QUICK TIP: Immortal Plant

The verdict is still out as to whether or not I have a green thumb, but according to my Zanzibar Plant, I can do no wrong.  About 6 months ago, I cut two stems from my Zanzibar Plant, (because they looked sad and lopsided), and placed them in an olive oil jar I filled with water.  These two CUT stems, are still going strong!  Can you believe it? 

So, I have decided to dedicate this quick tip to the wonderful Zanzibar, AKA the immortal plant.  Here’s a pic of mine in my house:

You can buy this type of plant at Home Depot for fairly cheap.  I apologize - I can’t remember the price because it’s been so long … and Zanzibar is still alive!  She’s so good to me.

A cool trait about this plant is that sometimes it develops leopard-like spots on the stem. 

Here’s a better picture of my minimal arrangement.  It’s perfect for a guest bathroom or small table.  I put this in the master bath and it feels very spa-like.  It’s quite perfect for anyone who may be green-thumb-challenged.  Just remember - this plant likes shade.  I’ve never put it in full sunlight.  Cheers!

PROJECT: Breakfast Nook Table

I finally did it - I FINALLY refinished this old, oak table. As you can see, it had a ton of water stains that needed to go away.  It’s also an easy project if you have a power sander.  Just buff the table surface down to the raw wood and polyurethane it.  Speaking of power sanders … I think this could be one of the most brilliant inventions ever.  They’re fairly cheap and you can even get a decent used one at a local garage sale.  I actually inherited mine, (SCORE), because every daughter should inherit their family’s power sander.  Anyhoo, time for the pics …

Do you see the lovely water stains?

TA DAAA!  My breakfast nook has a very narrow space, so I eliminated the side leaves on the table.  My mom lectured me about this, (“You’ll need that extra space someday when you have kids!”), but what’s done is done.  I like the table without the leaves because then I can put seating on either side including this bench I refinished.  Same method - buff away at it for a few minutes with a power sander and then polyurethane it.  I skipped staining both pieces because I liked the color of the natural wood. Also, by painting the legs of the table, I saved a bunch of time as opposed to having it all the same wood color.  I think painting the legs adds interest as well.

Here’s a close-up so you can see the wood grain.

Above shows without the bench and the polyurethane. 

And of course my cat Atom does not appreciate it when I’m not focusing all my attention on him, so he had to get in on a shot.

CELEBRATORY WINE: Ardeche Chardonnay, $12. This is a French chardonnay, so it packs a different taste than the oak-buttery flavor most people are familiar with from California chards.  It’s very dry with a full body and a hint of vanilla.  This is a great wine to give to someone who prefers chardonnay - it opens up the possibilities of what a chardonnay can taste like.  Just like the table - refinishing it made it into something completely unexpected … no leaves and all.

QUICK TIP: Flea Market Art

Today I went “flea marketing” looking for some affordable art to adorn my walls.  I was hoping for the best but really only expected the typical 80’s beach scene with a mauve mat board and black plastic frame.  I was pleasantly surprised.  FLEA MARKETS ARE WHERE IT’S AT!  The one I visited had multiple original oil paintings in thick wooden frames ranging from $15-$89 depending on the size.  Here are some of my favorites:

This oil painting was about 3’ across with a beveled canvas inner frame.  Guess how much it was listed … $39!  Can you believe it?  And that’s not even after bargaining, (always know you can bargain with the seller at a flea market). 

This one was my favorite and I’m currently in “negotiations” with the seller.  It’s a beautiful original oil painting with an interesting wooden frame that had wavy chunks cut out that mimicked the artist’s brush strokes.  It too was about 3’ across.  I love the use of green tones.  It was priced at $89, but I’m hoping to get it for $60, (wish me luck)!

This painting was beautiful.  Once again - an original oil painting with a substantial frame and intricate brush strokes.  This was about 3.5’ across - so a very large painting for a home.  It’s price was, I believe, around $60.  Considering that all these paintings are real and have beautiful frames, (the frames alone at craft stores cost about as much), they’re a steal of a deal!

The verdict is in - I’m hooked on flea market art.  If the frame seems outdated, keep in mind you can always jazz it up by masking over the art and painting the frame a different color.  Again, the framing alone sometimes can cost as much as $40, so if you like the art, it’s well worth it. 

I’m still waiting for that seller to call me back….come on….give a girl a call!

CHEERS!

PROJECT: Silverware Pillows

A while ago I stumbled upon these really cute pillows by Beth Cummings at her Etsy Shop FourEyesHandmade. 

I decided I would need something like this for my breakfast nook.  Although these pillows are adorable, I needed a different size and color.  I also wanted to try my hand at screen printing with an at-home solution.  So, here’s my first try:

Here’s how I did it:

1) First, measure your pillow and add an inch on either side.

2) Cut out the pattern pieces based on the pillow’s measurements.  I created an envelope-style pattern.  You can see how I make the pattern on another post of mine, Slipcovers for Your Pillows. 

3) Create stencils for your artwork.  Once complete, I print them out and trace them with a permanent marker on a plastic sheet, ( for the plastic sheet I destroyed a couple old folders I wasn’t using anymore).

4) After cutting out your shape, center it on your front pillow pattern piece.  Tape it down on the sides, so it doesn’t slip away, and then blot the empty shape with your paint using a sponge.  The sponge texture actually gives the artwork a worn look.  Make sure to dab on top of the stencil and don’t rub.  This helps keep the shape of your stencil.

5) Remove the plastic sheet and let the pattern pieces dry.

6) After the fronts of the pillows are dry, sew your pillows together. 

My breakfast nook is still a work in progress, but these three pillows add a touch of cute to the space.

Here’s the BEFORE (with seller’s furniture):

My next project will be to re-finish the table.

Now it’s time to celebrate!

CELEBRATORY WINE: Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, $10.  This is a great wine for the price!  It had just enough berry along with the rich, deep taste that comes with a cab.  I selected this to go with today’s project because combining two things, (ie. screen printing DIY and sewing DIY) can be a good thing.  CHEERS!

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