I have a chalkboard problem

I do.

Seriously.

I'm addicted.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step - right?

I have a problem.

Just look.

There are 3 in my kitchen alone. 

Here's one. (please excuse the tools on my Chambers - my husband thinks of it as a catch-all spot - don't get me started - I digress - just look at the chalkboard!)

Here's a better shot of it 

Here's another on the back of my newly re-done island

And these little dollar store gems.

I took this during the painting of the chalkboard paint. 

There is one in the kitchen next to the coffee maker - it has the word "smile" on it.

Although I am generally smiling if I am getting coffee.

Here is another one of the silver trays

Out on my front porch. 

(Oh and I just bought a new door mat today. The fall leaves mat will go away until this autumn.)

This one is in my dining room.

I haven't done my reveal post for the dining room yet because I need one more thing. Consider this a teaser.

This is how that chalkboard started.

*BLEK*

 But - it was $5 at a junk store. 

SCORE!

I sanded it down first

  then I Heirloom'd it

Then sanded it a bit again to rough it up and

then painted on the chalkboard paint

And now I have this in my newly re-done dining room

My son has 4 chalkboard surfaces in his room

This little blue chalkboard that sits by his bed

This sign on his crate is a chalkboard 

This is the other one.

And he has an art easel that is a chalkboard on 1 side. (I didn't make that one though)

I heart chalkboard paint. 

It makes me happy. 

I change the sayings out on the ones in my kitchen every week.

AND I love having that large one in my dining room. I decide on the menu for the week and put it on there and then everyone knows what we are having and when. 

It makes me smile. I'm going to try and find some chalkboard markers tomorrow - they are supposed to be FABULOUS. Here's hoping they have them at Micheal's.

So how about ya'll? Is there any one thing craft wise that you just LURVE?

I'm linking up!
Hodgepodge Friday over at It's a Hodgepodge Life
 

Trash to Treasure Friday Blog Hop at Trash to Treasure Decorating (my favorite kind!)




It's Follow Friday!

I love this blog hop - great way to find new blogs and make new friends!

And remember - I'm going to be doing a giveaway of some GORGEOUS hand-stamped jewelry as soon as I hit 50 followers! Keep checking back!

Slipcovers???

Right up front I'm going to admit to something - I may have lost my mind. Or taken leave of my senses. Take your pick as they are both probably accurate. 

I'm thinking of attempting making slipcovers.

I know. I know. 

I have a sewing machine. It's still in the box it came in when I received it as a Christmas present eight years ago. I know. 

But I seriously don't sew. 

Or, well, I haven't sewn anything since Home Economics class back in 8th grade. And we aren't going to ruin my Friday by actually saying how many years ago that was...but I will say that our President was Reagan at the time. 

*cringe*

When did I get old? Ok, sorry, I digress. 

My inspiration are the Couture Slipcovers from Ballard Designs.

I'm in love with them.
So simple, fresh, and I adore the simple little ruffle at the bottom. I heart these. I covet them. But they won't fit my existing chairs - well - not as they are. I would have to literally saw off the top 4 inches of chair and cover them in foam, and...well, you get the idea. 

So what if I made my own slipcovers?

I could do it. 

I think. 

I've been researching it and honestly, it doesn't seem that difficult. I know - famous last words - right?

I thought I would make a pattern out of some old muslin I have laying around and then maybe a "test" run slipcover out of some dropcloth fabric - just to see if I can actually do it. Then I'm not out any actual money for my experiment. What do you think? Can I do this? Any seamstresses out there (who aren't laughing at me hysterically) - could you give me any pointers? Is it possible? 

Or do I need to just be committed??? Be honest. I can take it!

Which also leads me to needing to finish the dining room. I need an area rug and I was thinking of getting one from Overstock.com. I haven't bought anything like that from them before - anyone out there know anything about Overstock and their quality? I also need to find some new curtain panels. Lots to do still.

I'm linking up with Follow Friday! It's a great blog hop and a wonderful way to find some new blogs and make some new friends!

To Paint or Not To Paint

that is my questions for you peeps.

Here's my dilemma.

We have this one wall in our kitchen and it really has no purpose. We didn't put cabinets on that side for two reasons - 1. we were basically out of money from having just gutted the kitchen and putting cabinets everywhere else...and 2. we weren't sure if we were going to maybe knock that wall out and open the kitchen to the living room. (please excuse the Diego Rescue Backpack in the lower right of the photo AND the tools all over the stove. They are not, in fact, supposed to be there but the hubby and the 3 yr old seem to use this part of my kitchen as a "catch all" dumping ground. )

SO I just made do. The stove is an old Chambers that was in the house when we bought it. It probably still works although it isn't hooked up to anything right now. We just moved it over there b/c I thought it was cool and old and I didn't want to part with it. I store water bottles and capri suns in it now! Anyway - I don't really want to get rid of it yet BUT, truth is, I could use more storage in the kitchen. And it is kinda taking up a large amount of room without a large amount of function. Not a good combo.

Now - for reference - here is picture of our other side of the kitchen - so you can get a feel for the color of the cabinets, etc.

I *tried* resizing 3 times - no idea what is going on here - but you get the idea of what the kitchen looks like.

Here's what I'm wondering. We have this China cabinet in our dining room - the dining room that is currently under Re-DO. This was part of the dining room set that hubby's dad gave us. We didn't buy it or pick it out - it was a freebie.

We already *have* a china cabinet in the dining room that is built in and original to the home. You can see it in these pictures.

Original leaded glass. *swoon* I love this cabinet.

Point is I don't need two. It is cluttering up the space. And it is big and dark. And ...well...I just don' t love it. BUT it was given to us by hubby's father. This was hubby's parent's dining room furniture.

So do I take the doors off, paint it the same creamy color as the existing cabinets, and move it into the kitchen - it could hold my dishes and I could put baskets in the bottom (where the doors are now) and use it for storage. OR should we leave it as is? If we leave it alone it is going to the basement to be stored.

*sigh*

Obviously I'm on the side of painting it and USING it. Hubby is afraid we'll "ruin" it if we paint it. I told him I would rather be using it and loving it instead of having it languish away in storage. I don't know. I need opinions!

I'm linking up to Amanda at Serenity Now's Decorating Dilemma's party!

Follow Friday

Yep - it's Follow Friday!

I'm excited to be a part of this again as I've gained some new followers and discovered some great new blogs! If you haven't linked up yet you should - it is a fabulous way to meet some great new peeps!

This is a short one today as I'm off to Norman to have my hair done. It's been wwaaaayyyyyyy too long since anyone has done anything to it - we're talking six months here - and it's long overdue. I'm having a bit of ME time today. That is a good thing.

Hopefully later today I'll be able to carve out some time for a regular post but for now it's all about Follow Friday and their sponsor Buttons & Blogs

Hope everyone has a great day and I'll try and post some teaser pics later of the dining room re-do!