{ditto} DIY

{ditto} DIY:: Disco. Disco Trash

August 5, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 229 Comments

Welcome to the August {ditto} DIY challenge!

Once a month all summer long, ten very different bloggers have been hosting this challenge to recreate in our own homes a project or design element inspired by a haute couture design. The idea is to inspire everyone to incorporate fine design elements into your own home in a way that fits your own style. (For more details on what {ditto}DIY is all about, check out this post!

We have been so thrilled to have so many of you join our challenge each month, but between busy school schedules and work commitments this fall and not one but TWO babies on their way for our little blogger posse, we decided it might be best to take a break until next year. Thank you SO much to all of you for joining in the fun!

Once again, our ten hosting bloggers include:

Darlene @ Fieldstone Hill Design
Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less
Cindy @ Skip to My Lou
Jen @ Balancing Beauty & Bedlam
Edie @ Life in Grace
Rachel @ Surviving the Stores
Karin @ Trophy Mom Diaries
Lauren @ I am THAT Lady
Kelly @ View Along The Way
Melissa @ The Inspired Room

This month’s theme is decorative trash cans, and this was our inspiration photograph:

The {ditto} DIY Challenge:

Add a classy pattern to a garbage can

Y’all.

Sometimes, you just gotta know when to fold ’em.

And since I gave up homeschooling and my mid-life crisis is just around the corner, I’m throwing in the towel, left and right. The arrival of my disco ball has really helped my mental state. Something about a disco balls just makes you wanna put on your boogie shoes. No? (thank you, Melanie, for getting that song stuck in my head for an entire weekend!) If you’re feeling the need for your own disco ball, don’t be shy———-> American Dj M-2020 Twenty Inch Glass Mirror Ball

(Nester is to blame for my whole disco ball obsession. I love Ashley’s too. Mine is a little ginormous but I figure, go big or go home!)

I say all that to say…….

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I seem to obsessed with all things that sparkle. And Emme’s tween room (still in progress but full post coming!) is the perfect excuse to go headlong into mirrored heaven.

heyy'all

Don’t forget that I have a giant mirrored chandelier in my living room. I’ve always been a fan of things a bit outrageous!

But, I digress.

I have a thing or two to confess. First thing is—I didn’t actually do a DIY this month. But I really wanted to, if that counts. Since I’ve had disco ball on the brain, I wanted to try to DIY a mirrored trash can. A disco can, if you will. But then, I went into TJ MAXX this week and lo and behold—a lovely disco can was sitting there, just begging to save me from small shards of glass in all my finger tips. I bought it and am calling it a day. So, what I’m telling you is—if I would have done a DIY, this would have been it. (Notice the gold vanity? And the hardware that we’ve yet to replace? THAT? I DIY’d. More later!) This tween room is turning out just lovely.

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And now comes the fun part! It is time to link up your own fabulous trash can projects and join our LAST {ditto} DIY party of the summer! It wouldn’t be much of a party if you didn’t stick around, so be sure to check out as many projects as you can! Then be sure to visit Darlene’s site for some expert design tips & inspiration on incorporating bold pattern into everyday objects.

{ditto} DIY:: Framed Fabric and a Cross

July 1, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 197 Comments

Welcome to the July {ditto} DIY challenge!

Once a month ten very different bloggers are hosting this challenge to recreate in our own homes a project or design element inspired by a haute couture design. The idea is to inspire everyone to incorporate fine design elements into your own home in a way that fits your own style. (For more details on what {ditto}DIY is all about, check out this post [INSERT LINK TO YOUR INTRO POST].)

The ten hosting bloggers include:

This month’s theme is Framed Fabric, and this was our inspiration photograph:

{A framed pair of Ikat fabric art. Image via Neiman Marcus.}

The {ditto} DIY Challenge:

Frame some Fabric! Any fabric, any way….then use it in a lovely display.

Here is my Framed Fabric {ditto}DIY project:

I simply used modge podge to glue a cherished piece of fabric to a piece of cardboard, which I then stuck in a frame.

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I’ve got it in my workroom for now but I have a propensity for moving things around and this little treasured frame could end up in my sultry master or in the living room or even in the kitchen.

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What makes this humble little piece of fabric so special is that it was given to me by a very special momma last week, while I was traveling in Nicaragua with Compassion Bloggers.

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I knew I wanted to do something special with it when I got back and this month’s {ditto} DIY couldn’t have been more perfect.

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I was so blessed to be able to meet the girls we sponsor and Diana’s mother makes extra money to help feed their family doing clothing repairs. She has one of those old fashioned sewing machines that uses a peddle. I was not a quick study……

(those machines are HARD to use!)

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but together, we stitched this cross, as a reminder that our hearts are forever entwined in mutual love and partnership for Diana. She does all the hard work for her daughter and I commit to pray and write and send $38 per month so Diana can go to school, receive medical care, hear the Gospel, and receive emotional and social support from the amazing staff at project N-186. It frees Diana’s family up to provide for their other children. Read the story of her beautiful family here and how her father is loving and providing, against all odds.

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The framed cross reminds me to pray and to count every blessing.

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Do you have some sentimental piece of fabric you could frame? It’s SO easy.

I just took the piece of cardboard that came with the frame and brushed modge podge onto it and applied the cut fabric. I let it dry all day and then, tada!

Easiest project EVER.

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And now comes the fun part! It is time to link up your own fabulous framed fabric projects and join the {ditto} DIY party! It wouldn’t be much of a party if you didn’t stick around, so be sure to check out as many projects as you can! Then be sure to visit Darlene’s site for a peek at next month’s challenge along with some expert design tips on incorporating framed fabric accents into your home.

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{ditto} DIY:: Tween Girl’s Room and a Gold Painted Table

June 3, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 235 Comments

Welcome to the June {ditto} DIY challenge!

The ten hosting bloggers include:

This month’s theme is Go for the GOLD, and this was our inspiration photograph:

{Art and design by Samantha Reitmayer Sano of Style/Swoon.}

The {ditto} DIY Challenge:

Gild something, or paint it gold! Then use it in a lovely display.

Here is my Go For the GOLD {ditto}DIY project: Tween Girl’s Room (in progress) with a Painted Gold Table

Girl's tween room ( with a painted gold table)

I’m right in the middle of working on a tween room for my very adorable tween daughter. She’s been asking to move into the ‘craft room’ for awhile, but I have loved her sharing a room with her sister all these years and wanted to wait until I felt it was the right time for a switch. I finally said yes (after a year of weighing the options) and we’ve had so much fun collecting inspiration photos on our tween room pin board, and talking about what she loves and would like to incorporate into her room. We are early in the planning stages so don’t let the above photo fool you. The room may not end up that color and most of the stuff is all borrowed from other rooms. We half-way/sorta painted (as in one quick coat to see if we like it) one side of that wall pink, spray painted the table gold (which I ADORE!), borrowed stuff from every room in the house that fit with her girly/glam/vintage vibe—all the while knowing that none of this stuff may stay where it is, if it stays at all. We stole the rug from the downstairs kitchen, the antlers (which she wants for jewelry storage after seeing her friend, Leah, do something similar) from the living room, the bedding from the camp room and some pillows from various and sundry places in the house. I really like it so far but what I like most is taking photos of it to see 1) if we like the paint color, 2) if like the white bedding, 3) if we need to find another rug. This is my favorite way to decorate; lots of trial and error.

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(Brendan Manning quote purchased at Lovely Words Etsy Shop)

What I love so much about the color palette are the various shades of pink/red/coral with the dark brown/black to give it a strong foundation. The gold glams it up just right.

I started with this table. Lightly sanded it and then spray painted it gold. Easy as pie.

table turns to gold

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I started here with the gold table and the cute but tiny little head planted from Hobby Lobby, and just kept adding things from around the house.

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When I say we sorta painted the wall, I tell no lies. (Notice upper left corner.) I think we are both in agreement on this color but negotiations continue.

Despite my shotty work on the walls, I did do a bang up job on the table, with less than one can of gold spray paint. And now nothing seems out of my golden reach. I have the Midas touch. Beware, bust of David. You would be smashing in gold.

Girl's tween room ( with a painted gold table)

So, there you have it. A tween room that is less than a fourth of the way done. It’ll be a fun summer project, which I’d love to have done before I travel with Compassion to Nicaragua. That’s looking mighty iffy at this point. Stay tuned!

(And many thanks for your love and prayers last week. You are dear friends and I’m so thankful for you.)

And now comes the fun part! It is time to link up your own fabulous Go for the GOLD projects and join the {ditto} DIY party! It wouldn’t be much of a party if you didn’t stick around, so be sure to check out as many projects as you can! Then be sure to visit Darlene’s site for a peek at next month’s challenge along with some expert design tips on incorporating gold accents into your home. (HINT: This design challenge could very well use something that is just sitting in your closet, and turn it into gorgeous art work for your walls!)

(The link-up opens at 8am!)

Ditto/DIY::Painted Tray Vignette

May 6, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 156 Comments

Welcome to our first {ditto} DIY challenge!

Once a month, beginning today, nine very different bloggers are attempting to recreate in our own homes a project or design element inspired by a haute couture design selected by Darlene Weir of Fieldstone Hill Design. (For more details on what {ditto}DIY is all about, check out this post!}

Ruth @ Living Well Spending Less
Cindy @ Skip to My Lou
Jen @ Balancing Beauty & Bedlam
Edie @ Life in Grace
Rachel @ Surviving the Stores
Karin @ Trophy Mom Diaries
Lauren @ I am THAT Lady
Kelly @ View Along The Way
Melissa @ The Inspired Room

Remember that beginning next month (on Monday, June 3rd) we are inviting you ALL to join the {ditto} DIY challenge! Be sure to visit Darlene to catch a peek of NEXT month’s {ditto} DIY challenge so that you ALL can join the fun! (Hint: We’ll be going for the GOLD!)

In case you’ve forgotten, this was our first inspiration photograph:

{A chic painted tray and vanity vignette, from the home of nina bergsten, photography by marcus lawett.}

The {ditto} DIY Challenge:

Create your own painted tray and vanity vignette.

Here is my first {ditto}DIY project:

DIY painted tray vignette via lifeingrace

Oh, how I love this little collection of color!

So, here’s how this vignette came together for me.

I’ve been wanting to add a tray to the striped bathroom for awhile. This room may have knocked the workroom out of favorite room status but I was thinking that it needed a tray of some kind to corral a pretty collection of things. Then, it dawned on me that maybe I just love this room so much because David is in here? I’ve been suspecting that I’m partial to any room where David is located because I’ve really missed him in the kitchen. What? You find that odd? You think I’m off my rocker? That’s not news, good people. That’s a well-established fact. But still. Humor me. Wouldn’t you be just a little attached to David, once you got over the shock that a large bust of a Biblical character was privy to your bathroom situations?

Long story even more painful? I want a David in every room.

There, I said it.

striped bath DIY

The good news is? At this point, I have two Davids. (Myquillin sent me one right after the fire because she gets me and because friends don’t let friends live in a world where busts of David do not exist.) So, I moved big David back to the kitchen and spray painted little David hot pink. I don’t know why. I just did it and it set off a firestorm of creative sparks in my head—which eventually led to little David joining Aphrodite in the bathroom. Match made in heaven, if you ask me.

I wanted a tray with a mirrored or reflective surface so that the glory of this unlikely pair could really shine. I didn’t have a tray (that I wanted to paint) so I bought a cheap black lacquer tray at TJ Maxx and used the antique looking glass spray paint to add some glam to the surface. (The paint is pricey but I used my Hobby Lobby 40% off coupon and got it for about $7.)

Bye-bye butterflies.

Hello, mirrored beauty. And to be fair, this “looking-glass” spray paint really looks more metallic than mirror-ish but I like the effect and it glams up an otherwise okay tray.

DIY painted tray vignette via lifeingrace

Do you have any idea how much this simple little project makes me happy? You don’t, do you? Listen. It’s the kind of happy that keeps on giving every. single. time. you have to potty. It makes a trip to the bathroom more like a field trip to a cool museum. Or to the carnival, only without cotton candy and deep fried oreos.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the smallest, most insignificant spaces are a great place for high design. As soon as you get tired of working on it, you’re done.

Speaking of design, I’m working on something brand new for the room over the garage. Follow along on my Pinterest boards, but don’t tell Darlene, because this project may or may not involve some changes in the girls’ room. {It seems almost blasphemous.}

Also, head over to her place to see the inspiration photo for next month, where you are invited and encouraged to play along with the fun and intriguing challenge of using gilding in a project.

DIY painted tray vignette via lifeingrace

On Monday, June 3rd, we are inviting you ALL to join the {ditto} DIY challenge! Be sure to check out everyone else’s projects and to visit Darlene’s site for a peek at next month’s challenge along with some expert design tips on incorporating painted tray vignettes into your home.

DIY painted tray vignette via lifeingrace

Sources for my favorite room in the house:

Paint colors—Sherwin Williams Sea Salt and Urban Bronze

Antique Federal Mirror—Antique store, Abingdon, VA

Bust of Aphrodite—Pottery Barn

Anthropologie-esqu spoon flower vase—gift from Shannon (tutorial included!)

Floral Art Print—Lulie Wallace (almost all my artwork comes from One King’s Lane)

Whitman: Poems (Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets)

Fruits & Passion Fruits & Passion Cucina Purifying Hand Wash – Coriander and Olive Oil

Planter—Ross
BERGAMOT TOBACCO DIFFUSER ~~ Archipelago Botanicals Aromatherapy Home Fragrance Signature Series All Natural Premium Scented Oil Diffuser W/ Deluxe Gift Box

(best scent in the free world and lasts FOREVER)

Keats: Poems (Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets)

My question for you is this. What do you keep in your bathroom for reading material? Inquiring busts of David want to know.

{ditto} DIY

April 22, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 218 Comments

DITTO DIY_logo

Have you ever looked at home decorating magazine or watched a design show on HGTV and wished you could make your own rooms look that good? Design is not always about expertise or even an unlimited budget, but more about taking inspiration and making it work for your own space. That is the philosophy behind Ditto DiY.

Once a month, beginning in May, nine very different bloggers will attempt to recreate in their own homes a project or design element inspired by a haute couture design selected by the (uber talented) Darlene Weir of Fieldstone Hill Design.

Rebuilding my house from the ground up forced me think about my decorating style, to give it words. Darlene recommends even creating a Pinterest board of spaces you love and then studying them. I came up with five words and a quote, that summarize my style: eclectic, cottage, Texas, vintage, and Southern chic. (I’d love to know your words in the comments!).

“A sense of gracious invitation. Warm, personal colors. Respect and reverence for our past. Subtle intelligence.”

My strength is decorating is that I know what I like. My weakness is in editing the room or vignette to not include EVERYthing I like. This should be fun!

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In addition to Darlene, the participating bloggers include:

Be sure to pop over to each of these fabulous ladies’ sites to find out more about their personal style, as well as to discover their own decorating strengths & weaknesses!

So here’s what happens next: Monday, May 6th, all nine of us will share our inspired DiY projects, while Darlene will provide expert design tips on incorporating the featured design element into your own space. She will then also present our inspiration photograph for the following month. The truly fun part will be seeing what different interpretations of the same photograph this incredibly eclectic group comes up with!

After you’ve had a month to see what Ditto DiY is all about, we will be inviting you ALL to participate! Beginning in the first Monday in June (and every first Monday of the month after that), all you with blogs will be able to link up. (Non-bloggers can share your pictures on our Ditto DiY Facebook Page!)

Be sure to tune in Monday, May 6th to check out our first Ditto DiY projects. And now, without further ado, here is this month’s inspiration:

{ditto} DIY

This month’s Inspiration, selected by our interior designer:

A chic painted tray and vanity vignette, from the home of nina bergsten, photography by marcus lawett.

The {ditto} DIY Challenge:

Create your own painted tray and vanity vignette.

Designer Thoughts:

“Study the image above, and be inspired by the sophistication and simplicity of this design. The attention to each detail adds up to a beautiful vignette. “

Can you come up with three words that best describe your style? Do your spaces reflect those words? Wouldn’t it be fun to take small projects like this and slowly incorporate your vision into your home?!