She got the Krylon "sun yellow" make over

I found a naked torso at the thrift store, so I bought it and carried her home!

I made her fun with some spray paint.

Newest artwork would be Nurse Effie
from etsy.com/shop/theblackapple
I love her.

-

A vignette from

#projectgirlden

Bless this rug

Started the process of turning our 2nd bedroom into an office about a month ago. I don't know if it's because the room is so dang small or if it's just been sheer luck but it'll probably be the first room in the house to be "completed". (we've lived here almost 2 years).

 The painting I started a couple of days ago, and am only 90% happy with so all you get is a close up shot:

Moving right along

Wanted the Ikea besta desk in glossy white from the start, but couldn't let myself spend 300 bucks on a desk. Had multiple trips to Home Depot to try to figure out wood and measurements in an attempt to build our own.

Still sort of pricey and a fear of it falling apart in a year. Depressed but still not willing to drop the cash at Ikea.

Then my boyfriend found an ikea besta desk on Craigslist. The ONLY one up on our Craigslist. Only catch was it was assembled... so we brought a bag of tools with us and took the legs off so that it could fit in the Honda Civic. Worth it. It's in perfect condition and we got it for $200.. much friendlier price. 

Chairs. Despite the names I have called the ghost chairs and all my poking fun I realized they would be super for this little room. They take up zero visual weight not to mention their whimsyness.. definite yes. Scored a pair for $250 on Craigslist.

On the way home from picking up the chairs we had to run into Walmart quickly. Spotted a rug from like 42 feet away and nothing else mattered as I practically ran to it. 

Now, like every other blogger I froth at the mouth at the thought of owning a Moroccan beni rug. But even the knock offs are generally too pricey and some even kind of ugly. But what caught my eye in Walmart was definitely not ugly.

a 5x7 beni knock off, all soft and fluffy complete with a perfectly "imperfect" diamond pattern.

for $99.

Did I mention it was the last one left?

Come. to. mama.

 It's a Korhani rug.... and you can find one for yourself if you hit up their website, where you can then search for a Walmart near you that carries them. (It's called "ornate lines")

(the painting before I really began it)

Walmart... who knew.


and so now we really only have the shelving left to tackle, which I think will complete this room.
Yep, a big black abyss.

Project masterpiece

About to get down to business with a large blank canvas.

It's been a long time since I did this. Attempting to create something pretty for Project Girl Den.

 

I made my canvas... it's 2.5ft x 5ft

It cost me 2 dollars. A trip to Home Depot for wood, and an old bed sheet.

You'll need a staple gun too. (and nails and a hammer)

2 dollars people.

Look at canvas prices at Curry's and DeSerres and make your best snooty face. I do.

(Anyone that tells you this homemade canvas/bedsheet method sucks is wrong.

I've been using them for years. and depending on how crappy your bedsheet may be, it will add texture to your painting. Which is the absolute best.)

I'm painting something that looks like a fashion illustration. A contour drawing... sort of sketchy. I am thinking no colour, and if I stick with that, then by "no colour" I mean lots of creams, greys, and visible brush strokes.

This is my inspiration:

Jay Hyde Crawford

Carl Erickson

Kenneth Paul Block

Until next time,

yours truly,

Picasso

More Ikea tricks

Graduated. With honors.

High fives... fist pumps... dancing... etc. 

I am scared/happy/relieved/excited.

 

Went to Ikea to have a looksie at some desks/table options for project girl den.

Walked by this guy and stopped in my tracks

Vittsjo shelving unit. Good lines, good size, and good price ($90). I really want to get one (or two) of these and give it a gold makeover. Spray paint? Gold leaf?

Right?

Or the skinnier version for $50.

and I scored some large scale zebra print fabric. Thinking of reupholstering a Louis XVI style armchair in it. For project girl den. But it'll be my first try at reupholstering so my hopes are not too high.

In my dreams it appears as this:

But in reality I'll probably end up slaughtering the fabric, the chair, and a hand.

We'll see.

Project girl den.

Project girl den is in the works.

Finally.

Fact:

"girl den" is small.

8 ft by 7 ft. Yep. Micro.

It also has a 5' long closet... which I can probably work into something great. Instead of it being just a closet, with boring sliding doors. Maybe something fabulous that looks more like built-in shelving. (Because I do need somewhere nice to put all my fabrics and books)

The other day while shopping for a project I shopped for me instead. I found this lamp:

Isn't it adorable?

it used to look like this

Some asshole had done a terrible white paint job on this lamp.

Of course it didn't have a partner. I never ever find lamps in pairs. Ever.
But this is great to use as a desk lamp in the girl den.

It needs a shade too. Maybe like this


I love.

(lamp: 7 dollars)

and then of course I shopped for me again.
I found a silk scarf that I ONLY picked up to look at because it had big flowers and parrots and a leopard.
and then I opened it up more to inspect and discovered it was a Hermes.

and I did a really fun awkward dance. It's true.. you can ask my boyfriend.


I've done some research and I think it's the real deal. But it may not be. But it's hard to say.
It's going to make a really amazing piece of art work in the girl den once I frame it.


Maybe the ikea besta desk in high gloss white.


Roman shade with black trim for the little window in there.


Upholster a desk chair to look like this fuzzy one from Pottery Barn kids? Yes? No? Grow up?


Maybe.

To be continued.
But don't hold your breathe.