new series :: Presto, Change-o!

Howdy, Ya’ll! I’m excited to start this new series today that I’m calling Presto, Change-o! Think: Before and After, quick + easy style. I’ve been getting that late winter/early spring itch to switch… you know, do a little freshening around the house, change a few things up a bit. The last time I did anything major was March of last year… you might remember that I painted all the big walls white, which might seem terribly boring to some, but I have quite enjoyed the bright white walls. I think they make quickie makeover jobs (like this one I’m about to share with you) suuuuuper easy. I also brought in a new couch, painted a striped accent wall, hung new art and did an overall rearrange of the furniture. Guess what? I’m tired of it all. Don’t tell my husband.

So I have had all these ideas swimming around in my head of things I want to do around here but I’ve had a bit of a problem with the execution part. *cough, cough* That’s where Presto, Change-o! comes in! I’m challenging myself to a minimum of 2 mini projects each month, and the only real rule is that it has to be something that can be accomplished in an afternoon (or, evening… a couple hours is what I’m getting at). This might include making a set of curtains for the kitchen windows or sewing a few new covers for some throw pillows for the couch, maybe stretching a cool piece of fabric around a frame for some new wall art, busting out a can of spray paint and freshening up a metal shelf, you get the idea. The point is: I don’t want it to be anything that I don’t feel like I can tackle in one sitting. I feel like I’m more likely to get in and get’er done this way, you know? I’m sharing it all here to a) hold myself accountable and b) because I had this little thought: maybe, just maybe… you guys might be inspired too? And then at some point down the road, you will submit your own little Presto, Change-o! projects and I’ll share them here on Frecklewonder?? What say you? Could this be fun?

Here’s what I did yesterday:

Boom! How ya like me now?! Same chair, totally new look. It only took me about 45 minutes total, and at least 10 of those minutes were spent hemming and hawing over which fabric to use. The rest of it was fast + easy, the only tools I needed were scissors, a screw driver and my trusty industrial strength staple gun.

I decided on this lighter bark cloth print because it’s a) one of my favorites and it seemed a shame that it wasn’t being put to use, b) I have grown a little tired of so much orange in our living room, c) we have a new-to-us vintage olive green velvet sofa (estate sale score) and I needed to pull things together. A little out with the old, in with the old/new, eh?

(striped wall, I’m coming for you soon, buddy)

Next up, I’m making a couple new throw pillows for the couch and I’ll share those when I finish!

Got a small project that’s been nagging you for a while? Go for it! And if you blog it, send me the link! I’d love to see.