I have been a very busy lady.
Thursday
The guest room was finished up as well as it could be. I’m going to order the Marimekko Lumimarja fabric for the windows. The friendly people over at Finnstyle are offering me (and you) 15% off until Friday! Just enter “makingitlovely” when you check out.
Here’s the way the room turned out for now:
This was all in preparation for the arrival of my friend Lili, of course.
We went to the Design*Sponge Biz Ladies Meet-Up, which was great. I saw some friends (like Donovan and Grace), met some new people, was recognized (yay!), and ate yummy snacks.
Friday
Lili and I walked around Oak Park, checking out some of the shops (Flybird, Fitzgerald’s Fine Stationery, Paper Source, Barbara’s Bookstore, etc.).
I also hired a second employee! Yes, again. Did I ever write about Sarah? She didn’t work out, but I digress. My friend Pat had just quit at the bookstore, so he’ll be helping me for the holidays. Hooray!
Later, we went to Emily’s open house at her studio. Gorgeous! She has an amazing space with wood floors, huge windows, tall ceilings, and space. Sigh.
Oh, and I met Jess from How About Orange there, so that was a nice surprise!
Saturday
Saturday was my last day with Lili, so we stopped by the DIY Trunk Show before I brought her to the airport. I was recognized again, and it completely made my day (and made me blush!). I bought a poster for The Fiery Furnaces from David R. Head Jr., and we both bought an Implements of Craft poster from Handmade Nation.
After I had dropped Lili off, I went directly to meet up with my sister and my dad. My sister’s car died, and she decided that she needed a new one OHMYGODRIGHTNOW. Uh huh. There was no way I could talk her out of it (believe me, I tried), so I figured I could at least help her get a good deal. She and my dad were ready to sign off on a car for $247 / month for six years. I got them down to $225 / month for five years. Still crazy, but less so.
I rushed home after car shopping and started cooking because Brandon and I had a pot luck dinner to go to. I made a sweet glazed bell pepper salad: roasted red and yellow peppers and red onions (coated in olive oil), then mixed with balsamic vinegar, honey, and chopped kalamata olives. We hopped on the el with our big bowl of food and headed over to Amy and Anthony’s place. It was a really nice evening with other crafty people, and lots of yummy food.
Sunday
My friends Bekah and Lisa just finished grad school (such smarties), and they rented out Timber Lanes to celebrate. Um, I bowled a 53. I haven’t done that badly since I was 8. Brandon bowled a 133, and we were all very impressed. Much shouting and excitement commenced whenever anyone broke 100, so…
After bowling, I drove out to IKEA. I thought they were open until 9 o’clock on Sundays, but they’re only open until 8. I arrived at 7:55. Luckily, I knew exactly what I was there for: the wire baskets I had spied in Emily’s studio. I grabbed 15 of them, hit the self-checkout lanes, and was out of there pretty quickly.
Lastly, I got home and finalized a deal with T.G.I.Friday’s for a custom button order (550 buttons for the Chicagoland area). I’m bringing in a new button machine for it, so I’ll also have 2.25″ mirrors available in the future over at the shop.
Whew! A busy end to a busy week.
drey
November 18, 2007 at 11:36 pmyou’ve been a busy bee!! summer believe it or not, is when i actually slow down… i hate the heat.
the guest room is coming together beautifully!
Julieta
November 19, 2007 at 12:34 amYou are busy! That’s great!!
No joke: My husband paid his way through college as a bartender for Friday’s and he won the Bartender Olympics for our area but refused to go to the finals because a) he was embarrassed and b) he had finals.
Anonymous
November 19, 2007 at 7:58 amoh oh oh! i like how the room looks! the fabric will look great. out of curiosity, where did you get the great little orange and white print?
Moxie
November 19, 2007 at 8:22 amWait… You’re making flair?
:)
Stef
November 19, 2007 at 9:35 amThanks for the the discount, it finally motivated me to buy some Marimekko fabric I’ve been wanting!
Making it Lovely
November 19, 2007 at 10:13 amYES! I’m making flair!
That little orange and white print is from Three Sheets 2 the Wind.
Christen
November 19, 2007 at 10:31 amI’ve been stalking your blog for months now and absolutely adore it. You always have such great links and I love your design asthetics. They always inspire me. Keep up the good (and hard) work.
Jess
November 19, 2007 at 12:58 pmHey Nicole! It was great to meet you, too!
RemodelingMySpace
November 19, 2007 at 1:07 pmHi Nicole,
Just a note to let you know that a write-up about your projects has been written and included alongside your entry in the Remodel, Blog & Win online contest at RemodelingMySpace.com
It can be viewed here:
http://www.remodelingmyspace.com/contest-entries/making-it-lovely
Thank you for entering!
Cathy
Billy Splatts!
November 20, 2007 at 11:38 amHi!
I love what you’re doing with the house!
Have you considered listing it in the Home Name Registry? I think your home is perfect for it.
The website is http://www.homenameregistry.com
Billy!
Anonymous
November 20, 2007 at 11:41 amYou’re going to love your curtain with the Marimekko fabric…I’ve got a roman shade in my kitchen with the same fabric, different color, and I love it!
Jacqui
November 20, 2007 at 12:59 pmHey there… I’m delurking to ask what color you used on the walls in there. It looks so fabulously warm and lovely in there! :)
Anonymous
November 21, 2007 at 8:38 pmEven “unfinished,” the guest room looks stunning. Great job!
Anonymous
November 22, 2007 at 12:45 amLove love love your necklace in the pic with Lili!
becoming-home
November 26, 2007 at 8:41 amThe guest room looks stunning.. not that i would expect anything less ;)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Anonymous
November 29, 2007 at 5:15 pmHi Nicole!
Someone from apartmenttherapy has guided me your way to get your (and your houseguest’s) opinion on CB2’s Lubi daybed. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. (Beautiful home by the way.)
Thank you!
Tisra
November 30, 2007 at 8:54 amThe poster is by Beth Howard. Her etsy shop is here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=56576
Tisra
http://lifetrain.blogspot.com
http://www.tisrafadelyoriginals.etsy.com
Making it Lovely
November 30, 2007 at 10:10 amJacqui, I haven’t painted yet… the walls were that color when we moved in.
I love the look of the Lubi daybed, and the fact that it opens up to sleep two. Lili (my guest) said that it was very firm. It was actually a bit too firm for her, but she’s used to sleeping on a super soft feathery pillow-top mattress. I haven’t slept on it myself yet. Maybe I should try to take a nap on it? Now, if only I could find time for a nap…
Beth Howard
November 30, 2007 at 11:10 amHey!! That’s my poster! I’m sooo glad you liked it!! you can check out a blog about it here:
http://stitchriprepeat.blogspot.com/2007/07/finally-print.html or here:
http://stitchriprepeat.blogspot.com/2007/08/art-or-craft.html
Thanks for posting it! Yay!
Emma Woo
July 7, 2008 at 2:09 amOK, so I’m a bit behind everyone else, but a few weeks ago I typed into Google something like, ‘inspiration for decorating a small space’ and it came up with your blog.
Thank you very much for the inspiration. We are about to move into a very small space and you have got me all excited about making it lovely. I have thrown away loads of stuff and freecycked even more so that our current flat is looking neater and more lovely by the day. This bodes well for our new small space. THe most glorious thing about our new place is that I will have my own (well, shared with my 10 month old) bathroom, ie not shared with my husband! I am so excited about having a girly bathroom. I didn’t know where to start but I am going to try what you do and start with one piece or some fabric I love and go from there. So, all this long-windedness is really to say thank you for giving me my decorating mojo back. God bless you my dear.