Labor Day Happenings

Hi Everyone,

Just stopping by to show you a glimpse of what Mr. Bluebird & I will be working on this weekend.

The kitchen chair seats are getting a facelift with the pretty new fabric I showed you here.

Two are already finished - such an easy thing to do!  I love that the new fabric is outdoor rated, it should be easy to keep clean and will stay fresh looking for awhile.

We are also painting the kitchen chairs, which are currently black.  They are getting a chalk paint re-do and yes, I am using every one of the paint colors I showed you here. EVERY SINGLE ONE.

Even the much maligned "Bordello" shown in the picture below.  I actually love this color on the chair even more than in the pot.  And it is a beautiful complement to the chair fabric.

Have no fear!  The paint is being used in a surprising way.  Two chairs are already started and I am pretty darned sure I am going to like love it!  Hope the weekend will end with this project being done.  Mr. Bluebird has some golf to get in, so that remains to be seen.

Wishing you all a wonderful Labor Day!  I, for one, am grateful for the wonderful job I have and feel very lucky to work with great people!

Wishing you happiness,
Jane

Chairs of a Different Color?

Hi Everyone,

I am still thinking about my kitchen chairs.  I shared the new fabric with you yesterday - and here it is pictured below.

Mr. Bluebird is all in with this project, so ......it looks like things will be done sooner than later. As I mentioned, I have been under the weather lately, and he has been a real gem in helping me out with some of my decorating dreams.  Here's where you come in.............

Here is a photo of our kitchen chairs.  They are looking a little beat up these days (but not in a good way) and really need a paint job.  Now, I could just re-paint them black and call it a day.  But I am thinking of maybe doing something a little different.

What do you all think of painting each chair a different color that is found in the fabric?  These are the paints I am considering from American Paint Company:

Nana's Cupboard

 Orange Grove

Amber Waves of Grain

Bordello

Parchment

Five chairs. Five colors.

I am not sure about this idea, but I am giving it some thought.

What say you?

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane

Linking with:
Find Your Voice Friday
Saturday Sparks

Tale of a Distracted Blogger

Hi everyone!

Oh my,  I have been trying to do a little "re-do" of our master bedroom since the beginning of 2014 and it has been a slow-oh-oh-oh process.  I really haven't shown much of what I have done with you all - I've made & hung drapery panels, utilized an old bench I found into a cool feature, spray painted some favorite old lamps, and even went so far as put my new bedding on the bed! I am {this close} to being finished and ready to reveal - but I have to confess, I am a distracted blogger!

My projects usually get done - but often I jump into a new project - or two - before finishing the first one I've started!  So goes the tale of our master bedroom.  But enough complaining - I am who I am!!!!

So what has me distracted now?  Well.....I had a doctor's appointment in town today and afterward, I had enough get up & go to hit up JoAnn's.  I have been wanting to replace the fabric on my kitchen chairs for quite some time now, and so I thought I would take a look around.  None of their upholstery fabrics were on sale this week and I didn't have a coupon, so I went browsing the deal aisle.  Jackpot! All of the outdoor fabrics were on sale this week for $9.99/yard - and I only needed 3 yards.  It normally sells for $19.99 a yard.  I found the perfect fabric to coordinate with my living room fabrics, which my kitchen opens into.

This is the fabric that currently is on our chairs.  It is a pretty chocolate tapestry that has worn like iron these past few years, but I am craving a lighter, brighter look in the kitchen.

Here is another view, not the best picture, but I wanted you to see that the fabric matches my husband's tv chair and this fabric really was a good choice a few years back.  Thankfully these chairs are easy to change the fabric out on -just unscrew the seats, staple, staple, and done! While the seats are off, the chairs are also going to have a visit with the paint can.  I may keep them black, but I am also considering a few other colors.  Hmmm........

 I placed the new fabric on my sofa, along with a pillow that is in the same fabric as my love seat in the same room.  I think it will make a pretty addition. Of course, I also picked up some other treasures at JoAnn's.

My kitchen drapery panels are Pottery Barn's Alessandra pattern in gold.  I have had mine for several years, but they are currently on clearance if you are interested.

Pottery Barn

The wooden box was originally $16.99, then marked down 70% with an additional 20% off after that - bringing my cost to about $3.00!  I also picked up some fall paper goods - owl napkins, and bird paper plates. (Did you know I am a paper plate and napkin-a-holic? Yes, I am! I have all my paper napkins filed in filing bins, arranged by season, color, and size!) I also picked up a sweet, fall berry candle ring - lots of uses for that, and in my house, with my color scheme, I really could use it all year.

A close up of the chair fabric - I love the pop of orange!

I probably won't get to this project until Labor Day weekend - I am going to enlist Mr. Bluebird's help, as I haven't been a little down and out healthwise as of late.  And of course, I am a "distracted blogger!"

Are you like me? Lots of projects, not enough time?  Distracted?

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking with:
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Find Your Voice Friday

Starting to Fall (for Fall)

Hi Everyone!

It seems like fall decor is everywhere lately, and I have definitely gotten the fall bug to start fluffing things up around here for the upcoming months.  That's to say, I've been thinking about it...but it is just a little too early for me to start really fall decorating. Realistically, Labor Day weekend I will start the "fallify."

In the meantime, I did decide to make a new fall wreath for our front door.  Once I take out all of the annuals (which are looking quite dead tired lately) and add in the fall mums in to the porch pots, I will have my wreath all ready to rock n roll.  For now, it waits in the hall closet.

I've looked at a few pre-made wreaths and really,  the cheaply made ones are over the top expensive - even with a coupon! Let's not even talk about a high quality wreath.  I was feeling much thriftier and decided to make my own.

I started with a grapevine wreath I already had laying around, a length of burlap ribbon that was half off ($3.50), and a half off fall garland ($12.50). So for an investment of $16.00, I was all in for crafting my own.

I simply wrapped the burlap ribbon loosely and imperfectly around the wreath - I wanted some of the grapevine to show through. I secured the ends with a drop of hot glue.  Easy so far (and I have at least half of the burlap ribbon left for something else)!

Then - even easier - I simply curled the garland around the wreath (about two times), securing with floral pins and the occasional glue dab.  I added an oversize burlap bow made from the same ribbon and presto change-o - my fall wreath was done!  Easy stuff.  I like the bow a little off kilter to the side.

If I had to purchase the variety of faux florals that are in this wreath, it would have cost far more to make it.  Now when I've tired of it and want a change, I still have a great fall garland to use with something else, and of course, the grapevine wreath.

A close up of the different floral varieties - so pretty.  Loving all the texture.

That's it for me today.  Looking forward to fall, but hanging on a little longer to the beautiful summer!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Partying with these fun folks:
Amaze MeMonday
Boogieboard Cottage
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Wow Us Wednesday
Party in Your PJ's
DIY By Design

You Put the Suds in the (Olive) Bucket, Pt. 2

Hi everyone!

When last we met, I was all excited about the new olive bucket from WalMart and was on my way to aging it with a formula found on the internet.  Well, let me tell you - it has been a long process and I am continuing to wait for a little more "aging" to take place.  I first tried a bleach, vinegar,  and salt formula.  That worked a bit, but not as much as I had hoped.  Today I am going with the "toilet bowl cleaner" approach and that seems to be moving things along a bit more quickly.  I think I will need to keep this up for a few days to get to a patina I like.  Still, for $12-ish, I am willing to wait!

BEFORE:

ONGOING: 

In the meantime, Mr. Bluebird and I went to one of my favorite flea markets in Elkhorn this morning, and what to my wondering eyes should appear? A genuine, real deal olive bucket!  Gloriously rusted and weathered and crusty - in other words - perfect!  And get this:  the dealer was asking $35, but sold it to me for $30!!!  He had a lot to choose from, in a variety of shapes, sizes, and conditions, so it was great fun searching out one to take home - at a bargain price.

Isn't she a beaut?  I wire brushed it off and then gave it a couple coats of matte clear sealer to stop the rusting process - enough is enough!  Plus, I did not want rust rubbing off on whatever indoor surface I use it on.

So, never say never, but I think I have enough olive buckets now - not planning to be a bucket hoarder or anything like that.  I did a little research at home to see what prices these things get on the internet, and it looks like anywhere between $48 and $75 - so I am very happy with the $30 I paid out, plus I didn't have to pay shipping!  This was the only dealer that I found at this huge flea market that had olive buckets and prior to today, I had not seen any available before - either at the flea market or area antique shops.  In the end, a lucky find!

I do not know what will become of my WalMart faux bucket, but even if I can't get quite the patina I am looking for, I am confident I will find the perfect use for it here at home (outside or in), and it will fit right in with the rest of the family "treasures!" Hopefully there will be a part 3 of this story, but who's to say?

Hope you all had a terrific weekend!  Did you score any bargains? Real or faux?

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Partying with:
Amaze Me Monday
Boogieboard Cottage
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Share Your Cup Thursday
Grace at Home
Find Your Voice Friday

You Put the Suds in the (Olive) Bucket, Pt. 1

Hi Everyone!

Well, after a year or so of waiting, my local WalMart finally got faux olive buckets in stock.  They have been all over blogland, and while I could have ordered one of these low-priced knock offs online, I was too cheap thrifty to pay for shipping.  So, wait I did and for the paltry sum of $12.44, I brought the shiny beauty home. In fact, I could not get this thing in my cart fast enough!

It is called the Better Homes & Gardens Providence Metal Bucket.  Silly WalMart, they could have charged far more if they had included the term "olive bucket" in their description.  Lucky for me, they did not! You can see this bucket on their website.

But, wait!  Although it was a  good deal, an exciting deal even - it did present itself with some work to do.  It is pretty shiny.  Gasp! Even new looking.  Not really the vintage olive bucket look I was going for.  Where's the rust? Where's the whitish cast? The gray water lines? My olive bucket needs those things. So, of course, where there's a will there's a way and Google!  No shortage of how to age new galvanized pieces online.  There is even one that uses toilet bowl cleaner - intriguing!

I opted for the vinegar, salt, and bleach method.....outside, of course.  First I roughed it up with a wire brush in case there was some type of coating on the bucket.  Then I mixed up a concoction of vinegar, water, & salt.  I brushed that on, then brushed on some bleach, sprinkled more salt on top, and left it out in the sun to "cook."

That cup may look like it's filled with a refreshing iced tea, but I was out of white vinegar, and used red wine vinegar instead!! The bucket now has a little salt paste goo on it, and I am waiting for it to do the "magic!"  I am thinking it will take a day or two to "do what it needs to do",  but for $12, I am willing to be patient.

Once it has the patina I am looking for (which I hope is soon!), I will come on back and show it's glory, along with where I am going to use it at my house.

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Spray Painted Lamps

 Hi everyone!

I am finally getting around to showing you the finished lamps I was working on last week.  I first told you about them here.

The pair started out like this.  Oh, how I love these lamps - but the color just wasn't working. They were several bedroom re-dos ago, and really, just don't go with anything in my house.  I am not ready to part with these beauties just yet.  What to do? What to do?

Well, of course, spray paint is always a good option and I had a can of Rustolem 2XUltra Strawflower spray paint in the garage in the perfect color.  So, I decided to give it a go.

I just love the color, and I am so happy the toile pattern is still visible.  I had entertained distressing the finish, but I decided to go with a cleaner look and - for now - I am leaving it "as is."

I used the same color on our guest room desk, except that I also put a coat of gel stain on top and distressed the finish, following with a coat of clear wax.  You can see the post about this here.

These lamps are going to be our bed side lamps in our master, which is still a work in progress. I will be back later with week to show you what I did with the cool bench I picked up a few weeks ago for this room.

The master is starting to get pulled together and I am so excited to finally be done with it!  I am already enjoying some of the lighter touches I am incorporating, while staying true to my personal style.

How about you? What projects are you working on?

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Linking with:
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