2011-A Rehashing

2011. 

Things started off strong this past year, in terms of home improvement tweakings.  A Christmas gift from the boyfriend prompted our master bedroom to receive the paint it had been waiting 3 months for.  You see, in October 2010 for my birthday, all i wanted was the bedroom to be painted.  I even bought the paint.  You read that right...for my birthday...I bought the paint. My gift was going to be not actually doing the painting myself, and we'd finally quit treating the whole upstairs as an afterthought.



Turned out to be one of my most popular posts.  Warning, if you click through, you will be singing Boy George the rest of the day.

Then i got the strong urge, and better decorating ideas since i'd been doing this whole blog thang, to de-brownify the living room.  Let's enhance the light blue, and finally, embrace the chevron craze.  I also saw napkins in a whole new way.





I felt it was time to grow the blog, as we were now celebrating our one year blogiversary.  Shout out to my bloggy friend Jill for twisting my arm.  The summer would bring additional guest posts and a facebook page (which i still find pointless).

But the biggest blow in 2011, and that which defined my entire year, was my father's diagnosis of the bastard known as pancreatic cancer.  I could barely post, and when i did, it was random crap.  I just couldn't spend energy composing some witty or amusing commentary when i was in hell.  Nor was I in the mood to do anything terribly creative.  There are literally less than half the posts than in the previous year, and this was after proclaiming i was going to "grow the blog."

We pretended everything was going to work out, and went to Spain for a much needed 2 week reprieve from thinking.  It worked, but made it all the more depressing to come home and know what we were having to face.





I posted this in August when things were getting bad and i didn't want to think, but didn't want to not blog either.  We had actually gone on the trip back in April, so for time line purposes it falls here.

Taking to the outside of our home, we got rid of the mudpit!  I think S did a fabulous job here, considering we spent so much of the summer at my dad's house. 



On August 25th, 2011, barely over 4 months ago, my father passed away.  Devastated.  Still devastated.



That's me as a happy little girl celebrating Chanukah.  Much different than how i viewed this holiday season, the first holidays and birthdays without him all occurring in these recent months.

Because of that, i hardly decorated for my favorite time of year, Halloween and Autumn. 



Just a used car lot for Autumn and winter whites and snowflakes now.



That brings us to the end of the year, and the beginning of a new one in only a few days.  As much as i want this year to be over and done with (as my family also lost my step pop-pop), it is truly unimaginable that now, year after year after year, will be years spent without my father. And for that, honestly, i don't want this December to come to an end. 

But.  There's nothing i can do about that.  I just hope that 2012 brings us, and you, my friends and readers, a drastically different and positive year.  Thanks for sticking with me.

Color color color color color chameleon

For pretty much three years we have downright ignored the upstairs, figuring who is seeing it but us.  Then for my birthday (october) i bought the paint, hoping the boyfriend would paint it as my gift.  He didn't. For Xmas, he got me a wall mounted mirror/jewelry holder which was not being hung til we painted.  So we (he) painted. Now my bedroom is the restful, relaxing space i always knew it could be. 

The paint is Tinsmith, by Sherwin Williams....it is a wonderful gray/blue that really changes with the light.  It is a color chameleon, which is why you will now have Boy George stuck in your head.  Sorry 'bout that!

I love the gold shimmer geometric pattern in the curtains.

This is probably the truest shot of the color.

 The carpet that is staying-at first i brought out the maroons and golds, but after seeing so many retreat like bedrooms via blogs, i wondered if i couldn't bring out the blues instead. I think it works.

That's the catalyst for the painting, that mirror.  Killing two birds with one stone, it houses my dangly necklaces and allows me to see them all nicely (without worrying my cat is eating all the beads) and of course it provides a full length mirror. This is a CSN buy, with no code or no winnings, and i have to say it is sturdy and gorgeous.  They also price matched it with no problem because i found it cheaper somewhere else.  I like my little art corner highlighting free vase.

You can see the difference in color from these pics above and below...the top one looker grayer, and the bottom bluer.  Chameleon like.  Yard sale bird pillows pair maroon and blue.

Ha, this picture is so me.  I like "the finer things" sometimes, and the arts, but then i kick it in my Vans.

Pretty calming to the eye After/ Harsh and jarring Before

 The cream and gold furniture looks even worse against the painted wall, but bedroom sets are expensive, you guys! Where have you gotten yours?   It's funny to see how our tastes change with the influence of others, don't you think??

 made it 4 monday/,  amaze me mondays, craft-o-maniac monday, It's a blog party, diy showoff, just something i whipped up monday, metamorphosis monday, motivate me monday, making the world cuter, polly want a crafter, market yourself monday, its so very creative, before and after party, anything related, take a look tuesday, tabletop tuesday, transform tuesday,  todays creative blog, show and tell, make it yours day, penny pinching party, sugar and spice, whatever goes wednesday,  idea sharin' wedsnesday, look what i made, hooking up with hoh, strut your stuff, transformation thursday, get your craft on, everything but the kitchen sink, favorite things friday, show and tell friday, show and share day, flaunt it friday, frugalicious friday, be inspired, feature yourself friday, the shabby nest, fun to craft, fabulous friday finds, 100 Ideas under $100, along for the ride, show off sunday, sunday showcase party, not baaaad sundays, A Round Tuit, seasonal sunday, sister sister sundays,  monthly open house, thrifty treasures, nifty thrifty tuesdays,trash 2 treasure, twice owned tuesday, tales from bloggeritaville, crazy cute, junkin' finds, i'm topsy turvy, creative share, theme party thursday, catch as catch can, free for all fri , all things good, boring to better, remodelaholic, power of paint, my style evolution

No, really...

Remember when i said i loved Halloween?  No really, i love halloween.  Who else does this?  Good decorating, out the window with this set from S. 

Birthday gift, probably 10 years ago from Domestications.

Enjoying Halloween in every part of your house...priceless.  Even when it's totally corny and kinda tacky!

One for me, and one for you

My birthday is next week...i can't believe my birthday is next week.  That means it's October already.  Insanity.  S is getting a little disgruntled about what to get me, since he is of the school of thought that i don't need anything.  (Again, insanity.)  Though he may be right....so instead i've asked him to focus on the bedroom.  And while it might be nice to add some new furniture to the bedroom-like a bookcase headboard, or an unbroken dresser-i'd rather he just paint the darn room.

He wouldn't even have to buy the paint.  You are hearing me right.  For my birthday, I am asking him to merely paint the bedroom with paint I have already purchased.  Doesn't this seem like a no brainer?  I know all of you have worshipping husbands or partners who would happily set about this task, right?  Where did i go wrong?

I digress. 

Since clearly my thoughtfulness knows no bounds, next Friday, October 8th, my birthday, the cape on the corner will be having it's very first giveaway!!  So put your party hats on and come back for a giveaway  to one of our favorite online stores, CSN.com!

No, that is not my tattoo (though I wish it was, love that spot).  Images from we heart it.

Bird is the Word

So I thought having to work Saturday would have at least yielded me some good garage sales, since i am never up in time.  I like my sleep.  Sadly, I only saw one on my way in, and as far as i could tell from my drive by it wasn't worth being a little late for.

Feeling unfulfilled,  i weaved my way home after work via the scenic route, and only found 1, about a block from my house.  It was a very small set up, but i was so in the mood for thrifty shopping that i stopped.  And i'm glad i did!  I saw these bird pillows, marked 4.oo for the set.  I thought, maybe for my MIL who loves bird watching...but their almost icy blueness meant i at least had to try them in my bedroom.  Guess where they're staying. 

Perfect addition to the chaise.

Perfect to gel with the maroon of the chaise and carpet.

 Clearly i'm still having trouble deciding on duvet and wall colors...such is the life of a Libra.  What about you, any surprising good finds lately?  Are you like your astrological sign?

Thrifty and frugal parties in sidebar

Speaking in Ears

It's amazing what one little ear twitch says...
Displeased...

Pleased.

Bedroom-from boring blah to ahhh

This is by no means an earth shattering before and after, but i think the feel of the space was really changed without spending a lot of money and without doing anything major. Our whole upstairs was really an afterthought, even 3 years later, and this girl has had enough! 

 

Here we have the only space the bed can go, in front of the window, so i wanted to create a statement wall that could sort of act like a headboard, or at least an anchoring point.  These maroon curtains were left over from college days, and i stupidly thought i could save money by using what i had.  I know you can't really tell, but the accents were Parisian influence...the Arc de Triomphe watercolor that my SIL gave me, some Toulouse Lautrec prints, the Eiffel Tower lamp.  This was still the rudementary stages, sans carpet and chaise.  However, it did (and still does) have  hideous 80s furniture and piles of laundry.  Keepin it real yo, keepin it real.

With carpet and chaise.  And laundry pile.  I really like the bedding, it was new for the space, so i wanted to find a duvet to save money.  Why yes, those are barely off white walls.  Aren't they lovely?

The carpet that i need to--sorry.

The carpet that i need to work with, trying to pull out the blue/gray this go round.

Ta da!  Ok, there isn't much different except the drapes, rods, art switcheroo, lamps, and duvet, and there's a big ol' bed crinkle, but i think this feels more relaxing with these tones.  I think it says "a real grown up couple lives here."

More art switcheroo to bring in the cool blue, and paint sample on the wall.  This color (Benjamin Moore Nantucket Fog) isn't gonna work, it is too blue and i am afraid all over will be too dark for the space.  My other color contender is Baby Fawn. 

That's it tucked into the art, but it's just the chip.  Detail of the drapes.

Hideous 80s cream and gold furniture, though luckily it goes with the golds.  I wish S would build something that would go that whole length and be a little higher. More paint sample.  See free vase?

Trying to give you a better sense of the space.  It isn't a large room, but it is certainly not small.  There is plenty of space.

I took this sitting between the dormers so you could see how much room is at the end of the bed, and where the tall dresser is.  I have a new bed skirt, but it has yet to go on. 

View from behind the bed...i love when the leaves grow in b/c it hides the neighbors house.  You can see their brick on the bottom right. The cat loves this view, too, and talks to the squirrels and the birds.  Rather annoying in the morning when she climbs on my head to get up there.

So this:

to this:

Imagine how nice paint would look, eh?

1. Sherwin Williams Black Fox-too dark?

2. SW Earl Gray...too blue?

3.  SW Roycroft Mist Gray..too light?

Better stop now...

Linking to these parties + it's a blog party, crafty day @ along for the ride, a round tuit @ jembellish

There's more to life than books, you know,

but not much more.

But first...

I am suuuuper excited about these new curtains for the bedroom, but you only get a sneak peak.  They are an icy blue with a shimmery gold pattern.  I got them at a curtain outlet/warehouse near me for $19 a panel.  I don't think that's too bad, especially since they are perfect for the room.  Remember i wanted to lean more to the blue gray, but still had to work with the golds in the carpet.   I have seen this exact pattern as a shower curtain in Homegoods if you love it and want it.

These prompted a whole shopping expidition, of course, where i proceeded to buy numerous different duvet covers.  I had an icy blue, but they were too blue next to the curtains.  A gray was too dark.  Should i go champagne colored? Still not sure.  I bought and returned, bought and returned.

Two things that were not going to be returned were these lamps.  I love them, and i was determined to use them.  They have a silvery base with a gold crinkly overlay on top, again, perfect.  I was afraid i'd have to do brass or gold, which doesn't fit the rest of the house, or the clear glass bases that are lovely, but aren't really me.  These were only 30 bucks each, shade included.  Homegoods=Love. 

On no, they are not tall enough.  Blast.  I'll google those clear display risers that the stores use, because these must work in this room.  I can no longer stand the Eiffel Tower and the 80s touch lamp!  But blogging again has come to the rescue.  Books!  People using books as decor.  I use books as decor, so why not to raise up my perfect new lamps?

Jackets on didn't work, so i took them off.  But this was still too busy for me, so i turned them around!  Blogging helps again!  Hehe, Hooray for Yiddish kills me every time! 

My side.

His side. I like that the color on that one book is different, i don't think i am going to change it.  Is it quirky?  An eyesore?  Alluding to a deeper meaning that books, like snowflakes, and fingerprints, are all different?  Am i hereby certifiable?  Don't answer that.

Illuminated and better picture of the base.  Really like the texture the shade brings in, too.  Can't wait to get some color on those walls (but what?!) and furniture that is my style, ie, not 80's cream and gold!  

   Now go decorate with books and tell me how you did it. 

Linking up here