A Make-over! 1 Chair. 1 Sheet. 2 Rubberbands. No kidding.

Let's begin! I found this sweet little petite channel back chair at Monticello. A bargain for $65.00. It's in excellent condition and sturdy as they come. Problem? The color is a little overwhelming (Okay, maybe more than a little..ha!)in the newly painted guestroom. However, I don't want to spend $400-$500 to have it recovered. So, I'm going to employ a trick I learned out of necessity several years ago.

Drape and center one king size sheet over the front of your chair. I've used a sheet with a ruffled edge for added softness and detail.

The next step is to start tucking in the sheet/fabric to allow for expansion when the chair is actually in use. The nice thing about the chair that I've used is that it has the channel back so I was able to keep that detail by tucking the fabric in those channels. I could have just as easily not done that and had it look even more relaxed. After all the tucking, what you have left are fabric "tails" in the front and back.

Gather up those tails, making sure to keep the center back of your sheet in the center back of the chair. If you need to, you can safety pin the sheet in place to keep it centered. Here I've gathered the tails to the back of the leg on each side, wrapped a rubber band around them and stuffed the remaining fabric tails to the inside of the gather. If you've pulled your sheet tight around the backside it will stay stuffed inside without falling out. See how the ruffled edge comes right around the side? Pretty sweet!!

Add your pretty pillows and voila! you have a whole new look without spending a bundle. Yay!! I found this sheet at an estate sale, brand new in the package, for $4.00. Sure beats the price of reupholstery....especially for a person that likes to change decor all the time!!

Note: I used a queen sheet on this chair and was able to eek out just enough to cover side to side. A king size sheet is really the ideal way to go though. The king size will also cover a wing back chair very nicely. A great place to find sheets on the cheap is a discount store like Ross, TJMax, Home Goods or Tuesday Morning. Oh, and make sure you use those heavy duty rubberbands. The skimpy ones just don't do the job and they'll snap your fingers. Ouch!

So, there you go! A little weekend re-do project that will take all of an hour...at most. Unless, of course, you decide to iron the sheet first!

It's a busy weekend ahead for me. I'm taking a class tomorrow on Artistic Wall Finishes! Cool, huh?

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

A Pink (and Brown) Wednesday!

So.....I think I told you I was painting one of the guestrooms brown. After three coats, it's done and I love, love, love it! There is a longer story about the paint and a reason for the third coat, but it all worked out in the end....and besides, you don't want to read a book. This is the whisper pink bedroom set...and the reason for the brown paint. I just couldn't think of a better paint color with the pink. If today wasn't so gloomy you could tell just how warm and pretty the colors are. There is still much work to be done. Artwork, or something, needs to go above the headboards. Maybe a crown above each bed with fabric flowing to each side of the beds. So many options!

I've also seen some rub on vinyl sayings that might work on the opposite side of the room above this vanity. We'll see. Just thought you might like to see a few "in progress" photos.

Warmest Pink Wednesday bear hugs, Aleta

In anticipation of Sweet Baby's arrival....a party!

There were bouquets of flowers! This particular bouquet was made from baby socks by my mom....great-grandma-to-be! Isn't it the sweetest thing?!!

There were family and friends, big and small. They ventured miles and hours by plane and by car from Idaho and Washington. Bless their hearts!!

There was intense game competition! This particular game was my favorite. Guess the Poop! Different kinds of chocolate bars were melted in baby diapers and the attendees had to figure out which candy bars were which. Our son, Justin, was the winner of two movie tickets for 7 out of 9 correct answers. I figured one of the guys would surely win!

Jeremy, with his quick wit and sense of silliness, made the gift opening fun!!

At the end of the day, there were lots of sweet little things for a sweet little monkey that will soon make her debut. It's not long now!! We can hardly stand the wait!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Let the decorating begin!!

From flat folds of tissue paper to ginormous pink pom poms! This idea came from the Martha Stewart library. Type in tissue paper pom for instructions. They're easy peasy. You just have to take care when pulling the tissue paper out of the folds. Oh, and make sure you make them from the designated size tissue paper. A square sheet does not make a nice pom. Believe me...I tried. Ha!

What do you do when your light fixture doesn't quite go with the decor of your party? If it's a daytime party and you don't need the light....cover it with ginormous pom poms!! I'm just getting started....

A grand entrance it will be. Guests will walk up to the front door on a red carpet scattered with gold stars. When they enter they will be greeted with a cascading baby mobile suspended over a decorated table. The mobile has pom poms, stars, and giant sized baby diaper pins, a rattle and bottle. Isn't it fun?!!

I still have so much to do! All the linens will be delivered on Friday as well as the hot dog machine. The cake has to be picked up on Saturday. I still have to get flowers, buy movie theater type candies for the apothecary jars and all the goodies and prizes for the baby shower games. I'd better get my groove going! Oh, and my mom is flying in this afternoon! Wheeeeeee.....

I'll do my best to take pictures along the way. :)

Make it a fabulous Pink Wednesday!!! The sun is shining and life is grand!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

A lighter, brighter, whiter look!

Shades of shabby, chippy white. My favorite!! It's light and airy and feels so fresh! Love it!! This is the re-do of my space in Monticello. Unfortunately, the chandelier that was supposed to make it on the truck, somehow escaped our attention yesterday. Bummer. It was supposed to hang from the arbor and be all pretty and twinkley. We'll remedy that sometime this weekend. ;)

First things first though....it's time to test some paint....brown. Yup. Brown. Seems rather out of place, especially since I just posted a picture in shades of white. Ha! That is there. The brown is here at home. I'll let you know how it goes!! It will all make perfect sense soon. :) (I hope.)

A fabulous Saturday to you!! Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

It's a white paint and pillows kind of day!

Today's the day! Finally, after two cancellations by hubby, Bill, it's the presto change-o day at Monticello! Cross your fingers it's actually the day. He's gone to start the guys on their job. He'll be back in one hour. Hmmmm......

As you can see from the pictures, I've been a busy little bee. Lots of painting. Lots and lots of painting. A bit of sewing too! Pretty, pretty envelope pillows with embroidered details are finally done. Yay!

The little drop side sewing table will be coming along (sans the lovely blue tape -ha!) with me today. It has a sweet little glass knob as the finishing touch. The claw foot table won't be in this trip. Instead, a darling little drum table will make it on the truck. Other things making the cut this time: a chippy white patio set, arbor and chandelier! I'll also be bringing a couple of ironstone pieces and other pretty little things. Note to self: Bring the camera!

So, here I sit, waiting for Bill.......

Warmest and biggest bear hugs for a delightful weekend! Make it a great one! Aleta

Sweet Pink Wednesday art!

Could this painting be any sweeter or any more ME? LOVE it!! (Said in a sing song kind of way.) Pink, white and a very loved teddy bear. Ah, elements in life that make me happy! This painting was done by the uber talented Diane Duda, Duda Daze. If you haven't seen her work then hop, skippity-skip right over to her blog and click on one of her art links. You'll be tickled pink!! Oh, and if you collect Lisa Kaus's artwork, Diane's work is the perfect compliment. Yay!!


Now, this wasn't the Pink Wednesday post I was going to post Thursday. Confused? It's okay. I do that to people on a regular basis. Just ask Bill. Hee! Anyway, I'm going to post that post at another time. A kind of before and after post.....just wait till you see what I've done, and planning to do and will have done after the baby shower!!! Hoohoo! :o)


Biggest Pink Wednesday bear hugs, Aleta

If I ignore it, maybe it will go away.

Snow. Again. Ridiculous. Beyond ridiculous. I'm going to try my best to ignore it and focus on the fun things! Fun things like this past weekends Antique Expo here in Portland. I didn't make a huge haul. Actually, my haul was pretty slim. That's okay though, that means there are even more treasures elsewhere and I just have to keep looking! Most of the fun is in the search anyway!

I seem to be finding a lot of ironstone pitchers lately...and chamber pots. It kind of goes like that. I'll find lots of a particular thing for awhile and then, none at all.

My funky little find this time is the sweet pink beaded apple and pear. I don't usually pick up things like that. They were pink and petite and I'm sure they were a sign of something truly special I would find later in the day!! More on that on Pink Wednesday!! I'm soooooo excited!!!

Oh, but wait.....I have to get it here first! Snow, snow go AWAY! Maybe Pink Wednesday will be on Thursday this week. It wouldn't be the first time, now would it? Ha! ;o)

Warmest looking forward to Wednesday bear hugs, Aleta

Pink Wednesday, a bet and better health.

A delightful Pink Wednesday to you!! Thank you for peeking in! Can you believe it's March already? Whew! Where does the time go?! I guess for me, it goes into the many projects I have going all at once. And, in the midst of it all...Bill and I have embarked on a whole new project. Better health.

Yepperoo. We're taking baby steps, concentrating on whole foods and eliminating processed food. Just a simple thing as that and Bill has lost 10 pounds and me five in just over a week. Is that cool or what?!! And, we're not starving either. Three meals a day and two snacks. We even eat out twice a week!! I kid you not.

The next step is exercise!! This one is a little harder to tackle. Though we're both active, busy people, we just don't exercise regularly. We've gotten into that same rut so many people do.....eat dinner, watch television, go to bed. We have to make ourselves the priority rather than sitting and watching a favorite television program. There again, baby steps. We're looking into different exercise options.

What started all this? A bet. Yep. A bet with Bill's sister and her significant other. Money is a great motivator. Hey, whatever works!! Largest percentage of weight loss through July 28th wins the pot. How much? Enough to get us off our behinds and get serious about achieving a healthier lifestyle!! I'm thinking that by the end of July these changes will be ingrained in our daily life so we won't ever get back to this overweight sendentary place we've embraced for far too long.

Anyway, now it's out there. I'm accountable.....and I'm determined to keep Bill and I on track. Losing in this case is win/win!!

Happy Pink Wednesday hugs, Aleta

Saturday Junking!

Thought I'd share a tiny sampling of the treasures Bill and I found this past Saturday. Just one picture today. It's really the only one that didn't turn out too dark or out of focus. I seem to have the knack of picking the rainy and gloomy days to take pictures lately! ;o)

I've never seen transferware with a seashell pattern. Have you? It's fabulous!! I'd love to keep it....however, at this point, I think Bill would pull me aside and have a little talk with me about everything I've been keeping lately. As if he had any room to talk. You should see the garage!! Well, okay, most of the garage is filled with my antiques as well. Which brings me back to my original point really....it's gotta go to Monticello. But, but.......(sigh)

Oh, and just look at the most lovely ironstone pitcher!! It's a large one at just a skosh over 12 inches tall. Love it!! Not keeping it though. I'm only collecting the wheat design pitchers because they go so well with my rooster and dishes. Annnnyway......I picked up a bundle of old fabric as well. It will be perfect for the paperclay dolls I've started.....which I will get back to at some point. Really, I will!! ;o)

Okay. So, there were a lot more treasures: 2 matching childs chairs, a delightful dressform I'll use for display only, a caneback chair......oh, lunch is ready!....gotta go. Have a lovely Sunday!!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta