“When putting on accessories, take off the last thing you’ve put on.”

—Coco Chanel

Eh. Coco lied. Pile it on.

There’s an iron bedstead and a mattress in my living room. There’s four boxes of vinyl tile in my kitchen. There’s two boxes of accessories and knickknacks sitting uncomfortably next to the front door. The grandfather clock has been moved because the circuit breaker panel was behind it. There’s a large braided rug rolled up and leaning against my piano. There are cardboard boxes … everywhere.

Our contractor is now hammering and painting and sawing and wiring this weekend.

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One of my favorite things I’ve found shopping is my crazy curtains. They’re made by a shop owned by ladies in India. They make them from surplus and seconded sari material.

Part of the fun has been taking a month or so to choose very particular items, discover clever new things. (I know a bit about rough gemstones now — I bought a 1500 carat Lapis Lazuli Buddha sculpture. LOL) It’s fun to hunt up better prices, take the time to look for exactly what I want.

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I found a good price on a quilt! The pattern works with the room too!. Handmade, queen size, and very well sewn. This one’s from eBay.

Needless to say, I have a lot of work to do before Sunday, a little more prep — pulling nails and screws and filling in the holes, going to buy the paint, getting all the materials together for the guys. In the time in between, I have fun unpacking things and and telling Eli how much I like them any why.

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Let’s be honest. It’s a tapestry on a fluffy pillow with a unicorn, a lion, bunny-cat-dogs, and a lady playing a tiny pipe organ. This was going to get bought no matter what. The young lady helping her is pumping the bellows. =)

One thing that’s kept coming to mind during this process — there are too many retail things! I absolutely do not need twelve pages of crown molding to choose from. Or forty pages of curtain rods.

Have a great weekend!