Abby's Way: repurpose

Showing posts with label repurpose. Show all posts

Adding trim to a bought curtain

With all of the snow falling outside, it is a perfect time for

some much needed spring cleaning.

Time to sort out our home, and work on some unfinished projects.

It seems like every spring/late winter there is a room or two that needs painting, a closet to clean or items to be replaced,but this year I have a need for change.

We have been in this house for over six years. Almost a record for us. And my inner self is screaming for change. We don't want to move, I really enjoy life here. We get a lot of good energy and happy feelings in this house. Like a warm hug. So we aren't moving anytime soon. But to cure my need for change, I have been working room by room. Painting, moving furniture,

changing out pillows, and adding some new details.

And that's what I am doing with my

weekends from work. I have gotten to know

the paint guy at Home Depot on a first name basis!

More on the painting later, but in the mean time I want to

share a project that I have been working on

for the last few days.

My master bathroom curtain.

I wanted to have a nice lacy piece to cover the window. Privacy isn't

an issue because it has a frost finish to the glass. Something that would let the light in

and still feel cosy through all of the seasons.

This was a curtain that I bought at JYSK but it ended up being

way too long. I cut the extra length off the bottom, then finished the edge

with my sewing machine.

I found a crochet pattern that would work nicely with the

fabric on a Youtube video.

I'm loving the cute little flowers,

However, I am just learning to crochet, so this probably looks a little

rough to you, but I am ok with that.

Once the trim was complete, I sewed it to the

right side of the bottom of the curtain.

Super fun, adding the perfect detail to an otherwise simple curtain.

Have a great day!

Abby

Poppy Seed Blue

If you have been here before, then you are aware of my thrifty side.

I would much rather reuse then replace.

I look at all the lovely furniture out there,

readily available, but I just can't do it.

I just can't replace until I have squeezed every

last bit of life out of it.

This little cabinet is a perfect example.

We bought two of these cabinets, one just a little deeper to

hold an old school style TV, way back in 1993.

They were raw wood and needed assembly.

I was all about pink at the time,
so I white washed them a slight pinkish/white.

Sorry, no picture.

Then, a few years later I got into the country shaker look

and thought that a terracotta wood tone would be nice...

so the wash was sanded out and terracotta stained and sealed.
Again, no picture.

THEN, about 10 years ago they were painted a linen cream,
and I changed out the knobs for rose

coloured crystal knobs. They worked very well up until recently

(see picture above).

I think I just needed some more colour.

And I picked out a navy blue. I liked the navy
cabinet, but it changed the wall colour too much.
Pretty, but just a little too bright blue.

I went back to the paint chips,

and found what I needed,

POPPY SEED.

I LOVE the results!

It has a greener base to it. And its working nicely

with the wall colour.

I'm sure you can see why my family thought I lost my mind...

the colours are so very close.

But that's ok! I'm so happy I repainted it.

Some new knobs were added and it

has a new lease on life.

So there you have it,

It's only paint, and if it doesn't make you happy,

get out that roller and brush and have some fun!

Abby

....now what should I do
with my baking cupboard.......

Slipcovered Patio Set

With our youngest graduating in a week(!!!)

we have been getting the house all shiny and ready

for our families to come and enjoy our celebration.

A very exciting event in our lives!

Today when I was cleaning the patio and washing the slip covers

I realized how Uhhhgg- lee

the cushions underneath were.

What a difference the covers have made to our patio....

compared to the before picture below...

I made these cushion covers from painters drop cloth

as well as the pillow covers.

I stencilled the pattern on top with fabric paint.

Not expensive, and exactly the look I am going for.

I purchased this planter last year at Winners\Home Sense,

I had no idea what I was going to plant in it, but I knew

it would work well with this refreshed patio.

This is my first year growing succulents....

I LOVE THEM!

I am really hoping that they will overwinter for me.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the transformation.

Christmas Cottage 2015, Our Living Room

Welcome!

So glad you have stopped by!

I've been busy decorating and I would love

to show you what I've been up to.

I started Christmas very early this year,

November 21st. My plans and ideas started swirling around my head
in September, honestly! And once I start to dig into my Christmas storage totes....
it's official. Decorating begins.
This year I felt a little nervous. We spent last
New Years repainting our open concept living room, dining room and kitchen.
I had my fingers crossed that it would all look nice together,
I am so very happy with the results. But seriously, who doesn't enjoy pulling out all
their treasures and displaying them around your home?
All those collections,
all those memories!

Anyways, here is what I have done in the living room area...

The tree sits in my galvanized tub again. I used a little burlap to soften and
hide the stand inside the tub.

I have weaved lots of ribbon in and out, added lights that twinkle,
raffia and sticks (which is a first for my tree)
and lots and lots of ornaments. I am from THE MORE THE MERRIER

side of decorating my tree.

But before all of that fun, this tree had to have
a little facelift. Half the
lights didn't work on this pre-lite
tree, so I had to remove all
of the none working twinkle lights.