Making it Lovely

Category: Filing Cabinet

  • The Bench I Want

    Ballard Bench + Hable Construction Fabric

    That’s the Simone Bench, which can be custom upholstered and is on sale at Ballard Designs for $200. I’d love the bench with Rose Checker fabric by Hable Construction. Alternately, I would also looooove the following:

    Pie in the Sky Fabric
    Sky Collection: Pie in the Sky, from Vanessa Arbuthnott

    Sigh. That fabric is gorgeous.

    Brandon likes to remind me that we already have a bench though. It was in the basement.

    Mabel Claims the Bench
    You like that wrinkly rug? That was in the basement too.

    Eh. The only thing I like about that bench is the fact that it’s a bench (and can therefore add some much needed seating in our living room). I don’t like the legs, I don’t like the color, and I don’t like the overall shape.

    Still, in the spirit of frugality, I may try to make it work. With spray painted legs and new fabric, maybe the bench could be cute? Possibly with some Amy Butler polka dot fabric?

    Amy Butler Fabric

    I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try. It would only cost $15 or so. Then when it looks horrible, it will be easier to convince Brandon that we need the pretty one instead. Or you know, maybe I’ll actually like it. ;)

  • Disappointed

    I made a purse.  It didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped.

    I bought a pattern, per Lili’s suggestion. I hesitate to link to the one that I bought because I don’t think it’s the pattern’s fault, but I went with the “one for all shoulder bag” from Betsy Ross. (Sorry to not do your pattern justice Betsy Ross – it was my first attempt at making something other than curtains.)

    I didn’t want to potentially waste any of my ‘good’ fabric, so I used an old duvet cover from IKEA and a sheet I picked up at the thrift store for $1. The whole project took a few hours, and really wasn’t too hard. The purse is even sort of cute…

    My First Purse

    The pattern didn’t call for any lining, but it did say that thick fabrics are better. Maybe that’s why my purse is so floppy? I did try to get fancy though with a lining (thinking it would add the requisite thickness) and pockets. The pocket I created specifically for my cell phone, by the way, is too small.

    The Lining

    Oh, I also added interfacing to the gusset (the bottom/middle part) of the bag. I thought it would give a little extra support.

    It didn’t.

    Meh.
    Hello, big floppy mess!

    Why does it look like that? What should I have done differently? I was having so much fun making it, but now I don’t think I’ll even use it. It makes me a little sad.

    I want to try again, but I’m worried about getting the same results. Any ideas on what I did wrong?

  • Orleans Rug

    Orleans Rug

    I thought I could cross something off my list already, but now I’m not so sure.

    The new rug in that last photo happens to be the Orleans Rug from Crate & Barrel. I’m smitten.

    Living Room

    The problem is that it’s not really big enough for the living room.

    Living Room Rug

    It would be gorgeous in the 8×10 size, but it wouldn’t be very practical. The entry to our home is tiny and awkward, so you have to come into the living room almost immediately upon entering. The room is only 11’x12′, so the larger rug would cover most of the floor. Obviously, white may not be the best choice for a high-traffic area.

    Also, we eat on the sofa. Because we are lazy. The dining room is ten whole feet away. So again, white may not be the best choice.

    Brandon thinks that maybe we shouldn’t even have a rug in there. We have rugs in the adjoining rooms, so he thinks the bare wood is a nice visual break. What do you think?

  • Font Crush 2!

    Font Crush 2!

    I have chunkier, more substantial fonts for you this time around.

    Font Crush 2!

    Just as before, they’ve been added to the far right sidebar above my wishlist, and each page load will randomly display one of the fonts.

    Two fonts are free (for personal use only): Sanka and White Bold. The other three are suitable for commercial use: Mesquite ($29, as seen in the banner above), Hellenic Wide ($49), and Rustler Fancy ($19.95).

    Enjoy!

  • We Need a New Vacuum

    We Need a New Vacuum

    Vacuums

    I could have also titled this post “Things That Suck”. I took the high road, people.

    Any recommendations?

    The Hoover WindTunnel Cyclonic looks pretty nice. Is that the one they’re advertising right now with the white room and the multiplying messes (little black dogs in one, something else in another)?

    Apparently I am easily swayed by advertising. Sign me up and sell me a vacuum, please!

    I also want the Dirt Devil Broom Vac. In pink, of course. I’m sure the broom + vacuum concept is not an entirely new one, but this seems like a genius product to me.

  • Mmmmmm.

    Enstrom’s

    Enstrom’s Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee is delicious.