Friday Thoughts.

I don't normally post on a Friday but I thought I'd pop in with a few thoughts. 

First of all, have you seen Aubrey and Lindsay's kitchen reveal? It's proof that magic can truly be made with Ikea cabinetry. I've been anxiously waiting the reveal and it did not disappoint! Lindsay also shared tips and tricks for buying an Ikea kitchen which I'm sure will come in handy for some!

I really really want to make these beautiful creations. It might just be a diy kind of weekend!

Last of all, if you are out shopping this weekend and spot a little outfit with this sweet Boston Terrier face on it, resist the urge to purchase it.

It copies the work of fellow blogger and artist behind the company Beantown Handmade. She was in no way compensated for the image and as far as I'm concerned copycats skink... the big one.

Look similar? Yep, I think so too. So do her a favor and boycott the sale of the item or at least read her latest post. Be sure to stop by her shop too. I have shared some of her work before and I'm smitten.. if only Beaufort liked hats as much as Bean...

On that note, have a great weekend!

DIY Abstract Art.

It was a rainy weekend and Saturday morning we decided to get out the acrylic paint, brushes and canvases. We do this from time to time and I, for one, am a terrible artist. I always try to draw object, like trees, flowers or worse, I've attempted people. It's honestly hard to tell that I ever took art lessons as a child.

This time I stuck to abstract and I actually put some of it out on display! I'm certainly not a skilled artist but a little diy certainly added some color to the mantel in my living room.

I made a couple of similar mini ones. I framed up this one and placed it on a side table.

Have you ever tried your hand at abstract art?

Linking up to Cassie's "In About an Hour" Party. It actually took less than that!

A Front Door Story.

Time to complete new projects at this time of year is certainly scarce. Even more so when I am teaching a new grade (I won't complain though because I am loving it!) and have lots of planning to do. I've also run into a few roadblocks which definitely slows things down! Today I'm going to tell you a little story about my front door.

A few weeks ago, I tweeted this photo.

My beloved green door had to go. I loved it, my readers loved it. But I was tired of it. I wanted something different. Especially since I'd been freshening up the porch (more to come on that another day). 

I had an idea what color I wanted but hesitated to buy yet another can of paint to put on the shelf with dozens of other half full cans. I went through those said cans and discovered that the paint I used for my peacock colored cabinet was interior/exterior. I loved it on the cabinet so why not on the door? So off I went with my paint brush...

I won't go so far to say that I hated it.. but I didn't like it at all. The problem was the lack of contrast between the door and the trim. It felt to dark and imposing. I left it for a while thinking it would grow on me and while I disliked it slightly less, I still wasn't sold on it.

I then decided to go with my original plan. A couple of years ago, I saved this photo of Caitlin Creer's adorable home. I loved the dark grey siding paired with the blue grey door. 

via cailin creer interiors

While my home is white, the trim is grey and I thought it could work. She listed the color as Benjamin Moore Cloudy Sky. Off I went to the paint store thinking this time, I've got it right!

Right?

Hmmm... not so much.

It really didn't turn out like I expected. It's less blue grey and more... garage floor grey? I was frustrated. Aren't I supposed to be good at this stuff? But truly, at this point I really didn't want to repaint it. So I decided that I would leave it for the winter and revisit in the Spring.

I needed a temporary solution. Dress it up with some Fall mums and pumpkins! I was feeling a little bit better about it after a trip to the garden center. Did I ever mention that I love Fall?

Ahhh.. much better! I can look beyond the door for a little while. Soon enough it will be covered in snow!

Except, then I noticed this. 

Seriously? You're killing me here! And there are more than one. Honestly, I just hope it doesn't get worse. 

Feel sorry for me yet? The joys of DIY:)

Have a great week everyone!

DIY Herringbone Table Runner.

In the last couple of weeks, I've had two emails inquiring about the herringbone table runner that I made for our styled shoot that was featured on Style Me Pretty. If you follow my Facebook page, you may have spotted in on my cover photo. I decided to share a little tutorial for you all today because it was really quite simple!

At the time, I was obsessed with anything herringbone. I saw it as a fresher take on the tiresome (sorry!) chevron and was dying to try it somehow and somewhere. I'm glad it ended up on a table runner and not a big wall in my house. That's commitment but I'm telling you, I was obsessed! Anyhoo, I digress! Let's get to it!

DIY Herringbone Tutorial

First, I purchased some hot pink fabric with matched the color scheme of the wedding. I knew the dimensions of the table we were using so I planned the length accordingly. (Disclaimer.. I wouldn't recommend this but I didn't even sew the runner. I knew if was just for photos, so I simply ironed a nice flat seam on all four edges.)

Next, I taped a herringbone pattern with painters tape right on the fabric. Here are my instructions for taping:

1. Find the middle of your fabric and tape a straight line down the center. I then added another strip on either side because I wanted a thick line. I also taped a strip on each side.

2. You should also decide how deep you would like your chevrons to be. Do you want a somewhat subtle look or a perky look? Totally a personal preference. Let's say you decide you want them 10 inches apart. Start at the top and mark off every 10 inches. Then, tape from one little mark diagonally down to the next mark. Repeat on the other side. Push down all the edges of the tape with your fingernail. Take a few minutes but you'll be glad you did!

3. Next up - painting! I did 3 coats using a gold acrylic craft paint. (Tried a foam roller first but found a brush worked much better)

4. Let it dry overnight then peel off the tape to reveal a modern, geometric pattern. Thankfully, I only had one little bleed!

So there you have it! A modern geometric pattern with a little tape and some paint. Who every said you couldn't paint fabric? It was so easy that I ended up adding a the same technique to some napkins as well! 

Be sure to share your painted fabric projects with me! The possibilities are endless. So many colors, patterns, stencils to work with!

Linked up to Serenity Now Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up.

Another Year Older.

I had another one of those birthdays over the weekend. The time between them seems to seem shorter than when I was a kid and I'd love for them to slow down! Nevertheless, I had a fantastic weekend with my family and friends.

I spent an evening out with some of my oldest girl friends. I forgot how much fun we have together. Lots of good laughs for sure. A reminder that it's good for the soul and we simply don't do it often enough. Whose birthday is next?

Yesterday was a delicious lunch at my parents' house with my family. Mom, you make the best lasagna! Then, Steph and I headed off to Charlottetown for supper. Our meal was awesome (I totally recommend Mr. Sushi for those of you on the island!) and I actually got a photo with Steph and I. So what if it's a self portrait and super grainy? It's a photo and that doesn't happen too often with this guy!:)

It's starting to feel like Fall in the air around here and I love it! Going to get me some mums today. Have a great week everyone!

The Deck: Your questions answered.

Thanks for all your comments yesterday on my new blog design! It certainly feels like a breath of fresh air to have something new!

I've had a few emails about our backyard project that we tackled this summer. I've decided to answer them here in case others were wondering as well. If you missed the deck reveal, you can check it out here.

What color/brand of stain did you use?

We choose to use Sico translucent stain. It is an oil based product that has a semi-gloss finish so it almost gives the appearance of hardwood floors. It doesn't absorb water like a water-based stain so when it rains or when we spray the deck, the water beads up instead of absorbing. It's pricey at $85 a gallon but goes a long way since it doesn't soak into the wood. We did 2 coats. The floor/base of the deck is called Maple Bark and the walls are Oak Brown.

 
Why did you put up walls against the siding?
The walls were put up simply for aesthetic reasons. When you sat on the lower deck, it felt modern and zen-like. Then, you turned and looked at a wall of white siding... It just didn't seem to fit. Although a bit time consuming with all the cutting and spacing, we are thrilled with the result and feel it ties everything together. The pattern was then mimicked on the bottom of that deck as well. I'll admit, staining that part was a bit of a pain. We originally bought the dark stain for the whole deck and decided after doing just the walls that it was too dark for the whole thing. I ended up loving the two tone effect.

Where did you get the lights in the tree?

The lights are from Canadian Tire. They were meant for a patio umbrella but we just used them without the clips. They were $24.99 a pack and we used two sets. Much cheaper than anything we sourced online.

How much gravel and pea stone did you use?
A lot. Four tonnes of gravel and Five tonnes of pea stone. We had it delivered then moved and spread it all ourselves. I tell myself I'm strong because I'm a Crossfitter, but it was hard on the body. I couldn't even move the wheelbarrow without tipping it and spilling it everywhere. Yes. It happened a couple of times, much to Steph's dismay.

Where did you get the L-shaped chairs with the green seats?
Those were a random find at Canadian Tire. They were in the clearance area at the beginning of the summer. The picture on the box was faded from the sun so the wicker appeared blue. I guess that turned people off. I simply couldn't believe that that was the case so opened the box, only to discover they were brown and super cool. I felt like I was stealing them, they were so cheap! The stool was a Home Sense find.

Is it finished?

Probably not.. We'd love to add a fire pit, fix the walkway from the driveway, plant a few more shrubs, and fancy up some of the fence. Is any project ever finished? 

When's the deck party?

Yes, the most important question of all.. It's too bad that we are so quickly slipping into Fall. I was hoping for a warm September but it just may have to be next year! You're all welcome though.. anytime:)

Happy Weekend!

Source: google.com via Jane on Pinterest

It's been a busy week for me. Back to school and teaching a new grade. I was in 2nd grade for five years and decided to make the jump to 6th grade. I'm only two days in, but I think it's safe to say that I am going to love it! A new challenge and a super group of great kids (including my sweet niece Mya Jane, which is fun!)

Needless to say, I neglected the blog this week and didn't get much done around the house. I was lucky just to keep it clean in between all the lesson planning. Here's hoping next week will be better!

You may notice some changes with my blog design. It's a work in progress but a talented friend is in the process of revamping it for me! Stay tuned for the finished product. Isn't it fun so far?