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When you live in a house with no air conditioning, you appreciate any help. We don't have central air but we do have a swamp cooler. Still, it's not enough. So when my MIL offered her ceiling fan last year, we agreed with no hesitation. We immediately installed it in our master bedroom and enjoyed it ever since.

But one thing that bothered me was all this dated brass:

I really really don't like brass. So after looking at it for a year, I decided it was time for a change. We disassembled the whole thing and washed it pretty well first. After it all dried up, I sprayed it with primer first and then used one of my favorite spray paints - oil-rubbed bronze metallic paint ( remember my lamps :). I apologize that some of the pictures are a little dark but it was getting dim as I was working on it):

But I thought that just white blades would be boring. I first primed and spray-painted them bright white, and then I used a stencil. I already had it but originally it came from Hobby Lobby (by far, my favorite craft store, by the way!). This stencil was a lot cheaper than online places. It was originally $16.99 but I used a coupon and paid only about $10:

I used a small stain roller and some leftover dark-brown (well, almost black) paint. I then sealed it all with some spray sealer, and here's another closer picture of the result:

Aww, so much better than brass! And the best thing - it was free because I already had all the materials on hand.

And one more April project - check!! :)

I shared this post with these awesome parties:

My Turn (for us) 
The Shabby Nest 
Joyful Homemaking 
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating 
Six Sisters' Stuff 
I should be mopping the floor 
Monday Funday 
Homemaker on a Dime 
Today's Creative Blog 
Not Just a Housewife 
Ginger Snap Crafts
Clean and Scentsible
House of Hepworths 
Tatertots and Jello 
Thrifty Decor Chick 
By Stephanie Lynn 

I'm starting to decorate for the season too...

Pin It    I don't know how to sew. I really really don't. I mean, I can sew a straight line but when it comes to a premeditated curved line, you are looking at the wrong person. But I'm slowly trying to learn, I promise...

   I've seen so many people around the web decorating for the fall season that I think I got this bug too. I went to Hancock Fabrics to get some fabric for new pillows (yes, I can sew pillows....Straight lines, right :) I actually went to find some burlap (I got this bug too!) but they were sold out of the good stuff. But as I was wandering around, I found some really pretty leftover linen-looking fabric for $5/ yard. It's so awesome that I got 2 yards for multiple little projects around the house. And then I noticed this really cute fall fabric that I just couldn't pass by:

   So I decided to make a very simple table runner for my level of sewing (nothing like your amazing table runners, Carla :). I just cut one "linen" stripe and two "pumpkin" ones and sew it all together. But it looked too plain, so I added some "applications" from  cut-up fabric:

 And another picture:

I just used some Elmer's fabric spray adhesive to attach them:

Aren't these pumpkins pretty?

Another look:

   I don't have any other fall decor on the table, so some flowers from last summer will work for now. Or the first and only cantaloupe from our garden:

  Have you started decorating for fall yet?

I will share this post with these fun parties:
Homemaker on a Dime
This Gal Cooks Marvelous Mondays