The William Morris Project, Year 2, Week 11

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." This is week eleven of the William Morris Project*, happening again, weekly in 2013.

*Pancakes & French Fries started this whole business a while ago, and I have been trying to keep up ever since!

I am writing this post at eleven o'clock at night*, while cinnamon rolls are baking in the oven for breakfast tomorrow. It seems that this is a season {why is 'season' such an annoying term?} of being perpetually behind. The events of the week creep up on me out of nowhere, and I am caught off guard, bedhead and all. What better useful and beautiful tool to help me remember everything than a giant, heavy, old piece of discarded slate? You know, I have opposed the accent wall for years. Even when it is chalkboard paint, there is something in me that winces when I see one. Still, the chalkboard accent wall has become increasingly popular, sneaking into very 'cool' blogs and pins. I am not in charge of the trends. I still needed a chalkboard. Really, I love a place to write things down where they won't be hidden away in my bag, or find their way into the recycling. The chalkboard that was in our old house was way too big for the kitchen here, so I actually planned on just making one out of masonite and chalkboard paint... dangerously close to the accent wall. In the end I found this big old piece of 3/8" slate for $15, and I figured that was cheaper than materials to make my own {even considering the hanging hardware|, so I brought it home. It sat in the kitchen for a week while I imagined different ways to hang it.
What I ended up with was simply heavy duty mirror clips. They were $2.50 at Hankins Hardware, and did the job perfectly. The wall wasn't flat, and I didn't plan for that, so I had to get creative with some curtain hardware on the top side of the slate.
I am actually really fond of how those little clips look, I only wish the heavy duty mirror clips were just as charming.

There are a few bits and pieces of other things this week, including installing a dishwasher, aquiring a new free chair, buying a chair in Seattle with the help of a dear friend, and swapping doormats.

The free chair is wonderful, but it came with split seams, so I googled and found a very helpful video by the Leather Doctor on how to repair seams in leather.


The seam that was repaired first looks great, and I am now moving on to the next.  There are three places that need attention, but I think it will be absolutely worth it when it is done!

Lastly, I traded the fairly gross front door mats for one that was inside the basement {and free!}, just inside the door. It was a regular black doormat, but much classier than a dirty green bathmat and themed bamboo mat.

 
Next up, find a better mailbox and porch light!

Thanks for reading my disjointed post, *I literally fell asleep last night while I was typing it...maybe I should start earlier in the day next time!

Sewing curtains, Alice