Monday, November 14, 2011
Wee Spooky House {update}
Come see my progress on my wee house in my new location: http://www.ashleymgrimes.com/?p=160
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Lex's First Camping Trip
If you haven't followed me to my new location, please do. I've got a new post!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
My Grown-up House {Lex's Room}
This is the second post in my series "My Grown-up House."
The first room I'm making over belongs to my sweet baby Lex. When we first moved in, his room needed the most work. It had a lot of issues but also a lot of potential.
See what I mean? Lots of work but lots of potential. I pleaded with my landlord to let me paint over the paneling. Being the awesome guy that he is, he agreed, as long as I painted it the same color as the rest of the house. He even provided the primer and the paint! After several weeks of painting while very pregnant and with help from friends, the kids and the husband, we finally got it done. Ta-da!
And yes, I also repainted the trim and built-ins. It was a big fat pain in the butt but completely necessary. Unfortunately, I made a rookie mistake and bought the cheapest possible paint. It was way too thin and I ended up doing three coats even after priming! And the worst part is that the tape pulled some big chunks off when I was removing it, and you can tell that it's not going to hold up very well to wear and tear. I may end up having to sand and repaint all the trim again, but I really really hope not.
Overall, I think it turned out pretty great. One thing I've heard over and over from decorating shows is that paint gives you the biggest bang for your buck. I think this little transformation proves that quite well.
The first room I'm making over belongs to my sweet baby Lex. When we first moved in, his room needed the most work. It had a lot of issues but also a lot of potential.
Don't you just love these windows?
See the icky fake wood paneling?
Lots of built-in storage, which is great.
See what I mean? Lots of work but lots of potential. I pleaded with my landlord to let me paint over the paneling. Being the awesome guy that he is, he agreed, as long as I painted it the same color as the rest of the house. He even provided the primer and the paint! After several weeks of painting while very pregnant and with help from friends, the kids and the husband, we finally got it done. Ta-da!
And yes, I also repainted the trim and built-ins. It was a big fat pain in the butt but completely necessary. Unfortunately, I made a rookie mistake and bought the cheapest possible paint. It was way too thin and I ended up doing three coats even after priming! And the worst part is that the tape pulled some big chunks off when I was removing it, and you can tell that it's not going to hold up very well to wear and tear. I may end up having to sand and repaint all the trim again, but I really really hope not.
Overall, I think it turned out pretty great. One thing I've heard over and over from decorating shows is that paint gives you the biggest bang for your buck. I think this little transformation proves that quite well.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Weekly Inspiration
I promise I'm going to have a real post soon. I'm up to my elbows in faux wedding projects for the moment. But to let you know I'm still here and thinking of you, here are some of my favorite pins this week.
If only I'd seen this sooner! I would love to have this for my faux wedding, but I don't think there will be time to do it.
I think I just found a use for those fake leaves and LED tea lights from the dollar store.
I found the perfect river rocks for this at the dollar store. Simple and sweet.
Guess what else I found at the dollar store-- moss rocks! I got four packages and I love them. I may have to keep them out year round.
I've also been busy making bunting. Not hearts, just the regular triangles but in similar types of paper.
Soon I will share some progress pics with you! Now, back to work!
If only I'd seen this sooner! I would love to have this for my faux wedding, but I don't think there will be time to do it.
I think I just found a use for those fake leaves and LED tea lights from the dollar store.
I found the perfect river rocks for this at the dollar store. Simple and sweet.
Guess what else I found at the dollar store-- moss rocks! I got four packages and I love them. I may have to keep them out year round.
Source: flickr.com via Ashley on Pinterest
I've also been busy making bunting. Not hearts, just the regular triangles but in similar types of paper.
Soon I will share some progress pics with you! Now, back to work!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Weekly Inspiration
My husband and I got married almost one year ago, on October 10, 2010. I was 8 months pregnant at the time and it was kind of a last minute decision so we decided not to do the traditional wedding. We had a small very informal ceremony at the Old Mill park in North Little Rock. We decided that since not everyone could be there, a year later we would have a family celebration. It's almost time! I thought I'd share some of my inspirations with you.
I love the basic shape of this simple chiffon dress. I want mine to have the same outline, but I want to do something a little different with the bodice. I'm also just using cotton instead of chiffon.
This is a detail from Marilyn Monroe's famous dress from The 7 Year Itch. I love the detail in the midsection and plan on doing something similar for my dress. Yes, I'm going to sew myself a dress and yes it will be the first piece of women's clothing I've ever made. Wish me luck!
This lovely party on Hostess with the Mostest has heavily influenced my theme. I want a woodland theme but nothing too cutesy. I plan on lots of little toadstools on my table.Also lots of moss and rocks and moss rocks.
I'm kind of obsessing over terrariums, especially the ones under bell jars like these. Mine will most likely be in humble recycled jars but hopefully still have a whimsical feel.
For my cake topper, I want to sculpt an autumn tree and have our initials carved in it like this one. I also want 6 little toadstools at the base to represent our 6 children. I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to pull it off, but I'm going to try!
Lastly, here's what I plan on doing for the favors. Instead of printing on the paper, I want to use my brown craft paper and a hand carved stamp with chalk ink. I haven't decided what to put inside yet.
I also plan on lots of pumpkins and bunting. Man, I love the fall! I'm so excited to have my little faux wedding. :)
I love the basic shape of this simple chiffon dress. I want mine to have the same outline, but I want to do something a little different with the bodice. I'm also just using cotton instead of chiffon.
This is a detail from Marilyn Monroe's famous dress from The 7 Year Itch. I love the detail in the midsection and plan on doing something similar for my dress. Yes, I'm going to sew myself a dress and yes it will be the first piece of women's clothing I've ever made. Wish me luck!
This lovely party on Hostess with the Mostest has heavily influenced my theme. I want a woodland theme but nothing too cutesy. I plan on lots of little toadstools on my table.Also lots of moss and rocks and moss rocks.
I'm kind of obsessing over terrariums, especially the ones under bell jars like these. Mine will most likely be in humble recycled jars but hopefully still have a whimsical feel.
For my cake topper, I want to sculpt an autumn tree and have our initials carved in it like this one. I also want 6 little toadstools at the base to represent our 6 children. I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to pull it off, but I'm going to try!
Lastly, here's what I plan on doing for the favors. Instead of printing on the paper, I want to use my brown craft paper and a hand carved stamp with chalk ink. I haven't decided what to put inside yet.
I also plan on lots of pumpkins and bunting. Man, I love the fall! I'm so excited to have my little faux wedding. :)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Weekly Inspiration
Autumn is finally coming! The maple trees are starting to turn and the weather today is fantastic! I've been pinning autumn ideas like crazy. Here's what's been inspiring me this week:
![]()
Pottery Barn inspired decor. Megan at Polish the Stars gives a tutorial on staining the fabric, printing directly onto fabric and making this lovely wall hanging. Perfect for Halloween.
![]()
This would be great to make with some thrift store wool sweaters or even just craft felt.
![]()
Pumpkins and sewing-- two of my favorite things! I think it beats the traditional tomato any day.
![]()
Dana at Made always delivers! This post is what made me start following her blog. I've got a lot of leftover fall color felts that will be great for this.
![]()
So simple and so lovely.
![]()
Easy, simple fall decor. I'm going to print it and hang it on the fridge. :)
![]()
Oh, how I wish it looked like that here! Breathtaking!
I love the fall. It's my favorite time of year. What's been inspiring you this week?
Pottery Barn inspired decor. Megan at Polish the Stars gives a tutorial on staining the fabric, printing directly onto fabric and making this lovely wall hanging. Perfect for Halloween.
This would be great to make with some thrift store wool sweaters or even just craft felt.
Pumpkins and sewing-- two of my favorite things! I think it beats the traditional tomato any day.
Dana at Made always delivers! This post is what made me start following her blog. I've got a lot of leftover fall color felts that will be great for this.
So simple and so lovely.
Easy, simple fall decor. I'm going to print it and hang it on the fridge. :)
Oh, how I wish it looked like that here! Breathtaking!
I love the fall. It's my favorite time of year. What's been inspiring you this week?
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
My Grown-up House
It may seem strange to say, but I feel myself slowly realizing that I am, in fact, a grown up. With a real house and family of my own and a car and everything. It's strange because until recently I have always looked at certain things and said to myself "Someday..." As in, "Someday I will have a house of my own with a yard and I can do all this cool stuff." And someday is here, has been here for a little while now. So I think I'm going to start concentrating on making my home the way I have dreamed it would be.
Most of my craft efforts have been focused on making gifts for other people. While I love doing that, it occurred to me that I can also make things for myself and my home (duh!). I have started doing some actual decorating from scratch with Lex's room and am very pleased with it so far. I think my first order of business will be to finish his room up. Here are some pictures of it when we first moved in.
When we first looked at the place, I fell in love with all these windows! Aren't they great? I've done a lot with his room, but I'll save those pictures for another post.
The rest of my house is another story. See, most of my furniture is inherited and is kind of a hodge podge of different styles and woods. Likewise, most of my decorative pieces have been acquired piecemeal over the years with no real design in mind. As I look around, I see things I have had since high school and I'm thinking it's time for a change. It's time for some design. Here's a look at my living room when we first moved in.
There have been some changes (like getting rid of that sad chair), but it's still very similar.
So, I've decided to start a new series called "My Grown-up House." I am going to room-by-room redecorating on a very small budget. I'm basically going to be transitioning from a college apartment to a more grown-up, cohesive space.
There are still other somedays like "Someday when I own my own house..." or "Someday when Lex is bigger..." but I can still wait for those.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)