tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27438916928275662002011-06-24T20:38:02.258-04:00Style Fileideas for living stylishly for lessStyle Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-23498108780883502032011-06-16T20:00:00.000-04:002011-06-16T20:00:54.519-04:002011-06-16T20:00:54.519-04:00New Year's UpdateI don't typically "do" New Year's Resolutions, but this year I made a pledge of sorts to get rid of 365 things - one for every day of the year, and since we're half way through the year I thought it was a good time for an update (and a more organized list than my scribbled scraps of paper). Since I am an <a href="http://shop.ebay.com/fashion*boulevard/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25">eBay seller</a>, taking something from my personal space and adding it to my inventory "counts" as getting rid of even though it may technically still be hanging around here. So far I've cleaned through my skirts, pants, and shorts plus random things here and there. So without further adieu, here is my list.<br />
<br />
TOSS<br />
1. Rusted metal loaf pan<br />
<br />
DONATE<br />
2. Metal loaf pan<br />
3. Pyrex 2 qt. pan<br />
4. Pyrex 2 qt. pan<br />
5. Pyrex 3 qt. pan<br />
(I had a set of these and a set was left behind in my new oven so that is how I ended up with so many - I don't have any kind of weird collecting fetish - for pyrex cake pans anyway).<br />
6. Hardback book<br />
7-11. Magazines<br />
12-14. Random clothing items<br />
15. Ziplock bag full of cards, gift wrap sheets, calendars<br />
16-17. Random clothing items<br />
18-24. Plastic hangers<br />
25. 6 mini-loaf pan pan<br />
26. Beaded jacket<br />
27-28. Christmas ornaments<br />
29. Roller blades<br />
30. Roller blade pads<br />
31. Tan & white loafers<br />
32-33. Old tax software<br />
34. Sony Walkman<br />
35. Small decorative trinket box<br />
36-43. Books & magazines<br />
44. Basket<br />
45. Bag of shred for gift baskets<br />
46. 50-pack cellophane treat bags<br />
47. White blouse<br />
48-51. - Heart shaped trinket boxes<br />
52-58. - Random clothing items<br />
<br />
LISTED/TO BE LISTED ON EBAY<br />
59. J. Crew Marine Blue Beach Dress - SOLD<br />
60. Carole Little Black Linen Tiered Dress - SOLD<br />
61. Banana Republic Teal Silk/Cotton Dress - SOLD<br />
62. Bebe Slim Black Pants<br />
63. Lilly Pulitzer Blue Skirt with Pink/Green Flowers<br />
64. Lilly Pulitzer "Firecracker" Skirt - SOLD<br />
65. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/LILLY-PULITZER-Blue-Green-ZOO-PATCH-LENORE-Skirt-8-/310322083001?pt=US_CSA_WC_Skirts&hash=item4840a334b9">Lilly Pulitzer "Zoo Patch" Lenore Skirt</a><br />
66. J. Crew White Lawn Cotton Peasant Skirt<br />
67. Brown Giraffe Slip Skirt - SOLD<br />
68. Gap Tan Cord Skirt - SOLD<br />
69. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/NINE-WEST-Gray-Blue-Wool-Blend-Career-Skirt-10-6-/150610847170?pt=US_CSA_WC_Skirts&hash=item23111b25c2">Nine West Blue/Gray Wool Skirt</a><br />
70. Autograph Black Cotton Eyelet Skirt - SOLD<br />
71. NY&Co Denim Skooter Skirt - SOLD<br />
72. Ann Taylor Lime Linen Eyelet Dress - SOLD<br />
73. Nicole Miller White Stretch Lace Tiered Dress<br />
74. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/THEORY-Light-Wash-Bootcut-Long-33-Inseam-Denim-Jeans-8-/150618732383?pt=US_CSA_WC_Jeans&hash=item231193775f">Theory Light Wash Jeans </a><br />
75. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/THEORY-Med-Wash-Bootcut-Long-33-Inseam-Denim-Jeans-8-/310325414044?pt=US_CSA_WC_Jeans&hash=item4840d6089c">Theory Med. Wash Jeans</a><br />
76. Talbots Gray Flannel Pants<br />
77. Eddie Bauer Red Capris<br />
78. Old Navy Coral Capris<br />
79. H&M Pinstripe Pants<br />
80. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/J-CREW-City-Fit-Blue-Red-MADRAS-Patch-Capris-Pants-12-/310325413909?pt=US_CSA_WC_Pants&hash=item4840d60815">J. Crew Madras Capris</a><br />
81. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/GAP-Brown-Patch-Pocket-Flare-33-Long-Corduroys-Jeans-8-/310325413880?pt=US_CSA_WC_Jeans&hash=item4840d607f8">Gap Cord. Jeans</a><br />
82. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/J-CREW-Olive-Green-4-Pocket-Corduroys-Jeans-8-Petite-8P-/310325413949?pt=US_CSA_WC_Jeans&hash=item4840d6083d">J. Crew Cord. Jeans</a><br />
83 - 86. 4 Pairs Old Navy Shorts<br />
87. Lands End White Shorts<br />
88. Ann Taylor Coral Shorts<br />
89. Gap White Shorts<br />
90. Limited Brown Bermuda Shorts<br />
91. Tara Jones White Bermuda Shorts<br />
92. Red Cross Over Top<br />
93. Carribean Joe Tropical Top - SOLD<br />
94. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/COLDWATER-CREEK-Coral-Yellow-Abstract-Tropical-Shirt-S-/150619245959?pt=US_CSA_WC_Shirts_Tops&hash=item23119b4d87">Coldwater Creek Tropical Top</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-2349810878088350203?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-62743349475367945062011-05-28T19:23:00.000-04:002011-05-28T19:23:30.475-04:002011-05-28T19:23:30.475-04:00Mixing It Up with PatternI don't know if trained designers and decorators have "rules" for mixing together different prints and patterns to get a cohesive look, but I have a few principles I like to follow so I don't end up with something that looks like an outfit Ugly Betty chose in the dark: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2x7xuEZ0zOs/TdQPtWNtMmI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Yi_csH_5CQA/s1600/uglybetty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2x7xuEZ0zOs/TdQPtWNtMmI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Yi_csH_5CQA/s1600/uglybetty.jpg" /></a></div><br />
1. <u>Work Within a Color Palette:</u> This is probably a no-brainer, but I try to pick patterns that share at least a few colors or are complimentary colors (blue and green) or opposite colors (aqua and tangerine).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlMZ1g4tLb4/TeF8h_x3k8I/AAAAAAAAAI8/VFD3uWU76xc/s1600/dwellstudiofabrics.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mlMZ1g4tLb4/TeF8h_x3k8I/AAAAAAAAAI8/VFD3uWU76xc/s1600/dwellstudiofabrics.JPG" t8="true" /></a></div><br />
Designers actually make it easier to follow this rule because they frequently design entire collections of fabrics that are meant to coordinate, both in colorway and pattern. I picked up three fabrics for my patio project by Dwell Studio for Robert Allen called Zoo Stripe Grey, Zoo Scene Blue, and Zoo Flora Lime. The "Zoo" in the name was a clue that they were all designed to mix and match and the colors are obviously complimentary, although not too matchy-match (the Flora doesn't have the blue and gray tones in it, the Stripe doesn't have the brown). The key when working with these pre-matched collections is to not go overboard and try to throw in ALL of the choices (unless you're doing a quilt or a pennant banner or something and looking for a crazy mix) and to follow some of the other principles with regards to scale, contrast, and type of pattern. I loved both Zoo Scene (those elephants!) and Zoo Flora, but wasn't sure about putting them together - the scales were too similar and I didn't think the Flora had enough color overlap with the Scene. The Stripe, I think, compliments both and makes it work.<br />
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2. <u>Play with Scale</u>: I think patterns mix better if they are not all competing for attention with one another so if I'm doing two florals, I pick one that is bold and big and one that is much smaller in scale. Also keep in mind you're not necessarly going to use the two fabrics in the same proportions. If you're doing a pillow in the bold floral below, you might want to use the smaller print for the back of the pillow or for the piping or a ruffle for example so that it accents the bolder pattern rather than competes with it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4SNtAdkZ6KU/TeGC4hgMwnI/AAAAAAAAAJE/KoBqjTY4qyE/s1600/scale2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4SNtAdkZ6KU/TeGC4hgMwnI/AAAAAAAAAJE/KoBqjTY4qyE/s400/scale2.jpg" t8="true" width="355px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>3. <u>Go for Contrasts</u>: If one of my patterns has a lot of color, I'll pick another with a little of the same colors and a lot of white like the examples below. Because these two are so similar in scale, I'd probably toss in a stripe for good measure or maybe just break it up with a solid. In this case I'd most likely use the two patterns in the same proportions: mix and match pillows for example, since both are too bold to take on an accent role. The fact that both patterns are a similar damask type print helps them harmonize but the opposite colorway is what really keeps them singing.<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6gkE_zKFYPo/TeGC3GvslPI/AAAAAAAAAJA/EoinfprchZw/s1600/OppositeColors2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6gkE_zKFYPo/TeGC3GvslPI/AAAAAAAAAJA/EoinfprchZw/s400/OppositeColors2.jpg" t8="true" width="355px" /></a><br />
4. <u>Don't be afraid to Mix it Up</u>: For me the easiest things to match are completely different patterns - florals with stripes or checks, geometrics with figurals. Let your bold pattern take the staring roll and use the more moderate pattern as an accent.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/fashionblvd/cats/PC080001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/fashionblvd/cats/PC080001.jpg" t8="true" width="300px" /></a></div><br />
For example, for the Christmas tree skirt and stockings I made eons ago, I paired a print I think was called Christmas Toile (and sorry, I have no idea who made it) which is a big, busy, figural print showing little vignettes of the manger scene, wisemen, etc., with a much plainer, simpler small-scale check. The colors match, the patterns don't compete for attention and it all blends together harmoniously. I also threw in some solids to mix it up, because I'm ecclectic that way.<br />
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As you can see, I'll often use more than one of these principles at a time - mixing small and large, floral and geometric, and all in the same tones. Really just go with your gut and what looks pleasing to your eye - you are, after all, the one who has to live with it. And if you end up with two things that just don't seem to work together, you may be able to salvage it by tying in a third choice: two bold florals might stop competing if you pull in a stripe or colors that seem too disparate might benefit from a print that combines their palettes.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-6274334947536794506?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-82622053867665219522011-05-17T21:16:00.002-04:002011-05-18T20:22:11.431-04:002011-05-18T20:22:11.431-04:00Smurfy Gets a Friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKHXau11AME/TdMawrpxsrI/AAAAAAAAAIU/fnKmayuB_m4/s1600/scarf4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HKHXau11AME/TdMawrpxsrI/AAAAAAAAAIU/fnKmayuB_m4/s400/scarf4.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
Good friends are hard to find. Square picture frames larger than 12" are even harder to find. You may remember when I first spray painted my ugly brown thrift store candlestick <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-smurfalicious.html">Smurfalicious blue</a> I wasn't sure if I was really on board with the color or not. My master bathroom color scheme was an extension of the bedroom - aqua blues, sand, dark brown wood - and as a windowless space, it was kind of blah. I thought the brigher blue candlestick might help perk things up in there, but the only thing it sort of matched was a blue glass bottle on top of the cabinet. So when I came across this pretty turquoise blue, brown, white, and kelly green silk scarf on a recent thrift store outing I thought it might just do the trick. It was approximately 21" square - yeah, just try to find a picture frame that big without going the custom framing (i.e. mucho expensivo) route. Determined to make it work, I settled on a 12" square with a chunky, dark brown frame. Why the heck are picture frames so darn expensive anyway? Did you know half of them aren't even wood anymore? So $20 for a plastic frame, which Michaels had on sale for 40% off and then I had a coupon for another 25% off, so it came in at just under $10 - fine for one frame, but ouch still a lot if you're planning a gallery wall.<br />
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Now obviously my 21" square scarf was not going to fit into a 12" picture frame, and I didn't want to cut it, so, using the backing as a guide, I folded the edges under and ironed them flat. Ta dah! Perfect fit. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHFdr2G_Pfc/TdMaNMGSXXI/AAAAAAAAAII/wZsG8RnoBIM/s1600/scarf1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHFdr2G_Pfc/TdMaNMGSXXI/AAAAAAAAAII/wZsG8RnoBIM/s400/scarf1.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The old bathroom art was two photographs I had taken in Charleston, SC back in the days before digital photography. I scanned them and printed them on my ink jet printer, and while I still love them, the ink was beginning to fade and I was getting tired of the frames. I'm considering a photo gallery in the hallway, so they may be reprinted and repurposed there at some point. Because I was replacing two pieces of art with one, I did have to move the hook to hang somewhere in between where the old pieces were originally positioned. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BS0_mj6sdlk/TdMabmaFhoI/AAAAAAAAAIM/e2fHE00rqxY/s1600/scarf2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BS0_mj6sdlk/TdMabmaFhoI/AAAAAAAAAIM/e2fHE00rqxY/s320/scarf2.JPG" width="212px" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-regvSjC1100/TdManHUv08I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ORlzjjg58yg/s1600/scarf3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-regvSjC1100/TdManHUv08I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/ORlzjjg58yg/s320/scarf3.JPG" width="182px" /></a></div><br />
I also wanted to try to work in the green sunflower mirrors I'd used on my <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-table-even-twitter-would-love.html">Easter table</a>. You may remember they were anti-freeze green and very, VERY plastic, so I spray painted them with Krylon oiled bronze spay paint which was only $2 at Walmart. I have no idea why it was so cheap, all the other colors were more. Because of the smooth, plastic surface I primed with Zinsser B.I.N. Primer, which I'll also be using when I get to a pair of caned chairs with a lacquered finish that are high up on my list for a makeover - it was $8, yikes. If I didn't need it for the chairs I wouldn't have spent that on these cheap-o little mirrors. <br />
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Once I had the frames painted and the mirrors back in I played around with the placement a little and finally settled on one underneath the scrarf and slightly off center and one centered above. I arranged Smurfy, a green glass jar, and a metal tin on the back of the tank (why can't they make this perfectly level?) and with the scarf to tie everything together I am much happier with the candlestick's makeover now and I like the brighter colors in the bathroom so much I'm thinking of dying my towels a brighter blue too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jDpavXSAPI/TdMa7r-G9BI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YzvvSucSUzo/s1600/scarf5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_jDpavXSAPI/TdMa7r-G9BI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YzvvSucSUzo/s640/scarf5.JPG" width="353px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So there you have it, a little spray paint, a little ingenuity, and probably around $20 netted a much bigger and brigther impact for this small space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick's "<a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/05/spray-paint-party.html">Home May'd Spray Paint Party</a>." Jump on over and check out everyone's great projects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cggtxMIEzDE/TdRihCUEZRI/AAAAAAAAAIs/xreCfPwPPVY/s1600/tdclogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cggtxMIEzDE/TdRihCUEZRI/AAAAAAAAAIs/xreCfPwPPVY/s1600/tdclogo.png" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-8262205386766521952?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-34213350951646922612011-04-25T20:43:00.009-04:002011-05-20T06:04:59.980-04:002011-05-20T06:04:59.980-04:00One Thing Leads to AnotherGallery walls aren't exactly big news or even anything new - heck, my grandmother had one in her family room going back as long as I can remember - probably installed in the 60s or early 70s. But I had a big wall to fill and was tired of looking at pictures sitting around and propped up against stuff so I got over my fear of commitment and started hanging some stuff. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bknrBIPv_ig/TbYM5l-Q_SI/AAAAAAAAAIA/jZz9KnPTijA/s1600/P7097976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bknrBIPv_ig/TbYM5l-Q_SI/AAAAAAAAAIA/jZz9KnPTijA/s400/P7097976.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
I think part of my hesitation was that I'm really not in love with any of this art, except the two small oil paintings which my Dad painted when he was a teen, but it goes with the Pottery Barn look of the rest of the room and the mix of gold, antique white with gold and natural frames goes with some of the other elements in the room - the oiled bronze curtain rod, lamp, cabinet hardware and ceiling fan, wrought iron on the chairs, antique brass door knob, and some other gold and white and gold frames, so for now it was the easiest solution. I'd like to update and modernize the entire room but there are so many other things on my list I don't see it happening any time soon, so for now I'm working with what I have.<br />
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I started out by laying the frames out on the rug to get an arrangement I liked. In addition to the similarly toned frames most of the pictures are architectural in nature with a few landscapes and the one woman, but her colors are similar to the two Italian-looking prints so I think it still works. I also threw in a gold glittery key (Christmas ornament from WalMart) to fill in some space. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UQA38u9nMw/TbYKzbt-ABI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/QCRmJi4s90I/s1600/DSC_2048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4UQA38u9nMw/TbYKzbt-ABI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/QCRmJi4s90I/s400/DSC_2048.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Once I had an arrangement I liked, I made newspaper templates - usually I just eyeball it and do pretty well that way with smaller arrangements (I did the <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2010/06/small-mirror-big-impact.html">mirror and plates over my dresser</a> by eye) but this was the most complex arrangment I've tried so I decided to actually measure and plan. I layed each frame on a piece of paper and just roughly cut around it, it wasn't exact or straight. I hung it on the wall, trying to keep the straight edges at the top and where I needed the frame to line up with another. I didn't bother with templates for the smaller pieces, figuring I could eyeball those once the big stuff was hung. I measured down from the top of the frame to the wire and then measured on the paper and marked an "X" - I use picture hooks rather than nails, so I just made sure I put the bottom of the hook at the "X" and not the nail. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVq6ZgdAAac/TbYK_yLHBYI/AAAAAAAAAHU/FfAQlFINKNs/s1600/DSC_2474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVq6ZgdAAac/TbYK_yLHBYI/AAAAAAAAAHU/FfAQlFINKNs/s400/DSC_2474.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
I hammered everything in and carefully tore the paper away and hung everything. To do the key I just used small finishing nails in between some of the details. If you look carefully you can see them, but they're not immediately obvious.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXwHoCHEvm0/TbYMPQSpOII/AAAAAAAAAHw/pyvHxerKBTQ/s1600/DSC_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXwHoCHEvm0/TbYMPQSpOII/AAAAAAAAAHw/pyvHxerKBTQ/s400/DSC_2491.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
I used this technique in my old bathroom to hang a small washboard and at work to hang a bunch of old saws - nothing has ever fallen off but if you have kids you may want to look for a better way to attach stuff.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-TXvSdCSA4/TbYPPHvgKyI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Rgw23RY6cpc/s400/PC098816.JPG" width="300px" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So once I had everything in place I rearranged a bit on the console table, which is currently covered because the Furry Ones have scratched it all to heck and refinishing it is also low on the list. Again, I think it works for the current style of the room which I call early Pottery Barn meets Tuscan villa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKc4bSIpvvU/TbYMEwUto9I/AAAAAAAAAHs/hn2GbXsNl-U/s1600/DSC_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKc4bSIpvvU/TbYMEwUto9I/AAAAAAAAAHs/hn2GbXsNl-U/s640/DSC_2487.JPG" width="427px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iQ7MPu8Cvj0/TbYLra-_tuI/AAAAAAAAAHk/734jvxaAsI8/s400/DSC_2482.JPG" width="400px" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sU378P_pbhQ/TbYL5bzdBlI/AAAAAAAAAHo/T-Zt-LoyZCg/s400/DSC_2484.JPG" width="400px" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, as far as the "one thing leads to another" - what I've worked very hard to hide in the above photos is the corner of the room to the left. My old stereo system is there - yes, I've had it since college, yes, it is huge, no I'm not so old as to have ever owned an 8-track. But it works and I don't have time to convert everything to digital so there you have it. You can see a small bit of it in the below photo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2q_nbSCm9M/TbYLS0_AJVI/AAAAAAAAAHc/Ha-St5jqwWI/s1600/DSC_2479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2q_nbSCm9M/TbYLS0_AJVI/AAAAAAAAAHc/Ha-St5jqwWI/s400/DSC_2479.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was angled in the corner, but the Boy Cat kept jumping down behind it so I had to pull it out for him to get out and after a few times of doing that I just left it all askew. So while I was prettying this side of the room I decided to pull it out altogether and put a chair in that corner. Then I added the iron tree on the side wall (I'm working on my family's genealogy so I have an idea to personalize that, when I get around to it). Then I added an old baker's rack I was planning to use outside this summer, but I think I like it there for now so I tossed some stuff on the shelves that show and will add some stuff to the lower shelves, when I get around to it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrIhsgBdB3w/TbYMrsqP9pI/AAAAAAAAAH4/1Xmwz_rxB7I/s1600/DSC_2497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YrIhsgBdB3w/TbYMrsqP9pI/AAAAAAAAAH4/1Xmwz_rxB7I/s400/DSC_2497.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UoUpjKmEmg/TbYM4aFTo1I/AAAAAAAAAH8/VsayCvmQSC8/s1600/DSC_2499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UoUpjKmEmg/TbYM4aFTo1I/AAAAAAAAAH8/VsayCvmQSC8/s400/DSC_2499.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
So, I'm really happy with how this side of the room has turned out. And I can't show you the other side right now.<br />
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I'm linking up to <a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/2011/05/swing-into-spring-its-party-16.html">DIYbyDesign's Swing into Spring Party</a>. Come take a look at all the great ideas for spring.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BawvOzvf5aY/TdY8vwKBZcI/AAAAAAAAAIw/yvbT9GDcbgg/s1600/diyspringfling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BawvOzvf5aY/TdY8vwKBZcI/AAAAAAAAAIw/yvbT9GDcbgg/s1600/diyspringfling.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-3421335095164692261?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-42842931992255841052011-04-25T08:42:00.001-04:002011-04-25T08:47:25.098-04:002011-04-25T08:47:25.098-04:00Dear Spring, Please Get Here Soon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until it does, here are some pictures from a recent trip to Longwood Gardens, the former duPont estate near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. While the flowers and trees were in bloom, it was still cool enough to need a wool coat. Things are looking up for this week though, its supposed to be 80s at least in the beginning of the week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower gardens</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6aTXLSNOUEQ/TbImLVE_hBI/AAAAAAAAAGY/Iu8jZ1tpCvA/s1600/DSC_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6aTXLSNOUEQ/TbImLVE_hBI/AAAAAAAAAGY/Iu8jZ1tpCvA/s400/DSC_2222.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz9bwKjNEIU/TbImc4H3ZVI/AAAAAAAAAGc/5JM6IjuqQfc/s1600/DSC_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cz9bwKjNEIU/TbImc4H3ZVI/AAAAAAAAAGc/5JM6IjuqQfc/s400/DSC_2223.JPG" width="267px" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2B9wqQw0jn4/TbImrPsh3XI/AAAAAAAAAGg/jcnMEXU7mB4/s1600/DSC_2227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2B9wqQw0jn4/TbImrPsh3XI/AAAAAAAAAGg/jcnMEXU7mB4/s400/DSC_2227.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This eagle? hawk? is part of a stone whispering bench.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5mfFbBSNfU0/TbIm5MBILiI/AAAAAAAAAGk/D7wkAdZN3Us/s1600/DSC_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5mfFbBSNfU0/TbIm5MBILiI/AAAAAAAAAGk/D7wkAdZN3Us/s400/DSC_2254.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAaWUpQN-zc/TbInIInJ66I/AAAAAAAAAGo/w4SYpl8NPeQ/s1600/DSC_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAaWUpQN-zc/TbInIInJ66I/AAAAAAAAAGo/w4SYpl8NPeQ/s400/DSC_2275.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The formal topiary gardens.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5vWCAn5Xyc/TbInU6aTYOI/AAAAAAAAAGs/wRqT6fqeYTg/s1600/DSC_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D5vWCAn5Xyc/TbInU6aTYOI/AAAAAAAAAGs/wRqT6fqeYTg/s400/DSC_2273.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j12AFVu2oBE/TbInjuVE3CI/AAAAAAAAAGw/rHqGMQuVYGI/s1600/DSC_2245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j12AFVu2oBE/TbInjuVE3CI/AAAAAAAAAGw/rHqGMQuVYGI/s400/DSC_2245.JPG" width="400px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italian water gardens.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V2Mk7-bNUPc/TbInxQjGWfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/bP-zHQ9E940/s1600/DSC_2279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V2Mk7-bNUPc/TbInxQjGWfI/AAAAAAAAAG0/bP-zHQ9E940/s400/DSC_2279.JPG" width="267px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_OmSi0gfnoE/TbIn_8FCk5I/AAAAAAAAAG4/-d5mcEq74oo/s1600/DSC_2308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_OmSi0gfnoE/TbIn_8FCk5I/AAAAAAAAAG4/-d5mcEq74oo/s400/DSC_2308.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vtP4unCcDTA/TbIoOwKqtnI/AAAAAAAAAG8/SqgBzIW2NiI/s1600/DSC_2319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vtP4unCcDTA/TbIoOwKqtnI/AAAAAAAAAG8/SqgBzIW2NiI/s400/DSC_2319.JPG" width="267px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Espaliered fruit trees.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jM634cq2_fM/TbIodxehKoI/AAAAAAAAAHA/K9Slfg4djr0/s1600/DSC_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jM634cq2_fM/TbIodxehKoI/AAAAAAAAAHA/K9Slfg4djr0/s400/DSC_2320.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1j_etS4zDkg/TbIorITb0AI/AAAAAAAAAHE/o9J0ao3aUfg/s1600/DSC_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1j_etS4zDkg/TbIorITb0AI/AAAAAAAAAHE/o9J0ao3aUfg/s400/DSC_2326.JPG" width="267px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green wall lining the hall to individual rest rooms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1d_tNjUkkQI/TbIo48Dw0rI/AAAAAAAAAHI/bkHSXFPxIqo/s1600/DSC_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1d_tNjUkkQI/TbIo48Dw0rI/AAAAAAAAAHI/bkHSXFPxIqo/s400/DSC_2327.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-4284293199225584105?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-37855964410056488432011-04-23T17:48:00.000-04:002011-04-23T17:48:33.131-04:002011-04-23T17:48:33.131-04:00A Tisket, A Tasket, An Ice Cream Soda Basket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did these ice cream soda inspired Easter "baskets" a year or two ago so this is the only photo I have, but basically it was just two cute spring-themed plastic tumblers from Target and I layered jelly beans, M&Ms, and other small Easter candies to within an inch or so of the top, then I put in a poof of plastic Easter grass and stuck in some colorful bendy straws. I think they turned out pretty cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MtidcXnurqA/TbNH68oVckI/AAAAAAAAAHM/VuLtWE6wK6I/s1600/P4104713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MtidcXnurqA/TbNH68oVckI/AAAAAAAAAHM/VuLtWE6wK6I/s400/P4104713.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-3785596441005648843?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-89258927112776232692011-04-21T20:28:00.000-04:002011-04-21T20:28:01.280-04:002011-04-21T20:28:01.280-04:00An Easter Table Even Twitter Would LoveHello! Easter is Sunday so a week (or two?) ago I changed out my <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2011/03/wearin-o-green.html">St. Patty's Day table</a> for a spring-ier one. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1rNbJDc5Ug/TbDEjC88RuI/AAAAAAAAAFw/LIPNWK-7sbg/s400/DSC_2449.JPG" width="400px" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started with a Robin's egg blue linen tablecloth. My table is rectangular, the tablecloth is square. Stuff like this doesn't bother me, I just centered it and let the wooden table ends show; other times I've tossed it on diagonally and even round ones work if you fold them down to make a runner. Instead of placemats I put a folded Pier 1 napkin in similar blue tones beneath each plate - the end hangs down over the edge of the table. All of the linens were thrift store finds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HI4EUhKVOk0/TbDFo-iq0JI/AAAAAAAAAGE/uPV5LHo_nvw/s1600/DSC_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HI4EUhKVOk0/TbDFo-iq0JI/AAAAAAAAAGE/uPV5LHo_nvw/s400/DSC_2448.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My place setting consists of repro jadeite dinner plates and chicken themed salad plates - both of these came from Marshall's many moons ago. The cottage floral napkins are also super old and I've folded them into a pocket and tucked my silverware inside. Each setting also has a footed hobnail milkglass goblet and a fun bird-themed glass, all thrifted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMnxL0DuOak/TbDFg9DhvDI/AAAAAAAAAGA/wcvZFU3UssI/s1600/DSC_2443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMnxL0DuOak/TbDFg9DhvDI/AAAAAAAAAGA/wcvZFU3UssI/s400/DSC_2443.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In lieu of a runner, I've placed two pierced milkglass plates and two round sunflower mirrors (Isn't the color horrible for a sunflower? And so plastic-y too! They're destined for a makeover at some point, but the color worked with my theme even though green sunflowers are weird) down the center of the table. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For a centerpiece, I placed two milkglass bowls on top of the plates and nested some gold glittery birds left from Christmas into them. I don't do plastic Easter grass because of the furries (it is dangerous like tinsel if they eat it, and the boy kitty likes to eat random things he finds) so I shredded some newspaper to make the nests - eh, it needs work, but will do for now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-56i0Fw6goo0/TbDFS_lsPPI/AAAAAAAAAF8/FOCaQfZ2uZA/s400/DSC_2444.JPG" width="400px" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">On top of the mirrors I placed some small apothecary jars, you may remember one of them from this <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2010/11/thrifty-finds.html">thrift shop</a> post, and filled them with some cute pastel eggs from Michael's, the only thing I bought for this display. The colors are not too sugary sweet and they have little speckles which don't show up very well in the pictures. I also put two of them in little egg cups which I think are the cutest serving piece anyone ever invented. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03b4vNrS450/TbDE1bDHd_I/AAAAAAAAAF0/M6FQjj348KY/s1600/DSC_2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" i8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-03b4vNrS450/TbDE1bDHd_I/AAAAAAAAAF0/M6FQjj348KY/s400/DSC_2450.JPG" width="267px" /></a></div><br />
So there you have it, my sort of Easter-y, bird-themed spring tablescape. <br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-8925892711277623269?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-3578072541649123462011-04-16T18:52:00.003-04:002011-04-22T21:00:53.407-04:002011-04-22T21:00:53.407-04:00It's Not Spring without Lilly PulitzerLilly Pulitzer clothing is known for its fresh, fun approach to color and patterns.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150px" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R-vaq7FGA_A/TaoS5kRtOOI/AAAAAAAAAEw/4TSH3IXIylE/s200/Crabby2.jpg" width="200px" /> <img border="0" height="150px" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nePQk2oVNM/TaoS9uLx5FI/AAAAAAAAAE0/HCX-eLT_ur4/s200/juicebar.jpg" width="200px" /> <img border="0" height="150px" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kMnEW8M02Gs/TaoS1GPvE9I/AAAAAAAAAEs/UdrNGGQ3YfU/s200/Gill-ty5.jpg" width="200px" /> <img border="0" height="150px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lhtR_iGN2uk/TaoTBnUaXzI/AAAAAAAAAE4/aw_XYMSAqic/s200/lillypulitzerrollsroycepants3.JPG" width="200px" /> <img border="0" height="150px" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJSsp4ZEJjg/TaoTHNcGAgI/AAAAAAAAAE8/IFJerQtyEec/s200/P4174719.JPG" width="200px" /> <img border="0" height="131px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_gXnTBwUJI/TaoTLbObSAI/AAAAAAAAAFA/xeCt_FF23wc/s200/taboo.jpg" width="200px" /> </div><br />
Lillian Lee McKim was born into a socialite family in 1931. In 1950 she eloped with Peter Pulitzer, grandson of Joseph Pulitzer of Pulitzer Prize fame and they settled in Palm Beach, Florida. Peter owned several orange groves, so Lilly decided to open a juice stand on Via Mizner to sell homemade juice made with her husband's produce. Because she got messy making her fresh squeezed juice she asked her seamstress to design an easy to wash, colorful, patterned shift dress for her - hence The Lilly shift dress was born. Soon patrons of her juice stand took notice of Lilly's unique dresses and wanted to buy them, so she started selling them.<br />
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First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who was a friend and former classmate of Lilly's, was one of the first celebrities to be seen wearing Lilly's new dresses and was even featured in Life Magazine wearing one, which helped to launch the brand.<br />
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</div>Peter and Lilly divorced in 1969 and shortly after she married Enrique Rousseau and, while she changed her name to Lillian McKim Rousseau, she continued the business name of Lilly Pulitzer.<br />
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The brand was popular through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, but in 1984 Lilly decided to retire and shut down the entire operation. When she did so, she discarded the design archives, so older prints are hard to identify, although there were some distinctive ones shown below, such as "Streaker," "Disney," and "Bicentennial" (featuring Ben Franklin). In 1993 the brand was revived, and while Lilly is not involved in the day-to-day operation, she does serve as a creative consultant.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ypF114GBcE/Taoc3qkKLiI/AAAAAAAAAFg/AELhUuSBk-I/s1600/draft_lens4000342module27635172photo_1_1239818146lilly_bicentennial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ypF114GBcE/Taoc3qkKLiI/AAAAAAAAAFg/AELhUuSBk-I/s200/draft_lens4000342module27635172photo_1_1239818146lilly_bicentennial.jpg" width="200px" /></a><img border="0" height="200px" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SvJP6_G1-EQ/Taoc5IJx97I/AAAAAAAAAFk/qCftkB61mO8/s200/draft_lens4000342module27635172photo_3_1239818146vtg_lp.jpg" width="195px" /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iV5YM17fYDg/Taoc7NwCcOI/AAAAAAAAAFo/3a_Wh6qhbJk/s1600/draft_lens4000342module27635172photo_3_1239822591lilly_disney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144px" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iV5YM17fYDg/Taoc7NwCcOI/AAAAAAAAAFo/3a_Wh6qhbJk/s200/draft_lens4000342module27635172photo_3_1239822591lilly_disney.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><br />
In addition to clothing for women, children, and men, the revived Lilly brand has branched out into bedding (now discontinued), fabrics, perfumes, candles, purses, stationery, sunglasses, and shoes. The brand is sold in 70 Lilly Pulitzer Signature stores, several company owned stores, and upscale department stores such as Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms and of course eBay is a terrific source for bygone prints you may have missed the first time around and terrific vintage patterns. I'm currently offering the following <a href="http://shop.ebay.com/fashion*boulevard/m.html?_nkw=lilly+pulitzer&_sacat=0&_odkw=&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313">Lilly items in my eBay store</a>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YXy-1aT3hLA/TaoZrJKEiVI/AAAAAAAAAFI/sx4wVRR9aIQ/s1600/lillycubalibracapris1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YXy-1aT3hLA/TaoZrJKEiVI/AAAAAAAAAFI/sx4wVRR9aIQ/s320/lillycubalibracapris1.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liza Capris in Cuba Libre - Size 0</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilly Capris in Twist - Size 0</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s5W-j0lADPk/TaoZ2M4mexI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/NfjHjZFgujY/s1600/lillypulitzerfordscarf2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214px" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s5W-j0lADPk/TaoZ2M4mexI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/NfjHjZFgujY/s320/lillypulitzerfordscarf2.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ford Breast Cancer Cotton Bandana - So Cute for the Preppy Pooch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohYg3MLM3ug/TaoZ-KBXf5I/AAAAAAAAAFU/dF8nJsoNaKo/s1600/lillypulitzerzoopatchlenore2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214px" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ohYg3MLM3ug/TaoZ-KBXf5I/AAAAAAAAAFU/dF8nJsoNaKo/s320/lillypulitzerzoopatchlenore2.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lenore Skort in Zoo Patch - Size 8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFQUN3s78Lc/TaoaJYlwqwI/AAAAAAAAAFY/I6OAG39vjcc/s1600/Crabby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SFQUN3s78Lc/TaoaJYlwqwI/AAAAAAAAAFY/I6OAG39vjcc/s320/Crabby.jpg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liza Capris in Crabby - Size 6</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bpXQdFXMMM/TaoaN7On_lI/AAAAAAAAAFc/hWmuTcm7nPY/s1600/clubhouseplaid2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2bpXQdFXMMM/TaoaN7On_lI/AAAAAAAAAFc/hWmuTcm7nPY/s320/clubhouseplaid2.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clubhouse Plaid Skort - Size 6</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0xelqGUV9s/TarhV2h2hII/AAAAAAAAAFs/u2go7pUa-GY/s1600/lillysilkskirt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j0xelqGUV9s/TarhV2h2hII/AAAAAAAAAFs/u2go7pUa-GY/s320/lillysilkskirt2.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silk Scallop Hem Skirt - Size 8</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KyYzWc1HiQ/TbIjsX2HUpI/AAAAAAAAAGI/pvOpYurnqoE/s1600/crocmonsieur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KyYzWc1HiQ/TbIjsX2HUpI/AAAAAAAAAGI/pvOpYurnqoE/s320/crocmonsieur.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Croc Monsieur Strapless Dress - Size 6</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nNLhrnmPGXM/TbIjuuCPdrI/AAAAAAAAAGM/PjpyHcfjyws/s1600/amazing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224px" i8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nNLhrnmPGXM/TbIjuuCPdrI/AAAAAAAAAGM/PjpyHcfjyws/s320/amazing.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A-Maze-ing Lenore Skort - Size 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-357807254164912346?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-40023665938308126942011-03-16T21:07:00.000-04:002011-03-16T21:07:20.887-04:002011-03-16T21:07:20.887-04:00The Wearin' o' the GreenSt. Patrick's Day is tomorrow and I've got my table all set for an Irish feast (that I won't be making or eating, I just like to keep my table set so I don't pile it with junk).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C9sPkHRUoVU/TYFZBDO3CGI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/qZMTYaovKxk/s1600/photo_lg_ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" r6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C9sPkHRUoVU/TYFZBDO3CGI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/qZMTYaovKxk/s400/photo_lg_ireland.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I started with the clover green linen tablecloth I purchased on a <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-weeks-thrifty-finds.html">recent thrift shopping trip</a> as my base. I didn't want to go full-on Leprechaun here so I decided to keep it more of a simple reflection of Ireland with its green, mossy, rock-strewn landscape. On top of the lush green backdrop I layered my favorite (and only) table runner, which reminded me of the thatched roof on a white-washed Irish cottage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QHWMYtBw7Ww/TYFZuzNaoEI/AAAAAAAAAEY/AFSPy6tnDFw/s1600/DSC_1874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QHWMYtBw7Ww/TYFZuzNaoEI/AAAAAAAAAEY/AFSPy6tnDFw/s400/DSC_1874.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Next I added gold leaf chargers, my one nod to the little Leprechauns and their search for gold at the end of the rainbow. On top of those I placed white ironstone plates and bowls.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NA8B_pCFpoc/TYFacyCmh8I/AAAAAAAAAEk/0ioBd8c3oKg/s1600/DSC_1872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NA8B_pCFpoc/TYFacyCmh8I/AAAAAAAAAEk/0ioBd8c3oKg/s400/DSC_1872.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At this point I was still not where I wanted to be with my tablescape, and really considered a quick trip to the craft store for just a bit more bling, but I was really determined to use what I had (and it was raining and I didn't want to go out) so I dug around some more and came up with some fern printed green napkins from Martha Stewart's K-Mart collection that I'd stored away and never even removed the tags from, so I placed these under the bowls - don't they just look like they're ready and waiting for some yummy Irish stew? My Pottery Barn flatware also has curled handles like a fiddlehead fern so I particularly liked the napkins with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My centerpiece consists of milkglass flower pots (I collect these everywhere I find them for cheap - they come in two sizes and two patterns and are very useful for organizing, dressing up cheapy potted flowers, etc.) piled up with fakola moss covered rocks from Dollar Tree. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ex6DxdHZiK4/TYFaOP2-RqI/AAAAAAAAAEg/dWWgf0UJxEc/s1600/DSC_1873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ex6DxdHZiK4/TYFaOP2-RqI/AAAAAAAAAEg/dWWgf0UJxEc/s400/DSC_1873.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">To jazz up the centerpiece a bit I pulled out a few books on Ireland and stacked them up underneath the moss filled flower pots and grabbed a few river rocks to scatter along the runner along with silver candlesticks and the only taper candles I have.</div><br />
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I looked for some little toy sheep at the craft store, but they were like $4/each so the fields of my Irish tablescape will remain livestockless until I find something on the cheap to graze there. I also would have loved a potted Shamrock <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-npBZNJFd_rU/TYFZKDGkdrI/AAAAAAAAAEU/NGDpbYkCCuw/s1600/irish-shamrock-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-npBZNJFd_rU/TYFZKDGkdrI/AAAAAAAAAEU/NGDpbYkCCuw/s1600/irish-shamrock-4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
but they're on the list of plants that are poisonous to the Furries. I always consult <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/cat-guide/cat-preparation/cat-proofing/plants-safe-toxic.html">this</a> and <a href="http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/">this</a> (and probably 6 other ones just to be sure) before purchasing plants - for indoor plants and flowers they need to be on the "safe" list, not just absent from the "unsafe" one; for outdoor plants, since they only go out with supervision, I'm OK with them just being absent from the "unsafe" list (but again, I consult a bunch of lists and if they're on any of them as toxic they don't come home). I wish growers and big box stores would put this information right on the plant tags - I'd make a lot more impulse buys that way. But that is another topic.<br />
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Slainte!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-4002366593830812694?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-81218870325179352442011-03-13T17:37:00.001-04:002011-03-13T18:21:40.755-04:002011-03-13T18:21:40.755-04:00Fun with PhotosI've finally gotten to trying to figure out how to use the manual settings on my camera - and while I'm starting to understand a bit more about how to make the adjustments, I'm still not great with knowing what to set them at. I used to know all of this a million years ago with a film camera and am determined to keep practicing, but I do hope with even a bit of day light to be able to get some better shots.<br />
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Here is an updated version of my <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2011/03/its-smurfalicious.html">Smurfalicious</a> candlestick which lives in a windowless bathroom:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="330" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5hWZR83YRuo/TX03zNbF6vI/AAAAAAAAAEM/Thtm0GFWt3c/s400/candlestick_flashless.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the color is definitely looking much more accurate than before. Mastering this should come in handy with my eBay photos too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f0TkUXxLDyE/TXbb7CwEnQI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Mz5l7hEBRC8/s1600/P3099081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f0TkUXxLDyE/TXbb7CwEnQI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Mz5l7hEBRC8/s400/P3099081.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-8121887032517935244?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-39029052077254504532011-03-13T17:25:00.000-04:002011-03-13T17:25:01.009-04:002011-03-13T17:25:01.009-04:00Simple Stylish Solutions: Breakfast Tray<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’ve had these giant glass jars forever. They were left sitting outside the recycling dumpster at my old apartment complex and were just too cute not to bring home. They’ve been used for various things over the years, including a display of Christmas ornaments, a collection of river rocks, and a failed terrarium. And they’ve been stored, unused, taking up precious cabinet space. I even moved with them, which felt somewhat ridiculous, packing up someone else’s trash and all, but I just love their size and proportions and you know what they say about one man’s trash. When the cat destroyed my <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2011/02/emergency-laundry-room-pantry.html">laundry area/pantry</a> and I did some rearranging along with the cleaning up of his mess I decided to pull these babies out and use them for cereal and granola bars. Rather than put them back on my shelves, I arranged them on an old wicker tray and had them sitting in the middle of my table, along with some ironstone bowls and spoons so morning cereal or midnight snacks are super easy and convenient to grab <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> I have just a bit more space in my cabinets and pantry - and who doesn’t need that. Plus it looks darn cute too.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This picture was taken after I had set up my table for St. Patty' s Day (coming soon) so I've moved the tray into the kitchen temporarily.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-3902905207725450453?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-4126620729349554132011-03-08T20:51:00.000-05:002011-03-08T20:51:20.592-05:002011-03-08T20:51:20.592-05:00It's Smurfalicious!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f0TkUXxLDyE/TXbb7CwEnQI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Mz5l7hEBRC8/s400/P3099081.JPG" width="300" /></div><br />
I did a quick makeover of the thrifty candlestick I told you about <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-weeks-thrifty-finds.html">here</a> using Rustoleum spray paint in Lagoon. I love the ease of spray paint, but sometimes the selection of colors isn't that great. This came out just a tad brighter than I was really looking for - I think I needed something with a bit more gray in it to tone it down just a bit, but it isn't a bad match with a small blue glass bottle I have in there too so I'll most likely leave it for now - it is certainly way better than what I started with, which you may remember was a bad, streaky brown. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Xxpf8aJn2o4/TXbb_qUwkaI/AAAAAAAAAEA/htuo3oDj3NI/s1600/P3099083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Xxpf8aJn2o4/TXbb_qUwkaI/AAAAAAAAAEA/htuo3oDj3NI/s320/P3099083.JPG" width="240" /></a><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gafK0OwIK4g/TWaRrVs6GxI/AAAAAAAAACg/5cCY9eXmvtc/s320/P2259040.JPG" width="217" /></div><br />
I'm still wanting to wallpaper the ceiling because the room is kind of blah without much color, so I'll try to tie it in that way, and if not, well, it is easy and cheap enough to repaint.<br />
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I could not get accurate color in my photos and the swatch from the Rustoleum site wouldn't copy over, so here is a close approximation of the color.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W8SChK8051A/TXbb2nuyK2I/AAAAAAAAAD4/5Dgoj8KIh9c/s320/candlecolorapprox2.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also lucked into a brand new, still in the wrapper pillar candle at one of my favoirte thrifts for $1.40. Originally I was thinking of a shorter one, but I'd just spent a crazy amount on fake, battery operated candles for the fireplace and the dollar store didn't have anything, so I was happy to get such a deal on this and now that I see it put together, I do like the taller size. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-412662072934955413?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-75196141264550625382011-02-27T19:54:00.005-05:002011-05-19T15:07:04.282-04:002011-05-19T15:07:04.282-04:00Summer Dreamin'This year I'm hoping to do something with my balcony to make it a little more useable when the hot weather rolls around - it is in direct sun with no awning or roof. I'm not crazy about the idea of a market umbrella - I love them in theory, I just don't think it is the right solution for my space. We're not allowed to attach anything to the building exterior so any type of retractable awning is out. I've had a framework in my head that I think I can build and attach a homemade awning to, so I'm hoping to do something custom, which I think will be pretty easy and relatively inexpensive. More on that later, but this evening I spent some time perusing fabrics and paint colors hoping to come up with a color palette. <br />
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The siding is James Hardie Boothbay Blue, similar to the solid blue swatch and the trim and balcony are similar to the solid tan swatch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-47YyBq2QZIg/TWru8NCvSnI/AAAAAAAAADg/MSe0OvHctxM/s1600/colorpalette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300px" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-47YyBq2QZIg/TWru8NCvSnI/AAAAAAAAADg/MSe0OvHctxM/s400/colorpalette.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
I am really loving the idea of adding some marine blue and kelly green to the rather dull colonial colors I have to work with and have found two fabrics I love that incorporate the blue. The one on the left is Sunbrella's Matouk Regatta ($20/yard) and the one on the right is Solarium's Imogen Pacific ($10.95/yard). Ideally I'd like to find a stripe that mixes the blue and the green but haven't come up with anything yet.<br />
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A few other fabrics I considered were P. Kaufmann's OD Slick in Navy and Palm, which I still might add for accent pillows:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-epDE9iJvWAo/TWrx7dXW9_I/AAAAAAAAADk/h5aJUIqbUdI/s1600/p_kauffman_od_slick_navy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-epDE9iJvWAo/TWrx7dXW9_I/AAAAAAAAADk/h5aJUIqbUdI/s200/p_kauffman_od_slick_navy.jpg" width="150px" /></a><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tOSm9BwzcVk/TWryBhYsV8I/AAAAAAAAADo/_JlQZ9RNblk/s1600/p_kauffman_od_slick_palm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tOSm9BwzcVk/TWryBhYsV8I/AAAAAAAAADo/_JlQZ9RNblk/s200/p_kauffman_od_slick_palm.jpg" width="150px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">and Waverly's New Twist Aquamarine, which I think is a little too modern for me, but pretty nonetheless:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A5_94tICReI/TWryloA1oBI/AAAAAAAAADw/_jYB7RWSoWg/s1600/waverly_new_twist_aquamarine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400px" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-A5_94tICReI/TWryloA1oBI/AAAAAAAAADw/_jYB7RWSoWg/s400/waverly_new_twist_aquamarine.jpg" width="300px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also briefly considered yellow or purple for accent colors in place of the green, but after viewing fabric swatches I think green is the way to go for me. I also may throw in a bit of an orangey-coral for fun - we'll see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm linking up to <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/05/a-summer-table-outdoor-ideas-party/">Centsational Girl's Home May'd Outdoor Link Party</a>. Hop on over and check out all of the great outdoor ideas.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-7519614126455062538?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-59211174959915968362011-02-26T19:17:00.001-05:002011-05-21T23:03:54.145-04:002011-05-21T23:03:54.145-04:00Branching Out<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Un2dxoZ3jVY/TWmXEbiz0hI/AAAAAAAAADU/cOi4TTUpXb0/s1600/DSC_1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Un2dxoZ3jVY/TWmXEbiz0hI/AAAAAAAAADU/cOi4TTUpXb0/s400/DSC_1785.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’m not sure if I dreamed this or was awake in the middle of the night and thought of it, but I awoke the other day with the idea, obsession really, that I wanted a tree branch in my china cabinet with some of my cups hanging from it. We’ve had a lot of ice and snow in the past few weeks so there were tons of branches down and I found just the perfect Sycamore branch right outside my front door. I tucked it into the cabinet and it fit well, but I’m still rehabbing and didn’t have the doors back on yet, so to keep Mr. Curious Kitty from chewing it all up and making himself sick, I stuck it up on top, where it perfectly filled in the space between and above the vintage wicker picnic baskets I have up there and gracefully arched out over the front of the cabinet by just the right amount. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_brfa2q9-Uk/TWmXbZn1NmI/AAAAAAAAADY/4Dlk1otKEaI/s1600/DSC_1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267px" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_brfa2q9-Uk/TWmXbZn1NmI/AAAAAAAAADY/4Dlk1otKEaI/s400/DSC_1783.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I pulled out some small vintage milk glass cups that I think were probably part of a child’s tea set, and the only halfway appropriate ribbon I could find, which was black satin (and trust me, way better than the alternatives of bright orange or yellow, not even sure why I have that) and set to work tying my cups onto the branches, making sure to choose spots where the branches were thick enough or the cup would rest on something so nothing would come crashing down. I L.O.V.E. how this turned out. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fhHTLiXHoVg/TWmXt2lC-eI/AAAAAAAAADc/Oj5QiaDlmf0/s1600/DSC_1787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316px" l6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fhHTLiXHoVg/TWmXt2lC-eI/AAAAAAAAADc/Oj5QiaDlmf0/s400/DSC_1787.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">I'm linking to <a href="http://michellelunt.blogspot.com/2011/05/fabulous-friday-linky-party-debut-youre.html">Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust's Fabulous Friday linky party</a> (ok, so I'm a day late, that's pretty good in my world.) Pop over and check out everyone's favorite projects.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9WPqNBvUTk/Tdh8ulnQ4yI/AAAAAAAAAI4/kROZnBA2awk/s1600/faith%252Ctrust%252Cpixiedustbutton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9WPqNBvUTk/Tdh8ulnQ4yI/AAAAAAAAAI4/kROZnBA2awk/s1600/faith%252Ctrust%252Cpixiedustbutton.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-5921117495991596836?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-33880598580264373942011-02-24T12:36:00.001-05:002011-02-24T12:36:25.902-05:002011-02-24T12:36:25.902-05:00This Week's Thrifty Finds<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Now that we’ve had the occasional break in snow and cold for some nicer weather, I was able to hit up a few thrift stores in the last week or so and came away with some great home finds.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="305" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--coAP9F11Oo/TWaRkX0pgfI/AAAAAAAAACY/cw43urGw3oI/s400/P2259037.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">First up is this wooden pedestal. I am seriously in love with this thing. It was $4.99, which is a bit pricey for me from a thrift, but I thought I could put it to good use in my china cabinet to give height to something when I get to styling it. I just love its curvy base and dark wood color (for now, I may eventually paint it something light or bright). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkZoKJ8l3lg/TWaR6tq2y0I/AAAAAAAAACw/qhu7PFfNcvc/s1600/P2259046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nkZoKJ8l3lg/TWaR6tq2y0I/AAAAAAAAACw/qhu7PFfNcvc/s400/P2259046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I thought the top was a bit scratched, so the plan was to keep a plate on it or add some decorative paper (I picked up some fun Christmas, Valentine’s and Halloween scrapbook paper on clearance for .14-.25/sheet but couldn’t find anything I liked for everyday) but then I realized it just had some wax and other gunk on it and it cleaned up nicely.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--q1fHrMclRA/TWaR3aUu6WI/AAAAAAAAACs/_6Id61ghBkA/s1600/P2259043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" l6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--q1fHrMclRA/TWaR3aUu6WI/AAAAAAAAACs/_6Id61ghBkA/s200/P2259043.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XCLk1GNazW4/TWaSf89bYQI/AAAAAAAAADQ/SYdAQ6QCOfw/s1600/P2259061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XCLk1GNazW4/TWaSf89bYQI/AAAAAAAAADQ/SYdAQ6QCOfw/s200/P2259061.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQ2eRt9cmpY/TWaSLDmcMfI/AAAAAAAAADA/dinDF0jkD8w/s1600/P2259051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQ2eRt9cmpY/TWaSLDmcMfI/AAAAAAAAADA/dinDF0jkD8w/s320/P2259051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yw2vmW7jeEA/TWaSHjgrOKI/AAAAAAAAAC8/EFTcKKeGT4I/s1600/P2259050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yw2vmW7jeEA/TWaSHjgrOKI/AAAAAAAAAC8/EFTcKKeGT4I/s200/P2259050.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn5rveSkt0A/TWaSPWCVIoI/AAAAAAAAADE/DKkQVKmqaSc/s1600/P2259052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vn5rveSkt0A/TWaSPWCVIoI/AAAAAAAAADE/DKkQVKmqaSc/s200/P2259052.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I also picked up this ceramic candlestick because the shape seemed to “go” with the pedestal. This has a bad brown paint job and I’ll definitely be painting it. I’m thinking something in the aqua blue family so it can be used in the master bath. This was $2.99.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gafK0OwIK4g/TWaRrVs6GxI/AAAAAAAAACg/5cCY9eXmvtc/s400/P2259040.JPG" width="273" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And while we’re working our way down the price scale, these two jars with aluminum tops came in at $1.99 for the large and $0.99 for the small. The tops look like they went through the dishwasher (a no-no with aluminum) and I’m not sure if the damage can be undone. It doesn’t bother me that much, or I might just spray paint them silver or some other color, I’m not sure yet. I actually already have two others of these: a big short squatty one that I trash picked, and one the same size as the large one that I bought new many, many moons ago. If I remember correctly it was from the Martha Stewart for K-Mart line. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k628cXPwcCU/TWaRvvYBuQI/AAAAAAAAACk/gRycMQajNaM/s1600/P2259041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" l6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k628cXPwcCU/TWaRvvYBuQI/AAAAAAAAACk/gRycMQajNaM/s400/P2259041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I’ll probably end up using them in the laundry or pantry (the big squatty one is used in the pantry for catnip and catnip toys) but right now I have some “moss” covered “rocks” I picked up at the Dollar Tree (5/$1) in the small one. I bought two packs and I’m headed back to get more – they’re awesome and I’ll be trotting them out for my St. Patty’s Day table setting next week.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wj1VpX0SeI/TWaSV2_OgBI/AAAAAAAAADI/gjMEtdrAxSg/s1600/P2259055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Wj1VpX0SeI/TWaSV2_OgBI/AAAAAAAAADI/gjMEtdrAxSg/s400/P2259055.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">And speaking of St. Patty’s Day tablescapes, I also picked up this pretty clover green linen tablecloth for $2.90. I’m a sucker for tablecloths, and linen ones in particular. This one is nice and soft. There is a small hole near the end hem, which I can get around by just shorting it an inch or so, or most likely I’ll just put it at the far end of the table where I won’t see it, ‘cause I'm lazy that way. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ESbmDqqmP9A/TWaR_Be9INI/AAAAAAAAAC0/OAe7iIW54-0/s1600/P2259048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" l6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ESbmDqqmP9A/TWaR_Be9INI/AAAAAAAAAC0/OAe7iIW54-0/s400/P2259048.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Next up is a jar that reminded me of the <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/found-mason-jars/?pkey=e%7Cfound%2Bpickling%2Bjar%7C1%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-">Pottery Barn Found Hungarian Pickling Jars</a> I had just seen in their catalog:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6r7SjPtkhI/TWW4Olb_O7I/AAAAAAAAACQ/yb30VSwJAUc/s400/PBpicklejar1.jpg" width="400" /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I thought they were so charming and was kind of intrigued that they were selling vintage stuff too, but at $139-$159/each, they’re staying in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Hungary</country-region></place> or at the Pottery Barn warehouse as far as my budget is concerned. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">A few pages back, they had similar <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/recycled-glass-vase-jar/?pkey=e%7Crecycled%2Bglass%2Bjar%7C1%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-">Recycled Glass Jars</a> in the $19-$29 range, much more budget friendly but still not on my “must buy now” list. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQHH3ywvGh8/TWW5IVYagPI/AAAAAAAAACU/PKIrjB5YASg/s400/RecycledGlassJar1.jpg" width="400" /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Then I spotted this similarly shaped jar at the thrift for only .90-cents! The glass isn’t as thick or wavy and doesn’t have the subtle tint of color that recycled glass sometimes has, but for the huge price difference, I’m quite happy with it, thank you very much. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9yuY5ZMzFA/TWaSbEDdfrI/AAAAAAAAADM/xA8NT5WTnZA/s1600/P2259056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9yuY5ZMzFA/TWaSbEDdfrI/AAAAAAAAADM/xA8NT5WTnZA/s400/P2259056.JPG" width="300" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’ve styled it with some smooth rounded river stones in two sizes (had these around from another project, from Dollar Tree I think) and a packet of my Dollar Tree “moss” covered “rocks” and I think it makes for a pretty good knock-off.<br />
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Another of my favorite finds this week is this adorable acorn shaped ceramic candle. This was $2.90 and the store had the lid and base taped together, so I wasn't sure what I'd find inside. I suspected it was a candle, but had no idea if it would be burned up and gross or what, but it was brand new inside and the original price of $16.50 is on the bottom. Even if the candle had been bad, I just loved the little container so much.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxNnxhTIr9k/TWaRn5KXcOI/AAAAAAAAACc/iLrHhKq59wg/s1600/P2259039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xxNnxhTIr9k/TWaRn5KXcOI/AAAAAAAAACc/iLrHhKq59wg/s400/P2259039.JPG" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">My final purchase of the week was this vintage wicker picnic basket for $3.90. I’m obsessed with these things. Seriously. They’re great <strike>as cat pedestals</strike> for storage (see aforementioned tablecloth obsession) and look dang cute piled up on shelves, stacked as end tables, stored under beds, etc. I actually collect about three different styles, but this one is the easiest to find and usually the cheapest.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMr9loeDiwo/TWaSC6V0CwI/AAAAAAAAAC4/1TqxYOiqgCY/s1600/P2259049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMr9loeDiwo/TWaSC6V0CwI/AAAAAAAAAC4/1TqxYOiqgCY/s400/P2259049.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-3388059858026437394?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-5256912539240092782011-02-23T15:59:00.000-05:002011-02-23T15:59:35.669-05:002011-02-23T15:59:35.669-05:00The Bell Jar<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I’ve always loved the little bell jars or cloches you see everywhere – I think I probably first spotted them in an issue of Martha Stewart Living, but so far they’ve been elusive to me in my thrifting expeditions and new ones are often quite pricey. What I do find a lot of are the bell shaped candle holders that normally hang in an iron framework – either wall mounted or with little legs – so I decided to make my own little bell jar. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7bpuXqO3fs/TWVys5tHoSI/AAAAAAAAACE/zoJaTxikRMQ/s1600/P2199030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7bpuXqO3fs/TWVys5tHoSI/AAAAAAAAACE/zoJaTxikRMQ/s400/P2199030.JPG" width="348" /></a></div><br />
I grabbed a square glass bauble from a stash of vase filler, bought a $3 tube of glue for glass <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJ7eFh8k1uM/TWVzT1u6ZvI/AAAAAAAAACI/oDSf7IieIxM/s1600/P2199028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kJ7eFh8k1uM/TWVzT1u6ZvI/AAAAAAAAACI/oDSf7IieIxM/s320/P2199028.JPG" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
and stuck it on. Tada! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXzfpHY07ss/TWV0hGGRAaI/AAAAAAAAACM/VpPrIYIZ49g/s1600/P2199035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXzfpHY07ss/TWV0hGGRAaI/AAAAAAAAACM/VpPrIYIZ49g/s400/P2199035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So easy and pretty cute. The glue claims it is dishwasher safe, but I’ll just hand wash this little guy – not that I don’t trust the manufacturer, but the idea of a big marble-like object getting loose in the dishwasher with all my dishes is not my idea of a good time.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">P.S. Excuse my pretty crappy photos – I’ve yet to learn how to use the camera correctly, it’s on my list. It really bugs me how stuff looks so cute to my eye and I can’t convey that with indoor photography at all. I got as far as pulling the manual out of the box, only to realize it was the Spanish version. So now I’m on the hunt for the English version. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-525691253924009278?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-80793855135280931252011-02-08T22:02:00.001-05:002011-02-23T15:44:26.180-05:002011-02-23T15:44:26.180-05:00Emergency Laundry Room / Pantry OrganizingSee this sweet little boy? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH8twG0BaI/AAAAAAAAAB8/-BAkx85jJVg/s1600/P7085546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH8twG0BaI/AAAAAAAAAB8/-BAkx85jJVg/s400/P7085546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>You wouldn't think he'd be a bit of trouble would you? You'd be wrong. He's been on a <strike>single-pawed</strike> <strike>single-handed</strike> mission to destroy all in his path. He recently discovered the top of the washer. He first got up there to pull down his favorite toy from the very top shelf above, which he somehow accomplished even though I can barely reach up there. We moved the toy (it has a string so he can't play with it alone), but he still wants to get up there now. In the process he's pulled down the tension curtain rod, along with all the hangers and the clothes hanging on it and he's knocked the entire washbasket down, where it crashed into his food and water bowls, scattering soggy kibble everywhere.<br />
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I didn't take pictures of his hurricane path of destruction, but I figured as long as I was cleaning up after him anyway, I'd take the opportunity to do a bit of emergency organizing.<br />
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Here is a before pictures of the laundry area. The two overflowing wash baskets that are normally on top of the machines were in the middle of the kitchen floor when I took this picture, trust me, it normally looks much worse than this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH4nO1csAI/AAAAAAAAABo/hjBnW3dI4Wc/s400/DSC_1539.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For now I didn't do anything about the shelves but I did cull the hangers, tossing the dry cleaner ones and moving most of the others to the master closet (where they're currently piled on the floor, I swear I always have more hangers than places to hang them). The stuff hanging on the curtain rod was moved and the baskets stored back on top of the machines, but at least I can close the curtain again, the main purpose of which was to hide this mess. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH6MUKbnEI/AAAAAAAAABw/wrUU2fVEaOQ/s640/DSC_1665.JPG" width="427" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See those boxes on the top shelf? Yeah they've been there since moving in. I'm pretty sure they are Christmas decorations. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other half of the room is my pantry area. I have a nice assortment of baskets and bins, so again. for now, my main focus was tidying up and rearranging a bit. I still want to get magazine boxes for all the magazine back issues on the bottom shelves and maybe do some sort of trim on the Wally World laminate shelves - the uneven gap between the two units drives me insane.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some before shots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH5mZ0nR5I/AAAAAAAAABs/_nqHtqwlTls/s1600/DSC_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH5mZ0nR5I/AAAAAAAAABs/_nqHtqwlTls/s400/DSC_1540.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH3kCXoAXI/AAAAAAAAABg/M0la6GQ7D7M/s640/DSC_1534.JPG" width="427" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">The canvas bins were all askew, the plastic bags were overflowing their container, and canned goods were starting to overflow onto the top of the tan craft cabinet in the back of the space. To make more room, I moved some small appliances that aren't visible in these photos into a kitchen cabinet (which had freed up space thanks to my china cabinet redo), labeled my bins, put my cereal into big jars and moved them to the middle of the table (I'll do a separate post on this soon, it turned out really cute) and just generally tided up. Here are the results:</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH8P90BH3I/AAAAAAAAAB4/MedNoBMZT6w/s640/DSC_1667.JPG" width="428" /></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVH61hmGAvI/AAAAAAAAAB0/0AFG7gH5izs/s640/DSC_1666.JPG" width="428" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The "wood grain" boxes on the right are Ramen Noodle boxes (yes, I buy them by the case, don't judge) covered with faux bois contact paper. The 3-tiered wooden rack on the left houses our kitty food and treats (we were out when the picture was taken - normally there are small white paper plates on the bottom and cans of Fancy Feast on the middle shelf). The plastic forks I use to dish out their canned food moved from my overcrowded silverware drawer into a small metal tin on the top of their rack, I tossed the ones that were too big to fit in the container.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVIC1BnDfhI/AAAAAAAAACA/2f8eIufAt1Y/s400/DSC_1579.JPG" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, and did you notice the print propped on the top of the craft cabinet? Its main purpose was to cover the fuse box, which is ugly. I say was because in a separate failed jumping incident that went crashing down behind the cabinet. Sigh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-8079385513528093125?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-8978864704816767102011-02-08T20:28:00.000-05:002011-02-08T20:28:34.669-05:002011-02-08T20:28:34.669-05:00A Quick Painting TrickI promise to have my china cabinet ready for its full reveal soon, I'm really happy with how it is looking, but working sure gets in the way of doing fun artsy-craftsy stuff. In the meantime I wanted to share a quick trick I use for painting small bits of hardware, like screws. Since the screws and other hardware that came with the cabinet were shiney brass and ugly, I decided to paint them oiled bronze. Then I didn't feel like going out in the snow and cold for the oiled bronze paint, so I decided to paint them with some leftover brown spray paint I had on hand. <br />
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Since only the tops of the screws needed to be done, I poked them into an empty cardboard box to keep them upright and sprayed away. Easy peasy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVHtKpN4AcI/AAAAAAAAABU/9neHN7qISBA/s1600/DSC_1580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVHtKpN4AcI/AAAAAAAAABU/9neHN7qISBA/s400/DSC_1580.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I also used this trick awhile back when painting the finials for my wooden curtain rods - although in this case I wasn't smart enough to figure out the trick before I started so I stood there holding onto the screw part on the bottom with the finial all freshly covered in wet paint wondering what to do with it. Grabbed the box, grabbed a pair of needle nosed plyers, used one of the unpainted finials to poke a hole, then used the plyers to grip the screw and carefully eased it into the box. Yeah, it was probably dry by the time I did all that, but I knew better for next time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVHtkz8-YtI/AAAAAAAAABY/3O1-zHfnAAg/s1600/P8028034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TVHtkz8-YtI/AAAAAAAAABY/3O1-zHfnAAg/s400/P8028034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-897886470481676710?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-29412030365450091302011-01-31T20:13:00.000-05:002011-01-31T20:13:37.899-05:002011-01-31T20:13:37.899-05:00Sneak PreviewI've been hard at work rehabbing a china cabinet I got at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store for, get this, $101 and change. And that includes the delivery charge! Cha-ching. Truth be told I prefer buffets, but I have next to no space in the dining area and this was nice and shallow and with the cats there are things I'm just not comfortable displaying on open shelves. I'm at the "I hate painting" stage on this but I'm hoping with a few more snow days to finish it up soon.<br />
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Pretty ugly isn't it?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUdXRBR_lmI/AAAAAAAAAA4/C45775x1K9k/s1600/DSC_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUdXRBR_lmI/AAAAAAAAAA4/C45775x1K9k/s640/DSC_1541.JPG" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But it will hold a 12 pound cat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUdXwbwLLzI/AAAAAAAAABA/iaKYeAn4ouM/s640/DSC_1551.JPG" width="428" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or two.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUdYgOQvbNI/AAAAAAAAABE/EdrsV9ms1Ys/s400/DSC_1552.JPG" width="500" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm still working on the top part, but while we wait, I'll go ahead and show off the (nearly) finished buffet. I still need to get the right length screws for the handles (they came with two sizes, both too long).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUdZ-us4_zI/AAAAAAAAABI/s6yGBFJGlJA/s400/DSC_1585.JPG" width="500" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">See that blue swirly bowl on the bottom? I have never, ever had a place to put that when it wasn't in the middle of the table. Love! I have put the side doors back on since taking this photo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That little drawer is perfect for silverware. It was lined in black velvet, kinda yucky, so for now I've put in some burlap I had left over from my <a href="http://stylefile2.blogspot.com/2010/11/cheap-diy-art-for-dining-room.html">framed silverware project</a> and I may get some little dividers or organizers for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUddg11MnFI/AAAAAAAAABM/GAEuasv5cdY/s1600/DSC_1582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUddg11MnFI/AAAAAAAAABM/GAEuasv5cdY/s320/DSC_1582.JPG" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-2941203036545009130?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-39315964340399826822011-01-30T09:27:00.000-05:002011-01-30T09:27:21.163-05:002011-01-30T09:27:21.163-05:00I'm moving....Yes that's right, I'm packing up my pixels and moving my blog from Wordpress to Blogspot. I didn't put much research into this last year and Wordpress just turned out to be too complicated for my old brain to figure out, and there were some features I found I couldn't add without "upgrading" to a pro-account with my own host and I'm sure as heck not ready for that. My posts mostly transferred over OK, but I still have a bunch of captions to fix and a few comments are missing, so if anything looks wonky, blame it on the technology, K? Cause it is definitely not the user. Definitely.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-3931596434039982682?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-38863722559869211822011-01-28T10:40:00.000-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.350-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.350-05:00A new lookI've finally gotten around to designing and updating my header! No more overly-enlarged, looks awful, doesn't even have the name of the blog printed on it, place-holder header. I'm really liking the burlap texture and bright yellow color. I'd like to maybe round off the corners of the yellow part and add some pictures underneath. I'm not sure about the green type, but it showed up on that bright yellow, and I've never met a green I didn't like, so.... for now we're calling it done.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-3886372255986921182?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-72799134852780847912011-01-27T14:23:00.000-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.336-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.336-05:00Organizing Problem AreasI recently purchased <em><em>Organize Now! A Week by Week Guide to Simplify Your Space and Your Life </em></em>by Jennifer Ford Berry and while I haven't started in on it yet (I'm in the middle of a big furniture redo which I hope to share shortly and which IS actually part of my big picture plan to organize my stuff better) I have started a list of my problem areas and possible solutions that I wanted to share. Sorry for the lack of pictures this time around, I promise I'll share my messy spaces and hopefully my newly organized ones as I tackle them.<br/><br/><strong>Entrance</strong><br/>Problem - Shoes everyhere; stacked, closed picnic baskets don't get used because they're not convenient<br/>Possible Solution – Open basket under chair<br/><br/><strong>Kitchen Countertops</strong><br/>Problem - Bills, Junk Mail, Catalogs, Circulars and Coupons Everywhere<br/>Possible Solution – Bills in brown leather tote in bedroom near bill paying box; junk mail in trash; circulars/coupons in basket on top of fridge; catalogs in basket on top of fridge<br/><br/><strong>Laundry/Kitchen </strong><br/>Problem - Recycling always overflowing; no real place for it<br/>Possible Solution – plastic tote on shelf above washer/dryer<br/><br/>Problem - Wet dishtowels, kitchen towels etc everywhere, can’t go in wash basket/hamper with other clothes because they’re wet<br/>Possible Solution – small plastic trashcan in kitchen cabinet<br/><br/>Problem - Laundry overflow into kitchen<br/>Possible Solution - Besides the obvious of doing laundry more often, not sure yet. Some kind of sorting system? Keep in bedroom closet until time to wash?<br/><br/>Problem - Junk drawer overflowing; No drawer for dishtowels/potholders<br/>Possible Solution – Small set of drawers in back of laundry area for tools, junk; current junk drawer can house kitchen linens<br/><br/>So I think those are the main ones; I do actually have a few systems in place (I'll share these as I go) that just need their periodic tidying up and I think once I have things shifted around to make better use of my available storage and do a decent clean-out of things I no longer use (I've pledged to get rid of 365 things this year - one for each day) it will all fall into place.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-7279913485278084791?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-35876815789405537572011-01-26T15:04:00.000-05:002011-01-29T17:56:57.607-05:002011-01-29T17:56:57.607-05:00Make Room for Kitty <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/p6125194.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-397" height="375" src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/p6125194.jpg?w=500" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div align="left"><a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/p7097974.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-419" height="375" src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/p7097974.jpg" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="500" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quincy</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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While I certainly don’t believe you should take on a pet you’re not 1001% committed to, I know a lot of people whose only stumbling block for a cat is the issue of where to put the litter box. With a little creativity, this problem can be solved quite easily and quite stylishly. <br />
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Currently I’m fortunate to have a second full bath that is not needed for showering, so my solution is very easy: I just put the two litter boxes right in the tub. I know eventually my guys will get too old to jump in there, at which point if we’re still living here I will most likely trade bathrooms with them so they can get in and out of the lower shower stall, but for now they are hidden away behind the shower curtain where no one can see and all the litter they scratch out is contained within the tub instead of all over the carpet. I keep a stopper in the tub and use the vacuum cleaner to suck up the stray litter when I do a full box cleaning so it doesn’t harm the plumbing. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOJHyvcoKI/AAAAAAAAAAk/nXfm13DRDKE/s1600/DSC_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOJHyvcoKI/AAAAAAAAAAk/nXfm13DRDKE/s400/DSC_1565.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now you see it...</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOETz9mf6I/AAAAAAAAAAc/m2QxaKx86YY/s1600/DSC_1578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOETz9mf6I/AAAAAAAAAAc/m2QxaKx86YY/s640/DSC_1578.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now you don't.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> In addition to the litter boxes, I’ve placed a pole across the built in niches in the shower wall and use this to suspend their carriers. The scoop goes in another niche and I’ve hung some <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+1926+2960&pcatid=2960">volcanic rocks </a>from the shower head that are supposed to absorb smells (jury is still out on this, they don’t work instantaneously). I should probably hang this with some sort of cute ribbon or something a little more classy than an old dry cleaner's hanger, but I just got it and haven't had time to really think about it much.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOIJ4ivrVI/AAAAAAAAAAg/yy6Rr6jHPBg/s1600/DSC_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOIJ4ivrVI/AAAAAAAAAAg/yy6Rr6jHPBg/s400/DSC_1574.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">De-Stinkifier.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> I’ve decorated the space with random cat-themed tchotchkes, plus a few cute little birdies (this is “their” room after all and they’re not really big fans of random cats, they barely tolerate one another), and their pictures (well, I only have Mia’s picture up currently, still need to get the frames painted for the other two). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOKsK3viQI/AAAAAAAAAAo/vTMdtePvJtM/s1600/DSC_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOKsK3viQI/AAAAAAAAAAo/vTMdtePvJtM/s400/DSC_1566.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random cat decor.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOLXhiLOgI/AAAAAAAAAAs/sR0NnR_BSLA/s1600/DSC_1570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOLXhiLOgI/AAAAAAAAAAs/sR0NnR_BSLA/s400/DSC_1570.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birdies for the kitties.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The space under the sink holds bags of litter, dry cat food (for some reason they prefer to eat their dry food in here rather than in the pantry where they get their wet food and where we also keep bowls of dry food and water), paper bags for the litter box scoopings, and old towels and pillow cases for in their carrier and for cleaning up after them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOMFav3IHI/AAAAAAAAAAw/I5H52FdyUVE/s1600/DSC_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="375" s5="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUOMFav3IHI/AAAAAAAAAAw/I5H52FdyUVE/s400/DSC_1575.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supplies store neatly under the sink.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> By the way, I can’t recommend “<a href="http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/">The World’s Best Cat Litter</a>” enough. It really is. It is made from corn and it clumps, but not into a hard little cement ball (remember, your cat is going to breath in and most likely consume some of their litter in cleaning themselves – I personally don’t want anything turning to cement inside of them); it doesn’t get gummy; and it is chemical free. It is not the cheapest litter but I can go a month without doing a full change out. <br />
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A cute milkglass planter in the medicine cabinet holds their nail clippers, brush, collars they won't wear and some of their other small items.<br />
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<a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dsc_1577.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-404" height="375" src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dsc_1577.jpg?w=500" title="DSC_1577" width="500" /></a><br />
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Even the hand soap has a cat on the label.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUSVj4biCXI/AAAAAAAAAA0/19VUGJ_nek8/s1600/DSC_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DCDv8NhdeUY/TUSVj4biCXI/AAAAAAAAAA0/19VUGJ_nek8/s640/DSC_1571.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br />
Before moving here, we lived in a one bed, one bath apartment so my solution for the litter box was a bit different. I removed the doors from the bathroom vanity and put one of the litter boxes in there and then covered it with a tension rod and a small curtain I’d made to coordinate with the shower curtain. As for all the junk one normally stores under the vanity, I moved most of it to the linen closet where I hung a shoe bag over the door and used the pockets for spare shampoo, toothpaste and the like (hint: if you do this, get a shoe bag with CLEAR pockets – may not be as attractive, but makes finding things MUCH easier, trust me, I learned this the hard way). For things like spare toilet paper that had to be kept in the bathroom, I just got a few cute baskets and boxes and stored them in those on the floor and on the back of the toilet tank.<br />
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The beauty of this idea is that it can be adapted to other spaces. If you don’t want to give up the space in your bathroom vanity or need space for a second litter box, you can remove the door on a linen closet, tv cabinet, buffet or anything like this and make a private little space with a curtain. Just make sure you remove any low shelves so kitty has some headroom and of course you will need to devote the entire cabinet to kitty and kitty’s supplies (no storing dishes in the buffet along with the litter box!)<br />
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If you don't want to DIY it, you can also purchase ready-made furniture with a built-in litter box space like this <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+1926+20672&pcatid=20672">stylish bench </a>from Drs. Foster and Smith.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/p-36670-53285h_1-cat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-412" height="375" src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/p-36670-53285h_1-cat.jpg" title="p-36670-53285H_1-cat" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Specialty cat furniture from Drs. Foster and Smith</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-3587681578940553757?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-20959513455200264742011-01-11T09:00:00.000-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.255-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.255-05:00Organize Now! (dammit)I am convinced that if I could organize my environment I’d be able to get the rest of my life in order too. I don’t really do New Year’s Resolutions but every year I think I really need to get my sh!t together and get some of this stuff out of here. But I like my stuff. And I sell on eBay so I’m forever bringing in more stuff to sell. And not purging my own things I think I can sell. It's overwhelming sometimes and I spend a lot of time being unproductive, looking for things, and just in general not knowing where to start.<br/><br/>I recently came across Jennifer Ford Berry’s book <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organize-Now-Week---Week-Simplify/dp/1440308632/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294789790&sr=8-1">Organize Now! A Week-by-Week Guide to Simplify Your Space and Your Life</a></em>. Hmmm, this seems more approachable than the typical organize yourself in 7 days with 7 easy steps kind of book. It has 56 weeks of organizing tips and checklists. It includes chapters on things like email, which I confess I’m like a year behind in and scared to even open at this point, and chapters I know I can skip like the garden shed and the garage, since I have neither. I realize taking it a week at a time I will run the risk of never truly being finished, as I complete week 10 but week 1 has already gone all to h@ll, but I went ahead and ordered it on Amazon today with the hope that I can at least try to develop a few more organized habits and techniques. Kind of like not going on a diet, but resolving to eat better most of the time. We'll see. <br/><br/>While I’m waiting for it to arrive I’d like to share one organizing technique that I actually employ to pretty good use for the volumes of tax paperwork that I have. Since <del datetime="2011-01-11T18:44:09+00:00">I’m a packrat </del>I sell online I need to keep a lot of receipts and statements that most people would just toss. Previously I had a typical 2-drawer filing cabinet with folders for credit card statements, the electric bill etc. and after I paid my bills the rest of the statement would lay around the house for awhile, eventually end up in a bag waiting to be sorted out and filed, and then every once in awhile when the drawers were looking a little full I’d dig through the files and toss anything older than the requisite 7 years. Not a great system for me. <br/><br/><a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/fileboxes.jpg"><img src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/fileboxes.jpg" alt="File Boxes" title="File Boxes" width="500" height="480" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-375" /></a><br/><br/>So, I went out and bought 8 of those cute little photo shoe boxes they sell at craft stores across America – one for each of the 7 years of back files and one for the current year. In the current year file I keep a small folder (a regular size folder I cut down to fit the box) with return address labels, my checkbook, coupon booklet for my HOA fees, envelopes, a pen, and stamps in it. When it is time to pay bills, I pull out the box, use the items in the folder for their intended purpose and then just dump all of the statements that need to be saved right in the box and put the folder in on top. I don't triage or try to figure out what needs to be saved and what doesn't - it all fits and the box takes up the same amount of space whether I'm saving unneccessary things or not so in it all goes. Sure they’re all mixed up and I might need to organize them a little come tax time, but even though I am still in the dark ages of writing checks, I do enter it all in my Palm Pilot and synch to the Money program on the computer so I can run the reports I need for business expenses and in general just keep my jumbled box of backup paperwork as it is. <br/><br/>At the beginning of each year I take the oldest box off the shelf, shred the contents, and relabel the box for the new year. So that is at least one system that is working for me. I will try to share more as I spend the next 56 weeks simplifying my life and my space. And trying not to crap it up again.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-2095951345520026474?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743891692827566200.post-54533631800797774422010-12-29T12:22:00.000-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.227-05:002011-01-28T21:53:31.227-05:00Bookshelf Redo - Final DayToday is the third day of my three bookshelves, three-day project. The first day I primed all three and painted the small wooden one in the hall bath. The second day I waxed and styled the bathroom bookcase and did most of the painting on the two white laminate cases. Because I'd used a roller on these, the paint was spread pretty thin, so today I touched up some thin spots - they really could use another coat, but I'm almost out of paint and didn't want to go buy more at this point. Putting the shelves back in resulted in some scrapes to the inside of my newly painted surface, so I touched these up too. Because I am planning to do a final coat at some point, I cheated and did not wax these yet. So I cleaned up, moved the shelves back to where they belonged and put stuff back on them. For now I just pretty much did a tidied up version of what was already on them - I need to do major cleaning out and organizing in the coming months and may change things around then, but today was devoted to putting away Christmas and I just didn't want to drag more stuff out.<br/><br/>So here they are, all three sets of completed shelves:<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_352" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Bathroom shelves"]<a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc318975.jpg"><img src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc318975.jpg" alt="Bathroom shelves" title="Bathroom shelves" width="500" height="666" class="size-full wp-image-352" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_351" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Bedroom shelves"]<a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc318971.jpg"><img src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc318971.jpg" alt="Bedroom shelves" title="Bedroom shelves" width="500" height="666" class="size-full wp-image-351" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>[caption id="attachment_349" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Dining Room shelves"]<a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc318968.jpg"><img src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc318968.jpg" alt="Dining Room shelves" title="Dining Room shelves" width="500" height="795" class="size-full wp-image-349" /></a>[/caption]<br/><br/>And here is what they looked like when I started:<br/><br/><a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc288937.jpg"><img src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc288937.jpg" alt="Wooden bookshelf before" title="Wooden bookshelf before" width="500" height="375" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-337" /></a><br/><p><br/><a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc288931.jpg"><img src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc288931.jpg" alt="Bedroom bookcase" title="Bedroom bookcase" width="500" height="666" class="size-full wp-image-304" /></a><br/><br/><a href="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc288935.jpg"><img src="http://stylefile2.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/pc288935.jpg" alt="Dining room bookcase" title="Dining room bookcase" width="500" height="666" class="size-full wp-image-303" /></a><br/><br/>So not bad for three free sets of shelves, a free quart of green paint, and leftover white and tan paint. My only real expenses were the Zinsser primer, roller set and roller covers which were under $20.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2743891692827566200-5453363180079777442?l=stylefile2.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Style Filehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14438660170810599250noreply@blogger.com0