Yummy Ruffles

I am one step closer to "finishing" my master bedroom makeover. Whew! It sure has taken a long time- and I am still not done. The project has taken on a life of it's own. I started with a very specific look in mind......and it has morphed into something almost entirely different. But I am loving it!

I have been on the search for curtains for the master bedroom. As you remember from my last post, I had several beautiful, vintage panels that I loved and wanted to use. Unfortunately, the thermal lining was a mess and after putting many hours and many failed attempts at pulling that lining off.......I gave up. I.do.not.have.the.time. Nope. So I moved on.

I had in my mind what I wanted for the windows but had a hard time finding it. Do you do that? Get something specific in your head as to what you want and then nothing else will do? I am that way. After searching high and low with nothing matching what I had envisioned I decided I would just make my own curtains!!!

Here they are in all of their finished, yummy glory...

Oh! I am so happy with how they turned out!

They are exactly what I had hoped and more.

I love that they give us privacy but still look wispy and light when the sun shines through them.

I did not have a pattern. I guess you could say it's a Heather Original. Hah! I just thought out how I was going to make them and really took my time. Lots and lots of time. I have about 8 hours in these babies, and some of that time was spent figuring out the process. I have to work around kids nap schedules and other stuff so it wasn't like I got to just sit and sew straight through from start to finish. I think that actually added to the excitement. It was like getting to a good part of a great novel and then having to put it down for a bit. Anticipation!!!

The time spent was so well worth it. I adore my new curtains. I keep looking at them and I smile every time. I love waking up in the morning to see the sun streaming through them and how the ruffles seem to make the light bounce across the room. I love watching the breeze gently blow the curtains in a way that reminds me of my mother's and grandmother's curtains growing up. And they look amazing with the "look" that I am trying to accomplish in our room.

I have decided to start making and selling these curtains!!! Well, not my pair! They are now available for sale in our Etsy shop: 2Sisters1Love. Link at the sidebar.

So, what do you think? Have you completed a project lately? Please share!

Blessings,

Heather:)

I Heart Craigslist

I heart Craigslist. I really do. I have been wanting (pining for, drooling over) the Arhaus iron bed for over ten years now. Seriously. I lurve this bed. But with the high price tag...I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money when there are always other necessities that need our money more.

A couple of weeks ago I was searching Craigslist for a captains bed for Kyle and came across an ad "Arhaus Iron Bed Cheap-Moving, Must Sell". I clicked on the ad and there it was. My Arhaus iron bed. Cheap. They were selling it as a set with the mattress and box spring. I called the woman, offered her even less than they were asking and told her I just wanted the frame- no mattress and springs. She accepted the offer. Then, I called Marc. We had recently sold our bed frame because we were going to do an upholstered headboard. Marc knows of my love for this bed so all he asked me was "when do I go pick it up?" I LOVE my husband! He is so good to me.

The only difference is that I always thought I had wanted the black finish on the bed and this was the antique white. Marc and I decided that we would just paint it. No problemo. When he went to pick it up he called me and said "We're not painting this- it's awesome as is." And it was! After running the idea by my ever-so-talented design consultant- LeAnn, it was agreed. No painting the bed!

It has the most amazing, antique looking paint finish on it. It truly looks like it is 100 years old. Leave it to those amazing folks at Arhaus- genius I tell ya!

Pay no attention to the stuff under the bed. I have since made a bed skirt!

This bed makes me smile every time I walk into our room now. It was worth the wait! I still can not believe I found it on Craigslist. I have never seen one on there before. And for less than a fifth of what I would have paid at the store- I got my dream bed. Thank You Craigslist. You totally rock.

Sorry for the blurry, dark pictures. I need to take more pictures during the day. ;)

Also, did you notice the ruffled duvet at the foot of the bed? I scored that for a song on eBay! It was one of those "best offer" listings. I put in an offer and got it! I was so excited. It is Pottery Barn and made from the softest linen you have ever felt!

The master bedroom redo is coming along nicely, just not as quickly as I would like. I think it's a good thing that it is taking awhile. I am following through with my plan and waiting for things I love instead of settling for the first thing I see. The room has taken a slightly different direction than what I started out with and I am happy about that. I am making it our own and not something straight from a magazine. With more Craigslist items, and some recent yard sale scores on artwork and accessories, it is just about done. All that I have left to do is paint the walls, figure out window treatments, buy new sheets (and add crochet trim to them), and pillows to fill some dreamy shams I found. I can't wait to show you pictures! For now, though, all of that is still on hold.

Bella is still sick. We have been fighting this fever for a week now. The antibiotics don't seem to be working at all. The fever will go away for a day and be back with avengance the next. I have been on "seizure watch" five days out of the last 7. Tonight included. I spoke to Bella's pediatrician today and they want to see her in the office tomorrow. They will be doing testing tomorrow to try and figure out what is going on with Bella.

I ended up at my doctor's office last Saturday with a diagnosis of a virus, sinus infection and pneumonia. I knew it was coming. I had been feeling under the weather but brushed it off because Bella was so sick. It finally caught up with me and knocked me down. I am beyond exhausted and ready to lose my mind trying to figure out this wacky fever of Bella's. I have to give Bella Tylenol or Motrin every three hours to try and keep the fever down. The lack of sleep has really taken it's toll. Not that I would sleep anyways. I am worried sick about her. Tonight when I tucked her in she said her prayer: "Dear God, pwease make my feber go away so I can go to the pwayground. Amen."

Sigh.

I pray we get answers tomorrow.

Thank You all for your prayers, thoughts and concerns for Bella. They mean so much to us.

Blessings,

Heather:)

Inspired & Determined

I find inspiration everywhere. Magazines, catalogs, the Internet, nature, hotels and restaurants. I have a folder in my picture file titled "Decorating" and every time I see something that inspires me I save it to my folder. I look back at it often- especially when I am wanting to do a project. Unfortunately, I don't always save the source of where I find these pictures. I so wish I did! I would love to give credit where credit is due, so if any of you own these rooms or know where they came from please let me know.

Lately I have been really pondering what to do in the master bedroom. I started decorating the master bedroom over two years ago. Guess what- it's not done. Nope. Not at all. In fact, I never even really got started. I ordered bedding and sent it back. I bought curtains and returned them. I got frustrated and gave up. Just call me the inferior decorator. Yep. That would be me. I am so afraid of making a mistake in that room that I don't even try. One of my big issues the last couple of years is that I felt like I was finally coming into my style so I was hesitant to make choices. Now I realize, I HAVE found my style, and I have found the confidence to once again start the master bedroom. Another problem is that I didn't have a plan. Or a vision of what I wanted the room to look like. I would buy bedding and then be stumped, or pick out curtains and then get confused trying to get the rest of the room to "come together" in my head. But without a clear vision everything got blurred. I sat down with a piece of paper and wrote down everything I could think of:

1.) How the room needed to function
2.) What I/We wanted to feel when we were in the room
3.) Elements I wanted to incorporate into the room
4.) Fabrics I liked- look, feel, etc.

Once I had my list I started looking through my decorating inspiration folder and picked out all of the pictures that "spoke" to me. I noticed that out of all of the pictures, and my notes, that they all shared a common thread. Hmm. Imagine that. Now I have a plan.

Our master bedroom also has to serve as a home office. The problem is I don't want it to look all "office-y"..............I don't want to see the computer or the printer or bills that need to be paid or filed. I want to disguise that stuff as much as possible. I want the bedroom to be soothing, romantic, fairly monotone, and have sort of a vintage feel. I want it to be comfortable, crisp and airy.

Here are just a few pictures that have me inspired and determined to make this room a reality. Finally.
The perfect duvet...

Loving these gorgeous sheets from Pottery Barn. I think I can get this same look by adding some crochet trim to my existing white sheets.

The detail on this dresser...........swoon

Candles. Lots and lots of candles.

Built in cabinets and shelves to hide the office "stuff"

I heart these slipcovers

Ahhhhh........... a centerpiece for the bed

I love this room by Linda Woodrum. Iron beds.....vintage romance

Monotone, window seat, chandelier...

This window seat looks like a perfect spot for a good book and some hot tea. Oh the hours I could waste away here..........

White linens

My dresser is almost the same as this one. I just need to paint it black and distress it like this one. What a great look.

So, there you have it. A sneak peek into my plan. I can't wait to get started on it!

Where do you find your inspiration?

Blessings,

~Heather:)

Old Becomes New

Yesterday was such a treat. I finally got to pick up my antique slipper chair from the upholsterer. I dropped the chair off a year ago and finally got it back this Sunday- by no fault of the upholsterer, but mine. Awful, I know! In fact, if he wasn't such a nice guy (and I hadn't prepaid) he probably would have given up on me and sold the thing!


This chair is so special to me. I remember sitting on it when I was small. We would visit my great-grandfather and this would be my spot. After my great-grandfather passed away the family held an estate auction and my Aunt J bid and won the chair for me. I knew even at my age then what an amazing gift she had given me. I have cherished it for years and will for the rest of my life.


I could kick myself over and over because I don't have any "before" pictures of the chair. URGH! Why? I don't know. I really would have loved to have a before shot. Since I don't, I will tell you....this chair was in bad shape when I dropped it off to have it reupholstered.

The chair was originally covered in dark pink (or maybe red) velvet that was so terribly faded. Some of the tufting and buttons were missing, the skirt was falling off and two of the legs were wobbly. The springs were bent and poked you in the rear every time you sat on it. The padding and batting was only partially there and therefore the seat was lumpy, bumpy and just a mess.


Well, not any more! There are a few things we changed when deciding how to redo the chair. I didn't want to take away from the original charm of the chair but I also wanted to make sure it suited our lifestyle- with three kids. I decided to not do the tufted seat and back (my kids would be plucking those buttons off in a heartbeat). I also decided to not go with velvet. Again, in order to keep it looking nice when it comes in contact with the kids.

I chose two different fabrics that I thought suited the period of the chair. They are heavy duty upholstery fabrics with a nice pattern that I am sure will wear well and hide most of the dirt. The skirt and the piping/welting are accents on the chair. I am going to call the upholsterer and see if he has any of that fabric left over as I would love to make a small boudoir pillow out of it.

I couldn't be happier with how it turned out! I started tearing up as soon as I saw it. My guy did an amazing job. He had to completely reconstruct the chair. He started out by tearing it down to the wood frame and "rebuilding" it with all new springs, foam, batting, webbing, etc. Honestly I don't think he charged enough!

Just to give you an idea of the scale of this chair, here is Bella standing beside it.............

She is a midget and yet still taller than the chair! It is 31" high and only 14" from floor to seat. I love, love, love this chair and am so happy that I finally had it redone. Someday I will pass it down to my girls and I hope they love it as much as I do. Something tells me they will.....

Bella is already saying "This Bella's chair!"

Now........................I think I should redecorate my master bedroom around the chair.............LOL!!

Have a great one everybody!!

~Heather:)

A Busy Buzzy Weekend and a Thank You

First of all I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind words to Marc and I on the loss of Marc's PapPap. Marc and I were both blown away by the comments that were left and how loving all of you are. It truly touched our hearts and we were overwhelmed by the support from the blogging community. You will never know how wonderful and how encouraging your words were to us at this time. Thank You!!!!!!


What a weekend! Marc was on call all weekend and we were busy with a ton of projects. I still can not believe what all we got accomplished in just a few days time.
Most importantly we took care of a very pressing issue. About a month ago we had some neighbors move in. These are the kind of neighbors you do not want in your community. Not only are they a nuisance but they are mean, dangerous and they were killing my plants! Uh huh! Can you believe it? Well, by Sunday I had had enough and Marc and I decided that something needed to be done. I was tired of dealing with them and tired of being afraid to go outside because I knew that they would be out there.......... waiting for me. Honestly- they scared me to pieces and they were getting worse all of the time.


Yes.......... hornets. Big scary hornets had moved in and were taking over the ceiling of our balcony. They were killing my plants.......... and the ones they weren't killing they made it very difficult for us to water because they would swarm us every time we went outside. Not only that but they must have told their friends about what a great place they had moved into because they started moving in too! Like a whole hornet community!!

Marc came home from work on Sunday ready to take on these savages with just the right weapon.............

He snuck outside to move some plants and furniture out of the way...............

And then took on those bees like a true manly man that he is. Yeah ladies- eat your hearts out- this is how a real man kills bees. One hand out the door and the other hand holding the door knob ready to slam it shut!!!!!!!!! Careful baby! It was pretty intense for awhile let me tell ya! There were a lot of bees crammed inside that nest and they came out ticked off!

But after a whole can of hornet killin' spray......................

The nest fell to the ground and all remaining inside were pronounced dead at the scene. That'll teach ya to mess with my flowers!! I don't think they'll be back. At least I hope not!!

Saturday we went to Lowe's to get materials for a project that we worked on almost all weekend. That will be in a post later this week as it is not quite finished and I don't want to show it until it is officially done. Marc and I are super excited about it though. He says it "Better Homes and Gardens worthy!!" Here is Marc pushing the kids in the cart.................

I think they are enjoying the ride!

On Friday I did some painting. I know- I am so going backwards in this post but it's been a long weekend- bare with me!

I wanted to spruce up our entry and make it feel more cottage. I took this old coat rack/shelf and painted it white along with a lattice framed mirror. Here is the coat rack before............

And the finished project............

I am very happy with the results. We can't put too much on the shelf though as every time our neighbor slams their door stuff falls off. I had to glue the "DREAM" sign to the shelf!!!! LOL!!

Something very exciting arrived for me Friday! My new bedding for our master bedroom!!! See............................

What? You actually thought I was going to show you? Why that would ruin the surprise!! I did in fact choose a color- between red and blue! Major accomplishment, I know! I even painted the bedroom Sunday and I LOVE how it looks! There is still a lot to do in that room before it is done but maybe by next Monday I will have pictures to show!! Marc has been busy painting the dressers for the room and I can't wait to see how they look!

Also on Friday I painted Kyle's room! It looks so good!! I did a faux denim treatment on his walls. It only took a few hours and although at first I wasn't sure about it, I really like how it turned out. Marc really likes it and Kyle loves it! We rearranged his furniture too. Not so much for design but out of necessity. He had bunk beds and Bella fell off the other day! Oh my goodness! The only thing that saved her from breaking her arm was a mess of stuffed animals on the floor below her. That was one time I was glad that Kyle didn't listen to me when I asked him to clean his room!! So we separated his bunk bed and he now has two twin beds. Much safer!! I need to hang up a few more accessories in there before I show you all the final result but let me tell ya- it's CUTE!!!!!!! Kyle keeps telling me he loves his "new room". That to me made it all worth it! Here is a sneak peek..........

Suspenseful isn't it?!? LOL!!!

So all in all we had a great weekend. We got a lot accomplished. We painted two rooms, decorated two rooms, organized a ton and got rid of our annoying neighbors. It feels good. It also feels exhausting. I need some sleep now!!

Hope you all had a great and safe 4th of July weekend!!

~Heather :)