DIY television cozy (my favorite project ever!)

Ever since I got my first tv when I was a teenager, I've had a hard time striking a balance between how much I love watching it when it's on and how much I hate seeing it when it's off. Unless you have a monochrome bachelor pad or enough money to make your tv disappear into a dresser, it's kind of difficult to fit these big dark behemoths into your decor.

It probably wasn't super safe, but I covered my first tv in faux concrete acrylic medium so it looked like a big slab of cement. For my last tv I covered the frame in vintage contact paper. Neither of those were perfect (and neither of them covered the screen, which still looked awful when it was turned off) but they definitely helped.



I recently upgraded to a pretty big television (42") and in my tiny pastel room, it just stuck out like a sore thumb. I finally came up with a way to hide it when it's not on, and I wish I had thought of this sooner! It was SO easy to whip this up, and it's equally easy to take it on and off of my tv. And I love it!!

I also spray painted the base light blue (Valspar satin "Encounter") and decided to hang one of my favorite Bette Davis photos from the top when its not in use. It's just on a skirt hanger, so it literally takes 2 seconds to hang it up or take it down and it's lightweight enough to not be doing any damage to my television. Just another simple way to make the tv blend into my room a little more ;)



To make your own tv cozy, first you have to measure your television. Make sure you get exact measurements so that the fabric will fit snug. Also, make sure you actually measure it, don't go by the size of your screen. The advertised screen size is measured diagonally, so my 42" screen is actually 38" across.

Next you want to measure your fabric. Draw out a rectangle that measures the width of the tv by the height of the tv. Then you want to add the depth + 1 inch to each side.



Hem the edges and then sew the corners to create a box. It's kind of like you're making a fitted sheet for your tv! If you're confused at all about what I mean just take a peek at your bed sheet lol :)

Now sew elastic right above the hem. You want to be stretching out the elastic while you're sewing so that it bunches the fabric. Once the elastic is in place, you're done! Just slip the cover over the front of the tv and you're all set.



I found that on my tv the fabric was sagging a tiny bit in the middle (not entirely sure if it's because I wasn't pulling the elastic tight enough while I was sewing or because my tv screen is so big) so I devised a little elastic suspender. I just threaded elastic through small alligator clips (I got mine on etsy) and knotted them tight. One clip at the top and bottom of the cozy helps keep it nice and snug on my tv screen!



When I showed my brother he said "you must be the only person on the planet who would buy a 42" HD television and want to HIDE it!" lol! I just can't stand the way modern tvs look, and don't think we should have to sacrifice the prettiness of our rooms at the altar of entertainment :)

Also, an added bonus to using a cozy -- it also functions as a dust cover! yay!

bears. beets. brooches.

There's a new brooch design over at sweet and lovely, and it's featuring America's favorite Assistant (to the) Regional Manager! ;D I drew this and had a sample made so that I could wear it to the Office Wrap Party this weekend, and when it came in the mail I just loved it SO much that I had to make more for Sweet and Lovely!

I also drew Michael Scott, Kevin, and Creed but I don't have pictures of the finished brooches yet -- they're coming soon though! If they go over well I might add more characters but for now I'm just sticking with my own favorites in case I end up having to keep all the brooches myself, lol! I also drew a Carl Sagan one, too! I'm probably getting a little carried away with the faces-as-wooden-brooches thing but I am just so smitten with this little Dwight, I can't help myself!

mad about you

I love when unexpected memories pop back into your consciousness, and you're reminded of something completely lovely that you had entirely forgotten. Over the weekend I accidentally stumbled upon an episode of Mad About You, and it triggered some very happy thoughts.

It had totally escaped my memory how much I loved that show. During my senior year of high school I had a pretty rough time socially, so I used to deeply treasure the time I spent at home. I'd stay up until 3 or 4am each night, waiting as long as possible to go to sleep to put off going to school in the morning.

In the wee small hours, I'd watch the sitcom reruns that came on after the late night shows were over. At 1:00 sharp, I'd go downstairs to our quiet kitchen and make myself a salted baked potato, toast with grape jelly and a cup of sparkling peach cider (I know how odd that combination sounds, but somehow it turned into my favorite late-night meal at the time!) By 1:30, I'd be sitting on my bed ready for Mad About You.

When I rediscovered it this weekend, my mind flashed back to how much I loved my little late night treat. I looked forward to 1:30am ALL DAY LONG. I'd sit in class and ache for my half hour of bliss. I loved the show, and I loved my snack but more than anything I loved how much fun it was to spend time alone. I honestly think that learning to enjoy being your own company makes life so much nicer... and for me it all started with Mad About You and salted baked potatoes :)

Dress - vintage | Shoes - kling

star stuff

On last week's star stuff post I got two comments that mentioned The Big Bang Theory. I've heard of it before, but I never knew what it was until the comments piqued my interest and I finally looked it up. And um, I'm halfway through season 3 now.

The show is about four socially awkward scientists and I think my #1 wish right now is that they were real so I could be friends with them. There's this one episode where the guys get together to buy what they think is a miniature version of the time machine from the 1960 sci-fi movie The Time Machine starring Rod Taylor. When it arrives, it's actually the full-scale model that was used in the film. They joke about what a chick-magnet it'd be but OH MY GOSH. For real, if a guy told me that he had THE time machine from THAT movie, I'd go weak in the knees so fast I'd probably tip over. These characters are my spirit animals.

My whole life I've felt like such a loser. Rather than try to get along with people who possess social skills I never will, I'd love to be able to hang out with nerds like me who have just as much trouble with human interaction as I do, who share an interest in the same uncool things. We can talk about star stuff and sci fi movies, tell really corny jokes and give each other clumsy hugs and high-fives. Sometimes I think there should be a country (or planet, the left-brained among us could pull that off.) just for geeks where all of us could live and be awkward together. I think that's my dream.

give me all of the bacon and eggs you have.

skirt - h&m

lace dress - vintage

blue top - old navy

belt - old navy

shoes - modcloth

hair bow - hive & honey

Words cannot even describe how excited I am about the Parks and Recreation season premiere tonight! AHH! My other favorite show, Eureka, just had it's season finale on Monday so this is the only thing really holding me together this week (you might say I take TV a little too seriously?) Also, I recently got into The Office -- super late to that party! -- so I'm looking forward to seeing that premiere tonight, too! (Although I only started watching it recently, I'm going to miss Michael Scott like crazy. He was such an adorable, awkward, politically incorrect but well meaning sweet pathetic loser.)

This is the first time since Friends ended that I've had currently-airing favorite tv shows. I'd completely forgotten about the anticipation and excitement of season premieres! My brother is a HUGE fan of Ron Swanson, so he went out and bought bacon to watch with the premiere, and I stocked up on some waffles a la Leslie Knope. We're such huge dorks.

posh frock friday

dress - modcloth

cardigan - calvin klein (ross)

shoes - karmaloop

belt - vintage

In the continuing saga of my all-consuming obsession with tv shows... last week I discovered Dead Like Me on Netflix and I am SO hooked. It's about a girl named George who, on the first day at her new temp job, gets incinerated when a fiery toilet seat comes hurling out of the sky right in her direction. Once she's dead, she learns that she has a new job -- a grim reaper. It's an incredibly offbeat dark comedy that's made me cry just as often as it's made me laugh. If you're looking for a new netflix instant obsession, I highly recommend it! Unfortunately it was cancelled after only two seasons (why are all the good shows so short lived?!) but if you need proof of its brilliance, it was the brainchild of the same guy who created Pushing Daisies!

ps. I did an illustrated version of this outfit on Flapper Doodle today! :)

Do you want to comment, but have no idea what to say? Trust me, I've been there! So to make things a little easier, here is a question you can answer if you can't think of anything else to say! :)

What is your favorite short-lived show?

just say knope

skirt - vintage

white shirt - vintage

safari jacket - f21

belt - f21

shoes - blowfish

I'm currently obsessed with Parks and Recreation. Oh. my. gosh. I don't know what is wrong with me but 2011 seems to be the year that I become hooked on a million different tv shows. First it was Eureka, then Twin Peaks, then Arrested Development and now this. I'm over halfway through season 2 now, and I only started it three nights ago. eek! But seriously, it's beyond amazing and ridiculously hilarious. Also, I used to intern in local government in high school (I was much more like Leslie than April) and it's hysterical how accurate it is!

ps. There's an interview with me today over at Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On, if you want to pop over and take a peek! :)

Do you want to comment, but have no idea what to say? Trust me, I've been there! So to make things a little easier, here is a question you can answer if you can't think of anything else to say! :)

Would you rather be able to fly or speak fluent French?

sunday funnies

A week or so ago, I mentioned on twitter that I wanted to get hooked on a new show since I was just re-watching my favorites over and over (I'm on my third viewing of the complete Eureka series since discovering it in February) and Sarah mentioned how outrageously hilarious Arrested Development was. Netflix has it on instant watch, so I decided to give it a try. And OH MY GOSH it might just be the funniest show in television history. I'm laughing just thinking about it. It is stuffed to the brim with brilliant actors who are so good at being funny it's like they have superhuman comedy skills. I just can't even describe how hilarious. So, if you already watch it, this graphic (which is available on a t-shirt, here!!) will probably make you spit out your morning coffee and burst into a hyperventilating laughing fit. If you don't watch it, you should. And if me commanding you to watch it isn't really enough, you know you want to anyway just to understand why "Chareth Cutestory, Maritime Law" is so darn funny.

the great northern

I've recently become overwhelming smitten with Twin Peaks. My parents recommended it to me, and since I think they pretty much have the best taste in the world when it comes to music, movies and tv, I took their advice and set myself up with season 1 a couple weeks ago. As usual when I get hooked on a new-to-me show, I breezed through the whole thing in about a weeks time. And WOW. I can totally understand now why it has such a devoted cult following. It's one of those shows you just can't get off your mind. I've dreamt about it quite a few times now (thank goodness I haven't had any scary Bob dreams yet, but I know they're bound to show up eventually) and even came up with an idea for a new flapper doodle painting with a Twin Peaks theme. I'm totally hooked.

I waited until I had finished the last episode of the last season to do any digging online, to make sure I didn't accidentally glimpse any spoilers. After imdb, wikipedia and some fan sites, I searched on etsy to see if anyone had any cool fan art... and low and behold I found these amazing cross-stitch and embroidery pieces from a Twin Peaks themed etsy shop brilliantly titled The Great Northern! Totally amazing! I'm thinking I might need to snatch one up, and I'm leaning towards the coincidence & fate piece. But how awesome would it be to have a whole series of them displayed together?!

sunday funnies

In the last week, I have become utterly, hopelessly, wonderfully in love with the SyFy show Eureka. It's about a town of geniuses who work for the government to create the newest cutting edge technology, whether it's medicine and cellular technology or nuclear weapons. The town sheriff, Jack Carter (played by Colin Ferguson, who is so brilliant --and so cute-- I feel like squealing each time he's on screen) is not a genius, but he more than makes up for his intellectual shortcomings with his wit, common sense and spot-on hunches. The show is part drama, part comedy ... the overall storyline is serious, but each episode has more than enough humor to keep it light. Even when a computer malfunction triggers a 24 hour countdown to planetary destruction, there are still jokes all around. It's geeky, but grounded. I mean seriously.. if I could marry a tv show, I would be Mrs. Eureka by now. I'm just so head over heels.

So, you're probably wondering by now.. "why are you posting this on sunday funnies day, Kate?" Glad you asked. It's partially because I couldn't contain my excitement any longer, and my family locked me in my room until I promised I'd stop talking about Eureka (I'm exaggerating, but they'll probably resort to that soon.) But it's also because this one clip from an episode I watched tonight struck me as so hilarious that I had to share it. I don't know if it is as amusing without the backstory of the episode (short story: contaminated meat makes all of the geniuses temporarily super stupid) but to me it was spit-out-your-grapefruit-juice, hyperventilating kind of funny. But then I'm sort of high on Eureka love, so I might be a bit biased ;-D

Style Idol - Charlotte 'Chuck' Charles

A ginormous 'THANK YOU!!' to Millie for introducing me to Pushing Daisies last year. It's definitely in my top five favorite tv shows of all time now and I've probably watched every episode at least six times since I first borrowed Millie's copy of Season One last November. Everything about this series is absolutely perfect, from the dialogue and set design to the plot and wardrobe. Each character has amazing clothing, but Chuck's is by far the most wonderful. Her hats, dresses and matching coats are LITERALLY to die for (Don't worry, that was a proper use of the word literally.. if you watch the show you'll get it ;-)

I ended up screen-capping at least one outfit from every episode, they are all that fabulous! If you haven't seen Pushing Daisies yet, I really can't even begin to describe how sensational it is! It's exceptionally quirky, so I guess it's not for everyone, but I love it to bits! Scroll through the outfit photos and I think you'll understand one reason why...

Television prettification DIY

They sell skins for your ipod and covers for your cell phone. A utilitarian lamp can be beautified with a pretty lampshade. Windows, beds and floors can all be personalized with curtains, sheets and rugs. And yet televisions are universally sold in either black or gray (I lucked out finding a white one, albeit I had to resort to buying off-brand to do so.) They don't sell clip-on tv covers or special tv-paint to spruce up the giant ugly black THING sitting in your bedroom corner. Unless you have a cabinet in which to tuck away the hideousness, it sticks out like a sore thumb in your living room.

This problem has annoyed me for years - ever since I first got a television when I was about 14 years old. My parents gave me the old living room tv when they upgraded, and as thrilled as I was to finally have one of my own, I was super peeved that it didn't match the rest of my room. It was silver and black with wood-grain paneling on the sides. Being oblivious to things like fire hazards at the time, I covered the whole box in a faux-textured acrylic paint and made it look like a giant block of cement. It lasted me at least 6 years before I had to get a new one, believe it or not!

Now that my previous tv kicked the dust, I had to start from scratch yet again. Not wanting to paint this time, I sought advice on how to personalize my tv on twitter. The ever-ingenious Casey from Noir Girl suggested contact paper! I zipped over to etsy and found a roll of vintage 60's contact paper for only $6. Score!! My mom and I covered the tv today, and it only took about 40 minutes. Granted this particular pattern is not for everyone (once finished I asked my mom how she liked it and she said "well... it's definitely YOU." I took it as a compliment.) but the results are endless depending on what kind of design you choose!

We measured how tall my tv was, and how much of a lip we wanted on the sides. Then we cut that out using the grid on the back. Then we measured how far in we had to go on the top & sides, and cut that out as well, creating an open box in the middle for my tv screen. The rest was done using an exact-o knife, running along the plastic ridges on my tv box. Only pressing lightly I was able to cut the paper without even really touching my tv.

Since the paper is really old, I reinforced the edges with a little bit of clear tape to make sure it wouldn't unstick. I finished by cutting out designs from the remaining scraps to cover my cable box and dvd player, too! Now I have a whole matching entertainment console that blends in with the rest of my room, instead of sticking out like a sore thumb! :)