If You're Scared...Say You're Scared!

This is the current project we're working on... and if these pics don't scare ya', I don't know what would! This is my washer/dryer area.... actually, it's not so much an area as it is a large closet. A large closet that is an eyesore, that is conveniently located in my kitchen for all to see. I know, you're wishing you had one too. I especially like the semi-blue walls (but only on some and only so far) and the capped off pipes from the old hot water heater that are just kinda' hanging out there. I can't tell you the pleasure I get just opening up those big ole bifold louver doors to do my laundry here.... joy, I tell you.

Another lovely wall behind the dryer. I will not tell you how many socks I found here.... let's just say the mystery of the "sock graveyard" has been solved!

This beautiful shelf holds all those laundry essentials... this, of course, is only functional if you purchase products in doll-house sized proportions. Anything larger resides ON TOP of the washer/dryer (watch out for that spin cycle).

But this..... this is my ABSOLUTE favorite part....

This is the air duct to the enclosed porch on the opposite side... yes, that is electrical tape holding it together and yes, it just kinda' hangs there without any support. Oh, and that area above the electrical panel...that's what is left of the CONTACT PAPER (that's right...) that surrounds the top and bottom. Who knew you used contact paper instead of drywall? There's a novel idea.

I won't tell you the contractor's name that put together this little jewel... but here's a hint: he doesn't live here anymore..... ya' know?

Luckily, I'm much loved by someone with a little more, shall we say, attention to detail....and anything but lazy. The tongue & grove boards have been purchased, and installation has begun. I wonder if this will change my outlook on the whole laundry thing...NOT.

Office Revamp Complete!

$99 file cabinet from Staples (and free shipping) and I'm IN there! Latteral file drawers have a lot more room than regular letter size, so I can fit everything in one piece. The sorter and in/out box are about 15 years old... I bought them at Sam's club (along with a file basket in another picture). I thought they could use some sprucing up, too, so I painted the wood frames on each black and left the wicker alone. Pretty cool to me!

This is my "re-purposed" chair (one of two) and my now organized desk. I made runners for all the pieces in here to match the chairs (cuts down on scratches and what not, and hides a multitude of sins on my old desk!). Artwork courtesy of Carson!

Printer stand (also known as a dresser). You can't tell from this angle, but I painted the fronts of the three drawers with black paint, too. Ties it into the other stuff in the room.

Sewing machine (love this cabinet- I've had it since I was a girl. Thanks M&D). This is a second chair from another room in the house that I painted black and covered in the same material... sure did get my money's worth out of that buy from WalMart!

This is the basket file drawer... so to speak.. that goes with the other two pieces. I painted the frame on this black, too and added the brown silk ribbon.

This is soap central... bought the shelving unit from WalMart (I know, again with the WalMart! But we live in a small area... not much shopping opportunities here and this is actually solid wood- not flimsy at all).

This is it looking in from the kitchen. I'm definately liking this MUCH better!

The other corner...

And my valentine's gifts from the boys.... there's a little one sitting on the lap of the bigger one. I won't tell you how many teddy bears I have... that's another post entirely!

Indulging Myself....

I go grocery shopping (the big shop) every two weeks. And I always hit the flower section (funny how it's right at the front door-impulse buy, anyone?). One store has a really nice floral department... you can get gladiolas, delphinium, lilies...you name it. At this time of year, it's usually roses- which is okay, too. I just like treating myself every couple of weeks, and putting fresh flowers out makes me feel better.

Sometimes they fade before they open up... that's okay, too. I just leave them in water until they dry out. Sometimes they'll stay whole, and sometimes they fall apart. But the ones that dry well?....


They become this... I love this arrangement in by bedroom. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the roses actually dried "yellowish" with pink tips.. and the hydrangea are green and purple.


I love these... I cut them from my sister's shrub last year (she gets zillions blooming every year!). These were actually BLUE when they were blooming, but dried this beautiful shade of green. Pretty cool, huh?

So go and buy yourself a treat today...just for you.

New Office Chair

As you know, I am currently attempting to set up my home office. A lot of the furniture and stuff are old pieces from other parts of my house that have wound up here. This chair is a prime example. (and look... there's another one of those cables hangin' out- Geeze! oh, and disregard the lovely stains on the chair pad... kids, ya know?)

This is it without the chair pad- even worse! There is like NO cushion left! Those of us with bony butts (and no, that is not a good thing) cannot sit on something this hard for hours on end. Your legs go numb after a while and you have to get up and walk around to get the circulation going! Needless to say, this was one of the first things I worked on this weekend.


I pulled it apart, added a LOT of batting for cushioning, painted it (who new Kilz came in a spray can? LOVE IT), and re-covered it in some of the fabric left over from another project.

This is the after, and I am much happier sitting "here" than "there". Ignore that stuff in the background- the whole room is a work in progress. But for those of you who have never recovered a chair and would like to, it's really a simple process. So go forth... and recover!

I'll Show You Mine... If You Show Me Yours...

After yesterday's post, I got kinda' curious to know what other people's home offices look like. I need some inspiration here, so send me your ideas. And what does everyone else do with the massive tangle of wires you're stuck with between the computer, printer, scanner....on and on?

Maybe it's just my mother and I... but I have a real issue with cords of any kind being visible. Call me nuts, but I will go to great lengths to hide them behind/beneath anything close by just so I don't see black cords everywhere (and, no... white ones aren't any better!). Perfect example... one year I bought this really pretty Christmas wall hanging and I thought it was so cool because it came with a small string of Christmas lights that you inserted from behind into already cut holes so that it lit up. Unfortunately, the cord hung down about a foot and a half past the bottom to the plug below. Drove me NUTS every time I looked at it. And it was in my hallway, so I couldn't jam anything in front of the cord to hide it or we'd be tripping all over the place.

I ended up taking the lights out and just using it as a plain wall hanging... my sister cracks up every time she sees the one at my Mom's house (beautifully displayed with the cord hidden BEHIND her Christmas village) -nothing like paying twice what you normally would for something you don't use to being with!



I know... NUTS! So what's in your office?

Getting It Together...

I'm in the process of making a major "life change" on the employment scene in the next few weeks (but we can talk about that later, once the details have been finalized!). In the mean time I have been getting pretty stoked about the possibilities the future may bring for me (and my kids) and as a result the pressure has been on to get my home office in order.

My "office" is "home" to my sewing machine; fragrances, ingredients & molds (by the boat load!) for the soap I make; labels, paper products & packaging like you can't imagine; and my desktop computer (with very little desk to work on!). Oh.... and about 25 baskets of various types, sizes & designs hanging on the walls... I LOVE baskets for some reason. Especially old ones. But I digress..

What I NEED is office-stuff, like a real file cabinet to keep things organized (as opposed to the large basket I'm currently using for files); space designated for a little more hardware that's needed; better lighting... the list goes on. And while I'm excited at the prospect of getting it together, I can't stand the thought of my home office not looking like the rest of my home... ya' know?

Even at my real job, my desk area has baskets on top of my credenza, a really nice desk lamp, wicker in/out boxes.... just stuff I need in a shape or style I like. I'm trying to reconstruct my office at home into something practical yet eye appealing to me.

I found these on-line (check in out here http://www.carriagegifts.com/vindex.html) and thought they were perfect. Practical but pretty (I know, how girly!). But this way if it takes me a while to save up for the actual file cabinet, at least I can leave these out without having to look at the good ole' manila files & folders. MUCH better!