Let's Get Personal Article

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I just happened upon an article article from July 09 in the San Antonio newspaper with me in it, which is pretty neat. I was never told the interview/q&a became a story. :)

The article:

Let's Get Personal

From top to bottom, let creativity flow in the bedroom. Crown molding, an upholstered headboard and assorted framed memorabilia set the stage

By Nina Yun
CTW Features

For many of us, the bedroom is more than just a room. It's our retreat. But with tough economic times, most of us won't be able to sleep so well if we have to hire a professional. According to Amy Shutt, owner of Day-Lab, a Baton Rouge, La.-based vintage accessories and gifts store, you can be your own professional.

"There is a tribe of people who enjoy taking such projects on, who really want to learn how to do X, Y and Z," she explains. "These people feel they can do it and do it right. And if you fall into that category, even if you have never really started a DIY project, I think it is worth it to go ahead and try. You will have a greater appreciation of the end result and you will know it was done well and done right."


Read the rest HERE.

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More Projects: Kitchen Set + Metal Cabinet

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A couple of projects on the simpler side.

1.) To solve a book storage issue in my bedroom (I only have wall space under one window available), I am going to attempt to add some casters with locks to this old wall cabinet that I found last year for $5.00:

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2.) And...I still don't have a dining/kitchen table set. All free tables are being used as desks currently. This week I was lucky enough to have the 1930s art deco table (that is the counterpart to these 4 chairs below) find its way back to me after after 10+ years:


This is the only chair of the four that I have completely refurbished thus far:


And the table today, which I did refurbish about 10 or so year ago:



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This totally motivates me now to finish the other three chairs.
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AT, Lo's Laptop, All the Blooms

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I can't believe it's already May.
April was a very busy month I think...it just sorta flew by.

Recent happenings..

1.) Apartment Therapy posted a neat little write up on my bedroom today.
I am flattered (thank you, Shayna!) and it was just what I needed to get me back on track with all the projects waiting in line over here. It also made me realize how much I really do like my finished bedroom. It has been years since I have had a bedroom that I actually enjoyed being in, aside from when I am asleep.



See the whole post HERE.
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2.) I found my daughter the best little portable typewriter (a manual laptop, if you will). She writes a lot and she wanted something she could take with her anywhere she goes. We both thought a typewriter would be great, if we could find a decent one.

This is a 1972 Webster (Brother) XL-747 in perfect condition with all the original instructions etc. It is heavy sturdy metal in blue, which we just adore (and we love the wood grain bit too).








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I like hearing the typing and dings coming from upstairs while I am downstairs working, in lieu of the hum of a computer.
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3.) The Garage Bed in the backyard has exploded. A few months ago, I planted a mix of seeds and bulbs specifically for the birds and butterflies (for the summer months). Most are warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows. This past week the first few bloomed...some Lilies, Nasturtium, and Lantana.














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Some of the sunflower and coneflower stalks, which haven't bloomed yet, are already my height.
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4.) Pearl on the porch today...refusing to come back inside.

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My Bedroom: Finished

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My bedroom is done.
It has been 1 year since I started on it from scratch.

To refresh your memory, the BEFORE picture.
This is what I began with:

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The After pictures below go clockwise around the room, starting at the bed.

WALL 1
-I still need something up at the top, but after rearranging the wall above my bed about 30 times, I will stick with this I think.

-1920s and 1930s sheet music, that I framed
-1911 Coles Phillips Hoot Mon Litho Book Plate, framed
-A for me and L for my daughter
-Some of my 1939 NY World's Fair postcards (I collect 1939 NYC World's Fair items)
-Howdy Dowdy Chalkware plaque (circa 1940s-50s)
-White metal IKEA side table
-1950s blonde veneer top hairpin leg side table


An older but better shot of the bed (Painted IKEA frame)
and the bedspread (Chinoiserie by Dwell)





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WALL 2
-1950s reprint of Gould's Parakeets
-Audubon Painted Bunting (my favorite bird) Book Plate, framed
-1930s Louisiana mini postcard
-1930s Cottage Plantation in Baton Rouge (F Conrad) postcard
-Vintage black bird



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WALL 2 (cont), WALL 3
-1930s burl veneer vanity, marked Made in Czechoslovakia
-Two old (date unknown) bird book plates in original late 1920's-early 1930s frames.
-1968 Pair of Miller Studios Chalkware crested bird plaques
-1970s embroidered floral piece, in original frame





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WALL 3 cont.
-IKEA drapes, storage boxes, and table
-1940s lamp with Fine China base and original shade
-Vintage Royal Copley Deer and Fawn Vase



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Corner of WALL 3 and WALL 4
-Refurbished 1970 chair in Marimekko's Tuuli fabric
-1960s wall hangings

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WALL 4
-Refurbished shelf (rescued from a gutted 1930s cottage)
-Deer, deer, deer, vases, vases, vases
-Childhood portrait of my Dad (my favorite person)
-1939 NY World's Fair Postcard
-Old Richardson Wright books
-Under shelf: IKEA storage boxes



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Cleo on her perch (which is my nightstand).
She loves this spot:

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It's so nice to have a bedroom that finally feels lived in and functional.
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Tuuli Chair: DONE

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Well, not 100% done, I still have to replace the dowel caps, and put the back piece on but the finish is near for the chair, finally!
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Where we began...I picked up the two chairs at a garage sale for $3 a piece. They are stamped January 1970 Walnut, and while I don't hate the nubby orange fabric, it is kind of dirty and snagged in a few places and the bottom piece of burlap is sagging.

Dismantling the chair:

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Replaced the fabric with Tuuli by Marimekko.
Also replaced the batting/stuffing and tightened the burlap seat:


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As for the wood frame, the stain/sealer was flaking off and there were some paint issues on the legs...so I sanded and sanded (using my new and now beloved Ryobi Detail Sander)..






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The idea was that this chair will go, for now, in my room in this corner below.
Before, in the corner:


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For the finish I used Poly Shades: Antique Walnut (Satin) which I am not sure I prefer over just straight staining and then sealing, but it worked well enough.
After, in the corner:



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Detail of the stain Before and After:

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I am happy that I was successful in getting the color super close to my burl veneer bedroom set too:


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And now...for the next project.
I have started repairing the shaky old couch..


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Drapes + Canon G9

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I am still trying to get caught up from the holidays (both work and daily life wise). Almost there I think. Then, next week it is Quickbooks and Taxes. I haven't had any free time lately to work on anything major (like the staining of my chair frame), but I did get one pair of drapes up in my room, and further progress in this room is good no matter how slowly it goes.

A couple before pictures:





The drapes up close:


During the day...The corner is where the Tuuli fabric chair will goes once I am finished with it:



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And a couple more shot at night, after deciding that the lamp that had no place should go there.. (plus a substitute chair in the corner):



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Also a couple more night pictures, so they are kind of wonky..

But, I hung the second old cottage shelf (that we saved from the trash and repainted) up in my room successfully:

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And I cleaned up the dresser as best I could without using any chemicals. I think it may soon need to be professionally cleaned...maybe with some attention to the finish:

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And, I found this lovely framed embroidery piece at goodwill last week for $3.99. It will go in my bedroom:

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Also this week, I finally bought the new day-lab work digital camera. I had decided on the Canon G7 months ago, but when I finally had the funds ready to go the G9 had replaced it.

I did not want an SLR for a work camera, and this little Canon has lots and lots of manual features and accessory add-ons that make it easier to control, which is exactly what I did want.



I haven't had any time to really play with it yet, but did mess around with it a bit the other day. I am amazed by the consistency in color and how good the color looks straight from the camera. My other camera was horrible with color and each picture had to be put in Photoshop to adjust levels, curves, hue and color balance. It was such a pain, and they never looked that great afterwards either.

Below are the only pictures I have taken thus far with the G9. They were taken in relatively low light (just natural light from the open windows), which my other camera could have never handled. I did not alter the color at all, just sized them down. The color is close to spot on without any altering:












I am happy with it so far, and can't wait to actually learn how to work it and have the proper settings on.
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Back to work for me.
I hope you all have a nice weekend.
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