french inspired pieces...

Well, once camping season ends the DIY projects begin.

(Which seem to be keeping me from blogging!)

I could not find my leftover project list from last year so I moved forward and started a brand new one.

Jake's room.

I forgot to take before pictures, but I know I have some old ones, somewhere.

My color inspiration for the room is here.

I should have some before and during pictures to share next week.

In the mean time, I think I will share with you some of the french inspired pieces I just finished and brought into the shop this morning...

The shop is looking amazing and I took a lot of pictures when I worked on Saturday.

I will share them later this week.

In between cleaningandsandingandpaintingandpainting.

Oh and getting ready for the wonderful Creatively Made Home ecourse that starts next Monday!

I am so excited!!

Thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes and thank you for stopping by ~ have a wonderful week!

more progress...

Who would have thought that an October snow storm could be so inconvenient!

We awoke to no power on Sunday morning but were lucky enough to have it back on by Sunday evening.

However, we had no phone, cable or internet until late yesterday.

So I am quite behind on my posting and my visits and hope to catch up with what you've all been up to very soon.

Want to know what I have been up to?

Nothing too exciting...just making more progress by crossing some projects off my old to do list!

First I can cross off painting the rest of the trim in the hallway since I applied the second coat!

Next, I put a coat of primer on my front door and hope will be putting a coat (or two) of the new color sometime within the next week.  When I finish that project I will share some before, during and after photos.

Then, since I have been keeping my studio pretty neat and organized I decided to tackle the room right outside my door.

You might remember this mess from last January...



...and how I mentioned that my whole downstairs needed a makeover and some organizing.  The space above has finally been finished.  I gave it a fresh coat of paint before I had my surgery in February and Jim installed shelving to hide crafting supplies and items I have for sale in my Etsy shop.  While everything was organized it looked a mess!  Jim finally put up a pipe so I could hang a drop cloth curtain.  I attached it by using curtain rod clips (no sewing!).  Here is what it looks like now...

I know it needs to be ironed but I was waiting because I was wondering if I should run it through the washer and dryer first?  Maybe it will make it a bit softer and maybe I wouldn't have to iron it!  Let me know if you have any tips.

I was going to change out the rug but have decided to work with it for now...

I found this cute black table at a yard sale a few weeks ago and decided to keep it for myself (and why not for $5.00).  It ended up being the perfect place for my fleur de lis shutter...

I added my cherished copies of JDL...

I can't wait for the Christmas issue!

I also changed my hutch a bit...

Now the area is neat and organized...

Well, this half anyway...the other half has all my pinks from my booth and some Christmas projects ready to be worked on!

Rome wasn't built in a day!

I have also been working on new items for my booth which I will share next week.

It feels so good to be getting things accomplished!

Jim and I also took Jake on his first college tour this week!

His senior year is going by very fast...too fast!

I am missing him already.

Thank you all for stopping by today...I've missed you too!

progress break...

Yes, I said progress.

You would all be so proud of me...it has been one month (ok, one month and a day) since I posted about my old house and the to do lists I made.

Well, today I finally tackled a project on the old to do list!

I finished painting the trim in the hallway that I started two years ago (not umpteen)!!  Ok ~ it's only the first coat but it is still progress!

I did not take any before or after pictures.

It isn't really an exciting project.

However, while I am taking this progress break I thought I would show you what I found while treasure hunting yesterday in Plymouth...

I was looking for more pieces to add warmth to my booth for the fall...

Of course I am looking around my nest to see where I would put these pieces if I were keeping them.  This old food warmer would look great holding mums right now or pines around the holidays..

Keeping this old sewing machine cover would be silly because I don't sew, but would like to learn how someday...

Now I want to keep this one...

Because the color is gorgeous and...

I thought I might look really chic while checking in if I mean when I stay here someday...

source

Rachel Ashwell's B&B, The Prairie.

It must be on your road trip wish list too!

I guess my progress break is over.

I am off to clean up my finds so I can bring them into my booth tomorrow.

Yes, all of them!

Before I go I wanted to remind you all of my giveaway that ends this Friday the 21st (not the 20th like I wrote originally).

Go to this post to enter!

Thanks for visiting today and have a great week!

my old house...

Beautiful Fall weather has greeted me this morning and will be staying through the weekend!

The chill in the air has brought my thoughts to my long "to do" list.

I have a lot of projects that I want to tackle around my nest this fall and winter like...

1.  Finish painting the trim in my hallway from umpteen years ago.

Can't believe I admitted that.

2.  Paint my front door.

I bought the paint two years ago.

3.  Paint my downstairs bathroom.

I am so over the yellow.

These are just a few of the "old" projects I want to complete.

Don't get me started on my "new" project wish list like...

1.  Get Jim to remove a few kitchen cabinet doors for open shelving.

He has vetoed it once but I won't give up!

2.  Have our hardwood floors refinished.

In a beautiful dark finish.

100.  Makeover the Princess Suite.

Notice it's low priority number...once it is kept neat I will consider bumping it up.

I know I will always have a "to do" list for this old house.

Even though this old house is not an old farmhouse, romantic prairie style is quickly becoming my style.

You are right LaurieAnna, it is what is on the inside that matters!

As I look around my home at my recent changes I can't help but smile.  I know some of you have seen these photos before but I thought I would share them again for Farmhouse Friday over at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home for some that may not have...



Thank you LaurieAnna for hosting and thank you all for stopping by today!

I also wanted to thank you for the all the great suggestions on the lamp I showed you the other day.  I must add "paint the lamp white and get a burlap shade" to my new to do list!

Enjoy your day ~ off I go to Farmhouse Friday for more inspiration!