10 November 2011

perfecting bad decorating . . . 'our creative space - epic fails"

Greetings all,
Thanks again for joining me on this week of imperfections.  I pride myself on creating beautiful handmade products, using my skill for putting colours/ patterns/ prints together with decorating talent, alas there are plenty of fails along the way.  My epic fails include a mix of faux decorating & hiding flaws.    
See these wall stickers & cut out greeting cards??  They're hiding marks on the wall.  Not sure what cheap paint they use on Army houses, but it's pretty friggen fragile - nothing like those Dulux Wash & Wear paint ads where children can throw muddy footballs & spaghetti bolagnaise at the walls, it all glides off with one wipe of a cloth held by a mum with a smug smile on her face & the paintwork is perfect again.   
I give you the piecing-pants fail, say no more, we've all done it right??
 I picked up this vintage children's desk for $10, bought an orbital sander & put in my all to remove the fugly lacquered-fairy-sticker-nightmare off.  It's defeated me, i'll have to buy some paint stripper gel to complete the job, then decide what to do next, paint, stain, leave raw??  Maybe a Scandinavian look.  I want to win this one.
 I finally decorated my 3rd daughter's bedroom while she was on a sleepover last weekend & it's a secret forest theme - only the owls up the tree are a bit freaky at night!!??  Children's bedroom made spooky!!
 Last Christmas i spent $100 on these papier mache reindeer, with all sorts of visions of spraying them gold or leaving them raw & adding a red ribbon, oh i know, a raffia bow.  I could use as props on my Christmas market stall - never happened.  By the time i went to do something with them, some were broken/ children had drawn faces/ the dog had chewn off 3 legs (of 3 different reindeer).  Argh, they have all since been recycled & my husband can say "i told you so" as he said "you'll never use them, they'll be in the bin by next Christmas".  Christmas waste of money.     
 I love my hot pink Flamingo lights, no one else does, so they sit in a box waiting for the next wild party, only the children suggest i keep them for myself.  Hmmm, party light fail, sad face.
 My eldest lives in a bedroom conversion (half of my studio) in an effort to give each child their own bedroom . . . i bought her this cheap wardrobe & gave it a French makeover.  Nothing fits in it, coat hangers, clothes, shoes, it's useless.  Argh, wardrobe malfunction!!
 Just couldn't resist rehashing this photo - from International Women's Day celebrated at Shop Handmade.  Playing the sophisticated designer entertaining the fashionistas of Canberra, i managed to scoop some delicious dip, let it slide off my cracker & plop on my shoe!!  Graceful??  Cocktail food fail!!  
 For actual decorating & creative success, check out Our Creative Space, i hope to be more worthy of their link list next week!!  Love Posie
PS for those of you know who notice the time i post - they are scheduled so my husband can read them in Afghanistan before he goes to bed each night after a hard day at war.  He actually likes to be the first to read them, bless him!!  

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

you paid $100 for those reindeer????? I don't remember you mentioning that they cost that much.

Mr P

Anonymous said...

You crack me up! The reindeer fiasco is hilarious. Margie

tinajo said...

Haha - sorry, but the shoe really cracked me up! :-D Well, could come in handy if you meet an angry dog - he´ll be busy licking your shoe instead of biting! :-D

Sarah said...

Thank you for sharing your creative fails. I think we all have a stash of fails in a box somewhere hidden away. I know I do.

Hot Fudge said...

Oh yes, I can certainly relate to the piecing-pants fail, with accompanying screams. And I feel your pain with the shoe incident. Last Saturday in the supermarket a bottle of the most foul-smelling marinade leapt off the shelf in front of me and smashed all over my bestie shoes. I can tell you that a combination of soap, Mr Sheen, perfume and a night spent on the balcony didn't help.

LionessLady said...

Oh dear (deer!)! I think the pants fail is my favourite!

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Accidentally deleted Lizzie's comment:
Aaahh, seems Mr P busted you on the price tag for your reindeer fiasco Jennie..might be nearly time to finish the perfection (or lack of) thing...and I like the owls, I don't think they're freaky or scary at all...don't want your kids growing up to be wimpy do you..? :o)
Lizzie
xxx
Sorry Lizzie!! No, don't want the children to be whimpy, not much freaks them out but the tree filled with owls hanging over the bed, the eyes shine at night, hovering her my sweet 10 year old girl's head. She's getting used to it now. Hooters is one of her favourite softies, just the way he stares at her . . . love Posie

edward and lilly said...

hehe, love the ending shoe shot, and also love all the crafty action that's going on around your home!

Jill said...

OH that's so funny! I like the hot pink lights myself! You could wrap them around the reindeer!!

Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

Mum on the Run said...

Hee hee.
Love your bad decorating - and getting busted by Mr P!!
:-)

Vic said...

Oh you've made me LAUGH this morning!

I REMEMBER THOSE REINDEER!!

Leonie said...

Having a giggle about those reindeer!!
Love that vintage desk...what about a vintage map to put on it??? I have a thing for maps on desks/tables etc at the moment....

Jan Maree said...

Ha ha laughed out loud at this one! Looks like you are busted re the owls. I think your husband must be taking GORGEOUS pills - he is such a winner, reading your blog before he goes to bed! Sigh! I think the owls need those eye shades you get on the aircraft - if you need some let me know- I could sink a battle ship with all the ones my hubby has bought home from trips - and I LOVE THE FLAMINGO LIGHTS - I have fairy lights with pink feather covers! They just say GIRL POWER if you ask me!

trash said...

Oh no Mr P, that was simply a typing error. I remember the sum paid was $10. Honest.

Amy said...

I had to laugh at Mr Posies comment! Hilarious! Sounds just like my husband

xx

Special 'K' said...

So funny thanks for the laugh. I loved the parting shoe shot! Pop over to my place you have received a Special Award for your blog in appreciation of your support at my place. I hope I am able to share your blog with a few... Cheers SpecialK XoXo

Tales of a Tai Tai said...

LOVE IT! Particularly the dip on the shoe. Hilarious!! I am the queen of decorating fail. I think I've hit the nail on the head and then alas, a few days later, I'm sure I've made the wrong decision. Fail central!!! Nice to know we're all in it together ;) xx

The Moerks said...

Whoops you might want to rethink the old "let Mr P read it first" thing.
Hey Mr P, if you read the comments, I just want to thank you for what you are doing over there. Stay safe and take care. I am sure Mrs P exaggerated on the cost of the reindeer, cough cough.

Sarah B said...

Love the pant piecing fail but also love Mr P's comment.
I'm with Deb Moerk, keep safe Mr P, you are the only person I 'know' in the army and I think about Posie when I hear news of trouble for the Aussies at war.

Anna Bartlett said...

I think those pink flamingo lights are lovely. And I think I have a very similar reindeer stash around here, somewhere. Hope your husband doesn't know my husband...

TexWisGirl said...

the ravaged reindeer herd made me laugh.

Tania McCartney said...

Gorgeous! And I want those pink flamingo fairy lights - NOW!! xx

Anonymous said...

That owl is creepy!! And dip and shoe perfect combo...have soooo done that too...lol

The Provincial Homemaker said...

I think the paint issue is that they only use one coat:)

I love that your first comment is from Mr P!