Compass & Coffee Spoons

Where've ya been?

It's true, I've neglected blogging lately. So, what have I been up to?

1.) I fixed my broken blender! God bless the internet. I found out how to remove the broken part, buy a new one, and replace it. Good as new (with the exception of some scratches).

 

 
 
 2.) I went to St. Louis for work.

 

My boss was kind enough to drive me from the suburbs downtown so I could see the arch. But, he also stopped at Union Station. Now a Marriott, it's stunning. Seriously. Stunning. I literally gasped when I walked in. As these things often go, my pictures don't do it justice.

 
 
 

3.) I was being promoted. You might assume that that sounds like something that doesn't take much effort, but that would be an incorrect assumption. Firstly, I had to basically campaign for it, and then had to give a little presentation to a panel. No photos to accompany this. Well, I could put the picture of me driving two of my coworkers in my little car that my coworker took with his cell phone, but...well, it's not that interesting!

So, that's a little of what was keeping me busy. Too much excitement!

Home Improvement...or Self Help?

So, the paint's up! My brother came Thursday and got working straight away and was done around 11 on Thursday night. I'll have some touch up to do, but it's looking GREAT! It is amazing to me what something so simple as a coat of fresh paint and some color (albeit neutral soothing rather than saturated bright) can do. All of a sudden, things that seemed disparate in my rooms come together.

What I did realize is that I'm not well adjusted when it comes to having my home in disarray. Someone please dissuade me if I decide to remodel extensively while living in a place. I don't think I could handle it! I have some clean out and clean up to do and things are not where they should be. I think this is good. It's good to shake it up a bit and get the dust off. It's good to change your surroundings and see things in a new way.

Those antique frames I found long, long ago are still sitting where I placed them. So, either I do my little fix up in the next few weeks or they're back on the curb or on Craigslist.

The mirror from my dresser? I either have to sell it or hang it. I have determined the backing it's on won't work to attach to the dresser and I am going to pitch it. The mirror is in great shape though.

I have a ton of other things still hanging around awaiting their fate--my old laptop, my old digital camera, bags of clothes. Now is the time! (Pictures to follow)

There Must Be 50 Ways to Choose Your Color

Well, my next home project is painting. Something I've planned to do for ages. After being here in my rental apartment for 4+ years, the paint's seen better days. It wasn't designed to last--my landlord paints after every tenant, and the average tenant's stay is probably 1.5 years or something. I asked him ages ago if he'd mind if I painted my own colors, and he said "whatever makes you happy" with a tentative "Uh, what colors are you thinking of?"

The answer was I didn't know. And, a year or more later, I still didn't and had gotten no further in my plans. Finally, after deciding to forego buying a condo immediately, in a trip to Home Depot to help a friend pick cabinets for HER new condo, I picked up a few color samples and promptly marked most of my walls with them, precluding me from NOT painting. It was a good strategy. Looking at those stripes, I got desperate last week.  I called my brother, who offered to help me, and he's coming this Friday, bless him, to paint for me.

But, what color? Unfortunately, the colors I originally tested would not work. I originally had these for the living room:

Ralph Lauren Lamp Room Grey

 

On the wall, it just appeared too dark and not right.

Behr Chocolate Froth

 On the contrary, this one was too light. Too similar to the beige that was already there.

For the bedroom, I thought Behr's Quietude was perfect. I was wrong. 

 

It just appeared too bright on the wall. And too cool when compared to the warm white of the trim, which is not being painted!

So, it was back to the drawing board. On Sunday, after church, I settled down with my computer for over an hour, looking at paint sites, primarily Behr and Glidden because I was going to Home Depot. My goal for the living room was to match the "vein" in my rug:

 (Like my feet?)

So, I kept glancing at the screen, glancing at the rug (keeping in mind they can vary). I settled on a list, which I took to the store and then looked at chips. This was infinitely easier than just showing up there and trying to guess. I then narrowed it down in the store to 2 samples for the living room and 1 for the bedroom. As it turned out, I kind of liked Chocolate Froth in the bedroom. But, I needed to compare. Who knew greys and taupes could be so different!?

For the living room:

Glidden Forest Khaki

Behr Sandstone Cliff

 

I also picked up cards with other potential contenders. But, when I put them on the wall, Sandstone Cliff was the standout. Forest Khaki was still too dark. Here's one of my test areas.

 

This is on my back wall.  I also had testing happening by my curtains and by the trim on my front door. Sandstone Cliff is the paint on the bottom left. (Forest Khaki to the direct right). The flash is making it a bit brighter.

For the bedroom, I settled on one sample, Glidden Polished Limestone.

 

It was wonderful, though I still am deciding between this and Chocolate Froth. One of the bedroom walls (also three test areas there):

 
  
  
I tried doing this without a flash because it was making it way bright, but it turned out fuzzy. The Polished Limestone sample is to the top right (you can tell it's eggshell v. flat on the others). Quietude is to the left. Chocolate Froth is the one by the light switch.

I surprised myself by not being as color adventurous as I thought I'd be. I gravitated way away from brights. In some ways, choosing a neutral is harder, I think. I guess I'd be more willing to go with something with more saturated color if I owned my place. I just can imagine the look on my landlord's face if he came in and saw red or black walls. Even if I offer to prime over it, I can just imagine. Besides, to really make that work, I'd feel like I needed to really coordinate my furniture and everything. As it is, I think the neutrals will look better and fit more with my decor choices.

Take aways for your next paint picking project:

1.) Use the computer. Though screen resolution can change colors, it helps reduce the sense of being overwhelmed. Or, go to the store (don't buy anything yet), and get a few (and I mean a few--I know how a few can change into 50), bring them home, and then use the web tools offered by the paint companies to find ones slightly darker/cooler/warmer to find the perfect one.

2.) Though Glidden offers those cute nail polish looking samples with an included brush, these cost the same as the little pot of sample which has much more paint. Might as well get that one and use your own brush. If you don't use it to cover a wall, you can always use the paint for another project or if you choose the paint, to store touch up paint (that was Mom's idea).

All in all, I'm excited! This is my first painting project (that my brother will execute! Thanks, bro!) since I lived at my parents. It's VERY exciting! You know you'll see before and afters!

Quick and Easy

Saturday, I had one of those days where, because I had nothing concrete planned, and so many options, I had difficulty committing to anything. This led me to actually complete a project I've been meaning to do for awhile--recovering the seat of a chair. After completing it, it's rather embarrassing how long it's taken me.  If you've never done this, it's really easy.  The subject in question was a chair I acquired at an estate sale in my hometown before leaving for the big city (or, the suburbs of Bethesda, MD) and my first apartment.  It's a cute Gustavian sort of chair that serves so little purpose in my bedroom other than holding discarded clothing. But, that is neither here nor there. At some point, I am planning to use it as a desk chair (which I did at one point when I had a desk). I had originally recovered it in a nice purple jacquard. However, I was tired of that. I decided to recover with leftover fabric from my shelf project.

Here is the chair seat and chair as I started to remove the existing fabric.

 

 
 

And here's the ORIGINAL fabric, which I left on for posterity.

 

As it turns out, the bed is a less than ideal workbench. So, I moved it to the living room and my bench. Tip of the day: if it has bench in the name, it will be a better workbench. I wrapped the seat with 2 thin layers of poly batting that I also had hanging around. This is for cushiness. You could also add a layer of foam to the top, but not too much or the fabric won't lay properly.

 

The process of applying the batting and fabric couldn't be less complicated. Wrap, make sure it's taut, and then staple the heck out of it. If you have stripes, just make sure they're aligned. I love my staple gun. It's a very gratifying activity. Here is the finished chair. 

 

Voila! I may paint the chair at some point, or not. I haven't yet because I don't like to paint furniture (and haven't had much success with it...), but you know you'll be the first to hear about it if I do.
 
 

Organizational Therapy

For some reason, starting 2 weeks ago when I hurt my back, I started to organize and clean out like crazy. Every so often, I become afflicted with purge fever, and feel the need to clean out, organize, and reorganize.

My back was injured during the linen closet clean-out. And, because I couldn't actually complete that, I think that fueled the fire. I had to look at the incomplete project with stuff spilling out into my bedroom. Sure way to make me nuts. The only therapy? More organizing!

This weekend saw much much cleaning out. I dragged out the box of "techno trash" I've had in my closet for awhile--an old laptop (inoperable), an old digital camera (also inoperable), old VCR "blank" tapes with TV shows taped on them, my old cell phone, and who knows what else. I also have a bag of rags (basically clothes that are too worn to be donated), a bag with some random housewares and other items.

This weekend, I finally admitted to myself that I probably haven't used my VCR or associated tapes in well over a year. (and probably multiple years--how can I confirm this? See photo.

 

It's hard to let go sometimes. Even when you know that you have absolutely NO use for something. I have walked myself through some of these difficult choices by telling myself that it's nice to release the unimportant things to make ROOM for the things AND the experiences that ARE important.

I'm also working on thinning out some of my books. Books are much harder to let go of than VCR tapes for me. Having books around gives me a sense of comfort. But sometimes, comfort isn't comfortable. I'd say 98% of the books I own I rarely touch let alone read. I think it's OK for some of them--most of my poetry books are nice to have around to pick up every once in awhile, and some have sentimental value to some degree, but for others, there's just no reason. It would be one thing if I had a library in my house, but I don't. I have this:

An ugly second bookcase that cost me $19 at Ikea. I would LOVE to get rid of it to give my apartment some breathing room. I've managed to weed out some books. For now, they're piled on this case awaiting their final fate.

Right now, it looks like I'm getting ready to move (and I'm not!). This is a good thing--I haven't had moving as a motivator for 4 years!  I've piled things in the corner of my bedroom. Next step: finding a place for all my junk!

Dresser, with renewed handles

I hope Colleen hasn't had to resort to stripping herself! Here's the promised "more!" I spray painted the handles a metallic gold, which I'm quite pleased with. They turned out better than I expected. What's left are the feet. Opinions, please--do you think I should spray paint them gold or stain black?

Dresser Before:

 

Dresser After:

 

Handles before:

  

Handles after:

 

On other news, I leave Wednesday for London! I won't be blogging whilst there (going to be more or less low tech...too darn expensive to use my iphone, so unless I find a way to get a phone there for cheap or have internet access somewhere, I'll be off line!), but I'll be taking lots of pictures and notes to blog once I return. It's really funny how times have changed...I was feeling concerned about not having much cell service or web access...meanwhile, as I said to someone the other day, people existed and managed to make plans pre-internet and pre-cell phone. Heck, when I lived in England, I didn't have ANY phone. I used to walk to meet up with friends!

Hope everyone's having a great week and staying cool! It was in the mid-80s here today and is going to be near 90 this week! Hot hot hot!

Scariest part of staining

I'm getting ready for the scariest part of furniture finishing--the topcoat! First of all, you have to lightly sand the surface, which is mentally upsetting, and then I constantly worry about lint and brush strokes in the poly finish. I had to go buy a new can of the poly this afternoon because I wanted semi-gloss to match the nightstand (I had some leftover satin). And, I bought a quart because the pint looked too small...I know I'm going to have a ton left.

While at the hardware store, I bought spray paint for the hardware--metallic gold. I'm not sure about it. I was torn between that and black satin. Well, I can't use that today anyway. Not an indoor activity! The store didn't have the little brass feet for the legs. I didn't stain the legs yet anyway.

Update, 9:12 pm: Oh boy. Big Duh moment. This is why I hate this step. I erroneously sanded BEFORE the poly, versus between coats...something I only realized after applying the poly to the first drawer when the sand marks didn't go away. Sigh. So, I had to go back and try to remedy the situation. I applied more stain to the body of the dresser. I kept the drawers as is because they kind of look "rubbed" and I wanted them all uniform. So, I'll probably only get one coat of poly on tonight at about 11, and then apply the next one tomorrow night. Ain't furniture refinishing fun?!?

Waiting for Coat 3

Butt Naked

My dresser is, thankfully. Though, so am I in a way, or will be...I'll explain, but first the dresser.

I'm nearly there. The existing finish is finis. (Well, except in the part where the drawers close that I thought didn't show...yeah, surprise!) I had planned on staining it this past weekend, but I was too pooped out and didn't get up early enough on Saturday. So, that will come.

My other obsession is finding a way to clothe myself. This is an exceedingly difficult task, seeing as everything is made to fit aliens. Or something. i.e. NOT ME. The two main things I need are: shoes that don't cripple me when I walk (or even just sit) and a raincoat. Seems simple, right? No. I've ordered almost every trench coat available in plus sizes, and I was beginning to give up hope. I returned three to Nordstrom on Saturday. Today, I got a few more in the mail, and at least these weren't completely awful. Still, I'm not writing poems to them and don't feel they're cool enough to post here.

Similarly, I've been obsessively looking for shoes. I don't understand why it's so hard. I don't buy cute high heeled strappy things to begin with, and yet, they're all inadequate. I bought two pairs at Ecco on Saturday, and now I'm probably going to have to return them. Thank God they offer a 30-day Comfort return policy.

So, that's why I too may be naked, if something doesn't change.

Okay, kids...

Three drawers are stripped, and the other three are almost ready to be stripped. The dresser has been sanded down with both 50 grit (too rough probably) and 150 grit. I'll use the 220 grit before staining. I flipped the dresser on its side to apply stripper to the legs and removed the 2 brass feet (notice I didn't say 4...2 were missing). I had a hard time with the second one, but with brute strength, I managed to pull it off. I'm going to see if I can get replacements for all four, but if not, I'm just going to leave as is.

  

The question is what to do with the hardware. I rubbed and rubbed and rubbed one of the handles, and it looks nothing short of mediocre. So, what do you think? I think I'm going to spraypaint them. Either a bright color or a metallic. I know they make metal-looking paint, but I don't know if I want to do that. Ideas?