Wednesday, September 2, 2009

M-O-M-M-Y Needs C-O-F-F-E-E!

This is the sign that hangs over my kitchen sink:



It is so true!



This one is probably also true (but I don't look nearly this pulled together as I'm drinking my morning cup cups.




Hmmm... perhaps I just need one of these?!



Oh coffee, I heart you. You're always there for me. You smell so wonderfully inviting and you feel so nice and warm in my cup. You know just how to pick me up when I'm feeling not-so perky. What would I do without you?

Here's a guy who gets it. If you're not familiar with children's musician Ralph Covert of Ralph's World, give a listen here.

Now that you know of my addiction to the loveliest of legumes, it probably doesn't surprise you that I wanted a coffee themed kitchen. I didn't want the theme to be too, well, themey, so the sign is the only obvious coffee paraphenalia in the room.

The kitchen chandelier (if you can call it that) that came with our house was one of the first things to go when we moved in. It was seriously u-g-l-y. It was this weird suspended disk shape that I think was considered to be "contemporary" in 1990, when our house was built.

I got our current kitchen chandelier on craigslist (I know! You're shocked!!) for $20 and was quite pleased when I brought it home and discovered that the exact same chandelier was still selling for $135 online. I loved the chandelier but the little shades that came with it had to go. They were actually rather pretty, but the red and gold stripes were just different enough from the striped cafe curtains and valances I made for the bay window in our kitchen to look a bit odd. I almost bought new beige shades, but they were going to cost twice what I spent on the chandelier, so I figured I'd find another way.

I wanted to tie into the coffee theme, so I found this cute coffee bean fabric (kinda kitschy without being over-the-top, no?) and had to have it. I pulled off the outer fabric from the existing shades (leaving the lining in place) and used it as a pattern to cut out the coffee bean fabric. It was just two pieces per shade. I stiched the sides together, pulled what then looked like a little lampshade-shaped sleeve over each naked shade and hot glued it to the top and bottom of the shade frame. Make sense? (Sorry about my lack of photos, I did this project before I conceived of this blog!)

At this point it was about 10:00 at night and I had 4 cute little shades, except the edges were looking a bit raw. I thought about waiting until the next day to go out and buy some brown trim but my impatience and cheapness took over (I wanted it DONE! Without spending another PENNY!) and I'm glad.

I decided to glue whole coffee beans to the top and bottom of the shades and I'm pretty happy with the result.

I could have ROCKED that design star grocery store challenge!



They say necessity is the mother of invention, but I'm beginning to suspect impatience and cheapness are the more likely culprits.



I'm participating in DIY day at A Soft Place to Land. Be sure to stop by and check out all the great projects!


Love,














10 comments:

  1. GREAT post!!! Very funny and very creative...two things that go well together, I have found. :)

    I knew we were kindred spirits...I don't drink plain coffee, but I do LOVE cafe mochas (non-fat, light whip, thank you very much). It makes my day much happier if I can have one of those to jump start. ;)

    Can't believe you thought to use the coffee beans...genius, and yes you would have rocked Design Star!! It looks so put together.

    PS. I am totally in love with Edward. Will be at opening night of New Moon with my other obsessed friends. :) (there's a surprisingly large number of us) :)

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  2. Oh my, I LOVE this project! (Hope you don't mind if I use your coffee bean idea somewhere in my cafe themed kitchen :) I just can't believe you found that beautiful chandelier on Craigslist at such an incredible price! I'm going to continue to hunt one down so I change out the ugly one we currently have. You did a fabulous job!

    Have a great day!
    ~Michelle :)

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  3. What a cute and resourceful idea. I love those kind the best. I am working on my third cup of the day while reading this. Ha! It is the very first thing I do in the morning - get the coffe a brewin'! Your chandelier is funa nd funky and everyone who walks in your house probably know it is perfectly "you"! Love it!

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  4. What a cool idea Pam! I consider myself pretty crafty when it comes to finding useful things around the house for my never ending projects but I never would have thought of this- love it!

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  5. This is awesome! What a clever and creative idea - looks great! And I totally, agree with you, you definitely would have rocked the grocery store challenge!

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  6. That is adorable!
    I am a coffee junkie too!!

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  7. I love it!!!! What a great way to give a little nod to a theme rather than having coffee paraphernalia ALL over your kitchen. So, so cute.

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  8. Love your chandelier! Those coffee beans add just the right touch!

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  9. What a simply marvelous idea!!!
    God's blessings on your weekend, Sarah :D

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  10. Hi Pam~ Hope you enjoyed a nice holiday weekend! Just wanted to let you know I'm hosting a 300th post giveaway on my blog so be sure to come on by and sign up!

    ~Michelle :)
    (Treasure the Moment)

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