Brand New and Beautiful

River White Granite

2012-02-13T07:28:00.001-05:00

Source: carnoustielane.blogspot.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

This may be a good alternative to marble in the kitchen. Pretty!

Source: google.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Chelsea on Pinterest

Kashmir White is pretty, tool, but doesn't have the movement of River White. Options, options!

eBay Won't Let You Down

2012-02-08T06:33:00.001-05:00

eBay holds treasures for all of us. When in need, turn to the 'Bay. I've been lucky and have had nothing but smooth transactions. I know some have been burned...items not as described, bad shipping, etc. I hope my luck continues, as this perfect runner is on my watch list.

Small Project for A Spiced up Closet

2012-02-06T07:13:00.000-05:00

I had a few hours to kill last weekend and decided that adding some faux trim to my closet doors was wise. Thank goodness I was in a patient mood and made sure all my masking was straight and even and TIGHTLY adhered to the door. I used a credit card to smooth down the tape to eliminate most of the bleeding. No matter what I do I always seem to get at least some bleeding. Boo!

Color of the trim is Shenandoah Taupe from BM. It's a great color -- I painted my guest BR in the color and it's rich and yummy and sophisticated.

Overdyed Rugs

2012-02-03T19:12:00.000-05:00

How gorgeous are these overdyed rugs? I've seen people DIY this and I am very curious!

I need a 16' long runner and this would be just the ticket, if they weren't $6k! Boo!

Anyone have a good source for a long runner? eBay has some lovely vintage options but they are all $$.

Back in the Saddle

2012-01-07T16:33:00.000-05:00

After a blogging break, I'm ready to go! The holidays and general blahs and tiredness kinda killed my mojo there for a bit. I managed to eek out a small project that I wnated to share.

I love thrifting and I've found some pretty awesome stuff over the years. One thing I ALWAYS look for is interesting art. I generally come up empty-handed in that department; Raleigh seems to have a lot of 80's poster prints getting emceremoniously dumped. However, I keep my eye on the frames. Custom framing is beaucoup bucks and a nice frame + mat can be repurposed easily.

I found this gold frame with a textured mat with gold trim at a thrift in Marion, NC a few months back. It held a faded botanical print that was nothing special. After letting it sit in the corner for a bit, I was inspired last week to cook something up:

With $0, I made an abstract painting on a piece of art paper from Michaels and some leftover sampler paint from the LowesDepot and slapped it into the frame. Insta-class, right? My living room might be mistaken for a high end gallery.

(That plastic socket cover has GOT TO go).

Do you re-use frames? What's your fave frame source?

Pecan Pie Cookies

2011-12-13T08:47:00.000-05:00

Yum, these pecan pie cookies are awesome, easy to make and perfect for the holidays.

Highly recommended!

Image source

Hole in the Wall Gang

2011-12-12T08:30:00.003-05:00

We've got a hole in the wall! After demoing out the cabinets on our own, we hired a pro to take down the wall separating our dining and kitchen. We likely could have done it, but when dealing with major items of the home that basically make it stand up, I tend to defer to the pros. Call me nuts.

Looking from the kitchen into the dining room! Yay! It's Christmas central there in the DR, what with the wrapping and packing. Pardon our dust!

I need to paint both sides of the new pass through and the flooring is a real issue. For now, a rug's going to cover the hole. Totally amateur, I know. But until we rip out the kitchen flooring, there's no good temporary solution.

Faucet Love

2011-12-09T10:41:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the great blog Russet Street Reno, I found our new kitchen faucet. Yeah, installing it is probably like a YEAR away but at least I'm saving big $$ now. I told Jake that we'd be assembling a kitchen in our basement over the next year 'cos I'm buying stuff if I find a screaming deal.

$85 bucks, no shipping or tax--whatta deal. I can't believe how expensive plumbing stuff is!

I'm hoping it looks awesome with the polished nickel pulls I want to use from Martha Stewart's line at Home Depot. I used these on my bath vanity and they are pretty and very classic.

Demolition (Wo)man

2011-12-07T10:14:00.000-05:00

The kitchen remodel marches onward. Phase I is underway: taking out the wall separating the dining and kitchen. It divides the space into two small, dark areas that don't work well together.

My new favorite tool is the sledgehammer and "wonder bar", the black and yellow item visible on the counter. Those two items fueled this weekend's demo project, plus a Sawzall wielded by Jake.

Taking down the top cabinets was pretty easy with the wonder bar and a little muscle:

We discovered some old 80's wallpaper under the cabinets. I was hoping to find some super cool stuff from the 60's, but not so!

The faux granite countertop came off with a couple of whacks from underneath with the sledgehammer and went to a good Craigslist home that same afternoon.

Next up: let's (get a professional to) cut a hole in that wall!!

Thanksiving

2011-11-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

source

Happy to be signing off shortly for the long weekend. I'm thankful for my lovely family, my sweet husband, my doggy and kitty.

Tear Down

2011-11-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

The wall, is tumbling down...

Well, not the whole thing. But a significant portion of it. This wall separates our kitchen and dining room and I don't know why. In the early 60's, when our house was built, "open plans" didn't really exist and formal dining rooms actually were used.

In order to make both rooms seem bigger and connected, we're opening up the doorway separating them so it's about 7' wide. I taped off the area that is dunzo (before I ran out of tape) to get an idea of what it will feel like.

From the other angle... Interesting side note on our wall oven spied there in the background. It used to be pink! There's some paint flaking off at the bottom and pink enamel is hiding underneath! I love that someone put PINK appliances in! When we demo out the kitchen, I'm going to peel off the white and revel in the pinkiness for a few days.

Other side of the dining room as it stands now. I'm toying with perhaps wallpapering that wall as well, but I'll wait on that decision for now. My chains are getting old.

First week of December and this baby's a goner!

Budget Finds of the Recent

2011-11-08T09:15:00.000-05:00

A pair of brass stag-head bookends, $7/pair at Goodwill

Upholstered x-bench from HomeGoods: $70!

Sadly, my shopping days are over...I need to save my pennies for bigger projects and delay the gratification just a smidge.

Possible Kitchen Remodel?

2011-11-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

Despite not *really* having a budget in place quite yet, I'm planning our kitchen remodel.

I've asked a local cabinet maker to help me come up with a plan and price out some custom work. I'm hoping he's budget friendly and I can spend my money locally rather than with a big-box store. (On a side note, I think all of the cabinetry at Lowe's and HD is made in the USA. I know Martha's line is made right here in NC!)

Here's my plan as it stands now:

The colors are wonky -- my cabinetry will likely be a creamy white and the floors are TBD. The style I want to mimic is the Ox Hill line from Martha Stewart.

I wish I could center my sink under the window but the dishwasher throws everything off. Darn 1963 kitchens with no ability to foretell future evolutions in technology!

If I Had An Extra $160 Buckos

2011-11-03T11:06:00.000-04:00

I'd buy this clutch from etsy seller patkas.

For no reason at all, I give you gnomes...

2011-10-31T17:03:00.002-04:00

Have you Seen these Houses?

2011-10-26T09:08:00.002-04:00

While my mom and I were tooling around in San Diego, we stumbled across these curious little houses!

Shaped like little ships, they are perched on a hill a few streets back from the beach. I wonder what it's like to live in a ship?

I found an article about the SS Moonlight and it rents for $1950/month! But it's in a lovely part of Encintas, and Moonlight Beach is very close!

Best $20 Old Navy Buy...

2011-10-24T07:20:00.002-04:00

These flats are simple, cute, comfy and affordable. Old Navy stuff is so hit or miss and these are definitely a hit.

I tend to be pretty hard on flats, I wear them out. So to find a cheap, cute solution at Old Navy chuffs me greatly! Can't wait for the leopard pair to arrive. And to think I considered, ever so briefly, some Tory Burch ones. My senses abandoned me momentarily.

Quick Trip to California

2011-10-17T10:51:00.000-04:00

Last week I was able to extend a work trip to California and spend a few days with family. My mom, grandma and I went out to Paradise Cove in Malibu for a little lunch and beach time.

It was my first time ever to Paradise Cove, despite making lots of summertime trips to the beaches in SoCal in my childhood. It's $25 to park (yikes) but totally worth it if you make a day of it.

It was so beautiful that day. It really made me curse leaving California for land-locked Raleigh, but what can you do?

My grandma and I at lunch:

Mom and grandma pose in front of the (closed-off pier)

Craigslist + Grass Cloth Wallpaper

2011-09-17T16:08:00.001-04:00

I picked up this campaign-esque dresser from Craigslist a month or so ago for office storage. It needed a little sumpthin' so I pulled out my leftover blue grass cloth wallpaper and some spray glue and went to town:

Not too shabby for a free upgrade!

Seriously?

2011-09-13T22:07:00.001-04:00

$100 for a bathmat? That's been made in China, no doubt? That's American capitalism for ya!

A few changes

2011-09-12T09:21:00.000-04:00

I moved my giant starburst mirror into the living room:

Burt models the finished runner

Finished it off with some black nailheads:

Let's not belabor it...

2011-09-02T14:33:00.000-04:00

Me and this pair will be heading up to the mountains this weekend for some R+R. Can't wait.

Have a fab Labor Day!

If you haven't had enough of my entry yet...

2011-08-29T08:16:00.002-04:00

I know, I'm kinda obsessed with it. I decided to try a DIY stair runner. There are only 5 steps from the front door to the 1st level so I figured I could handle the installation.

I picked a flat weave wool rug off Overstock (or, I guess it's "O.Co" now). It's about 2.7" by 10 feet, which left me about 12" of length. It's flipped over the top step here and I think I might secure it down and leave it rather than try to cut the wool. I also used some carpet padding on each step for softness.

As you can see, I used a staple gun to nail this baby down. Just keeping it real around here. I'm going to add some black-finish nail heads to hide the staples for a finishing touch.

Stair Runners

2011-08-26T06:11:00.002-04:00

Stair runners are cool. I want one. These are all super-duper.

via http://www.elizabetheakins.com

via rugsatsva.com

I smell another project a-brewin!

Stripped Banister

2011-08-22T07:38:00.004-04:00

What I have learned recently:

Stripping latex paint from steel SUCKS. It comes off in sticky, gooey gobs and needs to be scraped off bit by bit. My simple plan to strip the banister of icky white paint turned into a 2-weekend project fraught with tears and frustration.

Also, steel is heavy. This m-effer was a pain in the neck to work with.

But a sleek black spray paint job is much nicer than yellowing, chipping, sticky white paint applied with a brush!

Corner of my entry way. Whoops - that price tag can come off now! Next on the docket: a runner rug!

Noteworthy Notables

2011-08-19T09:08:00.000-04:00

I was charmed by a recent tour on ApartmentTherapy of the home of Jennifer Dyer.

How lovely is the kitchen? This is nearly exactly what I want in my home, though the massive stove and plumbed island will be a budget buster for me:

The antique doors used to create layering and texture here are pretty and could be done affordably by picking up some vintage doors at a salvage yard.

Do you spy a coral door, like mine?

Dressing up Hollow Core Doors

2011-08-15T07:29:00.001-04:00

Inspired by Jenny's door spruce up, I decided I try my hand at fixing up our blah hollow core doors. Actually, I need to replace all of them because they were undercut to allow for some (long gone) shag carpeting. The gap drives me nuts!

Our bathroom door, however, is the right height so it can stay. This will be my experiment!

I used a miter box to cut my trim pieces (from Home Depot) in 16" widths and 12" height:

I used this adhesive to glue my pieces to the door:

I picked up one of the caulk smoothers to fill in any gaps:

Ready for paint!

I chose a yummy color, Martha Stewart's Terra Rosa:

As you can tell, it reads much more coral in real life than dusty pink:

Now I get to rehang it (yikes) and find some new hardware.

Weekend

2011-08-12T11:19:00.001-04:00

My plans include:

Watching this movie:

Finishing my stripping project and maybe painting?
Exploring some decorative trim for interior doors.
More Couch to 5k!

Happy weekend!!

Fenced In

2011-08-10T10:00:00.000-04:00

I've been busy the last few weeks and neglected my little old blog here. Whoops!

But work continues here at little Casa HV. We finally bit the bullet and put in a fence in the backyard. We have a .62 acre lot and fairly big backyard for the burbs so the fence wasn't going to come cheap. Also, fence people wouldn't return my calls -- just finding someone to come out and give a quote was next to impossible!

But all is well and we finally knocked this out. We put in flat top metal across the front of the house and post and wire along the sides, which is heavily covered by plans and vegetation. Now Mr. Burt Reynolds, the beagle in our lives, can romp free and easy! Here he is maxing and relaxing on the hammock, leash-free!

Now, it's on to my other project: stripping our bannister of icky latex paint. It's a beast.

Topsail Island

2011-07-26T08:46:00.002-04:00

A weekend ago we headed out to Topsail Island for a mini getaway. It was just a quick stay for me, one night, but the weather was lovely and we did get to romp on the beach. My in-law's rental house was beach front so waking up to the sound of waves was quite a treat for these landlocked folks! Now that the mercury has hit 103 here in central NC, I'm going to dream of the beach this weekend while we hunker down in the A/C.

Custom Cork Board

2011-07-25T08:21:00.003-04:00

Another small office update I whipped out lately was an sprucing up of the long-neglected cork board I use as a jewelry organizer. It was just an ugly, plain item and I took a scrap of this Premier Prints left over from my headboard project. I added some nailhead trim around the edge, and voila! Dead simple. Credit to Bryn for the idea!

The photo tacked at the bottom is one of my dad from a billion years ago taken at my grandparent's house. He was a long-haired looker!

No-Sew Drapes for the Office

2011-07-22T18:39:00.000-04:00

I've been derailed with blogging lately. I keep forgetting to take photos or I'm working on a project that's pretty dull.

I did manage to finish my no-sew drapes for the office redo. I used cheapo Robert Allen fabric I scored at $5/yard!

Hooray! And my West Elm Parsons low bookshelf arrived so I am pleased to be able to build that shortly!

Office Design on a Dime

2011-07-06T07:40:00.000-04:00

I'm tweaking my home office (read: extra bedroom where I watch Bravo and read blogs). Why? Why not? I Craigslisted a few pieces I had grown out of to make room for some new items. To commemerate the occasion, behold my first mood board!!

Let's walk through the plan. I already own the lamp, poster, drum light, loveseat, (a similar) rug and the parsons bookcase is on the way. I might replace my cheapo IKEA desk with their DOCKSTA table and add a bamboo chair. The loveseat's a richer, deeper green and a slightly different style but overall similar to the one pictured.

I refuse to pay silly prices for drapes so I scouted out this linen-like Robert Allen fabric -- it was less than $7/yard on FABRIC.COM. Plus free shipping and a 15% code, I'll have four 96" no-sew panels for about $35 total.

To do:
Make panels x 4
Reframe poster with mat
Assemble bookcase when it arrives
Look for DOCKSTA on CL?
Bamboo chair on CL?

Let's do this.

Before and After Mid Century Dresser

2011-07-05T08:57:00.004-04:00

A few months back, I picked up this dresser from a yard sale in my neighborhood. It was pretty banged up but was sturdy and had nice, clean lines. We already have a mid-century chest in our bedroom with a very similar feel.

Here's where I started:

Yikes, this top was beyond salvaging:

Primer + spray paint and new pulls really helped this little piece out:

Hickory Hardware pulls in brushed nickel ordered from Home Depot (free shipping, yay)!

The total cost of this upcycle was about $70 bucks

$30 dresser
$35 pulls
$5 spray paint

I'm happy with it although it's nothing special. I am going to find some cute drawer liner and move (my underthings and tshirts) right in!

Yellow Thrift Scores

2011-07-02T17:11:00.000-04:00

I scored a few cute things at the thrifts recently:

A lemon yellow square ceramic lamp for $8. This is very CB2 to me:

Diane Von Furstenburg yellow dress! This appears to have never been worn. Pity that it's a 6 though, a smidge too small for me:

Off to list on eBay for a lucky shopper!

One of the Best IKEA Hacks...

2011-06-29T08:21:00.000-04:00

Is over at Me, You and a Weiner. Brilliant IKEA hack.

Beagles are Trouble

2011-06-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

I love this dog, but he cost us $350 today. A persistent case of fleas (gross, I know) sent him to the vet where he came home with about 5 different medications. Good thing he's so damn cute.

Dropcloth Rug - A Kinda Fail

2011-06-24T08:56:00.002-04:00

This story starts off promising enough. A big blank canvas of a drop cloth. But the seams were wavy. I proceeded to ignore that.

I started taping off diagonal stripes 8" wide

I realized that would FOREVER so I switched my pattern up to wider stripes going the other way. It was also about 98 degrees this day so I was running out of gas fast.

Then I painted. I used some leftover latex paint from other projects watered down

My finished project. The paint made the fabric all wavy-like. Love the colors. But the size is really out of scale for the space. I ended up cutting it down to 9' x 9' but it's still not right.

FAIL.

I'm back to searching CL for a proper outdoor rug.

Pantone Paint at Lowes

2011-06-18T08:32:00.002-04:00

I ran over to Lowes Home Improvement today to pick up my big ass dropcloth (a 10oz 9 x 12 is $25) and passing through the paint section I saw that they are now carrying Pantone-branded paint! I don't see anything about this online -- they only reference Google returns is a tweet from @BellaGrind here.

Paint is pre-mixed quarts in a limited array of colors. Here's an image of the display area from Gilly Grey:

So Pantone freaks of the world - your answers ave been prayered!

What I Am Doing This Weekend - Dropcloth Rug

2011-06-17T11:58:00.000-04:00

I am going to make a dropcloth rug for our covered deck. Outdoor rugs are pricey for what is essentially a big piece of plastic. Although PB has an AWESOME one right now.

Because our deck is covered, I'm not as worried about it getting wet. Plus, for the cost of a large dropcloth from HD or Lowe's, if it lasts just one summer I'll find another way to repurpose it.

Here are some sweet inspiration pics:

via Martha Stewart

I love the zebra design and shape on this:

via Gorgeous Shiny Things

This pattern would be fun for a very colorful deck like I am doing:

via Lovely Crafty Home

Can't go wrong with stripes!

via Be Different Act Normal

Ok, I hope this goes well. I need to be patient for I am very un-patient when it comes to projects.

More DIY Drapes

2011-06-15T08:57:00.000-04:00

after success with my no-sew panels in the dining room, I decided to attack some panels for the master bedroom. This time, I decided to line them for extra heft and light-blocking capability.

The lining wasn't difficult but I wasn't terribly precise in my measurements so a few of the panels have slightly shorter linings than ideal. Luckily no one will see my mistake!

More rings and drapery hook action:

Bam! Lined drapes! I just used some $5.99 stuff from JoAnn purchased with a 50% off coupon.

My fabric - quatrefoil in a creamy yellowy color. It is NOT upholstery or drapery weight, however, so it's a little thin. Had I not lined these, they would be pretty transparent.

Little Dining Room Update

2011-06-14T07:29:00.001-04:00

I'm not one to just let things be. After I had our hall bath wallpapered in blue grass cloth, I wanted to find a use for the leftover scraps. My bird prints in the dining room needed a little sprucing up so I added a bit of the cloth as a fake mat for each one. Frames are Target.

I had to use two scraps for this one and I varied the pattern. It gives it even more texture and depth! One day I will trim off the edges of the print cleanly for a nice crisp look. I've never had the patience/motivation to do it yet.

(Sorry for the reflection. My hub's fancy Nikon can't compensate for my crappy photo skills)

I also threw up some no-sew panels out of some $5/yard ikat I came across. YoungHouseLove just made some for their dining room out of another colorway!) Drapery hooks + rings are my favorite thing now. They make homemade panels look professional!

And the view into the dining room from the living room. The dining room table is off center becuase there's a big old china cabinet out of frame that's taking up space on the left hand side of the room. Once I knock out that wall, I'm moving it to the right hand side (the patterned wall).

We have a giant hydrangea plant in our backyard that is seriously in bloom right now. Makes for a cheap centerpiece!

Puerto Rico

2011-06-03T22:03:00.000-04:00

We went on a quick Memorial day getaway to the island of Puerto Rico! It was lovely (and hot) and we made the best of it despite losing a day to some terrible weather. RDU delayed and cancelled flights due to some terrible thunderstorms. We would have missed our connection in the ATL so we had to come back the next day for another flight (boo).

Once we arrived, all was well and we explored the old area of San Juan on foot for a day. The colors are so very pretty. In fact, the whole island is more colorful that you'd expect. A big old box of crayons in some places, really.

We were able to balance a little sightseeing with some Caribbean sea-soaking too.

Blue Grasscloth Wallpaper - Installed!!

2011-05-24T19:01:00.001-04:00

Our hall bath has been a work in progress since we moved it. There was a lot of vintage white tile (in fab shape) but the drywall was in sad shape The previous owner had SPONGE PAINTED the walls. Ick. Not only did it make our 1960s kitschy-cool bathroom look like it had been teleported to 1986, it left a terrible bumpy texture on the walls and no matter how I tried to resurface them, they just looked cruddy.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

What I've done:
*Blue grasscloth wallpaper (yes, I know, grasscloth in a bath is a nono but I don't care.)
*New vanity with granite top
*Embroidered Target shower curtain
*Framed Furbish napkin
*Framed vintage paint-by-number
*Fuzzy gray bathmat
*Replaced fixtures
*Swapped out outlet covers

So much better, yes? I am officially done with this room. I swear.

World Market Finds

2011-05-15T14:26:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite easy-access sources is World Market. Remember when it was just Cost Plus and sold mostly imported foodstuffs? Along the way it's morphed into more of a "lifestyle" store, and a stylish one at that. Although you can still get those darned papasan chairs there.

They have some really cute stuff right now:

The pouf is indoor/outdoor! So smart. I covet that bookcase. It would be nice in my office. And the four-piece patio set is $199? A steal.

*this is not an ad, I just really like World Market.

Affordable Fabric Resource: Tonic Living

2011-05-10T04:13:00.000-04:00

I have been on the hunt for some affordable fabric for drapes for the master BR. I am slowly moving through the house and re-hanging all my drapes much higher and wider than the windows they cover. I made the mistake when I first moved in to hang all my hardware right above the top of the window. Rookie error - taller and wider drapes make a ceiling feel taller. I learned that from the DIY geniuses over at YoungHouseLove.

Ok, back to finding affordable fabric. I need about 11 yards (yikes) so anything over about $10/yard was going to be a budget buster.

Alors! TonicLiving to the rescue! A Canadian-based company, they offer samples for $1 and surprisingly speedy shipping. Color me impressed.

I've settled on Quatrefoil in Cream from TonicLiving. At $8.95/yard it's more affordable than most clearance fabrics I can find. They also custom-make draperies that look really great, too.

Raleigh Fabric Stores

2011-05-09T09:10:00.000-04:00

I've been on the hunt for a good localish source for home decor fabrics at decent prices for some time. Here in the rich land of textiles, ironically, there aren't a whole lot. I hear tell of an awesome place near Charlotte, and there's an outlet off 40 near Burlington, NC I haven't had a chance to check those out yet.

Closer afield here in the Triangle, I found Mill Outlet Village. I'm not sure it's really an "outlet", it's pretty nice inside and well organized and merchandised. Fabrics are categorized into upholstery, drapery and they carry foam, accessories and lots of trims, too.

Most drapery fabrics were in the $15-$25 range with a few over $40/yard. They do have a small clearance section as well, priced from $5-$10/yard.

I LOVED this, I think it's was around $18/yard. The colors aren't quite right for my bedroom but maybe I'll find a use for it elsewhere.

The middle fabric has really pretty embroidered scrolls. This comes in several other colorways, too. I think it was a little less than $40/yard, which is too rich for my blood. I need at least 6 yards for no-sew drapes.

Trianglites and other North Carolinians, what places should I check out?

New Target Collaboration

2011-05-06T09:55:00.000-04:00

Missoni for Target!

I've been underwhelmed by Target's past collaborations with designers, so I am keeping my expectations low on this. But I love that stripey throw in the photo above. I haven't checked out the Target Calypso stuff yet though I am hearing "eh" reviews.

Their zig zag stripe is pretty chic in almost any application, no?

I've Got Nada

2011-04-27T21:31:00.002-04:00

Spring!, a photo by gummycandy on Flickr.

I've been distracted lately. New job, changes, lack of DIY inspiration. Instead, I offer a humble instagram photo of how lovely our house looks in spring. This lushness makes a cold, dreary winter worth it.

No-Sew Panels

2011-04-19T08:40:00.000-04:00

So far, so good. I am making skinny little panels to save yardage. This window won't actually ever need to be covered with the drapes - they are only decorative so I guess this is a cheapo hack that will work.

I'm going to attempt to line them, too. I think I can pull it off without sewing, too. If not, I'll leave them as is until I can get my hands on a sewing machine.

Ikat Fabric

2011-04-17T19:37:00.000-04:00

I scored this Robert Allen ikat fabric for $5/yard at Hancock so I decided to try my hand at no-sew panels. I am handy with a sewing machine, though I don't currently own one. So I am whipping out the fusible tape, heatset glue and my ironing board.

I love these ikats, too:

top left - designers attic

top right - unknown

bottom left - fabricadara

bottom right - robert allan

I'm a pattern freak. I'm sure my house is going to start looking like a nutty old lady lives here soon.

Newest Project

2011-04-12T17:36:00.000-04:00

I mentioned the free rug I got last weekend at a yard sale. Here's the dresser I bought in order to acquire said free rug.. It's a mid-century piece that matches, roughly, another piece we have in the master BR and was pretty well-loved by the original owner.

As you can see, this one is slightly worse for the wear. It's veneer so I am going to give it a light sanding and then a paint job.

Chipping around the bottom:

I would love to do a Union Jack paintjob like Miss Mustard Seed did, but my paint skills aren't that great. I might just paint the sides and top a creamy white and leave the drawer fronts as they are. We shall see what happens once I break out the sander.

Yard Sale Score

2011-04-04T06:34:00.005-04:00

A house down the street was having a "downsizing sale" this morning so we swung by on our way to another tag sale.

This rug was rolled up with a sticker that said "free with any purchase". Music to my cheap little ears! I bought a beat up mid-century dresser for $30 that I intend to rehab (photos to come) so this rug came home with us for FREE!

The seller kept pointing out that it's worn. I was like, lady, worn is IN! Anthropologie would be selling this for $500.

Great Etsy Art

2011-04-02T16:54:00.000-04:00

I love these dreamy cloudscapes from Etsy oil painter Tracey Nicholas...

My birthday is only a mere 6 months away, time to save up!

Diggin Up The Yard

2011-03-24T21:29:00.000-04:00

A big patch of weeds in our backyard went to the great composter in the sky a few weeks ago. We decided to take a chance at planting some spring grass in the space. We tilled and then raked. Very exciting!

Tilling it up, instagram style.

Paint it Green

2011-03-16T08:16:00.001-04:00

This ugly monstrosity has been sitting on our backyard for the two years we've owned the house. It's actually useful, despite the caving-in floor. We keep random garden stuff and our lawnmower in it. And with no budget to replace it, let's just paint it!

But dang, why did someone use what appears to be DUCT TAPE on it? Why? It left ugly rusty marks.

A half gallon of exterior paint and primer later, we've got this:

It's still an ugly, but it isn't the hideous eyesore it was before. Now, to fix the caving-in floor so I don't break an ankle.

(I'll admit, we didn't paint the back or other side yet. No one will see it so it's falling to the bottom of the to-do list.)

Blue Grasscloth Wallpaper

2011-03-14T08:57:00.009-04:00

I've got a wallpaperin' fever. Of course I have pricey tastes when it comes to wallpaper and of course the blue grasscloth sample I received and fell in love with is over $80/roll. And I will need just over 1 roll. So I'm looking at at least $160 for the paper alone. But I think it will be really awesome:

I ordered a silvery/gray sample, too, but it's not quite right. I think the dark blue will be dramatic. Paper installer is coming this week to give me an estimate and then it's off to the races!

DIY Starburst Mirror

2011-03-09T07:05:00.000-05:00

Inspired by some great DIY tutorials online, I figured I could make one myself. I wanted a big piece for the open wall in my dining room and I didn't want to spend much.

I started with a round mirror from HomeGoods that I already had and a bundle of bamboo from Michael's purchased for about $5 using a 50% coupon. A cheapo hot glue gun affixed the bamboo to the back of the frame. I just free handed the whole thing. Plan? Me? Never!

I ended up with this. It's enormous - at least 5' in diameter. I didn't really measure my bamboo, just eyeballed it and it was pretty uneven:

I took my plant trimmers to the ends and tried to even it out the best I could:

The glaring difference between the gold mirror and the polished nickel light fixture is pretty obvious from this angle. I'm thinking of spray painting it a glossy navy blue. I'll live with this for a few weeks and then decide what to do.

Blue and Coral

2011-03-07T11:31:00.000-05:00

I'm digging this color combo right now. It feels fresh and playful.

Ashley Whittaker

DecorPod.com

Angie Hranowsky

Here's my take in my hall bath that's not yet finished:

My hall bath is still a work in progress. I framed a napkin and embroidered an $8 clearance shower curtain from Target. I'm thinking of grasscloth wallpaper in here because the walls aren't in the best shape. Samples are on their way. I'm learning towards a darker blue:

This bath has no windows. Will a rich wallpaper be too dark?

More Additions to Guest Bedroom

2011-03-05T11:29:00.000-05:00

My embroidered shams came back this week! I had C, J and the last initial T done even though that's not my last name! I retained my maiden name when I married but it felt weird putting my own initials. Apparently, that's OK. Soft goods can have a maiden name, according to the embroiderer. It harkens back to the olden days when girls prepared linens for their future, far before they knew who they'd marry.

I also moved the starburst mirror in here from the master BR. It's hanging a little high, though. Will have to adjust.

I also added the remaining chandelier shades to the light fixture. Yay!

Nothing's really changed on the other side of the room. I should probably polish up the hardware on the chest.

I moved my little lady chair back in here because the cat was clawing it death in the master BR. Bob the cactus hangs out in this room during the winter.

Lighting at Lowes

2011-03-01T22:13:00.000-05:00

I was pleasantly surprised by the Lowes lighting section during my last spin through the store. Sure, they still have tons of McMansion style stuff, but there are some really decent options to be had at reasonable prices, too.

Cool, Moroccan-ish pendant:

$99 Chandelier. Would be cute in a closet or bath.

Not a fan of the black/white flocked drum item below but I do like the nickel chandy with the 3 drum shades next to it.

An other neat glass pendant:

But YIKES to the 80's style square glass number for $158. WHO would pay for that when those are a dime a dozen at the thrifts?

The other home improvement mega-chain, Home Depot, has a cruddy selection of lighting, though. What gives? Martha, you gots some pull there, design some nice looking lamps for the little people.

Mid Century Chandelier Finds a Home

2011-02-28T08:56:00.000-05:00

My kinda cool mid-century chandelier that was hanging in the dining room has found a new home. Original to the house ('64), both Jake and I liked it, just not in the dining room. I removed it a few weeks back to hang a drum pendant from Overstock.

Here it is hanging in the dining room with strange black glass discs affixed to it. Ugly dust traps those were.

Now it lives in the guest BR, which had a cheap, dim dome light. The bulb had to warm up, creating an ambiance akin to a Romanian jail cell.

Here's it's new home:

I'm going to add some simple natural linen chandelier shades from Lowes to give it a bit more personality. I bought one to test out and I think it's going to work. These are about $4 each, almost fitting into my budget of $0!

Make it work!

I'm getting king shams monogrammed right now in lime green (whee) and then I think I need to call it done in the guest BR.

Rick Griggs art

2011-02-26T14:26:00.000-05:00

West Elm is showcasing Etsy artists in their catalog this spring. One of the items that popped off the page for me was this work by Dallas artist Rick Griggs:

So pretty. Love a blue/yellow combo.

Now to save my pennies for one.

rickgriggs.etsy.com

Kate Spade Does Art?

2011-02-17T08:17:00.002-05:00

Is there nothing Kate Spade can't do up all cute? These prints (now sold out) were on her site for $45 for three.

Charming, but I'd rather send some love over to an Etsy artist instead.Is it just me, or does it seem odd to buy "art" from a lifestyle brand? Like, I can't imagine buying a print from JCrew.

Drum Chandy

2011-02-12T18:15:00.000-05:00

Finally, FINALLY, I decided to move this light fixture from the dining room. I was trying to adapt it to take a big ole drum shade but finding the right size shade was becoming a challenge. (Ugh, ignore the popcorn ceilings. I'd love to take them out but they have ASBESTOS so they stay until we win the lottery)

Better, no? It's this drum shade from Overstock It's definitely not top quality - the "chrome" plating is pretty bad but no one's going to be examining it under a microscope.

I need to figure out how to take better photos. Well, I know how, I'm just lazy.

Friday Funny

2011-02-04T18:41:00.000-05:00

I'm starting to feel a little under the weather (boo) and I saw this today and it made me feel better.

We are going to Charlotte this weekend - so that means IKEA! Hells yes. Can't wait.

Small Entryway Solutions

2011-01-31T09:04:00.004-05:00

My indoor/outdoor rug has arrived! It's a little smaller than I hoped but it covers most of the grody tile in the entryway (which probably needs a good scrubbing, too).

One of my next projects is stripping the chipped paint off our metal railing. It's pretty grubby in person so I was thinking of stripping it to see what it looks like au natural and then perhaps re-painting. I swear, if it's not one thing, it's the other in this house.

Indoor/Outdoor Rugs Save the Day

2011-01-27T09:01:00.002-05:00

I was thinking about ripping out the floor in the entry way and retiling. Then I remembered I am DYING to re-do our kitchen so the money sunk in to a tiling project would be best directed to the kitchen fund. (Rather, Jake pointed this out and I grudgingly agreed his was right, this time.)

Instead, a rug can cover most of the weird slate tile stuff. Off I went looking for a 3 x 5 indoor/outdoor rug in a neat print. Why indoor/ourdoor? We use our front door often, and traipse down the stairs to teh lower level a lot. Plus, we have a dog that loves to tear crap up so something a little more study is wise.

Here are three great options. Once of which is coming my way this week!

Martha Stewart Faux Bois

Ballard Designs as seen over on Little Green Notebook


Another Ballard Designs choice I considered

What do y'all think, is a polypropelene (aka plastic) rug tacky?

Paint it Black

2011-01-25T08:59:00.005-05:00

I finally finished painting my campaign dresser. It's a cheapo laminate deal, not real wood so I primed it first and then painted with high gloss black.

I'm thinking of polishing up the brass fittings a bit and then calling it done. Such an improvement, no?

Overstock Drum Chandeliers

2011-01-24T08:59:00.001-05:00

I'm still struggling with my dining room light fixture. I'm vacillating between replacing the whole thing and trying to find a drum shade to slip over the whole thing. I've purchased and returned 2 drum shades at this point and I'm ready to give up. Boo!

Here are a few simple options from Overstock I might consider:

Source

All are right around $100.

Versatile Rugs

2011-01-21T09:48:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone, my name is Chelsea and I am a rug freak! The joy of having hardwoods throughout our house is the excuse to buy lots and lots of rugs. I think I might be pushing the upper limit of rugs, though. I have two in the living room, two in the guest BR, one in the master BR, two in the office, one in the kitchen and two in the dining room. That's TEN rugs just upstairs. There's another downstairs in our rec room. I need an intervention, for sure. (Just left Jeff VanVonderen tell me that my family loves me like crazy..)

My latest purchase is the West Elm Jute Boucle Rug in Chocolate: For an 8 x 10, it's only $229, though they get you with the extra shipping charges for over sized items. Boo to that!

So far, I'm pleased with it. It's actually pretty thick and chunky. I was expecting a finer weave but it's nice a texture-y. I laid my cowhide rug on the top -- photo to come!

Decorating Math

2011-01-17T08:29:00.001-05:00

This:

Plus this:

Equals this:

For a heck of a lot cheaper.

It's Premier Prints ($12/yard) fabric, plus Ballard Designs' x bench ($179) equals an exact replica of Jonathan Adler's x bench (close to $500 on sale). I'm not plugged into the design world enough to recognize fabrics and pieces too often but I knew this one immediately. I saw this fabric on another piece in the SF Jonathan Adler store last month -- I had ordered a sample of it for my headboard upholstery project.

Deal Alert

2011-01-15T14:46:00.000-05:00

Though Jan17th this 8 x 10 jute rug is $199 plus an additional 15% off at PotteryBarn.com. Not a bad price! I think it ends up being about $232 out the door, including the (annoying) shipping surcharge.

I ordered it after searching CL for one for months. They just don't come up here in Raleigh at all! So I bit the bullet and ordered and it'll going in the dining room when it arrives.

Random Stuff Today

2011-01-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

Still trying to get back into the post-holday swing of things. We went to the Hurricanes game last night and saw them win 6-5 in a shootout over Calgary. Fun times!

Anyway, I saw this really cute storage ottoman at TJ Maxx last week. If only Jake would agree to replace the downstairs coffee table with an ottoman! He won't :(

Charley Harper is an obsession of mine. His prints are awesome and I suspect this calendar I spied at PaperSource would make a great frameable source of cheapo art.

I also thought the 2011 PaperSource calendar would be great for art projects and cheap framing. I didn't pick either up as we were out in SF and our bags were already filled to the brim.

HGTV Dream Home

2011-01-10T08:03:00.000-05:00

The HGTV dream home in Vermont is quite lovely this year. It isn't my favorite dream home (I think the Lake Lure, NC location from 2006 or the Sonoma home from 2009 were the best.)

I love the light fixture in the sunroom.

The ski bunks are clever and well done, though a little "forest chic" for me.

It looks so cozy with the glowing interior lights!

Intersting that they used a ceiling fan here. Usually ceiling fans are a decorators arch enemy but they are ever so useful (especially in warmer climes) so it's nice to see them used from time to time.

Not a fan of the dining room chairs. Looks like a conference room to me. Yuck!

Whew!

2011-01-06T21:45:00.000-05:00

We've been back from California for nearly a week and I'm still playing catch up. For some reason, I'm having trouble getting into the swing of things. Plus, blogger was giving me fits last night. All seems well now.

We had a fab time in San Francisco and Los Angeles. We got to fly Virgin America for the first time and it was glamourous. I need more mood lighting in my air travel. Another highlight was meeting Alice, a dear friends newborn. So tiny and sweet!

Project time is coming back -- I've got some sanding, painting, stripping and other things to work on for the rest of the winter.

Farewell, 2010

2010-12-31T22:16:00.000-05:00

It's my last chance to post before 2010 slips away. We spent today in sunny, gorgeous LA climbing the Hollywood hills and we're cozily ensconced in a hotel before our early AM flight back home to North Carolina tomorrow. Then life begins all over again, full of promise and possibility.

Things I Love in LA

2010-12-23T08:34:00.002-05:00

Despite planting roots in North Carolina, I'm a California girl at heart. Born and bred in northern CA, I have close ties to southern CA, too. We're heading out there for Christmas this year so I thought I'd showcase some of my favorite places and things to do in Los Angeles:

Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. One of the last original restaurants, this place is the OG diner experience:

See's Candy is my favorite sweets shop. Sure, you can get it out here at the holidays, but it's not the same. The black and white shops are always a highlight of a visit back to California. My favorites are too numerous to mention -- I love scotchmallows, bourdeauxs and anything with nougat and nuts!

The LA Farmers Market (adjacent to the Grove shopping center) has a great donut shop. Jake was taken with this pink iced number.

The hike in the hills of Los Feliz and the Griffith Observatory is great. Views of the city and the Hollywood sign make it a fun way to get some exercise.

Beachy Keen

2010-12-20T08:26:00.002-05:00

I'm still so very charmed by these prints on 20X200 by Christian Chaize. I've been drooling over them for a year and they still make me smile.

Of course, the affordable sizes are all sold out but one day, one day they will be mine.

Drum Shades

2010-12-17T18:48:00.000-05:00

I'm thinking of adapting the current dining room light to accept a drum shade. I'm wondering it is as easy as I think it may be. Probably not! I would take off the black disks and attach a drum shade to cover most of the lights. How to do this is the mystery.

Here's what I would love to end up with. This is the Jonathan Adler Ventana chandy.

These awesome shades from Shades of Light would all be delightful. Though, I really think a 20" diameter shade would be ideal and those are harder to come by. These are all 16" diameter:

Aren't they pretty? All are under $100 which is pricey but cheaper than new light fixture. I will think about this and decide what to do. It may be easier to replace the whole darn thing.

Family Photo

2010-12-16T09:18:00.001-05:00

Every year I like to support the Wake County SPCA through their Santa Paws photo fundraiser. We take Burt and leave Mouse at home. I can't imagine getting a dog + cat in the same photo at once.

The folks ahead of us had 2 people, 2 dogs, 2 turtles and a lizard in their photo. Talk about a menagerie!

Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been kinda busy with offline stuff lately. Hopefully I'll be back to it soon.

Cowhide in Dining Room

2010-12-09T08:41:00.001-05:00

I scored a killer deal on a new cowhide for my dining room. After stalking a million auctions, I logged on this weekend to see this light brindle colored hide with an auction ending in 10 mins! I think I ended up paying less than $120!

Patience, patience is the key to eBay. I am TERRIBLE at being patient, it's one of my worst character flaws.

I'm thinking a darker natural fiber rug under the hide will make it pop and add some dimension to this room. I'm also considering dressing up the plain canvas curtains as well. With what, I don't know.

Christmas has come to Casa HV

2010-12-07T07:53:00.002-05:00

We finally finished our tree over the weekend. After several attempts to buy white lights at multiple stores, we finally found what we were looking for at Walgreens.

Most of the ornaments are vintage glass inherited from my mom (thanks, Mom!) I don't think I'll ever need to buy any decorations for the rest of my life. My favorites are the rubber elves. I don't know how old they are but they have the "made in Japan" sticker on the back so perhaps the 60s?

Have you folks finished decorating?

Python Upholstered Headboard

2010-12-06T07:19:00.002-05:00

My headboard came back from the upholsterer last week:

Pretty swank.

Martha Stewart Cabinets

2010-12-03T08:50:00.001-05:00

Our darling Martha Stewart seems to have switched her allegiance from Lowes to Home Depot. (I loved her Lowes paint line and the colors at Home Depot are great, too. I just started repainting the hall bath in Love-In-A-Mist) She also hawks hardware, flooring, window panels, etc. But most intriguing is her cabinetry line.

There are several styles and colors and coordinating hardware and countertops. It's practically idiot-proof, perfect for me! The prices seem to be in line with other brands.

Now, to find $20k to redo the kitchen...

Are You In?

2010-11-30T17:39:00.000-05:00

Added myself to the directory for North Carolina style blogs over on Effortless Style. So excited to be meeting new readers!

Turkey Day

2010-11-29T19:53:00.000-05:00

We had a lovely turkey day in western NC. Now the countdown begins to Christmas and a much-anticipated trip to California.

We're also getting our first-ever REAL Christmas tree this year. We've always lived in apartments and last year, the first year in our house, we went to Costa Rica in mid-December so it seemed a little silly to have the tree sit unappreciated in the house. I don't do fake trees, not only do they lack the lovely smell but they are also terribly eco-unfriendly. That said, I do love a white tree:

via bestparty-ideas.com

I'm a Magazine Junkie

2010-11-24T09:15:00.000-05:00

I can't get enough of magazines. The small joy of opening the mailbox a few times a month and finding glossy, shiny pages makes the dreary days of fall and winter more bearable.

Here's what's currently in my rotation:

I've always thought of BH & G as an "old lady" mag, kind of on par with FIRST: For Women (only slightly kidding). But it has some cute stuff and ideas for decor that are a bit more down to earth (read: cheap.)

I love her recipes and she often has cute styling.

Esquire has some fun lifestyle pieces with a male slant, obviously. I think this comes to Jake, technically, but I read it too.

I never paid for this, in my defense, I think it was found online for free. Truly, it's a pretty sad excuse for a magazine. They are the worst when it comes to misleading headlines.

The classic. The smell of this magazine takes me back to being a kid for some reason.

Sunset's a regional lifestyle mag for the western US. Makes me miss CA, too.

Again, not sure how I started getting this, but it's fun to see how the other half lives from time to time.

My favorite. I will gladly pay for Vanity Fair every year. A staple.

What do you folks read? How many do you pay for vs. find online for cheap/free?

Coming Back to Life

2010-11-22T07:19:00.001-05:00

I've had a hard week. A cold knocked me on my bum there for a few days and I'm finally coming back to life today.

What I am working on? Finishing painting the quarter rounds! Tape, caulk, paint, repeat.

It's such an improvement but a tedious job!

In other news, we finally finished the bath vanity. Jake hooked up the plumbing this morning and we have a working sink again! He also attached the hardware last weekend while I was at camp.

I think the gray stripes are going to go. The white paint makes the tiles look yellow, which they are not. I'm thinking a soft gray might be nicer.

A book to consider

2010-11-16T17:47:00.000-05:00

This book of palms looks lovely. TASCHEN books, as a whole, are quite well-done and their price tag reflects that. At nearly $100, it's a little steep but the frameable art possibilities, if you can bring yourself to destroy the book, are endless.

Also, do enter the giveaway at The Long and Short of It. It's a $35 CSN giveaway!

JCrew Brides

2010-11-12T08:55:00.000-05:00

JCrew is hitting the bridal market hard. They have a wide selection of dresses now, although I find them pretty overpriced and blah, for the most part. They stick more glitter and sequins on t-shirts over there than the bridal wear.

Though, this is lovely:

I also like this, though on my figure I'd look twice as wide:

And what's up with this pose? This bride looks like she needs a good steak and a couple hours of sun.

Would you buy a JCrew dress?

Stoned

2010-11-11T08:50:00.002-05:00

Yay! Granite's here. The plumbing is just for show right now but we finally got the granite installed on the new hall bath vanity.

I still need to add the cabinet hardware (I'd show them, but they don't seem to be pictured online anywhere).
Hopefully we'll be up and running this weekend and I can add some finishing touches, paint touch up and the like.

I had to stand in the bathtub to take this shot. It's a small room!

Aminal Print

2010-11-10T09:48:00.000-05:00

Finally ordered some of the Tazo print for the headboard re-upholstery project I have no business spending money on. After this, I'm calling the guest BR done. I swear. Really. If anyone needs an upholsterer rec for North Carolina, I'm happy to pass along who I use. They pick up/drop off which is a huge plus and the prices seem pretty fair.

Because I'm obsessed with printed pillows right now, here are three more Etsy finds that I love:

Be Still Shop

TrendyPillows

Turquoise Tumbleweed

Granite

2010-11-08T21:31:00.002-05:00

Today, the granite people come to install the top for the hall bath. Yeah! I chose Luna Pearl:

And this is the new faucet, Moen Caldwell in chrome:

After this, projects will need to be slowed a bit, with the holidays coming, the collective wallet of this household has taken a hit. Boo :(

Friday Link Roundup

2010-11-05T10:53:00.000-04:00

I've been making slow progress on painting baseboards so I don't have a lot to share this week.

Instead, let's talk awesome stuff on the internet:

These are some of the coolest, neatest, most creative homemade Halloween costumes I've ever seen.
Painting the inside/sides of dresser drawers is pretty zingy!
Love these exterior paint colors from YoungHouseLove.

This Anthropologie chinoiserie bed, sadly no longer available, rocks my socks. Though, those little extra legs are kinda weird, I guess you'd need a skirt to hide them.

Three Charming Things

2010-11-02T08:14:00.004-04:00

Loving this $10 sailor tee from Old Navy

Every item from Plum Cushion's Etsy store is great.

This soup from Trader Joes. I add my own shrimp - the won tons included are just OK.

CraigsEasy

2010-11-01T07:17:00.002-04:00

I've been searching for a visual tool to make searching on Craiglist easy. You'd think it would have been invented a million years ago, but every tool I found didn't work so well or seemed to be defunct.

My dining chairs are one of my favorite CL finds

In comes CraigsEasy, an app you add to your toolbar that lets you convert a Craigslist search into easy-to-see image searches! Hooray, my prayers have been answered! Now I can search to my little hearts content without having to guess what lies behind each poorly-written headline.

The app is a tiny bit tricky. Install it on your browser, run a CL search as you normally would, then hit the "easy" button and it rearranges your search, photos first!

My CL sofa

Thanks to this post on Three Men and a Lady alerting me to this super-duper resource!

A post to find other posts

2010-10-28T09:38:00.000-04:00

Burt says hello

Awesome round-up of stylish dining chairs from Knight Moves.
Neat Halloween decorations courtesy Brooklyn Limestone
Lucite chiavari chairs at CopyCatChic (how cool would those be at a party/wedding?)
Making a boring IKEA mirror much more interesting via KFD Designs.
CentsationalGirl makes over her staircase in a pretty cool way.

Demolition

2010-10-26T09:26:00.003-04:00

We ripped out our old bath vanity. It's the first *real* demo we've done in the house and it went well, despite Jake's protestations.

Time to take a hammer to it. It ain't coming out in one piece.

Ta-dah!

Isn't that pretty? There's no subfloor - just the floorboards covered by some black material and ancient metal grating. High quality 1960s construction right there! Thank goodness the cabinet builder was nonplussed and installed our new unit this morning.

I'll save the big reveal 'til we get the top installed. It's not super exciting right now...

Alert

2010-10-22T06:28:00.000-04:00

My fellow design cheapskates! Jonathan Adler's 2011 calendar could make fabulous cheap DIY art.

See my other posts on calendars as art.