The Inadvertent Farmer

Chalkboard Paint and the Brawl

The following story it true but the names have been changed as to not embarrass the guilty...

A few years ago hubby, Sweet Girl and I (with baby boy in my belly) went on vacation.  While we were on vacation our sons ages 18, 20, and 22 were left home to attend high school and college under the watchful eye of their grandparents who lived next door.

Well... there was an unauthorized party that went on and a brawl broke out.  Two very large holes were punched in our front entryway wall. The sheetrock was trashed and my lovely wallpaper ruined.

I will not mention which son had this party as he knows who he is and how his brothers tried in vain to cover up the evidence before we got home...ahem.

OK, but what does this all have to do with chalkboard paint?

I'm getting to that I promise.  I looked at that wall for a couple of years waiting for said son to come back home (as he soon after moved out...a whole different story) to repair the wall.  Eventually he helped remove the old sheetrock and hang new.  But then what?

I could not longer get the same red wallpaper as it was about 15 year old.  I could not bring myself to strip it off the other three walls as I still loved it, so I was stuck with 3/4 of the entry wallpapered and the last wall just sheetrocked...

 

Finally I hit upon and idea...chalkboard paint!  I had seen it done on many a wall all over the internet, especially in children's rooms.

I love the stuff and have used it on jars, dressers, and cabinets...why not my entry wall?

Hubby was a little (ok a lot) skeptical of having such a weird thing as a chalkboard wall right inside the front door.

I considered black or green, the traditional chalkboard colors, but really wanted something that didn't scream chalkboard when you walked in. After some research I found that Home Depot carried a tintable chalkboard paint.   

I chose a dark red that matched the existing wallpaper.

 

The baby and I proceeded to put on 6 coats of the stuff!

 

When we were done painting hubby framed the wall with some very large chunky molding (baseboard molding)...thanks sweetie!

 

 
When you walk in...

 

Pretty red wall...no sheetrock, no primer, no HOLES!

 

But it seemed a little plain to me...so I picked out a font and decided to paint 'welcome!' on the wall

I tried really hard to get a picture of this but before I knew it my kids (big and little) had discovered the wall and it was quickly covered!

 

Of course I had high hopes that brilliant quotes and original poetry would cover my wall...

 

But alas reality conquers fantasy...again! 

What is so fun about this is that when we have visitors we have them sign our wall and leave messages, as you can see the photo shows birthday wishes to a particular little girl!

Chalkboard paint does not have to be relegated to just kids rooms or kitchens, it can be cool and classy enough for anywhere...even right inside your front door!

*****

As a side note, son that caused all this trouble has signed the wall and thinks it is way cooler than plain old wallpaper.  He believes that I should be thankful for the holes as they were the catalist for the whole makeover...maybe...maybe not...I will admit to nothing!

Another side note, Do no be surprised if you paint chalkboard paint on just one wall of your home and the three year old living in that home decides all the walls are fair game for chalk...just a heads up!

 

 

A Pottery Barn Chicken Apron Dress...???

I finally used a piece of something that I have had stashed away for years now...I was waiting for just the right project to use some!

You can't get any more special than the first birthday of a darling little one who happens to be the daughter of a dear friend...

This is my Pottery Barn Chicken Apron Dress!

The little white apron is made from a dust ruffle from Pottery Barn.  I purchased it new on ebay for a song back when Sweet Girl was just itty bitty.  I waffled between chickens and palm trees for her nursery...palm trees won!  That left me with a perfectly charming bit of embroidery to use as I wish.

Of course I still have a lot left...and I have a little girl who is pretty sure she needs another chicken outfit!

Which would imply that she already has a chicken outfit...she actually has a few.

I have this thing for chickens!

And camels...although somehow not as cute on a dress!

 

 

Apartment Kitchen Bath Remodel done

As promised to you in yesterday's living room remodel post... here are the kitchen and bathroom in my mom's apartment.

Before...

White laminate countertops and shelving, a black and white floor that I had painted on the plywood 15 years ago...

I spent 4 days chipping off the Formica...darn stuff!  Then we cut back the bar for the overhang was just too much to support tile time without drooping...and we allow no dropping around here...ahem.

Then we tiled the countertops with 13 inch tiles.

We also removed the laminate shelving, replaced the stove, fan, and frig.

Then we made a back splash out of mosaic tiles of glass and stone with a tumbled marble pencil edging

The mosaic is fun to put up but a pain in the rear to grout because of the natural stone. It took us hours to get it out of the little holes in the stone!

We also tiled behind the stove.

We replaced the white laminate shelving with real wood which was stained and sealed, we used the same stain on the braces and the edges of the tile countertops which were trimmed in oak for durablitly. The cabinet hardware was also replaced.

I love how all her red just pops against the naural colors of the wood, stone and tile!

Bathroom before, old flooring, not vanity, in the process of painting.

New flooring, vanity, mirrors and lighting fixtures.

Back in the corner is a little storage cabinet and a countertop for folding clothes.  Her washer and dryer is also in the bathroom.  Small but efficient...with the best lighting in the whole apartment!

So there you have it...kitchen and bath done!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the rest of the apartment.

And may I say for the record, we have LOVED having mom living here with us...

Grandma rocks!

Decorate your Desktop with Smiles and Memories

Today I'm sharing a little tip I do to give me another place to display photos.  As you know I decorate Christmas Trees with them and my backsplash is adorned with photos in my kitchen.

I have very little 'artwork' in my home because there is no room due to my obsession with photographs!

This is our sunroom/office/exercise room.  The antique desk was a gift from my mom.  It is oak and heavy and full of wonderful storage places.  As I didn't want to ruin the lovely top by writing on it I had a piece of glass cut for it.

And do you know what is great about glass on desktops?

That's right...one more place you can display photos!

There are baby pictures of our kids, pregnancy pictures from 25 years ago, graduation photos and even wedding photos that are trickling in from our big boys' friends (how do it happen that they are old enough to get married???)

I'm seriously thinking about getting some glass cut for the white credenza in the background so I can put some there too!

Remember the chalkboard craft dresser that I put glass on to display kids artwork?

Yep, there is another perfect example of a way to display things that have meaning to you.

I even did it to my computer desk upstairs. Each piece of glass has cost between $25 and $40 dollars.

Besides it much more fun paying bills on a desk covered with photos that make you smile!

Excuse the toes....

*****

Note: I was asked in the comments about the photos sticking. 

I have never had any stick but they are a pain to get under the glass when you want to add new ones.  I have used tiny rubber bumpers (available where they sell floor protectors for the bottom of furniture) that keep the glass just a fraction of an inch off the surface to make it easy to slide photos under the glass.

I don't do this in the sunroom because we often have the windows open and the significant breezes we get up here would blow the photos out!

Pink Party Decorations easy to make, Corona for the Cure!

OK...so they don't have to be pink!  You could do these any color that tickles your fancy. 

I just happened to do pink since they were for our fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  Pink for the cure!

I knew from the beginning pink flowers would play a big part of our back yard soiree...

See that cute little pink bucket full of geraniums hanging from out outside shower? 

Yes indeed it started out as a Corona Bucket.  Oldest son made the fatal mistake of leaving two of these darling little buckets at home when he moved out.  He also knows that anything and everything (except the children) are fair game for mama and her paint can!  This bucket was more fitting for a Jimmy Buffett concert than a party for the cure...no longer!

Corona meet Krylon's Ballet Slipper Pink! (if you like paint projects check out their site!)

Next I put an old window frame to use on the back patio where we all ate...

I found a scrap of hot pink fabric and stapled it to the back of the frame.  Then I trimmed off the excess.

Next I took scrapbook paper and picked the 4 background pieces for each opening.  Then I used more paperto cut out little banners that I would put me words on...

I chose BELIEVE, HOPE, FAITH, and CURE

I believe that we will find a cure.   I have hope that someday breast cancer will be something our daughters will not need to fear.  I have faith that God will bless this important work...

I used punch out letters and glued them on the banners and then glued the banners onto the background paper.  I used little heart stickers around the edges.

I couldn't figure out how I wanted to attach all this the fabric.  I didn't want to glue it because I wanted to be able to reuse the fabric.  I also didn't think it would adhere very well.

I finally came up with the plan of taking a hole punch and punching holes around the edges of the paper.  I then took a large doll makers needle and threaded it with garden twine and I 'sewed' the paper to the fabric!

Even though the twine was a bit hard to pull through the fabric it was the perfect way to attach the paper to the fabric.  I really liked the rustic twine against the pretty pink paper!

I took another sheet of scrapbook paper with letters glued on to cover the ugly yellow cooler I put the blueberry lemonade in...

I again used garden twine to attach it to the cooler along with a bit of pink ribbon.

Altogether I spent less than $20 on decorations...well unless you count the flowers.

But those are considered an investment in my garden.

So they don't count!

 

Party for the Cure decorations and food Galore!

Whew...what a weekend!

The highlight was certainly the party we held Friday night to benefit the Susan G. Kormen Breast Cancer Foundation.  Family and friends came out to support this great cause. We specifically donated to the local chapter.

Of course with pink being the color of the cause...

It was pretty much everywhere.

Balloons, flowers, buckets...even an old window frame!

Believe, Faith, Hope, CURE!

We held the party on the back patio overlooking our little valley.  We got to watch the hawks soaring overhead, the kids playing in the fields while we ate and fellowshiped.

The menu consisted of BBQ'd locally caught salmon (thanks Mike & Brenda) Teriyaki chicken, veggie hotdogs and burgers, roasted mushrooms, Teriyaki carrots with pineapple, and a whole host of potluck salads!

I even sent the guests into the garden to pick sugar snap peas for dinner...

The garden seemed to be the hot spot of the evening!

Even the teenagers hung out in the garden...and were much more enthusiastic about posing for photos than there adult counterparts!

For dessert we served homemade popcicles (apple blueberry and mango strawberry), brownies, and yummy peanut butter cookies.

Fun and WAY too much food was had by all!

 

Even that cat had a great time!

And all for a marvelous cause!

Thanks everyone who came...luv you all!

I'll post later this week with instructions on the decorations.

 

Chicken Tractor Engineer Style

I have a dear friend and neighbor that I have known for decades now.

She has gotten eggs from our chickens for years.

She has finally gotten her own chickens!

She hatched them out in her homeschool room in an incubator.

She is now the mama to little flock of mixed breed darlings!

But back up a little...

When she told me that she was planning on getting chickens I told her that we could build a chicken tractor together...it would be fun!

As fate would have it her sweet hubby who happens to be an engineer got wind of a couple of girls building a chicken tractor that he would have to look at in his backyard and decided to take the project off of our hands...and considering we have 9 kids between us we were ok with that!

So here is what a chicken tractor looks like when an engineer builds it...

Aluminum and steel all welded together, built to last forever!

Unless there are grizzly bears wandering the neighborhood these little chickens are gonna be safe and sound!

Hi little chicks!

See the little door on the back?  It will open onto a little nest boxes!

You can see the brackets for the future nest boxes right there...made from aluminum of course.  This will making gathering eggs a snap.

It is also quite easy to move as it is on four large wheels.  Great job Ferd!

And while we're talking...

As wonderful as the amazing chicken tractor is may I just say that I'm thinkin' it needs a little color.  I know that being a guy that you wanted something that would blend into the landscape therefore the choice of drab gray paint.

But I know that I have some fuchsia paint somewhere...

I also have electric green and some lemon yellow.

I think that maybe I'll come over and paint a daisy or two on the sides...maybe a paisley or a swirl would be nice.

Just to give it a little girly touch!

Hello?

Hello?

Fernando are you listening?

Is this thing on?

Using Crackle paint on old Cabinet for Toys

This was the corner of our family room...classy huh?

No matter what I could not keep those toys corralled.  So I decided we needed something different...

We have sorted through and gotten rid of the toys they no longer used.  Put most of the ones they do use upstairs in their play room leaving just a few well loved toys and favorite books...this is the corner of our family room now!

We have a new little painted cabinet that keeps our toys neat and tidy.

But this cabinet did not start out looking like this...I know this shocks you!  No it was a free cabinet left behind by some renters that moved across country and couldn't (or didn't want to) fit it in their moving van.

This is the 'before' cabinet.  It was pale pink with its undercoat of yellow showing.  Frankly I love old beat up furniture and would have just given it a good cleaning and kept it as is.  But I am married to a guy who has no appreciation for 'junk' as he puts it!

So paint it I did!

And since the last project was white I was going to go as bright as I could stand!

A coat of primer and two coats of coral pink...satin

After it dried I put on a coat of crackle glaze.  I then let it dry for 3 hours and applied my top coat.

Burnt orange...flat.

You must work quickly as it begins to crackle right away...the kids thought it was so cool that their new cabinet looked like bark!

I think someone has put crackle glaze on my face...sorry...just thinking out loud!

Bright and cheery huh?

New cabinet in newly vacated corner!

I must say I love those little feet...I left them coral pink!

We moved some favorite books in along with some homeschool workbooks and...

You cannot have a toy cabinet without a basket full of dinosaurs and ponies...I'll give you 3 guesses as to who owns the dinosaurs and who owns the pretty little ponies!

Do you remember the calendar I made out of sheet metal, a frame and some glass tiles?  Well here it is.  I am trying to decided if I like it there. 

Should I leave it propped up there, hang it on the wall above, or put is somewhere else? Your help would be greatly appreciated on this matter.

(And yes I know the calendar still reads 'April')

(And yes I know I have lived in this house 15 years and still have no baseboards...honey I have no baseboards...did you hear that?  I'm gonna have to get out the saw and put them up myself if you don't soon...I mean it...really.)

So there you have it...our new toy cabinet...guaranteed to keep toys picked up an in order! 

I also have some swamp land you might want to take a look at...

*****

Oh and in case you were wondering...

Why orange?

Yep those are chrome and orange barstools from an old diner in Seattle that went out of business.  They are very old and very heavy...moving those suckers to mop is no easy task.  It is one of the reason I work out...

Well that and so I can shovel camel poo...

Back to Basics Scrap Art 101 supplies

There are so many projects that you can do with kids.  From yarn crafts to wood crafts to beading and stamping to paint projects...

The list is simply endless!

But sometimes it is great to just let them use their imagination...no boundaries...no plan!

I keep some basic art supplies on hand for my kids (big and small) to use...

   

A basket full of bits of fabric and scrapbooking paper.

Left over bits of felt...

A carrying basket with scissors both plain and fancy edges, rulers, stick glue, and paper punches...

My kids LOVE paper punches!

I also keep a various supply of stickers.  Wooden craft sticks and stencils are added and you might get something like this...

Fabric dress, paper shoes and head, crayon drawn arms and legs...

Crayon curls, marker face, felt hat and bow...paper pet owls!

The flower is made of scrapbook paper, craft stick stem, felt leaves and a left over plastic Easter egg that got stepped on!

And even though well thought out and organized crafts like these are wonderful...

Sometimes just letting creativity flow is the order of the day!

 

So go and make some scrap art...it'll do your imagination some good!

*****

Oh and I almost forgot...

Every kids needs a big bucket of crayons, makers, and colored pencils! I have long since given up trying to keep them orderly and in their boxes...no I just let them throw them in a big blue bin. We have had the same blue bin since my big boys were little...yes I have issues with hanging onto things.

Speaking of colored pencils and boxes...

Mama has her very own set...and don't even ask if you can use them!

Mama has shared her body, her bed, her shoulders, her laundry room, her toilet, her sanity, and her very soul with these kids...

She does NOT share her colored pencils...period!

So don't even go there...

 

And speaking of imaginations...don't forget to join us for our children's gardening contest! Fun for all and prizes too!

Furniture, New painted Credenza from Old Dresser craft project Tutorial

Credenza  \kri-ˈden-zə\ noun

1. A buffet, sideboard, or bookcase, especially one without legs.
2. A piece of office furniture having a flat top and usually file drawers.

I was saying to myself the other day

Kim you need a new credenza, every farmer must have a credenza.

But when you live in the sticks where does one go about buying such a piece of furniture?  How does one explain to small town store clerks what a credenza even is?

So I figured it would just be easier...and cheaper to make one myself.

I have finally done with this project something that has eluded me until now...

I finally painted something white!  You see I adore white furniture but every single time I go to use white paint on furniture something more flashy catches my eye...yes I'm a sucker for turquoise and fuchsia and all such bright colors!

Take this chair for example...it was going to be white.  Then this great melon color seduced me and I could not resist.  I was determined that I would not be dissuaded this time...no I would be strong and stay the course...white it would be!

Life for this particular credenza (what a fun word) started out as an old dresser with three drawers.  Baby Boy decided to use the drawers for a step ladder a few months ago and broke the middle support.  It was either repair or move on...move on it was!

Just for a little history, when hubby and I were pregnant with our first child (25 years ago!) We did not have a lot of money so we bought a crib, highchair, and dresser/changing table from a neighbor.  This is said dresser.  It has held diapers, itty bitty baby boy clothing, teeny little booties...I have changed 1000's of diapers upon its top.  I could not get rid of it, too many memories!

But re-purpose it I could handle!

I removed the supports and runners for the top two drawers, lightly sanded the whole dresser.  Then I then cut a piece of 5/8" plywood on the table saw for a new shelf that would replace them.

Next I got out my handy little jig saw to notch out the corners...I love my jig saw!

I put the shelf in and screwed it into place...

Next I glued and nailed a small piece of molding to cover the seam between the shelf and support piece...and primed the whole dresser and the bottom drawer

Next was my folly...

Instead or reaching for a can of white paint another little can caught my eye...how can one resist a color called 'Italian Olive'?  It was left over from another project and was sitting there just beckoning to be used...really it was!

I painted the whole thing with one coat of this great green color...how fun...how different!

It would look so fun and classy with this great shelf paper that I had left over from the farmhouse remodel.

But...

What about my determination to paint something white?  Did I have no self-control?  Could I never say no to the bright and the funky?  Could I not in some small way be traditional...even classy?

So I went to the shelf and bravely picked up a can of creamy white paint and with a slightly heavy heart did this...

As you can see I could not bring myself to paint it all white...I just could not!  But I was satisfied that this was as close to all white as my color-lovin' heart would ever come.  So two paint coats later I had my white credenza.  But something was just not right.  It was all shiny and new...too shiny and new.

I took out a piece of 150 grit sandpaper and proceeded to sand all the corners and some of the flat surface until the green paint or bare wood shone through.  Yes a little distressing is good for the soul!

Then I put back on the cabinet pulls, the ones that I had touched so many times over the years in caring for my children...when they were just babies...now they are in college...sob.

They were old and dark and I thought just right.

When I brought the piece in the house I knew it would be perfect for my hubby's binders, he is urber organized and has much of our important paper work in matching binders.  These binders are all white and all UGLY!

I could not put such ugly binders on such a pretty little piece of furniture so I decorated them...yes I indeed spend part of an afternoon when I could/should have been doing laundry cutting out little pieces of shelf paper, adding stickers, left over from my calendar project, and slipping (actually wrestling) them into the edges of the ugly binders.

Aren't these fun?  They almost make going over the budget something I would look forward to...almost.

And as if I didn't already have better things to do, I decided the 'Cars' binder which holds all of our maintenance records for all of our cars dating back to 1992 (yes he is that organized) I decided to jazz it up even more with hubby's favorite car...'58 Corvette anyone?

And wait...

Matching paper in the drawer!  I may not be as organized as hubby but I lay a mean shelf paper!

So there you have it, my first white piece of furniture, my first credenza, but certainly not my last piece of re-purposed furniture. 

You see I have 3 more pieces of old furniture waiting for me in hubby's garage...sorry sweetie, I'll get them out soon! 

If you want I'll just skip the laundry and get right to them...really I would do that for you...I love you that much!

Although next time I think I'm going to go for plum, or moss...or melon!  A girl can only do so much white!

So what about you?  White or Colored...Cream or Fuchsia...Chalk or Italian Olive?

  

Sheet Metal, Tile magnets, Chalkboard paint, Calendar board, Craft tutorial...whew!

I needed a new calendar, badly.

So I decided to make one...shocking, yes I know!

The problem with most of my calendars in the past is even though they might have had lovely photos, or lots of space for notes, or hourly agendas...

I did not use them.

No, I am a scribbler of tiny pieces of stray paper kind of girl.

Yes, the stuff it in my pocket and forget about it till it goes through the wash sort of chick!

Unless a calendar could be stapled to the front of my shirt with a pen attached to it I just can not be bothered to write all those pesky appointments down to save my life.

So I decided I needed something cheap, fun, and most of all easy to use with itty bitty pieces of scrap paper that have been wadded in my pocket all day!

Here is what you'll need:

a Frame that is extra wide

Chalkboard paint/brush

Sheet Metal

Tin Snips/gloves

Vinegar/course salt or steel wool

Small tiles

Magnets to fit on back of the tiles

Glue

fun Stickers both numbers and letters

Start by painting your frame with two coats of chalkboard paint.

Use the backing or the glass in the frame as a template for your sheet metal

Cut out sheet metal just shy of the template size...USE GLOVES...this stuff is so very sharp!

I scrubbed the metal with vinegar and course salt to take some of the shine off.  Steel wool works too but will leave more of a pattern of scratches.

 

When the frame is dry put in the sheet metal, the glass (in case you want it later), and the backing, secure.

Use some fun stickers to put the days of the week across the top for the days of the week

For your magnets, take the tiles off the mesh backing. 

Put on stickers for each day of the month.

Play with any extra tiles you have by making you favorite words!

I used self-stick magnet squares but found they needed a dab of glue to make them really secure.

When dry place, them on your magnet board.  Now don't be all freaky about getting them just right in perfect rows and columns. A little of crookedness is good for the soul...trust me on this!

Now get out you chalk and doodle around the frame...doodling is good for your soul too, really good!

 

Place itty bitty bits of paper that have been hiding in your jeans, beneath the appropriate magnets and voila'!

A calendar that even I will use!

And if the calendar doesn't work out, just remove from the frame and you have another cookie sheet!

Cookies are really, really good for the soul.

Trust me!

Note 1: This project cost about $35

Note 2: Remember to come back Thursday for the kick off of our children's garden contest, getting our hands dirty with kids for fun and great prizes!

Note 3:  Have a good day!

Note 4:  Just kidding...even I don't have that many afterthoughts!

 

 

Kids Spring Easter yarn egg Craft Bumble Bee tutorial

As a beekeeper's wife I have a soft spot for the little buzzing creatures that do so much for our gardens.

As promised yesterday here is a fun easy craft for kids and grownups alike.

 

Supplies:

Plastic Eggs in yellow (other colors will work but I used yellow in case any showed through the yarn)

Yarn in yellow and black

Waxed paper (wings)

Black chenille sticks (pipe cleaners for antenna) 

Hot glue gun (optional but helpful)

Glue

Small black buttons

Step 1

Determine how long you want your piece of fishing line for hanging your bee to be.  Cut.  Then tie a good sized knot in one end.  Place the knotted end between the two halves of your plastic egg.  Snap shut, this will be your hanging line.

Step 2

This is the part I did with the glue gun, you can use regular glue but I wanted this part to dry fast so I knew the kids wouldn't pull it when they were wrapping yarn.

Make a small swirl of yarn with your fingers leaving a long tale of yarn for wrapping, place hot glue on the rounded end (not the more pointed end) of your egg.  Place your little swirl of yarn on the glue.  This will be the face end of your bee.

Step 3

Place glue around your egg and the start wrapping your tail of yarn around your egg.

Cut your black yarn when you get the desired amount of black applied.  Make sure your cut ends are on the bottom of your bee.

Add more glue and start yellow where the black left off on the bottom of your bee.

Keep alternating until you get to the end of your bee and it is completely covered with  yarn.

 

Step 4

Cut out 4 wings from waxed paper.  Put a small dot of glue at the bottom of two of the wings and place another wing on top.  You now have two double wings.  Make a small fold at the bottom of the wings and use this to slip between two rows of yarn. Put a small dot of glue and then move the yarn back.

Step 5

Cut your pipe cleaners the length you want and shape.  Make a tiny bend in the end and slip between your yarn where you want the antenna to be.  I used a dot of hot glue to hold but you could use regular glue as long as you make sure they stay in place until dried.  Bring the yarn back together.

Step 6

Place your buttons on the face for eyes using glue. Add a ribbon if you like for a girl bee

Step 7

Hang your new little bees!

My kids had a great time making these with their friends...I'm sure yours will too!

 

And if you have any extra yarn you could always make some sheep!

old Felted wool Sweater to Laptop bag Case craft Tutorial

When I take my laptop anywhere I carry it in a grocery bag...

Yes call me a fashion icon!

I figured it was about time I stepped up the cool quotient and made myself something a bit more stylish to carry my computer in.

(Note this would make a ROCKIN' diaper bag too!)

$3.00 alpaca thrift store sweater meet my laptop...computer this is Mr. Sweater!  I am hoping you all will be very happy together.

First I determined if I had a sweater big enough to hold the computer...this dark turquoise blue sweater that I had previously felted would fit nicely.

Next I picked out a fabric for the lining...

Being as I was in no mood for something soft and feminine I went with bold and fun...I think the sweater approves!

I laid the laptop on the sweater and used a piece of paper to determine the distance apart and the arc of the handles...

pinned and then cut...

After I cut out around the neck I used the piece I cut as a template for the next cut at the shoulder.

Cut out both sides at the shoulders

(The underarm side seams will be the center front and center back of your bag)

Lay the bag out on the fabric you will use for the lining. 

 
But around leaving about 1/2 inch for seam allowance...leave 1" at the top of the shoulder strap. Cut two.

Next lay out your lining piece on some fusible interfacing and cut it out...cut two.

With your iron fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the lining pieces.

Stitch your sides together.  Turn lining so seam is in front facing you...put aside.

Cut two rectangular pieces for the interior pockets.  Mine I made 8" tall. 

Fold each one in half short end to short end right sides together.  Sew around the edges leaving a small opening for turning.

Turn right side out by pulling fabric through the opening. 

My secret to really sharp corners is my handy dandy orange chopstick!  I have no clue how to eat with them but they are certainly handy for sewing... 

Press the pockets.

Pin pocket to the lining. They go over the from seam that is facing you...center the seam on the pocket

Stitch around the sides and bottom leaving the top of the pocket open.

I stitched through the pocket making little sleeves for pens. 

  
With right sides together stitch across the bottom.

Turn right side out.  Slip the lining into the sweater turning under the top edge and pin.

Stitch along the top edges... 

Here it is all stitched up...

Next cut open the sleeves. Cut a rectangle 6" wide by the length of the sleeve.  This is going to be your ruffle.  

Sew a long gathering stitch up the middle of the rectangle. Gather it until it is the length that will fit on the front.

Pin it to the outside of your bag.

Sew on the center line to your bag attaching the ruffle.

Use either a ribbon or another piece of fabric to cover the center stitching.

I used a piece or the lining fabric that I made into a tiny ruffle.

Hand stitch in place and...

You're done! 

Slip your laptop in and you are good to go!

Much prettier than a grocery bag! 

And for those of you that really know me know that I hate to sew ruffles and I don't wear them either...ruffles are just not my thing.

So why a ruffle on your laptop bag?

Well with 3 college age sons living at home right now, each with their own laptop.  None of which have a laptop carrier.

I figured a bit of ruffle would discourage my bag from getting up and walking away with one of them!

 

Now I have two bags that my sons won't steal...

A girl has got to stay one step ahead of those boys! 

 

Note...the tutorial for the felted wool sweater rose bag is here.

 





 

more stray Sock Monsters at the Lake bunny, kitty, pig

I am now officially obsessed with stray socks. A cat, bunny, and pig have been added to the menagerie! I am making a whole host of little critters to fill the kids' Easter baskets

Our newest friends spent the weekend at the lake together...

The day begins with Boots the cat enjoying the early morning on the lake while his friends still lay in bed... 

After their morning coffee, Rosie the rabbit, and Dots the pig join Boots.  They talk about what adventures they might go on today...

Boots wants to climb trees.  Rosie wants to go swimming.  Dot wants to have a picnic... 

Boots being the expert climber in the group scrambles up the tree to a dizzying height. ..

He urges his friends to join him... 

Rosie hope onto a lower branch and refuses to go any higher sighting her fear of heights...

Dot insists she will remain on the ground using the excuse that she is finding truffles...her friends are not fooled but play along not wanting her to feel bad for her lack of tree climbing skills.  

After climbing the decide a nice walk in the woods would be relaxing.  They find an old log and sit and enjoy the lovely scenery...

Being the wild and slightly flighty one of the bunch Rosie hops up on a ledge overlooking the water and tries to screw up the courage to make the leap into the icy cold water...her friends beg her to come down!

She stands on the edge for what feels like an eternity to her anxious friends below...

Finally she gives in to their pleas and climbs down...secretly glad for an excuse to take that loooong plunge.  

Rosie is so upset by the scene her ears won't stop shaking...

And her knees are so weak from fright she can hardly stand.

As the light begins to fade from the day they make their way down to the dock to have a quiet moment together.  You see this will be their last day together.  Unbeknown to the others Boots the cat would soon be leaving for a far off land...

He explains to Rosie how he has found a new love...Jen...and must follow his heart north to Canada.  She is heartbroken...

He comforts her with a soft kiss on the cheek and reassures her that she will surely find another.  More sock monsters are sure to cross her path in the future...maybe even a boy bunny for her to love.

 

They take a moment to just sit and enjoy each others company...one last time.

THE END

*****

So what happened to Rosie the rabbit?  Did she ever get over that cat?

Well being the wild child that she is...

She went and got a tattoo on her arse as to never forget her first love...Boots.

*****

To make the cat and the bunny follow the tutorial found here. Just change up the ears

For the pig...

You will need two socks.

Fill one sock with stuffing until it reaches the size you want, trim off excess and stitch the cuff end to close.

Insert the filled sock into the second sock with just the toe end sticking out of the cuff of the outer sock (this will be the snout)

Trim off excess at the toe end and stitch close.

Take two scrap pieces with right sides together stitch into a small ear shape leaving the bottom open.  Turn right side out.

Make another ear...stitch them both to the top of the pig's head

Make four small balls of stuffing for the feet...push them into the outer sock and position them.  Stitch around them making sure to catch both socks with the stitching

Sew on buttons for eyes and the nose.

Sew on a piece for the tail.

Enjoy!

The pig is patterned after a pig found in the book Stray Sock Sewing

  

 

My sewing Craft room and getting Inspired!

Sometimes it takes a pair of shoes to get ones creative spark going!

 

Or two pairs!

And sometimes it is a t-shirt that was on the sale rack!

And sometimes...on very rare occasions...it is just a clean sewing room!

 

Then again sometimes I don't sew at all...I just sit and daydream while looking out the window!

So what gets you inspired to be creative?

*****

And yes I will let you all see the finished creations...if I can ever quit daydreaming and get them done!

Make Alpaca Wool Sweater into Felted handmade Bag tutorial

 

Today's little craft project is turning this Goodwill purchased alpaca sweater into a lovely rose covered bag.  Since I spent the weekend cleaning out the camel house I figured I deserved something beautiful and not smelling like poo!

The sweater was a mens X-large that is felted (washed in hot and dried on hot twice until it shrunk to a large child's size sweater...you know it felted when you can no longer see the stitches and it will not unravel when cut)

I paid $3.00 for the sweater...

I found two sweaters with this tag...lucky me!

 
   

Start by cutting off the sleeves just inside the arm-hole seams  

Next cut at the neck...

 

I lined up a straight edge across the bottom of the armpits to make sure my neck cut would be as deep as my arm cuts.

Try to make the arm curves and the neck curves match...I had to fool with it a little after these pics to get them even.

These will be your handles

After you cuts are made shift the sweater around till the handles line up. 

Next is the bottom of the bag...you don't have to do this, you can just sew the bottom together straight away but I needed the extra room.

I used one of the sleeves I cut off for this.  I made mine about 4 inches wide by the same length as the bottom of my sweater. 

 
Turn your sweater inside out and at the bottom edge of the sweater pin your bottom piece, right sides together.

Now how does one fit a square cornered bottom piece into a curved sweater hem?

Well I put a little tuck in the corners of the bottom piece...all pointing in...to make it match up better to the sweater.

Stitch along the bottom where you pinned, feed the sweater into the machine.  Don't pull from the back it will stretch and warp the sweater.

Turn right side out.

Now you have a perfectly useful wool bag.

But...

when I noticed all those scraps I knew I just could not let them go to waste.

So I played around with them a little...

Hmmmm...maybe roses?

So I made a couple of roses by handstiching them as I wound them around

And if two were good...

 

Nine were better, with leaves to boot!

All made from the scraps and hand sewn on.

And what am I going to do with my newly created bag?

It is my new knitting bag!

I love the ribbing on the bottom...no hiding what this used to be!
   

There you have it...a thrift store sweater turned new rose knitting bag!

 

So everybody run...don't walk...to your nearest thrift store and grab a armful of wool sweaters.  Let loose your creative genius that I know is hiding in there!

Have fun!

Update...I have also made a ruffled laptop bag out of an old wool sweater.  The tutorial is here.

 

  

 

How to make a curved Wooden Garden Gate, tutorial

When I posted a picture of my new 'cranberry sauce' colored garden gate I had more than a few of you ask if and when I was going to post a tutorial on it.

Well let me state for the record I am no wood worker, I do not feel qualified to say "Look, here is how to build a gate."

But what I am going to do is show you how I built this particular gate...whether it be the 'proper' way to build a gate...

I don't know!

First I measured the opening where the gate was going and subtracted 1 inch...that would be my width.

I then determined how tall I wanted it and then subtracted 4 inches...making the frame 4 inches shorter to allow for 2 inches of overhang of the face boards on top and on the bottom.

The frame is built from 2x4s, I don't like working with the chemicals in pressure treated wood so I just used regular lumber...I stained it later for protection.

I cut the top and bottom pieces the width I wanted my gate to end up...in my case 43 inches.

I then cut the side pieces 1.5 inches shorter than I wanted the over all height to be.

At the corners of the frame I was going to use lap joints.  Meaning one piece would lap over the other.  Here is how I did it.

Working with the top piece of your frame measure in and mark 1.5 inches on the narrow side.  Do this on both ends of the top piece and the bottom piece...you will do it 4 times.

Then measure up 3/4 inch on both ends of the top piece and the bottom piece, mark

 

In 1.5 inches and up .75 inches.  Draw a line through each point and you will get this...

This is the little section...the one with the 'X' through it that you are going to cut out.  Then your side boards will fit right up in there all nice and snug!

This is what it should look like with the wood removed from your measured section.  I used the table saw to do this but you could do it by hand or if you're really good with a chop saw...I'm not that good.  Besides I like the table saw!

I laid everything out on the floor and got it square

To determine square, measure corner to corner diagonally and the measurements will be the same when square

When all the joints were done I glued and screwed them together using stainless screws.

Next is the diagonal brace.  Measure the longest inside measurement from diagonal corners.  Cut you lumber to that length.  Then cut your angles from that long point back 45 degrees in either direction.  I use a compound miter saw.

It will fit snuggly into the corner.  I glued and screwed this too.

Next I put two coats of deck/fence stain on.

Olympic solid stain in 'Cranberry Sauce'

Then I started on the cedar face boards...

I knew I wanted a curved top so I sketched in paint the approximate arc. That way I didn't stain more than I needed to...I don't like staining very much!

Keeping it real with you all...son's wrecked car awaiting fenders and hood...punching bag...swings...coolers...and now a gate!  And my poor hubby doesn't like clutter and disorder...sorry sweetie.

I placed the boards on the frame and determined that a gap of 3/4 inch was what was needed for even placement across the frame.

I screwed them in place...then I had to cut the curve on top

I placed a 2x4 at the top of the gate on an upturned 5 gallon bucket. I pounded a nail into the 2x4. The board was adjusted so the nail was in the exact center of the gate.  I attached a string with a pencil on the end to the nail.  After some experimentation with the length of the string I found the arc I wanted and the traced it onto the wood.

If you look in the first picture of the post I did not bring the curve to the very outer edge of the gate...I didn't want a sharp point on either side so I brought it in 2 inches from the edges.

I then cut it out with a jigsaw.

After it was cut I put on the 2nd coat of stain and let dry.

I then attached the hinges and hubby and I went and hung it in the garden.

It fit perfectly and should keep the chickens from messing in the garden beds...now if it would only keep out slugs!!!

 

 

LIttle House on the Prairie Dress home Sew

My Sweet Daughter does not want to be Hannah Montana.  She does not want to be Cinderella or Belle.  No she just want to be Laura Ingalls Wilder.  She wants to live in a sod shanty by a creek somewhere!

Last weekend was our local Father Daughter dance.  Sweet Girl did not want a dress with tulle and lace...no silk or satin for her.  No she wanted a dress "like Laura or Mary would wear mama!"

So instead of picking a fabric that was fuchsia, lime, or tangerine per her usual, instead of having polka dots and swirls she went for the most old-fashioned fabrics in my stash.  Something that was originally for a quilt.  Something she was sure Laura would have worn!

We decided that we would make an outfit that had pinafore on top and a dress underneath...somewhat like a petticoat.  We were going to do bloomers but ran out of time.

Pockets were a given...Little Lauras needed places to put found treasures! 

 

A little twirl factor is always fun...but not too much she said.

She determined that Little House girls would never have worn plastic buttons.  After some research we found that it was either, wood, shell, or metal.  I wanted wood, she wanted metal, she won.  I will admit that she was right...this once!  

And I know that most people put the straps on the inside of the pinafore...I like them on the outside.  Call me quirky!  Besides if they are on the inside you can't see the fun buttons. 

I also made the straps long enough that I can put in another set of button holes when she gets bigger...not that she allowed to do get bigger mind you!

She has worn this dress pretty much every day this week so far!

She has even worn it while practicing her puts... 

And racing her little brother!

Before the dance I asked her if she wanted to put on some red tights to match the flowers in her dress, she looked horrified...

"Mama...have you ever, ever seen Laura or Mary with red tights?"

No I guess I haven't...

How did the dance go you ask...

Well hubby said that she certainly had the most 'home-spun' dress in the joint.

I asked Sweet Girl about it...

"Mama, I had the prettiest dress there!"

That's my girl!  Who needs tulle and lace when you can have cotton and gingham!

Note:  If anyone is interested in how to make the pinafore let me know and I can post a tutorial on how to draft the pattern and make the dress

Linked to:

Do it yourself Chalkboard Paint furniture Craft Tutorial

If any of you hang around here much you realize that I am completely enamored with chalkboard paint.  My family teases me that if they were to sit in one place too long that I might take my brush to them...which could be a bit of an exaggeration...

A bit.

Well this is the tale of a dresser that my husband had loaded into our van to take to the local Goodwill center.  He was tired of it in his garage.

When his back was turned I took it out and hid it away.

While he was at work I did this to it...

Lovely isn't it?  Plywood and fake wood veneer really turns me on, lol!  Nothing that a coat (or two...or three) can't fix.

Looking better already...

I had not originally planned on painting the back...

But when I looked and saw that it had what looked like two canvases on it I could not resist...I had an idea!

After three coats of paint that were allowed to dry thoroughly in front of the wood stove...snort.

I took what I thought would be the perfect circle size and proceeded to trace around it in pencil on the back.

Hmmm what am I up too you ask....

Any guesses?

Yep...I'm painting on the outline of a little girl!

Sweet Girl helped me every step of the way.  She determined hairstyle and skirt length.

And since there were two sides to the back it was only fair that Baby Boy got his own!

Big sister, little brother.  Together forever...well until I decided to paint it again!

The kids had a great time doing this...

They have spent hours behind that dresser so far!

I left the sides of the dresser blank for free form fun! I did some minor tweaking of the front...

Here is what the drawer pulls looked like before...

After!  Brushed nickel from Lowes. 

Of course the screws that came with the new pulls were too short so I had to drill out all the holes!

And since the whole thing is painted with chalkboard paint it was just crying out to be doodled on!

About half way through the project I decided that it was going to be a cabinet to store all the kids' art supplies in.  So of course I labeled each drawer with chalk.  After I have gotten all the supplies exactly where I want I may paint the labels on but for now just chalk.

I love chalk!

Not to want the top to feel left out and neglected I did something fun up there too!

I painted 'I made this' on it then had a piece of 1/4 inch glass cut to fit the top.  That way I can display some of the kids' artwork under the glass!  Again being painted with chalkboard paint it can also be doodled on too!

I put little clear rubber bumpers at the corner to make it easy to slide the artwork in and out

There you have it...saved from Goodwill re-purposed dresser turned fun art supply storage/chalkboard cabinet!

Costs:

Dresser                          Free

Paint - half a can    $7

Hardware                      $40

Glass & bumpers        $30

Total                                $77

Fun factor - Priceless!

   



  

Not my Craft Projects!

As seeing that I am a sensitive sweet wife and am very much in touch with my husband's need for order...

My little craft projects would never...

Take over a spot in the garage as a 'gate building station' causing him to have to be careful how far he pulls his car in...I would certainly not have had this station for weeks now.

And I would never take an old chenille bed spread off of hubby's corvette to use as a drop cloth...cause then his precious car would get dusty.

I would certainly not cover the whole kitchen island for days so I could doodle on an old kitchen cabinet...

I do not rummage through the laundry hoping for stray socks instead of folding the towels and underwear just so I can make little creatures...no that would not be the responsible housewife thing to do...

Neither would be spilling on purpose a whole container of foamy stickers while searching for all the letter I would need to 'write' on my painted chair project.  Sweet hubby did not have to walk by this mess every night for 3 nights while trying to make his way to the computer to do our taxes.  No I clean up after myself right away...all the time!

And I would certainly never...ever...light a fire in the woodstove on a perfectly warm sunny day just so I could dry the drawers of my newest project faster.  No I am perfectly content to wait the 24 hours between coats as per the instructions on the can of paint.

My darling husband did not walk in after work to our overly warm family room...look at the woodstove and then at me and roll his eyes.

Nope he would never do that!

Come join us to see what else we are not doing!

Sock Monster Kitty Cat Craft

Do you have a sock monster that eats your families socks?

Mine has eaten dozen of socks over the years...

Dirty rotten scoundrel that he is!

I have finally figured out a way to turn the tables on him...

Meet my very own handcrafted from a stray sock kitty!

This little darling is made from one of Sweet Girl's baby socks that has been mate less for years.  How's that for showing that darn sock monster?

Want to know how to make one of these?  It is so easy that Sweet Girl is making one too!

Start with a stray sock...you know the one that was left after the dryer monster ate the other!  If you have one with a different colored toe and heel.

Cut a narrow "U" shape from the top of the cuff down to near the heel.

Cut a small hole in the toe that you will use later for turning and stuffing.  Turn the sock inside out.

Hand stitch around the bottom of the "U" up to where you want the ears to end (these socks I will turn down after it is turned inside out)

Turn the sock right side out and turn down the cuffs and carefully stitch them together. Stitch across the very top of the 'ears' so the stuffing doesn't come out the top when you stuff her...hmmm maybe a few extra stitches would keep my stuffing in, yes I'm projecting again...sorry.

This is what it will look like with the ears done...she's ready to stuff!  Stuff it through the hole at the bottom, stuff firmly being careful to fill the ears evenly.

Once it is stuffed stitch up the bottom hole.  Sit it on a flat surface and adjust until it stands up nice and straight.  Correct posture is something every girl needs!

Now the fun part!

Ready to put on her face...

Pick a couple of buttons for the eyes...sew them on pulling them with a bit of tension to give them an inset look.

Next is her nose and mouth...

Choose your favorite embroidery floss color...

Use your imagination...round nose, triangle nose, no nose...smiling, pouting, sulking...eyelashes, glasses, whiskers.  Sweet Girl wanted this to be a girlie cat so it was pink floss and eyelashes! It think she will be a perfect addition to our library decor...

Our new little kitty friend will spend her days bird watching out of our library window...

There is wide array of books she might be interested in...

And Sweet Girl is always anxious to have someone to play dress up with!

The only thing that would make her life perfect would be a new little friend of her own to play with...

And maybe a tail...but with a 2 year old boy running amuck we decided to forgo the tail, it wouldn't have stood a chance!

Maybe that can be arranged!

Now go ahead...go find the stray socks that have driven you crazy all these years.

And exact your sweet revenge on the sock monster!

For more monsters go here...you'll find another kitty, a rabbit, and a pig!

*****

If you are looking for someone that is a true stray sock artist, Daniel, take a look at this book

*****

In honor of the fact that I have now had just over 5000 comments on my blog I am giving my 5000th reader that left me a comment her very own stray sock creation...

Jen from Muddy Boot Dreams was that very person!  She is one of my very favorite bloggers, an amazing photographer, and as sweet as can be!  Congrats Jen...let me know what your favorite color is and I'll get started on your little guy...or gal!

 





 

 

Chalkboard paint Craft To Do or Not Cabinet redo

We're playing with chalkboard paint again here on the farm!

The latest victim was an old kitchen cabinet that I had planned just to paint white and then hang it in the laundry room of the old farmhouse we just remodeled.

But needing an excuse to get out of laundry I decided to make this project a little more involved...

And a little more fun, than originally planned...

First I primed the ugly flat brown stained doors (sorry I forgot to take 'before' pictures)

Then I painted the middle with 2 coats of chalkboard paint.

Then I glued small piece of molding around the chalkboard paint (again forgot pictures)  The molding made a frame to look like there was a chalkboard hung on the cabinet.

Then I added a piece of bead board to the side that would be showing to cover the plywood that was in bad shape.  I used a scrap left over from the remodel.

Next I lined the shelves with that paper I just love, again left overs from the farmhouse kitchen. 

Then I decided to have a little fun with the doors... 

I had seen chalkboard 'to do' lists but I wanted to put my own spin on it...warped though it might be!

I decided what I wanted the doors to say, picked a font on the computer, printed it out and used it as a guide to freehand paint the words on.

Yep, there it is, my 'to do...or not' list!

Next I added a little flower sprig in the corner.

I cleaned the copper clad hinges and hung the doors.

Since every list needs some things on it...

My 'To Do' list is always loooong... 

My 'Or Not' list was relatively short...

Well that was until a few hours later when I had to add these...

 

Oh those are sooooo on my 'Or Not' list! 

Do you think having it in writing will inspire them not to do these things?  I'll keep you posted on this!

*****

Update...look what I just did!

 

My glass chalkboard jars look cute in there...hmmm, I'm sensing a theme! 

*****

 

Painting an old Antique Oak Chair a Fun Craft

So where do you get your inspiration?

Today mine comes from a skirt I made my daughter a year or so ago.  I adore the fabric and wanted to use it on something I could see every day.

I decided to re-cover the seat of one of my old oak chairs that I had gotten at an estate auction.

But before I did the seat I wanted to make the chair itself as bright and cheery as the fabric.

Here they are finished together.  Skirt...meet chair!

Oh how I adore the deep saturated colors and the lovely blooms in this fabric!  I chose one the deepest coral reds from the design for the chair paint...

I had seen a chair done with stickers about a year ago in a Better Homes and Garden 100 Decorating Ideas for under $100...a magazine I love!  The chair was all white, very chic, and quite lovely.  I was not going for chic, but for bold and fun! A piece of furniture that says "hey look at me!"

I think I succeeded.

Here is before...

Since I didn't have the kind of subtle stickers I had seen in the magazine I used what was at hand...my kids' foam stickers.  Not subtle but handy...and fun!

I started with a large flower right in the middle...

 I really liked one so I figured I'd love three...yep, I did!

And because I can't leave well enough alone I decided to 'write' on the chair using some of my favorite words!

 After I had all the little foamy stickers on, I gave the whole thing a good coat of primer...and no I did not take the time to sand the chair before I started this project.  No patience have I for that sort of thing!

Then came the yummy paint...a cross between red, coral, and rose...satin finish...two coats.

 
  

Now before you all think that I was having all the fun...au contraire, mon frère. This was a team effort.  I enlisted the help of my little artist in training.  Notice the well used art smock and the jaunty little beret!

  

We even let the little guy help! Yes, fun was had by one and all...

I'm pretty much sure I'm in love with this chair...

 

Yeah...pretty positive!

So is my sweet daughter...she has officially claimed it as her own!

 

 
 

   

OK...just a little update here!  I am so excited, our chair just got featured on Ohdeedoh, the great kids section of apartment therapy which is one of my all time favorite web sites!  Cool!

 

the rest of This Old Farm House Remodel

I was asked by some of my readers for a tour of the rest of the house.

Well since I live to please (I am not speaking for my children who think I live to boss them around)

Here is the outside all except for the windows remains untouched until the summer when we will replace the lower siding which is in poor shape. I do like how one of the past owners put up two different kinds of contrasting siding, it makes the outside much more interesting.

The front porch used to be on the very front of the house next to the large window where it is now blank space.  At sometime in the houses history another porch was built where it is now and the door moved under it next to the light.

If any of you have suggestions for those concrete blocks that hold up the porch supports let me know...can you paint them?  Should I?

This was taken just inside the front door looking left standing under the only arch that was originally in the house.  It separates the dining room (which you walk directly into when you enter the front door) from the living. Here is the living room with newly refinished Fir floors and new sheetrock, wall sconces, curtain rods, baseboards, and crown molding.

May I take a moment to let everyone here know that I am completely in love with old wood floors...the wear, the dings, the dark seams the lovely glow.  Yes old floors completely rock my world!

Here I am standing in the middle of the living room looking back through the same arch and into the dining room.

One of the new sconces and the crown molding.

Here we are again standing under the original arch looking through the new arch that we put in that goes from the dining into the kitchen and on to the new one on the other side of the kitchen into the laundry/bathroom end of the house wear the ladder is.

I love arches too!

Speaking of bathrooms...here is hubby working on the tile around the sink.  The kiddos love to help.  The bathroom door was the only one that had to be replaced, we were able to refurbish the rest throughout the old place.

None of the original bathroom fixtures were worth saving as they were from the 60's and all in bad condition.  The bathroom is pretty much all new...which is good since it will get a lot of use as it is the only in the house!

I'm standing in the tub taking this!

You can see the back deck through the bathroom window. Here is the view at sunset off that very deck...

Nothing like cedar and firs silhouetted against the setting sun!

We put new carpet upstairs in the three bedroom, painted everything and reworked and refinished all the door hardware...

Yes I love old hardware too! 

One of the downstairs doors has this little beauty on it...glass door knobs make my heart go pitter pat!

What do the kids think of all this?

Well how can you not love a big empty house for running and dancing?

This is from the end of the dining room past the front door on the left and into the living room where Sweet Girl is practicing her dance moves!

Our older sons have learned many things over the years from helping us remodel houses.  They can know, tile, do simple electrical work, do plumbing, install lighting, toilets, and showers.  They are also pros at demolition, hanging sheetrock, and putting up siding and roofing.  They have learned some valuable skills that should serve them well when they get their own homes.

***

So yes we're pleased at how this latest house turned out.

Pretty sure the new tenants are too!

But for now we're tired and it will probably be a while till we do this again unless...

Well unless another old house comes up that no one else wants!!!

Totally on a different subject...see these big windows?  We salvaged one just like these out of the living room.  I now have a new craft project that I'll let you in on soon that involves that very window! 
 

Stay tuned tomorrow when I let you know what I'm doing to help support the relief effort in Haiti.

The finished small Kitchen remodel and budget

Before on today's installment I thought I would let you in on the background of how we came to own this particular old house.

Some couple's travel, or golf, or go to museums.  Some enjoy cooking together or going to movies...my darling hubby and I buy old houses and work together to bring them back to life.  We love old houses, the amazing workmanship, the old doors, the old moldings, the charm, the smell...well usually! Pretty much everything about them gets our hearts pumping!

Our real estate agent knows to look for houses that have 'good bones' but need more work than most are willing to put in.  She gives us a call...we visit...get excited about another project.  We then put pencil to paper and try to decide if it is doable. After the purchase we make our plan of attack, make a budget (that we usually exceed by 25%) and get to work.  After the remodel we talk about reselling the house...but pretty much all  the time (ok, always) we have become way to attached to the house to sell and decide to keep it and use it to rent out.

So yes, we just put crown molding and granite in a rental. Yes we also just refinished hardwood floors and hung beautiful light fixtures.  Some say we are crazy to put things like this into a house we are not living in.  I say that old houses deserve the respect of quality and appropriate materials...

Now where were we?  Oh yeah I was going to hang cabinet doors...

All the hinges were copper plated...all the tiny screw that had to be put in by hand, no drill here!

There were 12 screws per door...it took forever!

Next all the doors pulls had to be cleaned...years of grease and grime takes some work to get off.  The one on the right is what they started out looking like.

They are white clad over copper clad over brass...very heavy. 

First door hung!

After many doors with hinges and knobs I was finally done...

But first a reminder of the 'before'...

And new!

 

Yes it is still small...but it is very bright and classic.  It is functional and pretty and I love how it turned out!

Now how did we do with the $750 budget?

Dishwasher...$379 on ebay, new, free shipping

Granite Tiles...$115 at Lowes

White tiles...$45 at Home Depot

(we already had some from another project)

Sink...$110 at Lowes

Faucet...Free

(we had it as a free replacement for a faucet with a lifetime warranty that failed and that hubby ended up fixing)

Light Fixture... $35 Lowes

Window...$75  Local Lumber Store

Paint and Primer...$50 Home Depot

Bead Board...$24 Home Depot

Shelf Paper...$8

Misc...$35

Microwave...free from a neighbor who was remodeling

Stove...came with house

Frig...free from our cabin

Grand Total: $876.00...ok so we went over a little, but for well less than a thousand dollars the kitchen looks like new.  Just don't try to get something out of the stove while you load the dishwasher, lol!

Tomorrow I will let you see some of what we did to the rest of the place...including refinished hardwood floors, built in arches, and new crown molding!