Project Knock-off...

I am going to fore warn you, this project is not yet completed.... Don't start this post hoping to have a war, and fuzzy after. It won't happen, yet..... You have been warned.

I found a nightstand at (Gigi) Urban Outfitters that I loved. For $150 it was out of my price range. But I kept it pinned for later.

One day while cruising around Savers I found 10 balusters for $2. And waited patiently for Drew to get home. I drew up some elaborate plans.... And we got to work with scrap wood we had from our old bed.

Don't those balusters look pretty darn close to the original legs on Urban Outfitters version?

 

Drew drilled some pocket holes on the inside of the faces to attach the legs.

Don't mind our tenants stash of moving boxes, etc in the background. Focus on the end table.

Then he ripped down a 1" strip of wood and face framed (?) the lip of the table. He then jig sawed out the hole for the door. This was making it up as we want. Remember we have 6 more balusters and scrap wood, so messing up was no biggie. Next one we will piece together the front for cleaner lines. We still need to build the door, but instead of inserting the cane webbing in the door, I am going to put in a gold metal grate door. And I will love it.

Testing out dimensions.

Soon ours will be in its happy little home. Whether that is in our house or we start selling them. Time will tell....

To Be Continued....

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Donut Falls

I feel guilty whenever I go on a hike without the dogs. On even days they can't go to Dog Lake anyway, so I went up Big Cottonwood Canyon where they are never allowed because its a water shed.

This is a short nice hike. Just good to get up and out of the city. Perfect weather, and perfect scenery.

Most of the hike is a clear trail, once you get to the falls you can scramble up the rocks and go into the grotto.

The reason for the name Donut Falls.

Inside the grotto...

The backside of water! Get it? Just like Disneyland's Jungle Cruise...

View from the top...

I'm just not sure there is anywhere as pretty as Utah.... Great hike for everyone. Probably an hour + round trip if you don't scramble up to the waterfall. I can't wait to try this hike in the snow.

Aspens...

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Love...

So simple and so precise. We can overwhelm ourselves with stuff. making sure you only keep things in your home that you use, and need helps cut on the clutter and keeps your house in order. Having pieces in your home that simply make you happy, I think is just as important.

I would prefer a great adventure....

(via)

 

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Key Rack DIY

You know the cold sweat you get and the pit in your stomach you feel when you should have left for work 10 minutes ago. It you can't find your keys? No, just me? Hmm.... I am constantly losing me keys. I set them down somewhere never to be found again. Drew has moved from wanting to slap me every time this happens, to patiently waiting on the couch while I go room to room in a panic. Well no more! I took a $1 frame and $0.50 leather belt from a thrift store. I had some of these small gold hooks on hand but probably would have been out another $1. And snagged this driftwood from a hike to Dog Lake.

I spray painted the frame gold, cut the leather belt in half and made two loops. I nailed the loops onto the back of the frame. I hand screwed the gold hooks in the driftwood and slipped it through the hooks. I like the wood sitting outside the frame so the keys don't hit the wall. We'll soon see if we can make it a habit to keep our keys here. This could be a game changer!

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The Lipstick Trick

Drew and I have used the lipstick trick with hanging Sheetrock. It helps mark out where to cut existing lights, boxes etc. This time I used it to arrange my gallery wall. First you smear some old lipstick onto the piece of art you want to hang, where the nail will hold the piece. Then line up the piece on the wall, when it is where you want it press the piece against the wall.

It will leave you a guide right where your nail need to go. Sorry these pics are low quality, just had my phone on hand.

Look at that aim. And yes the only nails I could find were from Drew's roofing nailer.

I use this trick on everything. Canvas art...

These little jagged brackets.... And if you mess up, you just wipe it off and reapply.

 

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Gallery Wall

I've been working on my office gallery wall. I've been doing odd and end art projects and collecting art off etsy for a while. Drew called me a hoarder, I told him to get me some walls to hold my (expletive).... Joking I most likely said stuff!

My abstract family portrait.

I actually found a four leaf clover in a park. I pressed it and modge podged it. I loaded up on frames from thrift stores, and gave them a fresh coat of paint. I used up some of the extra sample paints I had laying around. Otherwise I would have spray painted them. Spray painting would have been quicker and cleaner. You just can't beat FREE!

The red telephone card was a card from Anthropologie. I bought the DOGS, Golden Book off eBay after Caesar died. Miss that pooch.

This was a page from the book. Makes me cry every time.

I drew that flower line drawing a while ago. I like the simplicity. And oh my giraffe? My friend had one and I loved it so. I found it while shopping with my sister-in-law and brought it straight home. I think it might be cute to put some nickel reupholstery studs down his neck to hold necklaces. Right now I'm just enjoying him. Now to paint the brown dresser the perfect color.... What will that color be.

 

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Kiss These Lips!

I drew/painted/colored(??) these lips with oil pastels.

I wanted them to pop more in an art piece for my gallery wall in the office. So I cut them out and painted a canvas with metallic gold folk art paint. The last layer I painted I out on an extra thick layer of paint.

I set the lips on and with fine tipped scissors I pressed in the lips to give it an embossed look. Muah!

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