Pillow Puzzle and Toggle Tutorial

When I started thinking about all the potential pillow patterns (how many P's can Linda put into a post?) available...I knew I needed some guidance. My friend and designer extraordinaire, Nicole @ Nicole Scott Designs, was the perfect choice for this look.
There were several renditions and tweaking, so this is not the final one. 

What I loved about working with Nicole was how easy it came together for her. Nicole sourced pillows from all over Etsy. When I agreed on the final design, she sent me a link list of all the sellers. Many of them give her clients a bit of a discount.
I can tell you that one of these beautiful pillows will definitely be in the picture.

It's from Leslie's shop Pillow Love. I wish I found her shop sooner....I am so addicted to her pillows!
These would be great for a girls room or even a nursery.

Pillow Love

Pillow Love

These Celerie Kemble blue and white fabric ones need to be in my family room.

Pillow Love

Yeah, yeah...one room at a time. Who does that?
Alright, let's hang a toggle bolt. The toggle is the bending piece on the end of the screw. Almost any machine screw can be used as a toggle. I loved the circle on the end of this one, and the friendly one of the two guys at the hardware store fitted it for a toggle. He's like us, he thinks this stuff is fun.

Here is my tutorial in pictures...so easy...no need for additional words.

Have a great weekend, besties! I'll be putting my pillow puzzle together. 
What are you doing this weekend? Does it involve food or alcohol?

I Have a Guest....Mimosa Lane

You know her, I know her, we all love her.....Albertina from Mimosa Lane is here. Does anyone else think of Champagne and Orange Juice when you hear her blog name? Just me?

Albertina has impeccable taste, a wonderful sense of style and her pillows are now available at Society Social....but, did you know that she designs her own fabric, too? What can't she do? Wait till you see the amazing ideas she has for us today.

Pink Mimosa Lane pillow via Society Social

Hi there!  I'm Albertina from Mimosa Lane and am just thrilled to be here at Linda's.  I love this blog and am always in awe of how much I learn here.  Linda has always been so sweet and supportive, so when she asked me to guest post I jumped at the opportunity.

If you have been following this installation of One Room Challenge you very well know the moldings Linda is putting in place.  Boy are they fab!  (see here).  I love the look- it is so elegant.  So, I started thinking about how to achieve a similar look for way less.....and of course the solution is 'faux' painted moldings.  Painting 'faux' moldings is cheaper, faster, easier and looks pretty clever, wouldn't you say?

And how about using two colors for an added extra punch?  I love the black and gold!

Or how about using foil tape for that silverish look? (you can get the tape here) Pretty, Pretty!

What do you think?  Can 'faux' moldings carry you through?  Or do you need the real thing?

And I just saw this and nearly died because I found it to be such a great idea.  It has nothing to do with moldings are you ready?  See that orange splatter below?  Its a painted mirror!!!  Talk about a statement art piece.  Totally doing this with my five year old.  Ikea, here I come to get me a mirror!

Thanks Linda for having me and for entrusting your sweet readers to me :)  Come say hi here.

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Thank you, Albertina. If I read this post before I did my entry, I probably would have painted it instead. I love this idea and will definitely be trying this somewhere. Can't wait to see your painted mirror.

Let's Do It!

Project Procrastination.....Finish the Unfinished
This idea was inspired by my friend Janet @ House Four.  I was laughing so hard when I read her post The Land of Unfinished Projects. I saw myself and it wasn't pretty. 
Together, she and I have decided to try and knock off an unfinished project per month. It is not our intention to include new things...that's just everyday blogging. We are after the dated, I'm so sick of looking at you, I wish I never started you....projects. 
Something like this one

A latch hook kit that my daughter got at camp one summer....3 years ago. The camp was so expensive, that I figured this puppy is worth a couple hundred dollars, if you get my drift. She refuses to finish it, and I think it would make a fun pillow for the basement.

It could go with this one. 

The latch hook "Fathers Day" kit I finished for her about 2 years ago. It needs to be made into a pillow.

How about this one

A needlepoint I started more than 10 years ago. 

Speaking of needlepoint, I never did anything with these

The 6 needlepoint's I bought on Ebay and told you about here.

How about this

A round loom cowl that you wear in the winter

All I have to do is figure out how to get it off the loom. I should have bought one on Etsy, like this one

Available on Etsy

But wait...there's so much more. This is my hall closet. My talent-less builder obviously could not figure out how to hang a bar. 

See the problem

I don't know what that yellow shadow is? The closet is white. 
The hanger won't fit without it being tilted, and then your coat falls off the hangar.
Furniture? Glad you asked...I have a pair of these

Faux bamboo tables just waiting for the right color of paint.

Maybe red like these?

Etsy Seller

I also have a pair of these vintage Asian tables

I love the old mirror. They just need to be painted.

Trust me, I could go on. 

Here is the plan. I started a Pinterest board titled Project Procrastination...Finish the Unfinished. I will add anyone as a pinner who wants to join. Janet is already on board. 

Work at your own pace. Once you have a blog post to pin from...go ahead. I don't care what kind of blogger your are, and I don't care what type of project you have been procrastinating. 

NO JUDGEMENT...only support, and hopefully a laugh or two.

My personal goal is 1 project per month.

Who's with me?

Blog Page Updates

I finally got around to updating my blog pages. I'll be honest with you, I tried to find some child labor (that lives in this house) to do it for me. I thought the pay scale was great.....the first offer was an iTunes gift card. Then I raised it to clothes I don't approve of. Finally, I was even willing to go as high as unnecessary makeup!
She was intrigued, and gave it the usual fifteen to twenty minute try....and then....as usual...something better came along.
I cannot tell a lie...it took all day to figure this out. I watched this video and stumbled along....two or three emails to the support department....more stumbaling... and viola! 
If you click on my DIY page

You will see my new favorite quote along with lots of projects.

My Featured page was not difficult, just time consuming. 

If you click on that link, you will see this

Speaking of featured, this one makes me laugh. This is a Russian blog that featured my coastal clock tutorial. I had no idea they did this, I just kept seeing all these weird referrals from a link that was not in English.

DIY Clock in Russian

Another technical update that I could not figure out was authenticating my Pinterest account. Have you seen that? Pinterest wants you to verify your web address. Well, after five or six failed attempts, I noticed that Elizabeth's Pinterest account was verified. So I emailed her and she helped me. Thanks Girl!
***Update - This is the video I used to verify my Pinterest account***
Do you have any blog improvement tips that you have found helpful?

Gold Animals

I know you have all seen the gold pigs that are popping up all over the place.
Let's face it, gold is the new white for spray paint Botox.

via

This DIY makeover from With an i.e. is so fun.

With an i.e.

It is the triple motivation I needed to transform these

My set of Smith & Hawken ducks. I have had them for years and they could really use a new coat of something. What do you think? Is gold the answer?

I'm So Excited and Honored

The other day, when I was trying to decide which Lowe's Creative Ideas project to show you....I clicked on the "Blogs" link. 
I could not believe it when I saw this

That's me...5th row down. I am so honored to be part of this creative group. If you have a moment, you should go and check out some of the other projects. Those ladies...and one guy, really know how to get their DIY on.
There is one more challenge before it is a wrap for 2012. I just got word that I am invited back for 2013...and I hear that they are making things even more exciting. I'll keep you posted.
Now I need to get ready for my Thanksgiving. What are you making for yours?