Thriifty Decor Chick

Haven Conference Announcement!

<h2 style="text-align: center"></h2> <h2 style="text-align: center">Have you dreamed about a blog conference just for the DIY/Home niche?</h2>           <h2 style="text-align: center">Have you ever wanted your favorite home bloggers to teach you how to re-finish furniture? </h2> <h2 style="text-align: center">Take the perfect photo? </h2> <h2 style="text-align: center">Use power tools?</h2>   <h2 style="text-align: center">Well, your dreams are coming true!  ;)</h2> <h2 style="text-align: center">Come to Haven and get hands-on learning with us!</h2> <a href="http://www.creativekristi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Picture-40.png"><img alt="haven conference" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1829" height="522" src="http://www.creativekristi.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Picture-40.png" title="Picture 40" width="516" /></a>             <h2 style="text-align: center">Some of your favorite home bloggers are teaming up to bring all of you a fabulous DIY/home blogger conference, and it will be the must-attend event of the year.</h2>   <h2 style="text-align: center">Visit <a href="http://www.havenconference.com/" target="_blank">Haven</a> for more details and prepare to be inspired!:</h2>           <a href="http://www.havenconference.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Haven Conference 2012" border="0" src="http://www.havenconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/BigButton.jpg" /></a>           <a href="http://beneathmyheart.net"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3928" height="125" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/button.gif" title="beneath my heart button" width="125" /></a> <a href="http://centsationalgirl.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3930" height="125" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/displayurl.jpeg" title="centsational girl button" width="125" /></a><a href="http://www.creativekristi.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Creative Kristi Designs" border="0" src="http://www.creativekristidesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Blogdesignbutton.jpg" /></a><a href="http://homestoriesatoz.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3922" height="125" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Home-Stories-A-to-Z.jpg" title="Home Stories A to Z" width="125" /></a> <a href="http://justagirlblog.com"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3923" height="125" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/j-a-girl.blogspot.jpg" title="justagirlblog.com" width="125" /></a> <a href="http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3924" height="125" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Miss-Mustard-Seeds-Creative-Blog.jpg" title="Miss Mustard Seed's Creative Blog" width="125" /></a> <a href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-3926 alignnone" height="125" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/southern-hospitality.png" title="southern hospitality" width="125" /></a> <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.com/"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3927" height="125" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/TDCbutton.gif" title="TDCbutton" width="124" /></a> Hope to see you there!   (I’ll be back later today.)  :)

Haven Conference Announcement!

Have you dreamed about a blog conference just for the DIY/Home niche? Have you ever wanted your favorite home bloggers to teac...

7:00 AM

Love for my garden

Hey hey! If you haven’t checked out all of the amazing links at the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/before-and-after-goodwill-table.html">Before and After Party</a>, you are missing out! And don’t forget you can still link up your own till next Monday. Come on, join in. You know you want to. ;) I am SO excited about my garden and had to share how it’s coming along! This is hands down one of the most fun, rewarding things I’ve ever done. Delightful, really. Our daily morning routine all summer has been to take Peanut out and then go through our garden to see what’s growing. Love it! I showed you the basil (and some fabulous recipes) <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-love-of-basil.html">here</a>. It’s growing so fast I can’t keep up with it! The tops of the plant are flowering, which I know can make the basil taste bitter, but I haven’t noticed a difference. I have been pinching off the flowers to try to avoid that. We also got quite a few yummy strawberries, and a handful of blueberries off one plant as well. The other blueberry plant didn’t produce anything this year. But when we went to our local berry farm a few weeks ago, I got high hopes for my little bitty bushes. One will produce a TON of blueberries once it matures – can’t wait! For weeks I was able to just step out to our backyard to grab fresh, crisp lettuce for salads. I mean, seriously. How cool is that? Those have since died off, but they were good while they lasted! I planted two watermelon plants back in May and one of them didn’t make it right off the bat. The other was just pitiful, so I figured it wasn’t going to make it either. But looky here: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CjEoeTU4td0/Th0e2mvChcI/AAAAAAAAOG8/acPJq03DmN8/s1600-h/IMG_5762%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="watermelon" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6iveNl9fK9Q/Th0e3H_WAJI/AAAAAAAAOHA/KCFIRpkcQuk/IMG_5762_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="watermelon" width="400" /></a> Aren’t they just the cutest things you’ve EVER seen? They are perfect miniature watermelon. ;) Anyone know how to tell when they are ready to harvest? Do you just gauge by size? I think I’m most excited about my tomatoes and cucumbers though. Many of you warned that the cucumbers would go out of control and they have, but not as bad as I thought they would. I planned on making a trellis but never got to it, and the garden is still doing great! Every once and a while I will move a vine that is creeping somewhere it shouldn’t, but otherwise they haven’t been a problem. I planted three cucumber plants and I am in HEAVEN!!: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-55dFPIas4BM/Th0e3YhbB0I/AAAAAAAAOHE/hFB3BTBPd8k/s1600-h/IMG_5752%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cucumbers" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YjAshN6aACc/Th0e3ntglII/AAAAAAAAOHI/ky0evNdw__0/IMG_5752_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="cucumbers" width="320" /></a> They are everywhere! Last week I started finding ripe cucumbers, and every day since it’s been fun to dig around and see how many more we can find. They like to hide, and every time I find a new one I think I squeal a little. ;) Just today when I was taking pictures I found another one that was ready: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fnsDWX6HmcU/Th0e4OEpFcI/AAAAAAAAOHM/bUAXdsrCRZg/s1600-h/IMG_5772%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pMZU5IBOnOQ/Th0e4c431TI/AAAAAAAAOHQ/lsfSCktWDAw/IMG_5772_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="320" /></a> I have been eating fresh, cool cucumber every day this week. Oh my goodness, I. love. them! I just slice them up and dip them in a bit of ranch dressing. I planted a regular tomato plant and a cherry tomato plant as well: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cmHTwCc22Es/Th0e4-LvF8I/AAAAAAAAOHU/42ngYnSdZsU/s1600-h/IMG_5766%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cherry tomatoes" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PfmiUAhJCnc/Th0e5DHTg5I/AAAAAAAAOHY/R6R2fqepnJ0/IMG_5766_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="cherry tomatoes" width="320" /></a> I’ve grabbed about ten cherry tomatoes so far, and they are scrumptious!: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WY5B1GGG6lU/Th0e535cGtI/AAAAAAAAOHc/e_KnwN9KxXM/s1600-h/IMG_5776%25255B3%25255D%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P_PgVSKqk3w/Th0e6hZp2vI/AAAAAAAAOHg/4089mR3so7U/IMG_5776%25255B3%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a> There’s a TON that will be ripe any day, so I’m hoping I’ll have enough to cook with. It seems like there are at least 100 growing right now, seriously. The tomatoes are rocking my world though – my first one was HUGE – I’m guessing at least 14 inches around: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jVpmynjYHLY/Th0e7n0_9ZI/AAAAAAAAOHk/hcQKCh_BDvA/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qESqf2b3SuI/Th0e8gW73EI/AAAAAAAAOHo/vCZn7nFwQfo/image_thumb%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" width="359" /></a> And there are so many more, I can’t even count them all – at least 30. On one plant. Yes, I am the tomato whisperer. :) <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4C6kjN93tCs/Th0e81KP6dI/AAAAAAAAOHs/HfNu2pI8AsA/s1600-h/IMG_5771%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="tomatoes" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a11g35LXuTY/Th0e9dUavII/AAAAAAAAOHw/ekzUs9_zRXQ/IMG_5771_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="tomatoes" width="320" /></a> Here’s how far we’ve come in less than two months – from my cutie little newbie garden: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LFhh6WSgeJk/Th0e-KJfeqI/AAAAAAAAOH0/ruGI7JfK9Xo/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="garden early" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eaezVUMLXfM/Th0e-_5oouI/AAAAAAAAOH4/sKzs-CGoYkY/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="garden early" width="400" /></a> To my overflowing garden: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xe5fz3RaVG8/Th0e_UyDouI/AAAAAAAAOH8/LdnSxm060mI/s1600-h/IMG_5751%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="midsummer garden" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cQRLCWFl1Tw/Th0e__vBOuI/AAAAAAAAOIA/CKtU1oM6rM8/IMG_5751_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="midsummer garden" width="400" /></a> It looks a hot mess, I know. But it’s freakin’ awesome. :) (And I so wish the grass was doing as well as the plants!) The Bub pulled a green tomato off by accident the other day, so I’m hoping to try my hand at fried green tomatoes: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uTPXPxLCc04/Th0fAHuH9OI/AAAAAAAAOIE/uaIwZiYZhSg/s1600-h/IMG_5778%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="green tomato" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WXr3_2RTnDs/Th0fAjlnlrI/AAAAAAAAOII/TOX2fvZ0Q0o/IMG_5778_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="green tomato" width="400" /></a> I hear it’s pretty easy, yes? When my first (HUGE) tomato was ready, I knew just what I had to do – one of my favorites! I LOVE Caprese salad. It’s so easy to make: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-b7Ng7lo2eSw/Th0fBH44H7I/AAAAAAAAOIM/8irmm3pINUw/s1600-h/IMG_5717%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="caprese salad ingredients" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q9-K-Y10SLE/Th0fBfHi82I/AAAAAAAAOIQ/Vgd9NmdC_fg/IMG_5717_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="caprese salad ingredients" width="320" /></a> You’ll need a tomato (duh), soft mozzarella cheese, salt and pepper, olive oil, basil leaves (which I forgot to put in the picture! ack!) and I use a touch of red wine vinegar – I like the kick it adds. :) If you want a really beautiful salad, you can use cherry tomatoes and the mozzarella that comes in tiny balls (usually in a container). If you’re preparing this for entertaining, the large slices will be beautiful as well: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CPqD4gWrMv4/Th0fB6L456I/AAAAAAAAOIU/PwgpSmi4tsg/s1600-h/IMG_5718%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="267" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Cks6r39HfUs/Th0fCCaOjrI/AAAAAAAAOIY/bMpt6gLcqYo/IMG_5718_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a> Just arrange them around a plate like so: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8XZhYne8s6I/Th0fComnfQI/AAAAAAAAOIc/oR5KjrgGRcU/s1600-h/image%25255B12%25255D.png"><img alt="pretty caprese salad" border="0" height="313" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-soKtfIlcL5I/Th0fDQGUWnI/AAAAAAAAOIg/LpPp5kR3Rh0/image_thumb%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="pretty caprese salad" width="400" /></a> Source for this picture is <a href="http://fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com/2008/05/caprese-salad.html">here</a> because it is waaaay prettier than my awful night time photos. ;) You’ll just drizzle the oil (don’t be shy about it) and a bit of vinegar, then a bit of salt and pepper. But since I was making mine for a little night time snack, it’s not as pretty – just GOOD: <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Oiha7xZNkLY/Th0fD1ioCjI/AAAAAAAAOIk/22VfsLobEms/s1600-h/IMG_5722%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="caprese salad" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s6o3tdR4UcA/Th0fEpy3WbI/AAAAAAAAOIo/2H24YqN3Drc/IMG_5722_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="caprese salad" width="320" /></a> If you love cheese and tomatoes – you will LOVE THIS. Promise. :) It’s fresh and light and I can’t get enough of it. Got a favorite tomato recipe? Do share! I’m also on the lookout for a cucumber salad recipe – I’ve seen one that has creamy dressing that looks divine. I’ll let you know if I try it! I’m also dying to try making pickles from the cucumbers – anyone tried this? Is it difficult? If you are hesitating about growing your own garden next year, please don’t be intimidated by it! All I did was plant it all, fertilize once, and then water every so often. Everything is in full sun, so that has helped I’m sure. Otherwise it’s been very low maintenance. The reward for that bit of work is SO worth it. :) You can see more about how the garden started <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-garden-is-growing.html">here</a>.

Love for my garden

Hey hey! If you haven’t checked out all of the amazing links at the Before and After Party , you are missing out! And don’t forget you can...

5:00 PM

Before and After Party: Goodwill table

Well hello all! It’s time for another partaaaay! I’ve got another project from the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/family-room-redone.html">family room redo</a> to share this time. When I was sure we were going to order the sectional, I started measuring out the space to see what was going to be able to stay and what would need to go. One thing that needed to scoot (to another room) was the long <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/04/goodwill-coffee-table.html">Goodwill coffee table</a> I had moved into the space last year. It was just too long with the sectional, so I was on the search for something that was smaller and a square shape. (If I had only kept our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/02/10-coffee-table.html">$10 coffee table</a> I wouldn’t have had this problem!) And I found a major score at Goodwill a few months ago when I found another table for $25! WHOO! It was the perfect size, the perfect shape and I LOVED the look: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUxSJBfnEHIymm7HBSti_ewbn3p6wCKp73z7nRPB6JytLrepmjSrPeL-c32ANJ6wKmJQj4hidsx613IFQqni1QxeYgtXuk3rv8FFhocr9VTYDFmqgeIEF21cNUXfWODQ4-LUfQZxYpCo/s1600-h/IMG_53673.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5367" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41M-UpmxSVZFqByB2udoaKYUa9E9CJlxOXaDYm2sCpyY5jHgDk_byNKomzQL3cwnKHrg8y_5s0CCabHiQ_Hz3epFlKqNKrItcn9eoNQPOHdHZmPIEFBosM8JW4k73wOn6fpdOuRey0j8/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_5367" width="400" /></a> It was all worn and warm and lovely. :) The only issues were that one of the hardware pieces was missing (it was one little piece – impossible to find) and it was a teensy bit too tall. I think it was meant to be a side table. The legs on it were about four inches tall, so my first project was to cut down them down: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9gcTdebJDewRZkdEwLC0vynaed-HubXui3UZeGKPi53wsbUr388Svnk_7nceCP6Fc35EYrwk-EWApU-hGCNwOz4rm3QJIIZRBji7D0-HeAp3BsPmiEbt4e_CBvyx3N4bHHBhJyBsP-sQ/s1600-h/IMG_53703.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5370" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQPk2H8NntCQGXJRTkACcbVBIA1nwP76pwppxLl-f0V8x_yVDrkAzHicy1lVOdu7QBlWr0oP7Z3770LNqqEkTBHuRRF_bQzoT1VRV8h-lU-TVEFy_S_baHo_Pxdq4oENW6NTe3niSTxE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="IMG_5370" width="400" /></a> Arrh arrrh arrrrrgh…just call me tool man Taylor. ;) Uhhhh…woman Taylor. Whatever. Because I cut off about four inches it was at a good height, but there was a little somethin’ I wanted to add. I had fun adding bits of different styles into this space and wanted to give this table an industrial feel. I found casters at my local <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/month-in-review-and-blog-squad.html">True Value</a> and knew just what I was going to do: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWdSDnfP7oSYcX6Fj2zsbp6VJc3EBH-J0pCn3i1ql453s9dXRICJsgTOFfqvyZKAbTYuJZB0ncmyTYQJahTv4FDlrqKZ_empssznDN16d7qXmV1HKB8SKl00VtEVGKLaqjMRiJYRqCIA/s1600-h/image21.png"><img alt="copper casters " border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46VwLwzYOklpD7Rj5Z9Ql0vE21Mr6qw0bIq-XUUtF-RVNzD6HU5KwJn_ohwIyYXevrQnnHvZlxYEMIK7xgSYfUWtNLzEVr7-f5ML23d07ScUomlnHoMzk_9fli5vE1rwrLVD8uip4WXE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="copper casters " width="360" /></a> They have a gorgeous copper finish – luuuurve! They had a brassy tone as well that I quite liked (I know, HUH?): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6H8cgr9k3BBvtul_JYWpYlsgggUGglyU9O4hyrV4CDFsHtpulBHwWNrsbECcDpd0EoHsmlCB-j9pxi7sY-SQ-3liokSJuryz5nf4Ac1cvpAo4ws2LTf9jmhyphenhyphenRvb0fl2sxb2r8uaxOYk/s1600-h/image30.png"><img alt="brass casters" border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDZnmgMTc2SlI3NnhwD2xoCRF0yCIl8WEXr4Ph1jw1wvVFkrvM61TwNoywXfZYlJ3vwNCuH77gRizUQxptWigh27kx0Cikig_fkvCo21PY0sC1VFBj3O7AztipMSKqVhLco7IchKXN8U/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="brass casters" width="320" /></a> And a bunch of other options including locking casters, itty bitty ones and honkin’ ones: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVuE-VbB-KUdsEk_PUxntCBnysd2ELOM7_FOHPRXCxKXIXMjbT6MHU0hE10yXTn6IN_XuKMeq475w-H_5-szxa0Y8pCoNEVJqxg9D2jIspD7cVJimiZHxT2hUmDZ3IMtjUBECc3Lu7BI/s1600-h/image29.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0syTRCV49hbSjN1OjZy7uj_MQAGbC6jGrNTaXP51qHlXqN_9KPIVFvbUdxnaOu2uNkqcz-eVTSTQxdQrFAikQ71PNX6SVM0j7ZRFWszFdBb9Cb5L-J-WYLklcLhjPpF_id2AuBRMiJ1s/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="190" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YgFA4nOOcolp295onwTepqbt8wl53hcgNAf72V9tkl8iktd_iHWee8iZWTMN8I3VgBuV8dSNKQal-_BhPuEi37eYwa6dAwDI8YyCvNaVkyJPws32bJxynIbAIOGrkXywVY27YWeEUK0/s1600-h/image28.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcJvzdA4TS0Nq8aofbK1CxGU_od3R9RatlcXT2CDwX7v6Tx4O0JZ0cF1DV29bfw7kU9OFzwH9QqSI08Tcg7lItswe8mgaGifjq1eJqtD8QyYF_KHaXc3swLxUJ_GPeiDHf63e6t6qVwE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="190" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBPrh_qH_o5UCkNXy0v5CCjBMGgzuPcAz16uTc3l0OE5ihlFK6LVhI91cE64qt92btF_czUsXIQYH2WTUp_xvTx_1RliVZGUczdcl4qkRY-Od_C0j7lq428qIEUqh3kcg4qXA2ds2h6A/s1600-h/image27.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOIPr9UcftFRcFpCijMkHBUCF7EAJDPuBGF9dEawAEl1jvWH3Q72UjtuQZUG6nw0lyUAj8dr28kwY7RMHI6QYaSSpPoAJETspvMeI7JlSzjkbHfIBXyB7O-lDIJ_RTjW7AI0YMJkKqwk/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" width="190" /></a> Because I cut four inches off the height, I could add a couple back and it was still going to be short enough to rest our feet. These were two inches tall and I just screwed them into the bottom of the table. (Make sure to get the screw-on type if you decide to try this – much easier to install!) Then it was time to address the missing hardware. My True Value’s hardware aisle doesn’t disappoint: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5Pp-45BSqHk/ThuPmzfUyGI/AAAAAAAAOD8/JbzXnv5kkRE/s1600-h/image19.png"><img alt="hardware true value" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Q_OKvaPHleo/ThuPn7GYeuI/AAAAAAAAOEA/hx3Axg-In14/image_thumb7.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="hardware true value" width="359" /></a> Do you hear them? The birds singing? ;) I haven’t found a selection that compares anywhere. I had to drill some some new holes to get them on, and that’s why I went with the pulls I did – so they would hide the previous (large) holes: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMeQO8vF2p3kX-hKYrHA_93UOJIbCc-TikLJHP7JOOHubntQilYj3L3X6CsFJ1gfUJ6Y0Bp27P6Q9LsTIpIlFMiZJEOqsRDeMpYIEJ8t6KTfJAGvmEZYQbxqs2TtbTbCVaE_7adtYBFw/s1600-h/IMG_5729%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img alt="coffee table on wheels" border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxcy1klI4n3FkVczSupvK8mlH6UmydijRFQ2x64UPs5d5bUkGEp0pIPA1nwGZPJrMrAdVB_WQzkU5L38OFxjPjWl6ONcAtMnLQeCX8E4Z3Ika5GITpR9Ixu4_3qQ5wbf_blb3sYCtJ4iY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="coffee table on wheels" width="400" /></a> Did I mention all of the storage in this little baby? Those little drawers hold a TON of stuff. Perfect for remotes and notepads and pens and JUNK. Love it! I didn’t get a great photo of the casters, sorry about that! You can see them a bit here: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAXZRfYjstRBEHwNdQ4fhNeVmItReb6osFnrYLyWQrwDoTl2FpbDbDRUs9TUrvnJ9EHrSRvLb19bYqU7-y7LvocM6awNuUNcIYuZYDrmJDWT7nf_aGEXDFSmGbRdq06n07l30xaJPF1I/s1600-h/IMG_57317.jpg"><img alt="coffee table on casters" border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghh_jyG_jY2vdh7JYFZArfw9728gsh0mIJt54zldW1R34RwMngRai61ngNEnpzFDjaZXaH-9KTkpjB55iQhjaWX0a6Etdtduviegs4boP2amtaC8XaNOEfizLszgSuCKbFNYH6bnxqeBI/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="coffee table on casters" width="360" /></a> I wasn’t sure how I would feel about using non locking casters, but now I’m really happy with them. The table doesn’t move when we put our feet on it, but we can easily move it around the room if needed. You know, for when I need room to spread and <strike>take a nap</strike> work out. Or something.  This little Goodwill table fits perfectly in the space: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aqiIA22ryW9KUMZmk26ii5H3SQTwcn715Nb_NbIxPOWDlZwpGhbW-lvmZlOnTePnAfncyZDIGglo8Ks6uzCDzIVpb8LTzCW9KhT39fTeK8VR68IgWv5Q5Cb5ei9eYxIfDhNQWkLdYs0/s1600-h/image37.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIQyP9LVfsxd-qaJ06EdPOww0zBveekLFIaEz949-1JlXI5VX_cz0K0LKjPHUHzq3ODTDMKPp5hd-sMtqZwyg0E-71_ySaBQ6tagZQd_Jlafyr_MCHTCv8zVVZdWlwyzxZQLApw8JiIA/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="450" /></a> It’s not a huge transformation, but now it works for us and the casters change up the look just a tad. And it has all that storage, which is a huge bonus. Here’s the before and after for this month: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG4ZhFrTdiIsnwCmgH2V6kRmd30VG8ymu9nBbFWO0ZlU8pqSjFXVblvK2EXwSxXZ1qLNI1xjGPUNxXrn2oHoxyA8Eii8VU6UWVSaIfkiGC5934Lq5xWKzYPD4wpHEBVckquX1V3EQyI8/s1600-h/IMG_53675.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5367" border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1pL_blRosOiGW1D9ZMKfHJcEwwYcdBfw0vY_eERcmuSGj9TPrB6EC76xsIJyttk0dFcEEDcPMzsiFJFQiXR5jSInlsIPgtxpxwFj8SMzGhuHiYlxE8FdWtMy-fY_oKTiFgqqQjj8fbo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_5367" width="270" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid88fvEXNw5QMLB7gsKD0PRtKXZgmQeZ6MGbjfHwKWIYc5OWkC-0MK3tdR0v04PJz_dabzBdOAZNFEFmV3ndfWYrtxzHgTZHYomCKyfngDgWHy0fhKbmaDXRfjUNo8Kk5cc7f3oNRpBN0/s1600-h/IMG_57294.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgGL4mh9fhLngpd8sADHJ11YdPHdD4WWImCgz4ADtoa9GZtPHD-Yo02ojxTPkN28K_-RZM3TyyHZ6jSvNChsCy1u-aJJ782rQiuv939UwgqYLZqLkA4_iWCCGwm2erjnsyGQZEoazii0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="" width="270" /></a> And the room with Goodwill coffee table number one (or two?): <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnRDkJEi_5eBV4MBYAB9gjhZT3MJibaVkowcFt-e-KMWYabcOqFYrNwoMa-I8SHL9_KxE5y4TIZAFqLqvFKmGfzLQmI0OVY8ndmZwAIPN3sNvk2axSOFJVvdVM-Oc49TLUjAqG5RGGEZI/s1600-h/image48.png"><img alt="" border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgno3wKMU6UaxQ_OB2zlh2tNrpViUvOzeKR5TR6hU7Z8c1633aZRJfPo8lC98Xp6aaXCqHXl6Mh4j6TEso2ktmvVj9e082-jYuVaIk3nizHEA0qqrSw4q9EUyveRulb10R3GrRQXY9tZ9E/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="340" /></a> And now with number three: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IoEmRhNqNBpsaU5gVeeZCzkOUmhL52etcIBBVdQ23_NyRKzjX-DrYZfIggPdiAZwIl5OZkVloeNO1TnwFZWgbmO8-X87z8RC6XSEApyXw1G8pGmGWr3twO1flevkZ9mWitUvN8NIwNo/s1600-h/image46.png"><img alt="square coffee table" border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLwm2CWa6rioQKLy9VKUYHk_t8qw9AF6n3YzF34_Q_uBL9mymoMrByBEXW8cTtdraYv5sU1CePbUN3CWrNMkKkHdUG4AEEGty6KsmnfMH_4iIPU_C43XyBGFlYXu8BPxfbpRB8lk2HO4/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="square coffee table" width="360" /></a> ;) If Goodwill keeps taking the awesome coffee tables, I’ll keep finding them! Now it’s time to see your before and after! I can’t wait!! Remember to link up the html for your post, not your blog. Links to just your blog address will be deleted. Please include a link to this post and this cutie button if you would!: <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4lVSNZ1sjGs/ThuQPSabDmI/AAAAAAAAOFc/Hzu2GAbMVxo/s1600-h/beforeAndAfterButton3.gif"><img alt="beforeAndAfterButton" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vWJtYZJbaFE/ThuQPgLflZI/AAAAAAAAOFg/NX4TXZDPVFw/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="beforeAndAfterButton" width="146" /></a> (No, there’s no code. Still working on that. You should be able to copy and paste it though.) I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Did you miss the Design Star giveaway winner? Check it out <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/design-star-winner.html">here</a>. <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=67652"></script>

Before and After Party: Goodwill table

Well hello all! It’s time for another partaaaay! I’ve got another project from the family room redo to share this time. When I was sure w...

5:07 PM

One more day!

<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KgaCMRsvvWA/ThphXko0GyI/AAAAAAAAOCs/KbYl1OcFpJ0/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-guNMnkWOKHs/ThphYK5GP-I/AAAAAAAAOCw/odmXbino0Mg/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="image" width="240" /></a> Hey there! I just wanted to make sure and remind you that you have one more day -- till Monday (the 11th) at 5 p.m. EST -- to enter the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/design-star.html">HGTV Design Star giveaway</a>. One lucky winner will get a $100 Amex gift card to spend as they wish! Yay! Also, because of the holiday last week, I moved the July Before and After Party to this week. Get your posts ready to link up tomorrow (Monday) evening – I hope to have it up around 7 or so. <div align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JcpH4JyOuM8/ThphYW390zI/AAAAAAAAOC0/enFfP41XnCU/s1600-h/beforeAndAfterButton%25255B3%25255D.gif"><img alt="beforeAndAfterButton" border="0" height="225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a5Dxjhc_wB8/ThphYzjjnZI/AAAAAAAAOC4/zvqnUamCOec/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb%25255B1%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" title="beforeAndAfterButton" width="146" /></a> </div><div align="left">Hope you had a great weekend and I’ll talk at ya tomorrow! :)</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">If you missed my last post, check it out <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/absolutely-free-and-beautiful-art.html">here</a>.</div>

One more day!

Hey there! I just wanted to make sure and remind you that you have one more day -- till Monday (the 11th) at 5 p.m. EST -- to enter the HGTV...

7:35 PM

Absolutely FREE (and beautiful!) art

Well my goodness you lovelies – thank you so much for the sweet comments on our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/family-room-redone.html">family room redo</a>!! You all made my day. :) I SO appreciate each and every one! I’m sitting here this evening with one of my very favorite people – my dear friend Traci from <a href="http://www.beneathmyheart.net/">Beneath My Heart</a>: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DJiLn6ijDe8/Thfg57YHw8I/AAAAAAAAOBM/JXoZNEwOPNU/s1600-h/image%25255B56%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gzYM8joaJw8/Thfg7NVkIPI/AAAAAAAAOBQ/I79iNKmihCU/image_thumb%25255B17%25255D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="359" /></a>(Traci at our recent <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/03/ikea-makes-me-happy.html">IKEA trip</a>.) Yep, she’s here. In my house. Staying the night. I’m in heaven. LOVE her! So does the Bub, by the way. And the dog. I think there will be a very sad little boy and dog when she leaves. :( We’ve been working on a fun little project in the office and I’m loving it! I can’t wait to show you, but we’ve talked a little too much and didn’t get enough done today. Hopefully we can talk and work at the same time and get it finished up before she leaves. ;) For now, I’m really excited to tell you more about the art in the family room! I needed to fill some of the walls in the space, but I got to that part of the redo after I decided to not <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/month-in-review-and-no-spend-july.html">spend a dime in July</a>. Well. Drats. I was determined, and was forced to get a little creative – and I love how it turned out! The best part -- this art is 100 percent, absolutely free for everyone. WHOO! I found the <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm">NYC Digital Gallery</a> years ago, and just haven’t made the time to go through their prints till now. (The thrill of not spending any money made up for the time it took to find what I wanted!) The Gallery is such a great resource -- it provides free access to over 700,000 images digitized from the The New York Public Library's collections. And it is AWESOME. If you are using the art on their site for personal, educational, or research purposes, they are absolutely free. (They can be used for commercial purposes for a reproduction fee.) Basically, they are free “printables” you can use for art in your home. Told you – awesomesauce! I found a few I wanted to share and then I’ll show you what I ended up with! There are seven categories of prints, like arts, buildings and geography. But I especially loved the <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?topic=science">Nature and Science</a> artwork, and thought this horse print was especially striking: <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?topic=science&col_id=150"><img alt="" border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Aej4Lh15h4mCk-n-VT_4AWaoveKm5-t4l2MSaPDPrd3fkrqszJ1i0fuBe1fgNkM_yAdTKmgnfpJW5x1e61uBih-xfczI_hQLFOJywGQw5ipSqTjtKVFpSketGW3OEUVY4dyQfihxUDI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a> Wouldn’t that be fabulous in a library or office? This one was a cover of a NYC theater program in 1930: <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucid=1900095"><img alt="ziegfeld theatre" border="0" height="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5EC3wL8zJsGkKSpKI9I3KrrmdY4yn-3SgjO-BEdsbpiiKm4pgI-Amxv4RcBqcgdv48ujU-qaFX-cOuy2s59nvtql4r7ckSwsxxXJPQECaB0x9J3KLtZf3Xx1arXTVQ53LmnYPkmRtAI/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="ziegfeld theatre" width="320" /></a> Isn’t that gorgeous? I think a series of these shoe prints would be adorable in a closet or bedroom: <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?strucID=171824&imageID=105978"><img alt="shoe art" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqy9A0wBvHWr9eJDrAmIj0222OeVjofQYlgSw9yEeEEthd4G7mQkiEbBsQsskQOVgEuzUuJc1KJ-JL0SwWlUy8ju_YXWbE1oRvuH_5sX4zCx3xmRd0QJ8XNkSNAeHZk_dZOZPN3zq3h6o/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="shoe art" width="309" /></a> Or even a little girl’s room – how fun! And yes, you can make your closet a fun space – especially when it’s FREE to do so. ;) I especially loved the maps – this one of Italy because someday I will go there: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWTNHv5A2Eptrl9xXBOTn5hi__aq8hVfywygl4la77uIquslBb96Ac2d6X8Izp3eG0Y2lfY3R7RPtI9cbGCbmJQ4vJD5Gbbhx38j4OimAgn-81StF3czJbAEeagrv1DFodG4_TH5iOoY/s1600-h/image%25255B62%25255D.png"><img alt="map of italy" border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwPU4VkE0D9s7_Pn4sIfB8oYLpSPFipTaKsRFeJ7_VxoS7yiDv3AS03mXDV72jOBqmZ1fIFbON9JzpueXDmCZpWjIZqgUBnxf-fj-gE5LXhemN-e7UbmsdxZ7V3nJVcbvQuVjR1d1Vbs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="map of italy" width="400" /></a> And I loved the aged look and beautiful colors of this one: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uIiKJ90aUfyoU_SYMFnlCWPCWW2JiCi8XPTbm3Zw_-gtFNflxzZYavyoR9Hj1xrfchlGR4KL4vGyhFTmqyLWpDQqfsrow1kOi94jdw4AF9InjxfCv4ZEpyX8WogP_pk29EF5CxTxNEk/s1600-h/image%25255B63%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Y9IhdUmi6yfrpQ86vM9mF7z7oKWOffkcqT9iRZW2PjQDb8oYWz3t6qZG6XSTnpscGVk40tBnENTw1LBKq6xuM_xuL4Q8taXFJXz-TInfmtZozbJpv6U1jep5ERPkiJBIBZclCTP2J-o/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="400" /></a> Wouldn’t that be amazing blown up into a huge print? Originally I had planned on using botanical prints in the family room, and there is an insane amount to pick from on this site! So many beautiful options!: <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchdetail.cfm?trg=1&strucID=344337&imageID=1101767&word=col%5Fid%3A184&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&k=0&lWord=&lField=&sScope=images&sLevel=&sLabel=Nature%20Illustrated%3A%20Flowers%2C%20Plants%2C%20and%2E%2E%2E&total=4165&num=20&imgs=20&pNum=&pos=23"><img alt="botanical prints" border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9_0xJwRXOg-yspkzTpdxTxLUTRMK07IueNwP50Siq6eQMFkiVGUVvY_n8OiClGO3ebd6nQqOsjC-rnfJ57eJmD3N7BY4HEd1VtnFDp8CR80SIcIL18epgQMoWrEx74o8eEcB_1Vw_3A/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="botanical prints" width="290" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBlthhE9MNhQR3tHbtEtpCrIao24om0jRNAEsFFCa5S0jdOBsIqitlgsMdJjBWvzluQeB5UtVDOqOUQvNt8EvmQfqZm8R5tLExh0KxKRKsAQ59eRZ2ayjdcB0wC9-DUbGz6O7MV89TFE/s1600-h/image%25255B67%25255D.png"><img alt="botanical prints" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0y2oaSNxRuuWFKU4RYoGgLH-rh1jz1yCa_9outZ4BWCJxASowcCUni9QNc7ZpGj-NcFMLfMiq0hld150fHJJLMR98SNwOnv_Qk6OGmysLMAuN61FfnpbOiGDNyf_N7V0iUj1_ZTJhbE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="botanical prints" width="270" /></a> You may notice I added some pops of blue throughout the family room space, and I wanted to pull some blue to the wall by the TV to balance it out. When I found the <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?topic=science&col_id=188">Ocean Flowers</a> collection, I was hooked: <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?word=col_id%3A188&sScope=images&sLabel=Ocean%20Flowers%3A%20Anna%20Atkins%27s%20Cyanotypes%20of..."><img alt="image" border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WZT-cTvccGd5nEPGBUL6Gz1FsBkcdNaTPmzEBNdzaetoj4wQ2Z9qeC8oopD_g-oTvrTizSNNnxLnvWJuMYezfn21cU0aTMPqTlTnDsN2oMs2N8q5_6Iv4y2wqpyclPPXERHQyyqZwPs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="280" /></a> <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgkeysearchresult.cfm?word=col_id%3A188&sScope=images&sLabel=Ocean%20Flowers%3A%20Anna%20Atkins%27s%20Cyanotypes%20of..."><img alt="image" border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8V4akPxSj6gwpwJNAyfw38LAFceAfJlK0Yrin-526sMvhmyXBNoX3ZTFyDnQ5qS77XRbV6tlMlBlhPrjDT0sMCCCLcVRWP8mdhQzq75zLxtN-Q09jfUgFrPM1xxFETAG5WkuOGG76kw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="280" /></a> They were set on the most beautiful blue background and I was completely smitten. I thought they were perfect – they were a little bit more laid back than the botanical prints, but also a bit sophisticated. And they were so interesting! All I did was take the image, copy and paste it into a Word document and make it as large as possible. (I made the margins super small.) I had large frames from our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/08/cheap-art.html">powder room art</a> that I took down weeks ago: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4h29Z-4IqM_VUBFpdGh4-jlS9x6Xu_i0ex8KsOHi_fC8I2iXwAwkiEYqmvTQBQLbeIOf67sjMG08ULJBYHLFR20jEbHB1UPBJkeoQZ6vPlzk9kkWOurs7nbmmVfmLPh2MjL50C0PpWE/s1600-h/image%25255B70%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSt1Qnji3HFL5mKXlEZU48U6r2FJFpMZPWbFbmpF0KCpqbWGE47O00AvaqHxDSDyW7EGvl395lqbbsg2sP3lzHX1Qlhz0mk9-JbjO4iaDV421YCWduz1pdCc9RxoYBL1tfq85di-ei-I/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" width="400" /></a> That room is in limbo, waiting patiently for it’s new paint. Wait line bathroom…wait in line. Years ago I had painted the poster board behind those old prints chocolate brown, so I just painted them again. Then I just printed out the art from the Word document, cut it out and taped it to the middle of the poster board:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxKzOnyRG6bUi2Mp0cYbuz45OLtaMAUuqIxEA3MrHTiPJ2t2nHXacoKWtzJZ_8eqfC2yLpykneTdvPpdHEoSiv7hzBu4KUrc6NF_vBNaxwc4BgUUnXjh7w4RpOHi2fL34D9BLOv4mrAs/s1600-h/IMG_5706%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5706" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mkBNGmeeqnQVVySVtbC-MHtrKXlcUlO6K1r2t-LKH17zwO1ogP4vc7LcHs3LGi1EFMvEnpiik6IuS0NRLc_mCRQZlH5Ootz84m51BKZRuiV9Ms_Xn3nVN9LXrQJ9rQTYavLE3Ym_kBE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_5706" width="316" /></a> I doubt I’ll ever pay for mats to be cut again – this looks great every time! I wanted the poster board “mat” to be a flat, white paint, but all I have is glossy white – so I used a very light blue paint I used on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/08/farmhouse-table-turned-desk.html">farmhouse desk</a> in the office. It looks really cool – turns out it’s the exact same tone of blue as the images: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTm95j6RWSscYLFy2RJVrJLDvS3vsakiYMAc8v8SuKCtLipm8QsaxEQOUP5KbfGCDg4u2WBjabqSz1O8GKWf3TLMX_FCCJJOyIoHvVfjZKrlQlB5H7s6BVY5wwfM_SnfLOvoQ3Iz289I0/s1600-h/IMG_5556%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="nyc digital art" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7nI_3JNs1RTiYhEhYOhywU3845gjeB_gZXWTwkEEA4l6p-rMnGT889Hs3X7R5pPNo9GtnnsDhqwlk6a5BbLACzvQttI3RM_aPPVsIBAMn9x9Uq4t_47qG-4QuYQ5LvwwIlTAFdeEsi3w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="nyc digital art" width="320" /></a> I absolutely LOVE how they turned out!! And the best part – I didn’t spend a dime! I printed them on leftover cardstock, but you could just use regular paper (it looked just a good). And if you don’t have frames already, check out Goodwill and spray paint them the color you want. SO easy, so cheap!! You just need a color printer, and if you don’t have one, ask around. :) I love the “gallery” look of the prints: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQay1brdZV7iMaH5shIZD8q02AmMOgRHkxAPUlUmWUtpW-8MBlSxKD7DVSdDW0074VI0YZIY1zNtBKhjaTuAsjeIhcq1eklU4IFqcTkQ8e0UtleUBEA8E5JzS0g99t0mp6nv8FeBEZII/s1600-h/IMG_5708%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNWrA9-23qMWzGl859QP5bP-n4c6nDdQxNInf4SuL6hfJclrCbsUg6bXi76LMhctI7g0LL8PuoK70abEZMmgiqeVej2WrzKBm4rs5jOoa9FAtY-1yKMNemwz-GJVUL4LvzF2wmF6Y5o0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="320" /></a> It filled in that little spot perfectly! And it gave me that pop of blue I wanted on that side of the room: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKOL5vy5SvfencTu-4ZuADEf8BjydiBTQVYrjksopo1TRMoPPYFxJCPuTReTA8S_0aoy863eyXx0hQfwWlnahnOAsTLBzusfHHPSAYu-4ZPndy9lv8taO2cpFKvA8LBQV9p_zFrHNIHI/s1600-h/IMG_5548%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin30ia5I5nznz3q9ApMBGZ1b7fHSoSTZCmlrB94-4PviSSURI7LiMRi-QxGcSk0aKG3ufU7H0ljLDAZ_W_oC0yambP6LzOesGcbziKaeMF-Tv2CvaLHmZQkFOTmxHFoRxS6hrHxzPVVKc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="340" /></a> The fact that these are free is fantastic – but I also love the variety. It’s all so original and different – no one else will have the exact same art. (Well, I guess some of you will, but you probably won’t know each other. So you’re good.) Check out the collections at the Digital Gallery <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm">here</a>. Give yourself some time to browse – you’ll be there awhile. ;) Have you gotten creative and come up with free art? I’d love to hear what you did!

Absolutely FREE (and beautiful!) art

Well my goodness you lovelies – thank you so much for the sweet comments on our family room redo !! You all made my day. :) I SO appreciate ...

10:03 PM

Haven Conference Announcement!

Love for my garden

Before and After Party: Goodwill table

One more day!

Absolutely FREE (and beautiful!) art

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