What's this? A blog that finds all sorts of amazing designers on Etsy and displays their pictures so you can see all the wonderful Etsy goodness?!
Yes.
Elephantine.
If you've never shopped on Etsy before, I recommend doing so. Run, do not walk, to the nearest computer and have yourself a little search: random handmade jewelry, almost ANYTHING wedding related, crafts, letterpress, home decorations, funky throw pillows, Antique Mason jars, knit baby hats, tutu's, the most amazing and emotional one-of-a-kind art pieces.
The best part about it? You are supporting local artists directly. Never before has creativity been available like this. Etsy is just wonderful.
Ready? Go! Click here ---> Elephantine Etsy Blog.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
How-To Undo Ugly
...and I'm not talking about giving Killian a make-over.
Sorry Baby. (Please take note of Bobby's face as he expresses pure disdain for our furry room mate).
Sorry Baby. (Please take note of Bobby's face as he expresses pure disdain for our furry room mate).
Nope, remember this thing? This was the first thing I wanted to change when we moved in.
It fell down the list a few times before we "took care of it."
I hated it so much, it went down to the basement and hung itself. Get it? Ha. Ha.
Moving On! So, since I couldn't find a chandelier that a) wasn't $39,050 and b) I actually liked, I decided to take matters into my own hands. A DIY was just what this ugly fixture needed. A little love.
So, I went to Lowes. By myself. I picked up some Hammered-finish, "wrought iron" look Spray Paint, 9 globe-style light bulbs, and a swiffer to remove the piles of dust from the polished brass. Let's get started!
Go back to Lowes because you got the wrong sized end for the light bulbs. Oh, what? You got the right size? Well, still. Go back to Lowes. It will make me feel better about myself.
No go ahead and hang it again where it belongs.
Play with the dimmer 7930587 times, and marvel at how the ugly disappeared.
It fell down the list a few times before we "took care of it."
I hated it so much, it went down to the basement and hung itself. Get it? Ha. Ha.
Moving On! So, since I couldn't find a chandelier that a) wasn't $39,050 and b) I actually liked, I decided to take matters into my own hands. A DIY was just what this ugly fixture needed. A little love.
So, I went to Lowes. By myself. I picked up some Hammered-finish, "wrought iron" look Spray Paint, 9 globe-style light bulbs, and a swiffer to remove the piles of dust from the polished brass. Let's get started!
Go back to Lowes because you got the wrong sized end for the light bulbs. Oh, what? You got the right size? Well, still. Go back to Lowes. It will make me feel better about myself.
Next, Swiffer the heck out of your chandelier. Dust Bunnies are no fun to look at when eating dinner. Then, go ahead and give the spray paint can a good shake. OPEN A WINDOW. Suffocate yourself in the basement. And then give the chandelier a good, thorough painting.
Now, go ahead and hang the chandelier where it belongs.
Realize that you forgot to spray the entire bottom of the chandelier. Then take it down and hit it again with the spray paint.
Wait 24 Hours for it to dry completely. And VOILA!
Now, go ahead and hang the chandelier where it belongs.
Realize that you forgot to spray the entire bottom of the chandelier. Then take it down and hit it again with the spray paint.
Wait 24 Hours for it to dry completely. And VOILA!
See the lovely, unique hammered finish without having to hammer anything? That's my kind of work!
No go ahead and hang it again where it belongs.
Play with the dimmer 7930587 times, and marvel at how the ugly disappeared.
Then don't compare to the image I was going for in my beloved Pottery Barn catalog. This is the Edison and it costs precisely 7 times what it cost me to make-over my hideous polished brass chandelier.
$40 or $300?? Mine may be upside-down, but I'll take $40 for now. Thank you!
Cha-Ching! And we have Undone the Ugly.
Cha-Ching! And we have Undone the Ugly.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Coloring Our World
Color. It's used to evoke emotion, feeling and memory.
I want to use color throughout my house in a way that makes it feel warm and inviting, happy and friendly, glamorous and stylish, and unique and original. That's quite a laundry list, huh? I've spent my evenings at home scouring HGTV.com and countless decorating blogs (please see new column of home and decorating blogs to the left). I leave feeling inspired and excited...only to feel confused and unsure 10 minutes later. How do I make my home a true representation of me? Of me AND my husband? Of our life together?
These complex thoughts that really should not exist are the sole reason why I have 289045 different paint samples of the color green on my office wall. "Jalapeno Jelly" is too yellow, "Organic Green" is too grassy. "Asparagus" is too brown. "Pea Pod" looks too much like an Easter Egg. "Paris Mint" and "Celery" have yet to be slathered on to the collection. I have a good feeling about "Paris Mint," although I think I will convince myself to like it just because it has "Paris" in the title.
So, while I mull over my green paint choices, we've moved onto the dining room. Thank goodness for that because I picked ONE color and have never wavered. Bobby and I spent one weekend very close to a saw. There was lots of saw dust, sanding, Spackle and caulk involved, but the majority of the project is complete. The details are left to my husband to obsess over. He is quite the carpenter and it shows with every project!
Here's our step-by-step progress of the 2-day dining room project, if you weren't already following along with my Facebook or Twitter updates!
New baseboards installed.
PAINT!
I want to use color throughout my house in a way that makes it feel warm and inviting, happy and friendly, glamorous and stylish, and unique and original. That's quite a laundry list, huh? I've spent my evenings at home scouring HGTV.com and countless decorating blogs (please see new column of home and decorating blogs to the left). I leave feeling inspired and excited...only to feel confused and unsure 10 minutes later. How do I make my home a true representation of me? Of me AND my husband? Of our life together?
These complex thoughts that really should not exist are the sole reason why I have 289045 different paint samples of the color green on my office wall. "Jalapeno Jelly" is too yellow, "Organic Green" is too grassy. "Asparagus" is too brown. "Pea Pod" looks too much like an Easter Egg. "Paris Mint" and "Celery" have yet to be slathered on to the collection. I have a good feeling about "Paris Mint," although I think I will convince myself to like it just because it has "Paris" in the title.
So, while I mull over my green paint choices, we've moved onto the dining room. Thank goodness for that because I picked ONE color and have never wavered. Bobby and I spent one weekend very close to a saw. There was lots of saw dust, sanding, Spackle and caulk involved, but the majority of the project is complete. The details are left to my husband to obsess over. He is quite the carpenter and it shows with every project!
Here's our step-by-step progress of the 2-day dining room project, if you weren't already following along with my Facebook or Twitter updates!
The clean slate.
The first board on the wall - yikes!
The first wall complete!
Window framed out
Carpentry almost done
New baseboards installed.
PAINT!
The final reveal will be up... whenever we finish. There are some finishing touches left to complete.
In other news... It's tough being a princess.
We celebrated Ellie, Grampa and Mary Claire's birthdays this weekend in Raleigh, NC!
Baby Wise will be arriving in April. Another Baby Barrick (not ours, Bobby's brother) will be arriving in late March, and a good friend (Baby K) will be arriving in about 10 days! Babies galore! Stay tuned for chubby cheeks as they arrive here shortly!
We celebrated Ellie, Grampa and Mary Claire's birthdays this weekend in Raleigh, NC!
Baby Wise will be arriving in April. Another Baby Barrick (not ours, Bobby's brother) will be arriving in late March, and a good friend (Baby K) will be arriving in about 10 days! Babies galore! Stay tuned for chubby cheeks as they arrive here shortly!
Monday, February 8, 2010
From Mexico, With Love
We went for our honeymoon and now, almost 3 years later, we're going back.
To Mexico, that is.
In only a few short weeks, we'll be looking at this:
And we'll hopefully be laying in one of these:
Drinking lots of these:
And spending lots of quality time with this guy:
After all the snow we've been having, a trip to Mexico will be a nice, warm and sandy remedy to cabin fever. And, of course, a nice celebration to our three years together, too :)
To Mexico, that is.
In only a few short weeks, we'll be looking at this:
And we'll hopefully be laying in one of these:
Drinking lots of these:
And spending lots of quality time with this guy:
After all the snow we've been having, a trip to Mexico will be a nice, warm and sandy remedy to cabin fever. And, of course, a nice celebration to our three years together, too :)
Monday, February 1, 2010
FAIL
While trying to hang a new mirror in our powder room on Saturday, we proceeded to drill a nail through one of the pipes behind the wall. Yes, through the pipe.
FAIL.
Thankfully, the pipe was not full of water.
Thankfully we had pictures prior to when the drywall was hung to be able to verify that we indeed hit a pipe.
Thankfully, my husband works quickly with caulk and was able to patch the hole. And the large square of drywall he had pulled away to check it out.
Unfortunately, Bobby wouldn't let me take a picture to document the experience.
Thankfully we had this: Minus the arrow to show us where we should NOT drive a nail.
Oh well. Live and Learn.
FAIL.
Thankfully, the pipe was not full of water.
Thankfully we had pictures prior to when the drywall was hung to be able to verify that we indeed hit a pipe.
Thankfully, my husband works quickly with caulk and was able to patch the hole. And the large square of drywall he had pulled away to check it out.
Unfortunately, Bobby wouldn't let me take a picture to document the experience.
Thankfully we had this: Minus the arrow to show us where we should NOT drive a nail.
Oh well. Live and Learn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)