Quirky Vistas: texture

Showing posts with label texture. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Creation Inspired Design

Early one morning last week my feet took a detour from ordinary life to dig toes into sand, slosh through gentle waves at the shoreline and bask in the early morning ambiance that can only be found oceanside.

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Friday, August 17, 2012

Not a Stitch of Fun

The time has come when I've been trying to get back around to making a few things. I've had a pile of burlap awaiting my scissors and sewing machine for some time now. The plan was to make a couple of burlap panels to go next to the white ones at my front window.

Of course I never felt like hauling out that huge, heavy piece of fabric and cutting it. It's scratchy, messy...and there would be figuring to do. It was all such a gamble. I procrastinate when it comes to cutting fabric. Fear of results. It seems so terribly important that I get it right. Like if I mess it up, all the doors, as in the begining of the Get Smart TV show, would begin slamming behind me. And money would be wasted! And then, this is messy fabric. Would I even like the results for all my effort?

Today was the day I was to face the possibility of the clanking doors of failure, but not before I ran off to Goodwill to see if the midcentury dresser I want had been reduced to $20. It hadn't. Sigh. I decided to hit the fabric store since I had a coupon that was good today. (Are you sensing any tendencies toward procrastination here? Yeah, me too.) I was going to purchase the yardage I want for a quilt so I'd have it when I'm ready to get started. However, as I was about to make a left in that direction, I realized that with fun fabric in the house, the burlap didn't stand a chance. The plan to work on the panels and be done with them would likely never happen. I would have yet another distraction in the form of cute, colorful and easy to manage fabric (no clanging doors) that would beg for me to drop that grating burlap and play instead. I do not need fun distractions while burlap is strewn about from living room to dining room awaiting my responsible and diligent efforts. So I made a deal with myself not to allow myself a stitch of fun until the irritating job was done. I'd be happier in the long run.

Last night I had already cut the burlap. Badly. I didn't measure well. With me the rule should be measure 4 times - cut once. I measured three times. I should have known. I always need extra room for error when working with measurements. And I should probably try harder. I was careless with my process. In the end though, I managed to make do with the poorly cut pieces. I didn't feel I needed to hem the sides or the bottoms either, just made a pocket at the top for the rod to go through. I did stitch all along the bottom and the edges to keep the burlap from fraying. Then, of course, I began running out of that thread, so I decided not to start on the other set of panels that was to go on the middle section. Probably just as well because adding the first two was already darkening the room quite a bit. With the sun moving to the other side of the house as the Summer wanes, this room will feel shadowy enough in the coming months. I guess the panels are fine as is, for now anyway.

The point of making them was that it might be a nice touch of texture and a little color contrast since the curtains, blinds and the slipcover on the couch were all so similar. So on one of our hottest days this Summer, I sat with scratchy, heavy burlap in my lap and finished the job. I was melting.

Good thing there is some Haagen Dazs Caramel Cone Ice Cream in the freezer to reward me.

That's right. Don't be jealous. Anyway, besides being miserably hot, I also have a sore throat. So this is for medicinal purposes, you know. Hope I don't overdose! Good thing the carton is small and it's already half gone. Isn't ice cream beautiful? It makes me feel better just looking at it.

But back to the nasty burlap. In the end, I think the new panels give the room a bit more weight, and a natural, textural feel. Anyway, I kinda like it. No, it's not love. Just like. A decent like. Nothing major, but nothing to scoff at either. And the messy, scratchy and very hot job is over!

After all that, I decided to go for gold and finish the edges of the burlap runner on my aqua coffee table. Initially I just folded and placed a wide piece of burlap there to see if I liked it. Once I got used to how it looked, I never bothered to finish it off. Typical. But I was on a roll today, and since there was no turning back from the mess I had made, I finally sewed and trimmed the edges so it no longer looks like a project in transition. Woohoo.

The fabric has now been been put away. Yea! I feel so accomplished thanks to my decision not to have a stitch of fun. Diligence served me well. Glad that heavy duty burlap task is behind me. Now maybe I can consider some more enjoyable projects.

So my house is pretty well covered in burlap fur, my scissors are dull, I'm a sweaty mess; I should probably get the vacuum out. I'm thinking the odds on that are slim to none. Then, after a beautiful blue sky and sunny afternoon, we had a huge and wild rain storm to finish off the sweltering day. It really did cool things off! Hallelujah!

Meanwhile, in keeping with the burlap theme, here's a little fabric flower pin I whipped up and used as the decoration for Cally's birthday card the other day.

I thought it would be cute attached to any number of things, even for someone who isn't the type to wear a pin.

For a first attempt at making one and after just winging it, it came out cute enough. Cally seemed to like it.

Next time I might try more layers so it's fuller, or try doing a rosette.

Now the day is done. Darkness is descending and the rain lingering on the orchids has been lit up by the patio lights. So I paused at the window and enjoyed the scene.

It was a good day. Ice cream and time with a few blogs will certainly add to a good night.

Happy weekend!

I'll be at:

Freedom Friday @ My Turn
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
My Monday Muse @ Carter's Cottage
Twirl & Take A Bow @ House On The Way
Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage
Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House
Primp Your Stuff @ Primp
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Craft and Tell @ Cherished Bliss
Share It @ The Winthrop Chronicles
Cowgirl Up @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Open Call Tuesday @ Salt Tree
Cure for the Common Monday @ Lines Across
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Tuesday to Do @ The Blackberry Vine
Mod Mix Monday @ Mod Vintage Life
Not a Stitch of Fun @ BNOTP
Newbie Graduates Party @ Debbiedoos
Thrifty Treasures @ Southern Hospitality
Sunday's Best @ My 1929 Charmer
Mop It Up Monday @ I Should Be Mopping the Floor
Nifty Thrifty Sunday @ Nifty Thrifty Things
Sunday Show Off @ Twigg Studios
Saturday Show & Tell @ Be Different, Act Normal
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
One Creative Weekend @ One Creative Mommy

Get Schooled Saturday @ Too Much Time
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Then and Now: A New Aqua Aesthetic

Color decisions are behind me. What was - is no more. I did what I had previously only dared, taking something pleasant enough (albeit too dark for a sunny south Florida locale) and gave it a bright and colorful new outlook. I'd probably be freaking out right now if I hadn't already lived with these items in their previous state since the mid to late 90's. Yes, it's hard to let go of what I've enjoyed, but I was, after all, growing weary of the heavy hues. So I'm going to give myself permission to say goodbye to the old and embrace the new brighter aesthetic of my living room.

THEN - Traditional Table Trio

I cannot even believe how empty this room looked before the Pier 1 lamps!

The room looks like we just moved in. We hadn't.

I know...it's a perfectly beautiful table. I really did love the end tables as is, except for the fact that they are large and between the three of them in the small space, they covered half the room in brown. Combined with the dark green couch and the previously brown wall, it was time for an overhaul or they would have to go. New furniture was out of budget, so I turned to my paint stash for a little help.

These two were mixed at about 2 parts green to 3 parts blue. The blue is really kind of dull and the green was just too green. Together, they became my new aqua accent.

As I said, what WAS, IS no more...except that under the new slipcover, the dark green couch remains. I'll need to take the cover off to enjoy it fully when it gets cool out again, only I just realized that when I do, the couch will clash with the newly painted tables. Figures! I didn't even think of that before! Oh well, one day and one design problem at a time.

NOW - Today's Triumph!

Here it is while I was in process of deciding about pillow placement and before testing out a bit of burlap as a table runner. This love seat still needs a raspberry, tangerine or coral pillow.

So with pillows in the center and a test piece of burlap on the table (The final product will be slightly longer and frayed and tied at the edges for a finished look.), it can go either way, but if we get to feeling there is too much aqua, then the burlap can tone it down. Added texture is always a good option.

If it was brighter I was after, I got it, no?

Color and light

By the time I put the burlap on the table, I had already taken a zillion pictures and didn't feel like taking many more, so here's the aqua in all its glory.

The burlap got tucked around the seat cushions for a minute to give an idea of how this chair would look with neutral cushions. The chair is really too big for this room with the ottoman; it may end up back in the Florida room if it starts to feel too crowded in here.

So there you have it. The brown has taken a dip into the aqua/blue/green design pool and I'm perfectly happy with the result.

Next up, the fireplace needs a long awaited revamp and the chair needs the cushions recovered or replaced. The cushion color doesn't work in here or the family room, but that could be an easy fix.

Then again, I could show you how the dining room has taken on a lighter and brighter outlook or share with you the little tray table I discovered in a nearby trash pile. It has also recently been given a paint revamp.

Decisions, decisions. Oh, the never-ending decisions...

I'll be sharing this at:

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy & Elephants

Very Merry Vintage Style Link Party

All Star Block Party @ New House, New Home, New Life

Primp Your Stuff @ Primp

Swing into Spring @ DIY by Design

Your Whims Wednesday @ My Girlish Whims

Wow us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share It @ The Winthrop Chronicles

Tuesday To-Do @ The Blackberry Vine