Hello, friends! Hope you are well.

I mentioned last week what we've been working on. A strange sitting room dangles off our bedroom. I suppose it was a sitting room, but for us it was a junk magnet room. It's cold in the winter and hot in the summer and we had the brilliant idea to close it off and make it a walk-in closet. A big FANCY closet.

It's so nice. I'm going to put thin curtains on the closet side of the French doors, so you don't see all the stuff, but for now, we're just enjoying standing outside admiring our work. And by our work, I mean Brian's. (kiss, kiss.) My only official job was to make and hang curtains to keep the direct sunlight from fading our clothes. So... thanks, mom for delivering your old curtains and rod, totally perfect in size and ready to hang. (hug, hug.)

I've never been so excited to put away laundry or get dressed in the morning. Oh, and I haven't had a full length mirror for a couple of years. Why didn't anyone tell me my jeans are almost all too short?!

Posted by Alicia at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (24)

This is my work table- flat files my mom adopted from an architectural firm for which she worked. It was her work table for years (she was, IS an artist too) and then she passed it on to me. The photo is hazy; I had a hard time dealing with the strong cross lighting.

I've been working on it so much more lately (woo hoo!) but I keep getting a strange crick in my upper back (boo hoo.) So my sweetie built me a new base for the table to raise it up to counter height. I love my sweetie. He does it all. He really does.

Posted by Alicia at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

gave up on the rick rack, but it'll do for now.

at least everyone looks better by candlelight, right?

Posted by Alicia at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (25)

except for the sewing machine.

Posted by Alicia at 01:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

I've been working on putting my daughter's big girl room together. (Well, bigger girl room. She's still just a smidge of a thing.) Here's a little tour. It's a very short tour; it's a very small room. She doesn't even have a closet. It is in the hallway outside her door.

Click on these images to see them larger.

The bed was mine when I was little. I painted the little birds above the bed for her nursery. I really wanted to make her a quilt, but alas it isn't happening. So the plan changes- Ikea duvet for the big bed, a quilt for her doll bed.

These cubes on the left came from the JC Penney catalog when I was about ten years old, and my dad and I assembled them to make a window seat for my room. They are on their fourth life- first the seat, then a television stand in college, then a changing table for both my babies, now shelves for N's room. My best furniture purchase of all time.

The repainted dresser belonged to Brian's mom and her sister when they were tiny.

I've seen these flags floating around crafty blog wonderland for quite awhile, but it wasn't until I saw them in Grace's daughter's room that I decided she might need some. Of course she does!

And I just didn't have the heart to take down her crib mobile. So it stays.

That's it. It's an itty bitty room for my itty bitty big girl. And all potty trained now too. Sigh. Where does the time go?

Added 7/14/07: Several people have asked about her wall color. It is a Home Depot custom color match of a nice light grayish mint green. If you're interested in the formula look HERE.

Posted by Alicia at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (36)

left to right:
real tree decorated by J, undecorated by N
pinecone tree inspired by one I saw at Pottery Barn
little birds soft tree

Posted by Alicia at 08:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

Another corner of the newly-spruced living room with a coat rack Brian spotted at an antique store up in Weston. It's not an antique, but it saved me from yet another list item: making a snazzy coat rack. The hooks are numbered, but you may not be able to see them in this photograph. J has chosen number 5 for himself and the number 2 for N. "Why?" I asked. "She's almost 2." "But you're almost 6?" "Mom, there is no 6." Duh. The chair is there so he can reach his number 5 but also appears to be a handy spot to stash one's Pilgrim hat and Indian headband from a recent (not so PC but entirely adorable) Thanksgiving re-enactment at school.

Corner photo take 1:

Corner photo take 2:

I know which take I like better...

Posted by Alicia at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

It's been awhile since I posted a Corner of my Home. And since we have a few newly remodeled corners, it seems like time. This piece is called Dirt Fence, and I can't remember the artist's name. We purchased it at the KCAI auction about 6 years ago. I had a little card with her name and the title, but I lost it when we moved. I love this sculpture, and I HATE that I don't know the artist. I'm pretty sure she is local. Anyone recognize it?

Once upon a time when we were newlyweds and had money, which we didn't even realize we had, we fancied ourselves as young, amateur art collectors. We attended gallery openings and auctions and if we saw something we liked that was reasonably priced, we bought it. We had the beginnings of a pretty nice collection going, but then we decided to have a kid, and then I quit working full time, and then we bought a bigger house, and then along came another kid, and then we fixed up the house, and then, well, now we REALLY have no money. So the purchasing of artwork has come to a screeching halt. We'll buy real art again someday. We will.

Posted by Alicia at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

All right, folks. I have to explain why I've been blowing off my custom orders and fun artsy projects. The bathroom, she is done. I should have had patience for a sunny day to take some photos, but I couldn't wait any longer.

See the before pictures here, here and here.

We have been working like dogs to get it (and the living room) done before our annual Halloween party in a few weeks, and we are tired. After these two rooms are done, we're taking a well-deserved break from the home improvement projects. Maybe until Spring. It's time to do some sittin' on the couch and some watchin' worthless television.




Oh, one last thing. There was one point in the process when the clouds opened up and heavenly rays of sunlight shone down on my sewing machine. I used the (cue angels singing...) automatic button hole feature on the top of the shower curtain. It's nearly a miracle.

Happy Monday, friends!

Posted by Alicia at 07:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

This slipcover has taken over my life, the dining room table, and sun room for two weeks. I have to add a few bits of strategically placed Velcro and a couple of ties, and it will be completely done. Here it is looking all prim and tucked in for the photograph. In reality it looks a little more frumpy and lived on, because well, it is. But it is so much better than the old upholstery. Now I can make some new cases in warm Fall colors for the throw pillows.

It took 21 yards of fabric, 4 spools of thread, and many many cuss words. Even a little blood was shed. Right now, I'm going to go open the windows, relax on this new couch, and read for my book club.

Posted by Alicia at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (28)

(and a peek for Angela.)

When Angela requested that we flash her a quick peek of our living rooms, I didn't play. Our living room is a disaster. Brian is starting to make progress on the hole in the wall, but it is still not quite done. The wallpaper is semi-torn off the walls. Plus all of the extras (sink, plumbing parts, tile, grout, drywall scraps) for the bathroom remodel are still stacked in there by the fireplace. You don't want to see it. Trust me.

So instead here's the sun room:

I posted a picture of this room a long time ago on my old site. (I took this picture last winter. Look at the snow in the yard!) This is where we do most of our living. The television is in there in the corner on the right, you can't see it from this angle, and the cabinets below the shelves on the left hold the kids' toys. The door to the back patio is on the right, and it opens and slams shut approximately every 30 seconds. This is a high traffic room.

So my w.i.p. is the couch. Purchased second-hand at a consignment shop, it is perfect for us. It's 9 feet long, super sturdy, and so comfy. We call it The World's Longest Couch. One of us can lay flat and there is still room for two more of us at the other end! The problem: the fabric is bad- 1970's garage sale bad. So I have a big project; I am going to sew a slipcover for that couch. Now's the time. I'm going to tackle it this weekend. I've had the fabric quite awhile- a heavy, washable, light khaki fabric with a nubby canvas/linen feel. How long do you suppose it will take me to finish? Wish me luck. Please.

Have a great weekend everyone. And may your projects go smoothly as well!

Posted by Alicia at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Day three of the bathroom remodel has brought us to this:

Which in turn leads us to this:

I debated if this photo was appropriate to post, but look at her. She's even covering herself up to keep it all G-rated. Brian said maybe it was more like PG-13.

Posted by Alicia at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

We are slowly fixing up our house. Being do-it-yourselfers, we are always working on something. In the three years we've lived here we have redone both kids' rooms, the kitchen, the office/work room, the guest room, the sun room, the dining room. We're currently working on the living room, remember the hole in the wall? It's still there. And I'm also spiffing up the laundry room. We got a call from Jorge today. He's the guy who is going to help us remodel our main floor bathroom. He wants to start this weekend! Weeee!

This is the bathroom that ALL of our guests use, and it is bad. Not good bad, bad bad. Click on the image to see a few more Flickr'd before pictures. When Jorge called, it set in motion a frenzy of activity. Brian has been tearing up the bathroom all evening. I have been transferring all of the kids' bathroom things upstairs and locating stuff we been hoarding from the ReStore. We've got a pedestal sink, a faucet, floor and wall tiles, lights, and a towel rack that have been waiting patiently in the basement for today's call.

I'm so excitied about all of this. It's the first time we've hired anyone to do a remodel for us. Jorge has helped us with a few things, mostly working for a few days and then going, but this time he'll work on it and in a few weeks, not only will we have a much lighter bank account, we'll have a new bathroom!

Then comes the fun stuff: painting the walls, picking out new towels, making a shower curtain. The plan right now is to keep the marble tub. It is in pretty good shape and I'm thinking it will look much better if we feature it, not drown it in a sea of unflattering yellow. The new floor tile is a medium gray-brown and the wall tile for the shower is barely off white. I'll probably go cream or very light tan for the walls and keep all the color in the accessories. Maybe a nice greenish-turquoise for the towels. Or dark red. Or coral. Hmmm... the possibilities are thrilling.

The only stinker is I'll miss my book club tomorrow getting it all ready. Book club night is one of my favorites of the month. Good food, wine, book and life discussion with a bunch of great women. Bummer. But it will be worth it.

Posted by Alicia at 07:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Today's color is blue. I had a perfect blue photo opportunity yesterday at the ReStore, where Brian is now the Associate Director (yup, that's a promotion!) They have this great light blue vinyl couch in the kitchen and J was sitting there at one end drinking a blue Gatorade. AAGH! No camera. I should know better than to leave the house without it.

This morning I walked around and found some blue. I recently put this basket together of stuff to use when we eat on the patio, our outdoor "corner". The melamine dishes are pilfered from my parents' camp box. We used them when I was a kid. Click here for a few more of my blue photos and here for more Corners.

Posted by Alicia at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Just a quick Corner today, nothing spectacular, but we're really feeling the need to appreciate our family around here this week. These are pictures of my babies when they were both new. N is on the left, J on the right. They were each about 3 weeks old.

Here is one other picture I took today. Thrifted goodness: a dress for the funky fabric, and some adorable, fancy French baby shoes ($2) The brand is babybotte- I looked them up and they go for about $50. I'm feeling good about that deal. They are size 24, which I think is about a 7. I can't imagine her feet ever being this big, but these kids do grow quickly!

Also, if I put this in writing, it might help me get it all done. Here's the stuff I've been working on this week:

designing new tags
redesigning my business cards
still hunting for fabric tags
ordered a rubber stamp of my mayfly logo from Office Max (only $13!)
finishing up a little something for a not-so-little someone
laundrypalooza (too bad it isn't as much fun as it sounds.)

Posted by Alicia at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This Corner of my Home looks so nice and peaceful. This table sits behind our couch in the living room. It's one of the first things you see when you come in the front door. The table itself was made by my sweet Brian from all salvaged Habitat ReStore materials. The top is a window. The lumber is all used. It's painted a nice buttery yellow- also from the ReStore. (Cheap stuff there- check it out!) The lilacs are from the bush on the side of our house, and I LOVE them. They are the palest purple, not quite white, and smell heavenly. I seem to remember them being a little darker in years past. I wonder if something is up with the soil? Too acidic, not acidic enough?

That's the good thing about photographs. You can set a stage, capture only what you'd like. This table is in the room we are currently remodeling. And remodeling around here is a slow process. Here's the scene while I took this picture: Directly behind me, over my right shoulder is the hole in the wall. Over my left is a section of torn up wall with exposed studs. To my feet is a crying baby. Poor N is fighting a sinus infection AND teething. She on antibiotics, but I don't know if it's working. In the kitchen is J, up on a step stool clanking around the cabinets, loudly searching and whining for more Easter candy. Outside dump trucks are rumbling by with loud brakes and heavy loads. There's some construction going on a few blocks over, and we must be on the dumping route. Needless to say, it was a two-cup-of-coffee morning.

N is now down for an early nap, which will blow the afternoon nap, but Mommy just couldn't take any more. I tried to put the finishing touches on the cookbook, but I broke my hole punch trying to punch through the cover. I'll have to run to Kinko's this afternoon to see if they have a heavy-duty one. I'll post pictures of the finished project later. Maybe I'll ask a cute little somebody to model the ensemble all together. Jen, I'll take it to the post office late this afternoon, so I doubt it'll make it there by the party. Sorry! Let's just say I'd did it on purpose, to spread out the fun for a few more days! :)

Posted by Alicia at 09:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)