Friday, February 19, 2021
Refurbished dress on dress form
I had bought this dress for this form years ago. it had a thin layerd tulled skirt over it.but it sun rotted from being near the window for years....so I removed that rotted tulle several years ago.and it sat.. very blah..UNTIL.... I bought 10 yards of tulle netting and cut strips 6 inches wide the width of the net.. just went all the way down the 10 yards cutting off 6 incg wide strips.. then I took a piece of ribbon and looped two pieces of tulle layerd together over the ribbon and pulled it tight.. I measure how many inches the dress for waist was..and filled that entire area with the tulle loops...then the ends were used to tie the tulle skirt to the waist.. I cut 3 different sized circles of polyester fabric 5 1/2, 4 1/2 and 3 1/2 .. You can use satin, organza , taffeta.. any thing polyester.. I cut 1 inch slits on four areas of the circles so when i held it over the candle heat..NOT the direct flame..hold it higher where you feel the heat..that will cause the fabric to shrink and curl.. other wise you will singe it.. I hold the circles with my forcepts..or tweezers.. slowly turn the circle so the heat from the flame continues to curl all around it. ..Once all the circles are done STart with a large circle (petal) and stack on top another large.then add a few medium size ..then the smaller.. after you get a pleasing look.. pinch the bottom and stitch it with thread to hold it in place.. I used longer strips of green organza to make leaves and a ribbon look.. there are good videos on you tube for these flowers. I hot glued the flowers where I liked them.. I added the longer peices to fill in.. I also had a silk flower swag I cut apart and reused the flowers and the berrys as filler.. I have rope lights attached to the form under the dress so I can use it for mood lighting in my craft room. The bodice of the dress already had the bling on it.. I think I paid $14 for this dress at Ross years ago..so after giving it new life.. I am so happy.. I reached under the dress and fluffed up all the tulle on the skirt too.
ANOTHER kitchen update
SO yes.. more kitchen fun. We added a pink fridge a few years ago..so I had to paint my kitchen cabinets white... so fast forward two years...... and I have always wanted recycled glass counters ..but when we updated 6 years ago.. I chose brown, cream and coffee granite..due to the natural maple cabi nets with ebony and dark cherry trim... SO after the pink fridge and white cabinets.. We decided to go for the beachy look...and orderd in recycled glass and quartz counters.. Well if comes from Spain, and they make it when you place your order..so it takes a little longer.. Then it arrived to the supplier in Texas.. a 4 hour drive each way from home.. Off we went to approve the slabs.. and OH they were wonderful.. This company uses 24 lass bottles per square foot, and broken shower door glass, broken windshield glass..and for our blues, Nivea bottles. We did the back splash ourselves... using thin tiles of real mother of pearl shell tiles.. but there was some work to do.. we planned todo our part after they installed the new..ANd the previous granite had the 4" tall back splash all around the counters.. The new did not have the 4" backsplash..we liked the more modern, clean look with out it when we saw it on some other pictures of kitchens.. I also can a few inches of counter top..but mostly it looks so more open with out it..and the new backsplash would go right to the counter.. well we LEFT the other glass tile on the upper backsplash, then we cut backer board to fill in the gap where the 4" granite back splash was..and we also used a product called. Muscle Bound.. it is a double stick heavy foam you put right on the wall or backer board or sheet rock. where ever you are going to tile.. you apply it like contact paper.. then just peel the outer protecter cover that protects the sticky.. and apply your tile right to the sticky paper... line it up..press it in place for 30 seconds.. then add your next section of tile.. Once it is all done..you can grout immediatly. We have used it on 4 projects and it is so much nicer than mastic..NOt messy..we get the muscle bound at lowes or amazon..it took a full roll for this kitchen We tiled right up to the existing window trim..then added another trim on top of the new tile and right next to the existing window trim..I caulked it and painted so now it looks just like a wider piece of trim. Always a solution if you just step back and think for a minute. We used white grout and sure love the look of the shimmer from the mother of pearl.. The broken windshield glass sparkles in the light on the counter top..It is antibacterial..I really love love the undermount sink.. more counter top...and easy to just wipe crumbs into the sink. Its extra deep, and enamel over stainless steel. The faucet shows no finger prints..
Faux Fireplace in she shed...
I have this little white electric fire place in my SHe SHEd... well it was white.. and WHITE.. is not my color.. so bright and colorful napkins decoupaged onto the white,.. They were floral orangy pink.. and nice...until the sun from she shed windows faded it all to white again... SO I painted it FUSCHIA pink.. and used the rub on transfers that I couldn't use on the fainting couch..because they wouldn't stick to the fabric. I then added some silver leafing.. I did a nice clear coat..and I also used some spray SUn Guard to prevent fading !!! I really want to do my bedroom furniture with some of the gorgeous rub ons they have.. but I have so many projects !!!
Fainting couch Refurbish
I have had this fainting couch for years..and it is just too beige.. SO I painted it with chalk paint.. Misting the fabric first with water to dampen it.. then I brushed on a thing wash of chalk paint and water.. 50/50 water and paint.. let it dry.. then lightly sanded it... a gently touch with fine fine sand paper.. You can also add some fabric softener to your spray bottle of water to dampen the fabric.. I then did a second coat of water/paint.. you are more dyeing the fabric than painting..this keeps the fabric from becoming stiff.. the light sanding helps the next layer of paint mix soak in and cover well. I did a light light final sand once the 2nd coat was dry... I wanted to add a rub on transfer.. It did not go well. I was told to wax the settee first..let dry then rub on the transfer.. well the transfer would not stay on . it lifted and cracked.. Bummer .. it was so pretty..so I was able to remove that with a light sanding.. So I decided to paint it with funky designs.. I started on the back that was against the wall as a sampler.. I felt it was too bright.. so I did the rest in lighter colors..BUT its been months now..and I kinda think I liked the brighter pop of colors. BUT I could add more paint if I choose.. I will live with it and decided later.. I used regular craft paint.. and some of the paint was thinned just enough to be able to shade and leave details.. After it was done.I did wax it with liquid chalk paint clear wax..by just putting it on with a brush and wiping it around with a clean white cloth.. NOT so beige now.. It does have a stiffer texture.. more like old canvas .. But I am fine with that.

















































