The Good, The Thrilling..........And The Downright YUKKY!

Hello my little sweets!

No, I didn't drop off the face of the earth...........I can't believe it's been more than a week since my last post........I've been one horrible blogger, haven't I?

Things have even changed on Blogger since I last posted.  Was there an e-mail with the new instructions that I missed?  YIKES!  I HATE learning new technology.

So, here's my story.........

Get a cup of coffee and kick back........this is one heck of a long story.

Well, first of all I know you little dearhearts know that I started blogging to help ease the pain of losing my sweet Mummy.........and that I wasn't moving forward on ANYTHING for a whole year.

There's a nice little Health Food Store not too far from my house that was offering a lecture for people of "my sort"......I am ALWAYS all over anything like that, so I zipped myself right over to that little class.  WOW!  I learned some great stuff from the sweet little Life Coach....Josie.  And, she offered a free one hour private appointment to anyone, at the class, who would like to partake.......and partake I DID!  She helped me set up a little map to help me make a plan, stick to it and GET A REWARD!  I'm alllll about the reward system.  Oh yes, that's right up my alley.

I actually ended up talking with Josie for about an hour and a half, left our meeting and came home and whipped up the cover for the daybed and bolster pillows for the den!!!!!!  I was so thrilled with myself......

Our agreement was that I would sew the cover for the daybed, measure for the curtains and cut out the bolsters so I was way ahead of my little schedule.  Isn't that great?

Ok, so now I'm on a roll!  And, feeling much more motivated and ready to move along.  I'd like to get the darn spring cleaning done while it's still spring this year!

I always finish all the sewing first so I don't have to stop and make things while I'm cleaning AND it gives me inspiration to continue.    :-)

So, here's the thrilling part...

I've mentioned before that back in the 80's I had a love affair with BLUE.  I did my entire house in blue.  Different blues, mind you, but BLUE, just the same.  EVERY ROOM.  It didn't take long and I sooooooooooooo HATED blue.  I swore I would never use it again.  NEVER.

Well, obviously many years have passed since the 80's and I started loving it again.

I decided that I would do my bedroom in blue this year.  That clean, yummy Scandanavian blue.

My sweet and adorable hubbs is a salesman.  You may have noticed the economy hasn't been so good lately?  Yes, that did effect our little family so I had to figure out how to do this little re-do on a shoestring.  No problem!  There are loads of thrift stores around here and I decided my budget for the whole re-do would be $100.

I can do this.    :-)

See that yummy little stack of blues?  Oh yes.......I was on a roll.  That buffalo check?  Yes, that would be my very favorite.  I was so thrilled I nearly did cartwheels in St. Vinnie's!!!  It's an Ikea duvet.  Four yards of 80" wide fabric for TWO DOLLARS!  Perfect condition.  Ahhhh.....  Isn't God soooo darn good?  One of these days I'll tell you my carpet story but this post is already going to be a book, so I'll hold that thought.

See it there?  OH SO pretty.  It makes me soooo happy.

The blue and white stripe on the bottom is the backside of a Pottery Barn duvet.  It was 4.99.  The front was so beachy-cottage-y....DARLING....but not in my plan.   :-)

The little blue check is a JC Penney sheet........    3.99

The top two fabrics are blue sheets as well........   3.99 each.

I was so hoping for more of that Ikea duvet fabric.  It's by far my fav. 

UNBELIEVABLE.........I walked into the Goodwill........and there was a KING sized duvet.......never used. No kidding?  I nearly cried I was so excited. 

I'll need lots of yardage........curtains, pillows, dust ruffle.....and then the bathroom window, sink and shower curtain.  I was in HEAVEN.  I couldn't sleep I was so excited.......dreaming up my plan.

Remember I said The Good, The Thrilling and the Downright YUKKY?

The first duvet had been used and I'm sure washed many times.  It was slightly lighter than the new one.  No problem.  I'll wash the new one.  Hmmmm....still a bit darker. 

I'll wash it again.

Still a bit darker.

Ok......I'll add a teensie bit of bleach.

Still a bit darker.

Ok.....one more try.......just a touch of bleach.

 How the heck can this happen?

Now, you'd think it could possibly get bleach hot spots.........it could turn out too light.......

But THIS?  What the heck?

I wanted to throw myself on the floor and kick my feet while screaming at the top of my lungs.

And, it HAD to be the bigger duvet too. 

Nuts.

Why didn't I just leave well enough alone?

I could have used the darker one for the bedroom and the lighter one for the bath.

Trust me when I say the difference was so slight no one would have noticed.

I've searched the internet.  I've looked in alllll of the local thrift stores.

My darling hubbs even drove me to the Seattle Ikea in search of replacement.  Yeah........you guessed it........they don't carry that duvet anymore.

Now I'm going to have to be VERY creative to stretch that happy little check.

Have you ever ruined something you were sooooo thrilled to find?

Several years ago I had been out shopping and saw a parking lot sale at an apartment building......Hmmmmmm.........Maybe better stop, right?

OH MY GOSH.......most of it was "why didn't you throw this stuff in the dumpster"???....but when I got to the last little table it was a dear little German older lady.  Her table was LOADED with the most exquisite vintage china I've EVER seen.  It was DIRT CHEAP!

I spent about twenty dollars for two large bags full.

I smiled to myself all the way home.  I couldn't believe my good fortune.

I drove in the driveway, thrilled to share my finds with the hubbs.

While I was standing there squealing with delight I changed my bags to the other hand.....dropped both bags and broke every single piece.

Weeping at the memory.

I hope this little post finds you all well and happy.

I've missed you soooo much.

Thanks for waiting for me!

Huggies and Lovies!

Spencer

xoxoxoxoxox