sneak peek @ the chairs...

We enjoyed the dusting of snow and chilly weather on the weekend, it was the perfect
 excuse for baking. We indulged in delicious Petite Pumpkin Spice Donuts I found on Pinterest.

I also found time to work on recovering the Craigslist chairs for our dining room...

I chose this bold, neutral...

to coordinate with this fabric for the two upholstered host chairs.

Part of the reason these chairs were so appealing to me was the open style of the back. I plan

 to use pillows on the chairs, and can easily change them out seasonally. The neutral fabrics

 will allow for endless choices, :) bold florals will be a fun mix with both of these patterns.

  I was playing with all the pillows I could find all day a pillow from our sofa to give you an idea.

 And, speaking of chairs, remember my post last week, 'interest for your entry' here,

I showed you how you could give your entry a little pizazz by incorporating a simple
 chair. My friend Patty didn't waste a second moving this chic black and white striped
chair to her entry ~ it's perfect!
 If you'd like to see more of her gorgeous home stop by Patty's Epiphanies here
for a peek at a few of her beautiful rooms. 

I have a rub 'n buff project in the works to show you later this week.

back to the dining room...

Woo Hoo!

 I know not everyone would delight in these lows, but I love it!  

We're planning on cozying up by the fire, cooking comfort food, baking,

bundling up and going for a walk, watching football, 

 and working on my dining room chairs...finally!

Summer fun,  Detail Boy's bedroom makeover, and the rug pushed the chairs down

 the priority list, but they're back on top and I have a plan.

The host chairs are headed to the upholsterers as soon as this fabric arrives...yay! 

No, it's not any of the original patterns I was considering, to make a long

story short...I changed my mind about the rug which in turn meant I needed to

 choose new fabrics! :)  

My plan waaaay back at the beginning of the year was to include some elements

 to give the room a more modern feel, and this won out. 

Neutral, textural, modern, unique.

Pindler & Pindler Vermicelli

I'll be working on my Craigslist chairs I painted... 

Thank you all so much for the kind comments on my rug yesterday.

I was blown away by all the amazing rugs, in fact I'm inspired to give our back

 door mat one of those 30 minute makeovers soon!

  

Hope your weekend is filled with fun, make the best of it rain or shine!

diy suzani rug...

I'm so glad I kept an open mind and kept painting, layering and tweaking. 

I love it now, but it was one of those projects that had me questioning

 my vision, color choices and sanity. 

When I gave you a progress report last week I was on the fence about the colors

 I'd already started painting, but that all took a turn for the better the day I received my

 Traditional Home magazine in the mail...and the Kravet ad on the back validated it! 

On to the fun photos, and then I'll fill you in on the process...

Easy ....check

Inexpensive...check

Time Consuming...check, check, check!

Week 1 - Here for Ikea rug, free download stencils, plastic for stencils

Week 2 - Here for Cutting Stencils, Adhesive & Stenciling

I read several different tutorials all using a variety of paints,
 I just used the black I had on hand, and didn't use any fabric medium.
 The rug isn't hard or stiff, and feels like a typical natural weave rug.

Paint & Colors:
Black - Interior/Exterior Latex House Paint
Mulberry - Americana Acrylic Craft Paint
Forest Moss - FolkArt Acrylic Craft Paint

To create the decorative border I used a portion of one of the stencils, and a
Sharpie continuing around the entire perimeter.



I thought it needed something more, and had this scroll stencil from years ago,
it filled in the negative space well. I didn't worry about it not fitting perfectly,
that's the beauty of this type of hand stenciled rug, it's not perfect!

I considered lightly sanding the rug to give it a worn look, but I chickened out and
decided to let it wear naturally.

 I used Scotch Gard Fabric Protector as suggested by
 Jen @ Tattertots & Jello here , she has several great tips for painting rugs.
(If you haven't ever seen my Scotch Gard test check it here.)

A big thank you to Linda @ My Crafty Home Life for coming up with the idea and inspiring
 us to try something new ~ now go check out all the fabulous rug reveals from these ladies...

Chinoiserie Chic

Design du Monde

The Junk House

Little Black Door

My Best Friend Craig

My Crafty Home Life

Pawleys Island Posh

The Pink Pagoda

Room Rx

Seekers Bazaar

Design Post Interiors

Trapped In North Jersey

Join me at these parties for more diy inspiration:

Savvy Southern Style - Wow us Wednesdays here
Uncommon Slice of Suburbia - Tuesday's Treasures here
Home Stories A to Z - Tips and Tutorials here
Tattertots and Jello - Weekend Wrap Up here

                                                                

simple sweet treat...

Who doesn't love a surprise so perfectly packaged you hate to open it?
This cleverly presented treat is sure to delight a neighbor, teacher or
what kiddo wouldn't die for this when they got home from school
or in their lunch - oh my! I'd like it for my lunch!
A festive take home favor for a party, or thank you, or surprise your family
and pull this out at the park, or a kind gesture just because...  

Layers of...
 caramel and cream cheese
 caramel
heath bar bits sprinkled on top
YUM!



You can find the recipe and details at Event Trender here.

interest for your entry...

You've probably seen them...an interesting, odd, funky, maybe charming little chair
 at a thrift store, neighborhood garage sale, antique shop, or chic boutique.
They're my favorite for adding style and function to an entry,
they can be had for a steal, and many times they're a breeze to re-upholster.

I have one...it was Mr. Simple's grandmother's and it's going to make a debut on
Thursday with the rug. Before I show you the 'before' here are a few ideas for incorporating
 them into an entry, I love the unique styles.

nancysdreamhouse.wikispaces.com

rosesandrustblogger.blosgspot.com

elledecor


eastcoastcreativeblog.com

purestylehome.com


hgtv.com

decorpad.com

decorandyouhr.com

caitlinwilsondesign.com

Here's my before...  just a simple repair to the seat and quick recover with my staple gun.

In this fabric,

Merrimac Textiles - Pattern M7554 - Color 5997

You can check out my completed chair here, it's a fun addition!