updates...

a few updates from my list for the apartment planning the other day.

1. we got the butcher block table top i was hoping for. we bought it off craigslist. it is a trestle table that is perfectly fine the way it is...but i just don't care for it (the base) much.  or the color of the stain. or the scratches, etc.

my parents were in town this week and they surprised me by sanding the whole table top while i was at the DMV for 2+ hours. yay!  now i just need to stain and polyurethane it.

2. i was originally planning on doing a pipe base that i talked about here. it was going to take a little while to save up extra money to buy plumbing pipes...every girl's dream i know. but then i stumbled across a little gem on pinterest...

via stylizimo blog

that made me aware of those metal trestle legs from ikea that she uses as her table base.  well i think those would be just great with our butcher block table top. [did i mention that the legs are only $10 each!!) i can get them right away and i think i will be just as happy with them as i would with the pipe base. easy.

3. i am not dismissing my love of pipes so easily. there are still many things i'd like to do with my plumbing pipes. in fact, it's probably a good thing that i can scratch one pipe project off my list, because i don't want my apartment to look like some waterworks warehouse.  so anyway, projects like

via the brick house

via 

via

all still valid options.

4. we ordered chairs.  in a dream world, i'd get tolix chairs in a fun color.

but that just isn't an option financially, so i downgraded to the overstock.com knock off:

 i actually don't think of them as knock-off tolix, because then i would never be satisfied. they do not have nearly the same character or charm as the tolix chairs.

...but they are metal, affordable, and interesting. they are lightweight and stackable.  plus they were $139 (including shipping) for a set of 4! so i consider them a cute budget chair that got really good reviews from the overstock.com customers.  i'll let you know what i think when we get them.

5. we will have a bar/open counter space in our little apartment. so i was about to get these bar stools (2 for about $75) in the same order with the chairs....

but then i realized i had no clue if i'd need the 24" height or the 30" height. and i guarantee the return shipping would be a lot more than the $3 shipping overstock charges.  so i figured i'd pay the $3 again and order them next week once we're in the apartment and i've measured, etc.  cute huh?

6. i was re-reading the post about the ikea trestle legs (see item #1) and realized that she was inspired by someone else's table. so i followed the link. here's what i found: 

via helt enkelt

and now i am so excited! because look at the chairs on the left side of the table. same material and color as my chairs i just ordered. same style, although i can't tell if these are real or knock-offs. but my point is i am excited to see my finished dining room with the ikea legs and metal chairs. judging by this picture i think i'll like it.

laundry list

i'm going to ignore the fact that i have been MIA from the blog for a couple months...and just say that my husband and i have been busy. moving. starting a new job. apartment hunting. car shopping. and another little surprise but i'll save that for later.

back to the moving/apartment thing. we found a place! and we move in about 2 weeks from now. so now i am in full mental-decorating mode.  here are a few of my tentative plans:

sorry, i don't know the link

build hanging shelves like these in the dining room (smaller scale i'm sure)

via pinterest from design sponge sneak peek

stain rather than paint a dresser green

via this sneak peek

i would kill to get a filing cabinet like this..

via hindsvik

build a piece of furniture using hairpin legs

via

and make this table base for a new kitchen table using the tutorial from frugal farmhouse design...

but we may have to save up a while. these little pipes are pricey. (i have become an expert on galvanized steel plumbing pipes and fittings)

if all goes well today, then i will have a butcher block top for it.

via wit + delight

plant an herb garden right away... possibly a big one on our little patio like this:

sorry again


 have more ideas, but in the spirit of not getting too ahead of myself....i'll leave it at that.

dives

my aqueous media final project will be based on these lovelies 

i found in a library book on figure construction 

by alon bement published in the 1920's:

i am excited. stay tuned.

in the home

a few days ago i posted about my pride and joy (a vintage industrial cart i bought at an antique store).  i thought i'd share a few photos that give an idea of how i'd use the cart in my house/apartment someday.

as a kitchen island:

apartment therapy via pinterest

via pinterest

as shelves/linen closet on wheels:

via pinterest (no link)
but i think it looks like pottery barn 

or other kitchen storage:

via remodelista

(this is kinda an island too but you could see how it could be shelving)

see, my little cart has so much potential!

here it is, in case you missed it.

accidental knock-off

it all started about 6 months back.
i found this great gray-and-white-striped knit at hancock's. it was love at first sight so i bought a few yards.  fast forward at least 6 months, and that same fabric was stashed away until i found the right project.

present day.
i started my swimsuits and knits class last month, and decided to use it.  i looked through my patterns suitable for knit fabrics, and found this pattern:

butterick 5528

i decided to make this view:

while i was cutting out, i thought i'd like to make the built in "collar" (the fold over band) in a contrasting solid white knit.  so i changed the pattern a little bit and did the contrast.  as i was talking to my TA about my plans for this project, i mentioned that i might do some little tabs on the fold over collar as a cute detail.

then a little lightbulb went off in my head....i have seen this before!!

i went to a file of inspiration pieces i have on my computer.  and look what i found:

 

anthropologie, via 2009-ish? 

my "original" design is shockingly similar to this cardigan that i have loved for a couple years from anthropologie! a shameful knock-off.  but if i'm doing it, i might as well do it right, right? so i did the cuffs and i am just about finished.  the main difference is that mine doesn't have the white trim around the hem and mine has raglan sleeves.

i will post some pictures when it's done.  i am happy with my little accident!

navy + linen

i have been searching aimlessly for probably over a year to find the perfect cropped navy blazer.  i have come to the conclusion that i don't think one exists, ha ha.  just kidding, but not at my price range.  so i realized i should probably just make one.  this thought intimidates me.  but with my advanced patternmaking and construction classes, i actually do know how to.

so this weekend i started the patternmaking and i made a muslin.  i have listed the changes i want to make to the pattern before i make it out of the navy linen/rayon blend i picked out.  i am nervous because sometimes i get so antsy to finish something that i rush. but not today, soldier.  i am going slow on to get the perfect thing, something like:

this

or this

navy + linen. can't go too wrong, can it?

to be continued...

p.s. doesn't the girl in the top photo look like lynette from desperate housewives (felicity huffman)?? don't tell me you don't watch it.

enamored

via

swimsuits part II

garnet hill

stussy

shabby apple

via pinterest

juicy i think... via here

marysia swimstore

anthropologie

keeping yesterday's fabric post in mind....

these are a few ideas i have for swimsuit pattern inspiration. 

 it is always a little bit hard to visualize what a particular fabric

 will look like made up... 

dress delivery

i am kind of in love with this dress/outfit from cupcakes and cashmere:

simple and so cute. the possibilities are endless....

p.s. amazing shoes huh?

botanicals

i am loving botanical prints in homes these days.  they are the perfect mix of

vintage and current, scientific and feminine.. 

for inspiration, i searched "botanical print" in pinterest. here's some of my favorites:

katie's pinterest via

su's pinterest via

via dominomag

maggie's pinterest via

ellen's pinterest via
one of my favorites

michelle's pinterest via

                                                     

pansyeye's pinterest via -- another favorite of mine          

a while ago, i painted my own botanical print for our bedroom

using watercolor, gesso, and ink. i tea dyed the water color paper before painting for an aged look.

 i think that part was key.

i painted an old thrift store frame and sanded it a bit.  i backed my print just on some muslin.  

i quite like how it turned out.

i have some more botanical projects in mind for my bedroom.. 

so hopefully they show up here soon.

kissing cousins: art and sewing

of course, as a sew-er it's not surprising... 

i love embroidery and sewing in art.  

here are some of my favorite artists that use these techniques:

kate castelli

kate castelli

kate castelli

thomas campbell

jessica bell

merriweathercouncil's etsy shop

lauren dicioccio

mummysam-love her funny narrative labels

makes me want to do more art.