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Shelbee on the Rags: “Carolina on My Mind” Rag Curtain
If you remember November, you might recall my latest creative adventures which I have named Shelbee on the Rags. I have been creating unique curtains and wall hangings from unwanted clothing (a.k.a. rags). This raggery idea came to me in the summer when I couldn’t find the perfect curtains for my bohemian bedroom makeover so I decided to make my own in the hippie aesthetic that I desired. I did not use unwanted clothing for my bedroom curtains because my initial intention was to sew patchwork curtains from fabrics that I chose at JOANN. Quickly realizing that my sewing skills were not up to par for an undertaking like 3…
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4 Tips to Stay Calm During a Home Project
Navigating through any major renovation can be challenging and stressful considering all of the unknowns that can be a source of great frustration. From dealing with contractors and selecting materials to staying within your budget and adding new systems, everything must come together until successful completion. There are some tried-and-true tactics for finding stress relief and peace of mind in this process. Read on to discover 4 tips for staying calm during home projects. 1. Prioritize and Create a Comprehensive To-Do List Renovation projects can be both rewarding and stressful. To stay sane during a major home project, prioritize tasks according to importance by creating a detailed checklist with everything…
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10 on the 10th: November 2023-10 Favorite Things About Thanksgiving & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #678
It’s time for Marsha in the Middle‘s 10 on the 10th series. For this monthly series, Marsha usually shares 10 questions about a singular topic and invites us to share our answers in blog post form on the 10th of the month. Her questions are such a wonderful way to share more information about ourselves and to learn interesting new things about others. Anyone is invited to join and answer the questions. It is a great way to start new conversations, make meaningful connections with new people, and have a good hearty chuckle every now and then. For November, Marsha decided there would not be 10 individual questions but instead she has asked…
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Shelbee on the Rags
I have been in creative overdrive for months, crafting works of art from rags. Yes, rags. Rags that I have been making from old clothing that was destined for a landfill. Saving as much as I can so as not to contribute to the environmental mess that the fashion industry continues to perpetuate. I am calling this art medium raggery and it suits my bohemian soul perfectly. It all began with my bohemian bedroom makeover when I made rag curtains out of strips of quilting fabric. For this first of my rag curtains, I bought new fabric when it was on a flash sale at JOANN for $2.99 a yard.…
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Happy Horrorful Halloween & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #673
Meet Jim, the newest addition to our spooky Halloween home. He is very tall. Six and half feet actually. And we love him! But I think our neighbors might already kind of hate him. Oh well. He is here to stay until November 1. Each year we add something new to our creepy porch decor. You can see how it has evolved through 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The soldier skeleton is loaned to us by a friend each year and this year we have also added another big spider and a cage to contain the smaller posable skeletons. The cage belonged to George, our beloved and dearly departed bunny.…
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New Home Decor and Upcycle Projects & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #664
I have more updates to share in my bohemian bedroom wall decor as well as a few clothing upcycle projects that I have been working on this summer. I am very pleased with my progress even though I work at a slug’s pace sometimes. But hey, slow progress is still progress! In my bedroom, I completed two more walls with some DIY love. The first is another hat wall to which I added a rope picture hanging thing. I had planned to print some family photos to hang here but then I remembered a book of silly vintage postcards that I have had for years. I have used a lot…
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Home and Sewing Projects Updates & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #661
It is Friday and we are heading to Pennsylvania for a long family weekend in a few hours so I am going to share a lot of pictures with a lot less words for this post. I have been creating and updating and renovating and making over all sorts of things in my home and closet. My creative energies seem to be abundant and overflowing at this stage so I have just been embracing that spirit and riding the tide. So here are a few projects I have been working on around the house. I had finished my gypsy living room in April, but I needed to wait for warmer…
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My Bohemian Bedroom Makeover: In Progress & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #657
My giant home makeover is well underway with the master bedroom finally getting some attention after completing my cloffice, the hallway, the dining room, the living room, the game room, and the boys’ bedroom. I began this huge project in January 2021 once I started to come out of the Covid lockdown blues and actually gained some motivation and momentum. It all started with my closet-office (cloffice) which is much more closet than an office these days since I prefer couch sitting over desk chair sitting. I have slowly made my way through all the main rooms, except my closet room, that required purely cosmetic makeovers before we begin the…
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The Power of Paint: My Gypsy Living Room & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #646
I finally (almost) finished my living room makeover! Although I did want to wait until it was totally complete to share photos, it may not ever be totally complete so now is the time. This first stage of the makeover really was just about the power of paint and how a fresh coat of a new color can dramatically change the whole vibe of a room. My living room went from boring old neutrals (like my dining room) to beautifully tranquil shades of teal. The colors I used are Gypsy Teal (close to Bay Teal) for the fireplace, the accent wall, and the built-in bookcases, Sea Breath for the other…
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6 Ways to Maintain a Pesticide-Free Home
Do you remember the uninvited squirrel guest we had squatting in our eaves back in May? She was not our first unwelcome occupant. Over the years, we have unwillingly provided lodging for mice, yellow jackets, wasps, ants, boxelder bugs, ladybugs, and the occasional bat. We have been able to evict the ants, boxelder bugs, ladybugs, and the occasional bats without outside intervention. However, those sneaky little rodents and any insect wielding a poison-filled stinger required professional assistance for removing them from the premises. Being the old hippie that I am, I look for organic, safe, and humane ways to rid our house of these annoying creatures so I can have…
