DIY Tufted Headboard

Since the beginning of November Ryan and I have been in the process of making a tufted headboard. We figured we'd rather spend $200 making a custom headboard, than buying the $800 one from Pottery Barn. It has been an extremely long process. It has tested my patience, to say the least. BUT, we are finally done! 

Unfortunately, all of the pictures from this project were lost, but I managed to salvage a few from my phone. So here it is! I will have a tutorial coming soon, with all of the fun details from this project.

 PS new bedside table lamps are coming soon!

Before & After: Ugly picture turned chalkboard

I have recently been on the hunt for intricate picture frames, with prints I could care less about. I found this flower print at the swap meet for $1. I simply taped painters tape around the frame and spray painted the picture with chalkboard spray paint. The result: a new chalkboard!

Grandma Evelyn's Treasures

My Grandma Evelyn has a lot of stuff. And that might be an understatement. Her house is full of stuff that has been there since the 70's. Most people would walk through her house and only see junk. But I discovered treasures in every room. The best part? She told me I could have whatever I wanted. I can't wait to use the vintage, orange swivel chair at my desk. And give the rusted patio set a second life. 

iSad

This past week I took my computer to Apple for a tune up. It's been running really, really slow...like throw-your-computer-against-the-wall slow.  I backed up all of my information and left it in the hands of the Genius Bar. Little did I know I would return to find all of my pictures from 2011 gone. Gone. Deleted. Lost. All of my before & after projects. All of my trips. All of my blog pictures. All of the pictures I have taken with my new, Digital-SLR camera. Big time bummer. Luckily, I print my most favorite and loved pictures, so I have that to be thankful for.


So for my next few posts, the pictures will be from my iPhone. I often text message my mom and friends pictures of my current DIY projects, so those are all saved on my phone. But since most of my recent DIY pictures are gone, I guess that means I have to find some more projects to take on! The glass is always half-full, right? 

Extended Family

This Thanksgiving I have decided that I am very thankful for many things in my life. In particular, I am thankful for our extended family - our pets. My boyfriend and I live with our dog Bruce Lee. He is our source of entertainment and #1 nuzzler. Back home on the farm our dog, Daisy Mae, and my kitty, Princess Bear, keep my parents company since the kids have moved out. I'm so excited to spend Thanksgiving with all of the loving animals in my life. 

Treasure Island Flea Market

I feel like everyone I know is moving: I recently moved to the South Bay Area, and my friends Shawn, Jayne, and Meagan moved into the City. I visited them a couple weekends ago, and we made a trip to the Treasure Island Flea Market. I stayed at Shawn's new apartment, with her breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and awesome retro stove. The flea market was full of great finds: chandeliers (which I bought), benches, decanters, art work, and to-die-for doughnuts and food. 

obsessed x 1,000

When I walked into work yesterday I almost died when I saw what my friend (and co-worker) had on. She had on these amazing, Nightcap by Free People, bell bottom, lace pants. I wanted them and needed them in my wardrobe instantly. So I called the Free People store at Santana Row right then and there. And I am happy to say they will be with me this weekend (thanks to my boyfriend who is driving up to San Jose to get them for me). I can’t wait to wear them with oversized Joie sweaters, black silk tank tops, and vintage band t-shirts.

obsessed

I have recently become obsessed with the instagram app on my iPhone.  We took Bruce (the dog) to the beach for the first time on Sunday, and I could not stop taking pictures with this app. I might make a blog with just instagram pictures…but I’m sure someone has already done that...is anyone else obsessed?

things i love

(My new candle: they are vintage tins with hand-poured wax)

After a week and a half of traveling, I am finally back in SLO for a while. I spent a wonderful Fourth of July weekend at my parent’s house, made my way up to San Jose with Ryan for a dance festival, and made time to stop by my friend Jayne’s house (where she had a surprise for me!) And now that I am back in San Luis Obispo for a while, I can enjoy my new candles and keep fresh fruit on my counters. 

 (A present from my friend Jayne. It now sits on my coffee table)

 (So typical for a Le Grand Fourth of July party- an old man in a rocking chair)

(Fresh fruit on my counter)

(At the Willow Glen Dancing on the Avenue festival - this lady had some styling hair)

before & after: wine rack

As you might have noticed I get bored really easy. Bored with furniture, that is. I bought this wine rack last year but never really liked the black paint. And ever since I found my favorite new spray paint at Claassen Art Gallery in downtown SLO, I have been obsessed with painting anything and everything. The owner, Jeff, has every color in the rainbow. So I decided to paint the wine rack a pretty turquoise and found coordinating paper at Papyrus for the top. And the best part about the paper: it has velvet birds.   

(After the first coat. The old paper wouldn't come off, so I had to cover with the new paper from Papyrus.) 

(Attaching the paper with spray-on glue)

(The velvet birds) 

(The finished product)

(It now holds my typewriter and my newest flea market find, a Chinese foo lion)