project {suede headboard} DIY

In my past post {Claudia Bell + Albert} I showed you the plans I had to make my own headboard.  I finally found the time to do it!  It took me about 8 hours from start to finish, not including shopping time for the materials.  It would have taken me longer too, had Andrew not helped me for the last 4 hours, stapling and screwing pieces together.

All together the final cost was about 75-100 dollars after all the rebates for the wood and coupons/sales for the fabric and foam.  On average a king size suede headboard priced at about 400 - 600 dollars.  That's huge savings!

Here are a few pictures of the process and the end result.  At the end I added a few of the calculated notes I used to figure out the best way to cut my material with the limited amout of fabric I had.    I found it in the clearance section at Joann Fabric and just bought what was left on the roll.  Typically fabric like this would run about $40/yard.  I got it for about $5/yard.

If anyone is interested in a detailed description of the process, feel free to comment or email me with questions.

 

inspiration {photo to paint color}

How fun is this!  With Sherwin-Williams new Chip It! button you can take any photo online and find out what paint colors they are.  This is a great source for creating a theme for your home or room.

http://letschipit.com

From this website you can put in the photo image location <URL> or use a toolbar button  just like the <Pin it> buttons.

This is what it looks like when you go to chip a photo.  I used a photo from my flickr set.  You can select to have 5 colors or 10 colors.  I think the only downside is not being able to select which colors you want from the photo.  This app automatically chooses the colors for you.

Once you have saved the chip board you can click on each color and it will give you a lot of information about it.  I chose
< Golden Rule >

From this screen you can click on Color Visualizer.  Here you can upload a photo of an interior or exterior room and paint it using saved colors you have chosen. 

https://www.sherwin-williams.com/visualizer/#

Here is there Informational Video on how to do it.  It's very in-depth, but the introduction part gives a general description of what it does.

The Sherwin-Williams website also has a few other color tricks up their sleeves, what a great find.

inspiration + project {rainy day knitting}

I recently came across a beautiful crochet doily blanket that I want to learn how to do.  I have only taught myself simple knitting so far and wondered if there was a knitted doily blanket out there on the web.  To my luck I found an amazing looking throw blanket.  I was so excited about the pattern I found, I started practicing with some leftover bulky yarn and circular needles. I had to do some research on how to get the center started < I learned how to knit with double pointed needles. >  I also worked out how to knit open holes.  I was so excited on how it was turning out I went to get some yarn and the right sized needles this weekend.  Since the last couple of days have been rainy, I've been really enjoying snuggling with tucker and knitting away.

{ Inspiration }

Crochet Doily Blanket {willow} via goodknits.com

{ Project }

The Hemlock Ring Blanket via brooklyntweed.blogspot.com

{ Progress }

inspiration {do it myself}

When I'm bored I always go on Pinterest and get lost for hours at a time.  I don't have an account yet, so when I find something I like <projects, food, knitting, home + garden> I save it into a bookmark on my Ipad.  Well as Andrew pointed out, I have many files, in files of things that I have saved for myself. This week I have decided to share the nifty ones I have collected. Some day I hope to dabble in most of these DIY projects. 

< while working on this post I was finally excepted into Pinterest - how ironic  >

poppytalk.blogspot.com  {tutorial easy tiny envelopes}

www.modabakeshop.com  {random reflections quilt}

 

relicinteriors.wordpress.com  {unkle giac and unkle glen shelving}

honestlywtf.com  {diy moleskine scrapbook}

www.anthropologie.com  {mason jar sewing kit}

welovelaughkiss.wordpress.com {lace paper envelope}

www.anthropologie.com  {tea-and-crumpets apron}

http://blog.freepeople.com  {light bulb vase}

www.ragandbone.com  {Lee Gainer}

besweetlyinspired.blogspot.com  {pin tucked duvet cover}

www.homegoods.com  {decorating with clocks}

www.duitang.com  {reused sweater bag}

www.apartmenttherapy.com  {DIY tufted headboard}

doitandhow.com  {magazine art bowl}

The magazine art bowl is my favorite!

color theory {color picker}

This was also one of my inspirations for the last two weeks.  The website Design Seeds creates color palettes using photos that the designer buys from people.  I always loved the colors and palettes that she puts together and I wanted to do the same thing, but with my own photos that I have taken.  I have decided that I will add this to my weekly list of things to blog, along with a weekly project and inspiration post. 

So here is how I did it.  Using Photoshop I edited the photo and then put it in Illustrator where I used the eyedropper tool to select colors from the photo.  Then looking at the HSB levels I chose 5 colors that would work well together in a color scheme.  I was so excited about how it turned out that I quickly threw together a little icon using the colors and photo.

I've also posted all of my color theory sheets on flickr  if you would like to download them.  Here are a list of my website links I used to gather my information:

Color Theory for Designer, Part I II & III
Basic Color Schemes - Introduction to Color Theory
Choosing a Monochromatic Color Palette in Photoshop
Color Tutorial
Color Theory, The Color Wheel & Color Schemes

Interactive Color Wheel

inspiration {spring & color}

The end of the week has come!  This week has snuck by me.  I have been working on a new project but it is not ready for turnover yet.  I have been teaching myself color theory.

Many of you may think {what more is there to know than "Roy G. Biv"?}

There is tons more! I've been researching the basics and how to apply it to graphics.  I've learned the difference in the technical terms of color theory. I've expanded my knowledge of how to use Photoshop color picker. I've had a few new ideas of color for my blog. And to make it even more fun I am developing a few graphics as reminders for myself & to put what I learned into good use  - {Learn  Apply  Execute Critique - Execute Critique - EC...}  Say "execute critique" 5x.  This was basically our studio regiment with a little inspiration, lists of deliverables, and all-nighters thrown in there.

So next week I will be spending one more week at home and will have lots of time to finish up my own list of deliverables for color theory.  On top of that I've added another project to my list. I want to create my own handwriting font.  I've found a few websites that explain how to do it.  I'm quite excited about it.

In addition I have taken some photos of the sprouting greens outside!
Consider this my inspiration for the week {flickr set < sprouts of spring}

inspiration {singing frogs}

This week I decided to travel home for my dad's birthday.  He turned 48 but for some reason I keep thinking he's 58, since everyone I know has older parents. Well it just so happens that for his birthday this year, we have had an early spring, or summer - I'm not sure what season it is outside.  Today it was 80, along with a high string of 70's this last week. Because of the weather all the buds are starting to come out {the rose bushes, tulips, trees, chives, cherry tree, mint and the over growing ivy throughout our rock walls.}  

My parents live in a log cabin on 3 acres of wooded lot with a retention pond at the bottom.  In the summer the frogs croak at night, and it's really quite pleasant to listen to them with the cool breeze coming in the window as you sleep.  This season they seem a little confused and have non-stop croaked day and night very loudly! I still find it very refreshing to listen to at night, and it's a great change from cars and people outside in the city.  Let's not even mention the star gazing potential at home.

As the sun was setting this evening I took a little video of one off the side of our deck in the front yard + a few pictures.

 

my first attempt at HDR photos

I love the soft sunset colors

I discovered a massive spider web!

you can see it better here. it's about 20 yards from the deck and 3-4 yards wide/tall

inspiration {aurora borealis}

This week's inspiration comes from nature and the beautiful colors in the sky. Both last night and today have been very exciting days to look for the beautiful colored photos.  I was really inspired and wanted to go "northern light hunting" this weekend.  Being in the city it's hard to get past the light pollution and the full moon we've been having.  But we've decided to wait till warmer weather and  go camping in Canada or near the boundary waters to find some this summer.  I hope to take some of my own pictures like this some day.

{As seen on flickr}

by *Jonina*

by timo_w2s

by Samantha Stuart