Projects.

I had a very productive weekend. For months, I've had odds and ends waiting around the house for some undivided attention, and I tackled them.
First up, our stairway gallery wall. I wanted to add more frames to create a more dramatic look. I typically eye ball where my nails should go and hammer away, but I decided to be professional about this. I measured my walls, laid out painters paper, and slowly added each frame to be in the best position. I then traced the frames, hung the painters paper on the wall and mounted the frames. Each time I walk pass the wall, I smile with satisfaction.

I also decoupaged another plate to match my existing plate in our guest bathroom.(First one seen here) I went to the architecture section in the public library; a very scary place in downtown Tallahassee, I recommend taking another person. I picked out a book full of illustrations and decoupaged away!

Now a question, any tips on keeping an orchid alive? I submerged her in water and let her drain. She is sitting in my east-facing kitchen window, but she's not doing so hot. What fertilizer should I feed her? Help!

New Hobby.

My coworker used to work for John Derian, and when she invited me over to decoupage I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

I bought a book titled: American Cities, Historic Maps and Views, which is loaded with beautiful images. I've had every intention of using these maps for the last two years and was excited to display them in my house.

Here are a few images from the book:

I selected a crest as my main image.

Then I added parts of Central Park around the border. When it was all said and done, I painted the edges gold, signed the back and numbered it 1.

I have a ways to go until I'm with the caliber of ol' Johnny Boy, but I anticipate I'll spend more time with this craft.

Do you decoupage? I hardly know what I'm doing, but if you're interested I'll teach you how.

Ikat Pillows.

I received a sewing machine for Christmas. After making curtains, I wanted to learn how to sew pillows.
For the rookies out there, here's a simple tutorial.
1. Iron your fabric

2. Measure and cut your fabric (*factor in a little wiggle room, I left .75" on all sides. **If using a print, line up your fabric so the center of your fabric will be centered on your pillow)

Flip fabric wrong side up and pin around 3 sides. Sew as straight as you can. (I originally wanted to add piping, but I became frustrated and kept it simple.)

In the last step, you would add your zipper, but my dog Buster has a personal vendetta against zippers and has managed to eat every zippered item in our house. See below:

So no zippers in our home. Back to the pillow case.

3. Stuff your pillow in.

4. Pin your fabric in and run through your machine.

Wah-lah. Let there be Ikat.

If I can do it, you can too. Next project; slipcover for a round ottoman.

For Sale.

I, along with my brother in law, Bibb were commissioned to build a custom headboard for the store Lavish in Thomasville, GA. I simply adore the end result.

If you are interested in purchasing your own custom headboard, email me for rates.

*Lavish carries Serena + Lily + tons of other unique lines, go check them out next time you are in Thomasville.

Weekend Project.

I've been wanting to make a plate collage on our dining room wall for a few months now. My husband is anti-pictures in every room, so we've had this 7' blank space that has been waiting for a face lift.

The other day I hit the jackpot at Marshall's. A whole new shipment of white dinnerware arrived. I went to work right there, placing plates out all over the floor and $24.00 later we now have a work of art.

Note to self: Mark out the spots on the wall prior to hammering the plate hangers up. I swear I had to shimmy each plate over a hair- which was simply bad planning on my part.

Masters at Merv's

Each year our friend, Merv, from Waynesboro, GA hosts his own Masters tournament in his front/back yard. This semi-professional event keeps growing each year (19 years and still going) and each year it does not disappoint. This tournament is complete with a green jacket ceremony, a champions dinner hosted on Saturday night (with live karaoke), pimento cheese sandwiches are served on Sunday and in keeping with the rules of the Masters, women are not allowed to compete.
Since Merv knew I was coming and he knew of my love for transforming spaces, he gave me a budget and room to decorate over the weekend.
Merv's house was a working farmhouse built in 1848. Late antebellum, maybe early Victorian, still holds many Greek revival features in the house. This house has great bones.
Meet Merv:
Merv is a free spirit. He's lively, spontaneous, knows how to gather a crowd and is quite possibly the most hospitable person on this earth. His front doors are always open and people trek through his home non-stop. Merv's also a bachelor, so without a woman in the home, decorating and cleaning are not a priority.

Enter me.

We arrived in Waynesboro on Friday night and after previewing the course (the men) I put people to work. First step, remove all furniture, remove window treatments (and dispose of them) roll up carpet and scrub down mold. This is what the front parlor looked like before:After 7 hours of work with 2-8 helpers at any given moment, we trimmed all baseboards, doors, crown and windows with Sherwin Williams 7012 Creamy, re-painted the cedar checkered board ceiling with standard white ceiling paint and applied 2 coats of Sherwin Williams 6108 Latte to the wall. I also pulled random pieces of furniture and accessories from his house and the barn "clubhouse". I ordered curtains from JCPenny which will be added upon arrival. I give you the results: Here are a couple photos from the tournament on Sunday: And here's my Tony: look at that swing! maybe next year you'll get a green jacket and your name on that trophy.

Weekend Project: Amber's Living Room

I am thrilled to be staying in town this weekend without a football game to take up the entire Saturday. So what better way to spend the day than shopping with my friend Amber? Ms. Stoner has incredible style on her own and is nice enough to ask my opinion about decorating her unfinished apartment to reflect a romantic, jewel toned, Hollywood chic feel. Her new gray couch, mirrored coffee table and distressed console will be delivered from Z Gallerie in 8- 10 weeks and the wait is simply terrible! In the meantime, we're going to create the game plan tonight (accompanied by champagne) for a rug, window treatments, accent chairs and accessories because I have learned it is always better to have a general idea what you are looking for than getting trapped in a fabric store, furniture store, Goodwill, etc...wondering how you can use an inspired object. (If it's a deal, I'll buy it every time) I can promise you we will incorporate some feathers in Amber's apartment. Stay tuned for before and after pics.