Bed and Bath Remodel

I have been meaning to post these before and after pics forever.  This was a remodel I did a year ago. Somehow I've just never gotten around to posting about it.  Probably because I was originally going to make this blog just about cards.  But then I added jewelry.  So I might as well throw in everything else, too!

I have to confess that I am an avid DIYer.  My husband is not.  All our tools are ones I bought or were given to me as gifts.  I was so excited a couple of years ago when I made him a poker table for Christmas.  I had to buy a new circular saw (mine bit the dust), a new jig saw (Ok.  I'm hard on saws!  My old one bit the dust, too), and a new staple gun (You guessed it, my old one died....)  But I digress.  That is fodder for another post.

Anyway, I am also an HGTV fan, although I don't have much time to watch it anymore.  But I'm all about getting a look for cheap  less.  So, though I'm showcasing the new & improved bed and bath, I'll point out some of my previous fixes, too.

 So this is the bed  before (don't know why all the before pics look yellow!)  What you don't see is the really cool "crown" type of canopy I had hanging behind the bed.  I didn't think to start taking pictures until after it was down.  Anyway. I really loved the red and gold but was getting tired of it.  The accent pillows are made out of clearance satin drapery panels and scarves I found at Walmart.  The dresser scarves on the nightstands are velvet placements from Big Lots,

This is the bed after.  I had done this at our previous house, too.  Instead of a headboard, I framed out the area above the bed with crown molding, and painted it cream to contrast with the blue.  Then hung a print in the middle.  The flowers in the print were originally too white, so I just swiped over them with a sponge and some vanilla stamping ink to tone them down.  I should mention that my husband asked me, "Why didn't you paint the whole room?  Why one wall?"  Guess he doesn't get the concept of an accent wall.

 The foot of the bed was a bit crowded with the love seat and the hope chest.  But I loved having the   love seat there.  So, I finally ditched the love seat and move the hope chest, adding pillows to make it more comfy for sitting (out cats love it!)  The long cushion is a piece of foam rubber covered with a body pillow cover that I picked up on clearance.  I used the same wall sconces, just changing the candles, which I also found at Big Lots, along with the mirror. The 2 smaller pillows were part of the comforter set that I decided to use here instead of on the bed.

One of these days I'll get around to hanging the tapestry in my living room.  I'll need to ask my mom, but I believe this was brought over from the old country by my great grandparents, so I hate to have it put away.

 This photo has my electric fireplace that I bought about 12 years ago.  My husband griped that I was spending too much money, but I'd wanted a fireplace in the bedroom forever.Now he turns it on (flame only since I'm at the certain age where my body temperature fluctuates from second to second!)  The mirror was one from our previous house that had gotten a corner broken off.  I painted and distressed molding and glued it on to create the frame.  The problem is that when I wanted to hang one as you see above, it couldn't be done.  The molding was glued even with the edges of the mirror because of the size of the broken corner.  Therefore, there was nothing that I could attach hangers to because the back was all glass.  Hence the need to purchase a new mirror.

My good friend, Cindy, who helped me paint, had suggested I find a way to raise the fireplace so both occupants of the bed could see it.  I am very proud of the result.  I built this myself from mdf, 2x4s, and crown molding.  I simply took the fireplace insert out of the old surround, removed the gold trim, and then built supports inside the new surround to hold it in place (think legs made out of 2x4s, essentially).  Then I added the mosaic trim.  I found the coolest stuff at our local home Depot for helping with that.  It's basically a huge sheet of super sticky double stick tape.  You cut it to the size of your tiles (in this case mosaic tiles on a mesh backing).  Then you stick it to  the surface you are tiling, then add the tile.  Then you can grout immediately.  No waiting.  No adhesive mess.  Fabulous stuff!

Now on to the bathroom......

Bathroom before repeated the red and gold.  Geraniums in the flower box at the tub.  Window scarves tossed over brass curtain rods.  You can't see it, but the can light by the shower does have a decorative surround that I bought for it.  The colors were suitable for the "after" bathroom as well.

Now the walls (only 2 of them.  One here, one in the next pics) are the same color as the accent wall in the bedroom.  I purchased the window scarves on sale at Menard's.  The wall hanging here and in the next picture are from Big Lots.  I forget where I got the shower curtain, but I was thrilled that it had the accent stripes of brown and the brown flourish in the center, both echoing the new bedspread.  I replaced the geraniums with a board on which to place spare towels on one half, and filled the other with sand, decorative glass stones, and battery operated scented candles.

The cabinets here are the original plain oak ones, although I had swapped out the handles a few years ago.  When we moved in the mirror was plain old construction grade, and I added the painted/antiqued/distressed molding.  I found a great lighting option for can lights (which I hate).  You can buy pendant lights (now in many styles, only available in one when I got mine), that you use by simply unscrewing the can light bulb, and screwing the pendant into its place. The cord is adjustable so you can have it hang however long or short you like.  Then you put a regular bulb in the pendant.  I liked it so much when I got it that I ordered two for my kitchen, too.

The thing I really hated in the bathroom was the brass light fixture and the silver towel bars/rings.  Because of the bass ackwards way the light was put in, though, there isn't really any other option.  So instead, I got metallic spray paint (hammered bronze) and painted the towel bars/rings and the light housing.  I also broke down and painted the cabinets the same brown as the fireplace, the frame behind the bed, and the mirror molding.  People who know me well know this was a major breakthrough because I just can't bring myself to paint over perfectly good wood--especially oak.  But I'm glad I did!  It finished off the room in a way that could never have been acheveed by leaving them oak.

So there you have it.  Everything but the fireplace got finished in two days, thanks to the help of my friends Cindy and Christine.  The surround took me another day to build and another to install (I did have to work at my job, too!).  I love the way it turned out.  It didn't look bad in the regal red and gold (although  the pics don't do it justice).  But now it's peaceful and serene.  Spa-like.  I love it!

So, as usual, much more time has gone by than I intended  between posts.  I've been busy!   For now I'll just show the things I made this weekend while sitting watching tv.  Hey, it's Mother's Day weekend, I deserve some down time!

This is a Shambala bracelet.  It's made with red jade beads.  This was my first attempt at macrame since I was about 12.  It was fun.  You can see part of the closure on the right side--all the black macrame above the last bead.  It's a slide closure, so it will fit a lot of different sized wrists.  Very nice since it's hard (at least for me) to figure out how big or small to make a bracelet.

Another macrame bracelet made with czech glass beads I got from a Tophatter auction. The thread is waxed Irish linen.  I guess this makes this bracelet international!

This bracelet uses the same knot as the Shambala bracelet, but instead of adding one bead to the middle, a bead is added to each side.

I loved the way this came out.  Unfortunately, that trouble I have sizing bracelets that I mentioned?  Well, it ended up being too small for me, even though I tried it around my wrist about a dozen times before finishing it.  However, luckily for my oldest daughter, it did fit her.

The button I used as a closure is a vintage button from my Grandma Rudolph's button "box".  It's not a box, it's a tin from a 5 lb beef brain.  She and my grandpa used to run a grocery store.  I love the look on people's faces when they really look at it for the first time.  The tin, not the button.

Another macrame bracelet--this one made with glass "pearls.  Another Tophatter win.  This is also made like the Shambala, but instead of a full knot (or more) and then adding a bead, you do a half knot, add a bead, then the other half, add a bead....It's pretty easy unless you're watching Supernatural with your daughter and keep losing your place.  Then you have to go back and calculate every time: left, right, left, right, left.  Don't know if it makes one feel like a soldier or Dr. Seuss.

A vintage button from the brain tin again.  This is probably my favorite.  Fortunately, there are several of them.















And finally, a pendant I made out of a baked marble.  I had read about these in many places online and was dying to try it.  It's very easy, but I did have to adjust things a bit.  Basically, you put your marbles on a pan in a preheated 500 degree oven for about 30 minutes.  Then take and pour them immediately into a glass or bowl of cold water with ice (Don't use plastic as the marbles could melt it when they settle.).  Let them sit for about 20-30 minutes.  Because the exterior and interior of the hot marble cool at different rates, the pressure inside the marble causes it to crack.  You may have one that occasionally cracks all the way, but I only had that happen to 2 out of about 15.  I did have to tweak things a little, though.  I didn't think the marbles had enough cracks, so I ended up putting them back in the oven.  When I took them out, I didn't have to ice them again as they had cracked more when heated the second time.  They do look really pretty.

Anyway, I then used silver wire to make a bail, glued it on, and voila!
a lovely pendant.  Can't wait to try making different wrapped wire bails for the rest of them.

Easter Cards 2012

Wow!  Once again it's been forever since I posted.  I've been too busy.  I'm currently acting in a local play, which took up most nights for several weeks in a row.  The last few days I've been off, but haven't felt like doing much.

I'm torn between cards and jewelry today.  I guess I'll go with my Easter cards while it's still at least a little bit close to Easter!  I will confess that several of these were CASEd.  I sent them all to relatives.  And actually, I'm stalling on two, so some people are still waiting.  One is my youngest sister's family.  I sent them an empty envelope!  Talk about being distracted!  Anyway, here you go.

Poor lighting, but you get the idea.  I can't find where I CASEd this from, so I can't give credit. (Oops, found it. It was a video, so I passed right over it in my search.  Here it is: Adding dimension to a single layer card.)

I created a mask by cutting the frame out of scratch paper.  Then I inked and stamped inside the frame.

I ran the card stock through my Big Shot to emboss the frame around the inked area.  Then stamped the butterfly once on the base, then again on another sheet of card stock and fussy cut it. The butterfly is from SU!  I believe it's from Happiness Always.

I just got the lacy squares dies (thought I was getting the rectangles, so since I don't have square dies, I had to use a craft knife to cut out the center).  I love how airy they make things look.

I used a DP for the background--not sure from where, it's just part of my stash. I love how the butterfly shows up so well at the bottom, though!

Then I quilled some flowers and glued them on.  I used the word happy from one stamp set and Easter from another.  Both from Gina K. Designs.

OK.  I totally stole  CASEd this one.  It was posted by a stamper on SplitCoast stampers.  Here's the original.

I got the blue background by lightly sponging onto white card stock. I think.  I may have actually tried the Wrinkle Free Distress, but ended up with this.  Not really sure.  The original looks more like denim, but this wasn't bad.
I think the rest is pretty self-explanatory.

I got the general idea for this one here.  But I brightened up the colors a bit and changed up the layout somewhat.

Instead of doing the wrinkle-free distress technique like on the original, I used a waxed paper technique.  You can find it at Stamp TV.

 I used a Bic permanent marker to color the pearls to match the paper.

This is one of the ones I haven't sent yet!  Maybe this weekend....I keep procrastinating because I need to send a package with it and I hate going to the post office!




This one used the other piece of card stock that you get when you do the waxed paper technique.

I didn't know what I wanted to do with it, so I just pulled some spring colors and sponged  them on.

The sentiment is so large that I don't normally use it, but since this was  for Easter....

Originally I was going to stamp flowers or something on another piece and layer it.  But I liked the look of the background too much and didn't want to cover it up.  So pastel butterflies seemed like the perfect choice.  I used embroidery floss, knotted at the ends, to be the antennae.

Another idea from a SplitCoast stamper.  I forgot to mat my top piece with black, but I like the way it turned out nonetheless.  The flower is from Gina K Designs (Stately Flowers 1) and was colored in with Bic permanent markers. The sentiment is from SU!  The red pearls were made by using a Bic permanent marker to color white pearls.

This one was so simple,  I just used a background stamp (SU! Filigree) on the yellow layer.  The butterflies were made with a die cut/embossing set from....somewhere.  I used Core'dinations paper for them (love that stuff) and sanded them.  The sentiment is from SU!.  Buttons and floss from my stash.

See what happens when you come from a big family?  You have to make a ton of cards, and then your post goes on forever!  Anyway...

I embossed the background with the Floral Fantasy embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

It's a little hard to see here, but the violets, also from Stately Flowers 1, are glittered.  I stamped on acetate in black with StayzOn, then used Crystal Laquer from PK Glitz to fill in areas to glitter, one color at a time..  The Crystal Laquer has a super fine point, making it easy to fill in small areas.

The acetate was then mounted on plain white card stock, which was layered on a spellbinders lacy circle.  A ribbon and button finish it off.


Now I just have to finish a card to actually put in an envelope for my sister's family.  She has two little boys, and I just bought some shaker inserts, so I'm trying to come up with a shaker Easter Bunny.  They may get it by Memorial day!

Where did the time go?

Holy cow!  Can't believe it's been so long since I posted.  I keep saying I'm going to get to it, but I never seem to actually do it!

Well, I opened another store on Etsy.  It's called Chairein, jewelry to bring you joy.  Chairein is the Greek word for joy.  So, here are my latest pieces....





This necklace is crocheted with an antiqued gold colored wire .Glass beads include blues, browns, and golds. Long enough to wear doubled. Toggle clasp.  About 32"










This necklace is crocheted with a lovely chocolate brown wire. Glass beads in green and brown coordinate beautifully. The shortest chain is 25 inches. The longest is 32 inches. Toggle clasp.

This one is really pretty IRL.














I have to confess, I have this in my shop, but I'm wearing it right now.  I love it! This gorgeous necklace is crocheted with silver colored wire and glass beads in shades of aqua and silver. At about 6 feet long, it can be worn numerous ways. The pendant is removable to wear or not and it's even long enough to be worn as a belt ! Toggle clasp.

The photo doesn't do this one justice.  It is really pretty.  This beautiful necklace is made from crocheted wire and glass beads in shades of purple and pink. Toggle clasp. 19"


I made my first (and so far only!) pair of earrings to go with it:

This is another of my favorite pieces!  This beautiful bracelet is crocheted in antique-gold colored wire with glass beads in gold and varying shades of red. About 8 1/2".. Toggle clasp.   It's actually made from six separate strands braided together.

That's it for now.  I'm nodding off at my desk when I'm supposed to be working.  Gotta quit playing and start getting more sleep!

Crocheted wire and bead necklace

I went as a chaperon on a ski trip last weekend.  Unfortunately, after only about 2 hours out on the slopes (first time in 27 years.  I learned to ski in utero!), my shoulder and the ground had made contact a few too many times.  Nothing broken, but a severe strain and maybe rotator cuff involvement (I find out next week).  Anyway, the trip was up in the quaint little town of Galena, IL.

On Sunday afternoon, we all went into town for a few hours before heading home.  Of course I had to go into the local bead store--Galena Beads.  Fortunately for my husband, I was already feeling too guilty concerned about how much the trip had cost since my son and I were both participating.  Otherwise, I would have spent a fortune in there!  One thing I really wanted but didn't get was a kit for making crocheted wire beaded necklaces.  I know.  I'd never heard of such a thing either.  They were gorgeous.  Even my son's girlfriend, who makes jewelry (so I've heard, but never seen) and is an artist as well, thought they were really neat.  Well, being the cheap frugal person that I am, I figured I could find directions online if I looked.

When we got home, after saying hello to my husband and daughters, I got online (Note: it's hard to type with one arm in a sling!).  I found a number of directions and video tutorials. I couldn't wait to get started.  However, after 3 hours of walking around Galena, a 5 hour trip home, and an arm in a sling (and did I mention I also twisted my knee something fierce trying to get up after I slammed into the ground?  Then smacked into a trailer hitch on a parked car?  Can you say klutz?), I decided I better get to bed if I was going to be at work on time at 8:00 AM.

Ahh!  Monday evening finally arrived.  I went downstairs to my crafting lair.  I had a whole assortment of miscellaneous beads that came in my Club Scrap kits that I used to order, and I had some wire from a 6 pack set that I'd bought but never used.  And happily, I even found the crochet hook that my mother loaned me about 10 years ago that I never returned!  I was ready.

Now, being me, I made a few mistakes along the way.  I won't bore you with the details.  But in the end--about 90 minutes, including about half that time to select beads--I had a finished project.  OK.  Almost finished.  I didn't have the kind of fastener I wanted, but I really wanted to wear the necklace.  So I used what was on-hand with the intention of replacing it with a nice toggle.

Today I got the toggle and replaced the lobster claw clasp I had had.  I love it!  I posted it on facebook the other night, modeling it (that wrinkly thing surely couldn't be MY neck, could it?).  My niece commented that it was the kind of thing she'd wear.  So I guess I'm going to be  mailing it to her.  I got to wear it once, an I did love it.  But I have many necklaces in the same shades, and I figure I can always make another one!

I'm so excited about these that I went to Hobby Lobby and spent what I convinced myself not to spend in Galena!  But I'll probably be able to get about 4 or 5 necklaces for what I would have paid for two kits, so I consider that being ahead.  And with luck my husband will some $$ at his poker game tonight, too!

Hope you like the necklace.  I'll post more when I finish them.


Be sure to stop by I Gotta Create and check out all the awesome projects by other bloggers at the linky party!

Star of David

My sister complains that it is hard to find Judaica jewelry.  I decided to make her a Star of David with metal clay.  The picture doesn't do it justice.

I had made a stamp of this design for Rosh Hashanah.  I used the stamp to make a mold with Mega Mold.  It took me four tries to get it right!  I suggest letting it dry for another 15-20 minutes without the object being used for impression to make sure it's solid.

Then I used the mold with the clay.  After removing the clay, I used my tissue blade to cut away the excess.  I wanted to add a crystal in the middle, but they don't hold up under firing. I knew I'd have to glue it in later.  But the center impression was perfectly sized, and I knew it would shrink with firing.  So how to hold it open?   I had a jump ring that was the perfect size of the opening, so I stuck it in and fired it in place.  Of course, that meant it wouldn't come out, and the firing changed the color to black.  So to fix that, I painted oil paste over the top of the jump ring and re-fired it.  Now it was silver like the rest of the piece. Then I glued in the crystal.

The one thing I forgot to do was to use my acrylic block to press the design before drying to smooth it out somewhat.  So it ended up being a little rougher than I would have liked.  However, overall, I'm pleased.  and my sister loves it, so that's what matters!

More Jewelry

I finally finished a ring with my metal clay!  It was certainly a process.  The first one I made I didn't fire enough (I guess), and I used Swaroski crystals.  Firing them was kind of like holding chocolate chips in your hand.  And since I didn't fire it enough, part of it snapped when I was polishing it.  I tried to put it back together, but it was that extra firing that melted the crystals.

So I got some lab created spinels (thanks to my DH for the birthday present!) and set to work again.  The first attempt ended in disaster.  Once again, the ring snapped.  (I get the concept of being "tested in fire" now!).  However, I was able to salvage the set gems and part of the ring itself to create earrings.  I really hate wasting things!

Back to the drawing board.  Or rolling pin.  The next attempt looked good.  Got it dry to the leather stage.  Then I decided it wasn't quite right, so squashed it up.  Actually, I let it dry out so I could rehydrate it to try again.

If at first, and second, and third you don't succeed, give it one more go!  Finally!  It worked.  I do have one confession, though.  One of the gems didn't set far enough into the clay, so it has popped out a few times.  The first time it popped out, I was cleaning it to wear.  I used oil paste to replace it.  The next time I was at a restaurant.  It popped out on the table, luckily. I used glass/jewelry glue. Last night it popped out again and I lost it.  The gem I mean.  Not my mind!  Anyway, I had one left, so I used it instead. Super glue.  I sure hope it's super and stays glued!  It may be time to see what "real" jewelers use.
The texture is made from sandpaper.