Window Boxes

My window boxes are not fancy but they are done and they are holding plants.  I will embellish them next season with some decorative trim to give them a little more detail but they are functional for now.

 

Geez!  What other projects have I forgotten to post?

How Could I Forget the Boathouse?

Unbelievable!  I forgot to post finished pictures of the boathouse and outdoor shower.

 

     

I have to say...I think the shower is my favorite part.  At least it gets the most use so far.

 

Painted brick fireplace and new wall colors

I decided the old brick color was holding me back in the den so I decided to paint it.

BEFORE

AFTER

And then that led to a complete room make-over that is still underway but here are a few preview pics of my new gray and chartreuse room.  My desk (which is being painted now - must remember to get progress shot before the whole thing is painted) will go on the left side of the fireplace and mudroom items will be to the right side (I need to figure out how to integrate the mudroom stuff without it looking too cluttered and without spending a fortune on built-ins).

And here is my old red barnwood cabinet that got a fresh coat of white paint while I was working on the fireplace (no BEFORE pictures were taken of it but it definitely was too rustic country for my taste).

Dresser Revamp

One old dresser purchased at auction...

One refreshed blue heron dresser ready for sale...

...complete with linen drawer liners.

This piece would be so cute in a nursery with 

some hanging storage inside.

Heavily distressed and so beachy I'm tempted to keep it.

Auction

What a great day to be outside in a field, bidding on all sorts of furniture and accessory treasures.  I came home with a $25 dresser, a reclaimed wood art tray, a folk art shelving unit, and some glass serving ware (courtesy of my talented "picker" sister).

The dresser needs some love in the form of
a new paint finish but it's got great bones.

The patriot stool/shelf is fun and came with the
wood art so I wasn't going to leave it.

It's too cute to cover with different paint but the
patriotic color scheme doesn't work in my house
so I'll be selling it.

Isn't the wood art cool?  It goes nicely with
my piggy clock.

The wood is cut out, painted, and put back together like a
puzzle.  It's inscribed on the back that the wood was salvaged
from an old house in Chestertown, MD before the house
was torn down.

I can' wait for the next auction!

Boathouse Progress

Almost ready for the bar...

One more coat of floor paint and baseboard touch-up and then we are ready for the bar.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will fit through the door opening!  We waited to install the french door.  Currently, we have a rough opening and we left the paneling off around the opening so it's not the end of the world if we have to make some adjustments.

The bar will go in the corner under the windows
where the fan and heater are.

These pictures don't completely capture the colors.
Love the dark gray/brown floor with the blue
ceiling.

Dolphin Chalkboard - Some Presents Live in the Present

I'm kicking myself for not taking a before picture of a dolphin wall panel I've been commissioned to paint.  Back in the Summer, DK asked me to paint a wall panel featuring a dolphin as a gift for "his lovely bride". It just wasn't coming together.  The first version was a bulky, unintentionally cartoon-like dolphin jumping out of the water.  It's been sitting in the garage for months (because it just wasn't up to par) as a constant reminder of yet another unfinished project.

Last night a light bulb went off in my head as I made my way through the garage on my way from the boathouse (which I've been painting) into the basement (to clean my paint brushes).  First, I saw the unfinished dolphin panel leaning against the garage wall which immediately made me hasten my pace (What? With too much to do and not enough time, I need to move FASTER).  Second, when I reached the basement, I glanced over and saw the can of black chalkboard paint on the basement shelf.  Why didn't I think of that before?  Many of my silhouette panels feature a black silhouette.  Why not paint the silhouette with chalkboard paint so it can double as a message board?  Third, I cleaned out my boathouse brushes and, instead of calling it a day, I was inspired to try something new.

I grabbed the dolphin panel from the garage, said "bye bye" to the chunky mahi mahi as I painted over him, tweaked the dolphin design into a swimming position (rather than jumping), and added a second dolphin (for more chalkboard message space). I then flipped a new but never used cabinet door handle (from the basement shelf adjacent to the chalkboard paint) upside down to hold the chalk and - voila! - now I can finally give DK his long-awaited dolphin panel.

My lesson - It is important in my daily haste to slow down enough to observe and enjoy.  I will never be one to cruise around in 1st gear but I do need to remind myself to pay more attention as I speed around the track so as to notice the detours that are worth exploring.  Yesterday I was rewarded for my patience (setting the dolphin aside this Summer instead of forcing myself to work on something I wasn't inspired to do at the time).  And I was rewarded for recognizing a detour worth taking. (Dolphin panel, chalkboard paint, and then cabinet door handle). Are you kidding me?  How many times have I missed a series of signs as obvious as that?

Hopefully, DK feels rewarded for his patience too and he is glad he waited for his wife's gift.  Considering his wife is a teacher, I couldn't have planned a more appropriate gift if I tried.

As an added bonus, I made J a new morning checklist chalkboard while I had the supplies out.  She was thrilled with it AND I didn't have to feel like a broken record this morning...brush your teeth and hair.  where are your socks?  did you pack your homework?  where's my kiss and hug?