Bolster cushions

I always dread taking on a new sewing challenge as I’m not a great sewer. Something about measuring always sends me back to high school, and having to be tutored, and still not getting it :)

Anyway, a friend recently gave me a couple of bolster cushions (some of you may call them pillows, but where I come from, a pillow is to lay your head on while you sleep, a cushion is a decorative item).





I followed the instructions that Judy at DIY by Design posted, used a thrifted curtain and made these babies brand new again. Judy’s instructions are phenomenal!



I used the hem of the curtain to make the ties.

Bathroom reno done

Mostly :)  I still have to hang a new shower curtain rod, but I’m scared silly to drill into my new tiling job.
This reno took me 3 weeks to do and other than having someone install the tub, I did it all by myself. Can you tell I’m proud?!  This is the biggest project I have taken on.

I started by ripping the existing tub and tile out, bringing it down to the studs.



After – new tub, new shower faucet, new tiles



Storage is an issue in a small bathroom, I solved that by building up.




A fresh coat of paint and some new accessories helped to make the space feel airy and bright.

I installed this bamboo slatted shelf above the sink to hold brushes and soap. This is a shelf meant to go above your kitchen sink, I simply removed the legs and mounted it to brackets.



The toilet and sink were in good condition and although they are no longer what I would choose, I didn’t replace them.

The final touch was new flooring which I installed yesterday. I tore out the old linoleum and to keep costs down, put new lino in.

Before


After



I love the pattern and texture in the shower curtain, bought at a garage sale last year for $3.00



The new flooring goes well with the touches of bamboo in the blind and baskets.



It was 3 weeks of back breaking work, but I am pleased with the final result.

In total I spent a little over $1,100. That includes the new tub, faucet, tile, floor, trim, paint, labour and building supplies. The wealth of knowledge gained and the boost to my self esteem is priceless :)

Sharing this project at

Roman blind made from bamboo blind

Using the same method of gluing fabric to mini blinds, I brought some spring into my dining room.

I bought a piece of fabric for $4.00 at the thrift store.

Previously I had a bamboo blind up and my lamp shade was slipcovered in black fabric.

There was just enough to make the blind and slipcover the drum shade.

I didn’t bother to sew the fabric on the shade, I just used pins. Easy to change that way.

A quick update for $4.00, can’t beat that!

A night time shot where the light isn’t streaming in

Hoppy Easter

We had our easter egg hunt this morning because of other family events occurring this weekend.

I don’t “decorate” for Easter, but decided to put a little vignette together.

I created this mumma and baby bunny and threw it into a shadow box frame that I already had. Free suits me fine.

DIY Sunburst mirror

I’ve admired sunburst mirrors for some time and when I saw the instructions on Centsational Girl’s blog, I knew that it fit my criteria, cheap and easy.

I started out with a plastic framed mirror that I picked up at the junk store for $2. On one of my many trips to the hardware store, I grabbed a huge amount of paint stir sticks. 



I tried out a few patterns and ultimately decided that I liked the pattern on the end of the sticks, so I cut 1.5” off of half of them and laid out my pattern.



I used a piece of masonite cut to the size of the mirror and replaced the orange, plastic frame with an embroidery hoop. It received a couple of coats of silver metallic spray paint.



Hmmm, better, but it was still missing something as I only had the one layer of sticks. I got out the bamboo skewers and glued one in between each stick.



Much better.

To hang it, I used a plate hanger



I originally was going to place it on my gallery wall, but instead decided to put it on my chalkboard wall in the kitchen. Good choice.

 Joining in on some of these parties

I’m just sayin’…I’ve been seen on Houzz

I’m gob smacked!  My humble living room is part of a post on Houzz.

Read all about it here.  Unfortunately, I can’t remember my password to log in to the site :(

Province pride

I’ve admired the state pride art that I’ve seen around, but since I don’t live in America, I had to come up with one for myself.

I used an old frame, poster board and scrap book paper.

I found an image of Ontario, traced it out in SCAL and cut it with my cricut.

Kind of looks like a whale :)

I added a heart where my home is, ♥Toronto♥

Fun with placemats

Recently while at Urban Barn, I found a package of 8 placemats that I thought would be fun to create something out of.

My daughter had a couple of girlfriends over to celebrate her 13th birthday so we came up with these

Yes, my daughter is the different one; the apple don’t fall far from the tree :)

We took profile photos and then created the silhouettes in PS. I used SCAL software and cut the vinyl out with my cricut.

The girls love them.

Storage for a small bathroom

I’m still slugging away at my bathroom update. The tiling is done, it’s grouted, it’s sealed and caulked. It took me 2 weeks to complete just that part.

I’ve painted and the room looks better just with a coat of fresh paint.

This is my main bathroom, and it is very small, so I’ve been looking for some clever storage ideas. I didn’t want to take up floor space, so I made a wall shelf following Ana White’s instructions for the high rise shelf. I made some modifications to fit my space by making the shelves larger and the overall height longer.  I used MDF which I already had, so it cost me zilch to create a fabulous storage shelf, if I do say so myself.




I have plans for creating more usable storage, but I’ll save that for another day :) 
I still have to install the new flooring, and once the entire room is done, I’ll be sure to share with you.

cheap thrills

Last week I picked up some deer antlers, but I couldn’t figure out how to mount them on the wall.
I found this spoon rack at the GW for $1

I removed the spoon rack part and nailed in a few nails and presto, a mounted deer plaque for $5 total.


Joining in on

Finally done : the tiling

This wall was the toughest one! 

I had to cut the tiles around the pipes and it was NOT easy!  It took me 5 hours to do this one wall.  I’m not sure what I was thinking when I took this on, but I’m in the homestretch now. Sunday I will grout, Monday I will seal the grout.  Maybe the bathroom will be usable next weekend :)

I apologize to my friends that have been kind enough to leave me comments, that I haven’t replied to; I’ve had a really, really, really hectic week.

I do believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel :)

Have a great weekend.

Junkin’ finds and what I’ve been up to

I have been holed up in my bathroom for the last few days. I have a very small main bathroom and it was in dire need of a spruce up. 

The tub, and tile were removed and a new tub and faucet installed by a friend.  I’ve never tiled before and I think I’ve picked one heck of a job to learn from. 

I just completed the larger of the tub walls. If the tiles are still on the wall tomorrow, I’ll be grateful :)

Tomorrow, time permitting I will work on the wall without the faucet and then get some tips on cutting around the fittings. When I am done with the total overhaul, I’ll post some before and after photos.

Of course I had to take some time out for Junkin’ with my BFF.

A pretty bracelet for $2

A Mikasa cut out vase for $1.49 and roe deer antlers for $4. which immediately got a coat of white spray paint

A planter box for $3. My plan is to remove the flowers and spray it white, then reattach the flowers. It is going to sit on my window ledge outside.

Finally, this coat hook for $2.

Today I met Susan of Maple and Magnolia. She generously offered me some furniture for my niece and I was able to pick it up today. What a sweetheart, and she’s funny too. If you haven’t been to her blog yet, you should go and see what she does with thrift store finds. Ah-Maze-Ing!