Poms Away

I apologize for the name of this post. Sometimes I channel Al Roker and then look what happens, puns for days. It was almost titled, "Poms Over Baghdad." I know! I haven't been able to look at myself in the mirror all day.

Let's talk decor, shall we? (#sharprightturn) I've been honing in a color palette for the living room and decorating accordingly. Our couch is a vintage, yellow ochre in a tufted velvet. It's truly harvest gold but I think that only rings familiar if you were alive in the same era in which the couch was created. I was not. My color palette had to revolve around this large statement piece that came with a love seat and ottoman. To pair with this throwback color I chose a royal blue and a blush pink.

Pretty, right? I am still working on the layout, wall hangings, additional furniture, etc. I have been collecting items here and there. 

I work frighteningly close to an Ikea. I could reach out the window and touch it. (If my office had windows and my arms were just a tad bit longer.) It is right across the highway and I could be stuffing my face full of Swedish meatballs in all of five minutes flat. I find myself wandering the marketplace more than what might be considered normal. As Myke always says to me, "We need to talk about what you consider 'normal.'" That conversation has yet to happen. I feel like it would just be me making hand gestures and drawing rudimentary shapes. A hybrid of charades and Pictionary, if you will. Nobody wins.

On my last excursion I used my Ikea Family membership card to snag these cushion covers for $3. I bought two. They've been on the couch living the color palette and the dream. I just felt like they needed some pizzazz, some personality, some life. Sadly, I don't have access to a BeDazzler but I do have plenty of leftover yarn from a previous project.

I've been creating a totally "normal" amount of pom poms. I find it to be very therapeutic and calming while watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Especially the last episode when Teresa and Joe Giudice were sentenced to prison time. It was the pom poms that kept my blood pressure at normal levels. It also makes me feel slightly better about watching mindless television. I will be chin deep in poms when the Atlanta season is back on air. 

I've found the tutorial on the Design Mom blog the easiest to use and master. All you need is yarn, your hands and a pair of scissors. It's important to note that you will want to keep the "tails" of the pom poms in tact, as they will be used later to attach the poms to the pillow covering. The tails are created when wrapping the yarn bundle in the middle and tying it off. 

I used a large yarn needle, mentioned in this previous post, to thread the tails of the pom poms. I pulled them through the pillow cover one at a time and tied them into a knot inside.

Repeat this process wherever you want to add some flair. Maybe limiting it to inanimate objects. It'll be hard to control those urges but I have faith. 

Here is the finished project... 

I'll be honest here and say that I did this project twice. I can admit failure and the first go around was one of those times. I started off with much smaller, tighter poms. They just didn't look right with the scale of the pillow. It was probably good enough but I didn't want to post with regrets. I have enough of those that keep me up at night.

This project only works while watching anything on BRAVO, TLC, HGTV or the Food Network (excluding My Grandmother's Ravioli (#myfave)). Please do not attempt such work when your full attention is required! 

Wednesdays, Bath Salts and Craigslist: A Story For The Ages

No one is happy it's Wednesday, including myself. So let's just get that out of the way. This week has been a beast and to sum it up I would like to quote Lady Chablis of Savannah fame, "Two tears in a bucket, mother..."

Okay, I just couldn't go through with it. My mother reads this blog and sometimes you can't just say whatever you want. I mean, I usually say whatever I want but maybe this Wednesday is about turning over a new leaf (but probably not).

Before this one-sided conversation gets real dark and weird let's change the subject, shall we?

My Craigslist addiction is a real thing. This was brought to light when Myke and I were watching "Intervention." He compared my fondness for Craigslist to a guy on bath salts having psychotic episodes. Talk about driving a point home. I don't manifest images of dead people like that guy but I did just begin hearing the "Intervention" theme song playing in my head. You know, the one they play when we're updated that said addict relapsed three month later. Myke spoiled my intervention by announcing I needed one. Way to ruin a party! Now that I know I can continue to revel in my unhealthy Craigslist habit I thought I'd share my findings. If I can't buy the goods, someone should!

Living in Atlanta I have found that there are a few truths regarding Craigslist:

• Most of the reasonable finds are not within the perimeter. You want those country folk who don't know what treasures they have. (This is not a slam on country folk, for without you I would have an empty house and a even emptier story bank.) Searching "all Atlanta" seems to produce more fruitful results.

• Sometimes the cheap price is not worth the hour plus drive. If you're stuck in traffic and depleting your gas tank then is it really a good deal? I know this seems to directly negate truth number one. To be candid, I do not follow this rule. I will follow a good deal to the ends of the earth. You do what you want. 

• If you are traveling a distance to see your glorious find try to negotiate before showing up. It is best to be up front and know what the seller is willing to do before you are face to face. It's Craigslist courtesy. Of course you never know what condition something is in before seeing it in person. There is some wiggle room here. Bring smaller bills so that you can account for flaws that were not obvious in the pictures posted.

What is currently calling to me in a manner similar to a psychotic episode on bath salts you ask?

Let's start with this smoky, glass topped kitchen table. Of course I'm drawn to the brass and wood base. I think it could be updated quite nicely with some modern chairs with sleek lines. I'm thinking something in a wood finish to echo the base. Maybe this. The $100 price tag seems fair enough. I'd offer $75 because you will have to purchase chairs and paying full price on Craigslist makes me cry myself to sleep at night.

I feel like right now you're probably judging me so hard. There's just something about this clock that makes me want to rearrange a bookshelf to showcase it. I can't help my feelings. I'm a child of the '80s and it shows. For $10 there is no justification needed. When someone asks what time it is, I'll know.

This photo makes it difficult to see this sofa's potential. If you click through the additional pics on Craigslist you can get a better idea. Of course if your look is less "Brady Bunch" then you'll need to spend the money to get this sucker reupholstered. Which, by the way, I need a friend to learn this trade asap. Of course I can't pay you for your actual labor. But just think about the satisfaction you'll get from a job well done. Right? I would choose a chunky herringbone fabric a la this.

I wish there were more pictures of this dinette set. I feel like for $30 it almost doesn't matter the condition. The options for re-upholstery, color and finish are endless. What worries me is the "as is" part of the description. As though there's a lion strapped to it's undercarriage. So if you go for a look make sure to listen for growling.

I have quite the list of items but I'll end with this guy. I just envision putting this in the bedroom by our large floor to ceiling windows and taking a nap or reading a book. I'd simply add some cushions in a vintage, floral fabric, grounded in black to tie in the dark wrapped corners. The only thing keeping us apart is the $175 price tag. I would love you forever for $50. For now, I will love you from a far. Perhaps we can be pen pals.

I hope this sneak peek into my obsession has given you some interior inspiration as you heed the warnings of bath salt addiction. It has me balancing my checkbook. Until tomorrow Craig! I will look at your list all the days of my life. Kisses!

Put A Flower In It

Who doesn't love a brightly colored, cheerful flower arrangement? Don't answer this question if your allergies keep you away from all things flora. Go ahead and move along, this post isn't for you. I'll see ya when I see ya!

Lately I've been exploring new artistic expressions in hopes of finding my one true calling. This blog being one of those outlets, another being floral arrangements. I know that sounds like I've cashed in my retirement and my days are spent with a sun hat on, in the garden, pruning my roses. Although that doesn't sound half bad, I'm not old enough, rich enough, nor do I have a green thumb. So for now, the flowers are bought and the arrangements are a bit more whimsical.

If you've read my other posts you've probably gathered that I'm a thrifty lady, emphasis on LADY. If you haven't, you might want to get caught up so I don't have to waste my time finding you. Anyway, I love a good deal and an unusual spin on the ordinary. My hunting and gathering has left me with some fun and unusual vessels. Almost anything can be turned into a floral moment, as evidenced below.

"Floral Moment"

Here is what you'll need:

• a cool or unique vessel
• a serrated knife
• some flowers (#duh)
• Oasis floral foam
• running water (which I'm assuming you have if you have the intrawebs, if not, let this be an a-ha moment)

Oasis is that green, weird brick below. You can find it at any flower shop or online. Buy it in bulk if you're close to retirement OR suffer from insomnia. I actually convinced the flower lady at Kroger to sell me some. I equate it to my charming personality as I did not have knife in hand and don't worry, I didn't call her flower lady to her face.

I cut off a piece of the Oasis to fit into the bottom of the vessel I have chosen.

This might be a nice moment for a public safety announcement in the form of a story. Prompt "The More You Know" logo in the background! (Snelson just rolled his eyes. (#rude)) It was Thanksgiving 2012, the in-laws were over and I was in the VERY early stages of making our big meal. I was cutting up some bread to make a most delicious, completely made up stuffing, or dressing if you're south of the Mason-Dixon line. I was using a serrated knife and sawed right through my finger like a champ. It was like an episode of Chopped without a medic on hand or a $10,000 prize tempting me to power through. So, needless to say, I threw in the blood covered towel. Now I'm trying to remember what the moral of the story is. It's either a) be careful with serrated knives OR b) cut yourself early on so that you have to sit on the couch reading your InStyle while your husband takes over cooking Thanksgiving dinner.

Moving along...

I added enough water to the Oasis so that it was just damp throughout. (I feel like there's an obvious joke in here about water and camels but it's just not coming to me.) The Oasis helps keep the flowers in place as you begin to create your masterpiece.

I bought my flowers at the Dekalb Farmers Market. They have a nice selection and on the cheap. Most large cities have a flower market where you can buy at wholesale prices. I have yet to find one in Atlanta so if you know of one please leave a comment. It would be most helpful!

Now to begin arranging...

I like to cluster by flower type and in varying heights. In order to disguise the Oasis I keep my shortest cuts to the perimeter. In this instance the camel vessel is also disguised as a swan. Don't worry about it...

I use decorative greens to fill in so that the arrangement feels full and lush. I keep in mind overall shape and height as I continue to add flower clusters in a color palette that makes sense visually. I tend to go for varying shades of the same color or stark contrast. I, of course, am drawn to bright colors. Restraint is not part of my vocabulary.

Although I'm not a floral authority I love how these little guys (and girls) make me smile. 

All of my vases are vintage. The camel and swan are from estate sales and that foxy lady is from the Goodwill. She doesn't even know how happy she makes me.

There is something to be said for a creative outlet that brings as much joy in the doing as the final product. I hope to add more whimsy to my collection and continue to discover new ways of showing off these fantastic creatures. Now go ahead, put a flower in it!