DIY -- Pinch Pleat Comforter -- Kissing Pleat Comforter

I can't believe it has been almost a year since I made my daughter a Pinch Pleat Comforter/Duvet -- or Kissing Pleat Comforter/Duvet.  They were all over the internet, and so was the price, so we did a DIY, you can see it at, Bang by Lo, as well as her cute dog laying on it.

It was so easy.  Now, I am contemplating some in white, or maybe just like a sheet to throw over, faster to wash, and more temperature friendly in the summer.  It gets hot here in the southwest.

Pinch Pleat/Kissing Pleat Duvet DIY Below.

I started with King Duvet,(for a queen bed -- it will get smaller as you pinch) $20, great deal. I did do a good prewash.

I used a Postal Service (not pictured) large Flat Rate Box and marked my X's where I wanted them. they are about 14" square.  I just used good old chalk.  The 1/2" cardboard strip is to make the pleat kiss.

I simply put the cardboard on the duvet, and pinched it, and then I handsewed it (no sewing machine at the time).  I used a thick black thread and did 5 loops and tied it off and cut it.  Simple and fast.  There are 100's of them.  Only took one night, and a marathon on Bravo TV of Million Dollar Decorators.
I didn't show the back, as it got smaller, there is excess fabric, so I just pinched it folded over and sewed it smaller, as I started with a completed duvet.  If you sew, you can just use sheets, then sew together, and you won't have this problem, or you could cut the back of the duvet (sould have done that) and cut out excess fabric, and then sew back closed.  Either way, love the look.

As you can see, I also pinched the shams, the bonus of buying an already made duvet.

The finished project below, which was before she changed her nighstands. 

An update -- sorry crummy phone pic.  An update almost a year later still holding up amazing. Love the -- hard to see upcycled repainted nightstands -- another post.

She has a great fashion blog at Bang by Lo, check it out. 

I have a list of projects a mile long.
Keep checking, I will be posting as I do them.  Kitchen repaint, patio overhall, finish wine room, gardening, vegetable gardening, and that is just the small start of it.
Make it a great Monday.

5 Minute Breakfast Sandwich -- McMom

Quick shout out for another of last weeks projects -- my resealed concrete counters -- may have to do a little resealing by the sink (not crazy about how that area turned out)  but everything else was great!!

Now on to a great breakfast sandwich.

I love breakfast sandwiches -- anytime of day.

Here is a quick one and easy.  What you really need is a microwave egg poacher.  Makes a great fast egg.  You can find these gadgets at most supermarkets -- grocery stores for under $4. 

Gather your ingredients  -- eggs, english muffins, or bagels, cheese if you would like it, and bacon or the canadian bacon slices. 

I use the precooked bacon -- takes 20 seconds to heat in microwave, then I start with my eggs.

There is a trick to these gadgets.....

Microwave egg poacher.

  

Put your eggs in, then pierce the yolk several times with a fork, kind of move it around.  Then put 1 generous teaspoon (I just use a spoon like I would eat with) of water on top (so the top will cook evenly.  Then microwave.  Now this is where you have to do a little trial and error.  2 eggs in my micro are totally done in 2 minutes.  1 egg, about 1 min.  I like a hard cooked egg.  If you like them runny -- less time. 

Ready to go.  Scoop out with spoon, put on your bread and yum.

Just like a drive thru.

Need a quick egg for a Ceasar Salad?  Poach one in the micro, cool a bit, slice/chop and pop on your salad.   How about a BLT with egg?  Great any time of day. 

Pass-thru Dining Rooms

I have been doing tons of projects around the house, will start posting tomorrow.  Garden, fences, refinishing concrete counters, wow, I have been busy.  Still pondering the clearstory windows.  In the mean time, one more dining room post, with a link up to Thrifty Decor Chick.

I have what you would call a pass-thru dining room.  You pass thru it to get to most rooms in the house.  It is an old 1947 house.  This is the view when you walk in the front door, the formal  living room is what I am standing in, and on my left.  If you walk into the dining room your choices are, kitchen left, bedrooms, right, and family room and more bedrooms straight ahead.  What I love about this room is the outdoor light fixture that we hung, it makes the most beautiful patterns on the wall.

I love the light patterns.

A view with the light off.  I have candles that run down the middle of the table.  Art on wall is by Ed Wyatt, amazing art, check out his site.

I love lighting all the candles.

 My walmart placemats.

Make it a great Monday.

Bookcase Down -- Wall Textured -- Awkward Spaces

Bookcases removed.  Or as I like to say -- Bookcases Down.  Notice the crack in the wall on the left.

Crack in wall patched.

Preparing for texture and spray.  We have a heavy knock off texture on our walls.  The joys of old houses and crummy walls and additions.  Anyway, if you are going to texture/match/retexture large spaces it is easiest to spray it.  The taping off is the longest, messiest, hardest part. 

 Take note of the Cheetah Duct Tape. 

Close up of textured wall.

Wall textured, tv moved, and still an awkward space with the Johnny pole.  But, the pole isn't going anywhere, so I will have to Tim Gunn it and "Make it work".

 Another view of the room.  Still finding places for TV stuff.  Hmmmmm.

Ugly clearstory windows.  Now, what to do with them.  They let in light, but they also are ugly, really ugly.

The joys of never ending projects. Now to paint the wall, fix the fences, and fix, and fix, and fix. Oh, and garden planted.  Will label and photo today or tomorrow.  Happy Monday.

Happy Easter Weekend

Happy Easter Weekend.

If you haven't checked out Better Homes and Gardens, web site, do, they have some great ideas over there.  Love this garden with a cinder block bench.

Love this mixed table.  Dark wood and the director's chairs.  Really affordable, and really fresh looking too.  Oh, and can't get enough of the gray walls.

Photos above, eggs, me, others, BHG.com - Better Homes and Gardens.
I will be trying to work on some projects this weekend, more this week, and more awkward spaces.

Hiding Back/Side of Toilet

I don't know what to say.  Old houses -- built in 1947 -- old additions -- can anyone say 1970's?  This will end up being a series of posts.  This is our en suite (on suite if you prefer).  If you can call it an en suite.  Seriously, it is a closet type 3/4 bath.  If you enter from the family room, to our master, you put your arm out so the door doesn't hit you.  If you are sitting in our master, you can and do get a beautiful view of the toilet.  But that's not the post.  Seriously, thousands of dollars and remodels later it could be solved (I don't plan on the thousands of dollars and remondels).  But the post is about making it work.  Yep, as Tim Gunn says "Make it work".

I can't believe I am taking a photo of a toilet.  Oh well, making it work for $7.  Seriously, $7 at Marshalls, and it is the right height, and hides the yuk of the back of the toilet.  Perfect.

More working with awkward spaces tomorrow.  Enjoy.

Low Carb Macaroni Salad w/Curry

I love macaroni salad.  This is a low carb, lower glycemic index macaroni salad.  Enjoy.

First, I use the Dreamfields pasta elbows.  If you don't need low carb the ditalini pasta is also great for this.

Gather your ingredients.  I use mayo -- your choice, Mrs. Dash (for chicken - I like the spices in it), Celery Salt, and Curry Powder.
Boil, rinse, drain pasta, and cool.  I used 1/2 cup of pasta (all I had)  so just double it for more.
1 generous - very generous Tablespoon of mayo, stir in, then 3 shakes of Mrs. Dash, 3 shakes of celery salt, and 1/2 Teaspoon of Curry Powder.  Mix it up.

Now, if you like more curry you can certainly add more,  if it feels a little gritty, add a dash more mayo.  Then chill.

Yum.

Now I like veggies, so to my 1/2 cup of pasta I added 1/2 cup each of celery and mixed bell peppers.  Look how much it turns it into.

My veggie version.

Don't overload on the curry, you can always add more.  I find that after this has been in the fridge for a bit the curry flavor really comes out.

Truthfully, this dish is best the very next day.  Really tastes better.

Happy Wednesday.

Veggies Hiding from April Snow

Yes, that's snow.  Snow on April 3rd in the Southwest.  Scroll down and see my poor veggies hiding on my porch from the cold.

It is a wet snow, not supposed to stick around long.  Good news is, I don't have to water anything.  That is always good news.

Snow on my Easter decorations out front. 

Here they are, my veggies hiding on the porch under a big leaf bag staying warm.

My veggies, just eaiting to be planted.  Not freezing here, it is 34 degrees, but still cold enough.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

No More Bookshelves - Styling a TV Wall

We have had a love hate relationship with these bookshelves since we moved in years ago.  They have been painted, and repainted many times.  Here they are loaded with photos, books, and tchotchkes. 

 In this photo the shelves have been repainted again, and cleaned up. 

In this photo we have moved the books to various places (armoires, etc -- another post).  The photos are being put into a collage and one or maybe two of those digital frames.

Here they are removed.  Wall patch anyone?  Wow -- looks vacant, and sounds kind of hollow. Thursday night when we couldn't find any TV we wanted to watch, we decided to pull them out.

I so wish I could stuff a couch in where the TV is by the steps, then it would feel like the Draper's apartment in Mad Men with the super sunken living room.  Smile.  But, I am sure I will just repaint and try and decide what to do with the TV and all it's stuff.  The wall is concrete -- an old outside wall, so debating on the hanging of the TV.  Now on to styling a TV wall.

Suggestions?