happy living Design

chair update

before

after

supplies :: cordless screwdriver to remove the seat and back from the chair frame, flathead screwdriver and/or pliers to remove the upholstery staples and old fabric, Amy Butler fabric from purlsoho.com, fusible batting from Joann.com (since the fabric I bought is not upholstery fabric, the fusible batting gives it a bit more strength) and iron, staple gun and staples.

I took the outer old fabric off, but left the next layer of barkcloth and old padding on.  The fusible batting also helps even out any lumps and bumps that may be in the old padding.  I usually cut at least 5 inches of extra fabric around the 'forms'.  I ironed the fabric to the batting.  When I staple, I always staple the corners first and then fold in the sides, pulling it tight as I go around.  The seat back was more of a challenge and I had to take it off and start over once.  Although I reused the same piece, that is why I always buy more fabric than I need.

No more bird poo chair!

If you haven't ever, definitely try out recovering a chair.  It is a very easy and satisfying d.i.y. project.

a good Sunday

Saturday, on account of the rain, I spent almost the entire day in the house rearranging, shuffling, straightening.  I am still flattening boxes from our move in the beginning of September and I am just now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The boy worked on our truck for most of the day.  Sunday rolled around and offered us a perfect fall day with cool and sunny weather so we packed the bikes on the truck and drove to Valley Forge National Park to do a part of the Schuylkill River Trail.

Next to skiing, I think biking is probably our favorite recreational activity to do together.  We're not hardcore mountain bikers.  We ride a lot of rail-trails and mostly moderate-activity type trails.  I highly recommend it, even for people who don't consider themselves athletic.  And there were lots of families out too.  Seems like a great activity for the little guys too.

Trails.com

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Trek

Yakima

Delight.com celebrates their 6 month anniversary

and they are running a $200 Shopping Spree Sweepstakes.  Delight.com is the sister site to Delightfulblogs.com.  Both great sites.

be prepared

on my mind lately...
emergency preparedness

Ready.gov
FEMA
free step-by-step preparedness guide
10-day survival kit

When things happen like Katrina and the fires, it gets me thinking about what I would do if I were in those situations and had to leave my home and/or if it was destroyed.  I can tell you right now, if we had to leave this second we are not prepared.  We don't even have our papers in a central place to grab and go.  We keep talking about getting a safety deposit box at the bank in town but have procrastinated.

Because you make yourself a home in your house or apartment or airstream trailor but when all is said and done it's about the people and not the sticks and bricks.

be safe.

5 years

ago
I did something I didn't think I would
and five
amazing
years fly by

never say never

because you never
know what
will happen next

and things happen
when you least expect it

which is really what
life is all about

you are my home
wherever that may be

love.

mother nature

The last couple of rainy days we've had here in the philly area are making my whole body ache.  But how can I complain when my home is still standing.  We are sending our thoughts and prayers to our family and friends in Venice, Oceanside and Carlsbad.

by flickr member mwl sd ca

my day of birth

Today I turned 32 in people years, and 224 in dog years, but in my mind I am still 25 and forever will be.  It must have been a good year...the year I met the boy.  Does anyone else have that happen that they are one age but in mind still think they are another?  Funny.

Here are my parents at their wedding shower when I wasn't even a glimmer in their eye!  Thanks for bringing me into the world!

skipping right over Halloween...

I started gathering inspiration for Thanksgiving since we have just committed to hosting this year.  The trick is always to do new things with stuff I already have and maybe a couple of trips to the Dollar Store and Michaels.  I tend to overshoot my 'projects' in the beginning and then start to pair down as time progresses and I realize how much there is actually to do.

a way to get less junk mail

reduce the number of catalogs you receive: https://www.dmachoice.org/MPS or http://www.catalogchoice.org/
opt out of those annoying pre-approval letters: https://www.optoutprescreen.com/

via Design Milk

Both good for the environment, less paper wasted, less paper to be recycled, but also good for you.  Think about how much time and energy you spend each week going through junkmail.  I try to do it quick but I still end up having to open about half of our junkmail to make sure it does not have any private information on it.  Such a time and space waster!  Arrr.

ps.  I must have done something bad, because Typepad has not let me insert images for the past few days.  Hopefully we'll be back to normal soon.

Shevon Gant ceramics...sooo lovely

Shevon Gant is a Brooklyn-based ceramic artist and designer.  I first became aware of her work through flickr.  I can't decide which I like more, her actual gorgeous ceramic pieces or the way she styles her pieces with food and household things and photos them.  Ok, I love everything about them.  It's one thing to see a beautiful object and it's another to see it in action and give it life and imagine how you would use it in your own home.

Some of my favorites...

Shevon Gant :: website :: blog