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Third Life

06/28/2010

On Saturday, Jason and I finally tackled the job of upholstering the mid-century chair we got at the TN52 Yard Sale. We’ve never upholstered before so it was pretty intimidating. Turns out this chair has been reupholstered once before (hence, the 3rd life.) Here’s the chair how we bought it (for $5):

Amazingly, we only got frustrated with each other one time. That’s pretty good considering it took us about 8 hours. It wasn’t technically hard just time consuming. It was very much like a puzzle. Jason told someone yesterday that we do projects together— that’s how we avoid marriage counseling.

I’m so thankful I got just enough fabric (4 yards) from IKEA a few weeks ago. I think there might even be enough to do a few throw pillows for the couch.

I took these pictures before we were 100% done. We’re going to add 2 buttons to the back before we can tack the last piece of fabric onto the back. We’re really pleased with how it came out and I think it was worth all the sleep we sacrificed this weekend!

5 Comments | Art, Art: crafts, Art: interior design, Art: mid-century design | Tagged: chair, furniture, mid-century, upholstry | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

06/25/2010

2 Comments | Art, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Birthdays are Fun!

06/24/2010

Actually, I could have called this post Gifts are Fun! But that sounds kind of … materialistic. Maybe gifts is my love language. Regardless, I’m so thankful for each of my thoughtful, wonderful friends and family members and I got some really neat things that I thought I’d share with you. Not literally, you know, just in pictures.

I mentioned yesterday that my first birthday gift was Gee-Wiz.

My sister and brother-in-law sent this beautiful bag from a recent trip to Nicaragua. It seems to match almost everything and is the perfect size!

My brother and his wife sent The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey since I’ve been wanting to read it. I forgot to take a photo but really, it’s not a pretty book anyway.

I got a canister of my all-time favorite tea, Mango Ceylon Republic of Tea, from our friends Nate and Kala. Yummy! I have this everyday and somehow never get sick of it.

My sister-in-law found some great things, just my style. A cute screen printed burlap bag containing a cute little retro journal, gift certificate for a manicure (we’ll go together), and this really fun book by Pop Ink called Fluffy Humpy Poopy Puppy. Tons of wonderful illustrations and funny quips. I need another copy to cut up and frame.

And the mack-daddy of crafting inspiration: Martha Stewert’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. My parents got me this lovely book and a metal water canteen.

My dear husband got me some new tank tops that I LOVE! I can only find a photo online of this one, which is actually more of a beach cover up. (Hooray for beach vacation next month!)

And our friends Leila and Jeremy went over the top giving me a new outfit (skinny jeans and a shirt), candy (that I’ve already eaten), swimming googles (that are already in my pool bag) and a handmade pocket mirror (that I’m too lazy to dig out of my purse to photograph.)

Thanks everyone!! I feel very loved!

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: crafts, Art: fashion, Art: modern design, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends, Family: Jason, Family: Me | Tagged: birthday gifts, books | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Gee-Wiz!

06/23/2010

My first birthday gift this year came from my dear friends who love hunting for mid-century treasure even more than Jason and I. While at an antique mall in Kentucky, they found me this vintage horse race game called Gee Wiz. I did a little research and it was manufactured in the 1920’s. That means it’s almost 90 years old. That’s nuts! It’s a cool collectible and a very unique birthday gift that I’ll treasure.

Thanks Renata and Sean!

1 Comment | Art, Art: mcm thrift store find, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: birthday gift, gee-wiz | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Our Vegetable (& Fruit) Garden – June 2010

06/21/2010

In a continuation of Thursday’s post about our garden, here is a look around our vegetable garden and the fruit trees, plants & bushes we have around our yard.

Our green and red pepper plants are not doing so great and we’re not sure why. The plants each have a pepper but have few yellowish leaves and don’t seem to be growing much. We have one head of romaine lettuce, one brussel sprout plant and lots of grape, cherry, better boy and beef steak tomatoes. (BTW, we’re much happier with the beef steak than the better boy this year. I think this is the last year we’re going to plant better boy.)

The peach tree is doing pretty well. We have some little black spots on our peaches but not the big black mold spots like last year (known as Black Spot, from too much rain.)

I can’t wait for these babies to get ripe!

I’ve been loving the black raspberries this year! I’m looking forward to the bush getting bigger so we can eat more than 1 or 2 berries at a time.

Foreground – flowering yucca in our cactus garden. Background, l-r – vegetable garden, compost bin, peach tree.

I know it’s out of focus but that there is a cute, teeny little watermelon. We have 3 or 4 of these pea size cuties so far.

Jason’s Mexican (key) lime tree is looking good. I wonder if we’ll have enough to make a key lime pie.

1 Comment | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation | Tagged: fruit, our yard, vegetable garden | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Phone Photo Friday

06/18/2010

1 Comment | Art, Art: graphic design, Art: Phone Photo Friday | Tagged: cell phone photography, cubicle, Phone Photo Friday | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Our Garden – June 2010

06/17/2010

Are you ever just sitting somewhere enjoying a lovely scene and you think “I should take a picture!” That’s what happened last night while I was sitting out on the patio eating a popsicle. I am so grateful for our beautiful garden and sometimes I become like a proud mama with my camera …

it was getting dark so the lighting on these photos was weird and I was experimenting.

Here’s our garden last month if you’d like to compare: Our Garden – May 2010

Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: gardening, Art: God's creation | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Jeré Owl

06/16/2010

I wish I could say this Curtis Jeré owl is now sitting on my bookshelf at home but alas … it’s price tag kept it anchored to the shelf at Wonders on Woodland. If you have an extra $225 lying around this beautiful piece of metal sculpture could be yours or … mine if you buy it and then give it to me. That would be fine. Have I mentioned my birthday is on Saturday?

For now, I’ll just enjoy this photo taken with J’s phone.

1 Comment | Art, Art: mcm thrift store find, Art: mid-century design, Art: modern design | Tagged: curtis jere, jeré owl, sculpture, Wonders on Woodland | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt

Bathroom Renovation Stage 13

06/15/2010

It’s been a while since I’ve updated about our master bathroom renovation. That’s because we stopped working on it for a while. But, I do have some good news to report – the sink and vanity are installed!

Jason and I tiled the top of the vanity and then he put in the sink and faucet and did all the plumbing.

The bathroom is almost completely done. Just a few finishing touches that we’ll get around to eventually … baseboards, a door to the laundry room, caulking around the vanity. But it’s mostly done and fully functional. Yay!

In case you’re bored:

Bathroom Renovation Stage 1

Bathroom Renovation Stage 2

Bathroom Renovation Stage 3

Bathroom Renovation Stage 4

Bathroom Renovation: Tiling!

Bathroom Renovation Stage 5

Bathroom Renovation Stage 6

Bathroom Renovation Stage 7

Bathroom Renovation Stage 8

Concrete Shower Pan Goes Down Smooth

Bathroom Renovation Stage 9