"Our mantra is "shop at home"! Before you go out to buy something, see if there is something already in your house that you can use to create what you want. :) Use what you have creatively, and you might just like it even better than buying something new."--Aimee
We think Aimee has the right attitude for the Cure and it will certainly cut down on the accumulation of clutter and it's very budget conscious. The Cure isn't about spending money on designer furniture (although you certainly can if that's part of the plan), it's about creating a home you feel comfortable living in. Check out your weekend assignment and some tips and tricks right here:
HotRodGal bought some awesome yellow tulips for week one
Ahh it's the weekend! Now before you burn yourself out on the Cure in the first week, a reminder to pace yourselves. Remember to reach out and take 'er easy. We've found that often times in the Cure, it takes a village. So first things first:
- Anyone having a particularly hard time starting?
- Have a question you've been too shy to ask?
- Have you done it before, do you have some words of wisdom?
- Have a great handyman you want to recommend?
- Anyone have some momentum to share?
Tanrazz bought some fabric for some curtains, now how do you make them?
OK, so for the Weekend: The full assignment for week one is here but here are some tips and resources:
- A lot of you have already uploaded pictures and we suspect the rest of you will be doing it this weekend, so we thought we'd remind you of our Photo Tips so that we get the best before pictures possible. One hint: use daylight when possible!
- Make a list of repairs. The worksheets will be up soon, but in the meantime, go around the house and note what repairs there are to do. We like to keep the list in the toolbox so that we don't misplace it.
- The easy and fun one: buy yourself flowers!
- Sweep, mop or vacuum your floors. Check out 30 tips for cleaning hardwood floors
- Having trouble choosing one thing to put out on the street? Unclutterer has some words to motivate.
- Here's the link to the LA Spring Cure 08 Flickr Pool
And we're working on getting you guys all officially signed up, bear with us, we'll get you all in. If you're on the fence we'll keep the Official Sign Up active until monday!
Previous Posts:
SanDiegoAT's got some inspiration happening
I've started! I got the book from the library, read most of it, and then re-read and worked through the exercises thru page 69. :-)
I previously put together a downstairs floor plan. so I posted that to Flickr -- I really want ideas and feedback. Thank you to everyone who left comments for me already! I'm trying to comment for other people also.
I am still struggling with scope and what I can actually get done. The repair list is overwhelming... although nothing critical is wrong, my apt hasn't been well maintained (even when I moved in) so the list of small things is lengthy.
My goals are to be able to entertain more, and do it more easily and comfortably, and really work on my bedroom. So although I'm doing the 'whole house' cure b/c I need the deep cleaning and decluttering, I will focus on the bedroom and high impact items for the downstairs. So I think I will adapt the goals. For example, vacuuming all the floors in bedroom this week, without stressing about having to move everything in the other rooms, or repairing everything in the bedroom, so I'm not overwhelmed by the whole house list.
I collected some of the things I've been meaning to donate, I think having them out in the open will result in a faster departure from the house.
view SanDiegoAT's profile
Tanrazz -- Have you considered no-sew panels?
Use fusible tape (i.e. iron on hem tape), available at sewing stores, to finish the top and bottom edges. http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog_old.jsp?CATID=156667&PRODID=127567&rId=GOBASECI&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=CDJ%20N%20041678
Since it is lightweight fabric, this will work well. (It doesn't won't work for heavier fabrices like velvets, twills, etc.)
Leave the selvage (the bound edge along the long length) so the long sides don't need hemming.
I would leave a 1" hem at the top and bottom. You should measure carefully, iron the hem place and pin, hang the panels to check length, and then use the hem tape to permanently fix. To make the hem, fold about 1/4" of the fabric over on the inside of the panel. and iron this in place. Now, fold 1" of the fabric up again -- this is your 1" hem. The raw edges will be inside of the fabric, to help prevent fraying. Use the fusible tape and iron to seal.
(It actually isn't hard to hand sew something like this if you want to avoid fusible tape, it would go pretty fast and I'd probably choose to hand sew it -- but if you don't sew, or hand sewing is intimidating, then fusible tape is the answer!)
The key to professional results are pressing (ironing) the folds as you go, and measuring the length carefully.
Then, use curtain rings with clips to hang. Something like this: http://www.bedbathstore.com/1coclri.html I've found them at Target, Home Depot, and more expensive versions at Crate & Barrel or Pottery Barn, etc. I have found heavier fabrics, over time, don't do well with the clips. Either the clip leaves small holes in the fabric, or the weight of the fabric causes the ring and clip to bend and distort. But for sheers, they are perfect.
view SanDiegoAT's profile
The whole downstairs of my little condo is tile and I really don't want to mop ! Do I have to mop? I saw an ad for a shark steam mop contraption - does anyone know if that works?
view stephanieokay's profile
Love the chest featured from WSH but it's like $120,000.
view hdtex's profile
Oh how fun, that Aimee is me! :) What a great surprise to be quoted on such an awesome site!
Stephanieokay-- get to Target and get yourself an Omop by Method. They are wonderful and they are so much better than mopping.
view AimeeRoo's profile
i have to vacuum and wash my dog or i'm just going to have to vacuum again tomorrow! my grandma is coming next week to visit for easter and honestly, that's even better motivation than signing up for a cure!
view Joan in SB's profile
hdtex - yeah, that's the problem. know of anything similar that is more reasonable?
view SanDiegoAT's profile
I just signed up for the cure! I am going to try to take picture this weekend. I just moved into a studio from a 1bd, so I'm trying to figure out a better layout and just little things to make it feel like a home. :)
view Lexo's profile
I've finally gotten started. I'll be blogging about my progress. I've got a long way to go. My biggest problem in the bedroom (besides our current lack of bedframe) is the fact that there is only one outlet in my bedroom. I guess I'm going to have to reevaluate what electronics I actually need in my bedroom.
I've gotten my repair list stared as well. There's a pipe in the bathroom that needs replacing and I need a new light bulb in both the bathroom and in our entryway. There's also a patch of the cealing that needs to be repaired, but luckily I rent so I've got to get my landlord to fix it.
This is so exciting!
view Christal's profile