Jo Totes Giveaway Winner

Happy weekend, friends!   (It feels like I was just typing that a few days ago).  This week has gone by fast.
What do you have going on?  I got a call yesterday telling me my spray gun shipped straight from Germany and since they're so far ahead time wise, my gun should be here today.  Which means one of two things: I'll have a great weekend and love my new gun, or I'll be frustrated as all get-out because there's a learning curve involved.  I'm crossing my fingers for number one.

Also, thank you for all the wonderful comments on Madeline's room!  I think I've stared at it too long because I'm having a hard time seeing it objectively, so your feedback helps.

Thank you all for participating in the Jo Totes giveaway.  And thank you, April, for suppling such a wonderful bag.  The lucky winner is…

Allison said...

I currently have NO camera bag and am using last year's 1st graders backpack if I need to tote around lenses LOL! Needless to say I could definitely use a new bag! LOVE Jo Totes :)

September 26, 2011 

(The number generator said #38, but I can't figure out why it's not showing up.)
Anyway, congratulations, Allison!

The 30 Minute Pillow

Have you ever sewn an invisible zipper?  I haven't.  They intimidate me.  So for Madeline's throw pillows, I opted for the zipper-less envelope pillow.  They take no more than thirty minutes from start to finish.  (Posts on her dresser, curtains and duvet cover here, here and here).

To get started, cut your front piece of fabric the same size as your pillow insert - this makes the pillow fluffy and tight.  Next, divide the size of the insert by 2, make two separate pieces at this half size, and add 2 inches for an overlap and 2 inches for a seam allowance (4 inches extra on each back piece).  Hem both pieces.  Lay them over your front fabric right sides together and sew 1/2" seam.  

Cut the corners, turn right side out and insert your pillow.  Quite simple.

I loved this pillow from Rue Magazine,

and made a copycat version in purple.

There's my styling assistant again :)

The whole process of decorating Madeline's room started a few weeks ago when I sold her old bed on Craigslist for $200, which I then used as my budget for decorating the room.  It's coming along quite nicely, however, I'm going to have to get creative in decorating the walls because there's only $12 left in the "Madeline's room fund". 

The New Spray Gun

Don't mind my silence.  I've just spent every moment of downtime the last two days looking for a new spray gun.  Mine is being very temperamental, so I decided this was the perfect excuse to buy a new one.  Until I started looking, that is.  Then all I wanted was to stop looking!  There are so many spray guns, so many set ups and so many different purposes for each - it's overwhelming to choose.  My eyes are burning from so many hours reading paint gun specs, but finally, I've picked one.

Meet the newest member of my refinishing team.

The SATAjet 1000.  Isn't she pretty?  She should be here by next Tuesday and I can't wait to try her out!  I've been using a gravity feed gun and have been happy with it, so I stuck with that set up.  If my production level was higher, I definitely would've opted for a pressure feed or an airless set up,  however the clean up with those is far from appealing to me at this point.

I'm off to pick my older two up from school.  Tomorrow I'll be back with a 30 minute pillow tutorial and don't forget to ender the Jo Totes camera bag giveaway.

Jo Totes Giveaway

Hello friends!  How was your weekend?  If you're suffering from the "back to the grind" Monday blues, maybe this Jo Totes giveaway will help lift your spirits - and just in time for Christmas.

Are you sick of lugging around your bulky camera bag and purse?  As our newest sponsor, Jo Totes is giving away one of their new, sleek Betsy camera bags.  Ugly camera bag no more!

Jo Totes provides ladylike bags for women to safely carry their cameras (and a lens or two) on a daily basis, whether you're going to a photo shoot or simply traveling around.

The padded interior can be custom fitted not only to protect a camera and lenses, but also to accommodate and organize items like a wallet, music, phone, keys, cosmetics and more.  Padding is sewn directly into the interior lining on all four sides and the bottom of the bags. The bottom is also equipped with four metal feet to guard your bag from rough, dirty, or damp surfaces. Inside of each Jo Tote are removable pads which are completely customizable—you can use as many or as few pads as you wish, arranged in the way that best suits your camera, lenses, and other items. Each bag also includes pockets, strong and comfortable shoulder straps, a top-zippered closure, and a removable cross-body strap.

To enter this giveaway, I ask that you be a follower of this blog…thanks.

Entries: (leave a comment for each)

1)  Leave a comment telling me how badly you need to retire your old camera bag or if you'd be giving the bag as a Christmas gift.

2)  Become a fan of Jo Totes on Facebook, or a Twitter follower.

3)  Become a fan of Natty by Design on Facebook.

4) Tweet and/or Facebook about this fab Jo Totes giveaway and link it back to this post.

Giveaway will end this Thursday the 29th.  Good luck!

White Buffet

I'm sure you've been on the edge of your seat waiting for this transformation since I posted about it on Monday.  Well, here it is.  If this doesn't make you want to jump up and grab a paint brush and a gallon of white paint, I don't know what will.

Before.

The hardware received this treatment:

Just showing off my new camera.  Have I told you I love it?  Well, I do.

It's Friday!  Do you have exciting plans for the weekend?  Me?  I saved too much "stuff" for Saturday to be too excited for it, but we are taking pizza to the neighborhood park tonight.  That will be fun. 

Lavender and Chartruese Inspiration

This dining room was featured on the front of the October House Beautiful.  As I was walking back inside from getting the mail, I literally stopped in my driveway and flipped though the magazine to find the rest of the space.  Pat Healing of HB Home decorated the home using lavender, chartruese and aqua - I love how the colors flow throughout the home seamlessly without seeming over done.  Look at that door and that wallpaper!

The three girls' bedrooms in the home are done in different color palattes and all equally beautiful.

Articles

I wrote an article for the {Home Sweet Home} column of Eliza magazine - you can find it here.  It's on 5 timeless staples for the home and how to get them without breaking the bank.  If you haven't had the chance to check out this great fashion magazine, now is the time!

I was also so flattered to be featured in the Fall edition of Bedrooms & Baths.

And because I just got my very own copy of Adobe Illustrator - I made this just for you :)

A Lunch Date

My mom took the two younger girls for the day so I could be "extra" productive.  But since my goal for the week is to focus on more quality time with the kids, I peeled myself from the computer to take the older two on a surprise lunch date.  I love the look on their faces as they see me waiting by the office and it dawns on them what's going on…Happy Meals!

These two are twelve months and two days apart and are the best of friends.  In fact, Colby brought home an "about me" book he'd written the other day that said his favorite thing to do is play with Madeline.  Nope, not the Wii, his sister.  She is the overly dramatic and bossy one and he's the pleaser.  Hmmm…sounds like their parents.

I thought I'd share a photo of these two as babies, but then I got all nostalgic going through our old photos and decided to share a few more.

We laugh at this photo because it looks like they're singing to each other. 

Just out of the bath.

At the zoo.

I did the math, and it's very likely that they've taken over a thousand baths together.

Playing at the beach.

And now they look like this.  Oh, how time flies.

Thanks for indulging me :)

First Day Back

Today was my first day back in the "workshop" for almost two weeks.  Do you ever feel like you just need a break from the same old same old to recharge your batteries?  Well, I did.  It's mid-September here in Arizona and the forecast for the week is still hovering around 105 degrees.  That's an improvement over August, but it's still hot.  When I went to kiss Isabelle today as I put her down for a nap, she wrinkled up her cutie nose and said, "You stink!"  I did.  I'd been out working on this buffet for a client.

And prepping this piece for primer...

I haven't yet decided on a color for this chest of drawers, so I thought I'd throw it out there to see if any locals were interested in purchasing it before it's painted and put up for sale in the shop.  You pick the color and help me decide on new hardware or a finish for the existing hardware.  If you're interested, send me an email at nattycox@gmail.com.

Something exciting happened over the weekend.  As Zac was pulling out a big pot to whip up some spaghetti for dinner (I wasn't kidding when I said that's all he makes), he found my missing hardware piece sitting in the bottom of the pot.  Hooray!  And why was there a piece of hardware in my pot?  That's kids for you.

When I posted about the missing hardware a few weeks ago, an amazing reader and furniture refinisher came to the rescue and mailed me a set of hardware that was quite similar to the missing one.  Jessica, from Paint in My Hair, owns a boutique in Spokane, Washington where she sells her refinished pieces and, get this, she also holds monthly painting classes where she teaches locals the ins and outs of refinishing.  Thank you, Jessica!