Finally! After four years….
….our interlock is sealed!
It has been a project on our to do list for a looooong time, but it never got done. Part of it was fear — “What if we do it wrong? What if we wreck the patio?”
It was also very daunting. We have a large patio in the back — a lot of surface area needed to be covered.
But, after so many years of neglecting this must-do job, we finally did it. We couldn’t have had a better weekend for it — sunshine, still air and comfortable temperatures.
Doing one coat of sealer took about three hours.
The fumes? Noxious! Even outdoors.
I swear, I was high. My fine motor skills were compromised and my head was pounding!
Four cans of sealer later, the first coat was done. We still have a second coat to go, which will bring the colours of the interlock out even more.
The backyard has come a long way since we bought the house. One day I’ll pull together a “before, during and progress” post. It’s been a wild ride!
Completing this final step is kinda a big deal!
Operation Craft Space
It’s no joke that I have been sewing a lot (more on that here, here and here.)
My makeshift sewing spot consisting of a TV tray and couch is just not cutting it — my poor aching back! The lack of storage and useable work space is also driving me batty.
For almost a year now, I have been dreaming of having a dedicated craft space. The logical spot to put said craft space is in our finished basement. But, for the longest time, I had a large small roadblock.
This bad boy on the right.
We purchased this air hockey table right after we moved into our house. While our basement renovation was underway, it sat in our garage waiting to be put into place. I think Ted had big dreams of hosting legendary air hockey tournaments with his friends. That never happened. Well, minus that one Christmas in 2007 when my Dad kick our asses in a few games…
Sadly, the table was taking up valuable floor space right next to our office area. This space was just screaming for another work area because of the great light from the large windows and the ample room to accommodate a sizeable work space with storage.
After almost four years of collecting dust, I convinced Ted we agreed to part with the air hockey table. Up on Kijiji it went! (We opted to keep the fooseball table, as that does get regular use.)
With the table gone, I have been planning and pinning all sorts of ideas for the space. There is a lot of inspiration out there on the web, which has helped me narrow down my wish list, which includes:
- A dedicated sewing space with storage
- A counter-height workspace (complete with bar stools) for cutting fabric and working on other projects
- A storage unit of some kind to organize all of my fabrics, equipment, craft supplies, etc.
- A dedicated space for my Silhouette machine (my current desk doesn’t have enough space to accommodate it)
This weekend I was able to nail down #1 on my wish list with this Sauder Sewing and Craft Table from Walmart.com:
[source]
[source]
This cabinet will provide enough work and storage space for my sewing equipment. It will also tuck nicely under the window and still allow enough floor space for a counter-height table and storage unit. Plus, the cinnamon cherry finish of the cabinet will blend in nicely with our current office furniture. All of the reviews for the cabinet are positive — I hope I feel the same way!
I placed my order for the unit and it should arrive in Niagara Falls, NY, within a week or so. To my fellow Canadians living near the border: Walmart.com offers free shipping to their stores. We ordered our backyard fire pit this way and were pleased with the overall process. Oh, the joys of being a Canada/US border dweller!
I’m excited to get my craft space set-up and in working order over the next few months.I’ll keep you posted on my progress!
Disclaimer: I was not paid, perked or otherwise compensated for this post by Walmart.com or Sauder Woodworking Company. In fact, they likely have no idea this blog exists or that I am writing about their products!
I’m on a roll!
After a full day of work in the office, I was itching to get home and sew like a mad woman. After giving Mason a pat hello (and a quick break outside), I ran down to my make-shift sewing space (read: TV trays in front of the couch) and got busy.
On my lunch hour, I found the perfect woven fabric in navy to complement some ikat-inspired fabric that I picked up in Buffalo at Jo-ann’s. I love a deal — and the woven fabric was exactly that at just $2/metre from Fabricland. Score!
I’m very pleased with the finished product, especially the custom piping.
I love how the navy fabric on the back highlights the piping and gives the pillow an entirely different look. I’m also loving the concealed zipper — it’s very forgiving and looks rather sharp.
I’m very pleased with how the textiles for our living room/dining room are coming together. The space is now bursting with colour — navy, orange and white.
Since I started undertaking this project and sharing it on this blog, Twitter and Instagram (you can find me by searching: The236), I’ve had a few requests for custom sewing work. Such a lovely compliment — I just wish I had more hours in a day to sew for others! Maybe one day! In the meantime, I’m having fun scouring fabric shops and sewing to my heart’s content.
In case you are looking for me…
…I’m still trapped behind my sewing machine.
I say “trapped,” but, really, I’ve been gleefully sewing away. Every spare minute of my weekend was spent behind that machine. And, of course, I made sure to have some trashy TV on the tube.
I’m on a roll, folks! I shared a sneak peak of my living room drapery last weekend (more on that here) and this weekend was dedicated to throw cushions. Glorious, feather-filled cushions with piping and hidden zippers.
If you are interested in learning how to sew throw cushions with piping and hidden zippers, Anna from Shiny Happy Art has two great tutorials on YouTube that I found very useful:
Sewing a Cushion Part 1 – Piping and Zip
Sewing a Cushion Part 2 – Zip and Finish
Now, if you will excuse me, I have more sewing to attend to.
I’m alive. Promise.
Contrary to popular belief, I haven’t fallen off the face of the blog-earth….or Twitterverse.
Things are still chugging along at The 236. Think about it — will the projects ever end? NEVER! We love a good project.
But, lately my mojo to write about said projects has been MIA. I still owe a bathroom reveal post. Just trust me when I say that it’s lovely, magnificently functional and beautiful. I will share the final reveal soon. Promise.
So what exactly has distracted me from blogging?
Well, lots of things. Mainly, I blame Spring — my favourite season. Being chained to a desk and laptop every day at work makes me want to be outside. All. The. Time. We’ve been…
Hiking.
Tuning bikes.
Decorating for Spring.
Hanging at the park.
Watching Mad Men. Sunday’s episode had me almost jumping off the couch!
Cooking delicious food.
Satiating my Pyrex addiction.
Fabric shopping.
Sewing — and lots of it.
And, more hiking with Mason, of course.
Life is really awesome right now.
See You at the Next #BlogPodium!
Hey, fellow Canadian design blogger peeps — did ya hear? The next BlogPodium event date has been set for Saturday, May 26, 2012, in Toronto! I am personally very excited for the Business of Blogging panel session — it’s a topic that I definitely want to learn more about!
Tickets went on sale a couple of days ago and I bought mine yesterday.
Don’t delay — the early bird pricing is only available until the end of March and tickets will likely sell out.
My first BlogPodium experience in January was such a positive experience (more on that here). It really cemented my direction — in my blog and in myself — and confirmed that I am on the right path. Where will this path take me? Who knows. What I do know is that it feels good to be inspired and to follow my passion for writing about DIY and design.
So, without further ado, go check out what’s in store for the next BlogPodium event and get your ticket! And, to those of you not within the Greater Toronto Area (looking at you Martina from Adventures in Building Beauty), be sure to check out the Aya “BlogPodium Bound” Contest. More details below.
Use What You Have: Bathroom Wall Decor
In an effort to finish up work in the bathroom and finally share the reveal, I’ve been considering what type of wall decor to include in the bathroom and where to hang it.
There was some empty wall space behind the bathroom door — it looked like it “needed something.” I’ll admit, it’s not the best place to hang decor because it will only be seen about 50% of the time. Knowing that, I didn’t want to shell out a chunk of change on a new piece, so I shopped my house first.
What did I come up with? A set of four raised botanical wall tiles that I bought at Kitchen Stuff Plus about three years ago. Originally, they were supposed to hang in our basement living space, but I didn’t love them down there. While the colour is all wrong, they are the perfect size for the wall behind the door.
To make these worthy of being displayed in the new bathroom, I took them outside (on a unseasonably warm February afternoon) and sprayed two light coats of Kylon Indoor/Outdoor Primer in white.
Once the primer was dried, I sprayed a few light coats of Kylon Indoor/Outdoor Paint in satin white until a nice, smooth application was achieved.
Before hanging, I let the wall tiles sit and cure for a few days. An important and often overlooked step to ensure the durability of the spray paint (who likes scratches and fingerprints on a newly painted piece?)
Installation was easy. Just four simple nails and voila!
Essentially, this project was free since I used what I had — including the spray paint, which I found in my ever-growing stash.
And, one last side-by-side before and after comparison for good measure…
Do you every shop your house before you purchase something new for your space? Is spray paint also your BFF?
Linking up with…
Thrifty Decor Chick
Redemption: The Soap Dispenser Saga
BAM!
After last week’s soap dispenser ordeal, I win!
HA! Take that!
Man, it feels good to get this off my to do list. Up next: hanging some art in the bathroom!
Behind the Lens: An Instagram Weekend
Another fabulous weekend has come to an end. Sigh. What a great weekend it was!
First, it started with a trip to Ikea for some bathroom accessories. Ted spotted a tissue box cover — I think we both did a happy dance when he found it. Do you realize how impossible it has been to find a rectangular tissue box cover? Apparently, the rest of the world either: a) doesn’t use tissue box covers, or b) uses tissue in square boxes. I know. Totally sad. This is our idea of a fun Friday night…
But, it didn’t end there. My iPhone 3GS has been dying a slow death for the past few months. I was hoping that it would live long enough until the launch of the iPhone 5, but no such luck. It was time to upgrade.
I’m loving the iPhone 4S…all 32-delicious-GB of it. Ted has caught me more than once having an in-depth convo with Siri. I put my iPhone 3GS to rest on Saturday. It served me well for almost 4 years.
*Sniff*
We also shuffled off to Buffalo on Saturday to tackle a long list of errands, like returning some bathroom items to Home Depot, and visiting our favourite stores, like Target, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, etc. Ahh, and of course, mail — I had some glorious prezzies (to me, from me) waiting at our U.S. mail box.
If you live in Southern Ontario, you know about the crazy wind storm that started Saturday morning. Almost 100 km/h winds! Driving to Buffalo was interesting — especially the drive over the Skyway bridges. The clouds above us were moving fast and our little Mini was shaking with every gust of wind.
By the time we arrived to the Rainbow Bridge, the clouds over The Falls were intense! Here a snap without using any filters — insane!
All-in-all, our trip to Buffalo was a success. No big purchases to report, besides many, many, many boxes of cereal (why is cereal so expensive at home?!)
Sunday was supposed to be my day of productivity — you know, the day where I finish all of the finishing touches on the bathroom, like hem the extra long shower curtain, purchase and hang some shelving, install that dreaded soap dispenser (once and for all!), hang some wall decor and photograph the bathroom in daylight.
Did any of that get done? Sorta. I’ll be sure to share a proper update with you this week.
But, rather than opting for productivity, we opted for a morning walk with Mason.
We live near the 14 km mark of the Burlington Chilly Half Marathon. Ted, Mason and I bundled up to watch the runners and cheer them on. When we arrived, there were no runners to be seen — the course was empty.
However, after a few minutes, the runners started trickling in. These two men were like machines!
Then, a herd of runners started coming. And, it didn’t end. Hundred and hundred of runners pounding the pavement in our lil ol’ neighbourhood.
One guy (known as “The Joggler”) was even running the half marathon while juggling and wearing a video camera on his hat!
Another guy was dressed up as a chili pepper!
It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning. I can’t lie — I was kind of inspired by the runners. I think it’s time I lace up my running shoes again.
How did you enjoy your weekend? Were you productive? Or, did you opt for fun like us? I’ll need to scrounge up some time one or two evenings this week so I can finally finish the bathroom project. I’m ready for it to be done.
One Step Forward, Thirteen Steps Back
After my relaxing weekend up north, I felt refreshed to tackle another busy work week and inch towards finishing the bathroom renovation.
On my to do list this evening was the quick and easy installation of this soap dispenser in the shower from Home Depot.
We have one in our basement bathroom shower and we love it — no more bottle clutter! In fact, when I purchased the dispenser for the basement bathroom, I bought a second one as well for our future upstairs bathroom renovation.
Fast forward, oh…..a year or two (okay, fine, maybe three…), and tonight was the night that the upstairs soap dispenser would finally be unboxed and installed! I was excited to cross this item off my long and ever-growing to do list!
Before I started gluing up a storm, I wiped down the shower tile with rubbing alcohol to ensure that the dispenser would adhere well. Then, as I was finalizing the placement of the dispenser on the wall, I noticed that one of the nozzles was lose broken right off.
Dammit.
My one step forward to finishing the bathroom has now resulted in:
- Cramming the parts back into the opened box (why is this always a challenge?!)
- Finding the receipt from three years ago (ha….good luck with that one, Michelle!)
- Changing out of my PJs and getting into the cold car to go to Home Depot (today was a work from home day, hence the jammies and the cold car)
- Walking allllll the way to the back of Home Depot (where they keep these damn dispensers) and retrieving a new one (they better not be discontinued!)
- Opening the box to ensure that the dispenser isn’t broken
- Cramming the new dispenser back into the box and swearing under my breath in the store
- Walking alllll the way to the front of the store to dig the receipt out of the depths of my purse to exchange the dispenser
- Getting back in my now semi-cold car
- Stopping at Tim Horton’s for a coffee (because at this point I’ll likely need one)
- Unboxing the friggin’ dispenser AGAIN
- Determining the exact placement of the stupid dispenser, because at this point I have already forgotten where I wanted to install it
- Wiping down the G-D shower tile wall AGAIN because I’m OCD like that
- And, lastly, installing the *insert foul word here* soap dispenser for once and for all
Breathe!
So, no. Sorry. No photos of my installed soap dispenser tonight. You’ll just have to wait.
In the meantime, here is a snap of some gorgeous hydrangeas sitting pretty on the bathroom vanity…
Fancy.
Don’t you hate it when a quick and simple project turns into a major pain in the A? Please tell me this doesn’t just happen to me.
