Give Me A Sign

I approach this whole Scarlett Ibis thing (hobby?) unlike anything else in my life.  There are no rights or wrongs.  There is are no deadlines, no expectations, no rules at all.  You'll often find that I'm working on several different projects at a time and not one of them is near completion.  For now that is EXACTLY the way I like it.  The rest of my life is structured around State Standards, age appropriateness, time, shoulds and should nots, what's best for the family and on and on and on.

So this, this is my haven.  The one place that I can do as I please...I mean really, really do exactly as I please.  So dear hubby, I did not mean to sound mean when I told you I could paint over paint that was still wet if that's what I felt like doing.  (Wow, that did sound bratty!)  It's just that I really could, because I will not be bound by rules.  It turned out great in the end, but if it hadn't, that would have been fine too.  (There was a small issue between hubby and I and appropriate paint drying times.  I'm happy to report that the man is a saint and all is right with the world)

So this week I worked on something different.  I made this:

I liked the way it turned out.  I did use stencils, which was fine for my first try at a sign.  Then I did something really crazy.  I sort of did a free hand piece.  Here is a peek at it.

This is a table I'm working on for my daughter.  It used to be brown.  She wanted me to do the chairs with a fabric that had strawberries on it, but I couldn't find anything that I liked, so I bought a striped fabric instead, but I wanted to add strawberries to the set somewhere.

I have to say, I'm really thrilled!  I drew the big strawberry on butcher paper and then cut it out and used it to stencil it to the table.  I did the leaves, vines and small strawberries free-hand.  Whew!  Stay tuned because I'm almost finished with the chairs and then I'll reveal the entire set.  Happy Friday!

Partying with:

My Repurposed Life

Miss Mustard Seed

Going Nowhere Fast

I've been so very busy and have very little to show for it.  It's been one of those weeks where I have multiple projects started but not finished.  The weather is not cooperating with my painting projects.  The house seems to be in an eternal state of disarray.  I feel a bit scattered brain as I work on the projects or bemoan the fact that I can't and I'm trying to wrap up the school year and get ready for the summer program.  All in all, I'm busy and for the most part I love it.  This morning I decided I would finish at least two projects.  One was to finish the new cafe curtains I made for the kitchen.  I don't have pictures because even though they're finished, my kids commandeered the curtain rod and the old curtain to use for a puppet show.  Some things just take precedence around here and puppet shows...well they trump all.

The second project was the lamp!  I have some lamps that I bought years ago.  I really liked them but I've grown bored with them and the color scheme in my bedroom has changed so I decided to redo one and sell it with the bedroom furniture I'm working on.  So this is what she looked like before:

Before

And this is what she looks like today:

After

What I like best is that she's so girly now.  Perfect for the girl's bedroom set.  I love the way the silver paint brings out the details.  The shade took three rolls of ribbon and was so much fun to do.  I hope to finish some more projects throughout the week so be sure to check in again soon.

Linking up with my favorites:

My Repurposed Life
Remodelaholic 
DIY Home Sweet Home

Something Borrowed

We've been on vacation in Southern California visiting my parents.  There is a very real possibility that we will be moving back to So. Cal, more specifically, moving IN with my parents sometime in the near future.  There is a lot of talking and planning to do before the BIG move.  There are some things I don't mind, like their red recliners.  Then there are these chairs:

This dining room set definitely needs an update.  My parents don't agree.  They just about passed out when I suggested chalk paint.  Maybe I should have been more specific.  Since I home school, I think they were thinking chalkboard paint and well I can see why they were so dismayed.  I did manage to get them to change the fabric on the seats.  Viola:

Still not great, but better!  Baby steps...just like the transition of moving back in with them.

Partying while on vacation with:
My Repurposed Life

At Last

Wow!  I thought I would never finish.  I've been working on several things at a time and I had to push through the old thought paradigms that hindered me for so long.  "You never finish what you start!"  "You have no follow through."  "You're flaky."  I did it.  I not only finished one thing, I'm well on my way to finishing another and I'm still running the house and a business.  Why did I ever think I was flaky?!

So here it is:  Before

 

What is that?  I can almost hear you all collectively asking.  It's a child's picnic bench that has seen better days.  Here's another before:

I was inspired by this lovely post from Making My House a Home.  I want the kids to have fun so I added a game board.  

My 8 year old daughter painted the numbers using stencils.  I painted the chess board free hand...well I drew up the lines in pencil and then painted it.  I thought of making a stencil or taping it, but I don't have the patience for that!  I like it.  What do you think?

Linking up at :  Coastal Charm 

                       Not Just A Housewife 

                       DIY Home Sweet Home 

                       My Repurposed Life 

                       Miss Mustard Seed

What's New Pussy Cat...

...whoa, whoa, whoa, wait a minute.  I was just fretting because here we are coming up on yet another Friday and I will have nothing to share.  I'm slowly (ever so slowly) making progress on the dining table, but it's not reveal ready.  Gosh even redoing furniture has it's own lingo!  I thought of posting a picture of a dresser I repainted two years ago, but I don't have a before picture and as nice as it turned out you can't get the full impact without the before picture.  This blog is all about the FULL IMPACT, so you'll never see the lovely dresser.  So I'm sitting here, looking around the house and I'm thinking we redid the kitchen (about 5 years ago), nah.  Then something catches my eye.  Something I'm extremely proud of.  Something the my husband and I worked on together, without bickering or getting on each others nerves.  At least I don't remember him getting on my nerves and I certainly won't confess don't remember getting on his nerves.

So here's the thing, we are urban farmers.  If you image urban being a smallish town in Oregon and by farmers, I mean we grow some veggies and own a couple of chickens.  Yes, sir we are living the dream.  We brought our chicks home and put them in a coop someone gave us.  We were extremely grateful but the coop had no area for them to roam.  It really was like a nesting box.  Our issue is we have huge hawks and we afraid of having the chicks roam around willy-nilly without cover.  So we headed to Home Depot and gather the materials.  Really it was just a bunch of 2x4's and some chicken wire.  I chose cedar because it smelled so good.  We worked on this for two evenings and I must say, that while I don't envy our hens, they do live in style!

We want to redo the nesting box.  We are not happy with the way that turned out.  The plywood was too thin, so we covered it with an old wool blanket.  This keeps the rain and snow completely out of the box and hopefully adds some warmth.  Other than that, we are pretty proud of our coop.

That brick is there to keep the racoons out.  None have gotten in, but one morning I found something had tried to pry the door open.  Not on my WATCH!!

Linking up with Five Days...5 Ways 
My Repurposed Life 
diy home sweet home

Do You Remember...

...Willamina?  This is what she looked like for many years:

Rugged good looks?  Not!

After some TLC, this is what Willi looks like today:

My but she cleans up well.

And just because I can't get enough of her, she's so pretty, here's one more:

(Don't mind the shadow)

See you next week with more from what will be a lovely bedroom set!  Enjoy.

Linking up with: Funky Junk Interiors 
                         5 Days 5 Ways 
                         Miss Mustard Seed
                         Remodelaholic

PYT

Just look at this pretty young thing!  Isn't she gorgeous?

Just to remind you what she looked like before:

Linking up with  : 5 days...5 ways.
                          Miss Mustard Seed
                          Funky Junk Interiors 
                          diy home sweet home