Tuesday, February 7, 2012

A Crafter's Couture. "Chichi" it up a little!

 IT'S "IN THE DETAILS" MY COUTURE LOVERS!


Here are some of my partner's latest creations done with a simple ingenuity that anyone can do with just a few basic tools and instructions. Remember that each project is a one-of-a-kind, which remains our ultimate goal.  Even if you mess-up the first few times trying, it's always a good conversation piece relating to originality right?  Who wants to walk into a house and think "Oh yeah, I saw picture remake at [insert major corporation]!"  For those who continue to remain incredulous of the presented ease of our projects, here's a fun fact about the dumpster divas: We do this for fun.  


Now why would I say this is a "fun fact?" To reiterate how easy our projects are to begin and complete.  Neither of us are decorators, art majors, interior designers, etc.  My partner had discovered the world of crafting gifts for others long ago with the help of her family.  Slowly, but surely, I became intrigued with the many ways you can morph others' discards from Goodwill, resale shops, and the like into recycled mod.  Shabby chic is by no means a new term to be passed around in these circles.  As we were thinking of ways to "build gifts" for others, we decided to "Chichi tailor" our ideas and designs into the interior designs and ideals of others.  For example, we love the designers Rachel Roy (rachelroy.com), Michael Kors, and the Website shopruche.com.  We continuously seek to add vintage variations (such as CHANEL pumps from a resale shop) to modern and form fitting clothes.  This goes the same for our in and out of doors concepts.


Feel free to post comments, ask for ideas for your own personal style, and invite your friends to join!




Mother's day gift.
Tools: Wood shape hearts, black stones, Terra cotta pot and polka dot ribbon, scrapbook paper, and wood letters.
Cost: approx. $12.00.  Just .29 cents for Terra cotta pot at Albertson's!
Place: Hobby Lobby and Albertson's.


Tools: 12x12 wood board, paper, wood letters and shapes.
Cost: approx. $10.00.
Place: Hobby lobby and Michael's.
Just pick your favorite quote!




Add the atheistic appeal of texture to your love!
Tools: Chipboard letters and yarn.
Cost: approx. $14.00
Place: Joann's Fabrics.
Use any fabric, yarn, etc. that you have.  If you have a little of this fabric and a lot of the other, it only makes it that much better and more original.  My partner ran out of white and used the rest black!  Less was indeed more.




Tools: Whitewash vintage window.
Cost $10.00.
Place: Canton, Texas.  We have seen windows just like these in speciality stores in the D/FW area for $55 and higher.  Why pay highway robbery prices, when you can just go to the mecca of home decor? If you don't live in the area, find a flea market run by your local hippy or vintage junkie store-remember to buy and build local!



Halloween party decor.
Tools: Terra cotta pots, paint, wood shapes and ribbon.
Cost: approx. $15.00.
Place: Albertson's and Hobby Lobby.






Tools: Terracotta pots, ribbon, paint, and branches
Cost: approx. $30.00.
Place: Tj Maxx.  we would prefer not to dry our own branches.  We get our eyebrows waxed and/or plucked, but we're not cave women...yet. Other stores used: Albertson's, and Hobby Lobby.





Homemade ethereal...
Tools: Fabric, pillow stuffing (Joann's)-Dumpster Divas don't do "down," wood (Home Depot), buttons, and staple gun (borrow this from a friend or make your husband find one).
Cost: approx. $30.00.
Place: Home Depot and Joann's Fabrics.
Go to YouTube  or Google and type: make your own headboard.  If you can read, you do it!






Contributing family inspirations...




Tools: Vase, different types of branches and feathers.  Whatever the bird, it doesn't matter, just make sure there are different colors with one eye-catching color (ours was red).
Cost: approx. $20.00.
Place: Hobby Lobby.





Tools: Wooden letters, paper, and "Mod Podge glue.
Cost: approx $15.00.
Place: Hobby Lobby.
Pick single sheet from anything people! A book, magazine, wrapping paper, old music sheets from your piano bench or resale shop, shopping bags, or anything at home that you find visually appealing, but can't find a place or reason for displaying.





Tools: Vintage window and sticker appliques (can find online pre-made or order your own words).
Cost: approx. $14.00.
Place: Canton, Texas and Hobby Lobby.



Tools: Vase, branches, and feathers.
Cost: approx $10.00.
Place: Hobby Lobby.
Once again, find your favorite "bam!" color and integrate differing textures.  Note: This is good advice to give to a bachelor or "gentleman folk" in your lives who continue to remain clueless and/or careless about the "vibes" their place gives off the visitors.



Contributing Family Inspirations...a new take on being full of beauty ;).


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Project Gallery

It has been said that there is a fine line between love and nausea. With this said, there is also fine line between loving to accent your home with unique finds and being featured on a Hoarders episode. Just as one may see the same old crap at chain stores, one may add one too many one-of-a-kind additions to the homestead. We can't preach too much...we are indeed guilty of such a crime. Luckily and with cautious care, we haven't allowed ourselves to cross in the Steel Magnolias version of collecting an entire town's worth of baby Jesus mangers. Therefore we have a two-part/two-dumpster diva operation going on by doing our "damndest" to integrate the shabby with the chic (and the chic with the online cheap). Although your style may not be our style, the ideas behind the style is at the crux of the standard protocol with the Texas Dumpster Divas.

Keep in mind that the entirety of the pictures are an assortment of our different projects for different people and their personal styles and themes. One diva is primarily behind the construction and craft (purchase and paint) and the other is behind the thematic assembly (e.g. Great Gatsby meets contemporary Americana). Feel free to browse, comment, and/or inquire about the following gallery:


Cost: 10.00.
Location: Goodwill.
Letters: Online@craftcuts.com, vinyl, midnight blue.
Phrase: Lyrics from a country favorite: George Strait/I Cross My Heart.
Tools: Spray paint, sandpaper, and an old towel.
Note: Kids ravioli stain during design phase.





Basic theme: Old West saloon.
Desk= Modern element.
Chair: Antique/25.00.
Globe: Resale/6.00.




Basic theme: Francois.
Lamp: 2 for 10.00 (must be identical glass).
Lamp locale: Goodwill.
Tool: 1 can silver spray paint (to cover all brass).
Lampshades: Approx. 17.00 each/Tuesday Morning (think same color scheme, French theme, different blueprint).
Dresser=modern element.






Key element: Sage wall paint and khaki fireplace (due to color, keeping art black and white).
Fireplace stokers (to scale): 15.00/resale shop.
Framed art (to scale): 35.00 for both/resale shop.




Distressed dresser instead of the typical entertainment center.
Dresser knobs replaced with seashell-gold knobs by Anthroplogie.
Cost: 16.00 for both knobs.
         125.00 for dresser/antique store.
Note: Bouncer attachments left behind by toddler.




Plates: Cannot see, but 18th century Americana, romantic scenario (same scenario on each plate).
Cost: 15.00 for all 7 plates/resale shop.
Distressed frame (to scale): 39.00/antique shop.




Vintage silver mirror, reminiscent of the 1920s.
Cost: 50.00/resale shop.




Combo: antique chairs (green in chair brings out sage wall paint), modern bookcases, and chandelier lamp.
Cost: 50.00 for matching chairs/resale shop.
Entire lamp: Overstock.com (2 total)/150.00 each.
Distressed magazine holder: 12.00/antique store.





Chandelier lamp close up atop vintage-esque (i.e. new) record player/cd/radio.
A pairing of opposite concepts...






Handcrafted wooden horse atop modern bookshelf.
Cost: 150.00/antique store.
Sometimes you do have to spend a little to avoid the aforementioned Hoarders fine line.




Originally clear glass candle holders.
Tool: 1 can of silver/"antique" spray paint.
Perfect for a small, yet open space in a bookshelf.
Cost: Approx. 9.00 for all 3/resale shop.