Creativity

<div style="text-align: center;">If you've read my little <a href="http://tophomedesignz.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html">introduction to my family</a> at the top of the page you know that when Rhett was born I dealt with severe postpartum depression. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankfully with a lot of faith, medical help, prayer, support and understanding I've come a long way since then. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so beyond grateful for that, and even though I hope to never experience it again or wish it on anyone, I am honestly grateful for going through it and the blessings it brought into our lives. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Still, I struggle some days with overwhelming anxiety.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So restoring furniture has become kind of  therapeutic for me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I mean lets face it...going to work on a piece with a power sander is a great way to release a little stress. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The past few days have been difficult and it's been awhile since I had to deal with the big A (anxiety).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blah.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below is a short clip I LOVE, of part of a speech given by one of the leaders from my <a href="http://mormon.org/">church</a> and regardless of your religious background I think it is true for all of us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It motivates me on the days when anxiety seems to want to take over.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's about creativity. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The creativity we all have and the creativity that makes our sphere of influence better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I want to thank you for all the creative work you do that I see on your blogs and in your lives! </div><div style="text-align: center;">It is incredibly inspirational. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy and I hope it gets your week off to a great start!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RhLlnq5yY7k" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br />{ If the video doesn't work here's a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k">link to the video on Youtube</a>. }</div>

Creativity

If you've read my little introduction to my family at the top of the page you know that when Rhett was born I dealt with severe postpar...

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A Peacock Desk

<div style="text-align: center;">Have you ever found a paint swatch of a color so amazing you couldn't help but fall in love with it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tZ1rS1J8gN4ZNapZoU4GingUj77ETIFcdQa2DTbHrltRbvoF7a8ODgGdnC5hKwgUE0WA8KpEvwXAYJ39cr75znSRweGCI_OFO4yzzKvH91RNeOY2HmC5nGQwJSdLWR3Ji3kZMy-t-cI/s1600/92788673_adc28347bf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tZ1rS1J8gN4ZNapZoU4GingUj77ETIFcdQa2DTbHrltRbvoF7a8ODgGdnC5hKwgUE0WA8KpEvwXAYJ39cr75znSRweGCI_OFO4yzzKvH91RNeOY2HmC5nGQwJSdLWR3Ji3kZMy-t-cI/s640/92788673_adc28347bf.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When I found Peacock Tail from Behr I knew the perfect piece for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A  lovely French desk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> { P.S. Peacock tail in french is Queue de paon. }</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here she is before. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2pyJfMohvA6PF73kFIHLWVXs2yzQJ0tluqz27gJONcRBqss88PYwFRee9VXGjRdZIe0j3AGg7qcgPVuVzqiPIkDWk0bhUQkHT4NrXCir6i0HGNQyTABRXVWI3QiDt0EY2XiIgFJlWLM/s1600/DSC_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2pyJfMohvA6PF73kFIHLWVXs2yzQJ0tluqz27gJONcRBqss88PYwFRee9VXGjRdZIe0j3AGg7qcgPVuVzqiPIkDWk0bhUQkHT4NrXCir6i0HGNQyTABRXVWI3QiDt0EY2XiIgFJlWLM/s640/DSC_1205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here she is in Peacock Tail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO19ZlkHfXhNMkGmT0yPN7AIpCKbt76EwnJ9kLb9wCoyenySI27J3hGmyv38oUCOftLrHyzNn0uPUsS6I9QhnD2tyB-KbE4S3dLC7U0A0j3YbuQq4K5avhB8NRhMQE1mLu7jz8WrReiY/s1600/peacock_blue_dresser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxO19ZlkHfXhNMkGmT0yPN7AIpCKbt76EwnJ9kLb9wCoyenySI27J3hGmyv38oUCOftLrHyzNn0uPUsS6I9QhnD2tyB-KbE4S3dLC7U0A0j3YbuQq4K5avhB8NRhMQE1mLu7jz8WrReiY/s640/peacock_blue_dresser.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw_YUXSk2ES6BSLzoJuDz3BaldkXsP9R3d2OqP0nzZmv5hAUuvEgHbMYf-FS8I33zKF124aMBMboFM7FuFVK8BHmt_qEJeoGrhUTAygsXTFgdVLkZ6-vBS6Tq_vzVSzRNrCFimoYmzNM/s1600/peacock_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw_YUXSk2ES6BSLzoJuDz3BaldkXsP9R3d2OqP0nzZmv5hAUuvEgHbMYf-FS8I33zKF124aMBMboFM7FuFVK8BHmt_qEJeoGrhUTAygsXTFgdVLkZ6-vBS6Tq_vzVSzRNrCFimoYmzNM/s640/peacock_side.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRwycoQIOVe0j0PS6yoObDZgbRD5J8vKBH5NJTgGEpkTrbnT8DJ36eIbU2PVTSVLYLjGtmgLMMwrQNNoY-N9xRrN1y9ksBhBtErUwWoozoCeWNrzxRlHXmcwQxbkfLQPzU_3Q1dje56Y/s1600/peacock_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRwycoQIOVe0j0PS6yoObDZgbRD5J8vKBH5NJTgGEpkTrbnT8DJ36eIbU2PVTSVLYLjGtmgLMMwrQNNoY-N9xRrN1y9ksBhBtErUwWoozoCeWNrzxRlHXmcwQxbkfLQPzU_3Q1dje56Y/s640/peacock_front.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhwwA9k-OCmPXlyW_WZJxNjpWxGl1ssBVYjd5KJrh4-lPL4__0Cp9jOgTbQltIXVRPG1T3k9jp6V17l6H4WfRNDCWKdriswqi9G5Obl9gwp7M7fuoSshXNXm0jifobtpKLLehNERuClM/s1600/peakcock_leg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhwwA9k-OCmPXlyW_WZJxNjpWxGl1ssBVYjd5KJrh4-lPL4__0Cp9jOgTbQltIXVRPG1T3k9jp6V17l6H4WfRNDCWKdriswqi9G5Obl9gwp7M7fuoSshXNXm0jifobtpKLLehNERuClM/s640/peakcock_leg.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />She would make an amazing desk, a show stopping entry table, a sophisticated changing table.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Anything you could imagine her to be. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">For more information look under the "For Sale" table at the top of the page.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />P.S. This is my one and only encounter with a real peacock.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrWQi_Mtxbq8QVuSad8ii23Oybeb5I4W7P2-uMM1a2pdqe_PzHLj2NgkFO5vCTpTctJwc7fklUhM-niyrB_w4ATNYyRh5yikSTmPHg6ltk_TUBhiv7nLCqG1G7DPtohjUfZdkhxi8EKo/s1600/5374_128136876382_706416382_3107474_1739497_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrWQi_Mtxbq8QVuSad8ii23Oybeb5I4W7P2-uMM1a2pdqe_PzHLj2NgkFO5vCTpTctJwc7fklUhM-niyrB_w4ATNYyRh5yikSTmPHg6ltk_TUBhiv7nLCqG1G7DPtohjUfZdkhxi8EKo/s640/5374_128136876382_706416382_3107474_1739497_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Apparently I invaded his personal space.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

A Peacock Desk

Have you ever found a paint swatch of a color so amazing you couldn't help but fall in love with it? When I found Peacock Tail from Behr...

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House Hunters Arizona and the Giveaway WINNER!!

<div style="text-align: center;">Jake is graduating with his Bachelor's in 20 days.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In 28 days we are moving. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So we need to find housing. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Stat. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Otherwise we might have to live in our tent and become professional campers. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And honestly, I hate camping.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Too many buggy bugs invading my personal space. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So for the past few days I've been searching the Arizona valley for a place for us to call home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I really didn't realize how emotional of a process this would be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Provo is a special place for us. It's where Jake and I met, dated, got married, had Rhett and have some of the best friends we could have ever hoped for. And we've always been blessed with great housing so I wasn't going to settle for any old apartment. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At one place I started to cry because the laundry room wasn't big enough for Rhett and I to "fold" laundry together. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Crossed that one off the list. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At another apartment, I got a bad case of the giggles because the tile work in the bathroom looked it....something inappropriate. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Also crossed that one off the list.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So after 3 days I only had 3 places left that I felt OK with. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Option #1</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9flWyPftcyHnHJ1X4QhW-OFNs6i8GMI1GByCJj5lMBQSFYu1_3XpIoxmCXSkpM-b_3KVpXUl5HrRTxZkFYhxuW5jjEPznSiIfGZCTnOpshEo4YmL8BuGM3aa87WjPFD6xABmK8foY-JM/s1600/Biscyne+Bay.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9flWyPftcyHnHJ1X4QhW-OFNs6i8GMI1GByCJj5lMBQSFYu1_3XpIoxmCXSkpM-b_3KVpXUl5HrRTxZkFYhxuW5jjEPznSiIfGZCTnOpshEo4YmL8BuGM3aa87WjPFD6xABmK8foY-JM/s640/Biscyne+Bay.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pros: </div><div style="text-align: center;">9ft ceilings</div><div style="text-align: center;">Large closets</div><div style="text-align: center;">Playground/pool/racquetball/gym on site</div><div style="text-align: center;">Accent wall could be painted for us before we arrived for free</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cons:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not located near shopping etc</div><div style="text-align: center;">Older population (not too many young families)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Complex covered 4 acres so I think we would get lost a lot.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Only available 2 bedroom was on the second floor.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pool and gym only open till 7PM</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Price: $935 </div><div style="text-align: center;">1100 sq feet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Option #2</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sDHxsPew-h_gZ2TOTK3pXQtt6tY4CQZof2cdct2KrbbR1T2FFJlDFxHlYWOyvF7RzuCU5T_MgRUfSMIud32pp0s97rfu2xC247lEnaUNmrxTpFGQkJJwlB7HCGxzFhCHcLF2b8n3klw/s1600/Wyndhaven.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sDHxsPew-h_gZ2TOTK3pXQtt6tY4CQZof2cdct2KrbbR1T2FFJlDFxHlYWOyvF7RzuCU5T_MgRUfSMIud32pp0s97rfu2xC247lEnaUNmrxTpFGQkJJwlB7HCGxzFhCHcLF2b8n3klw/s640/Wyndhaven.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pros:</div><div style="text-align: center;">9ft ceilings</div><div style="text-align: center;">Large coat closest</div><div style="text-align: center;">Storage off patio</div><div style="text-align: center;">Decent location</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stainless appliances</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cons:</div><div style="text-align: center;">No playground on site</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bedrooms on opposite sides of apartment (I like to be near Rhett)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Most rent</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Price $970</div><div style="text-align: center;">1275sq feet</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Option #3</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHjBFw4eSwpYLU31JYKNOcsVPmyyPZqzX9odoRvX9MqbxyEVSThWWRVadDsJS7J838AUUwrUZKfvFs8_MkQnJUDkZbfdMmt5MnkheawlQmkuLYBQ0HBOdqaSqwNw9BcX8Ztmf9rqPmug/s1600/Crystal+Cove.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHjBFw4eSwpYLU31JYKNOcsVPmyyPZqzX9odoRvX9MqbxyEVSThWWRVadDsJS7J838AUUwrUZKfvFs8_MkQnJUDkZbfdMmt5MnkheawlQmkuLYBQ0HBOdqaSqwNw9BcX8Ztmf9rqPmug/s640/Crystal+Cove.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pros:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stainless appliances </div><div style="text-align: center;">Bedrooms near each other</div><div style="text-align: center;">Garage available w/apartment</div><div style="text-align: center;">HUGE closets</div><div style="text-align: center;">Lake and playground across the street</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shopping in walking distance</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pool and gym open 24 hours</div><div style="text-align: center;">We only pay electric</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cons:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Only 2nd floor apartment available</div><div style="text-align: center;">On a busy street</div><div style="text-align: center;">Has covered parking but 1st come 1st serve</div><div style="text-align: center;">Biggest commute for Jake</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Price: $900</div><div style="text-align: center;">1200 square feet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So which one would YOU choose?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll tell you tomorrow what we chose!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But for now I'll tell you who the winner of the Ryobi Sander giveaway is!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="true-random-integer-generator-title">True Random Number Generator</span> <span id="true-random-integer-generator-min-span"><label for="true-random-integer-generator-min">Min:</label> <input id="true-random-integer-generator-min" maxlength="9" name="true-random-integer-generator-min" /> </span><span id="true-random-integer-generator-max-span"><label for="true-random-integer-generator-max">Max:</label> <input id="true-random-integer-generator-max" maxlength="9" name="true-random-integer-generator-max" /> </span><span id="true-random-integer-generator-max-button-span"><input id="true-random-integer-generator-button" name="true-random-integer-generator-button" type="button" /> </span><label for="true-random-integer-generator-result">Result:</label> <span id="true-random-integer-generator-result">57 </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><dt class="comment-author " id="c2641639176733603717"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1576972133361331381&postID=4414225367220294256" name="c2641639176733603717"></a><div class="avatar-image-container vcard"><span dir="ltr"><a class="avatar-hovercard" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00286687627129766052" id="av-56-00286687627129766052" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" class="delayLoad" height="35px" longdesc="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVM5XauULj0_cgYGXi5QevxNlLBs7j7NkboSABo1ahQzm36GpSLw2WMcBa-VftrqldNEPolox8dRwt5PasLtQRKl7nXtoKLOJlmtkddeJg3lL5-neCZH7TTBYhYqeBBMXfJyjxdNacuY/s45/the%25252Bcrockers.jpg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVM5XauULj0_cgYGXi5QevxNlLBs7j7NkboSABo1ahQzm36GpSLw2WMcBa-VftrqldNEPolox8dRwt5PasLtQRKl7nXtoKLOJlmtkddeJg3lL5-neCZH7TTBYhYqeBBMXfJyjxdNacuY/s45/the%25252Bcrockers.jpg" title="tracyevelyn" width="35px" /><span style="color: #2288bb;"> <noscript></noscript></span></a></span></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00286687627129766052" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: #2288bb;">tracyevelyn</span></a> said... </dt><br /><br /><br /><br /><dd class="comment-body" id="Blog1_cmt-2641639176733603717">And I posted about your giveaway on my facebook! <br />I absolutely adored the 9 drawer dresser you recently posted about! It was perfect!! </dd><dd class="comment-footer"><span class="comment-timestamp"><a href="http://tophomedesignz.blogspot.com/2011/07/ryobi-power-sander-giveaway.html?showComment=1310916146926#c2641639176733603717" title="comment permalink"><span style="color: #2288bb;">July 17, 2011 8:22 AM </span></a></span></dd><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yay Tracy!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Email me your information and we'll mail it to you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

House Hunters Arizona and the Giveaway WINNER!!

Jake is graduating with his Bachelor's in 20 days. In 28 days we are moving. So we need to find housing. Stat. Otherwise we might have ...

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Great references for how to price

<div style="text-align: center;">A few days ago I posted about some of my questions concerning pricing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From your lovely responses I could tell I wasn't the only one with questions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is kind of a blurry subject. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had some of you email me some great posts from other blogs that really answered some of my questions.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I also found some of my own.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've compiled a list of the links as seen below and I really hope that this helps you!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freshlypickedblog.com/2011/04/why-you-should-raise-your-prices.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FreshlyPicked+%28Freshly+Picked%29">Freshly Picked: Why you Should Raise Your Prices</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2009/the-art-of-pricing-three-helpful-pricing-exercises/">The Art of Pricing: Three Helpful Pricing Exercises</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.glueandglitter.com/main/2010/07/12/behind-the-price-tag-handmade-pricing/">Behind the Price Tag: Handmade Pricing</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.glueandglitter.com/main/2010/07/14/shop-talk-how-to-price-handmade-goods/">Shop Talk: How to Price Handmade Goods</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whatthecraft.com/arts/pricing.htm">How to price your craft</a><br /><br /><br />And don't forget to enter the Ryobi Sander Giveaway!!</div>

Great references for how to price

A few days ago I posted about some of my questions concerning pricing. From your lovely responses I could tell I wasn't the only one wit...

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Fiesta

<div style="text-align: center;">Does any one know the blog <a href="http://www.hostessblog.com/">Hostess with the Mostess</a>?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you ever need to plan a party check this place out.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seriously, there are some <i>fantastic </i>ideas.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Secretly, I've always wanted to throw a party that was amazing enough to be featured. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eventually.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This weekend not much got accomplished in the furniture department because we were busy throwing a baby shower fiesta. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJtydzy4djpgpK3D-Smwr1BG64LGkuPyLLLbcxj32gqTa5276lvYLtzYD6XSpZZmIIEmURmBcrMd-UC7C_6YBavUaT5kHgJUeGvqa8g8vxGPF2m5Q2qU1tHHeFArrnmP8KIoCSOzMcyE/s1600/DSC_1290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJtydzy4djpgpK3D-Smwr1BG64LGkuPyLLLbcxj32gqTa5276lvYLtzYD6XSpZZmIIEmURmBcrMd-UC7C_6YBavUaT5kHgJUeGvqa8g8vxGPF2m5Q2qU1tHHeFArrnmP8KIoCSOzMcyE/s400/DSC_1290.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sNFgIhyphenhyphenJoZQMk2WV0TpnDQjgKaODOTVdXhAyO4_PjmA0t0EuzQp4O-U7LfEa7xKN4g93aZ8jG8Samej9jYIwd9numaEikHrG7gzv1HnsFrA1oUP8AqiP8tUgnZ7O2marTGAZK9JOifA/s1600/DSC_1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sNFgIhyphenhyphenJoZQMk2WV0TpnDQjgKaODOTVdXhAyO4_PjmA0t0EuzQp4O-U7LfEa7xKN4g93aZ8jG8Samej9jYIwd9numaEikHrG7gzv1HnsFrA1oUP8AqiP8tUgnZ7O2marTGAZK9JOifA/s400/DSC_1276.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvydt1JoAGdYCtm3E5jEsbL8h7fg2IMb2VEVZPfVQWYL3_z47rgFEP-EmLVE9f1LEzu3Udq1DDdnR-ME1IFulAKIc8Afap1-ASA9wX4tkaZlyke6aOiY6iNjlraOI5JjZ0lPbXyrpVGo/s1600/DSC_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilvydt1JoAGdYCtm3E5jEsbL8h7fg2IMb2VEVZPfVQWYL3_z47rgFEP-EmLVE9f1LEzu3Udq1DDdnR-ME1IFulAKIc8Afap1-ASA9wX4tkaZlyke6aOiY6iNjlraOI5JjZ0lPbXyrpVGo/s400/DSC_1278.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfvT6k_VDx_3DO-L16JG2HFxRgHfLYuUGSgUy2ZuBiYykfTDWWOvRscLTbcgKJCWd9SB1Q0eaYn6Gni4LokzbFGFq-6oD_A_LU4QWnG2nTBJqRjC05xdzNYyhtkxOAf5SmQncPBy1hNg/s1600/DSC_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfvT6k_VDx_3DO-L16JG2HFxRgHfLYuUGSgUy2ZuBiYykfTDWWOvRscLTbcgKJCWd9SB1Q0eaYn6Gni4LokzbFGFq-6oD_A_LU4QWnG2nTBJqRjC05xdzNYyhtkxOAf5SmQncPBy1hNg/s400/DSC_1281.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8F7oVOXJYmxgEX-zq3FAcilUFcy6G9E-EDrvSOrtZVdJVO32D2tagSSca1qspU1V7SdB7ZRWKM9169H79GHPlYKe2vGRSlwUZvIRW-G1p39OZ75KWsz8e4kXbN9OQRxtYg54WIe8wB4E/s1600/DSC_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8F7oVOXJYmxgEX-zq3FAcilUFcy6G9E-EDrvSOrtZVdJVO32D2tagSSca1qspU1V7SdB7ZRWKM9169H79GHPlYKe2vGRSlwUZvIRW-G1p39OZ75KWsz8e4kXbN9OQRxtYg54WIe8wB4E/s640/DSC_1280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXY0xWh4JAnrOr6G7g0mjN2V5HeNG-b9ZQ0sP6Y6iVmkAZmKn84ewbFR56NgUJiwUPvdR_6XFReN_09_X7UnvRulBsiYmq5HnSGsoEU4Z4sruAK7dJuF8SJfRz40A79ZhSWGly9gJzaM/s1600/DSC_1282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXY0xWh4JAnrOr6G7g0mjN2V5HeNG-b9ZQ0sP6Y6iVmkAZmKn84ewbFR56NgUJiwUPvdR_6XFReN_09_X7UnvRulBsiYmq5HnSGsoEU4Z4sruAK7dJuF8SJfRz40A79ZhSWGly9gJzaM/s400/DSC_1282.JPG" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbad_e7wWf1wXBiGJ3pXzAk2GR7Z7fLjnFMGiqVFjlKUBGfcyT2jhtyx5iC7t7sJtiyZkT8A-sJhhnhAJvipWh-BjWVidpsxeU-XnDreMWa8NIVU9tl3OmpOr8lCKKJdHZpe3Wshgils/s1600/DSC_1283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbad_e7wWf1wXBiGJ3pXzAk2GR7Z7fLjnFMGiqVFjlKUBGfcyT2jhtyx5iC7t7sJtiyZkT8A-sJhhnhAJvipWh-BjWVidpsxeU-XnDreMWa8NIVU9tl3OmpOr8lCKKJdHZpe3Wshgils/s400/DSC_1283.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTboML5QagofSgJlY2y2VfxTdR_347m5fDxCxYh579P0sO_YoG9bsHb3J7OtkvT511a8TywE2sqJM-R2LagU6HcQlzcfzcGJieVYCK16cQK19DCaGjfVgQtzYTGfHzukoTbgo5yGXFew/s1600/DSC_1284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhxfwRPUpvS7aMpR_e6RXkRm0ng6Hh8IeI06VSfaH6C-X8nLTGdnZtoR-wUQ6y-nrVqUl9k-kKLsv0wACNDc3xAx_b2yNAU3mnfgmvc4sgs2A9vt3CwQoYUyVsFrc9WGf12UEc_78Z6c/s640/DSC_1286.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitehyphenhyphenrLxxJVa6avzjfoUHtJctPij_VyFgD0D3rQ5xliwa7KMMuXGvDaxKXIiarj1gkTBP27l_8H1fyXqr3RMvZ8fule60GM9RHu3yqXaCQwKQDX3UTThbj0loyOZlpfWh6mM0ORFjxq5g/s1600/DSC_1288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitehyphenhyphenrLxxJVa6avzjfoUHtJctPij_VyFgD0D3rQ5xliwa7KMMuXGvDaxKXIiarj1gkTBP27l_8H1fyXqr3RMvZ8fule60GM9RHu3yqXaCQwKQDX3UTThbj0loyOZlpfWh6mM0ORFjxq5g/s640/DSC_1288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzuvDvQ82mXgk_OjGlHXUjIOYgBKfl3_ho-5Io0-Gs-OVJvuiIXMBisi7m0S2FwD5rLSWR85Y7xrnuY5NAjUBrY9po_xjxAY3Yv0v7tIF278m2E7N8BNzxScQZUdYgkcu7RPwpuiPDrw/s1600/DSC_1289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMzuvDvQ82mXgk_OjGlHXUjIOYgBKfl3_ho-5Io0-Gs-OVJvuiIXMBisi7m0S2FwD5rLSWR85Y7xrnuY5NAjUBrY9po_xjxAY3Yv0v7tIF278m2E7N8BNzxScQZUdYgkcu7RPwpuiPDrw/s640/DSC_1289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Taco bar. Make your own earring table. Bean dip. Gerber daisys. Cafe Rio trays. Lime wedges. LOTS of guacamole. Stenciled table cloths. Fizzy fruit drinks. Cold water melon. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All with some of my favorite girls. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was lovely. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(And this is the first weekend in a long time that I've not had sawdust in my hair. :) )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">P.S. Don't forget to tell all your friends, family, neighbors, postmen, community pool life guards etc about the Ryobi Power sander giveaway! It ends on Friday! </div>

Fiesta

Does any one know the blog  Hostess with the Mostess ? If you ever need to plan a party check this place out. Seriously, there are some fant...

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Another round of ugly ducklings

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A French Provincial Desk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzZQXYyA_5yURePK5DsGnYZ99R-s-eummBLk9C5tIoj3QX8FCBlQ_iYQrFtygWGvgCsSGl_gPlqVwiLWwNNXrVB8t6fFMuxUVK9_dBlRnVdREnwqVodrfwKyRzy2Fq-9eVWHHQk76x_E/s1600/DSC_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzZQXYyA_5yURePK5DsGnYZ99R-s-eummBLk9C5tIoj3QX8FCBlQ_iYQrFtygWGvgCsSGl_gPlqVwiLWwNNXrVB8t6fFMuxUVK9_dBlRnVdREnwqVodrfwKyRzy2Fq-9eVWHHQk76x_E/s640/DSC_1205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This little chest was abandon in our basement.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brings tears to my eyes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudYDxKTzw4W4VLAU4g-RvD_jTTgN0RlnnYyBPixYnzFF7aUC5CN23kI7WPd8HVjZb4Ug-t_WDuHWEeVXsiIIDiBUUV1XelORUfF_UdEpRFWs2hnJLbYqIqp-LJNC3AJoXfbqwRWjOYdg/s1600/DSC_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudYDxKTzw4W4VLAU4g-RvD_jTTgN0RlnnYyBPixYnzFF7aUC5CN23kI7WPd8HVjZb4Ug-t_WDuHWEeVXsiIIDiBUUV1XelORUfF_UdEpRFWs2hnJLbYqIqp-LJNC3AJoXfbqwRWjOYdg/s640/DSC_1271.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2scJ-nwGQlZjf6ayByLCf4FRvzlLdnWcLmbFKtDqmUWTGBqI9hdgHNEhZ5yGCVC7Wa751WPvmni65UvxI8Z4Tv1JJ4cmKHA1L1kkkBT3RmwbviaIIeS42qhb_pDAvwYs7Jp2J1Sqt14/s1600/DSC_1272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2scJ-nwGQlZjf6ayByLCf4FRvzlLdnWcLmbFKtDqmUWTGBqI9hdgHNEhZ5yGCVC7Wa751WPvmni65UvxI8Z4Tv1JJ4cmKHA1L1kkkBT3RmwbviaIIeS42qhb_pDAvwYs7Jp2J1Sqt14/s640/DSC_1272.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The legs need to be replaced but I still think she's got great potential.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoiRK9LTgGghaWhUQggxAxXAVrdx2JXiXf0MDEKolOCaEYQwz1f0UZ8jortLEbY0S7Nb356eyXK53propqwptqQqw98w_G4ATiwnjqHT8OGLWt-pCdZd2W1xB80Z2JWpm7yXEranFhS4/s1600/DSC_1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoiRK9LTgGghaWhUQggxAxXAVrdx2JXiXf0MDEKolOCaEYQwz1f0UZ8jortLEbY0S7Nb356eyXK53propqwptqQqw98w_G4ATiwnjqHT8OGLWt-pCdZd2W1xB80Z2JWpm7yXEranFhS4/s640/DSC_1274.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> And my FAVORITE find thus far.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a desk...that used to be an organ.</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bo2dmpDFO1DiKb9Xg_CShoSj0EFotWP-fVLCNRGbcgJCillZLfOI6akHrTNG8XXmc1nY2sO4htKryZeboD_KMg_f6fCpqVoaWjFZrYzfgZS3xqEg6T6Rd5FNdUDQKH1Qt67kmPlokFE/s1600/DSC_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bo2dmpDFO1DiKb9Xg_CShoSj0EFotWP-fVLCNRGbcgJCillZLfOI6akHrTNG8XXmc1nY2sO4htKryZeboD_KMg_f6fCpqVoaWjFZrYzfgZS3xqEg6T6Rd5FNdUDQKH1Qt67kmPlokFE/s640/DSC_1207.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FtVMd9MFPdEKyjSalsJFLzX_vVQZPm0LqbhtXjfVx7yFF6kjRRD-nOgSZkpehvnmDFtx1qXvOm6KlVkPhHU8GKq_9KAYBmCXocpWlVcxZkkoRCw8ZA7uEqTFQfZ2qiDUCgyE2BlunDc/s1600/DSC_1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FtVMd9MFPdEKyjSalsJFLzX_vVQZPm0LqbhtXjfVx7yFF6kjRRD-nOgSZkpehvnmDFtx1qXvOm6KlVkPhHU8GKq_9KAYBmCXocpWlVcxZkkoRCw8ZA7uEqTFQfZ2qiDUCgyE2BlunDc/s640/DSC_1209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn9zVadF6NE7Ude_Z66kRwBHzy_I96zzR64FkwovaqLrNcKBlabHl-korzD5mvbn4T7Zx-QaKmQ4g8oZxG0gYX7z2L_y82s0BF-M57NsHvIDIdf3PHdgOftVebVMiK1MzZH_XhRJ3Tfc/s1600/DSC_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfn9zVadF6NE7Ude_Z66kRwBHzy_I96zzR64FkwovaqLrNcKBlabHl-korzD5mvbn4T7Zx-QaKmQ4g8oZxG0gYX7z2L_y82s0BF-M57NsHvIDIdf3PHdgOftVebVMiK1MzZH_XhRJ3Tfc/s640/DSC_1210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9VUAHxfxsGq4eMVHj7qetdF5GNm4lp0p_SIB-jFOiDYux50swsCeBkrLTbYzIIm7N0lEu_omODvdeROMedyhRmIeZrtLqHSdw1nYLXa2nG8pyQL_EKCAJ24I6FDJ2oOKHrq5GwEzNWY/s1600/DSC_1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9VUAHxfxsGq4eMVHj7qetdF5GNm4lp0p_SIB-jFOiDYux50swsCeBkrLTbYzIIm7N0lEu_omODvdeROMedyhRmIeZrtLqHSdw1nYLXa2nG8pyQL_EKCAJ24I6FDJ2oOKHrq5GwEzNWY/s640/DSC_1212.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> I"m still not sure if I can part with her. I might have to keep this one. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We'll start working on them tomorrow!</div>

Another round of ugly ducklings

A French Provincial Desk This little chest was abandon in our basement. Brings tears to my eyes. The legs need to be replaced but I still th...

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What I've learned/questions about pricing

The other day we took a trip to visit a local furniture store. We might be furniture nerds. We love looking around, testing couches (and chairs), analyzing their staging. Does anyone else do this? This was our first visit to such an establishment since we jumped into this little furniture business of ours, so I was really excited to look at everything with a new perspective.<br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I was kind of shocked. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was shocked at the prices they were charging...even for sale items. Most were at least double, closer to triple what I list pieces at. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I understand completely that this store is so very different from what so many of us do. It is part of a chain, it has investors, a reputation and loyal customers. But I still had a hard time keeping my jaw from dropping as we perused each item and vignette.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we got home we talked about our pricing "<i>strategy"</i>. OK we really don't have one. We really just go with our gut instinct. And I'm wondering if we are going about this all wrong. So I was wondering if any of you had some advice. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what I've learned so far. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><ul><li>I want to create beautiful furniture that people can afford. Everyone deserves a beautiful home</li><li>What you can charge depends on the venue you are selling it in. </li><li>I don't like to pay more that $30ish dollars for a piece to work on. </li><li>Sometimes a piece will produce a large profit and sometimes it won't. </li><li><br /></li></ul><div>OK now I need advice. </div><div>These are some of my questions and if you have any answers, experiences, advice, anything I would really appreciate it. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>How do you price your labor/time invested in a piece?</li><li>If someone asks you to lower the price...what do you do? </li><li>What venues do you use to sell finished pieces?</li><li>How long do you leave a piece up for sale before you lower the price?</li><li>How do you price your finished pieces? Do you have a "formula"? </li></ul><div>Thank you so much for your advice! I really, truly appreciate it. </div></div></div>

What I've learned/questions about pricing

The other day we took a trip to visit a local furniture store. We might be furniture nerds. We love looking around, testing couches (and cha...

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Ryobi Power Sander GIVEAWAY!

<div style="text-align: center;">First off I want to thank each of you for all your support and commenting and encouragement over the past 2 months as we've gotten this show on the road. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seriously, I was so afraid of everyone thinking I was just a silly housewife.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So thank you! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I<i> love </i>reading your blogs and seeing your work and your fun times with your friends and family.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So since we reached 100 followers we will be doing a giveaway!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's like Christmas in July. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We will be giving away a Ryobi 5in Random Orbit Sander</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYBolq4C6afwIYeyNu0qhI4ctIvILjzJm5puBLjRl4fu5yS5s3_9mqyPD0iCbz2NPBbx3lhJS_63WH8qLKaH0OKaStvc3D30moJuGDm-JPxGhLhDj_fBFWIxM6fapUBw1-RMoeLidhzc/s1600/Sander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxYBolq4C6afwIYeyNu0qhI4ctIvILjzJm5puBLjRl4fu5yS5s3_9mqyPD0iCbz2NPBbx3lhJS_63WH8qLKaH0OKaStvc3D30moJuGDm-JPxGhLhDj_fBFWIxM6fapUBw1-RMoeLidhzc/s640/Sander.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Worth $40 </div><div style="text-align: center;">(I'll include a gift receipt so if you already have a sander you can return it and get something else fun!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">{ Here's how to enter }</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each of these will give you a separate entry so you could have a possibility of  5 entries.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">1. Follow Le blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">2. Post about the giveaway on your blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">3. Like 551 East on Facebook.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">4. Post about the giveaway on your FB page.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">5. Put my button on your blog.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each one you do!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Ready, set, ENTER!<br /><br />P.S. This is open to anyone in the United States.<br />P.P.S The giveaway will end on July 22nd and a winner announced on the 23rd.</div>

Ryobi Power Sander GIVEAWAY!

First off I want to thank each of you for all your support and commenting and encouragement over the past 2 months as we've gotten this ...

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Vintage Spain Influenced 9 Drawer Dresser

<div style="text-align: center;">OK so I've never been to Spain, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but for some reason this dresser reminds me of something you might find there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tell me if I'm totally off base.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the before.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfC8LCVyUfLGdpSrxNgxZ5-F95YXOFW3RABhu4CAo4DRNd__8TPonlOjahIfOXXynJoyGpH3B1BTmlRYyySggJ-9EICEwsK2ct2rX8foTkm2ZgvfD7nxWWzaxVn7fItfAgLoGBme3hsI/s1600/Dresser.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfC8LCVyUfLGdpSrxNgxZ5-F95YXOFW3RABhu4CAo4DRNd__8TPonlOjahIfOXXynJoyGpH3B1BTmlRYyySggJ-9EICEwsK2ct2rX8foTkm2ZgvfD7nxWWzaxVn7fItfAgLoGBme3hsI/s640/Dresser.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv0oIGBCAkAsBYLU3W_2ACdBGn2IZBG0avpndQNHZPKWkaeOs4SRYCP41W3yMEuoYEPJc4Tvu9mEGGf3ONGWfjxQ2K0nPoh9t88-I9jsy76cUJMdawfmHVqMb5znRDOzZj5VLVjw9G3E/s1600/Dresser2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv0oIGBCAkAsBYLU3W_2ACdBGn2IZBG0avpndQNHZPKWkaeOs4SRYCP41W3yMEuoYEPJc4Tvu9mEGGf3ONGWfjxQ2K0nPoh9t88-I9jsy76cUJMdawfmHVqMb5znRDOzZj5VLVjw9G3E/s640/Dresser2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The previous owner had started to paint it black. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I love black don't get me wrong. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But for such a larger piece black seemed a little...ominous.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here she is now.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZK8Ls6B6R9DK-RbjIPeCPl67RI845fB-UtPJqR8m9toZs4wGOwQoKAeT_sSte11XAHneFMbkZwndYAo9jkhy1nIdORQ6T790QgSF1Q0dCWXiTetBkLmHu3oaQSFTKpry3TTiBlxlEGA/s1600/blue_dresser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZK8Ls6B6R9DK-RbjIPeCPl67RI845fB-UtPJqR8m9toZs4wGOwQoKAeT_sSte11XAHneFMbkZwndYAo9jkhy1nIdORQ6T790QgSF1Q0dCWXiTetBkLmHu3oaQSFTKpry3TTiBlxlEGA/s640/blue_dresser.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dpX9PZO2Ku1wR-_8kQtDh2MatK9SyPb2GrY3ZwDJtpDyHvrCm4MR7ke_hJUc_NDEvHdqGiQfqZqHk6yhzb6xJcKwvqggvEkFZ_cumv61e3t1jPbmdV3EaNSqVgZGzF6QHHy9JVFl5N8/s1600/blue_dresser2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dpX9PZO2Ku1wR-_8kQtDh2MatK9SyPb2GrY3ZwDJtpDyHvrCm4MR7ke_hJUc_NDEvHdqGiQfqZqHk6yhzb6xJcKwvqggvEkFZ_cumv61e3t1jPbmdV3EaNSqVgZGzF6QHHy9JVFl5N8/s640/blue_dresser2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">She's painted in Bon Voyage from Behr and dry brushed in Frost also by Behr.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Inside the drawers is painted with Behr's Iconic Sky.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hardware is original. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I have a question about that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you think the hardware would look better painted another color?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Right now it's bronze and I like the contrast, but what do you think?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For more info look under the For Sale tab at the top of the page. :)</div>

Vintage Spain Influenced 9 Drawer Dresser

OK so I've never been to Spain,  but for some reason this dresser reminds me of something you might find there. Tell me if I'm total...

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The Real Houswives of DIY: Jordan from Trailer Gypsy

<div style="text-align: center;">OK so today I am so happy to feature a guest post from Jordan over at <a href="http://www.trailergypsy.net/">Trailer Gypsy</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jordan and I have never officially met. We're online BFF's.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She's is probably one of the sweetest girls you'll ever meet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For example, I once posted on our <a href="http://jakeandjuliamiller.blogspot.com/2011/02/dear-friend.html">family blog about my frustration with being poor</a> and still being in school and not being able to afford a creative outlet. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And do you know what she did?</div><div style="text-align: center;">She mailed me a box FULL of craft projects, books, and a sweet letter.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just out of the blue and has never met me in real life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know, RIGHT?! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today she is sharing about a table that she built from scratch.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">---------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2_QKO9dj33sjJjKWb6gZLzfzFRzm65OtVYHCV2hCB282BP9FfIj5fXLLNYDc4CZmHwDYr4jSC1RaYn-t7B6QsDfpkwHf4O6LQ9U9vCdwBAQ38SGxj6KdVPTuCPx9e3eM9j0xDcGEvz4/s1600/iamjordan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2_QKO9dj33sjJjKWb6gZLzfzFRzm65OtVYHCV2hCB282BP9FfIj5fXLLNYDc4CZmHwDYr4jSC1RaYn-t7B6QsDfpkwHf4O6LQ9U9vCdwBAQ38SGxj6KdVPTuCPx9e3eM9j0xDcGEvz4/s640/iamjordan.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><br />Hi, I'm Jordan and I blog over at <a href="http://www.trailergypsy.net/">Trailer Gypsy</a>. I know Julia through her husband Jake. He and I went to high school together, and middle school, and I'm pretty sure elementary school but I don't remember much from elementary school so I may be wrong. I've never met Julia in person but I can tell through her blog and the photos on facebook that she is just the sweetest.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR_sL2yxrHPJ26v48AAHoxuYnMNbVZHUO3w5divVQl0KTGJdjSBcBR2kj8ruztz5KL6rzbwsbwQWLAxyEMW5IJdzyCkar-nn_-98yuEBAHi5PtwFfYrIHZltq8lbjBg-n6mkz1cbSguI/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR_sL2yxrHPJ26v48AAHoxuYnMNbVZHUO3w5divVQl0KTGJdjSBcBR2kj8ruztz5KL6rzbwsbwQWLAxyEMW5IJdzyCkar-nn_-98yuEBAHi5PtwFfYrIHZltq8lbjBg-n6mkz1cbSguI/s640/IMG_3587.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />My boyfriend (also named Jake) and I recently got to work making a dining room table and benches. First, I browsed <a href="http://ana-white.com/2009/11/plan-modern-farmhouse-table-knock-off.html">Ana-White.com</a> until I found a table I liked. Ana-White is a great resource as the site features plans to help you build all kinds of furniture ranging from bed frames to desks to benches.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqamh1rOhI7Mx6Ump9ve3AS50Ic1upWL7_itfhu1ln-Q5kMqcBpF6ACYh8MXyV63Z8-dnR37PtcGjywJdH9_kPS1tCe9Gf0W3cLmxRyjw4qPLQCpZT7aR1rTuW7PzZ9V2HYvZgTF1-BhU/s1600/IMG_3582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqamh1rOhI7Mx6Ump9ve3AS50Ic1upWL7_itfhu1ln-Q5kMqcBpF6ACYh8MXyV63Z8-dnR37PtcGjywJdH9_kPS1tCe9Gf0W3cLmxRyjw4qPLQCpZT7aR1rTuW7PzZ9V2HYvZgTF1-BhU/s640/IMG_3582.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />We don't own a saw so when I went to Home Depot, I had them cut the wood for me there. They don't charge for this service although, they didn't do the best job in the world either. Some boards were shorter than others, I think maybe the guy forgot to take into account the width of the saw blade? It all turned out okay in the end though. When purchasing your wood, be sure to go over every board yourself, to make sure there aren't large chunks missing out of the sides and that the boards are straight.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCaKD6lbTfvG2Ci8u405V50KE8f8MWmJh2f7aamMP11PRWKp52FGs2Mygbz2gz4QOBthPmfkKt30mm82d4GSrJloo0xoqALJVhpMsADgOCbU01tc1KQed2lrOI4Q3QFj7Zui6CViHUtY/s1600/IMG_3588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCaKD6lbTfvG2Ci8u405V50KE8f8MWmJh2f7aamMP11PRWKp52FGs2Mygbz2gz4QOBthPmfkKt30mm82d4GSrJloo0xoqALJVhpMsADgOCbU01tc1KQed2lrOI4Q3QFj7Zui6CViHUtY/s640/IMG_3588.JPG" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />We had a lot of fun building this together. I did all of the sanding (you'll want an electric sander for sure) and jake did the drill work. Once you have everything sanded, assembling the table and benches goes really quickly and it was really fun to do this together.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZDIuVbQ76DwcZhAA5nIPUwv1Rszi5TNypJ3bPJ-vE8soqolilmlM8h02YsB_jy7C3cfo65i1Gc6erxNqmWd3NSj_4VQs5jw4i_IGfQTc5URZqH2ge8du2bBTeJ6-2jhmNQAvjd0lmp8/s1600/IMG_3592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZDIuVbQ76DwcZhAA5nIPUwv1Rszi5TNypJ3bPJ-vE8soqolilmlM8h02YsB_jy7C3cfo65i1Gc6erxNqmWd3NSj_4VQs5jw4i_IGfQTc5URZqH2ge8du2bBTeJ6-2jhmNQAvjd0lmp8/s640/IMG_3592.JPG" width="464" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The true color of the table is close to the second photo. It's difficult getting pictures with my little point and shoot camera to not turn out yellow in my yellow kitchen. I wanted to keep the table as close to the natural color of the wood so I used Minwax Wood Finish Stain in Golden Pecan. I applied one coat using a rag I made from a cut up t-shirt after having applied Minwax Wood Conditioner.<br /><br />My favorite thing about this is the price. It was about $100 for all the materials for the table and benches, including the screws, wood conditioner, stain and wood putty. For a table and benches that seat 6-8 people, that's an amazing deal! It may not be the fanciest table but we sure love it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">-----------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you Jordan! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Make sure to check out her <a href="http://www.trailergypsy.net/">blog</a>...she's adorable. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

The Real Houswives of DIY: Jordan from Trailer Gypsy

OK so today I am so happy to feature a guest post from Jordan over at Trailer Gypsy . Jordan and I have never officially met. We're onli...

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A soon to be GIVEAWAY and just for laughs

<div style="text-align: center;">Happy Saturday everyone! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I love Saturdays.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are great project days. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And...guys....we're only 7 followers away from 100.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That's awesome!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When we get to 100 we're going to do another giveaway.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you look to the right I've got a little survey to find out what you would like the giveaway to be.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you want something like a power tool....say an electric sander (gift receipt included)?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you want a gift card to go out to the movies a few times?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you want to go get pampered and get your hair or nails done?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Please take the survey and let me know!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now just for your laughing enjoyment.</div><br />So when my husband and I were compiling ideas for a new masthead for el blog-o he had the idea of using a picture of me as part of it.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bah! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm really not a fan of pictures of just me, so this wasn't in my comfort zone.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I decided to humor him and give it a try. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are some of the outtakes. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAVI5kZzwxpQO2XshbvKZ9uUrb1UxsfxL0K2YL_JUZMs5J49pBZ7TFRxPgL15sl0k-L1GZ1NQ4R1fZJmi4zoOobHfbq-ogu9g-wtoodJHQMIUI_2-2e_ChRt2S9__fmO6DdjQD7lau_M/s1600/DSC_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAVI5kZzwxpQO2XshbvKZ9uUrb1UxsfxL0K2YL_JUZMs5J49pBZ7TFRxPgL15sl0k-L1GZ1NQ4R1fZJmi4zoOobHfbq-ogu9g-wtoodJHQMIUI_2-2e_ChRt2S9__fmO6DdjQD7lau_M/s640/DSC_0856.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSPXVgfAYHQt4vWmw_S27mce-Utmf_HS2xI8tYi-RFPth_qnA2ECugAUO7S7MEHH1Up2iQm7TFY1vXqib__pnJT3ocqleNZsdrQQp-FlCCasGYcMm8L0BB141wGvfXW_psqt6MLpC-4E/s1600/DSC_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSPXVgfAYHQt4vWmw_S27mce-Utmf_HS2xI8tYi-RFPth_qnA2ECugAUO7S7MEHH1Up2iQm7TFY1vXqib__pnJT3ocqleNZsdrQQp-FlCCasGYcMm8L0BB141wGvfXW_psqt6MLpC-4E/s640/DSC_0770.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9RYBhwQeFjNLG8X-oYGbERzcAtoVqtCXtUkC0U4hyphenhyphen8CZEjV0igpo7uuoeWmsxroIJ7VpUkPrtnc0oACelRMeDceVJy534p7TVPzdAfD3SpO-s5kxD72Rh4qp8xAdSbfvyJuxWy9uVOk/s1600/DSC_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMJ10D9eJlKBTE9PaZjH9eaegPaaeqANVaxyD5tR2C6qyL9GVvfI7Mp9REFR_JXCBtP0VRvDeeGuQQ7zYSYdK0seK1A07icT_8wsV5HTPQnzLtWebYHf2NX3x5jdBfqP10Jv8zm2msYs/s1600/DSC_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMJ10D9eJlKBTE9PaZjH9eaegPaaeqANVaxyD5tR2C6qyL9GVvfI7Mp9REFR_JXCBtP0VRvDeeGuQQ7zYSYdK0seK1A07icT_8wsV5HTPQnzLtWebYHf2NX3x5jdBfqP10Jv8zm2msYs/s640/DSC_0759.JPG" width="640" /></a><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9RYBhwQeFjNLG8X-oYGbERzcAtoVqtCXtUkC0U4hyphenhyphen8CZEjV0igpo7uuoeWmsxroIJ7VpUkPrtnc0oACelRMeDceVJy534p7TVPzdAfD3SpO-s5kxD72Rh4qp8xAdSbfvyJuxWy9uVOk/s640/DSC_0855.JPG" width="640" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1Z6sIWg5K4BBJRFSxWjNFoayENaFTSHwfYGjR3geol4_bW73zMxLkUiLKstRCh9-1la31COHxBRPzBZICWa4vQ8F0QeY9WJUtpyBHvNa5MXYkjL0NF5pctg50_WIXaEaG49_ud_yRVo/s1600/DSC_0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1Z6sIWg5K4BBJRFSxWjNFoayENaFTSHwfYGjR3geol4_bW73zMxLkUiLKstRCh9-1la31COHxBRPzBZICWa4vQ8F0QeY9WJUtpyBHvNa5MXYkjL0NF5pctg50_WIXaEaG49_ud_yRVo/s640/DSC_0824.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwk4Vl8jfx6ctwGW5BtdiS8MHxCepOFqsBLKpxfD5I_vu0YSIw_j7ybrGOsISkWvYo2NaJ7ru1oh8fUQJ0G2QQYWyJcxLDjJ93rpj6wdXhoczArylCiGlLPn-Urkf0E9UY1ZywTWIOtM/s1600/DSC_0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwk4Vl8jfx6ctwGW5BtdiS8MHxCepOFqsBLKpxfD5I_vu0YSIw_j7ybrGOsISkWvYo2NaJ7ru1oh8fUQJ0G2QQYWyJcxLDjJ93rpj6wdXhoczArylCiGlLPn-Urkf0E9UY1ZywTWIOtM/s640/DSC_0782.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsisSUzBc4RWNpkGCFhAUqcKD03eNe5PQRiouSSt2-bGiZdouOOvQpCFZLpBicI0weVz9bMY2satPQCW-ShyQon3wXPFfQ_ZZJ0I-R9mRz_n9OIO5yTxHtWOa0IJ3qmUCyd6kWr015IkI/s1600/DSC_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsisSUzBc4RWNpkGCFhAUqcKD03eNe5PQRiouSSt2-bGiZdouOOvQpCFZLpBicI0weVz9bMY2satPQCW-ShyQon3wXPFfQ_ZZJ0I-R9mRz_n9OIO5yTxHtWOa0IJ3qmUCyd6kWr015IkI/s640/DSC_0844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvOMhSQPhZSu34ORBFgk3hLWaHoy1g7fLxyhXLIvr6bvXEvCyfJsUXyHwzMQBxPTSEx83AMgK4XOiXdYpxrPA43eIVqJzu1TOmpqulNY0GwJBKPxn1NJ_6T0Sfau08HgYmtv-A1XJd_w/s1600/DSC_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtvOMhSQPhZSu34ORBFgk3hLWaHoy1g7fLxyhXLIvr6bvXEvCyfJsUXyHwzMQBxPTSEx83AMgK4XOiXdYpxrPA43eIVqJzu1TOmpqulNY0GwJBKPxn1NJ_6T0Sfau08HgYmtv-A1XJd_w/s640/DSC_0786.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not cut out to be a model. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll stick to making furniture look good. :)</div>

A soon to be GIVEAWAY and just for laughs

Happy Saturday everyone!  I love Saturdays. They are great project days.  And...guys....we're only 7 followers away from 100. That's...

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The Real Housewives of DIY: A Couch Story

<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Several months ago a friend approached me and asked if I would be willing to help reupholster their couch. Whoa! That seemed like a GARGANTUAN undertaking! I had never reupholstered anything before. I remember thinking "how hard can it be?", agreeing to do it, and going home to watch Youtube videos to learn how. (God bless Youtube.)  I found these ones to be the most helpful. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHbpwDanCY8">1</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXbVh0btnbY">2)</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Here are some before pictures and I'll let Kayleen show you the afters.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioe56ida82LSW0VnJwGcKUJDmIirIhbK2jqIFL-E5cRLcw0Oyc87anKOe_pvzQtScw9fY9gwiqOmInBerf-dAUuJW4EtJ3ZD3b2jnDaBwpv28duPWHQxWk8NVmUk28qOXrW0a91i_Pg-w/s1600/white_couch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioe56ida82LSW0VnJwGcKUJDmIirIhbK2jqIFL-E5cRLcw0Oyc87anKOe_pvzQtScw9fY9gwiqOmInBerf-dAUuJW4EtJ3ZD3b2jnDaBwpv28duPWHQxWk8NVmUk28qOXrW0a91i_Pg-w/s640/white_couch2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztLRFC-Uf6Iz6lID13jBsqq5o7aiZKVQYNHmZux5kfL_u4lvfTEH9Vm7G56VMpizmdns3q70m4wkgydTWh-iuM_YVNe8Jp1K6v_0WxlyENf2DnrIeCa6PhkvCWr4lvyFLA-w32ewmCnQ/s1600/white_couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztLRFC-Uf6Iz6lID13jBsqq5o7aiZKVQYNHmZux5kfL_u4lvfTEH9Vm7G56VMpizmdns3q70m4wkgydTWh-iuM_YVNe8Jp1K6v_0WxlyENf2DnrIeCa6PhkvCWr4lvyFLA-w32ewmCnQ/s640/white_couch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Eww yucky right?!</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">When my husband and I got married we were very poor and had no money for furniture. Luckily, we found an old couch, probably built in the early 70’s, sitting on the side of the road. And what did my resourceful husband and I do? We picked it up and dragged it into our ghetto hole of an apartment. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Three years later my husband and I upgraded! We now live in an apartment without broken windows, holes in the floor, and mold eating away at the living room wall. I, being the silly wife of an always logical man, asked if we could look for a new couch, and, of course, the answer was “Wouldn’t that cost money?”</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">My dreams of enjoying novels on a sofa that didn’t resemble a circus with murderous clowns were crushed. I was doomed to endure the ugly agony of forest green, blood red, and dirty water brown sitting like a white trash lump in my living room. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">One Sunday at church, while singing the closing hymn, I received a heavenly inspiration; I turned to the beautiful and oh-so-talented Julia Miller sitting to my left and was prompted to say, “Would you want to reupholster my couch?” To which she responded with an enthusiastic “Yes!”</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">And that is how this lovely couch of yellow, robin egg blue, and teal was born – not to mention the wonderful friendship with Julia that I am so grateful to have. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">We went to a discount fabric store, bought a ton of fabric, then came home and started ripping the old nasty fabric off my hideous couch that needed to die. It is amazing what you might find inside an old couch, I will not go into detail, because it was nasty. All I am going to say is that Julia had to run home and grab a container of disinfectant wipes and her heavy duty vacuum so I could de-germ my living room. (I still shudder when I think of that day.)</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Unfortunately, the padding in the couch was too destroyed to reuse as well. So, Julia and I stripped the couch down to its bones. We were left with wood, cardboard, and a few springs to work with – and work we did! We returned to the fabric store, bought padding, came home, and started stapling. There were a few times we had to rip whole rows of staples out, but those were usually my fault. And there were times we had to glue fabric back together after cutting it wrong, that was both our faults. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">There was a lot of sweating, a lot of laughing, and a lot of cheerios to keep our two babies happy. </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Here she is!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtPtzTB_KGO9iHL4wMS5ss4LUj3ERXdfCRwf4nhePS1KtNBlhmZRXZvKpo1oukhwPAbO9uN3kWK3vJswORMoX2eeBD_kdjOOK-dcHaEfbHO2rDGukPM43acOzLterVoAVBZcPUP_0GNg/s1600/yellow_couch_pillow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtPtzTB_KGO9iHL4wMS5ss4LUj3ERXdfCRwf4nhePS1KtNBlhmZRXZvKpo1oukhwPAbO9uN3kWK3vJswORMoX2eeBD_kdjOOK-dcHaEfbHO2rDGukPM43acOzLterVoAVBZcPUP_0GNg/s640/yellow_couch_pillow4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMckH0toeRaCcMYm_DEi_b6gt38ndoP-_Y4SCtGxe_-WCOvHfJecUkNxjZCVMOB1I7_ZO3hiZ__Wq17pTr4UOaKecBqyO05LfGuh3USdcyUEKIetafTlJgrLanLR2neFKH2PaFfQNprR8/s1600/DSC_1190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMckH0toeRaCcMYm_DEi_b6gt38ndoP-_Y4SCtGxe_-WCOvHfJecUkNxjZCVMOB1I7_ZO3hiZ__Wq17pTr4UOaKecBqyO05LfGuh3USdcyUEKIetafTlJgrLanLR2neFKH2PaFfQNprR8/s640/DSC_1190.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNZO2PgmDA1wqej3L7s9TbW81R5gDHy1CbZzTRjkvF5Y5J8XeyJB3OGAUCYodq697on1xGyyEGT7uOHciKEWQgeDRdyUWAmddx11RVRLzUIkH_MXf1-PO_pZQpkinfYWaeUUGqdULbSY/s1600/yellow_couch_pillow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNZO2PgmDA1wqej3L7s9TbW81R5gDHy1CbZzTRjkvF5Y5J8XeyJB3OGAUCYodq697on1xGyyEGT7uOHciKEWQgeDRdyUWAmddx11RVRLzUIkH_MXf1-PO_pZQpkinfYWaeUUGqdULbSY/s640/yellow_couch_pillow2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmN0560NyY3n-eiVoYHo8Af2gLYy6Adz4Qg8zVSgXYHPn1KR8LlJxTbwmgG1h8fJVdRiuUO0LvCwhRZjVRSMMkly_s5aE_4uyE3JdS3rIttzyyrncMiSZN9dRjm4pXslwOrsVa_2fXOq0/s1600/yellow_couch_pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmN0560NyY3n-eiVoYHo8Af2gLYy6Adz4Qg8zVSgXYHPn1KR8LlJxTbwmgG1h8fJVdRiuUO0LvCwhRZjVRSMMkly_s5aE_4uyE3JdS3rIttzyyrncMiSZN9dRjm4pXslwOrsVa_2fXOq0/s640/yellow_couch_pillow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri;">The frame of the couch was the most difficult. The basic method was holding fabric up against the couch, and stapling it down once we thought it looked right. (Believe me; this is much harder than it sounds.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The cushions weren’t too bad. My friend Megan and I ripped the seams in the old cushion covers, and used those pieces as a pattern for my new fabric. Megan then took the materials home and sewed the cushion covers for me – and I am so grateful she did. I can’t sew without pseudo-swearing and my husband thinks that is just as bad as really swearing, so our marriage probably would have suffered if it hadn’t been for her. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The pillows were easiest. I cut up the old pillow covers, used them as a pattern on my new fabric, and livened them up with some interesting, but not too complicated, appliqué. The appliqués were twofold, I really like them, but I also needed something to tie the mismatched cushions in with the rest of the very yellow couch. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Most people think the mismatched cushions are rather odd, but I love them! I have a fetish for mismatched things. I don’t wear matching socks, I don’t wear matching earrings, and I have to change my outfit if it looks too coordinated. So having a patterned blue/yellow cushion paired with a solid teal cushion makes the couch perfect for me. The style and colors compliment my personality one-hundred percent! It’s like my soul mate in couch form!</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">It is so nice to have personalized furniture that is exactly what you want and is undoubtedly you. I could have never bought this couch at a store. And I love it when people come into my home and say “Wow!” It doesn’t even matter if they mean that in a positive or negative way, because I didn’t make it for them, I made it for me, and I love it exactly the way it is. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Thank you to my dear friend Julia for taking on this bold adventure with me and making it a success – I definitely could not have done it without her. And thank you to my dear friend Megan for her generosity and time – cushions are not an easy task and she is a wonder woman when it comes to needle and thread. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Every time I see my couch I think of how blessed I am to have such wonderful friendships. I will miss both these amazing women tremendously when I move to Indiana next month and I am so glad I will have my couch with me. It is like bringing a piece of our friendship along, and it will make my new apartment feel like my new home because I made it with people I love. </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some couches are just couches, but not this couch. My couch is a place I can read, cry, snuggle my family, take naps, and feel completely at home while doing it. It isn’t just comfortable, it’s comforting. And it isn’t just an odd couch, it’s MY odd couch.  </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total cost:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">couch: free! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">batting and fabric: $100</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks Kayleen!  </span></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></span></div>

The Real Housewives of DIY: A Couch Story

Several months ago a friend approached me and asked if I would be willing to help reupholster their couch. Whoa! That seemed like a GARGANTU...

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