Target Dress Edit

If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for a deal.  And by that I don't mean cheap stuff.  I mean a DEAL.  Like a "check out this awesome dress I got!  It was only FIVE BUCKS."  That's a deal.  In fact, the larger the gap between the value of the item and the cost, the more giddy I become.

So imagine my excitement when I rounded the corner at Target and saw racks upon racks with signs saying "Everything on this rack = $5".  Those are the deals I can't pass up.

Even when I find a dress in a size too big.  I figure - "I can at least try to resize that, it's only $5 if it doesn't work out."  AmIright?

So here's the before.  A size large, when likely a small or at least a medium would do.

Since the shape of the dress was so simple, I really just did a straight stitch up the arm and down each side.  I tried it on inside out and eyeballed how much I should take in.  Yes, eyeball is a technical term in my world.  The bottom line is this - give it a shot.  In this creative space you take a little risk and hope for the best.  Just take your risks on $5 items and it's a little less scary.  And with sewing, how bad can it be?  If you don't cut anything, you can always take out the seams and start again (annoying, but possible).

Here's the after!  (Slimmer, tighter sleeves, and my happy face)

Happy editing!

Embroidery - the comeback kid!

I've always thought of embroidery as something my great-grandmother did (in fact I have the most beautiful quilt made by her, all with handmade embroidery!), but it's totally making a comeback in a fresh way.  My aunt owns an embroidery machine, and mostly does jerseys for sports teams and company logos on hats - but these designs are so inspiring, I might have to make a date with her to design something of my own... (because I'll be honest the chances of me doing something like this by hand is slim - I so admire those who have the patience!)

Everything from home decor, to fashion, to art - I love seeing how people use this art form in a modern way:

Bicycle Pillow

Flamingo Pillow

Short Skirt

Tunic Shirt

Crescent Necklace

Ellery Top

Anthropologie Dress

Peplum Dress

Cute wall hanging

Canvas Art

Desk Nook

As promised, here are some pictures of the new desk nook, but let's start with the before:

I already showed this one, before we painted (oh, and we took down that chandelier as well...still need to get something new.)  We originally thought that we would build in a desk on the blue wall, since it's also a recessed space.  But after mulling it over, I changed my mind (what else is new!)  Instead, we opted for the bookcases on that wall, and a desk right under the big window.

So for most of the year, this has been the desk.  Our first dining room table, found on the side of the road before we moved in.  Plus a filing cabinet and garbage can to "fill things out".  But we both looked forward to the day we would have a built in piece.  We had a carpenter find a nice piece of plywood and add a front piece to make it look thicker.  Then we stained and varnished it and he came back to install it.

Voila!  Fits like a glove.

I got a set of watercolour paints for Christmas, so this is my first project to experiment with the colours.  More paintings to come!

Still a ways to go before it's feeling finished.  But I'm happy with where we're headed.  Just need some art!  Maybe a redo of that ottoman?  And perhaps a way to conceal those black cords...  Oh, and a big beautiful rug.  And window coverings...  Like I said, still a ways to go :)

New Couch!

Oh, the living room.  Perhaps I haven't shown a true before photo, so here you go.  This is the day we painted, so everything is pushed to the centre.  

Aaaand after painting - Network Gray by Sherwin Williams.  I love the colour, and in person it felt more "put together" than this photo really shows.  However, the main issue was seating.  The couch could hold up to 4 people, but in reality who wants to watch a movie shoulder-shoulder?  And those armchairs are beautiful but not those most comfortable for movie-watching either.  And maybe it's a small thing, but I was always annoyed that the outlet under the window could be seen with the cords to the lamp.  But the room is really long, so it's a bit awkward to have the couch pushed all the way against the far wall (plus then where would we put the piano?)  And so we finally took the plunge to....

Sectional-land!

It feels so much better in this space.  The long end under the window, and still space to sit directly facing the TV.  What I love most is that it makes the room so much more comfortable.  I can lay down and stretch out on the long side with inches to spare!  And 3-4 people can easily sit on it and not feel crowded + actually be facing each other.  

One note of caution - we've had issues because the sectional is 2 pieces, and they weren't connected together very well.  Since the short side isn't against a wall, when you sit down on it the couch shifts backwards and pulls away from the other part.  The fastener wasn't well designed and so currently the couch isn't even put together at all.  Still trying to decide what to do about it...so a word of caution to ask about it when you purchase!

Plus a few bonus pictures of some Christmas decor, just because:

(That "Joyous Noel" is actually a box of records on a plate stand!)

(Our Honeymoon Ornament - pics from Greece if you missed them!)

(The 2 front frames are just filled with wrapping paper from Target - and the reindeer I traced from a Google image and cut out myself.)

So that's the new couch!

Pantone Colour of the Year

Pantone chooses a new colour each year - and this year it's Radiant Orchid.  I love how bright and bold it is!  Here are a few ways that people are using it, some bold, some subtle...

PS this art is almost EXACTLY what I'm imagining over the couch upstairs...

For all image links and credits, see my Pinterest board!