really, do you have any octopuses laying around your house? Ya, me neither!<br />
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I hope they will like it. Judging from how much attention the little bags of buttons were getting from them when I was buying them at the store, I think they will.<br />
Do you have any fun family Christmas traditions?<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><tt style="background-color: white;">2 Corinthians 9:15</tt><span style="background-color: white;"> Thanks </span><span style="background-color: white;">be</span><span style="background-color: white;"> unto God for his unspeakable </span><span style="background-color: white;">gift</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></i><br />
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Abbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05366175991225335859noreply@blogger.com7