Meet Ozana

Well, when I asked you if you wanted to join in on the summer fun, I had no idea that message would reach Romania! I can't even tell you where Romania is on a map...ok, that's a lie...I know the general area . Let's go meet a new friend on the other side of the world...because that's where Romania is...right?

I would like you to meet Ozana. 

She is a fabulous DIY-er and she really knows what she is doing. Take a look at this adorable room she created.

Are you seeing that ombre chair? What about the pink headboard?

I think she even made the art....I can't remember.

Ne pare rău Nu-mi amintesc dacă ați făcut arta, Ozana  (Google Translator)

Hello, Calling it home readers!! I am Ozana from House@heart blog in Romania, and I'm super-duper-excited to get to know you! This is my first-time collaboration with another blog, and I can sincerely say that I am so honoured that Linda let me share one of my diy-s with you all!! The first time I noticed Linda was through her One Room Challenge series and fell in love with her style: collected, personal and elegant!

When it comes to doing it myself, I don't hold back and, having moved to our new house less than two months ago, I have a lot of work!! Today I am showing you the headboard I did for our master bedroom. I was going for a thick headboard and diamond tufting is a pain, but sooo rewarding!! I used a black drapery fabric, with a bit of sheen, but not as much as it shows in the pictures.

Here's how I did it:

1. Cut the particle board to the size and shape desired. For this I used a piece of cardboard to trace half of the shape, and then flipped it and used it to trace the other half. This ensures you have a symmetrical headboard. Then drill holes where you want the buttons to go. I measured 12 cm squares, and drilled holes  in order to create the diamond tufts:

2. Glue the foam to the board. Then, using a cutter, cut  the foam following the shape of the board. 

3. Pass the needle through the board and foam, marking the foam where the holes are.

4. Using a plastic pipe I cut holes in the foam, be sure to use a slightly bigger diameter than the buttons. Hard work here, my whole body ached after this step!! My headboard had 47 buttons!!

5.Now it's time to lay the padding on the foam. I chose a very thick padding, it worked great!!

6. Be sure to iron your fabric and then lay it on top of the padding. Now, use  an upholstery long needle and upholstery thread, starting from behind and through the hole; pass the thread through the button, then go back through the hole. This is frustrating and time-consuming, as you're going in blind, but suck it up and continue!! Staple after pulling really hard so the button touches the particle board!! Sooo hard!!:(( Staple in different directions and use a hammer to be sure the staples hold the thread good.

Work horizontally and start from the middle. After you finished doing the horizontal buttons continue with the ones in between, thus creating the diamond tufts. Use your hands to create the diamonds, the fabric helps you a lot, as it wants to sit in a diamond shape!!

7. Then  staple the padding and the fabric.

Done!!

Or:

8. Add those beautiful diamond-like nails. I would have liked to add them to the front of the headboard, but , because I chose a very thick foam (10 cm) they didn't work nicely. So I chose to nail them on the width of the particle board. I love them, they are just like a little hidden surprise!! 

Here is the finished diamond tufted headboard:

And here it is up in the bedroom:

For more pictures of the bedroom, click here: Master bedroom reveal

Thank you, Linda, once again, for having me on your blog, it is indeed a happy moment for me, and I hope you and your readers liked my diy headboard. I love doing different projects for my house, and I have done a few, because this way I feel the house we now live in slowly transitions into a real home, our home...

xoxo,

Ozana

Back From London

How is everyone in blogland? I am happy to be back and I can't wait to get caught up with all of you. While I was taking a blog break, we went to London. You Instagram followers already know this. It was five days of nonstop sightseeing and eating. We could have used five more days to see everything on our list.
Here are some of the things we did.
The House of Parliament & Big Ben

Tower of London.

The Crown Jewels.

Inside the Tower gates I became obsessed with these private dwellings.

This lantern is amazing, and I may need to paint one this color.

The Tower Bridge.

Apparently, seeing the bridge open is quite rare....and now we've all seen it.

Buckingham Palace....the Queen was not in residence, hence the Union flag on top of the palace (that you cannot see in this photo).

 The British Museum.

Warhol

St. Paul's Cathedral.

Westminster Abbey.

My family went on the London Needle....while I had tea. 

It hangs over the water and takes about 45 minutes to make a full circle....not my cup of tea.

By far the highlight of the trip was going to Wimbledon. Fifteen years ago, I was supposed to attend...but I was having a baby instead :).

I was shocked by the size of the park....it's huge! Everywhere you looked there were purple and white flowers. We were there on the Women's Quarter Finals day.

People wait in line for hours just to get admitted into the park. If you don't have reserved tickets for specific matches, you can watch the matches on a large screen.

Or, you can pop in and out of non-reserved matches where you can watch up and coming players....that a certain fifteen year old thinks are hot.

We had tickets for court 1...that's not the one you see on television with the retractable roof. We were supposed to see Serena Williams but she was knocked out before the quarter's. So, we watched Lisicki vs. Kanepi. In case you didn't follow it, Lisicki went on the finals. 

And then we were able to sit in Center Court. That's the famous one with the retractable roof and Roayal Box Seats. The locals told us that Kate was not coming this year....for obvious reasons, but her sister, Pippa, came a few times as well as Camilla.

The match was Kvitova vs. Flipkens.

It was an amazing match that ran longer than expected....and nobody left. In the end, Flipkens won.

Back on Court 1 there was an exhibition match between the McEnroe brother's (as in John) and McNamara with McNamee. John behaved himself and they were fun to watch.

Lots of joking and playing around. Their love of the sport was obvious.

I'll leave you with one of the many pictures I have of photo bombers. I'm sure they are still trying to figure out the audio tour. I don't think the Sphinx is going anywhere.

Today,  I start my summer schedule. I have a shorter 'work' day than when school was in.....camp drop offs and pickups (no they don't sleep away...they are never leaving me) in two different directions an hour apart. Fun stuff! I am also attacking my 'hit list' for staging my home. I guess I'll spend a week making the list, first.
I know that summer is a slower time for blogging, but I don't think that will be the case for me. So if you are on the net, pop on by....I'll probably have something up that we can chat about.
Now, what did I miss? What have you been doing for the last week?

Break Time

Well my friends, my kids are finally off from school. If you know any mother whose kids were in school longer than this week.....I want to meet her. I would like to know if she can still form sentences....or a complete thought?

It was a long school year. I have one of each....an 'over' and an 'under'.....
I'm going to take a week off and unplug. 

I will miss you and visit you when I plug back in. 
I do have an exciting project in the works. I will be working with every DIY'ers dream corporation. 
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know who I'm taking about.
Yeah, a giveaway will definitely be involved!

Meet Stephanie

If you don't already know her, I would like you to meet Stephanie. She has an amazing eye for detail and puts together rooms like this one.

And then she layers it further.

I know, she's really good.

Hi there Calling it Home readers! Stephanie Kraus here from Stephanie Kraus Designs! 

Wow! I'm a huge fan of Linda's blog and her One Room Challenge series. So you can imagine how beyond honored I am that she chose me to include in her blog party (yeah me!). So I thought I'd share a mini before and after with you.

Okay, I really needed to spruce up my entrance. I was tired of the current look.

Here's the before

ehhh.

And here's the after...

Ok besides the top of the chest, are you able to notice the difference between the two photos?

Well, I sprayed the hardware with this guy.

here

And I fell in love with my entry chest all over again:)

Even my husband was amazed by the transformation and he doesn't know jack when it comes to design:)

Btw, he also asked me why I wasn't just polishing the hardware up with a little Brasso ?? (no way was that going to make this kind of impact!!)

Then I added the artichoke lamp from my office. The white west elm tray, some mercury glass and pink hydrangea from my garden and it all worked wouldn't you say?

Before

After

So take a look around your house --don't have time or want to paint out your furniture? Why not just spruce up the hardware with a little brass spray paint? hmmmmm.... what else can I transform???

Stephanie, you did an amazing job. Thanks for sharing this great fix with us. 

If you want to pop over and say 'Hi' to Stephanie, you can visit her here.

Jennifer is Hooked!

Jennifer and I are showing off the endless possibilities that Craigslist has to offer.
You all know how much I love a Craigslist find. I am completely addicted and make no excuses for it. I have told you my secret weapon for hunting. I know that so many of you share in this obsession pastime.
There is one person I have been trying to convert for the longest time....Jennifer. I have emailed her dozens of 'potential' purchases.......and nothing became of it.....until now.
Here is her inspiration mirror that she has coveted for a very long time.

Annsley Interiors

It's really beautiful, right? Here is her Craigslist find.

Yes, she found an almost identical mirror!  Jennifer's mirror is by Friedman Brothers.
Here is the exact same mirror as the inspiration image.

$3,600.

If she wasn't my friend, I would hate her...especially for having the perfectly cute dog that knows how to get into a shot at the right moment.
Exhibit B

Custom sized rug - TPP

Makes me think of this

                        

           And then she found this chest of drawers.

Chest by Kindel

Yes, a Kindel chest of drawers. 
She is definitely hooked....another mirror with that dog of hers.

Her name is something like Snowball.... Marshmallow....Coconut? 
Sugar! Yeah, that's her name.
You can go visit her and see some of my all time best CL finds as well as some amazing finds you can purchase.
Are you hooked on CL?
 

Hydrangeas & Happenings

Today's Monday, right? I can tell that summer has started because I was not sure what day today was...and it is going to be like that for the next few months.
My kids are still in school. I think they are working on next year's projects by now. It feels like the movie Groundhog Day. 
On the bright side, my hydrangeas are starting to bloom. One of these days, I am going to cut all of them and make a huge topiary like Preston Bailey does. Well, like his people do.

Preston Bailey

I do have enough to make a table setting like this one. 

Via

I definitely have white ones, and could do this.

Source?

Country Living

And on another note, my daughter had a birthday. I was shocked...almost fell off my chair...when she announced she would be keeping all the items I gave her! 
Could it be that I am now able to shop for my teen?....Probably not, just dumb luck.
Here are the items she loved.

this top
This one in mint that is now on sale! Yes, I will go back for an adjustment...wouldn't you?

Mint top now on sale
This Michael Kors wristlet

Available here
And a few other goodies. Have a productive Monday...if possible.
Was your weekend more exciting than mine? How did you fill your days?