DIY Cloth Canopy Ideas

It's not like we need to shade the sun any this weekend or anything with it being 40 degrees and all. But once it does warm up I am hoping to convince my husband that we need to construct something like this for our new deck:

From Apartment Therapy

Instructions for a DIY canopy from Martha Stewart

CRAFT OF THE DAY
Outdoor Canopy
Create a cool spot for summer living with one of our easy canopies.

All by itself, a simple canopy can turn an empty space outside into a "place." While trees might take years to grow, an expanse of cloth goes up in minutes, providing shade wherever you need it most. When the outdoor season ends -- or a storm whips in unexpectedly -- you can take it down, quick as a wink.

Unlike a pricey pergola or arbor, which demands a permanent surrender of ground, a canopy requires scant commitment or expense. For the most basic version, spend a few dollars on a drop cloth from a hardware store, and a few more on the supplies you will need to suspend it overhead: a grommet kit, tent poles, stout cord, and sturdy pegs. These ideas can be modified for other settings and styles.

You can sew a canopy yourself, or have one stitched by a seamstress or sailmaker. You'll need a few things from a hardware store, garden center, or camping-supply store to put up the fabric you choose. The way you erect the canopy depends on where you want it to be -- it can be suspended from poles, or stretched between a wall or roofline and poles.

Tools and Materials
- A grommet tool makes it easy to punch sturdy holes in the corners of your fabric.

- Plastic tent pegs anchor lines from the tops of poles into the lawn or planting beds.

- An inexpensive canvas drop cloth can serve as a fine canopy.

- Stout clothesline or venetian-blind cord will keep a canopy in place.

- Wooden pole with dowel pin or bamboo pole with dowel

- Adjustable aluminum tent poles can be raised or lowered to fit your setting.

Attached to a Wall or Fence How-To
At a corner of the canopy near the house, a short length of cord extends from the grommet to a screw eye on the house. At its apex, the tent is anchored to the center pole; two cords tied to the top of the pole are pegged to the lawn. There is also a cord anchoring each of the shorter poles that support the sides.

To fashion a patterned tent, sew together two full-size lightweight cotton bedspreads, creating a reinforced 2-inch overlap in the center. Punch grommet holes in the corners, and one on each end of the center overlap. Cut a third bedspread to make full-length, 6-inch-wide border strips. Stitch one to either side of the fabric, which adds hanging borders. To put up the peaked canopy, use a tall pole for the center and shorter poles for either side; attach screw eyes in corresponding spots on the house.

Free-Standing Canopy How-To
If you don't want to secure the canopy to a wall or fence, create a free-standing one with four poles. You'll need four people, too. Start by installing a metal grommet at each corner of your canopy fabric. Stand four poles with long, thin tips (use tent poles; drill a wood pole so it holds a dowel pin or fit bamboo, which is hollow, with a dowel) on the ground. Hook the grommets over the tips. Then have each person simultaneously loop sturdy cord around the tip of his or her pole and stake the other end of the cord into the ground several yards away.

Tips
- Cut openings that allow wind to circulate through

- Grommets at the corners of the fabric fit over poles in front and are tied to screw eyes on the house

- Loop cord around the poles to keep the fabric in place and attached to pegs in the lawn for added stability

- Tie extra fabric to the cords to make them more visible so no one will trip over them

- Canopy poles get added stability by fitting them into lengths of PVC pipe and sinking the pipe into soil-filled terra-cotta pots

- Painted wooden dowels and colored cord make the canopy's mechanics part of the picture

- Take the tent down when not in use to discourage fading

Outside Inspirations

What with the new deck my hubby and his dad are putting in this weekend, my mind is all full of lovely outdoor inspiration ideas!! 

From Coastal Living


And gotta throw some indoor ideas in there too!

We've Been Chosen

I was walking out in the front yard this morning and admiring our blossoming daffodils when my serene thinking was interupted as our bushes suddenly came to bustling to life and this small brown object came bursting out at me!

My first thought was that it was the bunny who's been nibbling on my flowers here lately...but my first instinct was to scream - no matter how cute or fuzzy the object - I wasn't expecting it!

After screaming bloody murder and probably waking all the neighbors -  I realized it was just a mama mallard duck - and after peering into the bushes I now know why she was there! Yup, a whole nest full of eggs! After a little reading up on the subject - I know now that she's been visiting that spot for the last several days at least. They lay one egg a day - and when I saw it this morning there were at least 6!

Thankfully she returned to the nest after I scared her out - for a second I was worried that she would abandon the spot and all the eggs. But after uploading the photos, I peeked out the front door and could see her sitting there over her nest.

The duck couple have been visiting our yard for a few years now - we know each time they visit because the dogs bark and the cat goes crazy at the window - more so than usual. We even found a lone egg in the front trees by the sidewalk once - pretty sure it was an abandoned nest site - with all the kids playing out by the sidewalk I doubt she wanted to stay there long. 

But nestled by our front window and front door behind our bushes - the only distraction she has is when I open the window and the dogs bark out or when we walk around the the front yard looking at the flowers like I was this morning when she scared me...or I scared her...whatever - we were both scared and staring pretty shocked at each other.

Hopefully we'll get a glance of the fuzzy brood long enough to snap a few pictures before she hurries them off to the nearby pond. They should all hatch in 24-28 days!

Great Goodwill Find

I love finding great deals!! Look what I snagged at one of our local Goodwills!! I was there to pick up a cheap paperback book for a paper wreath I want to make and about jumped out of my shoes when I saw this gorgeous little lotus bowl!!



And a 49 cents?! Um, YEAH!!

Latest Garage Sale Find! A Vintage China Cabinet!

Need to get a better picture of this with natural lighting maybe tomorrow - but check out this amazing find Matt and I stumbled across at a garage sale today! A gorgeous dark solid wood china cabinet for $40!!

We've been looking for one for quite some time now - we have two sets of gorgeous china - one from my Great Grandma Pearl on my Dad's side and a beautiful gold rimmed set from Cindy! Also been collecting lots of glass and ceramic odds and ends along the way - the trifle bowl from Pampered Chef, the 3-tired glass stand and lots of apothecary jars in various sizes I use to serve punch at parties and for storage as well. The white Crate & Barrel casserole dish Matt got for me for Christmas.

I was able to fit both sets with room to spare for our crystal glasses, stemware and tumblers and even have a drawer left over for miscellaneous party supplies (plastic party cups, plastic forks and knives, etc!) ...might even bring my table linens downstairs and see if I can get them to fit in!

Many, many thanks to the marvelous Queen of Free for loaning out her other half, a truck and one of her pretty princesses to come help us get this great deal home! And thank you to our wonderful friends and neighbors, the Prescotts, in coming in with more manpower to get this puppy out of the truck and into our house! Yay, for great friends - you rock!! :)

Thinking Comfy Thoughts!

With the weather cooling off like it has this week, I've been thinking more and more comfy thoughts - even got in the mood to crochet a little, buy more yarn and start thinking up all the perfect crafty Christmas gifts I could make for my family and friends. Amazing how one rainy, chilly 50 degree day can do that to you!

Here's a project I whipped out earlier in the summer no-less, but had neglected to post about. I had this lovely ribbed sweater I had gotten for Christmas a year or two back that just would not shrink down to a wearable size - but I loved the texture and look so I kept it around. And then inspiration struck! A comfy pillow! Though the idea was good enough, my cutting, measuring, sewing skills have much to be improved upon. The original idea was supposed to be a pillow made entirely out of the fabric from the sweater. But in my excitement I cut it wrong and then tried a different idea and ended up rendering a good length of the fabric as useless.

But managed to save the project with a bit of grey and white striped cotton as a backing - still looks lovely and comfy - especially up against my Heather Bailey patchwork pillow!

Reader Opinion Needed! Accent Wall?

Thinking about painting an accent wall in our living room Bittersweet Chocolate. Here's poorly photoshopped image with the color artificially slapped in. Whadaya think?? Kinda worried that the color will actually turn out a lot darker than this pic, but we will see.

P.S. That stupid palm tree in the corner died - loved it while we had it but it died in like 2 months.

Also, do you think I can cover this whole wall with one quart? Prob not huh? Maybe just 2 quarts?? Let me know your thoughts...I have no painting experience when it comes to how much I actually need.

Leveraging Garden Goods for Barter

Our bounty of summer squash and cucumbers really paid off this year! Fellow blogger and designer, Ann from Prairie Vision Design, emailed me last week about a possible swap. Some of my garden goodies for a framed Babar poster! Of course I jumped all over that opportunity! :) Thank you, Ann - I love it!

The Beginnings of a Bookworm

I have always been a bookworm and I think one of the big reasons, in addition to loving parents who read to us all the time, was the many great books I grew up around, many of which have take up residence on a little bookshelf in our new home. Looking back through them all though, there was one or two I knew I had loved but that I couldn't find. Of course, I vowed to find copies of these dear books and add them to our ever-growing collection.

Well, today while I was out perusing my favorite antique store guess what I found? TWO of my missing books! The Story about Ping and Seashells of the World!

I am not sure where the Ping book originally came from the seashell book (if my memory serves me correct) was in an old box of seashells that the owner of the house my parent's bought in Chalmers gave to us kids. I would take each seashell out and look it up in the book...ah, memories!



One of my favorite scenes out of the book!

Glidden Paint Giveaway!

One thing we really haven't done since we moved in a little over 2 years ago is paint anywhere in the house. Our walls are an off-white and the trim is painted white. It is pretty and I don't mind it, plus I am a little worried about painting because our walls have that textured look to them. Not sure if I have to do anything special when I want to paint them a new color.

Anyway, Glidden Paint is have a giveaway! Choose any interior color you want and they'll send you a free quart within 3-4 weeks! I picked Bittersweet Chocolate. I want to add an accent wall in this dark color somewhere in the house - maybe the living room or our bedroom. I also liked the Tropical Blue color. Hmm...is a quart enough to paint on small wall?? Now I am kinda excited about the idea!

Here are some of the terms & conditions:

• This promotional offer is only available on glidden.com or by calling 1-800-GLIDDEN
• Offer good through July 2, 2009 or while supplies last
• One quart per household
• Quart is Eggshell finish
• Continental U.S. only
• No P.O. boxes
• No military APO or FPO addresses
• Valid e-mail address required

A Globe to Gaze Upon

Please pardon the blurry pic! But look what we found garage saling yesterday! The perfect addition to our work-in-progress room for future (way in the distance) wee-ones! A Replogle Treasury Globe for $2! After venturing through the "How old is your globe?" section of the Replogle website I was able to determine that it is a 1997 - not too bad. A few little discrepancies, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo still being named Zaire and one or two other changes even I wasn't fully aware of on our globe.

Looks magnificent next to our little bookshelf - also a recent garage sale find - though I think I want to paint it white eventually - for now it gets Matt and I's childhood books out of the storage tubs and into plain sight. My modern vintage room is becoming a reality!

A Not So Subtle Hint

Trying to convince my husband that he needs to go back to the antique shop we visited over the weekend and buy this ADORABLE doll-house.

Knowing my luck I would end up having all boys. But if I did - we could sell it later or give it to friends for a birthday or something.

Come on, my love, it is an amazing deal. Most doll houses cost $100's.

Pretty pullleeeezzeee???

Perhaps there will be a surprise waiting for me when I get home this week. Hmmm??

My First Patchwork Pillow!

The cold weather this weekend paired with the recent purchase of a new sewing book has finally sparking my creative bug once again!

I've been hoarding these lovely fat quarters from Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut Fabric line, not knowing quite what to do with it. I didn't quite have enough for a quilt - nor do I think I am ready to conquer a quilt just yet. But I didn't want to use it up on just any old project.

Well, inspiration finally hit in the form of a gorgeous throw pillow for our couch - though not even a pattern from the book I just bought - it has at least has gotten me excited about sewing again. And with a pillow - I can see this lovely design every day - and put it to much use!

I think some push for the pillow inspiration may have came a lot from Sarah's two recent crafty posts about pillows! :)

Garage Sale Season Is Here!

The husband and I had originally planned a long weekend of yard work for this last weekend of March. We want to put two more trees in the front yard, plant 4 bushes and get my new garden box moved out of the garage into the backyard.

But, as many of you fellow Hoosiers can attest, our spring weather decided to go on a vacation for a bit. We even have snow in the forecast for Sunday. Bleck!

So today was a rather lazy Saturday for us. We browsed a garage sale, ate at Panera (potato soup - yum!), poked around at Barnes and Nobles and then went back to the garage for this lovely wine rack!



We need to scoot our "Q" sign over a bit - but doesn't it look great?? And for $35 - not too bad of a deal!

Latest Antique Market Finds!

Picked up this yellow beauty of a fawn while out shopping on my birthday last week! Was only $5! Right now she's residing in our spare bedroom but I am envisioning her to grace our nursery eventually. ;)



So, the store we shop frequently doesn't take charge cards for anything under $10 and OF COURSE we didn't have our check book or any cash on us...so to make the transaction at least $10 I had to buy more! Oh it was terrible - awful, I tell you - to have to go back and find something else wanted. Hehe! (sneaky little laugh)

While shopping for our additional item, Matt found this adorable light blue sugar and creamer set for $6! Alas, it had to be mine!

Cottage Chic

Found this online today - defines your personal style for home interior design. Now I can finally describe what the style I love -I don't think I had a name for it before.

Cottage Chic - it's perfect! A little beachy, a little modern, a little old, a little new - all with a light background...its me to a T!

The quiz says I am mix of three styles.

53% Cottage Chic
24% Contemporary
23% Zen Style

Take the quiz on Sproost.com to find YOUR style!

Loving Lazy Weekends

This weekend was one of those fabulously un-busy n0-where-to-go nothing-to-do weekends you get every once in a while. Slept in Saturday with my love, received a beautiful bouquet of gerber daisies (that the cat promptly knocked over within 24 hours) mucked around the house and watched the dogs and cat sleep in the sun, cleaned while listening to my ipod, went grocery shopping and bought all sorts of yummy things (red pears and the delicious new chocolate frosted mini-wheats), made two wonderful homemade meals (pork chops with apples and stuffing yesterday and bacon potato tarragon soup today). Played Scrabble with my dad, watched lots of WFYI and finished a great book. Also, was on the receiving end of some FABULOUS recipes! Can't wait to try them! Thank you, Cindy!

You Know You're Bored When...

(this wasn't supposed to post last night - must have hit "publish" instead of "save as draft" when the hubby came home and insisted I cease my 8 hour internet coma - oh well)

You know you're bored when you spend a good 2+ hours ironing all your table linens and then decide to photograph and blog about them. Yup, still on vacation...still sleeping in till 10AM and still milling around the house all live-long day.

Monday's highlight - our new digital converter boxes for the TV and finding the signal for all three of WFYI's channels, Tuesday's highlight - ironing table linens!



Starting to have a pretty good stock of table linens now that we actually have a table (didn't have room for one in any of our apartments). Quite a few table clothes, napkins and placemats in various colors - though mainly our standard tans, mochas, and blues (love those beachy colors!). I do have bright red now for the holidays, and a crazy green penguin one with snowflakes, some light pastel greens...and, of course, white.



Here's my latest table setting concoction. Found some sparkly silver pears on sale at Target, as well as sparkly red place mats - the red berry things are from Joann's.

We took down the tree and most our other holiday decor Monday - but I wasn't quite ready to part with some shimmer.

Happy Boo-lated Halloween!

Wow, so November is here already - kinda crazy to think about.

Matt and I both worked Halloween night so no candy or fun trick or treat pics. :(

But we did manage to partake in a few of the festive activities...mainly pumpkin carving and watching Charlie Brown & Garfield Halloween classics.



Ah, and here's how we start our Halloween traditions...two perfectly pale pumpkins and glass of wine. The tablecloth is down, the newspapers spread and bowl ready for collecting seeds!




Then the hurried planning and sketches..



What to carve this year?!



Then the first cut - that sharp pumpkin smell...the eww and goo...then the masterpiece comes together...(was originally an owl - then morphed into a cannibal pumpkin!)



And the finished product!



Not to mention cute garland! Got the pattern from Paper Crave!

Now on to November!

Adventures in Desk Refinishing 1

I must say that I do have quite a few hobbies going here - what with the sewing, knitting, and gardening. Well, now I'm starting to refinish furniture. I've been inspired by so many marvelous bloggers and their many inspirational projects. There is something quite satisfying in finding a bargain desk or piece of furniture and turning into your own with a little elbow grease.

My Inspiration:
1. Filing cabinet redo at Design Sponge
2. Blueline's Bookcase Two Ways
3. Furniture Redo at jcaroline
4. Before and After Radio Table at Design Sponge
5. Before and After Chair at Design Sponge


A trip to one of our local Goodwill's landed us with this perfect little desk for only 19.99!We currently have a large L-shaped desk made from pressed wood - but we've been wanting something smaller and prettier. I already had an electric sander I've borrowed from my Aunt Krista for another refinished project (our outdoor coffee table) so - after a trip to Lowes for snazzy new hardware, flat black paint and sand paper and I started sanding away.





(see the silver new hardware we bought? now imagine the desk black and the old hardware gone - nice, huh?)

About a half an hour into sanding, sweating profusely from working in the stuffy garage with the door shut and my arms numb from the hand sander and my ears ringing - it dawned on me. I should have stripped it first - duh!

Another trip to Lowes for CitrusStrip and now I am officially on the path to getting this puppy finished!



Oh! And when my husband was unloading the desk from our car a Swiss half franc fell out - kinda cool! :)





My Resources:
How to Refinish A Desk - ehow.com