Weekend Projects

I made some stuff for the kitchen over the weekend.  Like this . . .

blue teal velvet pillow greek key trim gold tassles

That’s kind of cute, right?  And this . . .

table cover chenille peach black white velvet trim

I still have some work to do on that.  And I bought the materials to do most of the other stuff, but I have no idea when I’ll get around to it.  There is still so much left to be done.  I just made a mental list and started feeling sick, so we’ll leave it at that. This is supposed to be a fun side project, and I need to chill out about it.  Anyway, I also worked the tips of my fingers raw sewing up a veil for a custom client, and it was totally worth it.  More on that soon.  And now that the weekend is over, I have to go do my jerk face taxes.

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Fanciness, Kitchen-Style

I got the most hilarious spam comment today that said my blog was better written than anything by James Joyce.  DUH.  I regret deleting it.  Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and let you know that I did not suffer a complete mental collapse yesterday.  Everything is cool.  AND, the kitchen is already looking pretty dope.

kitchen mock up color blind old lady style_

As you can see, I added some Photoshopped touches that really class up the joint.  Hello, TASSELS.  Anyway, I’ve already gone and bought a lot of those things and am confident the apartment will now “flow” all over the dang place.  And yes, I’m wrapping the legs of those chairs in gold thread.  Just try and stop me!

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Spiraling

I’ve spent the last two hours staring at the kitchen.  Something isn’t right.  I think I’ve kind of figured it out, but dang.  Over all, the problem is that if I keep going in the current direction, it’s going to look like it belongs in a completely different apartment, so I have to reign in the boho hippy stuff and punch up the color-blind-old-lady factor.  Keith says I shouldn’t buy any more furniture.  What does he know?  I think we have to move and start over.  Not really, ’cause I like the rest of the place.  I just really hate rented kitchens.  I hate those hideous appliances.  I hate the crummy walls.  I hate the piece-of-sh*t cabinets.  I hate that this would take forever:

spool chair thread wrapped bentwood chairs

I hate that I don’t have a Carrera marble countertop.  I hate that the fabric I bought yesterday for the seat cushions doesn’t look right.  I hate that I want to go back to Joann to buy more pillow forms.  I hate it there.  And it’s snowing.  I hate that I don’t know how to decorate our kitchen.  I hate that Keith isn’t here to tell me to shut up and go back to bed.  I hate that you probably hate me now for being such a complainy jerk.

UPDATE: I figured it out.  Never mind!

[Image Source: Spool Chair by Keisuke Fujiwara]

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Spring 2012 Collection: Trellis

Hey dudes, it’s been awhile since we talked about dresses, no?  And since I’m getting back into the zone, I spend a lot of time thinking/stressing about dresses and it’s kinda nice to let my brain rest on those that are already complete.  Ah . . . dresses that are done.  I figure it’s time to talk about this one, ’cause you guys be going crazy for it and I get emails almost daily asking about its details.

Veronica Sheaffer Spring 12 Trellis

The Trellis.  I don’t blame you.  It’s one of my favorites.  It was the first dress I made for Spring ’12 and the entire time I was so excited I could barely stand myself.  And of course I danced around in it, and it was divine and the organza and taffeta rustled like a dang dream.

trellis dress veronica sheaffer spring 2012 vintage retro bridal

It’s got that same awesome elastic trim I used in the Hyacinth, so it holds onto you while you move, and I’ve used it throughout the skirt as well to create a lattice pattern.  Here, check out the details up close:

Veronica Sheaffer _ Trellis_ Spring 12

It’s the cutest, and I don’t mind saying so.  And if you want to see it really up close, like, in person, check out the trunk show next month at Unbridaled in Austin, TX.  It’s the only trunk show I have scheduled for the immediate future and it is also the first opportunity for anyone to shop the collections outside of Chicago.  That’s pretty huge, right?  All of this other stuff will be there too . . .

[Photographer: Billy Rood, Model: Danielle Maddox, Hair/Makeup: Bridal Beauty Chicago (top images only)]

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Painted Persian Rug Tutorial

As you know, I’ve been redoing the kitchen and one thing I really wanted from the get-go was a Persian rug by the sink. It’s all the rage lately.  So I went over to Ebay to take a look and quickly decided I was not going to get a Persian rug.  I just didn’t feel like spending $75+ on a rug that was going to get wet and grody.  And the seagrass rug we had was holding up really well.  Wait a minute . . .

diy tutorial painted persian oriental rug

Painted Persian Rug Tutorial

Materials

  • Flat, seagrass rug (I have no idea how other rugs would perform) – ours was purchased at Pier 1 a million years ago.
  • Wax pencil
  • Ruler
  • Paint (I used acrylic craft paints as well as latex wall paint)
  • Paint brushes, foam sponges

diy painted persian oriental rug tutorial

Instructions

Start by marking the center of your rug with the wax pencil and begin planning out your design.  Geometric patterns are common in rugs and easier to keep symmetrical than curvy flourishes.  The paint will cover the pencil markings, so don’t worry about mistakes.  I started with the center of my design, focusing on the main shapes, and worked out from there, adding the smaller elements later.   When happy with the basic design, begin to paint each section – again, I started at the center and moved outward.  A foam brush works well for large areas and you don’t need a ton of paint.  Just lightly dab and work it over the surface.  Edging really makes the design pop and doesn’t need to be perfect – the softer the lines, the more they will resemble the pile of a wool rug.  Simply take a small brush and outline each painted section with a contrasting color.  The larger your design elements are, the easier they will be to outline.  Stand up and run around the house when finished.  You are a freaking genius.

I highly doubt this will need any sort of protective coat – the paint seems like enough – but I would be thrilled if mine got a worn look over time.  Oh and this is really cool:

diy tutorial painted persian oriental seagrass rug

No seepage.  *high five*

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Sea Urchin Sculpture Tutorial

Oh man, it’s been so long since I wrote a tutorial for you guys.  Hopefully this one makes up for it.  Hopefully you love it and you’re not all like “I can’t use this at my wedding, you jerk, what am I supposed to do with THIS?!”  To which I say, yes you totally can use this at your wedding, while being the coolest person in the world, but whatever.  You can also have the coolest house ever when you bring it home.  So stop being mean and make this awesome thing.

sea urchin sculpture tutorial diy art

Sea Urchin Sculpture Tutorial

Materials

  • Wooden dowels 3/16″ x 48″ (I used 50 for the hanging sculpture and only 5 for the table art)
  • Wire (I used No. 20 dark anodized)
  • Multi-purpose shears (serious enough to cut through the wooden dowels)
  • Spray paint, if desired

Instructions

If making a table-sized sculpture, begin by cutting the dowels into smaller lengths – mine vary between 6 and 8 inches.  If making a larger sculpture, like our “chandelier”, leave half of the dowels as they are and cut the others in half.  Form an “X” with two dowels and wrap the center with wire to hold.  Add the others one at a time, wrapping the center as you go, to create an orb.  Be sure to vary the placement and angle of each dowel.  As the center becomes larger, you may be able to insert dowels that are secure without wire (very exciting – the wire is a drag with the large sculpture).   Once you’re happy with the size of the orb, cut any ends that are too long and “shape” the sculpture.  It looks great natural or you can spray paint it to get a more “urchin” look.  To paint our chandelier, we hung it in front of plastic sheets and sprayed it first with black paint and then with gold on the tips.  And if you are spray-painting, holy cow, go get yourself one of these.  Entire life.  Changed.

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Trunk Show Announcement – Austin, TX

While I work away on a tutorial for the sea urchin sculpture (I’m actually doing it, I swear – I bought the materials at Home Depot and everything), I want to first share this bit of very exciting news!!  This will be particularly exciting to you brides in the southwest who are always asking where you can shop the line locally.  The gowns are going to Texas and I’M DOING A TRUNK SHOW!

*confetti drops*

Well, I’m not doing anything, the lovely crew at Unbridaled in Austin, TX are holding the event and they are graciously hosting the gowns for a full week, February 9 – 16.  I’m sending both collections – Fall ’11 and Spring ’12 – so be sure to check out the website beforehand to scope out your favorites.  Please contact the boutique for more details and to schedule an appointment, and for real, tell all your friends.  Make it a party!  Hand out flyers!  This is my first trunk show and I want the awesome people at Unbridaled to think I’m famous.

Veronica Sheaffer trunk show Unbridaled

[Photographer: Billy Rood, Model: Danielle Maddox, Hair/Makeup: Bridal Beauty Chicago]

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Sea Urchin Chandelier

Well, hello there!  I’m back from our epic vacation and ready to get to work!  Ehem.  Anyway . . . we’re home now and I managed to wake up after only 8 hours of sleep, which is considerably better than I’ve done over the break, so I’m feeling pretty much like a warrior right now.  And I will feel even more so after telling you about this awesome project.  So, first, I saw this picture whenever ago and completely fell in love with that amazing/crazy chandelier:

sea urchin chandelier light fixture

It looks to me like a mid-century C. Jeré piece, but what do I know?  Anyway, we’ve got a thing in the center of our living room ceiling, which I’m sure once held a light fixture, but now just looks like a sprinkler.  I’ve always wanted to put something there, but could never decide what was right.  Until I saw that pic.  Duh. Sea urchin chandelier.

sea urchin mid century chandelier sculpture art diy

Admittedly, mine looks more like the Death Star (thanks a lot, Keith), BUT that doesn’t make it any less amazing to me.  I made it in one evening, with the help of my wonderful dad, and guess what?  I’m gonna show you how to make one too.  It’s not wired for electricity – it’s just a sculpture, if you will – so don’t flip out or anything.  But it is awesome and you can make smaller ones . . . wait, ohmigoodness, I have to make some small ones.  That’s a great idea.

sea urchin mid century style chandelier sculpture art piece diy

Tutorial to follow, dudes.

[Top image by ELLE Decor via Home Furniture Catalogs

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Agate Obsession

I’m writing you from sunny Arizona today!  Hopefully our apartment back in Chicago is not being ransacked.  I always get a little nervous when I tell the entire world no one is home.  Get out of my dang apartment, jerks!  Anyway, I hope you’re all enjoying the holidays and stuff.  I’ve enjoyed slowly easing back into work mode while also watching lots of t.v. and eating lots of cookies.  Last night I spent something like two hours staring at this dude’s photography on Flickr.

So. Gorgeous.

mexican lace agate photography

Sliver of Teepee Canyon agate

Wazoo Agate

I want to fill our entire apartment with agate now – not to mention this photography.  And then I will never tell a soul we have left home – obviously all of you will break in.

[Images by Tom Shearer]

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Happy Holidays!

Okay so Keith and I leave for the airport in 90 minutes and I have not bathed, dressed, eaten or PACKED.  Instead I’m on the computer wishing you a wonderful holiday season, so there.  You know absolutely where you fall on my list of priorities.  I have put you before brushing my teeth and EATING.  And going halfway across the country without clothing or toiletries.  I love you.  I also love everyone who sent us these delightful cards:

christmas cards on mirror

Every year we get all of these amazing cards and we have yet to send anything out ourselves.  I’m terrible.  Which is probably why almost all of these, with the exception of three, were sent by Keith’s friends and family (who are technically now mine as well, but still). Not that Keith has been sending them without me or anything, but he is an altogether lovely person and no one would ever cross him off of their card list.  I . . . guess I am not.  I don’t know.  But I am determined to return the gesture, so NEXT YEAR, if I have your address, prepare yourself for one doozy of a holiday card.  In the meantime, please accept this instead.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I love you TONS.

xoxo

Oh and I am traveling now, so I don’t know when you’ll hear from me next.  I may pop in from the road.  I may not.  Just let me live my life and you live yours and we’ll enjoy each other all the more when we next meet. xo

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