Wedding Guest Post: Delightful DIY from Owl Really

Hi! I'm Jamie from Owl Really and I'm so excited to be guest-blogging while Lenore is away celebrating her new marriage! I'm also a newlywed and on the side of my full-time job, I have a booth at the Tennessee Antique Mall in Nashville, TN. Most of my free time is spent "picking" - I love to rummage! I blog about vintage items/stories of interest and I feature my fun finds on my blog as well as "favorite finds" from friends, neighbors, and other bloggers. See the entire Favorite Finds series - and be sure to read all about Lenore's vintage globe on Owl Really!

Usually, I attend estate sales in order to find my items, but I'm up for hunting anywhere! My husband and I recently visited Music City Auction. We swung by about 2 hours after the start of the auction, so they were deep into furniture. (This auction house typically starts with "smalls" and moves into furniture as the night goes on.) We were there for about an hour before I saw anything I was interested in, but then I saw it: a cute white armchair! I bid and won - it was exciting!

When we picked up the chair before we left, I noticed it was a little more outdated (and not, in my opinion, in a cute retro way) that I originally thought. I liked the clean lines and the tufting, but the chair was skirted and I'm all about legs on furniture! I felt a tinge of regret, but decided I would make the most of my new purchase.

it was also dirty - exhibit A: huge footprint on the cushion!

I inspected the chair to see how I could transform it. I knew it needed a good cleaning and I had a hunch that if I could just remove the chair skirt, it would make a world of difference. I started researching removing skirts from chairs and came across this inspiring before & after:

An ugly chair became so stylish, just by removing the skirt and showing off the legs! I hoped my chair would have the same fate!

If you want to do this project on your own chair, be sure to inspect it carefully to make sure ripping the skirt off won't damage the other upholstery or reveal any strange defects in the chair.

You will need:

• patience :)
  
• scissors
• pliers
• staplegun (as needed)
  

In the example I found above, the owner was able to fold the fabric under the chair and staple it in place. Luckily, my skirt was stapled to the outside of the chair and there were 2 rows of piping - one above the skirt and a row of piping under the skirt which meant once I pulled the skirt off, there was a line of piping which makes the chair look really finished!

Here's a close-up of the skirt:

there's a row of piping under the skirt!

I started on the back of the chair, just in case anything went wrong. I managed to pull some of the piping away from the chair and cut it - then all I had to do was rip it.

When I ripped the piping, some of the staples came out with the piping and some did not.

I have not worked with upholstery very much, but if you're like me and you've ever pulled up carpet to reveal hardwood floors, you're really familiar with pulling staples! I used my trusty pliers to pull out the many, many staples. You can barely see the holes the staples left behind, but I've heard you can steam holes out of fabric if needed.

Be warned - some of the staples came out easily and some did not. I had to carefully run my finger across the fabric to feel if any remnants were left behind and then pull those out.

All in all, it didn't take very long - maybe 45 minutes tops! It turned out to be such a cute armchair that I think looks a little Hollywood Regency with the diamond tufting and curved arm fronts. Toss a few colorful pillows on it, and voila!



Have you ever removed a chair skirt? Do you have a chair that needs updating like this? It's so easy!

You can find affordable chairs in so many places and I highly recommend auctions. They can be a little intimidating at first, but they're pretty easy once you know the basics. You can read about my auction adventures and tips for auctions here!

A note on cleaning the chair - I used stain remover and diluted laundry detergent to lift the stains. It took several sessions of spraying it with stain remover, but it finally looked fresh and new!

Thanks for reading and please check me out on OwlReally.com!

Jamie

Wedding Guest Post: On Love and Marriage by Lady of the Arts

Hello Lather. Write. Repeat. readers! I'm Ren and I blog over at  Lady of the Arts.  I'm excited to be guest posting while Lenore is away getting hitched - congrats Lenore!

On Love

My husband and I have been married for eleven years

We got married in a tacky wedding chapel in Las Vegas

In fact that was our criteria- 

We rented a limo and had the driver take us around to the tackiest wedding chapels in town

We chose the one with the white picket fence, astroturf and steeple

It was just the two of us

We are not romantic 

We don't celebrate Valentines Day or buy each other birthday or hanukkah gifts 

If he leaves for work, before I wake up, he leaves me a note and makes coffee.  

When we lived in Detroit he would fill my car up with gas in the winter.

Now in the dessert he fills my car up for me in the summer.

If I forget to bring a glass of water upstairs before bed, he'll get me one.

He says yes to anything I want

When I'm the worst- he tells me I'm the best.

We had a short courtship- less than a year before we were married. 

When we found each other is was bashert. 

We didn't wait, we didn't take time to figure it out- we were just grateful to have found each other. 

We have a lifetime to figure it out.

According to Jewish writings before a male child is born, a 'voice from heaven' announces who he will marry- bashert means 'it is meant to be'- fate or destiny. 

The word bashert can be used to refer to any kind of fortuitous good match, such as finding the perfect job or the perfect house, but it is usually used to refer to one's soul mate.

Dr. J is my bashert and I am his.

This poem is a favorite of ours:

On Marriage
Kahlil Gibran
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
 

Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Have a lovely day everyone and stop by and say hello over at Lady of the Arts!

Ren

Wedding Guest Post: Fall Wish List from Village

First off, Lenore...I can't believe you're getting married and I can't believe how long it's already been that I've been reading your blog and I also can't believe that I'm all..sad that I"m not there to celebrate with you! I wish you the BEST of days for your wedding day, with all my heart!

Secondly...these two things (lamp // bag ) would make me a happy girl - I'd feel so polished with both of them...or as people around here like to say 'posh'.

So that Lenore dear, is what I'm coveting today ;) What are you all coveting for fall?


xo,
Krystal
(Village)

Wedding Guest Post: Style Peek from Sweet Laundry Loves

Hello! I’m Lisa from Sweet Laundry Loves and I’m filling in for Lenore while she’s busy tying the knot J.

Fall is just around the corner, and while most of us are busy soaking up every last bit of summer, I’m busy creating my fall wish list and trying to figure out how I can transition some of my summer pieces into fall.

Dress: Anthropologie
Poncho, Bracelets: H&M
Boots: Aldo
Glasses: Forever21

I bought this dress this summer and I absolutely adore it. The only problem is I've only had the chance to wear it once and with the seasons changing I didn't want to have to wait until next year to wear it again. 

So what's an easy peasy way to transition this dress or any summer dress into fall? Simple: add a sweater or blazer, a pair of boots, and maybe even a pair of tights for extra warmth. I recently picked up this poncho at H&M for $25 and can guarantee it will be a staple this fall. Layering is and will always be a sure fire way to dress for fall. 

Enjoy the rest of your summer friends and let's raise a glass to Lenore and her Groom. Salut!

Lisa

Wedding Guest Post: PIY Pointers from Primitive & Proper

Hello Lather. Write. Repeat lovers!  I am so honored and excited to be a guest today for Lenore.  I feel like in blogging terms, Lenore and I go waaaaaaaaay back!  I just love her eclectic style, her love of all things blue, and her true personality.  She's a gem, and J is a lucky man.  I wish them all the best in their life together!

I am Cassie from Primitive & Proper, where I blog about furniture redos, my home, and my family.  That's me below with my daughter....

That picture pretty much sums how I go through life- enjoying the ride and laughing all the way!  I firmly believe you have to have the ability to laugh at yourself.  If I didn't believe that would I share this picture with you? :)

At this very moment, not much furniture painting is going on in my world as we are moving out of our home this week and into..... a deluxe guest room at my parents house!!!!!  Until we find the next house.  Maybe by the time this post goes live we will be under contract with a new to us home.  Let's hope so!

So for now I am just dreaming up all the next projects, including many furniture projects.  My absolute favorite type of furniture to paint is a dresser.  I tend to vary styles.... I like distressed and detailed; I like mid-century modern and sleek; I like cottagey and cute.  So I paint it all!  But no matter what piece I choose there are always certain factors I consider when selecting furniture.
Here are a few of my favorite dressers I have done....

Here is a quick go to list of questions to ask yourself when selecting a piece of furniture.

1. Is the piece solid wood?
This question is an important one to ask yourself because wood products are generally MUCH better quality and will stand the test of time.  MDF, particle board.... they will not last like good old wood. You can still paint particle board, and it will at least look better than well, particle board, as I did with this 1970's particle board cabinet.

2. Do the drawers open and close easily?
If this is a piece that you are selling or will be used regularly, you want to make sure the drawers don't stick, or fall out, or tip upon opening.  Also check the drawer bottoms.  Sometimes oder pieces are worn on the bottoms from their metal drawer stops which can cause holes in the wood.  If you can't repair the drawer bottom or the drawer, then don't buy it.  I am lucky enough to have a handy father who has taught me a lot and still helps me with drawers like on this dresser.  It sat in storage for a few weeks until I was able to get some dad-time to the rescue!

If the drawers are just sticking, often times, they can be fixed easily, just by rubbing a bar of soap along all the sides and runners to help them glide better.

3. Are there any major structural flaws?
It's important to check all the joints.  If the piece has legs make sure they are sturdy.  Push the dresser from the side and see if it wiggles or stands still.  If it wiggles, it is going to need some reinforcements.  Again, if you don't think you are capable, then just pass because it will end up causing you more grief!  I have learned about reinforcing and there are many tools you can use- you can use steel brackets to offer more support, and attach them to the loosely jointed areas.  You can also use trim screws which will recess into the piece.  SO then you just patch and paint over it and no one will ever know there is a screw there holding it together!

4. How is the current finish?
I always ask myself this, because frankly, if a piece has a beautiful wood finish, why paint over it?  If the finish is in poor shape or shows wear, then you won't feel badly painting it. :)  Sometimes if the finish is beautiful and you want a piece with a timber top, then it's an ideal candidate.  Then you don't have to refinish the top and can just paint the bottom.  So it definitely depends on what you want, but just don't ruin an exquisite antique- trust your gut.

5. Lastly, do you or could you love it?
If you are just not feeling it even though it meets every other standard, then don't buy it.  I have purchased many items and they have sat... and sat.... and sat.... waiting for me to get to them, only to be donated to Goodwill.  The piece needs to speak to you.

Since this was mostly informative, I will leave you with one more piece I finished and love.  And now I think I need to do another striped piece!

I hope you have learned something, and if you have any questions, you are always welcome to email me at cassie8978@gmail.com.  I have no secrets and will do my best to help you!

Lenore, thank you again so much for having me!  I wish you a lifetime of happiness!  I have really enjoyed seeing you travel down the road to marriage and look forward to seeing you travel down the road of life, hand in hand with the one you love. Muah!

Cassie

Wedding Guest Post: Style Peek from A Daily Something

Hello, Lather friends!  It's such an honor to be writing here on Lenore's blog today...and while she's off getting married and having a sweet honeymoon, too!  

Lenore has been an awesome friend since I started A Daily Something in February.  And she's a constant inspiration with Style Peeks - I love her pretty, feminine style!  When Lenore asked me to guest post, I told her I'd try to put together an outfit post...and here's what I came up with!  Hope you all enjoy this little peek into my wardrobe.  

All photos by Wendy Thomas

Have a lovely day everyone! Feel free to stop by and say hello over at A Daily Something!

Rebecca

Wedding Guest Post: From the Kitchen with Lorraine

Hello Lather friends!
 

My name is Lorraine and I work with Lenore at Fusion as a Graphic Designer. You may remember me from the Agency Style Peeks and wedding invite tutorials. Lenore has been trying to convince me to start a blog so today, I hope to create a new name for myself, something that includes baking, brilliance or at the very least, intrigue...

It all began a few years ago when I first ate a cupcake at Cup Cake Corner, it was Oreo flavoured and actually had an Oreo baked into the bottom! GENIUS. The seed had been planted. I was now on a quest to combine two awesome things in hopes of making them awesomer.

Fast forward two years, I am making peanut butter cookies to take to the lake over the weekend. I open the cupboard to grab the peanut butter and notice that my boyfriend has bought Oreos. I hate that he has done this, because I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to Oreos. I will eat them till they are gone. Seriously, the entire bag. 350 g of mouthwatering guilt. How will I cope? Can I make it through the night knowing that they are right there? Calling my name. Taunting me. How will I stop myself?

BING! Light goes on, cue heavenly chime. Bake the Oreos I-N-T-O the peanut butter cookies like a miniature, delicious force field....

 Peanut Butter & Oreo Cookies

Peanut Butter Batter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup peanut butter
pinch of salt

Filling
1 package of Oreo cookies :)

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 C

Combine flour and baking soda together. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugars until soft and creamy. Combine egg, flour mixture, peanut butter, and salt. Add butter and sugar mixture and mix until smooth.Wrap the dough in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Once chilled, roll out dough with rolling pin on wax paper. (easier if dough is separated into sections) Place Oreos on half of the rolled out dough about 4 inches apart. Fold over the other half of the dough over the Oreos. Cut out the cookies with a class or cookie cutter (like a biscuit). Place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Surprisingly, it worked! I was too excited to share them to eat the whole batch! The process was fairly simple and they were a huge hit. Also they were pretty fantastic, if I may say so myself...

On that note, I will leave you all to drool over the recipe for this delicious treat (it will blow your friends' minds and taste buds!). Thank you for having me for this edition of From the Kitchen and thanks Lenore for letting me stop by. If you'd like to say hello and try to convince me to start a blog with more tasty treats, you can catch me here on Twitter.

Happy baking!

Lorraine

Wedding Guest Post: Home Styling Tips from A Design Dock

Hello everyone! Amy here from A Design Dock and I am tickled pink to be guest posting here on Lather.Write.Repeat., while Lenore takes a MUCH deserved break to celebrate her Wedding Day and enjoy her honeymoon! Congrats Lenore to you and your new Hubby! xoxo

Lenore asked that I share one of my favourite fashion or home decor accessories with you. Being a design enthusiast, I of course opted to share something from my home, but choosing a fav from an apartment filled with beloved goodies wasn't easy. After some serious soul-searching, I settled on one of my first loves in home decor - vintage blown glass. 

I'm a vintage-mod girl to the core. Honestly, I should have grown up in the "Fifties" when cute dresses, school dances and coloured appliances were a part of everyday life. Since I've yet to develop a time machine, I get my "Fifties" fix through retro accessories like this vintage blown glass dish. I love the dish for its vibrant colour, organic shape and affordable price tag. Best of all, this dish works in almost every room of the house. Here's just 3 ways to bring vintage charm in your home with blown glass:

Filled with the sweetest bonbons, this dish is the perfect addition to a fun and casual coffee table vignette. For a sweet-lover like myself, there is no better design tableau than this!

Keep clutter in check at your front entry by using this dish to corral mail, cards and keys. Finish off the look with local artwork for an earthy-vibe.  *Artwork credits: Susan Lumley / My Grandma [flower card] ; Louise Kollinger [orange lady]

Create functional artwork in the bedroom by displaying your favourite jewelry pieces in this dish. For best results, leave some pieces draped over the sides of the bowl and others pooled at the bottom of the dish.

If you want to come say hi, you can find me over at A Design Dock or read my guest posts on the Style at Home blog!

Cheers, 
Amy  

Wedding Guest Post: Marriage Advice from Ro Ro Ro Your Blog

Hello lovely Lather Write Repeat readers!

 I’m Rosemary and I blog over at Smitten, Glamour magazine’s daily sex and relationships blog. I also run Ro Ro Ro Your Blog, a personal blog where I dish about books, bikes, pets, fashion and everything in between. I’m ridiculously excited to be guest posting for Lenore while she takes some (well-deserved) time off to tie the knot.

image via Meg Perotti

Chris and I got married last May at a charming historic estate in Southern California. Funny enough, he took field trips there in elementary school! Our first year of marriage flew by and even though we dated for a loooong time before getting hitched, this past year was absolutely our most memorable. I’d love to share a few lessons I’ve learned from year one of marriage.

1. There’s still some mystery. We lived together before we were married and quite a few pearl-clutching naysayers warned us that because of this, there would be no mystery left in our romantic lives.

However, they couldn’t be more wrong. That being said…

2. Keep some aspects of your lives separate. He’s big on MMORPG (online video games for the uninitiated) and I get giddy when new magazines hit newsstands. I’m not interested in learning the finer points of Final Fantasy and he’s not terribly eager to compare September issues. It’s quite refreshing to have an interest or hobby that’s yours alone.

3. Don’t keep score. It doesn’t matter who did the dishes last or who forgot to take out the trash. At the end of the day, you’re with the person you love and that’s the most important thing of all.

4. Take each other out on dates. Get dressed up, head someplace fancy and treat yourselves. Remember those butterflies you used to get when you two first started dating? You can still experience them by making your married date nights just as special.

5. Lean on each other. When you’re stressed, feeling down or just out of sorts, looking to your spouse for strength can help you like nothing else.

Thanks for letting me guest post, Lenore! And best wishes to you and your lucky husband-to-be!

Rosemary
Ro Ro Ro your blog

The Wedding Guest Post Line-up!

Hello everyone!

There is only one more day to go to the wedding, so it's time to me to sign off and leave you in some very capable and creative hands. There are some fantastic bloggers taking over Lather. Write. Repeat. over the next nine days and I encourage you to come read their posts and check out their great blogs. Lovely ladies all of them - I'm sending you gals virtual hugs and doing me the honour of taking time to guest on my blog.

Here's a little taste of what you can expect this week:

On Friday, my very special blog friend and Glamour Smitten writer Rosemary from Ro Ro Ro your blog will be stopping by with her tips for the first year of marriage.  

Super talented Interior Designer Amy from A Design Dock is going to be here on Saturday to share some decorating tips.

 

On Sunday, my awesome friend Lorraine (who helped me with my wedding invites), who's also a graphic designer at Fusion, agreed to share a very special recipe with you...you'll want to stop by for this one!

The lovely Rebecca from A Daily Something will be giving us a little Style Peek to kickstart Monday.

 

My inspiring mentor Cassie from Primitive & Proper will be saying hello on Tuesday and sharing some PIY Pointers on what to look out for when selecting vintage furniture to paint.

The stylish Lisa from Sweet Laundry will be dropping in on Wednesday with a fall Style Peek.

Swiss miss Krystal from Village is sharing some of her fall wish list items on Thursday.

On Friday, super mom and all-around artsy lady Ren from Lady of the Arts will be talking love and marriage - after all, she has the experience, it's been over a decade for her and her hubby.

 

And last but not least, vintage-loving Jamie over at Owl Really shares a Delightful DIY next Saturday on how she transformed an old thrifted furniture find.

Then I'll be back Sunday to say hello! It's actually going to be really hard not to blog, it's something I truly love and it's part of my everyday routine. But I know I need a break and it will be great to introduce you to so many fabulous bloggers!

Thanks again to all the lovely ladies who are covering for me while I'm away at my wedding - love you all!

Hugs,