Pottery Barn Style On My Budget

Those of you who, like me, drool over every Pottery Barn catalog that lands in your mailbox, will appreciate today's project.

Did you loooove these pillows?


I am smitten with the texture, the typography and the red stitching. So homey and RED. Red is my favorite color.

But, seriously PB, $29 for JUST THE COVER? Not in this lifetime.

I decided to make my own.

I started with this pillow, the perfect size for our leather armchair, but the colors weren't working with the family room decor.





I got out the canvas drop cloth that I've been cutting up for projects, and cut two pieces. The pillow measured 12 inches by 18 inches, so I cut the canvas 14 inches by 20 inches to allow for seams.

I printed out the word PEACE on Microsoft word, using Lucida Handwriting font, at size 300.

(Tip: use the "quick draft" setting to save on ink, and print on scrap paper to save on trees!)

In this picture the letters are printed at size 400. I quickly realized that was too big, so I reprinted at 300.

I cut out each letter with my craft knife.

Using Colonial Red fabric paint, I stenciled each letter on to the canvas.




After the paint had dried, I turned the fabric "right sides in" and glued a seam on three sides.

This stuff is THE BEST.

After the "seams" dried, I stitched a border with three strands of embroidery floss on those three sides.



Then I stuffed the pillow in and sewed the bottom closed!

If I had a SEWING MACHINE (Dear Santa...) this project would have been even EASIER.

How much was my copy? ZERO DOLLARS. Zip. Nada. Nothing. It just cost me my time.

And one hole in my thumb.

This post is linked to the following parties:

"I Can Make That" at Just a Girl

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Check out the fabulous ideas!

DESIGN RULES WINNER and COPY CAT PROJECT!!

Happy Monday morning!

We have a winner in the Design Rules book giveaway,

COMMENTOR # 121!

Her name is "Anonymous", and here's what she had to say:

"I love what this book is saying and could absolutely use that help in my home. It would definitely help me focus on what needs to be done."

Well said! If YOU'VE felt like you need focus and advice, then DESIGN RULES can help you too, so I highly recommend that you get yourself a copy.

And...that's all I've got to say about THAT.

I'm off to work on today's project.

Do you loooove these Pottery Barn pillows as much as I do?

Wish you could have them for MUCH less money?

Then stop by here later on today and I'll show you how!

Pumpkin Perfection For Your Thanksgiving Table

I start off each day with such GOOD intentions. The kids leave for school, and my "To Do" list is waiting patiently for me on the kitchen island.

Then it happens. I think "I'll just check my e-mail REAL QUICK before I start cleaning."

Down the slippery slope I go.

First of all, I was sooo excited to see over 100 comments on the DESIGN RULES giveaway post from yesterday. This is a MUST HAVE book. I just wish I was OPRAH and could buy you all a copy.

What? You want me to get to the point?

Okay. So I was over at Edie's, checking out today's 12 Days of Christmas Craft, and I clicked on the link to her friend Denise's blog. She's the lady who made those cute little birds that Edie featured yesterday.

I'm liking what I see, so I keep scrolling through Denise's posts. Does this ever happen to you?

Then I see these:

Holy Thankgiving Centerpiece, Batman. These ribbon embellished pumpkins are the cutest thing EVER. Click here for the tutorial.

Now I'm an hour behind on that "To Do" list that easily could have taken ALL DAY LONG.

You're welcome.

Design Rules Giveaway

My friends, I just finished reading the first nonfiction book that I. COULD. NOT. PUT. DOWN.

I hereby boldly predict that DESIGN RULES: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator, by Elaine Griffin will soon become the BIBLE of home decor for us fanatically amateur decorators. (I say soon because this book just came out yesterday!)

Reading this book is like meeting your best friend, who happens to be an interior designer, at Starbucks, and picking her brain for hours on end, never realizing that you've missed three meals and the laundry is growing mold in the washer.

Ahem. Not that that's ever happened to ME, mind you.

The inside cover of this book says that Elaine is "one of the country's leading interior designers and style experts. She is a graduate of Yale (!) University and attended the New York School of Interior Design."

Uh-oh, I thought, she's one of those snobby designer types. The ones whose only clients are ultra-rich and stylish. She's probably never worked with a Mom in central Ohio that only has $25 to redo her powder room.

Boy, was I WRONG. This book is written in a delightfully conversational style. Elaine is down to earth and downright chatty.

The book is divided into twelve chapters: the first nine are full of ideas for specific rooms (even the laundry room!), numbers nine and ten cover window treatments and flooring, respectively, and number twelve is all about choosing colors.

Each chapter covers the "design rules", as well as how (and when) to follow them, break them, or just plain ignore them. Elaine offers tips for furniture arranging and accessorizing for small city apartments, palaces, and everything in between.

This is a fabulous book to read straight through, like I did, or to use "encylopedia style" and look up information as you need it.

Here's my favorite "rule": "Rooms should look like the people who live in them. Because if your house doesn't look like you, then, sugar, you never really get to go home."

Nuff said.

NOW FOR THE SURPRISE: YOU CAN WIN A COPY FOR YOURSELF!! Gotham Books is offering a free copy of DESIGN RULES to one lucky REINVENTED reader.

Just leave a comment on this post to be entered to win.

Living with Lindsay is giving away a copy of DESIGN RULES too! Head on over there to double your chances!

(Note: I was contacted by Gotham Books (wheee!) and received a copy of this book in exchange for this review. I was not paid for my opinion, my awe and excitement over this book are my own!)

Trash to Treasure--The Wall Art Edition

Welcome to Trash to Treasure Tuesday! If you're new here, then a double welcome to you, and thanks for visiting. Put your feet up and fix yourself a drink.

You're sure to find LOTS of great Trash to Treasure ideas, 'cuz I have some talented friends.

If you've got an idea or project to share, then LINK UP!

And NOW...for some wall art.

Do you have a naked wall, and an almost naked wallet?

I've been there, done that. And I revisit the situation often. DIY Home Ideas has solved our problem.

Got some stencils? Stencil a pattern right on your wall and frame it with a thrift store frame. Instant wall art! If you don't want to stencil directly on the wall, use a piece of poster board, or some fabric. I cut up a canvas drop cloth and stenciled on that. Look here for that project.

Speaking of fabric, how about just framing a beautiful fabric scrap? Beautiful pattern AND color on your walls. Isn't that what art is supposed to do?

How about another empty frame? This one is hung over a map, but you can also just hang empty frames. This adds an architectural element to the art.

Look out, fabulous kitchen art idea below. What a great idea for displaying photos in the kitchen. I guess you probably should use NEW pans for this, the ones in my cupboard are, shall we say, less than pristine.

I loooove these ceiling rosettes. Simple and graphic. My favorite.

Speaking of graphic. If you're into typography, this license plate collage is DROOL WORTHY.

My husband would think I was NUTS if I hung license plates on the wall.

Click here for instructions and more ideas.

Now link up those projects!

Blog Sighting

Hey everyone!

Since it's November now and all, it really is TIME to start planning for holiday gifts, if you haven't already.

I haven't already.

I spend A LOT of time thinking about fabric swatches, paint chips, staple guns and that fabulous sewing machine that I REALLY want, but I'm terrible about planning ahead for holiday gift giving.

Thank goodness for Edie, at Life in Grace. She's planning for me, I mean US.


Edie is hosting TWELVE crafty ladies sharing their homemade gift ideas, one each for the next 12 days! LOTS of us are cutting and slashing our gift budgets and looking for ways to WOW our family and friends with meaningful handmade gifts, so this REQUIRED READING.

Just check out today's project, a dish mat. Holy cow, do I NEED one of these.

Oops, there I go again. What I meant was, I would love to make one to GIVE away. If only I had a sewing machine...


Edie even shared an extra project last week, she had me HOOKED with these adorable stockings made from old sweaters! Easy to follow directions are HERE.

So...what are you waiting for? GO to Life In Grace!

But please come back here when you're done, okay?

Twenty Five Dollar Powder Room Reveal

Gosh, when I promised to redo my powder room for twenty five bucks, I didn't think it would take TWENTY FIVE YEARS to get it done.

I'm exaggerating, of course, but this was a SLOW project.

That's why PATIENCE is surely a virtue when decorating on a budget. If you're in a hurry, you'll spend more money.

I know, 'cuz I've decorated in a hurry before. I've stood in a department store and talked my hurried self into a purchase I later regretted.

Not this time. I started with primer and paint that I had leftover from other projects.

The shelf in this picture was a $5 garage sale purchase over the summer. It was white originally, and good quality, so I spray painted it to fit the cream and black color scheme.

The towel I already had. Love me some scrolly designs.

These adorable little birdie tealight holders were from the Dollar Tree. The apothecary jar I already had, and the shells came from North Carolina. The miniature fishing basket was a quarter at a garage sale. The tile my son made in art class, I like the little punch of blue and green.

So...now we're up to $7.75.

The window mistreatment was already there from the "Cherry Cobbler" wall days. These little plaques I found at the Goodwill for 59 cents a piece. I used a 50 cent piece of polka dotted scrapbook paper and two more shells for one dollar art.

Since I can't cut a circle to save my life, I hot glued some jute string around the edges That was free.

Now we're at $8.84.

I shopped the house for this wall pocket, the color was perfect. Remember the switchplates? That fancy paper was $1.59, but I used less than half, so let's go with 80 cents, okay?


One half off canvas and a half yard of burlap = $17. I haven't decided what to put on the canvas yet. Maybe beachy postcards or photos?

Or maybe I'll stencil it.

I used existly nail holes to hang the canvas (secret amateur designer trick, you don't have to fill the holes if you're going to reuse them!).

Then I decided that it was hung too high, so I added a piece of scrap molding underneath, painted with chalkboard paint. This wall is opposite the toilet, so we can leave each other loving messages.

TOTAL = $26.64. Oops. So I was over a little, please don't scold me.

Happy Halloween everyone! Have a fabulous weekend.

I'm linking this post to Sarah's Before and After Party, at Thrifty Decor Chick, Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch AND Kimba's DIY day. Be there or Be square! If you want to see my BEFORE picture of the powder room, click here.

Also linking to Frugalicious Friday. Check out Jane's fabulous Pottery Barn find!