rope-wrapped lamp

so when we got married, captain fantastic had this cheap craftsmany mission-type floor lamp. something to this effect:


(i just spent about 45 minutes trying to find an actual picture of the actual lamp on my computer. no dice. so, as per usual, you'll have to use your imagination here.)

anyway, the stained glass shade broke. and i was sad. and then the base sat in the attic for a while. and then the base sat in the living room for a while with a red shade that a) did not fit b) did not match anything. and then in january, i got sick with one of those colds where you're too sick to do anything like go to work but not sick enough to lie in bed all day without losing your entire mind.

so i took the lamp base.

and a ball of twine.

and a glue gun.

and wrapped and glued.

and wrapped and glued.

and wrapped and glued.
until my husband came home from work and was like "you're STILL doing that?"

but anyway it was worth it. because now, instead of an ugly target reproduction mission style lamp, it is a rustic-yet-chic custom hemp-wrapped lamp. with a pleated shade. which i think gives it just enough traditional flair to keep it this side of log cabin.





...but let's not pretend that in real life it doesn't live like this:

only a matter of time before rivadawg eats it.

3 projects...zero bathrooms

dear internet,

once the following are accomplished, you shall have your bathroom reveal:

1) doorknobs. let's discuss how easy it is to purchase new doorknobs for ancient doors and make them fit. except not.

2) things that go on the wall. procured yet not installed.

probably start sending hate mail to captain fantastic about this, as he's the one who operates the power tools and is too busy going on 30 mile bike rides and drinking bloody marys on greer's ferry lake. i do admit to wearing my perfectionist pants where wall decor is involved. but internet, nothing less than the best for you!

but, an olive branch? i have some things to share. projects. that i HAVE completed. believe it or not. i think someone slipped adderall in my coffee this weekend. or maybe it's just that i drank coffee at all. hmm...

1) coasters

had these picture frame coasters in a large box of frames i rescued from the parents' move:


saw these thomas paul nautical coasters online:


had idea.

printed above picture. executed scribble-on-back-with-pencil-then-trace trick:


cut. inserted into coaster frames for a festive nautical touch to ye olde lake house:


decided maybe they won't make it to the lake house after all:


because one can never have too many coasters.

2) basket

mentioned to my mother that perhaps this basket of hers could use some updating:


she agreed. insisted that i not make fun of its circa-1989 sponge paint job on the blog. or post pictures of her on the blog. so here are her hands, applying stain to the freshly painted basket in my back yard this weekend:


it now looks lovely. mother-daughter bonding! decor circa 2010! good times.

3) cork board

i need one in my office to post newspaper clippings, pictures, articles, whathaveyou to show how good i am at my job. so i got a plain cheap one at michael's and gave it my own spin on the ubiquitous blogger fabric-and-nailheads treatment:




way to stage those photos, huh? now i just have to hang it behind my desk and fill it with episcoparaphernalia. my college diploma that's written entirely in latin can't wait to have company. sorry buddy, still no one will be able to read you or even tell where i went to school.

and? that's not even all i did this weekend! furthermore known as The Most Productive Weekend Ever. now that it's back-to-school time, i'll try to get back-to-blogging and sharing what's going on chez stone.

does this mean i get to shop for school supplies and a new fall wardrobe? i think yes.

quick-n-dirty curtain hanging

aka post wherein i bombard you with crappy pictures. because it's hard for a 5'2" girl to get good pictures of a drapery rod in situ. please excuse.

so anyway, anne inquired as to how i hung my curtains from the wooden rings all stealth-invisible-like. i simply took these thangs:

(drapery pins, which it would behoove you to purchase on the interweb or at a fabric/upholstery establishment instead of a craft store like joann because they will be way cheaper)

and measured seven equidistant locations along the length of the curtain (starting with one on each end to avoid any droopy corners) and stuck the point right into the fabric of the back of the pole pocket (taking care not to poke through the front of the panel). then i hung the hooks through the loops on the wooden rings, thusly:


aaaaand done! now. this is not exactly how you're supposed to do it. i thought about getting all technical up in hura and sewing on pleating tape etcetera and so forth, but we all know when that project would actually get finished and the answer is never. so half-a$$ed it is! but it looks lovely and no one will ever know. except all of you.

also happening chez stone:

1) dining room progress...

rug has arrived, chairs have been recovered, plate rack has not been hung AND NO ONE IS SURPRISED. you may also recognize that the fabric intended for living room pillows has been traded to the dining room for team curtain. i am super awesome at changing my mind. for serious this time though. it will be perfect in there.

2) the knock-out roses are blooming in the most delicious shade of hot pink...


the pictures don't do them justice. they are a deep, velvety, rich dark pink. so pretty to look at first thing in the morning when i let the big dogs out.

3) sterling got a clean bill of health at her annual check up...

and also an adorable doggie band-aid. which i had to photo-document, because AWWW.

the end.