These were some of the first pictures taken with my iphone and yes it did take me a while to get around to and figure out how to down load images- these photos were taken in January! I still have all the same furniture, it's just been rearranged (or course!).
Can I tell you some my thrifty finds?
These first two pictures are of the "dining room", which after sitting unused for almost a year- I turned it into a sitting room, or Cathy's Cave as my husband has been known to call it! It really is cozy and we all go there to escape the "busy" parts of the house.
This sofa is one of my favorite finds, $50.00 from the second hand shop, it was covered in peach faux velvet and had a small tear in the back. I had a slip cover made using white canvas from Wal-Mart, and the one piece seat cushion has a slip cover of leopard ultra-suede, fabric that was also found at the second hand shop for $5.00! One day I will have "real drapes", but for now there are panels sewn from $1.00 per yard fabric from, where else, Wal-Mart.
My little man Theodore, showing of his latest Lego creation!
My cabinet of ... lets just say it's a work in progress!
Ok, so the wing-chair is pretty good, it has paw front legs and the back legs are carved like hind legs! It was $75.00 ,to save money I had the seat cushion slip cover professionally sewn and I sewed the body of the chair myself. I love burlap! I have used it here for the curtains, I always pre-wash it- which is a very fuzzy business but totally worth it!
Since a faux zebra rug was not in the budget, I covered a craft box with zebra fabric, added nail heads and a lock thing. The red coral is spray painted, oh and the side table ($25.00) is decoupaged on top with a raffia beach mat and finished with upholstery nails around the edge.
Those are some of my budget stretching tips, enjoy!
One of my favorite things lately is to dig up a fresh fern shoot from the yard, stick it in the tiniest pot I can find and then tuck it in a book case or window sill. Instant accent that brings the outdoors in.
These first two pictures are of the "dining room", which after sitting unused for almost a year- I turned it into a sitting room, or Cathy's Cave as my husband has been known to call it! It really is cozy and we all go there to escape the "busy" parts of the house.
My cabinet of ... lets just say it's a work in progress!
Ok, so the wing-chair is pretty good, it has paw front legs and the back legs are carved like hind legs! It was $75.00 ,to save money I had the seat cushion slip cover professionally sewn and I sewed the body of the chair myself. I love burlap! I have used it here for the curtains, I always pre-wash it- which is a very fuzzy business but totally worth it!
Since a faux zebra rug was not in the budget, I covered a craft box with zebra fabric, added nail heads and a lock thing. The red coral is spray painted, oh and the side table ($25.00) is decoupaged on top with a raffia beach mat and finished with upholstery nails around the edge.
We used the assorted sheers and tulle to hide a flat screen TV on the wall. We also did not have table skirting, so I used some aisle runner to skirt the bride & groom table.
Cindy Gardel makes all the cakes for the church and WOW! She ordered 200 roses from the grower and used ever one of them. The cake was a vanilla butter cream with four levels. Pink and lavander roses topped each level.
Niki the bride! Waiting in the wings to tie the knot, that is her Dad in the tux next to her. They really favor each other!
Jesse, "bury me!".
Blue oyster shell mirror hanging over our bed
Here it is in the master bath, I move things around alot!
A few years ago my husband said, "what about doing a mirror with oyster shells from the beach"? And I was like, huh? Ok, so the first mirror we used blue/black shells, then white/tan shells, all gathered from the beach here. The boys really get into collecting them, and we all make a day of it. I am working on one now using super white oyster shells, can't wait to show you!
One of my favorites so far!
Detail of Umbonium shells. Once you get into the rythum of glueing, it's kind of relaxing - or maybe it's the fumes going to my head?!
I received an unusual opportunity to create two custom "shell displays" for a decorator friends master bedroom. She wanted them 14" x 10" and no taller than 20". I made the boxes using 1/2 plywood, filled the bottom two thirds with Plaster of Paris and encrusted the outside with tiny Umbonium shells. An interesting detail that you can't see is a hidden vase in the center of the box to hold flowers or a candle. Still working on my camera angles and photo quality, bear with me!
Recent commission to encrust a clients chandelier for her beach condo. I'm working on photo quality, hope to get better!
Here we are! From left to right, Cathy (yours truely), Gabriele and Sondra. All moms of boys and creative powerhouses!