In Progress: The Living Room Carpentry Projects

Hi, friends. This post--appearing promptly on Tuesday morning--was intended to be a Monday morning post...can you tell I'm a little out-of-sorts? After a week at my new job, I'm slowly settling into a work routine and trying my best to balance all of the things I have to do with all of the things I want to do; perhaps you know how that goes, too?Acknowledging my late start, I'm happy to share the progress that was made on our living room carpentry projects last weekend.

Let's get to it!

Towels Customized with Vintage Ribbon {An Easy DIY}

In my jadeite bathroom reveal yesterday (thank you so much, by the way! you all know how to make a girl feel goooooood!), I alluded to a quick, sewing project that adds a one-of-a-kind touch to affordable Target hand towels.

Even if you're a novice sewer, you can make your own customized ribboned hand towels in 3 easy steps!

My Rope-Wrapped Tables Featured on Apartment Therapy!

Yesterday, I got a pleasant surprise: my DIY rope-wrapped side tables were featured on Apartment Therapy as February's "Project Month"!

I submitted the project to them about a month ago and wasn't sure if/when it would appear, so I was happy to have it accepted and shared with millions of faithful AT readers.

If you're new around here, I shared the entire DIY process here last June. What a great mid-week surprise, huh?

How To: Revive a Cedar Closet

In November, just when the weather turned to regular sweater weather, Adam and I made a terrible discovery: one of his cashmere sweaters had a nasty little moth hole right in the center of the chest. Never again, we vowed! And this past weekend, we got to work reviving our 50+ year old cedar closet to prevent the loss of any more clothing.

Today, I'm going to show you how it's done.

Anna Spiro-Inspired Tasseled Curtain Panels {A DIY Project}

The holidays are over and done with, resulting in a fresh wave of excitement for new DIY projects around the house. In the next few days, I'll share the progress we've made in our finished basement. I'm looking forward to continuing progress we started in 2013 and sharing the details here throughout the coming year!

Today: it's all about a tasseled curtain panel project inspired by that tremendously talented Aussie Anna Spiro.

Nine Christmas Crafts from Years Past

(one / two / three)

Here we are, my favorite time of the year! Sure, most of us are out scrambling for great deals on gifts but I guarantee we're also all planning our holiday decor and crafts. Am I right?

Today, I'm sharing my favorite 9 Christmas crafts I made in years past before sharing my latest holiday projects next week.  Are you starting your holiday crafting this weekend?

A Tale of Two Chairs

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. 

And working to revamp this pair of decrepit $5 chairs embodies the worst of times.

This post is dedicated to all of those blog readers who wonder, "How does so-and-so make her blog projects look so easy?" I'm lifting the veil today and revealing that DIY projects don't always go as planned...at least not for me.

This is the tale of two bamboo chairs.

Announcing: My New "DIY Projects" Page

Chalk up this development to growth as a blogger, but I recently realized that I should add an easy-to-find, easy-to-peruse spot on this blog for past DIY projects that I've shared over the last three years. Searching through three years of archived posts just isn't any fun. So today, that page goes live.

If you're looking for DIY inspiration and you missed my projects the first time around, check out the new "DIY Projects" page at the top of the blog! Here are some of my favorite (and easy!) crafts that you can recreate in your own home:

Pedestal Entry Table with Dentil Trim

Our foyer has been an after-thought since we moved in because we primarily enter using our kitchen door. But recently, with our "window to nowhere" finally closed, I've gotten the itch to create a more welcoming space to greet guests, especially after finding just the right piece to jump start the entry decorating process.

Make Your Own: Rope Side Tables

About two weeks ago, the latest Ballard Designs catalog arrived at our door. It didn't take me long to zero in on a woven garden seat that was versatile enough to double as a side table for our living room or den...but I balked at the cost: $160/seat! I needed two, and $320 for small pieces felt like an extravagance.

With some brainstorming, I came up with a much less expensive solution that a) met the need for an accent table and b) mimicked the look of woven rope. Let's me show you how I DIY'd it.

Must-Have Tools and Supplies for Any DIYer

Do-it-yourself projects can be really daunting at times, can't they? Even if the steps of a project aren't particularly elaborate, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of supplies necessary to complete it. Well, today, I want to disprove the notion you've got to have millions of tools to get down to DIYing because...you don't. It's as simple as that.

Home for the Holidays {My Home in Pictures}

Something about Christmas puts me into fully nesting mode. I adore all of the bits and bobs that come with the season, including the lights, the evergreens, the ribbons and garlands. Rather than ramble on about my love affair with the holidays, why don't I just show you how I've brought a jolly spirit into our apartment? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Christmas Craft #5: Birch Tree Food Banners

As a last minute craft, I whipped together a quick touch to add to the table at Saturday's holiday party--a set of birch tree food banners. I felt really drawn to traditional woodland-inspired themes this season, and these tiny little trees make me long even more for a white Christmas.

Christmas Craft #4: Washi Tape + Metallic Dot Garlands

For the better part of a year, prime real estate on my living room wall has been empty while I hunt for a great piece of art for the area. But, I couldn't allow the holiday season to roll by without addressing the blank space in a festive, seasonal way.

Christmas Craft #3: Glittered Apple & Pear Ornaments

Last week, when my husband and I were decorating our Christmas tree, Adam looked at these glittered fruit ornaments and asked me, "Where did you get these?" He thought I bought them! What a compliment.

Christmas Craft #2: Holiday Clip-Art Cocktail Napkins

My husband and I host an annual holiday celebration at our apartment and each year, I try to concoct new and special touches for the event. Today, I'll show how I created a set of cocktail napkins with a vintage festive feel that our guests can enjoy while we eat, drink and be merry!

Christmas Craft #1: Vintage Wooden Ornament Wreaths

Happy Monday, everyone! 

I'm so glad it's finally December. I love decorating for Christmas and will have lots of seasonal projects to share this month. Today, my first Christmas craft of the season!

During the summer, I found several bags of vintage wooden Christmas ornaments at a thrift store for $1. I'm probably the only person who thinks about the holidays in August, so I couldn't leave the store without them. What did the ornaments become? A trio of fun, cheery wreaths!

Under-the-Stairs Built-in Storage Revealed!

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I'm happy to reveal our new under-the-staircase built-in storage!

Boring Baskets Be Gone: My Basket Makeover

Yesterday, we chatted about the unique treatments that can enhance a plain and simple basket. I teased that I had completed my own basket transformation and, now, here it is!

My 50¢ thrift store basket, despite its humble origins, became an understated plaster cachepot that could have easily been purchased at an antique shop. I'm in love and that's all there is to it.

Banish the Boring Baskets

Let's all be honest for a minute, folks: 

Up until recently we all thought wicker and rattan baskets were a little granny, am I right? It turns out, there are a lot of fun ways to incorporate spiffed-up baskets in your home without the results screaming 'geriatric'.