paint-by-number love

nightstand

OK, I realize that paint-by-numbers now carry some hipster stigma, but I still love them. I have several paint-by-numbers on display in my apartment, and even though they contribute heftily to my kitschy, cluttered, Victorian-era spinster aunt vibe, I refuse to remove them from their places of honor. All that being said, these paint-by-numbers have been perfectly integrated into a clean and modern design. No spinster aunts here, just quirky and bright conversation pieces. 

Who is the architect of these fine paint-by-number transformations? Janet Lee, author of Living in a Nutshell. Her new book is dedicated entirely to occupying, decorating, and thriving in small spaces. Don't mind if I do, Ms. Lee. 

sconce

Cat cottage!!!!

Peanut has been extra bad lately. She's been going crazy like whoa all the time, so I thought I would give her yet another interactive piece of furniture to play with...

Cat pod!

I picked up this cat pod sleeping station (that's what I like to call it) at Costco in May. 

Without question, that was the best thing that happened during May. Peanut likes it sometimes.

You Lit up my life.

 My lovely friend Dawn loves her lamps and she does it so well.

Allow me to introduce LIT, run by a custom lamp maven.

I like you chairy much!

So this is a true story about a traveling chair. Well it's not super amazing, but kind of fun. About fourteen (?) years ago my boyfriend, Ben, lived in Burbank, CA. He was a young man living on a dime with his best buddy, and since their pocketbooks were slim they jumped at the opportunity to gain a chair off the side of the road. (Said chair is featured above.) Now, in Burbank it's a desert climate so this is okay. In the Pacific Northwest you really wouldn't want to pick anything plush up off the side of the road because it could contain a deadly strain of mold.

Mr. Tumnus' wardrobe--revamped

I wish this was Mr. Tumnus' wardrobe. He was one of my favorite things about The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. This fall I purchased a wardrobe at an estate sale. This wardrobe came from a crazy person's house on South Tacoma Way. It ended up being bolted to the wall and caused quite a few problems for the estate team to get it unhooked. Originally it was marked at $110, but I got it for $40. You know how I got it for $40? I said, "would you take $40?" Then they said, "yes." That's how bargains are made.

Christine was home for the weekend, so she had her truck and was able to help cart it off to Olympia. Nick wasn't too pleased at the site of it. I must admit, at first I hated it in the spare bedroom too...that was until I redid it! Boom!

Behold the before and after amazingness that is Mr. Tumnus' wardrobe!

It was white, wobbly, and had really ugly rose knobs.

The inside was gross looking, but it didn't smell!

That's the most important thing.

Rule number 1 of estate sales--always, always smell before you buy!

I bought some paint at Ace Hardware. I chose lucerne green in a semi-gloss. Total cost $11.

I had been on the lookout for some new knobs. I found the perfect knobs while visiting Monika in Burbank.

I picked up two at Anthropologie on clearance for $2.98 each.

Behold the transformation!

After the painting and new knobs, I really love the wardrobe.
I love it when I find unexpected things for amazing deals while estating!

*I get the "estating" isn't a word, but blogger suggested I change it to gestating which wouldn't be right either.

106 knitted balls on the wall, 106 knitted balls...

So here is a project that I finished a couple months ago. I am calling it a 'head board' but you can just call it sweet. Okay so here it is, it took me about three months and it is made up of one hundred and six knitted balls.

I used Lily Sugar'n Cream yarn in this off white color, and when I ran out of that I had to switch to a crisper white shade of the same yarn, as I couldn't locate any here. So the color ended up a little calico.

It sits at the head of my bed, adorned with my lovely banner Christine made me.

I really enjoy the texture of it and since I doubt many of you will be able to lay down and take a gander I wanted to share this view.

fin.