Stir Crazy

I don't know what got into me yesterday, (maybe the heat)  but I was in the project zone!  It all started when my mom came over to visit and do some antique shopping.  Normally I like to look to get ideas for decorating, projects, and just enjoy the adventure, but yesterday I was on inspiration overdrive. All I wanted to do was get home and begin repainting rooms, ripping down  *wallpaper, and adding furnishings to our house.   I often struggle with the last of these items, since decorating entails buying "things," and to me, it isn't really about what "things" you have in your life or home, but rather the people and love that is inside.  I guess I just felt like I wanted a space (especially after being stuck inside from the heat this week) where every room I went into I felt that unique and special touch. Something that I could put my own touch into...if that makes sense.  So, the projects below were just that.


*just wait until you see the picture

Back to the story.  

A few hours and several purchases later, we were home from shopping and started working on making cafe curtains for the kitchen.  About a year and a half ago I bought fabric that I loved to make curtains for our breakfast nook and our dinning room.  The dinning room got finished with no problems.

curtains in dining room

The breakfast nook.....................

.........well, let's just say the fabric collected dust and sat tucked away in my sewing room the past year. 

Not anymore...Project 1 complete.

my mom ironing the fabric for me to sew-team effort!

working on the hem

complete

So, after the curtains were done and my mom had left, you would have thought I had my fill for the day.  Nope...I decided to begin to rip down the wallpaper leading up the stairs into my sewing room.  Why you ask?!  Two springs ago I went to the Bachmann House on Lyndale with one of my dear friends. For those who don't know, each season the staff at Bachmann's, along with other local designers, put their touch into decorating an old home that sits right next door to the store.  Then, people can tour the fabulous home, getting ideas for their own homes.  Many of the items used to decorate the house are also sold at the Bachmann's store, so if you see something you like, you can purchase it right away for your own home and duplicate what you like.   (Jenny, perhaps you can fill in some details if I miss anything!)  Unique ideas and beautiful fresh cut flowers fill the house, and inspiration is everywhere.

It was my first time visiting the house, but definitely not my last. The fabulous ideas that poured out were amazing, and for the past two years I have been wanting to recreate the next project you see here.  These grates were hung up on the wall of the stairway in the Bachmann House.  I love the idea of showcasing something that is beautiful and unique in a very new way. 

picture taken from Bachmann House

*Note the magnets holding the pictures on the grates----antique earrings with magnets put on the back.  My mother-in-law gave me some similar earrings that were in the family that I hope to use for my project as well.  I figured why not show case them in a way where they will be seen everyday and admired.  

my box of jewels

When I found some unique and beautiful grates yesterday while out shopping, I couldn't help but want to get started right away! I also couldn't help but see some of my favorite fabrics adding into this project. 

just a start

I have the perfect fabric to put in the middle of this grate

Step 1: Operation Get Old Wall Paper Off

what a mess

Although messy, the actually removal off the wall paper didn't take too long. About 2 hours start to finish, including clean up.  I discovered a tip for removing wallpaper (maybe most people know this already, I learned it by doing since I tend to "jump head first into projects") but I found that by taking the first layer of wallpaper off first, and leaving on the sticky back, helps in the removal process. You are able to then put the steamer on the sticky part and once it is wet you can scrape it off pretty fast.  Of course now that I am done removing the paper I wish I had a picture to show you, but there is still wallpaper upstairs that will need to come off at some point soon :)

Step 2: Clean Up

As soon as I was done--even though it was pretty late and I was tired, I quickly cleaned up so my husband wouldn't see the mess. You see, he was out last night and I think it will be funny to see how long it takes him to notice the wallpaper is down. He really doesn't go upstairs much since it is mostly storage and then my sewing space. 

 I give him 3 days...any other guesses?!  

Steps 3 and So On: Still Researching