You deserve it - a place of your own, somewhere you can read & dream and just relax - yet how do you find that place?� You aren't like those people in the magazines, you don't have unlimited funds - you don't have unlimited space.� You have a family and a budget, you're stressed for time and how can you create some of those sumptuous rooms you've seen in those magazines.� That's what this page is about - how to create that special place just for you using YOUR budget & your space - so let's get started.

First look around you & find a corner, that is all you need, really a corner.� You are going to make a vignette (vin-yea).� In your corner you need a lamp, a chair, a table & some things.� That simple!� Can't cost that much right...well that depends on what you want.� You don't have to spend a lot of cash - just use your talent.� Start hunting for the furniture, scour yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, friends who are redecorating.� Once you find a piece look beyond the surface and examine its bones.� If it has a good structure anything can be changed.�

If a piece of wood is in good shape but been painted 1,000 times, a little elbow grease can take care of that & then you can stain or polish the wood, or paint it again.�

Need a round table - why not do what I do.� Go to Wal-mart, buy a black $8.00 garbage can (for outside), poke some holes in the top & fill it with dirt to use for seedlings.� Now take the can - this is the base for your table.� You can use it for hidden storage!� Either at a yard sale or the store, buy one of those cheap round tables that have those stick legs and take off the metal holders for the legs.� (Or go to Home Depot & buy a piece of round pressed board).� Set this on top of your garbage can, cover it with a table cloth (made from a beautiful sheet) and you got it!� If your lucky for UNDER $15!�

The chair needs upholstering?� Simple!� All you need is a piece of fabric (believe it or not I find Great fabric at yard sales, expensive fabric, that is just enough for a chair - because it was more than the people needed). � If the bones are ok you can go to the library and get a book on upholstery or buy a pattern.� But you really don't need one.� Replace whatever needs replacing inside & then take the old fabric and use that as your pattern on your new fabric. � What - not taking the old fabric off?� Just as simple. If you are uncomfortable about making a pattern strategic from fabric, first get a couple of old flat sheets to make your pattern.� (Go to the thrift stores for these.) �

Take your new fabric & lay it over the area you are going to cover (i.e. back of chair) and one-piece-at-a-time cut out a section and add one (1-1�) inch seam allowances.� You will have to leave a little extra room to slide it down over the chair.� Just think as you are doing it and you shouldn't have any problems at all.� If it seems to hard or you get frustrated, set it aside and just leave it alone until another day.� That simple. � This is your place to relax, so just take it easy, take your time & make yourself something memorable.

Ever notice all those cute little picture frames & knick-knacks that are on the tables in the magazines.� Then you go to Target or Wal-Mart and see how much even the least expensive frame costs.� It's discouraging. � But why do you need new?� Hit those yard sales, etc. again.� Start collecting frames, things, vases, anything that strikes your fancy.� You can't have too many.� Some people get lovely things as gifts that just isn't their style or they have 2 of.� They sell those for a quarter, a dollar.� Get it!� The same for your lamp.� It's out there if you look for it.� Take a bunch of different size boxes & chests, etc. and stack them!

Speaking of lamps.� I have gotten great lamps with not so great shades, but before I buy a new shade, I buy 3" fringe and put it around the bottom of a decent shade and then take some gimp (costs about a quarter a yard) and glue it all around the edge of the shade over the edge of the fringe.� Then I have a Victorian shade!� You could do all kinds of things, as long as you don't have to high wattage in your bulb and keep fringe away from lit candles.