Catalog?!

As you know - coined by my new blog friend and long-lost cousin, Flo, I am a "gray lady."  I do love all things gray and any permutation of the color.

So what is this new catalog that has hit my mailbox??

First of all, the cover instantly has me drooling, with a little reminiscence of my beautiful mother on her honeymoon with an equally amazing donkey:

doesn't my dad look so young and tan??!??

I think I may have to buy something from Serena & Lily just to say I have.

more pillows?

new fabric??

that office chair?

updates are in our future.  of course.

trip down memory lane

I'm back at it.... as Sewing Sally.  It has been over a year and I definitely had to go back to the helpful website for seamstresses who love Singers....

I even ran to Hobby Lobby today to buy myself one of those wrist-pin-cushion thingies!

Now only if I could hem a straight line....  hmmm .. more to come with picture updates of my table curtains!  At least this year I have a much prettier and spacious workspace!

the winners...

After talking with Allison Godwin from Hoot, who happened to stop by the same day I got the fabric swatches, I decided to go with #2 and #4!

The above fabric is going to be the skirt on my table, and I bought 1 yard of the below fabric to make some pillows for the couch.  I'll keep you posted!

a little kick of inspiration

I've been in a decorating lull lately.  Not really a surprise... I tend to cycle in waves and since lately I've been working like most normal people do, I've not had as much time to devote to houseliness.

But nothing jumpstarts creativity for me more than going to find new fabric (that sounds sooooo nerdy).  But really...!  King Cotton and I had a rendezvous this Saturday and I amassed quite a collection of fabrics to potentially go in the craft den.  I want some for a skirt for my table, potentially some pillows and simple draw curtains too.

Reminder of the space:

{I've got to hide underneath this table!}

Inspirations:

{for the skirt}

{for the colors}

{for the skirt}

{for the blinds/curtain style}

So - give me your votes!  I love them all and may pick two or three that compliment each other.  My biggest fear:  being too matchy-matchy....

I'll confess, I kindof already have a combo in mind, but want to see what you think!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

I am also traveling around my house justifying purchasing a couple yards of each (or at least the second one).... who doesn't need more pillows?  I need to find some good DIY pillow sewing websites.

a table refinished... a first!

Done awhile ago, just now posting!  I needed a better side table for the guest room and wanted to experiment with refinishing and antiquing.  

Inspiration tables:

from Richard Tubbs

above...

from Interiors and Antiques in Vestavia Hills

and below....

The find:

The process (compiled from several you-tube videos):

Sand down the table, paint with a base coat (I chose Ben Moore's Coastal Fog, 976)

 

Put a coat of lighter-colored paint on top after base is dry (Waverly Snow White and Cottage Linen), and wipe off in line with the woodgrain with a rag.  You will be removing lots of the paint, and can do this many times.

Water down your lighter paint and continue to use the above technique to apply depth and the illusion of woodmarkings to your surface.

Sand down the edges in a subtle way to make it look less "new".

The end result:

Did that make sense at all??  I'm not the best explainer.  Maybe you should just you-tube it like I did...