Sunday, April 26, 2009
House update
These are the FABULOUS new lights. I'm so thrilled with them. And I can't tell you how much I love the dark gray wall. It's just beautiful. We painted the entry way the same color.
We're deep in the throes of painting. Now it's all the woodwork and doors... I've spent at least 20 hours now painting woodwork, and I'm not even done with the top floor of the house.
The GREEN! kitchen--I love it.
The hardwood floors that we thought we would refinish, then the carpet guy told us that they were only 1/4 inch thick, so that was impossible. We ordered $2000 worth of laminate, but yesterday my uncle came to check out the place and we discovered that they are infact full thickness, and can be refinished. So we'r sort of back at square one. I am NOT putting down laminate over top of real wood.
Jason spent the whole weekend ripping up stained carpet and pulling up staples.
Here's the dilemma: What to do with the dining room floors? Any ideas, anyone?
This is a more accurate representation of the colors of the walls.
Labels: house and home
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Some design work
I've been doing some design projects for friends of mine in the last couple months, and saving the money as an Ikea fund. I thought I'd show you some here. I can't remember if I've put them up before or not, so forgive me if you've already seen them!
I have the hardest time with logos. It just hurts. And there is no fast way for me to do them. It's a minimum 30 hour process for me to get anything creative at all.
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First off is Pinnacle Healthcare Staffing. I also did their website, without the aid of Dreamweaver or anything. Painful process. I seriously need to take some web design classes.
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Then we have the BookFool.com whom I've done tons of logos for in the past. This go round, I desinged at LEAST 100, and in the end, they didn't use any of mine. The one at the very bottom is the final, and I actually like it quite a bit. It was just SO HARD to come up with all those logos, I handwrote over 50 lettering styles, and in the end it was just an exercise for the client. It stung a little, I don't mind saying.
This is the final:
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And then there is my mom's shirt design. She's a dietician, and her professional eat-righter do-gooder organization needed a new t-shirt, but now I think they may use this for their logo. I couldn't find the nice version not on a t-shirt, but you get the idea.
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Here is my friend Amy's logo. I really love how it turned out. I especially liked working with a female business so I could make it slightly girly. And I love floral stuff, so this was awesome.
Labels: design
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The befores (and one "almost after")
You can go here to see the before pics with the old furniture in there.
This border is already long gone. I've decided that the cabinets are beautiful! At least I'm telling myself that because they're really good quality, only 5 years old, and I don't have the stamina to paint them.
We've (Jason, my parents) spent the last 3 days pulling 12 hour days painting at the house. And we have extraordinary good help too. My sisters and my friend Abby. Frankly, they all provide the comic relief needed. Jason's a roller and heavy lifter, and I'm the edge-master. I bought a nice angled edging brush, and I just go around all day painting little strips of paint everywhere.
Mmm. Peachy. Let's just say I really celebrated when I painted over the last of the ever-lovin' apricot color. And why do I want to say "Welcome to Taco Bell, would you like to try an Extra Greasy Saucy Cheesy Combo Meal to day?" when I see that archway. Alas, I'm just going to have to make it work. I'd really like to blow out that whole solid wall hiding the kitchen from the living area. Another day, perhaps.
See this entry way? I spent HOURS on a ladder painting this. Edging it was a little scary.
Yesterday mom and dad and Jason spent most of the day ripping up NASTY carpet and breaking up and scraping up tile. Then mom started stripping. Tile adhesive, that is. We're going to stain the concrete floors in the studio and part of the theater. And that is a b*tch of a job, pardon my asterisk. After a day with her head down in fumes, Chinese food for dinner and a margarita, Mama wasn't feeling so great. Oops! I hope we didn't break the Jean Machine! The sad part is there is STILL SO MUCH MORE TO DO!!
This is the theater room in the downstairs. This is before. Carpet=NASTY. Smoking, a cat and a dog and at least 16 years old. Ew.
Check out dad's suspenders AND belt. He's just that kind of guy today, post heart bypass.
The curtain in the shutters are going to be changed, but for some reason I kind of enjoy the shutters.
What color would you call this room up above this? We're having a bit of a debate about it. We're doing carpet where the tv will be, and concrete where Jason's studio will be.
My studio. I'm not really in love with the colors I picked, but I'm too stubborn to say so. I might end up repainting before I move in, but for now, it's Citron and French Blue.
You can go here to see the before pics with the old furniture in there.
Labels: house and home
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Scene of the Crime: Branson
Jason and I went to Branson to meet his mom and step-dad for a long weekend. It was fabulous to see them and have fun, and generally to get out of town. Thank you, Truitts!!
Okay, now for the slightly cynical analysis of Southeast Missouri:
This here is the crime of the century. In the middle of Silver Dollar City (Think Dollywood, but less spectacular) sat this trite little piece of scenery. Meant to add to the nostalgia of the place. A CRIME I TELL YOU!! I don't know if you can see the background, but there are asphalt walkways and rednecks in abundance in the background. This lovely press was rusting away outside the Olde Tyme Photo place. I kid you not. There was literally moss growing on it.
We mainly went to SDC to see these fine folk balance on each other's head and swing around and drip sweat on us in the front row. I was reluctant, but Jason guaranteed me that I would say "Wow, that is awesome" at least 3 times. And I said it 3 times per minute.
Then there was this view off our balcony on Table Rock Lake. Um, okay, I was suddenly good with the world.
I'm not sure how to describe the place. There's incredible beauty in the surrounding Ozark Mountains, but the entertainment level is like Gatlinburg--but more redneck. (Didn't think that was possible) Actually, there are a lot of ways Branson is like Gatlinburg--there are beautiful landscapes and parks, but a lot of cheese and a lot of fudge shops.
I think I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Creepiest flea market find ever:
We're closing on the house in less than 36 hours!! I can't wait to post the before pics!
Labels: weekend
Friday, April 10, 2009
For a great cause
My friend Tisra and her family are adopting a baby from India. What a selfless act of love! You can help to Bring Dorothy Home Quick -- and possibly score some amazing loot--by going to her blog here:
And you have to do it SOON SOON SOON!! The deadline is Sunday at midnight.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Mooo.
Shamelessly trying to buy myself some time. Also, I am surgically attached to my color swatch book and AGONIZING over it. We close next Thursday! Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some color choices for you.
Look at this beautiful interior from a day in may. (Via Design*Sponge.) I've decided I'm chucking all previous kitchen ideas, and painting it green. Because green makes me happy. And I think you should feel happy in the kitchen as opposed to calm, cool, or soothed.
From Callaway Fields shop:
Last night my mom and I were out at the local country nursery, and I made the poor owner go pull out his paint can so I could know what color the walls in the shop were. I'm getting desperate! I stole this pic from their Facebook page.(the owner is 26, so I guess he's hip with the young kids stuff. And he's a really cool guy.)
Labels: house and home
Monday, April 06, 2009
Where I've been
I think this picture speaks a thousand words, don't you? I've become a regular at my small-town post office. There is nothing like a small town p.o. The ladies know me, they tell stories to the whole office of people, and it's really like a small show that plays out every day during my lunch hour. Thank goodness for Flat Rate boxes and the PayPal online shipping function!! It has really saved me.
I was stuck in corporate meetings from sun-up to way past sundown all last week and it was all I could do to get home and brush my teeth before going comatose. I'm SO far behind on my e-mail and correspondence!
I've been bombarded with recipe card box orders. I've enlisted the help of my dad. He's thrilled, of course, but he did make me 15 boxes--and he's doing a much better job than I ever did. It's a huge relief to me! Now I'm just trying to get ahead of the curve with printing the cards. I've streamlined my process, and ordered a truckload of paper, so I hope those orders keep coming in!
I've got a HUGE project coming up in 2 weeks--working on our house!! I'm getting so so excited! But I'm trying to cram in as much crafting/design work as possible before then. We'll see!
Labels: printing