If I were to paint

The living room would go from this:



To this:



My bedroom would go from this:



To this:




I had to use a combo of Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro because I don't know how to use masks and such but hey, that works for me. I've never claimed to be a master at Photoshop...perhaps I should take a class.

Just swatch me!

I was just cruising through some fabric sites so I could get an idea of what is available and hopefully what I can find locally. Came up with some samples of fabric designs I like for the office/computer chair.



I am pretty sure I will end up with something completely different but at least I now have a thought process going even though I am unable to afford to recover my chair right now.

I do like solid colors with heavy texture, tone on tone, but also like some that have two colors. I am not as inclined to go with multi colors though multi colors can open up a lot of possibilities. However, multiple colors tend to run in a much more defining style like "modern" or "rustic" or "traditional". Also, since this chair is used a great deal, it has to be able to withstand a lot of wear. Most of the multiple color options seemed to be for light duty upholstery oh and way, way out of my price range too.

Inspiration is not a bad thing, even for impatient people like me.

Urkel voice: "Did I do that?"

Next project is to redo my office/desk chair. Last night I took it apart to see how it's constructed. I'm not encouraged because I popped off the lower lumbar area (under the actual lumbar area) and in doing so snapped the plywood in half.

Ooops.

No worries I was able to get it back together and found that it has a black plastic claw and bolt system with velcro. With my wrist the way it is, I couldn't even attempt the same with the upper part of the back so I put it back together again.

I think I purchased it via Office Max about 2003. Some might think it odd that I would get an executive chair but I did so for two reasons: I was doing well with my web design so I needed something I could sit cross legged if I so desired and I had a big fat cat who always wanted to sit on the chair with me. My previous chair had seen better days and with the cat, this chair gave me enough room to let him lounge on my lap while I worked. Sonny rather enjoys hanging out with me on the chair too and is doing so as I type this.

So, the options were limited and a leather chair was not (and still is not) something I would want so I had to settle for gray and for microfiber.

Microfiber, do not like. Once it's stained, it's stained forever. I plan on keeping an eye out for some fabric remnants to cover it until I can afford a new chair. I don't like the gray and it sticks out like a sore thumb in the apartment with my beige and tans as well as my autumn color scheme.

Hmmm, I wonder if anyone in my family has any leftover upholstery fabric - 3.5 yards is all I need and if there is less then I will get funky with it and do three different fabrics...one on the front and arms, one on the back and one on the seat.

So, this is in the future but hopefully sooner than later.

Happy Friday!

Under employed means lots of time to think

Especially when you want to work on the decor in your home, specifically your bedroom since the temps are flipping between fall and summer. It's a time where one may want to make the bedroom more inviting and cozy.

I'm still a bit embarassed that I don't have a decent comforter, duvet or even a fine bedspread:



But in thinking about what I desire versus my budget and what's out there, it dawned on me what I want...it's based on an episode of "Will and Grace" (I think the one where Grace brought her answering machine to a lodge or something after a breakup with Leo) oddly enough so you know it's been in my brain a long time. Oh and subway tiles:



My thought process goes something like this:



Browns, blacks, creams, tans, etc. Much more random than what I was able to come up with on the computer but this will require me to: Get a sewing machine (a good one as the old one hosed up after a couple of years), comb through thrift stores (other places too) to find garments with the colors I desire, time and space. I have the time but the rest I don't really have.

I thought going with something like that, I could make a bed spread but that's a HUGE undertaking and an actual quilt will never happen as I have never quilted. I haven't used a sewing machine in more than 15 years but that's easy to pick back up. So if I am able to accomplish this my first goal is to get a sewing machine. I also thought that a duvet cover would make more sense. Then I could get a duvet/down comforter that would at least get started on my goal and to look at it naked all the time would inspire me to seek out thrift garments, look on Freecycle and ask relatives and friends to keep me in mind if they plan to get rid of anything from garments to sheets to whatever has fabric in my color scheme.

I have a lot of great ideas but the follow through is a huge hurdle for me. I am doctor identified as ADD (back when I was 15 and back before it was the "it" diagnosis) and it really is true that finishing a big project, unless I hyper focus, seems to be something I am unable to do. Although when medicated I can actually get and stay on task...but that's another post entirely.

So, that's my idea that's been recycled in my brain from several years ago. I think of the possibilities of finding old garments, other fabrics and such and how fun that would be to put together. Now I just have to get a job so I can start on that goal and so I can get other goals accomplished.

EDIT: I just found the name of the episode - "Saving Grace, Again: Part 2" which is described on IMDB as:

Original Air Date—18 November 2004

After taking Grace out of town to forget about Leo and their anniversary, Will and Grace stay at a hotel and Will hopes that Grace will finally find some peace. But, Will finds out that Grace has brought the answering machine with Leo's message on it with her and forces her to get rid of it so she stops thinking about going to the roof of Peninsula Hotel to meet Leo or not. Jack has to make up an idea for a promo for Out TV and meets the perfect actor for it in a hotel where he is working as a Bell Boy. Also, other people at the network think the actor is perfect, but when it comes to shooting the actor feels demeaned by the words he is supposed to say.

It's showing on Lifetime this Wednesday according to IMDB and I am bummed that I don't have cable. I'd be curious to know if in fact that was the episode I saw the comforters/bedspreads that had me wanting one like it so long ago...