Or, as The Nester says, "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful." Just like my little blinkie button says over there. Reading this phrase over and over has helped me overcome my fear of failing to make things in my home beautiful. It doesn't have to be perfect! Make it my own form of beautiful! I have gained courage to start working on things I have wanted to for years, knowing that imperfections only make it more "mine." For that, I will always be grateful to Nester.
Here's my imperfectly beautiful piece. The fabric is from an old (I mean ancient...from 1970!) mattress that had been in my Mimmie and Grandaddy's home for years before I somehow acquired it. We really needed to get rid of the mattress and box spring, as it was just not serviceable anymore as a bed. But the thought of getting rid of it made me so sad that it stayed propped up against the wall in the guest room, preventing anyone, including non-guests, from entering the room.
Reading The Nester and Kimba has helped me come up with new ways to decorate my home, to make it my own. With this frame of mind, I came up with the idea to cut off the fabric covering the mattress set and re-purpose it. The fabric is not all that pretty, and it's definitely not designer, but to me it is beautiful because of where it came from.
As to what I'm going to do with it, I have a couple of ideas so far. As soon as I can get some fringe to hot glue (okay, since I got my sewing machine to work, I may sew it) on, some of this fabric is going to cover a pillow. My sister told me I had better be making one for her, too. Another way I'm going to use it is to take a picture of these robin eggs and place it in this frame with the fabric peeking out from behind it. No, it won't be professional. No, it won't be perfect. But it WILL be beautiful. In my eyes, at least!
Every time I'll see that frame or pillow, I will not only be reminded of my beautiful-if-imperfect grandparents and the memories of their home, I'll also be reminded that in my home, perfection only keeps my heart in bondage, unable to let its creativity out! THANK YOU, NESTER!
Now, y'all head on over to The Nesting Place and see everyone else's imperfectly beautiful lives!
27 comments:
What a sweet memory!
That is fantastic!
The fabric is so pretty I can see why you like it. I can only imagine what the people at the dump thought when they saw the mattress with cut out pieces. I'm sure they just assumed the owner was a killer who wanted to hid any evidence!!!
Hate me for only talking about that instead of your wonderful idea of if you see something you love, no matter what it is, use it!
Oh, and I love Kimba too!
Thanks girl!
Your post is one of the sweetest things I've read in a long time. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes.
It's funny how some ordinary object like the fabric on this mattress can embody so many memories. I am so proud of you for doing this! What a wonderful way to capture a memory.
And I happen to disagree with you...I think the fabric is lovely!
I could just blather on and on about how much I love this. And you for doing it! But instead I'll leave you with this...
The Nester said she loves me too!!!! The Nester said she loves me too!!!! I think I'm going to pee my pants!
That's beautiful! What a great idea to preserve the memory. I'm going to make a little pillow out of my wedding dress to keep on our bed. :)
Love it!
Yes the Nesters' words can sure inspire someone. I too was often afraid to start something because of my perfectionism. Now I have put her words on top of my blog to remind me daily. Love your ideas for the fabric.
That is sooo pretty!!!
I love the frame idea!
~ Sarah
Wrong! That fabric is fabulous and the colors are beautiful. I'm always doing the same thing with stuff but would never have thought of the mattress cover! Genius. Thanks for sharing that - it's wonderful. Nancy
Well, isn't that just a GRAND idea! Love the fabric! Framing fabric, wallpaper, wrapping paper, etc is the secret to cheap wall chic--and in your case wall chic with special sentiment!
I loved that story! Gosh, I need tissues... I have held on to some weird stuff just because of the people that I loved had it first. I still have my brothers boots he was wearing when he was in his accident. I look at them every morning as I put on my shoes. It's your memories, your life... hang on to them, love them... Susie H
this is such a great idea! and what a wonderful memory! i think the robins eggs will look beautiful there :)
I meant to tell you that I think your robin's egg picture will look beautiful in there. You know what else might look nice is one of your paper mache medallion thingys.
And look at you with all the comments!
Love that fabric!
Very cool idea. Sentimental. And now it's a keepsake.
What a clever and creative idea! I never would've thought of this. Thanks for sharing it! -Julia :-)
I"m glad you hung onto those mattress long enough to figure out how to add them into your life without keeping the entire thing. What a relief to get those big things out of your house, and to decorate with a fabric that has so much meaning to you. Good job!!
I really like the fabric! In this case beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder! Love that you are using personal pieces to decorate. So much more homey! Keep up the great work!
Having things we love that bring back treasured memories to surround us is such a blessing! What a creative way you were able to hold onto a piece of your "history" that you rightly didn't want to let go of! :) Thanks for sharing!
Love it! We too have used fabric remnants stretched over canvas frames to create unique and colorful wall decor in our home. I love that your's holds sentiment!
Now that is some creative thinking, girlfriend! I'm so impressed and I think the fabric and your decorating ideas are perfectly beautiful. I'd much rather see something like this than some perfect something that Martha Stewart made!
I love what you said about perfectionism keeping your heart in bondage, and I'm so glad that you have let your creativity out. Because, my, what great ideas you have for that lovely fabric. Maybe you could even mat a photo of your grandparents or their home, too. It's so neat to find someone who thinks outside the boxsprings! :)
This is a really super use of something that reminds you of important people in your life. I love the way it looks in the frame!
What a good idea. I love the frame you used with it. VERY CREATIVE. I've seen people do that with quilt blocks, but I love how you did it too.
Oh Heathalee! This is so beautiful. The post, the picture just everything!
Gorgeous fabric and what a sweet rememberance to have!
I love it! What a beautiful way to display your memories.
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