It's Official - Worst Blogger Ever

So the reason for my long blog hiatus -- I designed and built a new house?  I cleaned out and finished the basement?  That would be none of the above.  I just simply may be the worst blogger on the Interwebs right now.  I'm okay with that.

There has been a little bit of work going on around here though.  Kitchen Phase I has kicked off.
Check out this bad ass fan the former owners had going on in the kitchen. The glass globe fell off one night and shattered while we were making dinner.  Good times.
Added bonus -- the stained ceiling medallion.  That ain't nothing that a little paint can't fix.  In related paint news, I picked this muted sage/yellow green for the kitchen and did that a few years ago.  Not so in love anymore.

Here's what JT installed for me:

Gorgeous!  Next step -- repaint!!  I'll be back in three months when that's done.  Just kidding - or not!

Okay, maybe I lied . . .

Maybe it took a few days for my brain to really come to grips to what I was trying to get it to do -- DREAM BIG!  When faced with the daunting task of picking exactly what I would wish for if I could wish for anything, I failed.  Big time.  But the Room and Board catalog came yesterday and jogged my memory a little bit . . .  here 's a few items from my wishlist:

Vladimir Kagan designed Juno Chair from Room & Board.  JT has always wanted a recliner and I was pretty well decided there were no good looking recliners to be found in the world.  Then I saw this beaut.  In white leather, a pair of these would be supreme in any living room or library.

Malm fireplace - they exist in the vintage/antique market or new from Design Within Reach.  I would pick one up in white (of course).  Even though the Lawn living room already has a fireplace, I am sure I could find a way to make this work.  Maybe in the bedroom?

Also -- good news.  My mother informed me of an upcoming IKEA trip and asked if I needed anything.  Do I ever!!  Two pages later, I might be demoted to bottom daughter.  At least I left the big, heavy stuff off the list for now . . . When she comes back with my spoils, I will post up the goodness.

If Wishes Were Horses . . .

"If Wishes Were Horses" my mother used to say to me.  It never made sense.  Wishes aren't horses.  And why would beggars want to ride?  Wouldn't beggars wish for money or maybe food or a roof over their head?  At any rate, I digress.  Anna's post at Door16 about her karmic wish fulfillment got me thinking.  What design world item would I wish for?  The possibilities are so limitless, it is a bit overwhelming.  Plus I had never really thought about it because it seems like so much, well, wishful thinking.  But if the thrifting gods are ever going to smile on ME, I guess I better be ready.  Time for some 1st Dibs browsing.

And the results . . . .
I came up blank!

What?  I guess the thing is, I love it all.  Or at least most of it.  Would I love an Eames Lounger?  Sure.  They're beautiful and probably the closest thing to a recliner I would ever allow in my house.

But there's also some other awesome vintage leather lounge chairs out there with great lines so I don't know if it has to be an Eames.  Plus I caught myself browsing for things I need to fill holes in my home right now, like a vanity.  I don't know if that counts for a "if I could wish for anything, I'd wish for this" kind of thing because really it's just something I am thinking about now. 

Maybe I need therapy. 

Like furniture therapy or retail therapy . . . .

My Obsession with Lucite grows . . .

Took JT to the nearby Value Village and antique mall (next door to each other for thrifting heaven).  I found this gem at the antique mall . . .

I just couldn't resist it.  It fits perfectly in the kneespace of the desk that just migrated to the living room, which is perfect because it's a really small kneespace!! 

While this desk isn't completely and totally my style now, I don't know if I can ever part with it.  It was one of my first alley finds.  I was home from college on a break and went to visit a friend.  There the desk was, sitting out on the curb, waiting to become landfill fodder.  I came back with my parent's mini-van and brought it home to take up one of the coveted garage parking spots as I sanded off the green-yellow paint and refinished it.  My dad alternately cursed my name and helped me refit all the dovetail joints, nail on a new back piece and drill holes for the new hardware.  Now that my dad has passed away, this project always reminds me of him and our time spent together.  So it will probably always have a place in our home.  I know it will always have a place in my heart.

There's my dad, hand-drafting in the 70s.  I sure am glad we have AutoCAD these days!!

Baby Steps in January

So to keep moving on my 2011 goals, I have been taking some baby steps . . . very very small baby steps it feels like sometimes!  My item #10 about cleaning out the basement has/will require a lot of work . . . so let's get started:

Number 10 sub-item 2 was the chair and ottoman.  I found this beaut on Craigslist for something like $35 dollars.  It was in rough shape and had green and maroon upholstery (gasp).  So now it has been stripped and the ottoman has received 2 coats of tung oil and the chair has gotten one coat. 

Number 10 sub-item 4 is a card table and chairs (only 3) that I found at a garage/yard sale.  They also need some work and have been languishing in the basement.  I have started pulling the old orange vinyl off the seats and am going to reupholster them in white vinyl (my favorite thing in the whole wide world .  . . or one of them at least!)

Number 10 sub-item 5 was the sweater yarn ball - it is done!  The dogs have been enjoying it but I'm kind of worried Shenanigan is going to rip it up when he moves it around to make his little doggy nest.  We'll see how it goes.  I did want to mention that the sweater yarn ball rug took a few trys - the "yarn" was so big it kept coming out wonky and I would have to pull it out and redo it . . . .

Number 10 sub-item 6 is a crochet blanket that is keeping Sophie and I warm as I work on it.  This is blanket #2.  There was also an unfinished Blanket #1 that I wrapped up and took over to my sister's apartment along with some felt pillows that couldn't handle the dog hair that is our house . . .

And as usual, when I put the blanket out for photographing, Shenanigan had to examine it, thus the dog hair!

And finally, the big next that wasn't on my list because it wasn't mine . . . JT is making a guitar!  It is going to be gorgeous.  Really I can't wait til he finishes this one (a Telecaster clone) so he can start on the next one - an Explorer!

One project off the List!

The sweater yarn ball is now a sweater yarn dog bed/blanket.  I think it has Sophie and Shenanigan's seal of approval too.  Overall I am happy with how it turned out -- still not 100% convinced it was worth all the effort, but it got me back in touch with my sewing machine, so that's a good thing . . .

I may be a sweepstakes addict . . .

How does one know for sure?  I guess the fact that I usually enter at least three a day online every morning might be a clue . . .
I'm not sure how I feel about the HGTV Dream House in Stowe.  Would I be excited if I won it?  You betcha.  Would I stay in the master bedroom?  Not so sure about all that red.  I guess the guest bedroom will just have to do . . .

HGTV Dream Home 2010 (Stowe) Guest Bedroom

Eleven for 2011

Instead of resolutions, I always go for lists.  Here's my master list for 2011.  Only time will tell how many items get fully or partially checked off the list . . .   
1.  Pass the motorcycle safety class
2.  Go to a winery with JT for a long afternoon/evening/weekend
3.  Long vacation to Florida to see JT's good friend get married.
4.  Learn 3 more chords on the guitar and get good at the three I have already learned . . .
5.  Recover "guitar-playing" chairs and try to learn something about upholstery along the way . . .
6.  Have a proper library in the house -- get all the books out of their bins and on display!
7.  Catalog and scan the family pictures - distribute disks to family members
8.  Add a piano or an organ to the living room or music room.
9.  Finish up the kitchen (there is a sub list to this item that is too long to go into now, maybe later!)
10. Clean the basement of all pending projects: 1) walk-in closet, 2) chair and ottoman, 3)armoir, 4)card table and chairs, 5)sweater yarn ball, 6)crochet blanket, 7)Tracy's pillows, 8)all the pillows . . .
11.  Do some junking and refinishing/refurbishing to fund all of the above! 

My motivation has been running high.  I've been working on the chair and ottoman basement project for a little while now.  Maybe I'll post about that next . . .

Cheers!

Sweater Ball Complete

My baby steps keep moving me forward -- last night I sewed the last strip onto the ginormous sweater ball.  Next step is to get out my giant crochet hook and see what this sweater yarn will make.  I'm thinking I will try for at least one but maybe two floor mats for the dogs to hang out on.  We'll see if Sophie and Shenanigan will buy it. They don't look too enthused.

P.S. The entertainment "center" you can see behind the sewing machine is another project on my list.  I have something waiting in the garage for its turn.  I do love the speakers though.  My dad made them in the 70s!

Mr. Mouse, You Can Have the House

Two weeks, one human trap, four inhumane traps and one box of mouse poison later, I'm at my wits end.  Not one mouse has been caught by any of the above listed methods.  Mr. Mouse is much smarter than I gave him credit for.  If he and I could only renegotiate the terms of his occupation, no traps would be necessary at all.  I would be fine if he would like to inhabit our detached garage (without using the car of course) and he can feast off all the extra garden tomatoes he and his family would like.  Right now however, he seems to be happy to reside in our oven.  The pantry has been cleared out to avoid any temptation but the promised pantry reno will have to wait until after the holiday craziness has passed us by.  Happy Holidays Mr. Mouse.  I hope you enjoy the warm house while it lasts . . . your days may be numbered!