designing

My first!

| mollyeleen

Hello Strangers! I sure have been absent for too long.  Isn’t it funny, when you think you did something maybe last week and then you sit down to really figure out when you last did said thing it’s like 6 freaking months later! I mean really?! But lets just pretend you are still listening (reading) and let me share my newest DIY, awesomeness if I do say so myself

ikeahack1

My very first Ikea Hack! I am so excited it’s a little on the sad side, but the outcome is so fantastic!

So here is the short, of the long story of how this hack came to be.  We had a lamp on a side table for over a year. This lamp became a thousand little shattered pieces in a blink of a toddlers eye. Hubby and I decided we needed to hang a lamp instead to avoid any future disasters. It could look cool so I searched for a chandelier and when I found an okay one to just see if we like it um… NO! All the lighting in the house is modern. And this didn’t cut it. So instead of sitting in the dark of the evenings – I thought, why don’t I just get the Joxtorp from Ikea (costs $5) until I find the perfect lamp, I was over it being so dark.  So up when the Joxtorp and wow, I actually really liked it. Hubby like it too… score.

But then night came around… and the chair turned into the interrogation chair. Why? Well this lovely Joxtorp is cardboard (!) and no light can escape it except for at the bottom, so all the light was flooding the chair.  It looked like an old movie jail scene with the bad guy sitting in a chair the light shining down on him while being asked “where were you on the night of October 23?” Humm… what to do?

Then I had an idea. A brilliant idea. A horribly, awful, brilliant idea! Why don’t I cut triangles into the lamp and cover the holes with vellum, then the light can escape. “It could be awesome. It could not work and suck. It was $5 – where is my exact-o knife!”

Here is what I did and what you will need

lampstep1

You will need the Joxtorp lamp from Ikea and a hanging cord, exact-o knife, waxed sandwich bags, hot glue gun, pencil, ruler and patients. Take the lamp apart (or before you put it together) and take one piece at a time and place upside down on a cutting mat. Measure 3/4″ of an inch away from all the score marks and draw lines to create the triangles. (You need to do a minimum of 3/4″ because the tabs used to hold it together will still be hidden).  Cut out all the triangles and repeat on all 6 pieces. Yes this takes some time, but it is easy.

lamppart2

Next grab your waxed sandwich bags and carefully slice off the top pieces, not the side with the seam, and be very careful not to crinkle the paper. Grab your hot glue gun and carefully and slowly glue each triangle into place. Then trim the waxed paper to just the edge of the hot glue using the exact-o knife. – Repeat 29 more times.

lamp-final

Assemble the lamp as the instructions say, hang and ta-da! Totally geometric hanging lamp that emits a beautiful light at night and looks pretty amazing during the day too!

lamp_finalnight

Have you made an Ikea hack? Will you be trying this? If you do, I would love to see your creation. molly

Designing, Crying and a little change

| mollyeleen

Utter Chaos. We are living in utter chaos. Not only is Kiddo starting kindergarten today and Hubby started back to school two days ago but we are moving in 10 days! TEN.

In true me fashion, I am procrastinating. Procrastinating packing. I just spent days and days and days helping my mom pack and now we have to pack… procrastination is calling my name! How do you ask? Well,

  1. I’m blogging today
  2. I am designing my mom’s new kitchen in her new home (more in a bit)
  3. My partner in “crime” Magazine Mom and I are working on a new business (more to come in the future but let’s just say is extraordinary!)
  4. I am studying to be a girl scout leader (who new right) and
  5. I have decided to rename my blog and my little business (WHAT!?- yes. more in a bit plus a bit)

packingShall we review- number one. Well this is obvious. I am typing away in the middle of cardboard, tape, plastic wrap and boxes. (“Ignore it all Molly”)

kitchenbeforeNumber two- Redesigning my mom’s new kitchen. As you recall, my mom just moved up to our area. The house is great, the kitchen not so much. Not my mom. Not designed well. Not anything to be kept. So I am helping her redesign it. It feels good to get my designer hat back for a moment. Use my designer brain, it’s been rusty for awhile. To use the computer for drawing and not pinning or checking status, etc. happy day!

Reality check. It’s really hard to work while the girls are up. We spent a few hours yesterday at mom’s house. The girls where “locked” in the den. Okay to clarify, I put a baby gate across the doorway so that Sneaky B would not go up the stairs. Kiddo was “babysitting” while I worked and I would sneak a peak every now and then. It was working great until the crying, screaming and tears started. Kiddo says nothing happened- I believe her, she was crying and screaming too. We have so much change right now, I sometimes wish I could just sit in a room and scream and cry.

Number three- It’s extraordinary- moving on

Number four- Girl Scouts- Daisy’s to be exact. A few months ago it was “decided” that I should be a girl scout leader with all the girls from pre-school and other kindergartners and first graders. I thought, no problem. That would be fun. Wow- I had no idea what it takes to be a leader! It’s going to be fun and I am excited but it’s a lot to learn. I am up for that challenge!

Number Five- Renaming the blog! This one I have been thinking about for a long time. Why Vintage Princess by ME? That’s the name of my little clothing business. Why did I name my blog that? NO idea. A few months ago I thought I was going to name the blog Pumpkin & Pearl… did you notice this:

OLD_vp_header.jpgYeah- not quite right. I think it’s cute, but no… So now Vintage Princess by ME is:

mollyB_onlyWhy? Well simply because that’s who I am. I am Molly B (it’s what my grandmother used to call me) and I like to create and share my journey. It simply covers everything. I will be updating the blog look soon- let’s hope it’s not during another procrastinating session- unless it’s procrastinating from UN-packing. I am changing the little business name too, again, let’s wait to we move. I can no longer ignore all the boxes… newsignature.jpg

 

 

Sprinklings: the “candy queen”

| mollyeleen

A few days ago I gave you a sneak peek of the costume I made for Kiddo. Remember this pic:

candyqueen1Ten yards of tulle (I used the 102″ wide tulle) in many colors, ribbon, crown ornaments, crocheted stretch band thing, and plastic candy garlands from a few christmas’ ago. And after a few hours it turned into this

CANDYQUEENfinal

The Candy Queen! We found inspiration all over pinterest for this costume, although they where all candy princesses. Kiddo wanted to be a Queen. I’m not sure how the costume would be different to be a princess, but to her it’s a Queen.

All in all this was the easiest costume I have made for Kiddo so far. It’s one of those big bang for your buck kind of things. Yes it took a few hours, but really it was simple… oh and for all of you who don’t know how to sew (we need to fix that) this is a no sew costume.

Taking measurements: I had Kiddo put on the band thing (which becomes the top of the dress) I folded over two inches at the top to create a little extra support for the straps, then measured from her belly button to the floor. Kiddo measured 24″, so this is my final length for the tulle strips.

candyprincess_stripsFirst thing to do is to cut all your tulle into 4″ strips. Very Important! – DO NOT UNFOLD THE TULLE! Keep it folded how is was on the bolt when you bought it, then fold it in half again along the length, and in half again. After folding you will have a piece of tulle that is the length of bought (1 or 2 yards) by roughly 6 to 10 inches. (In other words, when you are folding, you are folding the width to become 6 to 10 inches). This way when you cut your strips they will 1. be so much easier to cut and 2. will end up being 4″ by 102″ (or the width of the tulle you purchased). As for the length, I used 48″. (Why? because then folded in half the will be 24″ and that is the length of the skirt I needed for Kiddo.) Carefully stack each color of tulle, now unfolded, and cut through all of it to create the length (bottom left photo above).

candyprincess_2

Next, and for the next few hours, fold one tulle strip in half (lengthwise) put fold through one hole in the bottom row of the band and pull through a few inches, this creates a loop. pull the ends of the tulle through that loop and pull tight. Repeat, to create the first row. On my first three rows, skipped every other hole in the band. The last row, I added tulle in each hole in the band. Tips for this portion: 1. put the band around something solid (I used a game box) to keep it slightly stretched and 2. make sure you stay in the same row of holes on the band.

candyprincess3After awhile you will have a super full tulle skirt attached to the band top. Then we added ribbon as straps and tied a bow at the shoulder. (Add the ribbon the same way as the tulle but at the top, on front and back). I also added a ribbon around the band to “stitch” the folded portion down. Simply weave the ribbon through the holes and tie a bow in the front.

Next we took candy garland apart and used the pieces as beads and made three new necklaces…easy peasy.

candyprincess4Lastly we made a fascinator, of course. By gathering some scraps of tulle, beading some left over “beads” from the garland and attaching the crown ornament all to a head band, we had the perfect candy queen fascinator.

candyqueen2Right before the halloween parade at school today we had a crown change. The fascinator “is not big enough.” Luckily I had an extra crown ornament and headband to make a big crown. All in all this is one of my favorite costumes for Kiddo- it is so her. Happy Halloween friends! signature

sprinklingSprinklings of my reality is a 31 day challenge…one day left!

Sprinklings: changing it up….again

| mollyeleen

Do you like the new look? (New header & background for those who haven’t noticed)

I must be procrastinating… not sure what I am supposed to be doing instead (well I do but let’s pretend I don’t for now). Never being totally happy with my “logo” I decided this morning was the day to change it all. And I love it!

Here is the new business card, you can compare and see the old one here

VPcard2013finalNow I am finally inspired to get this going again…I took almost a year off. That’s a shame, but i guess I was busy growing a baby 😉 signature

sprinklingPart of a 31 day series, Sprinklings of my reality

“Sneaky B’s” Nursery!

| mollyeleen

I know you have been waiting on pins and needles to see our master closet turned into Sneaky B’s nursery so here you go!

madisonsnursery

So this space was originally our master closet, we will call it a master closet because it is attached to the master bedroom.  Each side has a five foot opening to a six foot by two foot space of hanging clothes and behind the pink hanging fabric is a second door to the bathroom.  About two years ago, we changed this space to be his and her’s offices, mine was on the left, Hubby’s on the right. When we did that, we added a wall to wall hanging closet system in the master bedroom (thank you ikea!).

Today it’s a super cute (I think) nursery space for our sneaky baby who is due to arrive in less than 20 days! Can you believe it? I sure can’t, most of the time…but then, that’s just a “due date” right? It’s anyones guess when she will decide she is ready to “pop on out of that belly” as Kiddo says.

So here is how it went down. After days of clearing out (a special thanks to my Mama who helped big time with this!) and collecting new and thrifted items, it was time to put everything together.

madisondetailsThe starting point was the fabric that is hanging behind the crib, like wallpaper.  I loved the colors, not really baby girl but still girly enough without being all pink. Next came the birds, for some reason I wanted birds in the nursery space. Confession time…I hate birds, chickens, feathered friends. I don’t want them close to me, I don’t like that they poop while they fly, I don’t want to touch the feathers Kiddo finds EVERYWHERE, I don’t mind looking at them from far away, but yuck I don’t like them, so why I needed to have birds in the nursery I have no idea.  At least they don’t have feathers and these ones are cute.

madison

Okay, so back to the space.  I had to find a “mini” sized crib, and thanks to the internet, that was super easy.  This one is DaVinci Emily Convertable Mini Crib in white, I found it at diapers.com.

mad11The chair I found at Ikea, it’s not what I was originally thinking, something soft, cozy, white…but I sat in this and loved it. Done. The piece next to the chair and the dresser where thrifted.  Happy day!

maddresser

The dresser was very dark but fantastic quality, so a bit of white paint = super cute dresser! Kiddo helped out too, with painting the space, she is a pro now that she helped paint her room you know.

mad15

So there you have it, Sneaky B’s Nursery. And now we wait… we are so excited for the day Sneaky B “pops on out of this tummy!”signature

The massive, overwhelming to do

| mollyeleen

We have been so busy, it’s exhausting! As in I have been reading a book now for two months and I am only on page 50, I just pass out by the time I climb into bed, arrange the crazy amount of pillows around by huge belly, grab my book and zzzzzzz— out cold.  With the end of the school year craziness (even for a pre-schooler), a few free-lance design projects in the works, planning for Sneaky baby and being 30 weeks pregnant, it all makes me tired.

IMG_6135

And today I’m overwhelmed. Totally and completely. It’s the first day in weeks kiddo and I just stayed home. Being home all day made me realize how much needs to be done before August. I spent most of the morning wandering around our small home, just wandering. Looking at furniture, walls, paintings, the dirty carpet, the dining chairs I can’t stand anymore, the kiddos room, the coo-coo clock still in the box, the mirrors I want to hang, the massive pile of laundry (didn’t I just do the laundry?)…just wandering around thinking “I need to get busy, but where to start?”

IMG_6102By the time Kiddo was ready for lunch, I decided to stop wandering around and just make “THE” to do list. “That’s what needs to happen, write it all down, make a plan, that will be the best thing to do.”   Five pages later, it’s all on paper, or it’s at least started. And seeing the list doesn’t make me crazy, it’s almost calming, almost being the key word, it’s still overwhelming – very, but I know what needs to happen.

Among the list are things I will be sharing, like how we are going to change our office closets (which was at one point was our master closets) into Sneaky baby’s nursery.  A tutorial or two will be coming too.  Many things to sew and create are on my list for the nursery.

masterCollage

babyfabrics2

How the dining room is going to transform into an office & dining room.

diningCollage

Kiddo’s room will be transformed too. Since she is the big sister, her room will be first, she already picked out the fabric. We have a few projects planned too, thanks to Pinterest and the fact that I have gotten Kiddo addicted to looking at my boards for “something creative to do,” secretly I am very proud of this.

kiddoCollage

kiddofabric

There are many steps to getting ready but it all starts Friday, when my mama is coming up to help me start packing a few things up for storage and Saturday when Hubby will be moving furniture around…

Any-who, I hope you will be along for this 8 week ride into transforming our little 1000 square foot home to welcome Sneaky baby in mid-August.  I am sure there will be great successes, quite a few laughs and probably a few tears- albeit hormones or otherwise.signature

PR packets…finally

| mollyeleen

There is nothing like getting away for the weekend to get my creative juices finally flowing again.  Happy day!!

One of the many to do items that has been haunting me for months is to make a PR packet to advertise Vintage Princess by ME to baby boutiques in the area. Good idea right?  I my mind I was going to do this after my first craft show, so I could have my inventory selling is shops and on etsy.  Well, it’s two and a half months later and I am finally doing it.

PRSo I made a “post card” with images of the clothes, letterhead, envelops and labels. It didn’t take forever or cost a small fortune. Double score!

shopcard_4blogThe card turned out super cute, didn’t it?  I am in the process of editing a form like letter, well let’s be real- the proofreading hubby is editing my letter, to introduce myself and my work. Then off the packets will go and we wait and see what happens.  I figure someone will like my work or not, but I am trying and that’s what matters.

I am going to make one showcasing my furniture and cabinetry design too and send it out.  Why not, I would love to get back into that world too.

signature

day 29: a series of 9 – 1

| mollyeleen

9-1I can’t say that the series of 9 canvases are completed. I have one left. One.  And it’s making me bonkers.

It didn’t help that I woke up this morning with a nasty cold.  Really what the heck? I was totally fine yesterday, this morning I felt like I was hit by a ton of bricks. And kiddo, she didn’t even want to go to the park with her BFF for a few hours… shocking. So we had a not-so-lazy, lazy day.  Not-so-lazy lazy day? Yes. We stayed in our ‘jamas all day but I did make a to do list, and almost completed everything.  The day is still young, it’s only 4pm, so I will probably get a few more of these things done. As you can see, Canvases is on this list… arg!

Notice at the bottom of list I put, "Write to do list" that when, there is always something to check off right away :-)
Notice at the bottom of list I put, “Make to do list” that way there is always something to check off right away 🙂

I finished the “Myles” canvas pretty quickly.  I only had a few details left to finish up. I think it turned out pretty good for a novice painter.  Then I just stared at the blank ninth canvas.  After finishing a few other to do items, I painted it orange, thinking that corner needed a bit of orange. Now what? I don’t know. I thought of a carrot or an orange, but I think that’s the color talking to me.  Making me bonkers!

9close

Canvases Left to Right starting at top:

  • Hubby’s Quote: he has always wanted this saying hanging in the house, he finally got it
  • 3: The power of the number 3, we are a 3 person family, I have a connection to the number 3.
  • ARG!: help!
  • Myles: our kitty
  • Our wedding logo: we had a beach-y, picnic-y, laid back kind of party wedding
  • Chevron glitter stripes
  • Kiddo’s painting: stripes because “she wanted to”
  • Kiddo’s heart hands
  • My quote: it speaks to me, I like it.

This last canvas is making me crazy.  I looked back to my sketch book where i sketched and jotted down ideas for this project. Funny- I wrote down 9 canvases, but had 8 drawn and 8 ideas circled. Guess I couldn’t count that day.  The ideas I scratched then, still don’t work.

This is making me crazy, and of course now I am fixating on it. I don’t like being stuck like this.  Any ideas? Really I would love any ideas.signature

read them all!
read them all!

31 days: Preparing for my first craft show

| mollyeleen

I have wonderful friends, and two of them are also starting their adventures in blogging.  Magazine Mom & Beautiful Objects are both taking on the challenge by The Nester, 31 days of blogs in October.  I thought why not, I could do that too.

After reading the challenge I immediately knew what my blogging theme would be.  I am working on getting ready for my first craft show, it’s in 8 weeks. So I am going to blog about all the craziness of preparing of my first craft show while being a mom, wife, June Clever want-to-be, school board member, and free-lance designer. (why not add one more thing into my to do list)

Follow me along on my adventures of sewing, cutting, creating, figuring out the business end, mishaps, melt downs, and pure stress of getting ready for a craft show.  It will be interesting!

Links to all “31 day” posts: