Finally made one of these!

I have been admiring these for so long! There are many variations of this project out there in the blog world.  Lots and lots of tutorials.  I actually made mine using a combination of a few of them.  I planned to do my own tutorial, but honestly I don't think I could have done better than Kristen at KSarahDesigns did on hers.

Kristen's

I plan to add a light kit to mine as well as soon as I can make that trip I have been dying to make to Ikea!
This project actually was started on Thanksgiving evening.  I had quite the assembly line going of me, my daughter Ryan, my niece Jaycee and my grand daughter Avery. I  ran out of wax paper right in the middle of the project.  I was surprised at how much it used.  Because the girls were  having so much fun I broke one of my cardinal rules and went to Walmart to pick up more.  Now obviously, going to Walmart is not against any rule of mine.  It wasn't that.  No no no...it was WHEN I went.  This was THANKSGIVING EVENING...yep you got it...I went to Walmart on BLACK FRIDAY!!!!  It took me no less than an hour and a 1/2 to pick up on large roll of wax paper!  Having never been there on this particular event, I was really shocked and amazed at what people go through to get a deal.  The wax paper just happened to be on the grocery isle designated for a low priced computer!  ALL the carts GONE.  The self check lines..no longer self check out.  This had been my plan but it didn't work out.  So I waited in awe of it all.  Did I grab a few items that were marked way down?  Of course I did!  I am a living breathing woman and grandmother.  Walking past a great deal without actually taking advantage of it, is almost against my religion!

As we were making mine, Jaycee & Avery we decided that we would also make one for their rooms.  We are still working on those, and are actually making those a little different.  I will post a tutorial on it very soon.  Let me just say I LOVE how those are turning out. It really put a great spin on it for a teen and preteen girls room!  I cannot wait to get them finished and show you.  Really cool!

Here is mine!  The photo quality is not that wonderful.  I should have taken advantage of a great deal on a camera too while I was there!  I however have a hard fast rule of not buying anything for me during that time of year until I have completed all of my Christmas shopping. A decent digital camera is on the top of my wish list though!



 

 I used embroidery hoops to attach the shells.  I painted them white so they would blend.

  If you want to make one of these, there are so many blogs with their own variations and tutorials..

Thrifty decorating

Freshly Picked's version

This is just 2 of them... believe me if you google "faux capiz shell chandelier" you will find tons of them with many differing variations on how you connect them, what material you use to make the shells, & what you use as the base. Some are pendent style and some are attached directly to the ceiling.  Which variation you choose to use is all up to you, or use a combination of several of them.  Just get creative and make one!  There is even one that uses strips of wax paper instead of round pieces.  I really tried to find that link for you but wasn't successful.  Just google away.  You will find it!

Till next time, take care and have fun being creative!  

Erin 

FINALLY finished livingroom curtains!

After going through blog after blog, I finally settled on how to do the curtains in my living room.  I knew I wanted to use drop cloths.  I like the style, texture and even more the savings they offer.  I was hung up on how I wanted to do them.  I like the contrast of having dark and light.  I happened upon an extra long table cloth in the clearance section at Walmart.  I used it for the top.  I wasn't sure if I wanted the contrast material on the top of bottom of the curtain.  The more I thought about it, the more I thought having them on the top was the best option.  Mostly because of the weight.  I wanted them to hang well and in my mind I thought having the lighter material on the bottom might keep them from hanging as I wanted them to.  I could be way off on that, but I didn't want to get them all made, only to discover I should have gone with my gut.  By using the contrast band, I was able to make both sets using one 6'x9' package.  This was great! I later found this to be even more important since I discovered they have a slight variance in color from package to package, even when you use the exact same brand.   I am really happy with how they came out!!  I purchase the tiebacks at Lowe's as well.  They were a whopping 2.00 a piece!! YEAH!

Now get this, in my search of saving the almighty dollar, and blog searching I discovered a tutorial of how to make your own curtain rods!! Yes!! It cost me a total of $5.00!!! That is for BOTH rods!! You have to measure exactly how long you want them since you are cutting them and they are not expandable.  I painted them with oil rubbed bronze.  I purchased 2 pkgs of clip rings.  Each had 14 clip rings for only 7.00!

I plan to make another set.  I will post a tutorial on how I did them when I do.  I was too nervous making these to have been able to document each step as I needed to.  I was also not all that sure how it would come out.  Now that I have made one set, I feel confident enough to tackle another! Maybe even improve on it a bit!.  

I cannot recommend this enough! I was able to make the curtains and curtain rods as well as buy the clips, brackets and tiebacks all for under $55.00.  That is BOTH windows complete!! There is nothing that looks home made about them! This is the first set of curtains I have ever even attempted.  Keeping in mind I have been sewing for all of a year! If I can make these anyone can! So get out there and get your DIY ON!! Step back and see what you can do.  Feel that overwhelming sense of accomplishment that YOU did it! Even saved a bundle doing it! My DH is so proud of them! I think he may have even been shocked at how well they came out.  I was too to be honest.  Now I cannot wait to tackle my next project.  

Have a great day!!

Erin

Yeah ME!! I am redoing my sewing room and it is coming along GREAT

We have moved my sewing room to one of the large bedrooms.  The room I was in before started to become the catch all room for anything that didnt have a permanent place.  You know things like the vacuum cleaner, the playpen I use when my grand babies are here and need to take a nap, my youngest son's toy overflow.  You name it and it came and invaded my space! lol.  Well I started taking the items I could and moving to my DH hobby room, the garage.  It took a bit but he got the hint! lol  So he came up with the brilliant idea to move my sewing room to the larger bedroom.

I mentioned the issue I had with my cutting/pressing table being too low.  I saw one online that seemed simple enough for him to build and we got to work getting the things to make it.  It was very inexpensive to make.  We just bought 2 9 cube organizer shelves and a door at Home Depot.  I then made my own pressing pad from some scrap wood we had.  It is all still a work in progress but it is really coming along.

My next wish is for him to build the quilting frame we have been talking about.  He has finally gone back to work after a 6 month stint of unemployment.  Hopefully financially things are going to turn around.  My disability check doesnt go far!

I am posting pics of my sewing room in progress.  We are hanging the peg board he made for me tonight above the cutting table.  It is amazing the difference it makes to have a cutting/pressing area that is high enough.  leaning over the one I had was killing my back!

If you stumble upon my blog, let me know what you think and please any suggestions you can give will be much appreciated!

nanasrcool!