Beaux R'eves: March 2012

Friday, March 30, 2012

Covering Books with Drop Cloth Fabric and Giveaway Winner

Yesterday I shared my Before and After

of my Living Room Bookcases

and gave you some tips on styling your bookcase.

You can see that post HERE.

I wanted to show you a short tutorial on covering the books. A few people asked me about how I covered them and to be honest, I tried a few methods and ended up with my own.

I figured I would share my experience with you and if it makes your life easier then that makes my day!

Actually, a lot of thought went into the covering of the books. I thought maybe white paper would be a good look

but I didn't have any and it was raining outside.

I'm kinda lazy and impatient and want immediate results... Oh and did I mention CHEAP!

I remembered seeing beautiful fabric covered books

at Nell Hills.

Sigh, see the exquisite Tartan covered books?

I would LOVE to do that but I'm too cheap.

So I looked to see what fabric I might have on hand and happened to be in the middle of slip-covering my chair.

See Here.

I had a TON of dropcloth and I liked the color.

Perfect!

The easiest way to measure around the book is to use

the Book Jacket, if it has one.

Just spread it ALL the way out

and cut one inch around the top and bottom

and to the ends of the book jacket.

Fold the top and bottom under the one inch and place the book on top to check your measurements. Fold the sides over to create a pocket that you will slip the book into. Again, check your measurements by putting the book on top and folding around to see if it is big enough.

You should make it a scosh too small

because the fabric stretches.

Glue under the pocket with a hot glue gun.

Just a dab will do it.

Make sure it is UNDER the pocket

so you can still slip the book inside.

And that's it.

Slip your book inside and you are good to go!

I like the way they look loose and wrinkled. It gives it some texture and makes it look less formal.

Side note and funny family story: Yesterday when I posted my bookcase styling tutorial my Sister posted on my Facebook wall asking me where I "got the idea to wrap up books". I had to laugh because I knew that she was referring to when my little sister used to wrap up old Readers Digest books and give them proudly to us as gifts! We all had a good laugh when everyone in my family weighed in on Facebook!

Love you guys!

I hope this helps you. Ask me if you still have questions!

The winner of the MyMemories giveaway is

#2 Barbe @ Beez Rental Designs

Congrats! I will email you to give you the download info!

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy

Sharing at:

Newbie Party at Debbie Doo’s Blogging & Blabbing
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Roeshel at DIY Showoff

Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for the Winter Blues Party

The Brambleberry Cottage
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays

From My Front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Jen at Tatertots and Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday
Evolution of Style

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Book Shelf Styling

Good Morning!

I shared my Living Room Tour with you this week.

You can see it HERE.

I was working on a post about Bookshelf Styling and started taking pictures of the "After" of the Bookshelves when I realized that I had never invited you into that space.

I began restyling the shelves because I kept "stealing" things

and there were bare spots.

I wanted to spruce it up for Spring at the same time.

Before

Not very inspiring is it?

I have to tell you this funny story.

I designed the bookcase/Fireplace surround when we built the house.

I was living in California at the time and our home was being built in Kansas. (Job change for Mr. Beaux) So here I am, little miss designer, in my heels at the jobsite showing the builder my elevation and specs for the Fireplace. The trim guys were there too and the sheetrock and fireplace were already in place. They all look at my drawing (acting interested) and I ask them if they want a copy. "Nope", they say "We got it". I'm kinda confused because I can't figure out how they are going to remember it or build it without the measurements and all. I had to laugh when they started drawing the elevation on the sheetrock. Those guys knew what they were doing and they were probably laughing at me!

I do love the way that it came out.

The only thing that I would change is the depth of the mantle.

We didn't want it protruding too much into the room to save on space so we kept it narrow.

Oh Well.

All images from Pinterest

OK, Inspiration Time...

This bookcase above is what I would call "Themed" all of the items have the theme of the ocean.

A little cluttered for me but very pretty.

Love the idea of painting the inset a different color.

Hmmmm...

I also like the all white with the books. I didn't have any books in the "before" because I don't own NICE books and I'm too cheap to buy them. I'm not going to buy books just for decorating. I want to actually read them. Do you know that you can buy books with special decorative bindings for you bookcases.

Very Pretty but $99.00 at One Kings Lane. I think not.

I love this Bookcase. I enjoy the symmetry

and the placement of the items is very balanced.

I like that my eyes can follow along and stop to look at each treasure individually.

Very nice.

So remember these books from my Guest Room? Yep, I was busy covering them for the Living Room shelves at the time. I took books that I already owned, put them on the shelves to see how they looked and then covered them in Dropcloth material.

Pretty much FREE!

And here is the "After".

I found the plates at a consignment shop. I walked by and glanced at the price on the top plates. I loved the color and the pattern. $28, I kept walking because I thought it was $28 for each plate. OK, can I just tell you HOW much my vision has changed in the last year! I can see fine until I need to READ something! I put my glasses on and looked again. It was $28 for a set of 8. Sheesh! I quickly carried them up to the counter.

I try to stay away from a lot of clutter, so to you the shelves might look empty.

But to me they are just perfect.

Funny, that Nell Hill's Mary Carol Garrity just wrote a post about Bookshelf Styling also. She says to always include your treasured items in your displays. I agree. This resin piece is a picture of the Great Wall of China. A gift along with the Vase from the wonderful friends that we made during our time in China.

Mr. Beaux and I were in Napa and we found this painting. It reminded me of the wheat fields here in Kansas and I loved the moody colors. It gets moved all around the house.

So I think I have achieved what I set out to do.

Let's take another Before and After look to make sure.

Before

After

Balance, Symmetry, Treasured Items and Oh Yeah... Books!

I pinky swear promise not to raid the bookcases for other decorating projects!

(for a while)

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy

Newbie Party at Debbie Doo’s Blogging & Blabbing
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday

Roeshel at DIY Showoff

The Brambleberry Cottage
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Easter Table

Happy Spring!

And Happy Easter!

The weather around here has been simply delightful!

Lots of 70-80 degree temps.

I'm tempted to start planting flowers outside but I've been bitten by that bug before and guess where it bit me?

So for now I'll stick with Flowers Inside!

Last week I shared my Charles Faudree

"Flower Purses" with you.

This week I'll show you the tablescape for Easter that I created using those little cuties.

Each place setting received it's own basket.

I wanted the Flowers to be the star of this table so I kept the rest of the colors neutral. The placemats are a pale green and the rest of the china and accessories are in soft colors and whites. Please pay no attention to the fact that I forgot to put the chargers (that were sitting right there on the chair) under the plates before I started taking pictures.

And here the silver charger magically appears!

Lenox Butterfly china sits atop my wedding Noritake "Anticipation" china. I have collected the salad plates, bowls and bread plates in the butterfly pattern, but I would rather mix them than match them all together. I'm using my Estate sale silverpate flatware circa 1904 and the water goblets that have been in my family for over a hundred years. The wine glasses are a mixture of what I have in the dish cupboard, some were gifts and others from Pottery Barn years back.

Miss Beaux and I were on the hunt for pastel Easter eggs one day after school. I drug her to Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and a few other stores with no luck. They were all too bright and shiny. Why is it that you get something in your head and then you can't find it anywhere? We did find these with ribbons on them. I placed them in my silver egg cups with grass poking out of the sides.

Each "purse" tied up with a pretty pastel ribbon.

Sweet white bunnies nestled on a silver platter patiently awaiting the Easter guests.

A larger bunny resides next to my Silver Chalkboard Platter to welcome them.

I want to show you these napkins that I made.

Yes, I said "made".

While we were visiting my Mother In Law a few weeks ago she felt well enough to show off her awesome sewing machine. She showed me how to make these napkins. I'm so glad that we were able to visit her and that all of the family was there. Sewing was her latest passion and to see her get excited while sitting at the sewing machine was so much fun. After showing me how to make the first one I did the rest on my own. These napkins will always be very special to me and although they are not perfect I am proud to say that I made them with her and thrilled to put them on my table.

Let's Hop on over to my sideboard and see what's happening. Remember when I took you along on a trip to Nell Hill's?

We saw these cute Burlap music note bunnies.

Well, sadly I haven't been back to buy them

but I did find these at SteinMart.

Lucky me!

I snipped some branches from my crab-apple trees

and placed them in the vase.

The pastel eggs hang precariously on the branches.

Aren't they the cutest!

And look, there is more of that photography magic happening. Now you don't see the nest with eggs propped up next to the bunny above and now you do.

Three charming bunny candles all lined up ready to serve up something delicious. White covered serving dish from One Kings Lane. Salt and Pepper set from Costco

a million years ago.

Since I couldn't find any pastel eggs I made my own.

I guess egg salad is in my future...

Thank you each and every one of you for visiting my blog and leaving the most precious comments. I know that every blogger says this and you might think that it is not heartfelt, but it truly means the world to me that you would take the time to leave such genuine and kind comments.

Wishing you a wonderful Easter!

Until Next Time,

Beaux R'eves

XO Cindy

I'm Linking this up with:
Spring Week

Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday