Fall Cure 2009: The pantry and more ikat

I've been busy making more fake ikat storage things. For such a dumb cheap project, the boxes are working out well.

To make an ikat tray, do basically the same thing as for the boxes, except cut your box down to the height you'd like.


Wrap in your handmade ikat paper and tape it down.

The pantry only took a few hours to straighten up. For the first time ever, my sewing machine is now in reach (off to the left), along with all of the craft junk I've been accumulating lately. And the floor is blissfully bare.

I found this discarded basket, glued it, cleaned it up and filled it with more craft junk.

I've been making excuses to get things out of the pantry - offering crackers, forgetting to close the door, etc. Come on over; we'll hang out in the pantry.

Fall Cure 2009: Bedroom

I've been quietly working on Apartment Therapy's Fall Cure. My goals were modest - clean the bedroom closet, pantry, and bathroom cabinet. The two big areas are done. Here are a few pics of my closet - first the 'before', second the simplified 'after.' (Note: There are actually gaps for additional shoes!)

My little jewelry vignette is made with a thrifted blouse stretched over a piece of cardboard for wallpaper. The jewelry tree is, well, a tree - a stick from the park that I did not even bother painting. All the jewelry is courtesy of mom.

You can get a complete tour of my closet organizing techniques here (I know you're fascinated.) Also my Spring Cure after is here. (I actually gave away those red shoes. Sigh.)

Anybody else doing the Fall Cure?

DIY Wednesday: How to make a silhouette pillow

I was never all that into silhouette pillows - they seemed a bit dour and old fashioned in black and white. And then I saw these. (Top: Aunt Bucky via Simplified Bee; Bottom: Karen Hilton Designs.)

The real deal will run you $70 to $75 and justly compensate some cool designers. Or you can try your hand at your own, using your own kid's profile (or British royalty if you prefer.)

Checkout this how to from Do It Yourself magazine that uses felt and fusible web.

Good Day Sunshine used felt and a stitched-on silhouette.

Brooklyn Limestone makes hers with an iron-on transfer.

Over at UCreate, Homemade by Jill painted hers.

Guest blogging today at From The Right Bank

Alek, the stylish blogger behind From the Right Bank to the Left Coast, is in the process of moving to the Deep South (Atlanta) and I am honored to be guest blogger for her today. Check out her blog for some real class and meet bloggers who are guest posting for her this month.

Photo: Vincente Wolf, Veranda via Desire to Inspire.

Fun cheap trays, cutting boards and lamps

Saturday I picked up the cute Barbar birdie tray ($7) at IKEA for my mother-in-law the bird watcher, whom we will be visiting in a few weeks.

I also bought four packs of Dralla bendable cutting boards at IKEA - $3.00 for a pack of two, a perfect lightweight gift to take on an airplane to A Land with No IKEA since these aren't available online. I subsequently lost one pack somewhere in Target since IKEA charges for bags and I was carrying them under my arm while trying on a pair of grey Mary Janes.

And last, these CB2-style lamp sets are on sale at JCPenney - you get a floor lamp and a desk lamp in a set. The gray and black are $40, while green and pink are $30.

World Market weekend deals

Round Suzani Applique pillow

Hello Readers,

This is a partially sponsored link, meaning I would have posted about these deals anyway, but as it is, if you click and buy something, I get, like, a dollar. Same with the Hotwire ad over on the right column. We shop both places all the time anyway, so why not advertise to ourselves?

What are you all doing for Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday? Yours truly will be going nowhere near a store from now to mid-January at least. I might venture online.

Here are a few deals from World Market:

Toss pillows are 40 percent from November 26 to 28.

Check it out:

Save 40% on Toss Pillows for 3 Days Only at WorldMarket.com (1126-1128)

Everything is 20 percent off on Cyber Monday, November 30.

Check it out:

Save 20% Off Your Entire Order, Plus Get Free Shipping on Orders over $50 with Coupon Code 1DAYAFF - One Day Only at WorldMarket.com (11.30.09 Only!)

Words to live by

"There's nothing better than another day."

Max Edward, age 4, November 13, 2009