"Why in the world did you pick this name for your blog?" ...so glad you asked...

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The New HOUSE!!

Welcome to the "Before" tour of our new home. Part One.

Come on in the front door and have a look around.



Before you step inside, notice the patina on the light fixtures on either side of the door.  I love a patina.  Character points right off the bat.


Here is the foyer.  I won't bother to try to orient you in every shot as that would get really confusing and probably annoying, but I will tell you that the only angle I could get this from was looking back from the living room. You'll notice the charming black and white tile... and you may also notice how it's trying really, really hard to be awesome, but failing next to the tan paint on the walls.  Never fear.  That will be changed.








































And now follow me into the living room.  More tan paint, but so much potential here, no?  Huge beautiful windows (window treatments left by previous owner), built-ins flanking a beautiful fireplace with green marble hearth.






































Notice the AWESOME chair straight from the 50's that we will, at some point, have re-upholstered.  Not pretty right now, but she'll be a standout piece in the room when she's got her new clothes on.
Also you can see the top tiers of the end tables which I have big plans for too.  Smoke Embers paint from Benjamin Moore and some pearlized grey paint on top using a mod stenciled design.  Should look pretty sweet when I finally get around to them.

















If you look behind you, you'll see the dining room.  There's another Candy Coated creation being completed and those same drapes left from the previous owner.  I'm planning on spray-painting the chandelier.  I haven't chosen the color yet, but I want something bold.






































Here is our sunroom just off the kitchen.  I love all the windows and all  the light they let in.  This will be where we spend the majority of our time.  It's where we're putting the TV and where I hope to have a crafting space.


















This little hallway is off the sunroom and leads to the laundry room.  I don't have a vision for it yet, but isn't it a sweet little space to decorate?  Just below that window is the dog door that our 2 year old has discovered and used.  Yikes.







































This is the long, boring hallway to the Master wing.  I see lots and lots of nail holes in its future.






































This is the little nook with some extra storage and the door to the baby's room before you get to the long hallway above.






































And that's all for now.  This post would be waaaaaay too long if I went on to show you the bedrooms and bathrooms, so we'll save that for another time.
There will be plenty to post about in the near future as we move in and take on the designing and decorating of all these spaces, but the time to actually create posts may not present itself as often as I would like, so I apologize in advance.
Until next time...
S

Friday, September 17, 2010

King Sheet Upcycle - Continued

Do you remember my new pj pants?

I still have plenty more sheet left where that came from, so there's more to be made!!

A knot top for my littlest girl was the next thing that struck my fancy to try. I had no pattern, just a similarly styled shirt that we already owned. This is the same "technique" I used for my pants. Lay the item of clothing you want to clone down on the fabric and cut around it.


It didn't work quite as swimmingly this go round. I didn't bother to measure my baby's girth and she was squeezed like a sausage. I mean, there was some major baby cleavage going on, which wasn't quite the look I intended.
So I pulled out part of another pattern I had made that had a keyhole neck. I cut the back of the shirt right up the middle and restitched it wih an opening at the top so I could add the button and elastic loop.


That gave her just enough wiggle room to be comfy, and added a style element I hadn't originally thought up.
That's the way of The Pretty Pickle!



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S

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Jailhouse Rock

Red tags at Target are my downfall.  Or my victory, whichever way you prefer to see it.
This time, I'm positive it was a victory that little $5.49 red sticker led me to.
Here is the red-stickered item that called out to me from the clearance rack - a plus size black and white striped expanse of fabric.

And here is what I made with it



I discovered some leftover lace trim in my closet and slapped that right on top of the ruffle. I think they're rockin'.
Similar knit ruffles are selling on Etsy for between $15 and $25, so I saved between $10 and $15.
But I haven't seen any with lace trim. ha!

 I'm smitten.

S

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Candy Coated


Candy Coated - that's the name of my little endeavor. I've finished two pieces and hope to do more, but first, I'm just hoping the one's I've completed will sell. Fingers crossed!
Here they are with their descriptions:

This is an adorable coffee table perfect for your shabby chic, beach or cottage styled room. It's a Bassett Furniture piece that has been repainted a creamy vanilla color with pistachio accents, gently sanded for that comfortable, worn-in look, lightly antiqued and then finished off with a protective, easily-cleaned coat of poly on the table top.

She's all dressed and ready for her new home. 




This little lovely, originally from Pier 1, is in excellent shape and has been cleaned up and dressed up with some decorative paper. To her already beautiful honey-colored wood tones have been added accents of bubble-gum blue and cranberry red. She is the perfect accent chair for fall. She can sit in your dining room waiting to be pulled up for that special guest, greet friends in an entryway or just be eye candy anywhere.

 


























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S

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

More Turtles

Remember I told you I had another project in mind for my Baby Turtle Benjamin Moore paint?  Here's the big reveal!

Before:







































After:







































I never even noticed the arched shape beneath the shelf.














































My husband asked me if they were the same nightstands. haha! So fun! I love the change.

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S