When we were first married 7 years ago, I was a decorating idiot. I remember nearly having a nervous breakdown because in one room of our house we had 15 foot ceilings. The walls were all white and I knew I wanted color but the idea of choosing one brought me to my knees. I’m not exaggerating. Like, literally crying on my knees, an emotional new-bride basket case. The man wasn’t sure what he had gotten himself into, I’m certain of that.
I’ve gained confidence in what I like over the years: a lot less crying and a lot more trying…and buying. At least when it comes to the basics.
I’ve been encouraged and motivated the past few weeks to do some more things in our house, namely adding fabric and layers of texture to help it feel more cozy. I’ve been waiting for stems to go 1/2 price at Hobby Lobby. This week, they did. So I bought these.
I have no idea what to do with them.I’ve also been waiting for a good chance to drive south to a discounted fabric store. Today the chance came, so I bought these.
I have no idea what to do with them, either. Are you seeing a pattern here? Other than the obvious checks and toile?
I have the basics down. I can pick out a couch, no problem. I can pick out a table without help. I know a must-have tassel when I see one. I have confident taste in paint colors, back splash tiles and light fixtures. It’s the the little extra things that give me problems. Like how to arrange those stems that I love. And how to mistreat a window without being laughed out of town.
Seriously, I mistreated a window in our half bath. Yeah, there is no way in Tinsel Town I would show you the result. It was an abomination to all things Nester. Forget the normal Window Treatment people, I would have been arrested by the Mistreaters as well. It was a crooked hot mess.
Do you have trouble with the extras? The layering? The textures and patterns? I think my biggest obstacle is a lack of confidence in that area. I need to give myself permission to try something, hate it, and then try something else. I would do well to remember The Nesters’ mantra: it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
Still, what to do with all those stems?
fabrics scare me to death.
I bet your mistreatment isn’t that bad (though I loved the description of a “crooked hot mess”).
My vote for the stems: weave them somewhat haphazardly into a grapevine wreath and hang it somewhere cool…
WoW – you’re up late. (It’s an hour earlier here, so it’s not ‘as late’… yet.
I’ve dwelled on this a lot myself lately.
We have ALL the remodeling done. And I’m all: Now What. Decorate – How? I look around and see all that has gone the way of ‘college-esque’ or ‘not enough $$ for pretties’ for far too long and I am undone at my seams.
Golly – I go with the weave thing from MN and add The Nester’s feather boa and wa-lah!
The great thing about having problems with the little things is that at least you waited ’til they were on sale! So, if you mess up, no big deal! You know, I do the same thing, though. I HAVE to have the dollar fabric because I it’s too beautiful to pass up, but I have no idea what I’ll ever do with it. It usually ends up in a yard sale as I’m trying to declutter in a moment of clarity. Good luck with those stems and fabric! I hope they have a happier ending then some of mine have had!
OK Em, spill the goods, you drove south to a bargain fabric store… Hmm, where? where? where? You know I love me a great fabric bargain!
I feel like I have problems with all things decorative and I only ever got to pick out furniture once when we first married eons ago so what did I know in the 80′s NOTHING I tell you! You can bet if I’m ever lucky enough to get a new couch or something else big that I’ll spend months obsessing over just the right choice and it won’t match a single thing I already have! LOL
As for the stems, do what Nester would do, stuff ‘em in an urn! LOL good girl waiting for the sale!
Beautiful fabric…I just picked up toile fabric like that. Now I just have to pick coordinating fabric & trim and pray it doesn’t take me six months to do so!
Yes I have a confidence problem when it comes to adding accessories, I just posted about that this AM. Come over for a visit and you’ll see my latest project that took me a while to finish because I feared I would mess it up. Just don’t look too close, cause it’s sure not perfect. By the way beautiful fabric!
Hi – saw your blog from Katy Lin’s and thought to stop by and say hi.
Your kids are adorable and look very close in age – I’ll bet that your life is busy.
I do not have curtains in my house for the very same reasons.
Hey rumor has it that your sister is coming for a visit! You could get her to do something with that really, really pretty fabric
wow, thinking of putting soemthing together with those pictures makes me terrified! I can’t even pick out lamp shades. we went through a good 20 (of my choice) before Chad kindly told me that he would pick it out!
I love your fabrics! Recently, I have begun to feel a little braver, too. I went to a fabric store (with my 2 year old and my 7 year old in tow) and actually bought something…after browsing and debating for 2 hours!
I have a brand new house with ginormous builder beige-colored walls and I have no ideas of my own. I have loved looking at (and copying…uh, taking inspiration from) your home! You have a great blog!
It’s only relatively recently that I’ve become braver with my decorating. It’s funny…I think I’m the opposite of you. I obsess over the basics…picking a paint color, a piece of furniture, etc.
I’ll fluff and fiddle with the extras no problem but the other stuff is so intimidating to me. Maybe you need to come pick out my paint and new sofa (in 5 years). And I’ll come play with your extras. Wait – that doesn’t sound so good.
Oh and at my house, the stems would all get stuffed into some kind of crock or jar and fiddled with until they looked nice. Then they would be removed one by one by my boys until my house was covered in a lovely layer of dried stem debris.
I can’t wait to see what y’all come up with – I LOVE your fabric choices!
My sister (not Jami – the other one), took stems and incorporated them into her window treatment. She strung them up and hung them over her window. Just an idea…
I hope you show pics of what you come up with!
Love the fabrics too – pillows in fun fabrics are always a good thing!
Hi Emily! First, the kitchen is WOW-ing me! Second, I want the Nester to visit this Emily today, not you…but you are her sister. And, last, you can always send me the fabric, The Nester will tell you they are my colors!
Have a great day w/your sis!
I’m pretty much overwhelmed by the whole shebang when it comes to decorating. I just don’t have that “eye” that knows what to do. I’ve asked God to help me because when I think too hard about how to decorate a room I get that panic feeling. So, that translates to: I don’t have a clue what you do with stems! I’m curious what others will say.
You are too precious. Trust me, if I can show my first and only mistreatment, you can show your bathroom. We’d probably be inspired. After I looked at my post, all I could think of was…wow, that is so pathetic, but then I thought how I did it in 5 minutes with things I had laying around and I was pretty excited. I am tempted to stalk you all at Hobby Lobby today since know where it is, and I need some things…lol.
Have a great day with your sis!
balancing beauty and bedlam, Jen:)
You are so funny!! I just love seeing what people do with all the stuff they buy and how their ideas come together. You and your sister will surely figure something adorable out!
My problem is that I’m always UN-layering. “Stuff” looks great in other people’s house, but makes mine look junky. I’m such a minimalist! Everything I have is big and oversized and wants to just make a statement on its own without a lot of friends. Hmmmm….I think that was a statement about myself
Your stems would make a great wreath to hang above a mis-treated window that I’m sure Nester would help you with!
No problem … isn’t your sister coming this week?
Just go in your back yard and gather a few sticks and have her arrange all the goods in a big urn (from one of her posts)
As for the fabric … I think I know about the fabric store you are referring to (in SC?)
It’s HUGE!
I bought ALL of the fabric for our unfinished house there. It took me about 4 years to use it all, but if you know you like it, you’ll find a place to use it eventually.
I cannot wait to see what you do. These colors are delicious. Love it all. But how unfair…we don’t have Hobby Lobby in So. California. At least you get to shop there. I love that store! Get out your power tools, glue gun, and hammer, I’m sure you will design something wonderful! Enjoy your blog!
Blessings, Debbie
ribbonwoodcottage.blogspot.com
Do you have an old pitcher or teapot? The stems might look nice in that. Or one of those old pitchers and basins. You could put them around the basin part.
I know what you mean about accessories. I figured out what to do with my huge dining room wall, but what to do with my huge wall in the living room? There isn’t a good place for a focal point, so I am at a loss for now. We’ll see what happens.
And I so need to know where that fabric store is?
i have the worst problem with the extras, we just moved and i cant figure out where to put what. it is so irritating that i cant make a decision when it comes to the accesories
I think I live in your general area…Any possibility you would email me the name of the fabric store? I’m new to the area. I have been looking, but the only thing I’ve found so far is Hancocks…
Thanks!
Kelly
I hate waiting for things to go on sale at Hobby Lobby. FYI…They have an internet coupon of 40% off about every other week. It is for only one item but you can print and use it as many times as you like but only one per trip. For stems…probably not much help. But I bet you could find something to use it on!
Is the color on the walls in the half bath TR? And i’m curious what you did with that light? Great job choosing fabric, I really love how it turned out!