Buying vs DIYing

Posted by E

A friend recently asked me why I don't just buy pre-made things instead of creating my own.  It's a good question and I suppose there are several answers.  First I thought of the financial reasons.  Generally creating your own version costs less than buying it.  Then I thought about style.  In the age of the internet, you can usually find what suits you, but colors or sizes may not be what you need.  Then I thought about the sweat equity.  I love when people come over and compliment something I have created.  That pride and sense of accomplishment doesn't go away.  Plus I'm a single gal with no kids, so I've got the time to put into projects.  So with all the reasons above, I usually opt to create instead of buy.

However, there are times where buying instead of DIYing might be a better option...and of course for me it usually is because of money.  Let me give you an example.  I have been wanting a 2 drawer, legal file cabinet in light gray for my craft room/office.  Web research told me I'd be spending $230.  Not gonna happen, even though she is a sleek organizing gem.

Our state government sells surplus furniture and equipment, so I tried my luck there.  Lo and behold, I did find a 2 drawer, legal file cabinet for $20.  However, it was putty, not gray.  (I forgot to get a picture, so imagine this one plus 20 years of wear and tear and tape residue and filled with used rubber bands).

So I stopped by Walmart and picked up 2 cans of spray paint for about $3.80 a piece.  So in this case, I could have spent minimum $230 to buy exactly what I wanted but with a little DIY, it'll cost me $28 instead.  So yes, DIY won over buy.  And when I get to this project, I'll share the result!

Another project might not have the same result.  I've been looking at ottomans online for about 6 months.  I do like several, but I don't want to pay over $60 a piece for them, since I'm considering buying two. I love the look of this guy from Target for $54, but I'm not 100% on the plaid pattern.

 

I considered making my own ottoman from a fabric I do like.  I think foam rounds wrapped with batting on top of a wooden base with legs would emulate this look.  So I did some research for reasonable pricing and added it up.

1 1/2 yards of fabric: $15

Cotton Piping: $5

4 Wooden legs: $12

18" wooden base: $11

18" Foam Rounds: $36

Batting: Have

So this gives me a total of $79 (without shipping and taxes).  If I got the legs I really wanted, it'd be $15 more.  So in this case, buying is more reasonable than DIYing.  I could opt for another style of ottoman and that might be a better DIY option...but I'm still loving this style the most. 

The moral of the story (yes, I'm finally getting to it) is consider the cost of each part of your project and what you're willing to spend when it is all said and done.  Don't forget to account for the time and effort it may also cost you.  Remember, you determine the worth of any project.  So if you decide to create a similar ottoman like above and want to ship it to me for free, why that's just fine!  

And the table keep runnin' runnin'...

Posted by E

And runnin' runnin'...

You get the point.  Well, the table isn't actually running anywhere, but I made table runners!  Woot woot!  (If I write woot woot in every post, do you feel more excited?)

Before we touch on the project, let me start off with a few disclaimers.  I'm renting an OLD house.  It's so old that wood paneling is the trendiest thing about it.  So keep this in mind as you see pictures of my abode.  Also, my dining table was formerly brown with brown chairs and green upholstered seats.  The chairs are now white with teal chevron, but the table is still brown.  It'll hopefully be white some day...whenever I get to it.  I also despise this set (glass tops aren't my thing) but I got it cheap from Craigslist and it will do until I find a set I like better!

Proceeding onward...

For fun I like to prowl fabric.com.  It's the worst drug for my craft addiction.  If they did a rewards program, I'd probably be rich.  My current excuse for hitting up fabric.com was my desire to fancy up the kitchen table, since I feel so blah about it.  The kitchen is yellow, white, gray with touches of teal, so I wanted to bring in one or two of those colors onto the table.

My family is coming out to see me for Thanksgiving this year, so I thought a nice fall-ish themed table would be fun.  Lo and behold, I found a fall looking fabric that had not one, not two, but three of my kitchen colors in it!  It was Premier Prints Blooms Slub in Chili Pepper.

Isn't she lovely?  I ordered one yard to make two table runners.  Keep in mind that many home decor fabrics are 54" wide (including this one), so you get a little bit more for your buck than you might be used to with other fabric purchases.  Just make sure you read the details when browsing fabric.  I cut the fabric in half so that I was left with two rectangles measuring 54" by 18".  Then, using a 1/2" seam allowance, I sewed the edges under with white thread.  This left me with two 53" by 17" runners.  This was perfect for my 44" square table.  Sorry I don't have pictures of the in progress, but it's basic cutting and sewing, so don't be afraid to give it a whirl. 

I tossed some fall related items on the center of the table to really sell the autumn ambiance.  Not sure if it will stay but it works for now!

In the interest of total honesty, this fabric wasn't all I purchased.  I also grabbed 1 yard of Premier Prints Chipper Slub in Corn Yellow and 1 yard of Premier Prints Lulu Twill in Storm/Yellow for a two sided table runner. 

 

Aaaaaand, I ordered 1 1/2 yards of Premier Prints Helen Twill in Storm/Yellow.  

My original thought was to make napkins, but 1 1/2 yards of a 54" wide fabric gives me a 54" square.  So I'm thinking I'll just hem the ends and have a lovely tablecloth.  The gray colors don't seem to match from the images, but I assure you, it's all so matchy matchy you'll scream for joy.  

Welcome to MidwestOutWest!

Little sister and I have started this blog together to document our projects...be they crafty, decorative, or just fun.  Okay, so if she tells the story there might be rumors of cajolling on my part; but, she relented.

We grew up in the Midwest with one super crafty, creative mother and have definitely followed her lead.  Several years back E moved out west so we don't get much of a chance to do projects together.  That, fortunately, hasn't stopped us from Skyping, FaceTiming, texting and bragging with each other over our projects and accomplishments.

So, here is MidwestOutWest, our opportunity to do projects "together" and share our triumphs and failures.  Hope you enjoy what we have to show, but mostly, I'm just excited to do something with my sis!

- H

A Wicked Night with the Girls

The girls and I planned a Halloween Girl's Night this year and, of course, I had to theme the party.  I wanted a Martha Stewart Meets Elvira look which Dad refers to as "Spooky Chic".  It turned out pretty well with the black/white with purple and green accents...and, naturally, glitter. 

Unfortunately, I was playing around with my camera settings (blame photography class) so the pictures aren't exactly the best.

The dining table is all setup with the spider web table overlay (Joann's), purple lights, and purple glitter tulle. 

 

 

I covered some books I had with black paper and wrote on the spines with a silver pen to use them as a base for the black glitter candlebra and the giant black spider.  In addition to the white candles I spread white felt flowers, purple glitter flowers, purple and black glitter spiders, and the most problematic white spider webbing.  That webbing will cling onto anything and everything.  These little pieces were also strung around the food and drink tables.


With every good party there is food...which is also themed.

 

 

We had zombie juice (extra green margaritas), scary cerebrum (shrimp), red-eye-balls (caprese cups), bloody bones (breadsticks & marinara sauce), and tombstone cupcakes (chocolate/pumpkin muffins with fudge oreos).

The girls loved it and ultimately that is what I did it for, that and because I love to decorate and theme up events.  Now, since E gets Thanksgiving this year, onto Christmas...

-H