Ukelele Hanging

For Christmas 2016, Mr. Brigglesworth was gifted a blue Ukelele. He has loved that thing! But with baby brother's hands, it was kept up more often than it was played with. We had to keep it out of Mister Pfitzer's hands and it was stored in all kinds of places. But it has recently found a permanent home!

At first we were storing it in the living room on the book shelves. That way, we could see it. But it wasn't played with. It then got moved to the play closet and was REALLY not played with because it was on a shelf up high.

I then got the idea to get a hanger similar to the guitar hangers and hang his ukelele. Next decision was where? I thought about putting it in his bathroom, but then I decided to put it in his room.

I think it is cute. It's played with more and little brother can't reach it.

Mr. Brigglesworth's Room

Mr. Brigglesworth has a bedroom waiting for him when he is ready to be on his own. He has taken a few naps in there when the boys needed to be separated, but I don't see him moving in permanently for a while.

He does keep all his clothes in his dresser and closet, but that is the extent of using it.

The bed is currently a full size because that is what we had, but if my boys grow the way I think they will, I will be having to upgrade to a larger bed in the rooms.

The desk in Mr. Brigglesworth's room is my parents'. I added a shelf above it and it is a playful corner right now. I made sure each bedroom was large enough to have a desk. Even though there is a huge desk down in the office for them to use, I know I liked having my own space when I was growing up.

Mr. Brigglesworth doesn't have a theme for his room, other than colorful. And that's what I've noticed his personality has turned out to be! He has these blue plaid shoes that he loves and wears all the time. It is hard to match them with outfits, but we have figured some out. And the outfits he puts together are colorful as well. There are so many creative things he comes up with. I want to live in his head for a day.

I have moved around some wall art in the room, but that it is about it. I tried to hang things in different patterns to create interest.

Mr. Brigglesworth definitely has a lot of floor space in his room to play, and that's where they go to spread out. His floor is always a mess with toys.

For a time, there was no baby monitor in his room, and it was where they boys would go to play when they were suppose to be napping. They had figured out we couldn't hear them when they went in there. We then added a monitor to that room.

When I am heading down the stairs, I see a glimpse of his room that I love to see.

And as I am writing about this, there is a theme in our house... no doors to the bathrooms! Oh, dear. I thought it was only our master bath, but I created it so that you could peak into the bathroom from the bedroom upstairs.

No worries, the tub and toilet are in a separate part that has a door. It's only the sink that does not have a door. I wanted to be able to see that fun color of green more often than a shut door.

There you have it. Mr. Brigglesworth's colorful room!

Honored

I wanted to thank Beckie, over at Knock Off Decor for featuring my artwork in Mr. Brigglesworth's room on her blog!

I was amazed to see so much traffic on a Sunday. Little did I know, Beckie was sending her readers over here.

She even has cool sponsors like Home Depot and Toys R Us!!

Her blog is to inspire. The credit is definitely given to the amazing designers that created the original pieces. Copying is one of the biggest forms of flattery.

Thank you, Beckie for highlighting one of my many thrifty things. I really enjoy being able to do this kind of stuff and I appreciate the acknowledgement. I feel honored you chose to write about me!

HomeMade Curtains - Part 1

It hit me after I re-read my post about the drop cloth curtains, that 9 feet WAS the right size and I could attempt to make the curtains again, but wash them before I cut them.

Original Curtains

I contemplated buying another drop cloth, but after doing a cost analysis of what it would be to buy the cloth then buy paint to change the color of the cloth, it was not worth the effort because it wouldn’t save me money.

The first thing I did for this project was measure where my curtain rod currently is; 10 inches from the ceiling and 98 inches from the floor. I then re-hung the curtain rod to be two inches from the ceiling (I needed room to lift the curtain rod up and out.) I’ve always loved the floor-to-ceiling look of curtains.

I then set out to buy fabric. While I was in the fabric store, I browsed the off-white fabric and different textures. I found a fabric that was tea-stained. It had a hint of green in it that would go with Mr. Brigglesworth’s wall color.

I didn’t get it on the first visit, but took pictures to take home and think about. The pictures were bad (as seen above) but I still got an idea. 

Fabric laying on blackout fabric... foot and a half too long

I went back and bought 7 yards of the tea-stained fabric and 6 yards of blackout fabric. I had planned to use a coupon, but it was already 30% off. I could have gotten more with the coupon, but oh well. It was still cheaper than full-price. 

I might have bought too much fabric, but I wanted room to play with it length wise and width wise. I had to remember about my hems! I could have gotten away with 6 yards of fabric, but I rather have the room for error for my first try.

I laid out the blackout fabric to cut first. The plan was for the fabric to be hemmed “around” the blackout fabric. So, the blackout fabric was cut the exact length and width of each curtain panel.

First "roll" of hem before "catching" the blackout fabric

The blackout fabric was extra wide, but the tea-stained fabric was already a perfect width. I had an inch on each side to create a hem. Since my curtain rods were two inches from the ceiling, I knew my panels did not need to be more than 106 inches. Then I cut another inch off to give room for the curtain rings that would hang my new panels. The total length of the panels were 105 inches each. 

Second "roll" of hem pinned.

The first few steps of making my own panels took 3 hours all together. That included cutting all the fabric, ironing the fabric and pinning the hem. A lot of that time was spent figuring out the measurements and hem-style. Trial and error.

The next day, my only goal was to thread my sewing machine. It had been a while since I used it and experts say you should use it on a regular basis to keep it in tune; just like a piano or a car. After threading my machine, I expected the worst in trying to get the right tension and stitch length. The thickness of the blackout material made me nervous. But I think my machine likes being put to work. It had no problems! I was able to quickly hem both panels in 45 minutes and then hang them up! That’s one nap and some time to spare! 

I knew Mr. Briggleworth would be getting up soon, so after I put the curtain rings on the panels, I went into his room and hung them up. I was SOOOOO excited!

They blocked out the sun. They were the perfect length. They were the perfect color. They are just PERFECT!

I then woke Mr. Brigglesworth up to see his new curtains. He grinned but I could tell he wasn’t impressed. Just wait for those summer nights when it’s his 7PM bedtime and the sun is still out. Then he’ll be thanking me!

I keep finding myself popping my head in there to peep at my curtains. I’m so giddy. I got the curtains I wanted without the high price tag. Here’s the breakdown for two panels:

7 yards of fabric ($4.99/yd) at 30% off = $24.43

6 yards of blackout fabric ($5.99/yd) at 30% off = $25.14

2 sets of curtain rings ($4.74/ea) = $9.48

When I calculated quotes on custom curtains (which is what these are, since I picked a preculiar length and a precise color, along with blackout fabric added), the price was in the hundreds! One quote was around $300! 

I got many suggestions to just buy the curtains, but I was not about to let my 3-month-old have the most expensive window treatments in the entire house!

The room looks so “grand” now with the floor-to-ceiling curtains. Maybe I say that because I want to live in Downton Abbey and the curtains make me feel like I’m in a castle. But I honestly think they make a huge difference. I like them so much that I’ve already bought fabric to make Little JCrew a curtain panel. His will be a little bit different and half the price, but I’m so excited. It took me no time at all.

I was tickled at the fabric store clerk. As she was preparing my fabric, she asked what I was making (this was before I got out the blackout fabric.) She seemed so pleased to see a “youngin’” like myself making something. I like to think I’m holding on to what my grandmother taught my mother, but I still don’t do or know as much as my momma. If I had a daughter, I’d definitely be teaching her all that I know. It is still my goal to one day learn to knit. One day.

Until then, I’m making curtains!

Update: I took the curtains down Monday night and cut an inch off and re-hemmed them.

They look so much better!

I've already finished Little JCrew's curtain. This time around went MUCH faster. It took me half an hour to cut the fabric and pin it. Then I sewed the hem in another thirty minutes! Granted, I am only doing one panel for his window. Now, all I have to do is hang the curtain rod higher in his room and we're all set. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Drop Cloth Curtain Fail

Sometimes, projects don't go as planned. I usually don't write about the failures, but I'm going to start.

This failed project should have been an easy one. I read on another blog how to use canvas drop cloths as curtains. All I had to do was paint them with medium and paint and they could be any color I wanted! And the nine foot length the naturally come in would be perfect.

The current curtains in Baby B's room came from the house in Florida's room I used as an office. (The house we no longer own as of 12/31/12!)

Den / Office in Florida 2008

Same Curtains in Baby B's room

The curtains in Baby B's room have always been too short.

And not my favorite at the top.

I didn't do a whole lot of planning with this project. I assumed nine feet would be enough to go ceiling to floor. Yet, I knew my living room curtains needed to be 108 inches to get the ceiling to floor look, but I wasn't paying attention.

I found a drop cloth that was six feet by nine feet for $10. Perfect! Just cut it in half, and I'd have two panels. All my other curtain panels are only three feet wide.

I had read to wash them in fabric softener a couple times to get them softer.

This is where I messed up. I cut the panels in half.

THEN I put them in the washer for two cycles. Thank goodness I didn't use my nice, favorite detergent on these. After the first wash, they were fine. After the second wash, I pulled them out to see this...

I was so frustrated. I shouldn't have cut them before washing them. I was going to sew them, but my brain was NOT thinking.

I told Mr. JCrew I ruined my drop cloth curtains. While we were out running errands I just looked at curtains knowing I wouldn't find any in the 96" length I needed. The standard is 84 inches and I think that's what I had in there currently.

I was surprised to find a 95 inch white panel that could work. I really liked the offwhite color best, but they didn't have it in the right length. Plus, Mr. JCrew reminded me I could paint it just like I was going to do with the drop cloth.

So, we bought the white curtains along with a wider curtain rod. When I got my curtain rods when we moved in, I made a rookie mistake. I bought the adjustable rods that had their maximum width just a few inches wider than my window. I should have bought the rod where the minimum length was my window width.

We get home to put the new curtains up. Whoa, were they bad! They weren't even at the bottom! (it wasn't because of the wrinkles!)

I put both up and hoped the other panel was even and put the uneven one where you couldn't see it behind the chest of drawers. Nope, both panels were cut at a slant! And I wanted them to at least touch the floor slightly.

The pure white color didn't go in that room, but I wasn't about to paint uneven curtains. Back to the store they went.


The only good thing was the new curtain rod. It allowed the curtain to not cover as much of the window. It makes the window look larger. I think I'll be getting those larger ones for the living room.

We are back to square one. On the hunt for some curtains that are 108 inches. Since the drop cloth was only 96 inches, I am not going to try it again. Still undecided on color. Should I be bold or stick with the off-white? We'll see what I find.

Baby B Shelf

I have got to tell you about a book. The authors have my favorite blog. I read their blog once, and created mine after theirs the next day. They are crafty AND thrifty. They always do a project I can afford. It’s that fact alone that keeps me reading. Plus, I like their style. 

Their book came out the first week of November. They purposefully were hiding their book projects from the blog so that they wouldn’t spoil the book sales. I had NO PROBLEM buying their book. I feel bad that I have a girl I worked with that had a book come out this year too (recipe book) but that’s not my thing. Her recipes have fancy ingredients you can’t buy just anywhere. I like crockpot style recipes without fancy ingredients. Just like my projects, I like using what I have around the house.  I feel bad I haven’t bought her book, yet I bought a stranger’s. But I don’t feel like they are strangers. I know them personally and read them every day!

Right before I ordered this book, my mom and I just had a lengthy talk about not adding any more to my plate after I go back to work. I had just frantically done a lot of projects and left some stranglers and she didn’t want me stressing about NEW projects.

So I bought the book, opened it and flagged it with all the projects I was pining over. I think there are 25 possibilities that are fast and affordable. 

There are so many cool things. And they aren’t planning on posting on their blog their book projects. You have to buy the book!

My first project was a shelf for Baby B’s room. There were many nights during his first two weeks at home where he only wanted to sleep on my chest for the short two hour periods. During those times as I “tried” to go back to sleep, I sat around and stared at his room. That’s when trouble starts. When I have time to stare at a room over and over or the yard, I can come up with ideas!

The first idea came as I stumbled upon the nook behind his bedroom door.

To me this felt like wasted space and I was desperately trying to find place for “high shelves ideas.” Those exact words have been written in a digital note in my phone since September! I saw Pottery Barn put a shelf 1.5 feet away from the ceiling and liked it. Of course those items cannot come down every day.

I measured the nook and of course it is an odd length if I wanted it to touch both walls. Forty-nine inches is not something you find in stores. I could find 42 and once I found a 48-inch. I considered that shelf but it wasn’t the style I like and it wasn’t a cheap price. $50 is too much for a shelf!

It was after I browsed my new book that I found a guest article in the book about making a shelf out of reclaimed wood and “L-brackets.” The same L-brackets I used on the boys game table.

4-inch vs 5-inch

I could cut the wood to perfect size and be cute with how I hung it, all the while being very sturdy! I bracket underneath and above made the floating shelf much safer than your typical floating shelves. I get nervous with those; especially if they are long. This would be my guinea pig for possible shelves somewhere else!

I did not get reclaimed wood after my experience with the pallet wall. I bought a piece of wood that was $4/foot  (I thought it was $4 total and got so excited! But $16 is still cheap.) Then I bought the L-brackets for $4 for a grand total of $20.

See the bubbles?

I used the same wood stain that I used on the table refinish and the game table. Since I finished, I learned of a trick to get the bubbles out from a dear friend that used the same stain and poly in one can. Let the stain dry some and then wipe it. If you wipe too early, the stain comes off. But if you wait, the stain stays and the bubbles disappear! I have half a can left so I will remember this for my next project.

Before I drilled the brackets in the wood, I found where the studs in the wall were. I was fine if the brackets were not perfect; as long as they were in studs. The original brackets I got made me nervous. If they were suppose to be right on top of each other, that meant the screws would hit. I then noticed the example in the book at brackets with staggering holes. I then went to get me some of those.

I spray painted the brackets oil-rubbed bronze.

That Gator sign was a gift from our Nebraska friend. Mr. JCrew's response was, "No out-of-state tuition!"

The shelf went up smoothly and I was in love! I quickly decorated it with random things already in Baby B’s room. 

This project took me forever. Every time I had a moment to do it, the baby was sleeping... in his room. I think the project was so slow, that the hungry little caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly three times! That's at least how many time we have to read it each day to Little JCrew. 

Sorry I broke our pact, Mom. I promise there are no more projects (right now.)