Tagged...

Look at these amazing tags that my talented cousin Carolyn made for me! I just love the typesetters font juxtaposed with the jute upholstery webbing. Y'all know how I lurve to label stuff...and there just has to be a few things in this house that I have not tagged yet...

Head on over to her ETSY store to order yours now!

Another Guest Post and Finding "Boo Radley"

Carolyn again..
Tricia asked to me to do a few more posts since she is terribly busy being
Super Mom to the 4 greatest kids EVER & the world’s cutest doxie, Super Teacher, Super Wife, Super Home Decorator Extraordinare, Etc…I get exhausted just thinking about everything she does!
I spent most of yesterday evening walking around the house trying to figure out what to post about. Our latest project, The Headboard Bench, My new found love for Dollar Tree & Thrift Stores…
Nothing seemed to be interesting enough to write about. Then, in true Carolyn fashion, I had myself a little pity party. I decided I hated my house & everything in it and I wouldn’t be happy ever EVER again…I think this one was more of a Pity-Gala!

I went to sleep. I woke up – still partying hard.

I did what I do every morning and got my coffee and settled in to read my favorite blogs. Of course my first stop each morning is Brighton Cottage...Then on to The Lettered Cottage, Just A Girl, Southern Hospitality, The Shabby Nest...The list goes on and on.

Last week, Layla at TLC ran down a list of her favorite blog posts of 2009 and one of them was from a lovely blog called Aura Joon. I have been hooked ever since.

Have you ever read something that made so much sense it actually changed you? Made you have an "epiphany moment"? Today was mine (the post was dated Jan. 7). If you haven’t visited her blog yet, you should, really. She is an incredibly talented writer and the photography is fabulous. She reminds me of a lot of Layla.

Now I’m not sure she meant for this particular post to be all life changing for those who read it and maybe it was just my time to ascend from the dank depths of self loathing & depression. Whatever the case, this post made me stop. and think.

2009 was a bad year. A year I will not soon forget.

Late in 2008, we designed & built our house. A big beautiful Mediterranean inspired physical and metaphorical"blank slate". We built it with 1 thing in mind - Resale. Since we are, or rather were, in the building industry, we were able to build it for less than half of its market value. The plan is, in a few years, when we sell it, we can pay cash for a much smaller house and NO MORE MORTGAGE! Woo-Hoo!
That was the plan.

No sooner did we move in and the housing market TANKED. The homebuilder that John & I worked for started having cash flow issues and paychecks started coming slower and slower. Then in June, the builder went belly up and we were both suddenly unemployed. We did OK for the first few months, living off of savings & unemployment benefits but now, things are tight...like skinny jeans 2 sizes too small tight.

In August, my grandmother passed away. She had been ill for some years but that certainly did not soften the blow of losing her.

In November, we had to put our sweet 14 year old Lab-Mix to sleep. I still have not fully dealt with that one emotionally.

So like I said, 2009…BAD. Pity-parties…FREQUENT.

I had become so consumed with all of the “things” we could no longer afford that I failed to see the things I had been afforded.

We are unemployed…but...we have spent every day together for the past 6 months and I have learned that even after all these years, he makes me laugh, he is still my very best friend.

We are broke…but…I have learned to be more creative, learned to make due. Found Dollar Tree & Resale Shops.
My grandma died…but...I have been able to spend time with my grandfather, really getting to know him. AND I have grown close my fabulous cousin (Tricia) and her AMAZING family.
My dog died…but…I had 14 wonderful years with the most incredible, loving companion and my memories of those years will never die.

(Wow, will you look at that, I have been living in a country song for the past year)

Somehow, reading about Aura’s little muslin mouse made me realize that I had lost myself in 2009 and all of its bad-ness. I had let the things I don’t have consume me and forgotten all that I DO have.

I breathed. Really. Really breathed for the first time in almost a year.

I realized that maybe 2009 was not so bad after all. I decided that I would MAKE 2010 great no matter what it throws at me. And I will!

I will no longer wallow in the pool of self-pity no matter how comfortable and warm the water seems.
I will finally start the blog I have been talking about forever. (Tricia is letting me “get my feet wet” over here at “BC”)
I will finally open that Etsy Shop Tricia has been urging me to open
I will see the good in everyone before I look for the bad (something my grandmother lived by)
I will greet each day with a smile and see opportunity in it.
I will tell my husband how much I appreciate him EVERY day.
I will LIVE my life instead of just BEING in it.
I will find my own “Boo Radley” – and I will hold myself accountable for these promises

Crazy how a little thing like a blog story about muslin mouse can pretty much change your outlook on life. I know I was ready to stop feeling sorry for myself, I just need a nudge in the right direction. Thank you Tricia. Thank you Layla and Thank you Aura!

OK…enough of that…

If I haven’t completely bored you to tears yet, I figured I would throw in some eye candy relating to my new found love for Dollar Tree. I have always gone to Dollar Tree for "Movie Night" candy & Gift Bags but recently, I perused the other aisles and look what I found:

Oooh...I need to add something to the above list..I will work on my photography skills :)

Well, there you have it..My 2010 epiphany (better 9 days late than never) and some really cool stuff for only a buck. I know everyone (me included) is dying to know what is going on at Brighton Cottage…how are the kids? Has the house sold? How is Dr. Sister? What yummy treats did your mom make this week?...
I am going to beg Tricia to give us an update soon!
I hope you all have a fabulous weekend & if you need it, may you find a "Boo Radley" of your own!
-Carolyn

Guest Post by Carolyn Mills...Super Easy Lamp Shade Makeover

Hello Everyone! I can't tell you how honored I am to be guest posting here at Brighton Cottage! Tricia and I thought a "How To Project" would be a nice way to kick things off. I offer you the "Super Easy Lamp Shade Makeover". This is a really simple, no-sew* 20-30 minute project. It is also easy to remove & re-do as your decorating tastes change.

Here is my current favorite...

The supplies you will need for this project are: Lampshade, Fabric of your choice, Spray Adhesive, Scissors, Fabric Glue or Hot Glue Gun, Clothespins or Binder Clips, Pins or Disappearing Ink Marker, Iron-on or Stencil of your choice and Trim of your choice.

Today I decided to use a little Ikea lampshade covered in painter's drop cloth with an iron-on monogram. Here we go...

Step 1: Measure your fabric. To do this I use a rather crude method of simply rolling my lampshade on the fabric making sure to keep at least 1" - 1.5" all the way around the top. Especially where the fabric overlaps. I have mistakenly cut the fabric too short many times.
Once you are happy with the top section, clip it in place and trim the bottom keeping the same allowance for folding under.

Step 2: Using your pins or disappearing ink marker, mark where you want to place your stencil or iron-on. Remove the fabric from the shade and work your creative magic :)

Step 3: Once your stencil or iron-on is done, using your spray adhesive, spray the shade and smooth your fabric in place making sure to keep your top & bottom allowances. This is the tedious part..spray.. smooth..spray..smooth..

Step 4: Using your fabric glue or hot glue, fold and glue the top and bottom allowances to the inside of the shade. clip as you go. I use small dabs of glue for this step which makes it is easier to remove the fabric to re-cover the shade later. Fold & glue the overlap seam. Let it dry.

Step 5: Using your fabric glue again, glue your trim in place. clip as you go. let it dry and...

Ta Da! A brand new lampshade! Aren't you crafty!!

*Quick Note: On the burlap shade above, I did a simple hand basting stitch around the top, bottom & overlap seam just to give it a more tailored look. You only notice if you look inside the shade and well...nobody should be looking up your lampshades :)

My most gracious Thanks to Tricia for inviting me to guest post! I am fairly new to blogging and have been so amazed by all of the incredible talent out there. Tricia has inspired me in so many ways and I cannot wait to see what 2010 has in store for Brighton Cottage.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this little project as much as I enjoyed sharing it.

Until next time...

-Carolyn

Something Wicked Good this way Comes...

Show some love...

This is my uber-talented cousin Carolyn's house. I am hoping that she will take over Brighton Cottage so that the serious lack of posting due to my day job will come to an end. She is the craftiest person I know- and a mad seamstress to boot. Leave her some love comments and maybe, just maybe she will say yes...

Oh Baby!

I have a baby shower to attend this weekend for Laura, my cooperating teacher from two years ago. She is expecting a girl and I was really stressed about finding time to get a "just right" gift. Thankfully I had my super talented cousin Carolyn to save the day. She just whipped up these adorable baby items for my friend, and Carolyn- after the week I've had I cannot thank you enough!

Drop on over and pay my cousin a visit, or e-mail her at carolynmillsdesigns@gmail.com- and tell her Brighton sent you : )

Carolyn Mills Designs

Carolyn Mills Designs is my very talented cousin who happens to have mad decorating/sewing skillz.

Carolyn and I had not seen each other in....oh- hell, in this family it is not uncommon to have relatives a stones throw away and NEVER see them. The Myers clan is a bit like the Corleone family from the Godfather. Minus the horse heads...

Anyway, Carolyn has some wonderful items like checkbook covers, badge holders, and the cutest coffee cup sleeves. All monogrammed of course : ) She is a true southern gal, and her hubby is a fix-it up guy just like my hubby. You gotta love a man who is savvy with the power tools.

So go on over and pay her a visit. Tell her Brighton sent you.