Back in Action!

After getting some good time with family

Celebrating this

And just taking a break from things, I am back in action.

I'll start posting soon with a little bit of what I've been up to in the design world!

Stumped

Ever get STUMPED about what to do with a specific area in your home? ME TOO! The hubs and I recently got a king size bed. My mom told me over and over before I got married that wiggle worm + tall husband = king size bed. Well, turns out she is SO right! I was sleeping on the couch about three nights a week and then on the floor when the couch hurt my back, so we finally caved. When our new bed arrived we realized we needed to move it to the adjacent wall for everything to fit. With the new arrangement, I lost room for a bed side table. What to do? I am not up for buying anything new because we are renting, and I want to wait to invest in pieces that I know will have a more permanent home. Soooo, I got to thinking and looking for inspiration, and came up with this... a STUMP.

(please excuse the mattress on the floor. i am almost finished refinishing our now converted (from a queen to king) head board)

**It does look completely ridiculous when you have a STUMP in the back seat of your car when taking your bestie to the airport. AND, the hubs just sighs when I call to say that their might be a tree STUMP in the back seat of the car. But, it is so worth it.**

I saw these STUMPs in different catalogues. Don't buy these babies, go get em from the curb! Just wait until beloved bulk trash day and you will have tons of options....ahhhh bulk trash day.....

And as a side note, lift with yo back not yo knees (i just looked up a link to put here with the "you can do it put your back into it" song. not appropriate. just sing the appropriate version in your head here. and don't stop get it get it until you finish singing the whooooole song:))

Good luck finding creative solutions to the areas that STUMP you in your home.

Walker

Lulu is one of my dearest friends from long, long ago! She was my first friend when I moved to Tyler.  This sweet girl who was willing to be friends with a dorky girl from Plano sure allowed me many fun memories.  She is expecting her first sweet boy this October.  (And as a side note, Walker is her maiden name and will now be the first name of her first born boy-can't get any cuter!)

Here is the $30 Craig's List treasure BEFORE:

And the changing table/dresser for baby Walker AFTER:

Now we just have to wait on the sweet boy to get here!

Happy Tuesday!

Katie

This week I got to work on a room for Katie.  Katie is 7 and is getting a new room!  Her mom painted the room yellow, bought new bedding, and hung a few shelves.  She wanted me to paint something in Katie's room.  When I met with her she said that she wanted something small but significant.  I thought that was a great way to put it.  I have done several of these name/monogram with painted detail lately.  It is a really great way to add a significant, special touch to a room, without investing in the entire room.  Here you have it.

Katie's yellow room, new bedding and shelves before we add in the hand painting.

Day 1 progress (Shelf inserts complete.  Katie can tack up pictures of her friends in the padded shelf inserts.  Hand painted detail in progress)

And Day 2, the finished product.  I should mention that Katie LOVES softball.  We added in a subtle softball theme to the painted detail to highlight her current interest.  However, if Katie later decides softball is not her thing, all we have to do is paint out the tone on tone stitches and they will just be polka dots.  Who doesn't love some polka dots?

Happy almost weekend!!

Family Dinner

Did you guys grow up eating family dinner around the table?  We sure did.  It was very rare for us to eat out, and the phone and television definitely did not make an appearance during dinner time.  We had some good conversations, memories (and maybe a couple of throw downs) growing up eating around the dinner table.  

The table below belonged to my client's grand parents.  It is an old farm table that I guarantee is FULL of memories.  Projects like this are inspiring.  It is cool to see an old piece transform, instead of dying out.  AND, it reminds me to get my buns in the kitchen so that we can enjoy a good meal together!

Okay, okay.  I guess we need a recipe if we are talking food.  I would never claim to be a good cook, but I try. I have no shame tossing a nasty meal and chowing down on frozen M&Ms instead.  When I made the recipe below I stopped mid bite and asked the hubs if he felt like he was eating at a restaurant!  It was so tasty I imagined myself paying money to eat it.  Ahhhhhh, satisfaction:)  

Shrimp (or scrimp as some call it) Scampi

1 t minced garlic 

l t olive oil

 1/2 t oregano, 1/4 t salt, 1/4 t pepper

1/2 lb fresh peeled shrimp

1/4 c white cooking wine,

1 t cornstarch,

2 c cooked linguini

saute garlic in olive oil for 1 min over medium heat.  add shrimp, oregano, salt and pepper and saute 4 min.  reduce heat to simmer.  combine wine, cornstarch and add to shrimp.  simmer until sauce thickens.  divide shrimp and sauce into two portions and serve each over 1 cup pasta.  

No pictures of the meal, just the mouth of approval!

Have a good one!

Before and After

I found a blog recently that features before and after photos every so often.  I have become quite a fan of checking them out.  Everyone thinks that working with a designer or artist has to cost the big bucks.  While it is true that you can go all out and create a really detailed space that would be more expensive, you can just as easily use an unattractive dresser out of an old room or from a garage sale to make something special. Here are a couple of examples. 

Okay, no grief for the pictures below.  I haven't had a chance to professionally shoot them, yet. This dresser cost $50 at Good Will.  The baby's name wasn't decided at the time.  Now that MARY CLAIRE (preshy name!) is here, her monogram will be added to the top.  I also installed this hardware on all of the drawer fronts.  Her momma put a changing pad on the top  of the dresser so that it can double as a changing table in the mean time.

I think you've seen this dresser before.  Here is the before and after anyway:)

Can you tell which pictures are from my little point and shoot and which pictures are from Taylor?  Me niether:)

Left One Out :(

I accidentally left out this fire place.  She was SO fun towork on.  I even got to incorporate copper leafing.  Oh how I love you gold, silver and copper leafing!

This is the fire place from the adjacent room.  It is what the fireplace below looked like before I gave it some love.  It is obviously a different piece, this is just what the stone looked like before.

Happy 4th again!