Hallway Debacle.

As usual, months before I get a break from school, I start planning out what projects I am going to tackle.  Nothing was different for Spring Break.  Over break, the biggest project I wanted to get a handle on was the upstairs hallway.

I have officially done nothing upstairs.  Primarily because I literally didn’t know where to start.  It just seems like an endless stream of work up there.

But I knew I needed to.  I also knew that once I did, I would feel much better.

So, I start planning and hit Pinterest hard for some inspiration.

I first fell in love with this idea.

But I also loved this.

So, I was faced with the challenge of combining these two concepts with colors that I wanted.  I have been trying to put up a picture rail in every room I have done, so I was so excited when I realized I could make the whole hallway upstairs a bit of a gallery with the two tone paint.

YES!

Here we go!

First was dealing with the challenges of painting on steps.  I needed scaffolding.  Do you think we could find the community scaffolding between the 3 houses that make up the “community”?

Sure couldn’t.

Well, not until about 2 weeks after I was done.  Thanks J-Town for that text.

But being the resourceful girl that I am, I managed to make it work!

The one thing I always under estimate in a project is the repair work.  Especially in this old house.  I mean, let’s be honest, you could literally repair forever…and never get it perfect.  But I decided a long time ago, that I didn’t want it perfect.  I want the house to look nice and that it has been loved, but it’s scars….they are a part of it’s history.  So, I like the imperfections…plus, I don’t have that kind of patience.

In my head, I knew I wanted to go for more “period” colors, vibrant, strong and bold.  I knew I wanted to have a dark brown picture rail and that I wanted to be able to use the hallways as a gallery of sorts for all kinds of fun stuff.    So, with all of that in mind, I put together my palette of colors and got started.  I have to admit, when I first started I was super excited.  As I continued, I became progressively more and more nervous.

By the end of the work…I was flat out scared.  I even tried painting the runs of the steps, thinking it would help.  I couldn’t even bring myself to put a second coat of teal on to cover the patch work.  But knowing how much work had been invested, I decided to live with it for a few days before I made the final call.

Three days later, I couldn’t handle it anymore.  I tried to tell myself that once the picture rail was installed, it would be ok.  But it wouldn’t.  I literally could not handle it.

It was the Sunday before I went back to school and I was back at Home Depot that morning buying more paint.

I cried to Momma D.  I had never been that off in color selection.  Granted, I have been getting more risky in my old age, but all of them always turn out so cool.

Not this time.

Horrible.

So much teal that it almost caused a negative physical reaction.

So, I ended up staying the same color family as the ceiling, just a few shades lighter.  I have to say, I love it a lot more!   Plus, the neutral wall will work a lot better to use the hallways as a gallery.  I still got my teal steps…which makes my heart happy.  So, now that I have been living with it for a month, it’s time to finish the rest of the hallway.

Did I mention that the hallway is really big?

Baby steps.

One month until Summer Break….no worries, the planning is in full swing!  Lots of things hopefully will be getting done.  That is unless I decide to spend the summer swinging in the hammock.

Yeah, right.

Ok friends…have a fabulous Saturday!

Peace out peeps.

Painting Pets.

Hey hey everyone!

So, we have been busy lately painting a lot of really cool pets.  I have had the privilege of meeting some really cool people and I LOVE it!

A few months ago, I was approached by a friend who has asked if I would consider teaching a Paint your Pet type class.  It’s kind of funny, I had never considered it.  Ironic, given how much my life revolves around pets of some sort.  Honestly, I think I was scared of failure.  The fear of letting people down.  One of the primary goals in teaching classes was that people would be able to relax, socialize and truly enjoy what they created.  Pets seemed scary.

But I said, sure….let’s give it a whirl.  I had a ton of response!  Apparently, people really love their pets.  WHO KNEW?!?!?!

For the pet classes, I did manage to get my new easels made.  I was actually pretty impressed with these little guys.  1.  I made them from scrap materials pretty much. 2.  They actually seem to work pretty well!

In this class, I had a couple of newbies and I can not lie….I was super nervous for them, because I didn’t want to let them down! But as they started to work and I started to see their paintings come together, I got really excited for each of them.  As they worked through each of the individual challenges of their pets, I could see their excitement grow. By the end of the class, I can not express how happy I was with them!

By the end, I think everyone was thrilled!  I even have some who want to come back to paint the rest of their 4-leggeds!  “B” in particular has 6 more to go because she is a saint who works with rescues!

Thank you for your dedication my friend.

Also, if you happened to notice the abnormally high amount of injuries in this group…for the record…. they were all injured BEFORE they came to my class.  I had NOTHING to do with it!

For the second group, they broke ALL the rules.  Just had to put that out there.  I have never had a group of such intense workers.  We had a blast.  It was also the first group who actually asked if I had tunes to listen to….which melted my heart.  I am a music junkie!

This group also had some newbies….a few who were probably more qualified than myself to teach this class!  To see each of them work, it was truly cool.  The best part, regardless of each of their previous experience, they each made their own progress in their work.  It’s all about challenging yourself sometimes, weather you are a veteran at something, or a new kid on the block, push your boundaries!

So, after the marathon painting session, I can honestly say that I think everyone left feeling accomplished with what they had created.  I had one…and maybe two…who might try to work on theirs a little more outside of class.  I was promised pics of completed works!  Which was another first, but it was great to see their dedication to their creations.

Check out the photo bomb job from Beau.  He’s the best!

Here was another first.  They aren’t spoiled or anything.

 

I have noticed a couple of things about teaching these classes.  People tend to be very nervous to put that first mark on a nice clean canvas.  I think that idea applies to life in general.  Some of the greatest journeys have to start with a step and it can be terrifying.  Who wants to make the wrong line, take the wrong steps or ruin what they think is a perfect canvas?  But at the end of the day….putting that first mark on, taking that first step…can lead to something truly beautiful and amazing.  Take pride in the journey.  Love to results of process.  It’s just all little decisions that come together to make something wonderful.

Wow.

That was deep.

On that note…the hallway debacle is up next!  Ohhhhh, what a debacle it was…still is…lol!

Peace out peeps!

 

Oh. My. Word.

Hey everyone…

So, first off…my deepest apologies.  I have literally checked out on my blogging the last couple of months.  It’s been sad!  I have no clue who ACTUALLY reads this, but it saddens me, because I use the blog as another way of documenting the progress of the house.  So, with that being said, I might be the only person sad at the absence!

Over President’s Day weekend, I tackled the very UGLY office at the house and now that I have lived with it for a couple of months, I can honestly say, I LOVE IT!  At this point, all of the original house on the first floor has been painted and made to look a little bit more like home.  Since I have already completed the project, I figured I would just do a quick recap with you.

You can tell from the gorgeous mosaic of photos, the room was horrible.  It was dingy, and dirty (marks on walls and such) and definitely not my favorite room in the house!  It had just become a “whatever” room where I just threw things until I could decide what I wanted to do with them.

I have to tell you, when I put this paint sample on the counter at Home Depot.  The nice guy in the paint department kindly said, “Are you SURE you want THAT color?”.

Um.  Yeah, dude.  I know, it’s almost black.  That’s what I want!

For the record, in case you love it too, it’s called Poppy Seed.  Behr Paints.

Break time with my favorite pup…don’t tell Daisy!

Some of favorite things!

In this room, I had a problem with the door.  There used to be an original exterior door, which I hope to someday replace,  but I haven’t gotten there yet…I know, shocker, right?!?!  So, a good visual solution to this problem was to add some LONG curtains on either side of the window and the door.  Frankly, I am amazed they even survived.  The curtains had been shipped in a box that got wet.  I had put the box on the rug to dry.

Daisy found it.

That little cardboard eating meathead went to town on it. I came home from the gym to find this.

Luckily, the damage to actual curtains was minimal!

My second favorite area of the new room is my picture wall.  A lot of the pictures on this wall have been kept in boxes over the years and shuffled around.  I hate to admit it, but Mommy D.  had cross-stitched me to the two profiles of my two first horses (a mare and her filly) years ago, but I never found the right place for them. Now, they are home!  I love this wall.  I love the woodwork against the wall color, it’s the best!

My last favorite area of this new little room is my sitting area.  Once again, I brought out a painting that I have NEVER hung on an actual wall.

Probably because it’s not officially done.

Details. Schmetails.

The chair was heading to the garbage of my parent’s neighbors, but it was miraculously saved.  There are more plans for it in the future.  But overall, I think it came together wonderfully!

I have to say, as with most things in my world.  This room is a representation of everything about me.  There are so many family heirlooms in this room.  From Uncle Lawrence’s old Jenny-Lyn daybed, to the afghan I crocheted for my grandfather before he passed.  I love it.  It feels warm and safe and lovely.  I couldn’t ask for much more!

More recently, I have been playing with Photoshop on some ideas for the exterior of the house.  I have to say, I am SUPER excited.  Like…beyond words excited!  I finally feel like the vision I have had for the house in my head can be shared with everyone!

Primarily my Daddy-o…he can now see the potential!

So, what do you think?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!   I know!!!  RIGHT?!?!?  She is a sexy bitch!!  Excuse the laguage.  Now, just to make it all happen.

First class of 2017 is next Sunday!  So, I am off to make easels for everyone.  Girl Cave here I come!

Peace out peeps!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planning.

Well, it’s that time of year.  The twitching has begun.  I find myself glancing outside (at the rare moments I’m home when it’s still daylight out) to see if I can spot green little buds popping through the saturated earth.  I find myself day dreaming about the layout of the vegetable garden for the coming season.  I start planning out the summer projects and making lists of goals, both realistic and completely “lotto dream” based.

But in the interim, to feed my creative juices, I have started to plan out some indoor projects for my next two upcoming breaks.  I literally NEED to get messy and creative and see a room, or two, transformed!  So, until those little buds pop through the mud…oh, the mud…and until I can spend the days sweating to death on outdoor projects, I am resigned to working on inside projects.

I kinda want to do this!

Thankfully, between Pinterest and the constant flood of thoughts that roll through my head, I have so many ideas!  Does anyone else find Pinterest actually overwhelming??

First up is the office.  I plan to work on it over President’s Day weekend and hopefully will be able to rock it out.  Next up will be the steps and upstairs hallway.  I have scheduled that for my Spring Break (unless of course we are blessed with some wonderfully warm break…then I will be in trouble!).  Either way, within the next few months, I hope to make two more rooms in the house AMAZING!  Well, by my definition of amazing.  You might hate it, but that’s OK too!  Either way, they will be fresh, clean and no longer dingy white!

What colors to choose!

 

So, I guess this is my question….is anyone else in planning mode?  Itching to be creative?  Craving a need to work on SOMETHING….ANYTHING??  I guess it’s my way to fight the winter blues and cabin fever…make the cabin more beautiful, right?!?!?!

In the meantime, I have made some more adorable dog accessories!  More to come until those scheduled project breaks come!

Peace out peeps.

 

 

Resolutions.

So, shocker….I have something to say on this topic.  I know…right???

I hate resolutions.  In fact, I never make them.  Every year, I toss around the idea, but never follow through.  What is the point?

Now, I have friends who are religious about their resolutions and I have nothing but admiration and respect for them.  In fact, anyone who can be that dedicated to something.

But, for me, resolutions should not be a once a year even.  Reflection and resolutions should occur throughout the year, even daily.  Because, in my humble experience, things happen from minute to minute that can change your outlook on your life.  Why do you need one holiday to make something happen?  You shouldn’t!

Apparently, I’m not alone either.  One quick Google search proved that there are plenty of people out there, for various reasons, who don’t believe in making resolutions.

So, here’s to a glorious New Year’s!  Do what you want and what is best for you at this time in your life!  That could change next week and you should be ready to adapt accordingly.  Life if about change.  Give and take.  Being about to bend and flex.  Here’s to YOU!!!

Stay safe out there tonight!

Peace out peeps.

‘Tis the Season

I swear, as I get older, I just love the holidays more and more.

I love doing the little things for all the people in my life who help keep my world turning.

I love seeing the smiles.

Our world needs more damn smiles.

So, I haven’t posted…because I have been working like a crazy little elf on all of the goodies for all of the peeps.  It’s been busy!

I did take a break last Sunday to make the storm window frames for the craft room.  Funny story there.  I had been up there sewing, in multiple layers, still freezing.  I was watching the musical Rent while working and the thought crossed my mind…”Hey, minus the drugs and AIDS, I have a lot in common with the characters in this! Freezing my ass off and looking at a burning candle like it’s really going to make me feel warm!”  So, I decided it was time to get those windows buttoned up!

But, this is some of the stuff I have been working on!

It has been a variety of gifts for coworkers and the kiddos in my Off the Hook Club at school and even some fun doggie accessories for The Pet Loft!  PHEW!  This doesn’t even include gifts for my friends and family…that’s tomorrows project, because if I shared pics now….it would ruin the fun.

But the point of this post is this…it is so easy to get so lost in the lists and the To Do’s and the stress of the holidays.  For me though, each year…although always stressful…gets easier and easier.  I have really started to LOVE the process.  Making things gives me a chance to knock the cobwebs out of the crafty side of my brain.  I get to have an excuse to spend hours in my craft space just jamming and creating.  It doesn’t get much better than that for me.  Plus, I get to see the smiles…that’s so selfish of me.  But I LOVE seeing people smile and knowing I played a part in that!

So, take a moment…breathe…and love the moments that make this time of year so magical.  It’s not about the money spent…it’s about the smiles and the memories.  Laugh.  Love.  Embrace it!!!!

Plus, I really like Christmas lights.  I’m a kid at heart!

If I don’t talk to you all before Christmas….have a WONDERFUL holiday!

Peace out peeps.

Buttoning up the Old Place.

Hey peeps!

So, I haven’t died.  But it is the holiday season.  Between preparing for the holidays, making stuff and working on the house, every minute seems to just evaporate.  It’s unbelievable!

Since I moved into the house, I have been researching and reading a lot about interior storm windows and what to do with these old windows of mine.  Primarily since last winter when I took this video and realized that I might have an issue with some of the windows in the house. Or I had a real poweful ghost.  No wonder the orchid died.

 

Shockingly, the most common advice to owners of historic homes to KEEP the original windows whenever possible!!!  I know, it seems odd.  But many research studies have been done that with proper repairs and use of storm windows, the original windows can be just as efficient as a modern thermopane.  Not to mention, you get to continue to enjoy the beauty of the historic window and not add to your carbon footprint by throwing the old ones away. After I decided that I wanted to try to save the windows, I found this AMAZING company called Indow Window and I was blown away!

I fell in love.  Head over heels.

They will build a custom fit interior storm window for your historic homes.  They even have a design that will reduce sound by 76% in your home!  Sign me up!! But then they came back to me with a quote and needless to say, the sound proofing version I was interested in came back at $500 a window.  So, yep…slightly out of my current budget.

This let me to digging around…and I found so many people who were in similar situations! After lots of searching, this was what I liked the best.

With their video as a guide, I started making my own storm windows about 6 weeks ago.  I have been working on them here and there and I am proud to say the entire downstairs is done.  Which means, only 15 more windows to go!  lol!

So, my process….

Because I am such an awesome planner, when I went to Lowe’s, I was so excited about starting this project that I purchased a ton of material and then realized that I had to figure out how to fit in my poor little car.

No worries!  I was able to shift and drive safely!

Once home, I set up and started to work out the template I wanted to use.  I have access to all of the fun tools they used in the video,  but not at my house.  So, I modified the frames to the tools that I had accessible.

I initially set up and was working on them outside, but it has definitely gotten chilly enough that I had to move the factory line into the Girl Cave.

The process goes like this.

I build the wood frames.  Apply the pull tabs.  Line the edge with the weather proofing foam.  Once I finish those steps, I take the frame to the actual window and fit it in.  Then once it’s in place, I apply the plastic to the frame and finish trimming it out the plastic and using the hair dryer on it.

I have to say that so far, I really am impressed with them.  They take a minimal amount of time and they are a fairly low-cost project.  Since one of the goals of them is to be reusable, hopefully, they will buy me enough time until I can get the fancy ones.  I even feel like they help muffle the sound from the road.  Which makes me feel very optimistic when I can get to the point of putting the Indow Windows or something similar in.

So, for those of you looking to amp up the weather proofing in your home, you might want to consider this project!  There are tons of videos and articles on windows!  I will keep you posted on my utility bills for the future and if I see an improvement!

Peace out peeps.

Happy Thanksgiving Peeps.

Good morning everyone! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

So, for those of you who are busy throwing that turkey in the oven and finishing up the preparations for an amazing meal…THANK YOU!!!

That’s Momma D. in my world.

But she doesn’t trust me with making much.  Actually, she trusts me….she is just so damn good at everything that I don’t even bother. I am charge of setting the table.  Which honestly, is better, it harnesses my creative juices!

It’s good to have goals, right?!?!?

One year ago, I was freshly moved into the house and was feeling the anxiety of my first impending winter in the house.  I wrote a  blog post where I managed to come up with a list of 5 things to be thankful for, after a lengthy rant obviously!  A year later, I still agree.  Granted, my first five were laughable, but that’s the joy of blogging, it doesn’t let you forget anything!

So, I think this is going to be my new tradition.  Not necessarily a month of writing things your Thankful for, but just a quick list.  It’s good to keep things in perspective.

Here goes…I am thankful for

1. You.  My peeps.  My family.  My friends.  My inner circle.  Listen, if you’re lucky enough to be in that world (or really any part of my world), you are subjected to constant shenanigans and venting and randomness.  Because of you, I continue to function at a fairly successful level.
2. Mr. T.  He isn’t going to read this, but without him, the storm cellar would have never gotten done.  Not to mention, through the process he has become quite the friend and confidant.  Thank you Mr. T.
3. My new fancy window frames.  Now, I don’t have the whole house done yet, but they are really making a difference so far!  So, that’s exciting.  I promise, that will be my next blog post.
4. Thanksgiving itself.  As I have aged, this is quite possibly the BEST holiday.  It’s about the important stuff.  The people.  Not to mention….amazing food.  I can’t wait to set the table in a few hours.
5. This one is going to sound weird, but the entire last year.  This last year has taught me so much about myself, it’s crazy!  But each and every experience has been amazing and I have loved every step of the stressful journey!

Oh and by the way…. There is a 10% sale currently running in my Etsy Shop!!  Check it out!  I just made a few more items yesterday, I’ll have them posted tomorrow.

Also, while you’re over there, feel free to post a review if you have purchased something from me!

Peace out peeps.

Hey hey

Hi everyone!

This is going to be brief….and a bit of a shameless plug.

You know you love it.

So, Etsy.  I am imagine the amount of people who are blogging and also have Etsy shops is actually a pretty high number.  I am one of them!  I know that it’s that time of year to get your shop on…but please consider checking out Etsy.  These are amazing people making some pretty stunning things!  I am doing 90% of my shopping on Etsy this year and I am so excited to wow people with some unique, handmade wonders.  You should REALLY check it out!

Mainly my shop.

Insert shameless plug.

Go on…get to it!

Yellow Horse Trinkets on Etsy.

Also, BIG post coming on the progress of the interior storm windows I am building!!!!  I have 6 done…18 more to go and snow is in the forecast for Sunday, so I had better get on it!

Peace out peeps!

Ahem. Soapbox moment please.

Bet you’re worried this is going to be a politcal soapbox rant.

No worries, nothing nearly that serious is going to occur here today!

It’s a guy rant soapbox.  More specifically a dating soapbox rant.

What the hell is wrong with people???

I had a date on Friday night.  Another winner.

First of all, the dude was late. Because he was getting dinner out of the oven for his 19 & 23-year-old.

Oh, hi umbilical cord….

Amway.  He’s late.  That didn’t earn you any brownie points dude.

So, we meet at this dive of all dive bars.  Now, don’t get me wrong…I LOVE a good dive bar.  Great people watching.  But it’s hard to people watch, when you are the only two customers in the joint.  Meaning, it put a lot of pressure on the dude to keep me entertained.  Good luck with that. I am the queen of ADHD moments.

Within the first 5 minutes of the conversation, he rolls this line out.

“So, never married and no kids, what’s the red flag with that???”

Uh.

Um.

I guess…

Yep.

I keep meeting jerks like you.

I mean COME ON!!!  Since WHEN should that be ok to verablize on a first date (if ever)? What if I had had fertility issues?  What if I had been with a partner and something had happened to them?  Here’s a shocker….what IF…just IF….that wasn’t something that mattered to me in life?  What if it didn’t matter to me that I SHOULD be married by some societal standard???

So, does this mean he doesn’t have red flags????  I mean, hey glass house…might want to watch where you’re throwing those rocks!  He divorced after 25 years…and his reasoning was because she never wanted to go out and was a homebody.

Well, let me just stop you there darling.  You just met the wrong girl.  There is NOTHING I love more (especially this time of year) than a chill night on the couch with my Netflix account.

Regardless.  If I didn’t have a fresh beer, I would have bailed.  But I went to Ohio University, it’s ingrained in my brain not to commit such alcohol atrocities.

Oh Halloween and being an irresponsible college student….how I miss those days!

As the conversation continued to roll on, it seemed to level out.  It was at least pleasant.

Now, I left out a pretty decent detail.  I was highly overdressed for this place.  I wore the dress that I had worn to school with tall black boots. This is important, because it led to the conversation about laundry.  He asked if I hadn’t had time to change before the date.  I simply stated that I had no desire to do more laundry.

I hope you’re all sitting down.

He looks at me like I have just sprouted green warts all over my face and states, “You only wear your clothes once before you wash them???”

Yes.  I know.  It’s horrific.  I like to be clean, not smell and for the most part not spread the toxic germs I carry on my clothes from school to those I love more than absolutely necessary!

I politely responded that, yes, as a matter of fact I do a lot of laundry.  Between my clothes, dog laundry…etc..

DOG LAUNDRY?!?!?!?!?!

Now, mind you….he has a dog.  A lab.

“My dog has a blanket, I don’t think I have ever washed it.”

Damn, another fresh beer.  Damn drinking morals.

Let me get this straight…no, I can’t actually.  I have to stop. Because I literally can visualize and even smell what not only the blanket looks like, but for that matter…I have a good idea about your home now.  It’s too much.  Even for my imagination.  Minus more brownie points…

We were reaching the end of the evening and I politely turned the 3rd beer into a Diet Coke (which I could easily take with me…in a panicked rush out the door!) and wrapped this event up.

Time for the most dreadful part of the evening.  The departure.  Ugh.  They are painful.  Do you hug?  Do you shake hands?  How do you send enough body language to a dense lug that you have no interest in being mouth raped?

Yep, apparently I didn’t send enough clear body language that I wasn’t interested in a make out session.  Plus, I am learning a few details about myself.  I really need to be more secure in myself to tell these boys to go fly a kite and walk away.

I awkwardly got through the thing and quickly jumped in the car and fled.  I actually laughed the entire way home and the idiocy of what I am doing to myself by trying to date.  So, there is the silver lining…it’s all comical to say the least!  Plus, it offers great blog topics!

Ok, soapbox rant done for the moment.

So, is dating.  I am crawling back into my proverbial hole and hibernating for a bit.  I’ll be back…but I need a break from the lunacy.   Plus, there are project patiently waiting for me.  This weekend, trying to make some interior storm windows.  More on that later!

Peace out peeps!