I have orders for two cookie-sheet calendars ( a friend of a friend's wedding present and the upcoming silent auction/Fall dinner at C's school) so for once I thought to try making them assembly-line style. I actually set up three at once (always good to have an extra, right?) Sheesh..after all these years, instead of taking two days to make one, I made two in one day!
A couple three years ago I was down in Monterey decorating my oldest daughters new duplex. She gave me a lovely oversize calendar of vintage French posters and I immediately realized they were exactly what her dining room needed so I set about putting some of them in the IKEA frames she'd bought for no particular reason. Kismet! I brought home the remaining sheets and all these years later, as I was thumbing through the paper collection perusing options for these calendars, I came upon them and happily; they're a perfect fit! I rather like them as an alternative to the scrapbook paper ones I've normally done. Here's the third one still in progress on the workdesk.
What I did was print three grids, then started dropping in the basic shapes--filling all the squares is really the hardest part. Now I need to go back and gussy up each number. I'm pretty sure I'll use this pic, too.
I thought I'd share some pics of my recent bedroom remodel. It's nowhere near 'done' still need tchochkies and pillows and other layers of interest, but it may never be, and for now I wanted to show some ideas you might like.
This broken ol' pink Wedgewood-style lamp looked so crappy sitting out in the garage these past few months, but bring it into a freshly painted room and top it off with a new shade and I think it's a pretty nice rendition of shabby chic! That glass round was only $6 at Target...I almost took it back when I saw how undersized it was for my table,
but I put these vintage postcards underneath and decided it works pretty well after all. By the way, I've a new images cd I need to get listed on etsy, and 42 of these types of sweet pinks and blues and roses and birds postcards from the 20's and 30's are included on it.
So, does anybody else have this problem? I own a cal-king mattress. Whenever I go to a national chain store (ross, tjmaxx, etc) the bedding is king, and it's such a great price that I get it thinking "Oh, it can't be THAT much difference" but yep, it always is.
Such was the case with this 'hotel style' white bedcover. Once I washed and dried it you'd have thought it was for a full size mattress. While packing away some stuff in my sewing room recently I came across a pile of old sheets and noticed this somewhat strange embroidered one I'd bought on ebay many years ago. I think they were trying to make a bedspread out of a sheet. Anyway, I cut off a 26 inch width, sewed it right to the top edge of the shrunken bedcover, and it folds neatly up over the pillows bedspread style. Yeah, it looks like a sheet, but it's better than just exposed pillows.
I got the idea that I wanted to show my favorite brooches from England in the whole wide world in little frames. Practicing what The Secret teaches (i.e., no doubt in my mind I would find what I needed) I went to the Dollar Store expecting to find these perfect square frames. I used an old pink curtain panel that was amongst the recent fabric find to back them. AND they each had a cute little easel that I'm going to use for placecards at the upcoming Fall dinner. AND I can use the glass squares for fun soldered ornaments. Cool! Anyway, now I get to see these lovelies every day when I wake up.
I know I showed a close-up of this a couple weeks ago, but it was pink then...carefully changed the paint to white and that made all the difference. Thank goodness! This is an old child's armoire that I got for $5 at a yard sale years ago. OH I was so excited when I found it! It was painted a screaming blue and was covered in STP stickers and had been outside so stank like cat pee.. It never did have a door. I've always just kept a tall flower arrangement in there. I wanted to reduce the pile of books and mags on my nightstand so I made a little shelf and now it's a much more useful piece.
Almost noon and still not dressed for the day. Honestly, how can I be expected to get anything done around here when I have to keep going to grab the camera after walking in on scenes like this?
I've never in my life seen a cat sit like that
have you?
So many pretty things in your home and the pink wedgewood lamp is PERFECT and oh-so-chic!
I just a-DORE your cookie sheet calendars and what a fun way to use up lots of little tschokes!
Loved finding your blog today - vicki
Posted by: vicki cook | November 12, 2007 at 10:06 PM
monorail cat strikes again!
Posted by: Karyn | November 10, 2007 at 07:41 AM
LOVE your bedroom!!! Especially the wallpapered chest! Sheesh Louise--that is the sweetest piece of furniture I've seen!!! xo-Mel
Posted by: Melissa Lobdell | November 02, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Cats are so fun...one really never knows what they will do next. You are completely excused from getting anything done because you shared such pretty pictures & ideas with us! Love the wallpaper on the little kids chest & the shelf is great. I also Love the wedgewood style lamp PINK...very chic.
Posted by: sherri | November 02, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Oh my gosh! So much cool stuff in one blog post! LOVE,LOVE,LOVE it all! You are one clever and crafty chic miz jen! Those bears are so stinkin' cute! I love how you redid that dresser with the vintage wallpaper. Your blog is always so interesting! xo, suzy
Posted by: suzy | October 20, 2007 at 01:40 AM
Wow! What a paradise of creative wonder. Each photo was like flipping through a magazine of brilliant ideas!
Posted by: tongue in cheek | October 19, 2007 at 01:34 AM
Ha ha, I thought only Garfield could sit like that :) Love what you've done in the bedroom, it looks just gorgeous!
Posted by: Sue McG | October 18, 2007 at 07:24 PM
That cat looks awfully comfortable for being in such an odd place. LOL. Everything you have been working on looks so nice and together. Lots of hard work. I love your display of the brooches. Great idea.
Posted by: Kris | October 18, 2007 at 05:48 PM
OMG that cat is a HOOT!!! The expression on his/her face is priceless! Your calendars are 'to die for'!!! Love the new backings, but do you just use a ruler to lay the grid on top of the patterned paper?? Love your bedroom redecorating. I need to do something with mine, but I am too lazy (or maybe I should say I just have not moved it up high enough on the priority list). REALLY love what you did with the chest, and the little photo grouping is genius!!! How cool that you found just the frames you needed..and in the dollar store..now that is kismet for sure!! Great idea for the table top too...Love the pretty vintage postcards under the glass. I think there is just about nothing you can't make beautiful!!!
Posted by: Barbara | October 18, 2007 at 08:10 AM
I'm with Pam, I was taking in all the stuff you were showing and loving it all then........poof there's a cat hanging off the banister. ROFLOL!!! That is the funniest thing I've ever seen. I do love all your decorating ideas though and love those calenders you make. You are just too clever!!
Posted by: sharon | October 17, 2007 at 06:00 PM
So many wonderful photos I think of a thousand comments till I get to the end and see that cat and it CRACKS ME UP. That's how the squirrels sit on the fence but never have I seen a cat do that?
Posted by: Pam | October 17, 2007 at 04:11 PM
Love the glass with the postcards underneath!!! And your cat is hilarious!!! I have a friend who's cat lays like that on the iron banister on their porch!!!
Posted by: natalie | October 17, 2007 at 03:40 PM
Nope, never seen a cat do that. By the way, who is the author of "The Secret"? I looked on amazon and there are several books titled that. Thanks.
Karen
Posted by: karen | October 17, 2007 at 02:41 PM