Living Room Update

A friend of ours came over the other night for Bible Study and his comment to me, "a blind man could not live in your house." He was making reference to the fact that my living room has changed once again! The furniture is rearranged and curtains have been hung! Finally! The hold up has been the ridiculous cost involved in curtain rods for five windows! I just could not nor would not spend a fortune on a "stick" that attaches to the wall!
I found all the curtain rods I needed for the windows you see here, as well as the adjacent dinning room window for the wonderfuly cheap sum of $23.00 at Ross.  I hung every rod by myself, so that is a great sense of accomplishment for me. It also explains the lack of perfection too!
What a difference curtains make in a room! I love the cozy, warm feel fabric framing a window does for my senses! I just feel more relaxed in my living room simply by hanging curtains! The other great benefit is, the curtains help to break up the paint color that surrounds me in the vast majority of my home. I find my eye needs what I call "color breaks". I need different colors for my eye to fall upon as I scan a room. When unable to paint, curtains are a great color break for the senses!
A little information: The curtains I have had since my husband and I were first married nine years ago. They are in perfect condition and I still love them so I just had to use them once more in this home. The original throw pillows have since been laid to rest! I made the current ones myself. The matching pillows were made from napkins my mom gave me when I originally purchased the curtains.The lamp shade and other throw pillows match because they also were created by me. These pillows were my first attempt at sewing a zipper and I do have to say to my shock, it works! Not to be closely examined by my mom who is an amazing sewer! Oh and last but not least, the flower arrangement hanging on the antique door... yes all me! I know there is no limit to my talent! Okay I am cracking myself up. See if I can fumble my way through creating a home I enjoy you can too! After all it is your home, a place for you to be yourself!

Notice all my terrific yard sale treasures around the room?

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A Classy Classroom

Our home is more than just our home, it is also the main place of education for our children. Homeschooling four different age children is a challenge, but one I thoroughly enjoy. When I set out to take on the full time role as teacher to my girls, I was set on needing to have a proper classroom. Last year we made a very official classroom in our basement... unfinished basement. Coming from California, we do not have basements like we do here in Colorado, so I had no idea just how cold it would be down there in the  winter. That became a challenge in and of itself, so we began meeting at the kitchen table. A very common place among home school families. However I noticed not only for the children but for me as well, we were given to more distractions. Also during this period of time, we opened our home to some dear friends to come and live with us. They had their choice of one of the family bedrooms, but they preferred the basement. Meaning I needed to find a new location for my classroom. 

My husband is the senior Pastor of our little church so we also have a rather constant flow of people in our home, so I knew it needed to be in a location where I could close the door. The only option I had was, turning my youngest daughter's room into our classroom. I moved her into her oldest sister's room and set up her PINK bedroom as our classroom temporarily while we had house guests.  I have since changed my mind on the temporary plan and went to permanent. My girls have become very accustomed to sharing a room and sad at the thought of being separated. Also I really want a year round weather friendly room, so I am happy to stay. What I was not happy about was the pink! I love pink, I better love it with four girls, but for a classroom it was just a little much for my senses. 

I also decided that due to the large amounts of time I spend in my classroom and the fact that it is much smaller than my previous basement classroom, I really wanted it to be pleasing to my eye. I wanted it to have a mixed feel of classroom, but office, maybe even craft room for me. That was going to mean getting rid of the pink for sure, among other decorating "things". To have a desire is one thing but to have the reality of what is that going to cost me is... well can be what stops desire from happening. Because I have an amazing God who cares about the desires of my heart, I was able to bring the desire to reality. Though I am not finished yet, I am just too excited to wait any longer to share with you the transformation. The paint I used ( and no one else since I painted all on my own) was on the refused paint stand  at Lowe's reduced to only $5.00! The valance I bought was on clearance for only $6.24! The chalk board (that is not hung YET) was only $10.00 at a garage sale, all my official school furniture I purchased through the use of Craigslist last year. The temporary desk/ table and chair for me, is on loan from a friend, until she needs it back or I find something budget friendly or free. The chair shelf I am using to display shells was purchased at a garage sale for only $1.00. The picture frame I turned into flannel board (I used black burlap) also from a garage sale for a buck! The curtain rod I found at Ross for $4.00. A grand total (not including the school furniture I purchased last year) is... are you ready... $27.24! For so little, I was able so far, to transform this room into a place I want to spend time in! All things are possible with God. 

Don't give up on your desires for your home! Think outside of your "box" and see what you can come up with, to create a space you like being in.

Taken at a point when my oldest daughter had to share this room with the baby

 due to house guests in her room. 

More things will be added to the walls

A little bit of home... shells from California beaches!

Our former basement classroom. First day of school, the chalk board was since hung. Started this year with the chalk board on the ground also. Funny! 

Unfinished basement means unfinished ceilings... I am glad to be in our new classroom! I do miss the space though! It was even bigger than what is shown in these two photos.  Warm winter days to come in the new classroom!

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No Sew, So Simple Valance

Here is my kitchen widow. The view out that window is amazing! I can see Cheyenne Mountain, deer hanging out on my back hill, the occasional crossing or lingering of Big Horn Sheep, birds, bunnies, my kids as they play in the yard and so on. But the window itself, well... is anything but beautiful or amazing!
I decided to do a quick fix to help beautify that window to my God answered prayer of a view!
With fabric from some of the pillows I made for my family room couch, upholstery tacks and a glue gun, this is what I came up with. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated and nothing I am committed to because I spent a fortune on it. I didn't! The fabric was at the end of the bolster so I got a deal! This is so basic that I could easily change it at any time or any whim!

 Amazing how a little piece of fabric can make such a big difference! Upholstery tacks are a new love of mine! I purchased mine at Lowe's for a whopping $1.50!

 

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The Changing of the Curtains

After nine years I decided it was time to once again attempt to change out the bedding in my master bedroom. I had tried a few years back but just could not find anything to my liking that did not break the bank. I suffer from the, "I have a knack for picking the highest priced item in the store, with out even trying," syndrome. Are you familiar with that one, ring any bells for some of you? Well for me it has at times been a stumbling block. At times, I just can not "settle" on something I do not like as much, so If it can not be perfectly the way I want, then I will wait. The other issue that ailed me was,  if I changed my bedding then I had to change my curtains and then the "cha-ching, cha-ching" sound chimed in my husband's head and contentment once again settled in my heart. Why does it always have to come down to the changing of the curtains?

So here I am nine years later, after some creative steps forward, lots of prayer and  a very small budget I have begun my master bedroom make over.
Here is how I began:
First I searched the internet for what style I wanted, maybe I wanted to branch out and go modern since through and through I am not contemporary, though I like it for someone else, maybe just maybe I could try. Nope after many attempts I found I am what I am and I am going to remain, a country something or other kinda girl. So that was settled. I also knew I did not want, "open bag throw on bed and windows and viola room complete." I wanted to put myself to the test and find out what I could create from nothing. So I poured through the internet price comparing quilts, duvets, curtains, standard shams, euro shams and throw pillows, oh my. In so doing this, I would know a good deal when I saw one and I would not pass it up!
Second I hit every discount store I could think of, from Marshall's to Ross, HomeGoods, Bed Bath and Beyond clearance, e bay, Craigslist, even Target. The first shopping attempt, I remained empty handed but not defeated! I was determined to bring to life a new master bedroom for my family and I to enjoy. I ventured out again and found  euro shams I fell in love with on clearance, a throw pillow too... score!  Off I went  yet again and this time I had a more open mind, guess what I found a duvet at a lower price than what I was even aiming for! Now the building of a "master" piece really begins.  Later I found a quilt, king size for an amazing price, that also included shams. My bed was taking shape and setting a new tone for my room.
Third I needed to find curtains and the challenge increased. Why oh why do they have to cost so much? I gave myself a much needed pep talk and off I went to Bed Bath and Beyond (the last place I actually  went, of course) and found on sale curtains that are not perfect in my former definition of perfect, but perfect in my new and  renewed way of thinking kind of way! I still had three smaller windows to dress...oh golly that will really add up. While I was at Lowe's picking out paint sample thinga ma bobs, I checked the clearance... you guessed it! Three balloon shades that would work wonders for a steal of a deal! Oh now for the hardware... sigh... oh wait, a buck 98 each rod... this is unbelievable! Let the butterflies fly I was so excited!

Who needed to fear the changing of the curtains after all! Tear um down and let the sun shine in... only temporarily until the new ones are hung! 

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