Let's Get it Started! (Craft Closet--Part 2)

 So when I last left you, I mentioned that I had scoured the world wide web for some crafty inspiration and greeted the hubby with those four dangerous words (at least in our house they are dangerous), "I have an idea!"

You see, we have a bit of DIY ADD around here.  We have a big brainstorm and get a great idea for a little home improvement project and "BAM!" we jump right in.  Halfway through, more inspiration hits (or we hit a snag) and we are opening up a whole new can of worms (or tearing up floors) all while *trying* to finish the first project.

I knew what the hubby was thinking, "How many other projects do we have going on around here?  Why do we need to start one more?"  But this time, I had a plan. . .this would be my birthday gift from the hubby!  No shopping required (besides Home Improvement stores, and what guy is going to turn THAT down?), no guessing at what I might want (I had inspiration pictures, remember?), no tedious wrapping paper involved--it was a win-win for everyone!  Well, until we looked at our schedules around January (my birthday month).  We were swamped with other obligations!  No time for DIYing here.  So I agreed to wait a bit. . .

Valentine's Day rolled around and the hubby asked for gift suggestions.  "The Craft Closet," I quickly answered.  No flowers, no chocolate, no jewelry, just a little demolition and construction in the living room closet--too much to ask?  I think not.

The weekend after Valentine's Day, I began to realize that Step One of this project was contingent upon ME cleaning out the closet to make way for the facelift.  So. . . while the hubby was away at a weekend training session, I emptied the contents of the crap craft-closet right in the middle of the living room floor, completely blocking access to his the bike trainer and creating a major hazard and eyesore in the most used room in the house. There was no getting out of it now.  We were committed to making this change happen.  Remember all of this?

Well, you can just imagine the hubby's excitement when he came home and witnessed my work!  

All that was left once I removed all of the  craft supplies. . .

Not only had I emptied the contents of the closet into the living room floor and surrounded it with a baby fence to keep the little people from pilfering through the goods, but I had also drawn out plans for the shelving and desk that I envisioned inside the now-empty space.  

The hubby completed what I started by removing what was left of the doors and shelving. . .

Doors removed and "shelves" ready to come down.

Ready for a New Look!!

After we corrected confirmed my plans and measurements, we set off to the big box Home Improvement store to pick out and price wood and accessories.  

Supplies were purchased and the transformation began. . .

I started by priming the back wall of the closet.  The sides were knotty pine, so I left those untouched.  Since we knew the back would be covered by shelving, we didn't worry about that ugly seam on the back wall.

The hubby spent the next weekend measuring, cutting, and installing the shelving and desk that I, um, we designed.

Project Supervisor!

Pretty soon it looked something like this. . .

(note the baby gate "holding pen" for the closet contents)

A closer look. . .

Shelves!  Storage!  Work space!

While the hubby was busy working his magic, I had been shopping for accessories. . .

Storage units from Habitat for Humanity $8 each (there were two more in the garage)

Thrift Shop Chair $5
(I spied it first, the hubby wasn't crazy about it, but after thinking about it, I sent my daddy back to snag it!)

So, we went from a total disaster to a closet full of shelves. . . What next?  Why priming and painting, of course!

Stay tuned!

Friday Finds--Personal Space

Wow!  Has it really been a MONTH since I last posted on this blog?
 Yep.
In a word, we have been busy.
 Doing what?  I'm not sure.

The last few weeks have felt a little like "Groundhog Day", if you know what I mean--Get up, get ready for work, pack lunches, hustle children out the door, go to work, sit in meetings, work in a training run (marathon/half update soon!), pick up kids, cook dinner, give kids baths, collapse in front of bad reality TV, wash. . . rinse. . . repeat. . . everyday.  Honestly, that kind of monotony wears me out.  You would think that I could get into a groove, get on a schedule, whatever . . .  When every minute is packed with the same old same old, I get bored.
And unmotivated.
And my creative juices dry right up.

Creativity has been sadly lacking around here lately.  Our current schedule hasn't left much time for fun extras (knitting, sewing, etc. . .)

But that is all about to change.  Not only is Spring Break right around the corner (4.5 days with kids and a much-needed teacher workday--it's not like I'm not counting or anything), but I have a fantastic new space to create in!  Well, not quite yet. . . but it is coming along quite nicely, and I can't wait to share it with you!

As I have mentioned countless times before, we live in an old house that was started in 1948 and then built in chunks and modified when things needed a change.  Bigger bathroom?  Bump out this wall!  Need another bedroom?  Attach it to this one!  Not enough closet space?  Add one to the living room!  Yep. That's right.  We have a closet in our "formal" living room.  Not a "coat closet" as you walk in the door.  No, a full-fledged closet with sliding doors, tucked away in the corner.

Doors closed. . .
(Please ignore the crooked picture and glare-filled photography)

When we moved into the house, I laid claim on this little corner and declared it "mine".  In our first house (pre-baby), I had a "craft room"--a place for my sewing machine, a bookcase, my cutting table, gift wrapping supplies, etc. . .  it also became a catch-all for things without a home.  Our cat loved to go in and climb around the room and it affectionately became known as "cat's junkyard".  As we transitioned from a home with 2 adults and 2 pets into a home with a small child, my craft room suddenly became a nursery and all of my supplies (junk) were forced into a small hall closet. When we moved to our current home in 2005, I decided that this odd living room closet would be a perfect space to house my craft supplies.  However, I never had a great storage system in place.  Things often got tossed in and set aside.  Projects went unfinished because I had no real "workspace" besides the breakfast table--and cleaning that baby off for every summertime meal is a real pain.  Alas, works in progress stayed "in progress" and buried in the abyss. . .

Prepare yourself. . .

It was bad.  Very bad.  

I am not proud, but this was the reality of my craft closet. 

A few months ago, I got the wild idea (was inspired by a few blogs found via pinterest) to turn this closet into a workstation--a sewing nook, a creation station, whatever you want to call it, I was craving organization and a fresh look.  

So, here are FIVE Friday Finds that inspired me (and my wonderful hubby) to gut the old "craft closet" and create a little personal space for myself!

This was my first find.  It is from Gwenny Penny and it reminded me the most of my own space.

Yellow Song Bird created this gorgeous space. LOVE the bunting!

Seven Pretty converted her closet, too!

Lovely design created this beauty.

Ana-white is an incredible craftswoman who designed this space.

I had NO idea that there were so many closet crafters out there!  (Pun intended)  I grabbed the inspiration and ran with it. . . straight to the hubby.  

You can imagine his excitement when I said, "Hey, I have an idea. . ."

Wanna see what happened to the abyss, the crap  craft-closet?  Well, you will just have to stay tuned. . .  and I promise it won't be an entire month before I post again!  I am super excited to share our project with you and the finished sewing nook!

Time to apply another coat of paint. . .

Everything Old is New Again!

When the hubby and I were planning to get married, we were given the opportunity to decorate a brand new apartment and later a new house.  As we registered for wedding gifts and purchased furniture, we were both drawn to sleek modern lines, dark woods, chrome/stainless steel and neutral color palettes (with the exception of our purple couch)We favored simplicity over fussiness and modern over traditional.

Ten years, two houses (and an apartment) and two kiddos later, our style has morphed a bit.  As I think about those changes, I realize that this shift in "style" (and I use that term loosely) has been influenced by several things. For example, we now tend to choose things that are functional and child-friendly over things that are are "for looks".  But I believe that the biggest influence in our shift is our current dwelling.

In 2005, we made a big decision to leave a town and people that we loved to return to my hometown.  Sadly, both of my grandparents had passed away prior to 2005, so their home (built in the late 1940s) was inhabited by a single male that truly did not give it the love that it clearly needed and deserved.  So we picked up and moved all of our "modern" furnishings into a little old "farm" house.  I knew right away that we would have to scale back the modern feel and add a little vintage touch.  Suddenly I realized that THIS was the look I loved--a shabby chic, old-home with vintage flair.  However, we were not (and still are not) in a place financially to totally replace all of our furnishings with pieces that say "vintage", so we make do with what we have and "update" when we can!

One place that I really craved a vintage feel was on our side porch.  Yep, you read correctly--side porch.  It is really a patio that adjoins the carport, but it is the outdoor space that we gravitate toward the most. (One day when we can afford to screen-in the back porch--I wish, I wish--that may take over as first choice, but for now the patio is the big winner.)  When we first moved in we had NO outdoor furniture for this space--none.  I think that our neighbors felt pity for us and donated an A-frame swing stand that featured an add-on swing leg to hold a baby swing for The Reporter.  There was an old beat-up swing in the garage that I decided to sand and stain--a project that took way longer than it should have.  And for a few years, this was our spot--the place we gathered after a long day at work to take a minute to breathe, a spot for me to rest and knit while the reporter rode her scooter, and a great beer/wine spot while the hubby cooked on the grill.  Really the swing was fine (especially after I added a cute cushion) and the space worked for us, but I really longed for something more, something cuter, something vintage.

I began noticing cute vintage gliders and chairs on front porches around our area and thought to myself, "Now THAT is what that space needs!" Perhaps it was because I spent many an afternoon on an old metal glider with my grandparents on that very patio, but it became my mission to find a set of vintage, metal patio furniture for that space.  Every time I tried out a new running route, I spied "new" porch furniture and fantasized about finding it on the curb one day--free for the taking.  I even rehearsed a few lines that I could say to convince the current owner that the furniture would really be better off with me.  If you have ever tried to snag a set of metal patio furniture, you already know what I came to realize--people don't part with this stuff and if they do, the price is high.  Even a rusted out old glider could set you back a cool $200 plus any work that you would have to follow-up with.  I wasn't prepared to part with that amount of cash to spruce up the patio, so I kept stalking furniture on my long runs and hoped to run into a deal.

Well, run in I did.  A little antique shop downtown near the school I work in happened to announce a "Going Out of Business" sale in the Spring.  One evening while the Reporter was in Bible Study, I took the Little Guy on a walk and we spotted gold. . . a glider, chairs, and more with a reasonable price tag and an additional 30% off!  I rushed home to tell the hubby and planned to visit during store hours the following day. (I also checked out their website, emailed the owner and reserved every piece they had in stock so I could have first dibs at opening time the next day--I wasn't obsessed, at all.)

The next morning I took an hour off from work, headed downtown and made my purchase.  The hubby shook his head when he saw the condition of the items I had raved to him about.  They didn't need a complete overhaul, but they weren't pristine, either.  I paid for my items, we loaded them up and we took them home.  And there they sat. . .

...until summer vacation.  I couldn't find the time to give them the attention they needed and I couldn't decide on a color combo that I loved.  

But finally, after scarping, brushing, spray priming, painting arms, taping/blocking arms/legs/gliding mechanisms, spray painting chair seats and backs we have this. . .

. . . and I am pleased! I am planning to add some accessories as we use the space now that the weather is cooling off, but we have already enjoyed a glass of wine, or two out there!

Next vintage project?

Recovering and painting the frame of this:

Suggestions?

Negative Productivity

Have you ever had one of those days where you feel that you have accomplished nothing?  Yep.  That's been my week.  We returned from Maryland on Sunday evening and I hit the ground running by weeding a bed in the vegetable garden and topping it with a rich layer of leaf mulch.  I went to bed that evening with dreams of tackling the garden head-on the next day. I also planned to kick of Christmas in July this week and finish some outside painting projects.

Monday came and the temperatures began to soar out of control.  It was too hot to garden, run, bike, anything.  So, instead of garden, I cleaned out the kids' closets and toys and made a trip to Goodwill for a sizable drop-off.  The playroom was rearranged (not really to my liking, but better) and I even got in a little knitting and a good swim.  Despite the wicked temps outside, the week held promise of productivity and progress.

Tuesday arrived and all productivity ceased.  It was too hot to move (our OLD house has poor insulation in the kitchen which deters cooking and cleaning in that area when the mercury rises) and the humidity outside was miserable.  Workouts outside were out of the question, unless it involved water. So I swam, again.  On a positive note, I dropped a  sizable chunk of change on a rockin' new ride!  Wednesday followed suit with heat and humidity.

I felt utterly defeated.  I looked out at the garden that so desperately needed weeding and wanted to cry.  The weeds had won.  Again.

Thursday brought marked improvements in the heat and humidity.  I woke up with a new feeling of hope that this day would lead to progress.  Indeed!  The Reporter wanted to go on a bike ride, so we headed out for a 3 mile ride (I walk/run with her)! I'm so proud of her for setting goals and sticking to them!  When we returned home, I tackled the weeds for a bit while the kiddos enjoyed the sand and water table (now filled with water only since the Little Guy sees sand as a great snack food!).  The weeds continued to win, but not by much.  The day ended with family TV time and lots of snuggles.

This morning's glorious temperatures (62!!!!) have restored my faith and hope that I WILL win in the garden, I WILL get in a good run today, I WILL play outside with the kiddos, and I WILL maintain a positive attitude.

So there you have it.  A totally unproductive, nothing to show for week.  But I remain hopeful that the weekend has great things in store!

A Hidden Treasure!

Our Father's Day started with two cuddly kiddos itching for Daddy to wake from his slumber.  Unfortunately, night shift is upon us, so they had to wait extra long to smother daddy with hugs, kisses and giggles.  While we waited for Daddy to wake, we prepared a yummy brunch!

The Reporter mixed up some Monkey Bread Mix. . .
(Thanks to an end of the year Teacher gift!)

I cooked up some fresh Sausage from our Friends at Quarter Creek Farm!

While the coffee was brewing and the monkey bread was rising, the Reporter snuck off and made a Father's Day gift of her own!  Be still my heart!

"Best Dad Award: Riding Speedy (our tractor/lawnmower) and watching TV"

Soon, Daddy was up, so we were able to shower him with kisses, a homemade card and a new popcorn popper! We made the card yesterday, along with one for my dad.  The inspiration came from here.

"We love you" is my dad's card (grandandy)
"We think U R" is the hubby's

We Love you. . . .

We think U R. . . .

After brunch, I got a crazy idea to explore more in our "old" house by pulling up the corner of the carpet in The Little Guy's room. . .

Yuck! Carpet!

And found this. . .

Our Hidden Treasure!!

We worked for a couple of hours--my poor hubby working hard on Father's day!--pulling up staples, rolling up carpet, vacuuming up dust, and mopping.  Just a few hours later, and. . .

We had this!  I found this rug on clearance at Lowe's last week and sent the hubby to get it before we left for the beach with plans to pull up the carpet at some point this summer! I am so pleased with the result.  Sure, the floors could use a little sanding, staining and a coat of sealer, but for now, they are lovely! I have already been pulling up carpet corners in other rooms and have spied some more hidden treasures--stay tuned!

After all that hard work, the hubby deserved a yummy treat. . . Ginger-Peach Crisp!  Yum!

 

This "healthy" dessert, baked in individual ramekins, includes flax seed, wheat germ, fresh organic peaches, Earth Balance butter, oats, Anna's ginger thins and whole wheat flour.  Topped with Coconut milk ice cream and it is an almost-vegan delight! I just hope I can remember how I made it so we can recreate it tomorrow night!

All in all, a fun-filled Father's Day to celebrate one of the best Dads around!!  

Curb Appeal

We are approaching our sixth anniversary of living in our current home.  When we decided to move “home” six years ago, we were lucky to be able to move into the house that my grandparents spent almost all of their married lives in.  Our house was built in the late 1940s, section by section, as my grandparents could afford to add on.  When we moved in, we followed a single male renter that moved in after both of my grandparents passed away following years of failing health (both mentally and physically).  Needless to say, our house was in need of some major L-O-V-E.  For the first few years, we tackled the inside to make the main rooms more aesthetically pleasing on our tight budget—we still owned our previous house and had a new baby—in other words, I did A LOT of painting!  Over time, and once our other house FINALLY sold, we were able to tackle bigger projects—plumbing, new siding, new windows, the addition of a walk-in closet etc.  Recently our kitchen floor suffered major water damage and had to be replaced. 

The leak is discovered. . . .

The hubby scraped up 3 layers of old flooring!

Layers of old flooring were removed and new tile went down.  The change was dramatically wonderful!

Through all of these upgrades, there was one spot that I continued to neglect. . .the front porch.  

You see, we are a “backdoor guests are best” kind of house, as our carport “directs” visitors to our side door.  We rarely used the front door, let alone sat on the front porch.  Really, the space was an embarrassment to me.  I had two lovely wicker rockers, but the cushions had faded.  We had a pint sized rocker for The Reporter, but it was covered in spider webs.  The ceiling was a mess, the floor was peeling, and a bare light bulb dangled above as if to light the scene from a horror movie.  I called it the “scary porch”.  But this season, I was determined to change that. So when the hubby went out of town a few weeks ago, I attacked the porch. 

I started by repainting the ceiling—did you know that southern front porch ceilings are to be painted blue, so that you always have a blue sky overhead? I followed that by using an epoxy on the floor and steps. I took The Reporter shopping and she picked this rug for inspiration:

Once we had our color scheme, we had fun choosing cushions, repainting the little rocker, stamping and sewing pillows, finding accessories, and repainting flower pots!

New Cushions, hand-stamped pillows, and a fern from my neighbor nestled in an old washtub that my grandpa used to wash dishes in!

The old school desk I played in as a kid!

Rocker with a fresh coat of paint!

The "Scary Porch" is not so scary anymore.  It is actually kind of cute!

Sweet hubby even hung my new porch light I scored at the Hospice Thrift shop ($4)!

Now, if we could just do something about these front beds. . . . .