in progress: volume 5

 

I feel like I haven't made any progress this month, because the unfinished projects that I mentioned a few weeks ago have yet to be completed. My goal is to have the rocking chair and this ^  side table finished by the end of October.

This fine side table has yet to make a blog appearance, so here is a brief look at the refinishing process (so far). A step by step post is in the works and will be posted here once this side table makeover is complete.

in progress: volume 4

I'm still scraping away on that rocking chair. I've also been project-hopping: working on refinishing a side table, transforming a tree stump (seriously!) and have another Young House Love-inspired post in the works. Like I said earlier: I tend to do things in the wrong order!

Since I didn't think anyone would want to look at ten more pictures of a half-scraped rocking chair, I thought I'd share some recent DIY attempts that haven't been so successful (consider them DIY mis-adventures...). Hopefully I'm not the only one learning from my mistakes?

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Mis-Adventure #1: Slipcover vs. Bed Sheet

There's nothing wrong with the couch in our living room (other than the pillow zippers that Freddie chewed apart as a younger, less mature pup). While I'd love to update our furniture with a couch in a solid colour, it's not in the budget this point in time. I thought I'd make do in the meantime by buying a basic slipcover for the couch - my sister has slipcovers on her couches, and they look great. Seemed easy enough. I even remembered to measure the couch before setting out in search of the perfect slipcover... should be foolproof, right?
After spending an evening at home wrestling with the supposedly simple slipcover, I deemed it too messy looking. (Maybe our couch measurements are unusual and awkward?) Not what I expected. My husband suggested throwing a bed sheet over the couch instead and getting my money back (a wise and frugal Dutchman, he is). I ended up taking his advice and returned the slipcover for a refund (the money saved will go into the New Couch Fund)... but have yet to test out the bed sheet-as-slipcover suggestion.

Mis-Adventure #2: Spray Paint Problems

I found a patterned ampersand at Hobby Lobby for less than three bucks, and thought it would make a nice addition to a bookshelf after a spray paint mini-makeover. I've never used primer before spray painting anything, and haven't had any issues... Until now.
I guess the finish of the ampersand didn't agree with the spray paint I was using (Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Semi-Gloss in White). The result is a frustrating, ugly mess of bubbles. I'm determined to salvage this one somehow! I'm thinking I will have to use a combo of paint thinner/remover and sandpaper before starting fresh.

Mis-Adventure #3: Questionable Frame-Wreath Combo

Around the same time that I made the springy-wreath, I was also planning to transform this old frame into some sort of a square wreath. My intentions were good; I think I was planning to add tons of floral pieces so that you wouldn't be able to see the frame at all. At some point this project was forgotten and left as is... which is incomplete. Not quite a frame, not yet a wreath...
I'm not sure why I thought that wrapping an ivy garland would make a good starting point, and am 99% sure that the ivy will be removed before starting fresh on this project.

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Have you had any DIY mis-adventures?

How have you been able to rescue or salvage any not-so-successful projects?

rocking chair diaries: part 1

Weird yet true confession: I love garbage day. Let me explain: I love the night before garbage day, when random treasures can occasionally be found alongside the recycling bins and garbage cans. Most of the time, the random treasures are not actually treasures, but true garbage - worn out, ripped couches, broken bookshelves, dressers that have seen better days - and are beyond salvaging.

But sometimes, people can't be bothered to put an unwanted item on Kijiji, Craigslist or even Freecycle and on Garbage Day's Eve, these items are fair game (and free!) to curbside scavengers like myself.

Exhibit A: this perfectly good, perfectly free (thank you, anonymous neighbour!), full-of-potential rocking chair.

I plan to go over it with my palm sander, but am unsure what to do after that - stain it darker or paint it a bright white? What about painting it bright yellow or red?

Thoughts? Ideas? Please send 'em my way!

mini makeover > personalized pillows

One of the goals on my bucket list is to somehow turn my handwriting into an actual computer font. I have no idea yet as to how to make this happen but figure I am still young and technology keeps improving, so the odds are in my favour. (I used to still beam with pride if someone takes the time to comment on and/or compliment my handwriting. Weird, I know. I can't help it.)

With these personalized pillows, I originally thought I'd do a pattern of stripes (one of my favourite things besides penmanship), polka dots, or circles... but somehow I scrapped my plan to practice with a rough copy and started doodling me and the hubby's initials on the cushion covers instead. And am fairly happy with the spontaneous results.

 

 

These pillows were inspired by the fine folks of Young House Love. If anyone has had a chance to check out (and be inspired by!) their book, it's #193 (pages 252 and 253).

The only requirements were some plain pillow cushion covers (GURLI x3) plus a paint marker (Tree House Studio).

Since I scrapped the rough copy, Freddie supervised my free hand initial-drawing...

The paint marker didn't show up as sharp or as crisp as I had expected it to. The final effect is on the vintage-y side, in that it looks a bit faded and worn in, which is okay by me. Overall the paint marker was super convenient to use, and I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't a harsh smell (I assumed it would have stronger fumes, like any other permanent marker).

Total cost:

Cushion covers (x 3) = $14.97 (GURLI from Ikea) 

Paint marker = $3.47 (Tree House Studio from Hobby Lobby)

Total = $18.44

in progress: volume 1

I do not necessarily do things in the right order. For example, I was a bride and a month later was a bridesmaid for the first time. I don't mind eating dessert before the real meal (especially when the dessert has an especially high chocolate quotient).

And so I have been project hopping: I've gotten started on a few different things but have yet to finish one. Here's a taste of what is currently in progress...

A chair with potential, storage DIYs, decluttering, 

clothes swap parties & another flower pot mini makeover.

confessions of a pinterest addict

Confession: I am a Pinterest addict. I spend way too much time liking and re-pinning, and even more time thinking, "I could do that!" (Whether I actually can or will is an entirely different story.)
But all of that time wasted spent on Pinterest planted little idea-seeds in my brain, eventually convincing me that maybe I could be a blogger too. Correction: an aspiring blogger. A wannabe-blogger, at the very least. So, if you're reading this, thank you for humouring me and visiting my humble little corner of the Internet.

A little bit about me:
I am a twenty-something wifey who lives in the Great White North (a.k.a. "Canada"). I spend my non-working hours puttering around my little house, prowling thrift stores, occasionally playing hostess, and trying not to burn grilled cheese.

A little about my hopes for this blog:
I may not be the next Martha Stewart (see burnt grilled cheese reference above), but am hoping that blogging will push me to develop my handy-woman skills and increase my home ownership knowledge. I'll probably share my thrift store scores and relatively successful recipes here too. I will eventually (soon! honest!) expand and explain where the heck I came up with "so gezellig."  Who knows?! I might go a little cray-zay and introduce you to my Beagle pup Freddie or even provide my tried-tested-and-true Kijiji tips.

Stay tuned.