Bedroom Chandeliers and a Giveaway too!

 Whether you're in the mood for romance...

 Photo: Country Living

 Photo: Home-Designing

Simplicity...

 Photo: Country Living

Photo: White Palm (unknown)

Or a touch of class...

Photo: Coastal Living

Chandeliers in the bedroom are going to last.

 Photo: Decor Pad

Glamorous...

Photo: Ronald Bello

Striking...

Photo: Decor Pad

Photo: ArhZine

In nurseries too...

Photo: Restoration Hardware Baby and Child

Don't worry, we've got just the thing for you!!

Head  over to Under the Table and Dreaming for their Sunday Showcase, and enter for a chance to win CASH towards Reliance Lighting.  We did, and we thought you should too!

Also, be sure to check out our projects for the party!!

Number 158 and 350 came from yours truly!

Xoxo

Flea Market Faboosh!

Mark your calendars Philadelphia, because it's time for Phila Flea Markets!! 
Who's excited?!

(Don't worry snow-bunnies, it's indoors). 

Vendors Galore!!
 

Art...

Furniture, need we say more...

Hats, coats, and jewelry, to die for....

Vintage lamps, eat your heart out...

Save the Date: Saturday, February 5th
Where: 9th and Spring Garden
When: 8am-4pm

**Be sure to get there EARLY!**

It's All in the Name

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

~ Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet~

As we have been sprucing things up here in our tiny abode, we decided to forego a name change.  What's in a name, anyway?  It's a first impression.  It creates meaning.  It's poetry.

We want a name that reflects our space, and what we represent. 

Xoxo,

The Tiny Abode

P.S. We're still working on our header. 
P.S.S.  Don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!! 

Be Still Giveaway!!

In the wee hours last night, peeking around Kristen Krason's 6th Street Design School ( a new blog crush of mine), I came across a giveaway that I thought I'd share with you!

Check out these pillows by Be Still

We love the blue one on the bottom left, but they are all so cute!

To enter to win, first check out Be Still on Etsy

Then go to 6th Street's blog by clicking the picture below.   

Be sure to comment on her blog which pillow you'd pick if you're the lucky winner.

We'd like to know which ones are your favorite too!

For an extra entry become a Be Still fan on facebook.  

Blog or tweet about the giveaway for an additional entry. 

And BE SURE that you let Kristen know about your extra entries!

But HURRY entries end February 1st!!

Happy Friday, Y'all!!

I have a Rug Crush...

I have a bit of a rug crush!  Ok, a BIG rug crush.  Check out these rugs!  Those colors would work absolutely perfect in our living room!!
 

Luxembourg Rug

Gardenia Rug in Sky

Company C, I heart you!

Just one problem... you're outta my budget. 

Snug as a Bug, but I NEED a Rug!!

 Shopping for a rug can be a tricky task when you're on a limited budget.  I have $150 (Christmas Cash!!) in my wallet, and I'm not anticipating on pulling much more out of my checking account for my future purchase.  We are looking at a budget of $300 tops!

Our floors are Naked!!

  

Yes, we know it is January and we still have pumpkins in our living room.  Have I mentioned my husband's an artist?  He's working on a still life (hence the tape on the floor).  Oh the joy's of living with an artist!  He has approximately one week to finish because that couch has BIG plans on moving to the opposite side of the living room to make room for a future dining room table for our newly covered chairs. 

Dilemma:  Choosing a Rug

We need your help people, and we mean all of our greatly adored "closet" readers too.  Don't be shy, cause we LOVE you!  Yes, I'm talking to all my Canadian readers, readers from Salzburg (wherever the heck that is), and yes you too my Sweet San Fransisco follower.  We don't know who you are, but we'd really appreciate some of your insight.  You obviously have a love affair with home decor yourself!  We understand, and we appreciate you visiting our little abode.  And all you Southerners, we know you have great taste too!

Here's a close up of the colors we are working with.  Those are orange and navy pillows on the sofa with hence of yellow and green in the middle pillow.  We also have a few other pieces in our living room that we are not willing to part with.  Our goal is to tie all the elements together and to establish a cohesive living space.

Some Other Elements:  

This is a cabinet that was given to us and personally painted by our artist friend, Robin Frey.  She sells some of her work on Ebay.  We love her, and we love the cabinet.  It's staying. 

Another object of affection is this pillow I purchased from Pier 1 a few seasons back.  I love the colors!!  This pillow, at least in my opinion, ties together the other contents in our living room.  The orange velvet pillows on the sofa, the blue cabinet and the orange silk curtains.  It helps our living room make sense. 

Ok, all you design divas (and all you wannabes like me).  I need some input!  Some linkage, if you will.  Some overall advise.  What color would make most sense on my bare naked floors? What kind of rug would you suggest?  Wool? Sisal? Jute?  Can you tell I've never bought a rug in my life!?  Keep in mind I LOVE color!!    Send us your favorites!  In the meantime, we'll be doing a little research (aka shopping) ourselves. Suggestions and links are greatly appreciated.  

xoxo!!

Help me, Martha!

Thank the Lord for this lady!  Can I get a AMEN!?

She is the epitome of entertaining and taste.  She has her very own show, her very own magazine,...

 

She's an organizational goddess!!!

And to top it off, she was right by my side as I reupholstered my seat cushion (foam and all).  I used her step-by-step directions as  a guidance.  You can too, here. We'll also give you basis.  

Recovering a Seat Cushion

Step 1: Lay out all Supplies

Scissors

Staple Gun*

Measuring Tape

Wrench

*Be sure to use 1/4" staples.  You don't want your guest to get attacked by your chairs!

Even More Supplies: 

Wooden seat from chair 

(Be SURE not to throw this away!)

Strong set of hands

Foam (we used 1")

Batting

Fabric

Step 2: Remove all unnecessary staples, nails, and any other crazy supply that the previous owner attempted to recover a seat cushion with.

Step 3: Using wooden seat, trace and cut foam leaving 1 inch to spare around all sides.

  

Trace:

Then Cut: 

It doesn't have to be perfect.  Don't stress yourself out.  This is an EASY project.

Step 4: Cut Batting and Fabric leaving 2 inches around to spare.

This was the scariest part for me, because I'm SUCH a perfectionist.  I wanted my fabric shapes to line up perfectly.  My advise, just go for it!

 

Step 5: Lay fabric layering from the floor up in this order: 

Fabric, Batting, Foam, Seat

Step 6: Staple Away!

Be sure to start with the sides not the front or back of seating.  You'll want to save those for last. 

Also as you staple be sure to pull the fabric tightly.  

Repeat after me, "Pull, staple.  Pull, staple."

Once you finish the sides of the chair, move on to the front of the chair and then the back.  Saving the corners for last.  My tidbit of advise, start stapling from the middle out, and save yourself the agony of pulling staples out with your fingernails when you miss align.

Step 7: Fold Corners

This was my favorite part!!  I use to gift wrap.  Can you tell?  Just as you would fold the corners of a bed, or if you don't make your bed, just as you would fold the corner's of a present. Tuck and fold.  Again pulling tightly.  Then staple.  

 

You'll want to be sure to get this part right, because it will be visible to the naked eye being at the front of the chair. I have to say, I'm quiet proud of my corner folds!  

You're Finished!

 Attach to chair

Here's my chair in all of it's glory!  Remember the before.  Yikes!  One down, two more to go!  Three chairs for the total of $22.10 all spent at Gaffney's... not to shabby.  Plus did I mention that they gave me a Gaffney Buck since I spent over $20.  I already have money towards my next project!

So what do you think?  Well worth the face-lift?

Snow Day... Not so much!

Ok, I can do this...

Go to work, Jessica!

Conquer that up hill hike to the car

(just don't fall this time). 

Oook, ok... enough with the talking in third person, I'll spare you.  Before heading out of the house I did as news radio advised and was sure to carry my broom with me (pretty scary, huh!?) for the second dosage of snow we are suppose to be blessed with this afternoon.  "What!  I have to clean my car off twice!?"  Thank God, Jason cleaned it off this morning for me.  I'm truly blessed. 

"You've got to be kidding me."

Jason was infact a good husband this morning.  The snow just hates me. 

That's a total of cleaning the car off three times today... so far.

Sure, I'll drive in this mess.  Why not?  I only saw the car ahead of me spin out two times this morning.  Not so bad.  The school buses must be having a lot of fun right now!

Sending me home at noon?    

OK!

 I'll take what I can get.

In the meantime, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Snow Blessing tomorrow.

I Deserve a Drink!

Ahh... that's better.  I feel much more relaxed now that I have tackled this project of mine  that's been in the making for well over a week now.  And no, I didn't really treat myself to a cocktail.  That happened two seasons ago, but it sure was good!

My how the seasons have changed. 

Here's a little hint as to what I have been up to tonight...

Still not ringing a bell?  Click here, this should help. 

More pics to come, but for now I must...

sleep. 

Blog Love

Give us some Blog Love!!

Apartment Therapy is recognizing some of us humble blogs that don't get much attention elsewhere. If you're a loyal reader (or even a secret one!), we'd love to get some blog love from you.  So you wanna spread the love!?  Simply click here, and be sure to include the following in your nomination: 

Blog: My Humble Abode

URL: http://my--humble--abode.blogspot.com/

 We're spreading the love too!

 Be sure to check out a few of our favorite bloggers!

Brooklyn Limestone

Triangle Honeymoon

Humble Pie

So how about it?  Are you feeling the love?  We know we are a little late in our request, but we'd appreciate all the love we can get!  Remember to submit your nomination.

What's the schedule?

1. Add your favorite home blogs
    January 18-25 (until midnight EST)

2. Vote on the top nominees
    January 26-February 3 (until 6pm EST)

3. Winners announced!
    February 4

   xoxo!