Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The Fixer Upper House: A Spruce Up For The Guest Room


My husband used to refer to our guest room as the Granny room.

Ouch.

He had a point. It was the hodgepodge room of our house, with a few elements thrown together that never made for a cohesive whole.


A twin bed and quilt from the last house's guest room, thrown together with another twin bed and another quilt that didn't match.


A little pumpkin orange, some aqua, some red, some black. Like I said, it was a hodgepodge. If I could have found another pumpkin quilt or black quilt to match (originally from Walmart's Better Homes and Gardens collection), I would have made it work. Alas, they were no longer available.

Time to go with a new color scheme.

After careful consideration and extensive scientific methods, we picked a paint color for the new room. Sherwin Williams Watery...because we already had a gallon left over from when we painted the dining room last year. Use what you have, right?

Ed painted the room last weekend, and I did the spruce up. Here it is!


Wow! Now that's a big improvement!

I should also add that this was a top down renovation. New windows, new trim, and a new ceiling fan where there was once a dismal light fixture.


The bedding and duvet covers are from IKEA. I love the coral/pinkish/salmon color paired with the blue. This room is a little more feminine in nature, I will admit. But when you live in a house of men, you have to mix the masculine with the feminine. The coastal color palette of this house, paired with the woodwork, is a little more masculine. I try to balance that with a good dose of floral and pattern, as I did here.


There were a few existing elements that were red in this room, so I used this palette to tie them together. The red night stand from my mother is one of them.


And this little red child's chair and desk were from my husband when he was a boy.


I found the perfect spot for my new vintage tole tray. Eventually I will get it hung on this wall above the desk, but for now it works. I did have to buy some new lamp shades from Walmart, but I think it works much better now. Clean and simple.


The wall over the beds needed something to tie it all together. I decided to use what I already had to create a gallery wall. An old vintage oil painting paired with some of my Alfred Meakin china plates. Love it!


I purchased these disc hangers (made in England) from Hobby Lobby, and they work great for hanging dishes on walls without all the bulky metal hardware.


This is the smallest bedroom in the house, but now it feels so much bigger and more expansive with this lighter brighter color. In terms of real estate, I often like to paint the smallest bedroom in a color that would make a great nursery for a potential buyer. I even staged a room as a nursery once using Sam's old crib, a hutch, and a few carefully placed toys and stuffed animals from storage.

Another project crossed off the list! And just in time, too! Family is coming to visit us for this Labor Day weekend, and now I will have a pretty place for them to stay.

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Monday, August 29, 2016

How To Tea Stain IKEA Linens

I love IKEA. When I visit a store (which is not that often), I'm usually overwhelmed and amazed...floor after floor, room after room, so many things to see. It's like walking through a catalog or magazine. It is so easy to become a kid in a candy store. "I want one of these, and one of these, and one of those, too!"

There are some bargains that are just too good to pass up. Take, for instance, the IKEA feather down pillow inserts. SO cheap! And the pillow covers? You can find a zippered cover for $6. I couldn't make one for that price.

So last winter, I came home from an IKEA shopping trip with some of these lovely buffalo check Smanate and Akerkulla pillow covers. And while I loved their crisp colors in the store, they just looked too stark in my home decor.

This weekend, I had the bright idea to tea stain these linens.


I put on the tea kettle and got to work.

To begin with, you will want to wash the linens ahead of time. Do not use fabric softener. Just rinse with water. Let them dry completely. (I will show you why this matters later).

For starters, you will need big bowls, or a work sink or bucket will do nicely. I used five Lipton tea bags, fully caffeinated. I let the tea bags steep for at least fifteen minutes, then removed them and inserted my pillow cover.


I let the cover soak for at least an hour, turning frequently so that the coverage was even. After that, I squeezed out the tea water and put the pillow cover outside to dry.


Jemma thought they smelled pretty good, too!


While I still had all of this perfectly good tea water waiting, I decided to stain the Akerkulla cover as well. I had washed it, but it was not fully dry when I began the process. For this reason, it did not stain quite as darkly as the other cushions, but I was fine with that. I really just wanted to bring the white down a notch or two.



An hour or two later, and the covers were still a little damp, so I threw them in the dryer with some old towels we use for rags. I let them tumble dry, then quickly removed them and pressed them with the iron. I think this does a good job of heat setting the dye. You may want to protect your ironing board cover by laying a towel over it first. I did not, and didn't have any tea residue at this point as the items were completely dry.

IMPORTANT!
* Only use towels you don't care about, as they will become a bit tea stained as well.

*Remember to wipe down everything after the job, including that drying rack! It would be a terrible thing if you laid your nice white denim jeans on that rack and gave them a funky striped tea stain pattern. Unless that's the look you were going for...but I doubt it.

And here's the finished result!



Perfect! The tea stain softened the gray, and took the harsh white down to a nice ecru. This looks so much more like the decor in my house now.


And here is the Akerkulla embroidered cushion cover next to the Smanate cover. You can see that it's just a bit lighter. I love it! It now looks like the sort of vintage linens you'll find at a flea market. Jemma loves it, too!


A little bit of autumn is creeping in to my home decor. I can't help myself! I love this time of year, when all the world mellows to a golden hue.


The front entry is now ready to embrace fall.

Blessings on your Monday, cafe friends!

Thursday, August 25, 2016

August 2016 PTI Blog Hop!: God is Good


Hello, cafe friends! Today is the August Blog Hop at Papertrey Ink! And here is our inspiration photo:


Lovely! The colors really reminded me of the palette of new inks and card stock that arrived at my mailbox this week!


I hadn't planned on using these colors together, but when I saw them piled on top of each other I had to let out an "Oooooh!" Sigh worthy! Cocoa Bean, Americana, Saffron Spice and Pale Peony.

I used this palette as my starting point, and pulled together a few different PTI stamp sets to complete this idea that had been rolling around in my brain for a while.


{Today's Brew: Stitched Sentiments (PTI), Phrases and Praises (PTI), Tag Its (PTI), PTI card stock and ink, seam binding, burlap. wood grain embossing folder}


This sentiment is near and dear to my heart.

I once heard Beth Moore say in a bible study "God is good all the time. And when it appears that He is not good, that is because He is great."

Let that one sink deep into your soul for a moment.

The first time I heard this, it took my breath away. It is a thought that brings me to my knees.

There are going to be times in our lives when bad things will happen. That's a promise. And there will be times when we will struggle with a good God allowing bad things to happen. Without that struggle, we cannot grow in faith. And this side of heaven, we may never understand the goodness of His plan for us each and every time.

But every now and then, God lets us see a little glimpse of understanding, if we keep our eyes open. And when we see those Romans 8:28 moments, and recognize how God really does work for the good of those who love Him, well let me tell you this, it's a humbling experience. I'm comforted in the fact that I have a God who is bigger than my puny brain can grasp. Omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, beyond my understanding.

I had one of those moments this month.

A friend from Pittsburgh told me a story, and suddenly the formula was solved. I had been operating for the past year on an equation that looked like this:

A + B = ?

And quite miraculously, I saw God's plan. It wasn't A + B = Mary Rose's Unhappiness.

It was, in fact, the opposite.

A + B= God's good plan to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a future.

God is good all the time. What a mighty God we serve!

Francis Chan said "Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?"

Amen!

August 2016 PTI Blog Hop!: God is Good


Hello, cafe friends! Today is the August Blog Hop at Papertrey Ink! And here is our inspiration photo:


Lovely! The colors really reminded me of the palette of new inks and card stock that arrived at my mailbox this week!


I hadn't planned on using these colors together, but when I saw them piled on top of each other I had to let out an "Oooooh!" Sigh worthy! Cocoa Bean, Americana, Saffron Spice and Pale Peony.

I used this palette as my starting point, and pulled together a few different PTI stamp sets to complete this idea that had been rolling around in my brain for a while.


{Today's Brew: Stitched Sentiments (PTI), Phrases and Praises (PTI), Tag Its (PTI), PTI card stock and ink, seam binding, burlap. wood grain embossing folder}


This sentiment is near and dear to my heart.

I once heard Beth Moore say in a bible study "God is good all the time. And when it appears that He is not good, that is because He is great."

Let that one sink deep into your soul for a moment.

The first time I heard this, it took my breath away. It is a thought that brings me to my knees.

There are going to be times in our lives when bad things will happen. That's a promise. And there will be times when we will struggle with a good God allowing bad things to happen. Without that struggle, we cannot grow in faith. And this side of heaven, we may never understand the goodness of His plan for us each and every time.

But every now and then, God lets us see a little glimpse of understanding, if we keep our eyes open. And when we see those Romans 8:28 moments, and recognize how God really does work for the good of those who love Him, well let me tell you this, it's a humbling experience. I'm comforted in the fact that I have a God who is bigger than my puny brain can grasp. Omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, beyond my understanding.

I had one of those moments this month.

A friend from Pittsburgh told me a story, and suddenly the formula was solved. I had been operating for the past year on an equation that looked like this:

A + B = ?

And quite miraculously, I saw God's plan. It wasn't A + B = Mary Rose's Unhappiness.

It was, in fact, the opposite.

A + B= God's good plan to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a future.

God is good all the time. What a mighty God we serve!

Francis Chan said "Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?"

Amen!

Monday, August 22, 2016

Recollections Creative Year from Michaels


Today I thought I'd show you some items I picked up this weekend from the Recollections Creative Year planner system at Michaels.

Originally, I went in to the store for just one thing (yeah, that's how it always happens!): this personal planner punch that I'd found after a lot of digging on the internet. And let me tell you, it's a very nice punch! Heavy and well made. The fact that it's gold and matches my Webster's Pages planner is just a bonus! I really wanted a punch that would allow me to make my own pages, dash boards, and dividers using all of the pretty papers I already own. This one will work very nicely, and it's a fraction of the cost of other punches sold online. Even better, use a coupon like I did and get it at a great price.


Of course, while I was there I happened to notice that Michaels carries a LOT of planner stuff now...Happy 365, Heidi Swapp, and their own in house brand Recollections. Stickers, stamps, binders, you name it.

I really liked the Recollections line because I knew it would fit in the Webster's Pages pumpkin planner that I already own. They did sell monthly kits in four different palettes, but none of them rocked my boat.

And then I saw these super cute journals. They have them in just about every category you can think of: academics, monthly budget, fitness, meal planning, and more. I picked up these four: Calendar, Spiritual, Journal, and Inspiration. These sell for 4.99 each, but this weekend they were on sale for buy one, get one half off. And did I mention I had a coupon?


I liked the calendar, and I was pretty sure that I had plenty of accessories from Simple Stories Carpe Diem to go with it. I used my sticker tabs to divide the months...easy.


The paper quality is really good, with nice tooth and no bleed through.


I liked the calendar for several reasons:

*It is undated, so you can start the calendar whenever you like.

*It features a month on two pages spread, which I find very handy.

*Following each monthly spread, it features weekly pages with plenty of room for notes.

* I like the printed colors of the graphics...clean and simple, so I can embellish as I choose.


Here's a look at the Spiritual Journal:




I really liked the simple prompts. I plan on using this now, as well as with the new women's bible study that begins at church next month.


Recollections also offers notepads with a side bar already punched for six ring binders. But I decided to cut off the holes and just slip it into the back slot of my planner. Perfect!


There it is: a planner full of happy! I'm so glad that I can use all of my Simple Stories Carpe Diem accessories with this system.

For now, I'm only putting my calendar and spiritual journals in my planner. I figure I can swap the journals out pretty easily.

It's that time of year when schedules become important. I'm adding new volunteer work to my monthly schedule, along with exploring some different social opportunities. The Fixer Upper is no longer requiring so much of my time, and Jemma the Yeti puppy is happily settling into routine.

Happy plans, cafe friends!

Sunday, August 21, 2016

The Importance of Curtains: A Few Tips and Tricks For Buying and Installing


This weekend, my husband finally finished the last of the trim staining for our new Andersen windows that were installed last fall. This project took him close to nine months to complete, for several reasons.

1.) It's tedious and time consuming, applying stain and then three coats of varnish, with sanding between coats.

2.) He managed to do the outer frame trim over the winter, but the interior window trim had to be done when the weather was ideal to open windows...not too hot, not too cold.

3.) We've been raising a sixty-five pound Yeti puppy for the past six months. Wild Yetis are tricky things to work around, but Jemma is finally calm enough to let us get stuff done.


First, we had to take down all the curtains, hide them upstairs, and then tape off all the windows. Wow. When the curtains came down, I realized what a big impact they have on the rooms downstairs.

Here's the dining room with no curtains:


And here's the dining room with curtains:


Such a big difference! They make such a statement. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Buffalo check...so much, in fact, that I have to stop myself from inserting it into every room!

Here's the office/library/den without curtains:


And here it is with curtains:




MaryLynn, I added this photo for you! Look! Jemma still uses the gates! LOL!

Here's the family room without curtains:



Aww! Daddy's furry little Yeti helper!

And here's the family room with curtains:


Think of it this way. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then the windows must be the eyes to the house. And trust me. This house needs a LOT of mascara! :)  Without curtains, these rooms would be fine. But with the addition of curtains and pretty lighting (also essential!), each room makes a statement.

Here are a few things we've learned about buying and hanging curtains:

1.) Quality counts. A well made curtain will have much better drape and heft. They don't need to be heavy and dark, but they do need form to help them drape properly. I purchased all of the curtains from Ballard Designs, and they were worth every penny. I used to be able to find decent curtains at Target, but these days their decor seems to be very trendy and transitional, and I lean to traditional style. I've also found nice curtains from Walmart Better Homes and Gardens line. Country Curtains is another great source for quality curtains. Occasionally, you can find nice Laura Ashley curtains at places like Marshalls and TJ Maxx.


2.) Where you install the brackets for your rods is very VERY important. Here's why. If you screw them into the wall too close to the trim, then that is where the edge of the curtain will go, and no farther. This means more curtain will cover more of the window, thus blocking out more light. If you don't want too much curtain covering your window, then make sure you screw the bracket into the wall at least three inches from the trim, as we've done here.


I tend to buy my curtain rods from home improvement stores. Typically, they have a very nice selection at good prices. You can also find matching tie backs, as we've done in the office room. I try to match the style and color to the style and color of the light fixtures in each room.

3.) You will want your curtains to touch the floor. If they do not touch the floor, it will look like a kid who's outgrown their pants and is wearing a pair of waders to school. Trust me. No one wants to wear waders. The curtain should have a bit of a break at the bottom hem, similar to the break you would find in a nicely tailored pair of pants.



4.) If you have a not-so-pretty view, or if you need to control the light coming in to the room, you will probably need some sheers. I bought these linen sheers from the Threshold line at Target before our new windows were installed. The new windows are much taller, so I added a few inches to the length by installing these on the rod with rings and clips. As you can see above, they are a little short (see tip number three above!). I'm trying to ignore it because these curtains get a lot of abuse from Jemma. Good enough for now!


We spent a good chunk of change on these curtains. Probably over $700 in total, just for the three rooms downstairs. It was definitely a splurge. Where did we save money? Well, I did reuse the previous curtain rods in the family room, and that saved us a little money. But the biggest savings came by simply finishing the window staining ourselves. Yes, it took a LONG time to finish, but in the end, we probably saved over a thousand dollars that we would have paid to painters to get the job done. And look! We've learned a new skill that we can add to our flipping repertoire.

Another project crossed off the To Do list! Hurray! Next up: painting!

Blessings!