Before & After - Painting "the shed"

BEFORE
I am a HUGE fan of before & after's. I can't get enough of them, whether its a home remodel, hair makeover, upcycling, wardrobes, painting...anything- I want to see it! So when I took on a painting project with my sister this summer, I made sure to snap a pic to see how it improved.

Theres a communal storage and laundry shed at the little place that my family stays at in the summer. Its been an eyesore for..ever. It sort of started blending in and no one really noticed how bad it was. You know, when you don't see things that are right in front of you for too long?

Well, my sister wanted to go nautical, since its on the beach. Good idea, but the navy we had planned was too dark. The red door would have been amazing and the white would've gotten a little bit dirty after a while. So we ditched the nautical.
Pastels are easy on the eyes, but are too "Golden Girls". This isn't Miami, its Cape Cod.

We decided on this:
Above: My golden girl, with a gorgeous sunshine yellow and blue
Below: The halfway point... little helper and dad drawing the dividing line with a level. The buoys were all faded and my sister re-painted them ALL with bright fun colors.

Above: what you don't see is the fish pond that we extracted and replaced with a lobster trap. The pond served as a place for fish to die, and wiffle balls to live.
We thought the trap was a good solution.



BEFORE & AFTER!

We still havent put the buoys and decorations up properly, thats another day. I think this came out great, and its definately CHEERY now.

What do you think?
Comment with your B&A project links too!

Happy New Year!

I don't know where to begin my year, exactly. I like refreshing things, and starting anew. I know you can do this at any time of the year, but it always seems appropriate now, just as in the spring you clean and in the fall you nest. No? There's something about the group effort now too, that makes it easy. Everyone talks about resolutions, everyone cleans up after the parties and straightens up the home. Everyone is in on the action. So what "action" am I taking?

Cleaning might be a good one to start...

I usually can't keep a "New Years resolution", as making grand changes in my life can't just be thought of and then 'done'. They always fall apart or are just forgotten. If I resolve to do something, it wont be 'because I said so' on New Year's day. What I can do though, is make a few tiny changes or have some directions to follow.

Heres a small "resolution", in quotes because it really isnt much of a resolve, as it is a change, or addition to my life- I am going to try to take a photo of myself everyday. Theres lots of groups of people that do this, they call it 365 challenge or what have you. They post it to flickr or other group photo thingies <---crafting 365!!!!. I'm always quite impressed that people have the time to do this everyday, take the photo, upload it and then put on their site. I'm also sort of jealous that they have a photo journal and I have none at all. This is what I will try this year. I will not be posting it to a public group, as I think that I will end up trying to take 'good' photos if I think people are looking. It probably wouldn't be an honest account of my day. I would end up putting on lipstick (which I don't own) or brushing my hair (which i do every other day at this point oh dear!). It sounds like I will also be able to see what I really look like and end up brushing my hair because that is sort of necessary. HA!

Heres a few things I have been working on, fiddling with, trying anew.

Weaving:

I started this idea because my four sisters and I exchange one gift for Christmas, This year the theme was 'handmade'. I made her a white woven scarf. She lives in New Orleans and it is currently 76 degrees. I wasnt thinking there, was I. Sorry sis. I was just so excited.

Oh I hope my mom doesnt read this until she gets this scarf! Her favorite color is purple, and its COLD outside. Yes, it's cold outside where SHE lives.

I made a loom out of a plank of wood that has been in my car. It's there in case I get stuck in the dunes? Really. So since I wont be in the dunes for a few months, I have repurposed it with some paper to cover up the dirt, and some nails to make the loom part. The nail on the right with the head was the wrong kind. The yarn does not slide off of the head easily, use a headless nail when you try.

I tried feeding the yarn through just with my hands, but three hours and two scarves later I got the bright idea that real weavers use a tool to feed the fiber much faster through the loom. Here is yarn wrapped around cardboard.

If you are getting that warm fuzzy feeling and NEED your own scarf, visit my cousins etsy shop. She has made a super duper loom for herself, and weaves the most gorgeous yarns into scarflettes. They are perfect for everyday/all day wear. They are little enough to not flop all over yourself but warm enough that you dont think of heat all day. They are pretty hip too, I must say.

Heres her work: LilybirdDesigns

Stitching:

I fiddled with a little stitching. I love this little pocket ornament. Im working on projects for NEXT years Holiday shows. Its easy to brainstorm now, when Im in the warm fuzzy Holiday mood. Its not as easy in August when its 100 degrees out and all I can think of is lemonade.

This felt ornament is glued and stitched, double sided (different color hearts on each side tickle the pants off me). There is a small pocket inside to put your wishes in, your secrets, anything. I will refine the idea and see what comes of it. Would you buy an ornament at christmas? I got one this year that was very special. I think if i customized a few with "first christmas" etc, that might work.

The paper would be small enough to be tucked inside, the photo is just to show that there is a pocket.

Listing:

Clearly, I dont know what to do in this category.

Planning:
This one has been sitting on my desk for a month now. They will be fun, and silly, and colorful...if I finish them!! Starting this makes me realize why people get addicted to felt.

Working:

This is a photo of packing orders. It doesnt usually look this crazy. Thats why I took a photo.

and finally..

Enjoying:

FRIDAY! is that air im breathing?

I'm so happy it's Friday.

You see, Friday itself doesn't necessarily mean anything to someone who works for themselves at home. Most of the time it just means a day that everyone else starts to get happier, and people are in places that I usually am. Like the grocery or the road. Friday usually means only one half morning more of shipping on Saturday and one full day of Sunday where no one is expecting a package from me to arrive. It means that I am nearing the beginning when there was never really an end. Working at home usually means there are no days off.

This Friday though, today, means that I only have a little work to do, and only one half day left for Holiday orders to be shipped. People will start to simmer down in the shop, and I don't have to make anything new until the New Year, if I dont want to. I have made enough 'things' this year I suppose, and I'm so happy that people celebrate things at the end of the year. This allows little ol' me to celebrate too. Finally!

I'm starting to reflect, (and also project), as a lot of people do at the ends-of-years and I can't help but feel like the coming year will be one amazing-something-special-is-going-to-happen year. I don't know why my gut keeps telling me, maybe because I am finally proud of myself I guess, and I suppose it can only get better when I feel this good? I feel like I have been accomplishing things for myself- personally and with the business, and that I shouldn't even have to think about how awesome next year will be. What I will do then, is just enjoy that little jumpy feeling that tells me that things are WONDERFUL right now. I am very lucky.

photos:

1.my hand that makes everything

2.my view half the time

Quick Look

Here's a little peep into my mid-November morning here...BRRR!Oh the LEAVES! Trees are so wonderful, until the leaves come off.

It's still pretty though.

Today will go something like this: drink more coffee, eat more food, tidy up studio, head to post office to ship orders, rake the leaves, rake some more, finish wholesale order of butterfly wing necklaces, work on new craft show mirrors and garlands (to be posted about soon!), rake some leaves, head back into studio to do more packing for shipping tomorrow, load the kiln with new suncatchers, work on fun project in studio until bed time. Looks like a boring day, but I think it sounds just delightful!