Monday morning aches

For goodness sake, I really need this flu virus to leave my household. Let me explain myself...

First, our daughter was sick two weeks ago. Really sick, as in a week out of school. Then I got the virus. Not as bad, but terribly achy and exhausted. Thought I was over it and we were good to go.

HA! How naive of me to think it would be done so quickly. 

Late last week, I was feeling better and wanted to be out and about. I went to the beach with my hubs (Lake Michigan - to collect rocks, of course), I cooked full dinners from scratch, ran to the store for necessities, walked the dogs in the glorious sunshine, and I was even up scrubbing the bathrooms and bleaching the house. And then I woke up Sunday morning. 

Asshat.

This flu, that is. This flu virus is a major asshat.  

I woke up at 7:00a terribly achy Sunday morning. I got up, started the day thinking it would subside. Then I took a nap -- at 9:30a. For TWO HOURS. Got up again and was in a total haze. Took a shower because, that should help wake me up, right?? Seriously, I think I was firing on only 2 cylinders. Decided I needed to change location to get my mojo back up and running. That worked for another few hours. Hubs and I decided to watch a movie. Made it one hour into the show, then took ANOTHER NAP. Again -- it was TWO HOURS. Got up, finished the movie. Went to bed at 9:30p and slept until 6:00a this morning. 

WTF flu virus?? I slept yesterday more than I was awake. This morning, I again am completely achy and am doing my best not to nap. I really want to gargle with bleach and run it through my veins. I have never had my ass handed to me like this from a flu virus. Blerg. I feel like I have been run over by a convoy of trucks, not just one truck.

But enough about my viral hell. 

The reason I am really on here today is because I wanted to show you the projects I DID finish last week during my small surge of energy. 

The gardening planter I was working on? Yep, it is done...and it is ADORABLE! Just what I had pictured. 

Perfection -- Am I right???

Additionally, I had started working on an old, small globe that I purchased at the resale for $1.99. It is about 10" tall and the globe itself is about 5" in diameter. 

I painted the globe black, spray painted the stand gold, and added a cute little message:  "Darling YOU are my Greatest Adventure"... 

Pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.

I still have to put a layer of ModPodge on the globe, to make sure none of the vinyl peels up. But I just looooooove how it turned out. Now I'm on the hunt for other globes so I can make even more!

Enjoy the rest of your day -- I'm off to take another nap with my heating pad.

Good Morning!

Good morning everyone...

I've been laying low the last few days. My daughter's flu from last week? Yep, I have it as well, but nowhere near as bad as her bout. I have been hanging out in bed with terrible aches (especially in my lower back), occasional cough and some random stuffiness. Some times I'm congested, other times nothing. Weird. Oh, and exhaustion. Crazy exhaustion. I'm talking three naps a day. I feel like I've run a marathon. But no worries, I'm on the mend...today I am only slightly achy so far. I will take that as a good sign. Fingers crossed!

Good thing I am feeling better because I have a project mid-stream hanging out on my kitchen table. I started it this past weekend after my hubs and I went out to the resale shops in the area. I found this adorable small wooden toolbox and I am turning it into an herb container garden. I need a little Spring here in Chicago -- I think this will do the trick. 

This is one of those little boxes they have the kids build at Home Depot. You know what I am talking about... 

I cleaned it out and removed the dowel handle (which I will reattach after it is painted a contrasting color). I've chosen a nice dark purple mixed with a little bit of gray paint. I am thinking the handle will be ivory and gold, then I may create a little vinyl doodad to put on the front of the planter. 

For the herbs, we have four small terra cotta pots that fit neatly inside. I am going to leave those as is...I love the natural color of terra cotta pots. As for the herbs, I'll probably plant our favorites -- thyme, basil, oregano, parsley.

I'm going to try my best to finish this one up today. I have a couple of other projects up my sleeve as well. Stay tuned! 

Barbie Home Remodel...

I know what you are thinking...Barbie remodel? What?

Exactly as it sounds. I remodeled our girlies' Barbie house in order to 'upcycle' it for our niece, Avery. It turned out sooooooo cute!! You are definitely going to say "Holy cats, Christine -- you are amazing!" Ah, yes. I will indeed pat myself on the back for this project.

Here is where it started (and no, that is not my daughter):

Bland, standard doll house with the room graphics plastered on the walls. Yawn...
Please excuse my blech photos - I will now give you a remodeled room-by-room overview:

KITCHEN

The new kitchen ...I kept the background the same, just added crystals to the knobs and of course, a kitchen towel. Additionally, I covered up the 'tile' floor with a brand -spanking-new hardwood floor. Popsicle stick hardwood floor to be precise. Am I clever or what??

Finally, here is the cutie patootie kitchen table. You know you want one just like it!

BEDROOM

ALOHA! Beach themed nirvana!! I think Barbie will thank me when she realizes that I have given her a Queen-sized bed. Now Ken won't have to sleep on the couch... Heh.

Detail of the bedroom wallpaper...

Ooh...comfy. And what is that? A tufted headboard? Why, yes it is indeed. I figured if I can tuft a real headboard, then a tiny Barbie headboard was no prob.

Gorgeous!

LIVING ROOM

We went with a black,white & hot pink theme. Mod, kind of New York loft style. The couch and chair were created and upholstered from remnants I had in my craft stash. I edged the rug from another remnant as well. I think it evokes a flokati rug vibe...plus it is really soft and fur-tastic.

And did you notice the chandelier?? It is an ornament -- in Barbie pink, no less. Kismet, I tell ya.

The couch is long enough for Barbie to lay down after a long day of shopping. Or drinking.

And, hello -- a skirt with box pleats. Yes please!

I want this chair in real-people size. Never enough pink in Barbie land.

STAIRS

Mirrored stairs. Love em...but not so practical in the real world. Since I trudge around here like a bull elephant,  1) they would most likely be cracked from my toe-stubbing antics and  2) do I really need to be reminded with each step that I am in dire need of a pedicure?? I think not.

BATHROOM

Shouldn't all toilets have a kicky lid and crystal flush handle? YES. I would definitely want to clean this purty little throne. Well, okay maybe not. But it would look prettier....

Sage green, so soothing and zen...Ahhh....

So there you have it. My labor of love for the last week or so. I know my niece is going to LOVE it! Shhh, don't tell her it was not Santa's Elves who worked all this magic.

Have a fabulous day!



What a beautiful weekend -- and back to painting!

This weekend was just lovely -- we are in the Chicago area and today it was around 60 degrees! Dang -- that does not happen often this time of year! We had a lazy Sunday morning and then headed up for an early Thanksgiving with the hub's family in Wisconsin. Quite the relaxing day. I hope your weekend was just as nice. 

Also on the agenda these past couple of days -- painting. I really need to push myself to create a regular creative outlet schedule. I feel so much more in my groove when I am working on a piece of art or when I am refinishing an old treasure. I need to remember that feeling and get myself moving!

So, as for the painting endeavors -- I have almost finished a small curio cabinet that has sat in my foyer for years. It was calling out to me each and every time I passed it (which is about 100x per day). I finally decided to just get painting. I knew once things started rolling, it would all come together. So far, so good! I primed, painted two coats of a low-VOC (so nice!) Valspar ivory and I am  planning on glazing it and then adding some fun patterned paper to the back. I think it will be stunning. I will put up more pix in the morning.

As for the additional frames on my kitchen table (yes -- kitchen), I am not sure what their final color will be yet, but they were in dire need of paint. Solid wood, but totally blah in their previous lives. I think they look even better just with the primer.

The hubs and I are working to get my 'workspace' transferred to the garage. Until then, no laughing at my pictures of furniture propped up on paint cans in the middle of my hallway.    : )

Have a great evening!

Cedar planter...

So, I took my mom a-thrifting a few weeks ago. We found this ho-hum cedar planter box at the local Salvation Army. I think it was around $3.00....had to have it. I could see the potential. And I did not take an official 'before' pix yet again -- I did include a pix of the bottom in case you wanted to know the rustic glory that it had before I whipped out my paints and sandpaper.

For your viewing pleasure -- the pix are ucky because I used my phone. I promise to use my digital SLR from now on...

I ended up painting it with Sharkey Gray -- a Martha Stewart color -- (more ivory than gray) and then glazing it first with a burnt umber and then a light gray acrylic. Topped off with two coats of poly and a few felt pads on the bottom, I think this beauteous bin deserves to stay inside as a centerpiece!

Love it.... your thoughts?

Finished projects

I just wanted to post some pix of my currently finished projects around the home. And yes, I generally forget about taking the 'before' pictures. I'll let you know when I have a before...but for now, I promise to be more diligent in the future!

I recently completed two desk chairs for my daughters. I found these two lovelies at the local Goodwill for $4.99 each...Oh you read that correctly. Five.Bucks.Per.Chair. Of course, they were *gack* hideous when I found them. Spidery, musty, gah-ross. I actually do have a before pix on my camera somewhere; I will upload it when I remember.

Anyhoo, these chairs were stuffed with -- wait for it -- STRAW. As in, horse bedding. Bug-tastic horse bedding. So, after discovering this I immediately wrapped the innards in double plastic bags and toted those off to the garbage.  I painted, distressed, re-webbed, new-foamed, and reupholstered these beauties. And yes I know some of those aren't real words, but just go with me here.

They turned out soooooo nice. Just perfect for two tween gals who needed something of their own.
Here they are --

Aren't they sweet?? Sam's green chair has a bow on the back because there is a crack under there. The spindle is broken and I wood glued it, but it is still a bit dicey. I think the bow is a nice touch.

I added fringe and tack detailing just because I thought it added a bit of whimsy.
What do you think?