Mid-Century Madness

I woke up this morning to the sound of someone running around on my roof. Happy Printemps everybody! Welcome back little furry critters!

I've been so busy around the house that I have neglected my precious baby blog over the last couple of weeks.  Luckily, I am motivated enough to keep improving my space- the blog is a preemptive strike against those days when I am not motivated what-so-ever (which totally happens when I get the blues.)

Like most DIYers, I am addicted to consignment shops, antique malls and thrift stores.  My favorite spot right now is Skyland Antique Mall because of the mid-century retro booth they have in the basement. Mmmmm... mid-century. I am obsessed. They might as well put a big, flashing marquee over it that reads : DON'T BOTHER. THIS HAS ALL BEEN CLAIMED BY EASTY.

If I were my dog, I would have already peed all over the wares in that section. Graphic, I know, but that is basically what I did when I saw this:

Just look at those classic '50s leggies! 

It doesn't look like much from the picture, but this little baby is just oozing with potential.  It's a record stand! Complete with slots to hold my non-existent vinyl...oh I have plans for you my precious. PRECIOUS [insert maniacal hissing and hand-wringing here]

I am picturing a black-and-white chevron motif, but more on that later.  Let's just call this the 'Before' post on this one.

Here is another Before of another faboobulous find:

Okay, I got a little excited (impulsive) and took the seat off the frame before taking the actual 'Before' shot, so let's call this pic a Before 1.25. Note the scuzziness on the sides from years of sitting in a smoking household. I also found a lollypop stick stuck between the seat and the frame.  Part of me was all, "Eeeeewwww," and another part (the inner-anthropologist) was all, "Hmm, I wonder how old this is? I wonder if the child who left this here is my age now, or older?" And then I promptly threw it away. Moving on.

Oh yeah, I'm gonna reupholster this bad boy.  Oh no, I have no idea what I am doing.  I'm just doing it! 

Good-bye weird, sticky blue vinyl! Hello blind ambition! Exclamation! Exclamation!

The Weekend Warrior - Part 2

The softer side of my warrioress-ness:

After a fairly restless night getting used to my hyper house guest,

Manny!

Petey giving me the put-the-camera-down look

I finally tackled that throw pillow project I've been putting off for reasons including but not limited to: a) I needed an iron/ironing board, b) I needed at least two hours of quiet, and c) I am still a little afraid of my sewing machine.  One time (at band camp) I was using the wrong thickness of needle to sew some denim - the machine is called the BabyLock Denim Pro II for goodness sake - and it broke off and hit me in the lip.  It really hurt but my first thought was, "Thank God it wasn't my eye!"

Since then I've been wary of the thing and have always worn glasses/sunglasses/ safety goggles when putting it to use.  I have a lot of meshugas, I know.  As my dear Aunt Molly would say, I may be high maintenance but at least I'm self-maintaining.  The whole point of me blogging this stuff is to document my learning process when it comes to DIY and overcoming my fears.


I get daily emails from Joss & Main, One Kings Lane, Fab, Beyond the Rack, My Habit and The Foundry, which are all websites listing daily designer sales up to 80% off retail value.  I am addicted to scouring these sites but am extremely restrained when it comes to buying.  Only on a rare occasion will a deal so fabulous catch my attention that I throw down the plastic for a piece of bargain basement gold.  Most recently it was a Fab.com tea towel that will be framed to hang over the future breakfast nook...more on that later when it arrives in 10 to 22 days.


The most common pieces that I rummage through are linens and decor.  Graphic prints are so hot right now and I love yellow and white chevron throw pillows, but not at the $65+ price tag!  So I popped into the local fabric store when James was in town, found the very print I was looking for and a 16x16" pillow form to work with.  That lovely yard of yellow and white goodness has been sitting on my sewing table for a month and I no longer had excuses a and b standing in my way.  Time to kick the dogs outside and conquer c!

Sometimes I plan and plan and plan, other times I just jump right in.  This time was a jumping plan.  Without a pattern to work with (not that I would really know what to do with one if I had it) I started measuring and estimating that I would give myself an extra two inches on each side to work with.

20x20" square

There was some pinning, some ironing, a lot of stitching, peddling and some cussing, but before long it was starting to look like a pillow!

Now how do I finish this? That took the most time out of anything.  After two broken needles and no blindness, I decided to hand stitched it shut and spot clean later, I guess.

Not too shabby for my first attempt at pillowry!

Here it is in action

 I quickly moved it to a safer location because of this guy and his shredding ways.

Ya'll come back now ya hear?!
~Easty