White

(ahhh, ich liebe Deutsch <3 )

 

via cherry blossom world and hem

I've been battling with what color to paint my bedroom for a few months now and I'm leaning toward white more than ever - accented with greys and blacks - and maybe a green or yellow. It's all just "so fresh and so clean."

Also, making those bean bags in the second photo will definitely be attempted in the near future.

DIY: Jewelry Holder

This is the story of one, sad, $2 Goodwill picture...

...who met a $4 quart of white paint named Dutch Boy.

They both decided to befriend a pack of $3 hooks...

....who made friends with all of my necklaces...

...but the earrings were kinda lonely....

...so these random sticks decided to join the party....

...and by teaming up with a staple-gun...

...they were able to give the earrings a chance to shine as well.

The End.

Paris

Doesn't this just bless you?

Oh, Europe - how I miss thee.

A Reminder

Work Is Fun

...even more so now that I have an "approved" blog to visit in between phone calls!

Thank you Jenna Lyons.

Japan

A little un-known fact about myself is that my great-grandfather was a famous American actor in Japan. He starred in a ton of Japanese films, the most well-known being -- get this: King Kong vs. Godzilla. His second marriage to a Japanese woman led to the ties my family still has there today. My uncles and cousins, having a second home there, still travel to Japan frequently. Japanese snacks such as seaweed-covered hot crackers (at least that's what I called them) always made their way into Grandma's house at some point in the year -- as well as gorgeous vases (like this one that sits on my bedside chair), Japanese dolls, kimonos and the like.

With friends and family being over there during this devastating time, my heart pours out prayers for them on a daily basis. It's easy to wake up in our comfortable lives, forgetting - so I feel challenged to try and incorporate Japan into my home and into the things I love just as these designers and artists are doing. Proceeds from the sales of these products (found via sfgirlbybay.com) will all go to aid in relief efforts for Japan and will stand to be a constant reminder to pray for this nation.

for japan by Alicia Bock

dlk designs

one little bird studio

you have been here sometime

hilda grahnat’s prints for shop japan

scout books

-Chelsea

DIY: Reupholstering

I have these wild dreams that someday I'll find myself in a garage, staple gun in hand, experience on my belt, and yards of beautiful fabric just waiting to bring a piece of grimey, antique furniture to life. Until then, I'll have to try my best with the little resources and experience I have.

So I found this dirty 'ole thing at the DAV thrift store on Timberlake and after much contemplation, I decided to take a chance on it. I loved the price and the shape, but it definitely needed to be recovered. When your cat starts sniffing and licking it like it's --gosh, I don't know-- cat nip? Something is majorly wrong. Not to mention gross.

So I set off to JoAnn's in hopes that I could find a forgiving fabric to use for my first attempt at reupholstering. I came across this white faux fur for $8 a yard: not quite as dense as sheepskin, but it still had the same aesthetic.

All it took was some cutting, pressing, and stapling. Now, it got a little messy, but it wasn't anything a vacuum and a lint roller couldn't cure. Still, next time I plan on cutting up anything furry, I'll choose to wear something I'm NOT planning on wearing out for the rest of the day.That'd be smart.

After about 20 minutes, I ended up with a super fun (and cheap) chair that really completed the space exactly the way I was hoping.

Money Spent:

Chair, $15

Fabric, $16

Time Spent:
20 minutes

If you have any Reupholstering DIY adventures of your own, please feel free to share 'em!
-Chelsea

A Fair Welcome

I’m Chelsea. You probably already know that since  - well, we’re probably friends on facebook….let’s just be honest, here.

(Hi, Mom!)

Depending on our “friendship,” you may or may not already know that I’m twenty-two years old and I have no direction in my life whatsoever except for maybe forwards. And I guess I don’t really have much of a choice on that one.

But just as a mini-sampler: I'm a junior in college and I still have no idea what I want to study, let alone the faintest idea as to what I’m going to do after college.

However, I do know that I love all things design and DIY.

Let’s just say that I am constantly rearranging, reorganizing, or repainting something. I have an incessant fancy - craving, really - to make things look better for less, and lately I’ve really been wanting to share this passion with people who "struggle" as I do.
(DIY-Anonymous anyone?)

Keen eyes, low budgets, and appreciators of processes rather than finish lines: welcome.

-Chelsea