What's up?

Well, I've been off the grid for a li'l while now...  hanging around, trying to get into a groove now that Jon & N are back in school.  I've also been just purely enjoying the cooler weather (yes, even the rain).

Painting by Rosemary Ladd

I've also been gearing up to create, create, create!  What do you see here?  I see...  a whole lot of work, a TON of potential, and some signs of a hoarding illness (spray paint, anyone?)

The kitchen sink... and the forest that grows there.  It's not even at capacity yet!

Sadly, that is the surface of the pop-out.  It wasn't in great shape when we bought the house 8 years ago, and all those years of plants and subsequent water spill have taken their toll.  Enter this: 

I was looking for backsplash tile (for the kitchen), and just bumbled onto these recycled glass cuties.  Clearance, 99 cents per sheet... hard to beat!  They're dry fit into the space already, just to cover the ugly, but placing the thin set and grout is going to be a bear!  Access to the behind-sink area is not good!                                      

Oho! Goodwill stems to the rescue again.  My Thanksgiving/harvest table will be much enriched by these babies!  I'll be walking you through some simple crafting with these.

If you know me at all, you'll be surprised that this even made it into my house.  Primitive is beautiful, but sooo not my thing.  However, it was just what I wanted, and it will be hung with pride when I have had my evil way with it!

I don't even know what this is, but I know what it's gonna be!  I've been itching to make a super-trendy craft, and this is just the stuff to get me there.  Hopefully it's not real wool, or I'll be itching for real!

Look at that poor bedraggled thing!  Yes, summer is over, but I can't just let it die, can I?  CAN I?  No, not so much.

Um, this is most of my spray paint.  No, not all, and I couldn't pile the regular cans with any kind of order, so you don't even get to see those.

This, this is going to be such a huge help to me, once I make it beautiful (the desk, not the Big Kid's funky orange ottoman, but isn't that cool, too?).

This poor thing has been collecting dust and harboring spiders in the basement for almost a year.  She was all of 45 cents, and I knew the girls would need another nightstand, but she just got forgotten.  Well, forgotten no more!  I've already made marked progress with her, so expect a walk-thru very soon.

Last but not least... this is for me.  I couldn't even say what the main appeal is, but there was no way she wasn't coming home with me. I could immediately see what I will do to make her over, and she will sit in our redone living room, which currently exists only in my mind.  Hubs has been advised that if she "mysteriously disappears" in the way that some other potential pieces did early this summer, there will be pain for him.  I think he believed me, as he should!

And that, my people, is what I have in the works, along with a bunch of other crazy brewing ideas, as always!  What do you think?  See anything that piques your interest?  I hope so, and hope to see you back soon!

xoxo,

Tami

P.S.   There’s a little girl who goes to my kids' school who is very ill with an E.coli-related illness.  It's scary to hear how easily something so basic as a little infection can turn deadly, and we're all praying with all our hearts that she makes a full recovery and can get back to the playground soon.  If you're praying folk, please add Laura to your list, and any and all positive energy you wanna send her way would be greatly appreciated.  THANKS!

Dreamin' of some warmer weather

Could it be???

It might finally be here!  No, not the vanity topper so that I can finish the bathroom, unfortunately. 

poor neglected thing! 

Spring! 

A pool, a water slide, and a snow board.  Welcome to Wisconsin.

Tulips!  These will get 4 feet tall and are just stunning.  I can't wait!

It actually stayed above freezing the last two days, and it looks good for today, too.  A little light rain is a-okay with me if it means that this dirty snow and the too-cold-to work temps are finally going away.  D is home for a couple of days, so we’re going to try to get something small done together, but his next break is almost a week long, so I’m making a list of projects for us.  I’m sure he’s just thrilled!  Honestly, though, I think he’s liking this side of me... the one who makes a plan and does it, and makes things happen around here.  I’m not so sure about the piles of “potential” and supplies that are accumulating!

Oh, the works in progress.  (((Sigh)))

This a beautiful little screened porch on the back of our home that hasn’t ever really been utilized the way it should.  It was one of the selling points of the house, with it’s skylights and ceiling fans.  What we didn’t know was that those same skylights had been installed by amateurs, and would leak every time there was a moderate to heavy rain, or a thaw in the cold weather.  We had the roof redone late this past autumn (hail damage, doncha know), and had the skylights removed, so NO MORE LEAKING!  This is important becasue D made me the solemn promise that we could get (or, better, MAKE) furniture for that area once the leaks were no more.  Ha!  That’s now!

I’ve got some ideas (of course!)  I want deep seating, but Honey is a fan of eating outside, so I want to find a way to compromise.  I’ll also be doing hair on the porch once it’s genuinely warm.  What an awesome way to spend the day!

Here are some of my inspirations:

I want sectional seating for comfort and play time (kid and adult!), 

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but I’d love to also have a simple dining table that we could pull up to the sectional and make it into a banquette for dinner parties.  

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I love these styles but there isn’t anything in our price range that is both elegant and in the right colors.  Besides, I am seriously itching to make my own, with plans from Ana White.  

Outdoor Sectional Plan

If you don’t know about Ana White, you have to give her a look.  Her designs are amazing, and amazingly well thought out for a beginner-type woodworker.  Also, totally customizable!  Visit her new site and show her some love!

I simply must have creative control over my projects!  My friend J says that I may just have a li’l OCD goin’ on, which makes dear D laugh ‘til tea comes out his nose.  A slob with OCD - I guess it could happen...

Now, about the floor.  The poor mistreated, paint splattered and stained floor...

Nasty!

I'm all about stripes.  With that beautiful diagonal, wouldn't one of these be awesome?

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I'm favoring the green, probably just because it's, you know, green.  I could swap out the multi tonal look with greens, though.

And then there would have to be some curtains, of course.

Ballard = $$$

Drop cloth, obviously.  These from Ballard are WAY out of the realm of possibility.  We don't need them to block the sun, as the back is shaded by an enormous old maple, but a little wind/drizzle protection would be delightful.  Also, they're purdy!

What do you think?  Put together these components, add some mood lighting and a zillion candles, etc...  Would you come to dinner?  Does it look comfy?  Please comment away; I’d love suggestions or observations from y’all!

All right!  That's the dream, anyway.  Please give me some feedback - I love to hear from you!

xoxo,

Tami