Autumn

Cozy Fall.....

Anthropologie

 Anthropologie

Martha Stewart

Have a wonderful weekend!

Office Chandelier Makeover

Thank you for all your prayers for my mom. Her surgery went well, and they removed her lung and all the cancer. We are so thankful!!!

During the last 2 months, I have kept very busy doing projects around the house. This was mainly to keep my mind off of what was happening with my mom. 

I wrote several posts on my home office makeover. Here's another element of the makeover. My chandelier. This is the after:

Here was the before:

It felt too heavy for what I was going for in here. I didn't want to replace it because I really do like the shape, and I didn't want to spend any money I didn't need to spend. I painted it - because paint solves everything!

First, I used a tinted gray Zinzer brand primer and painted the entire thing. I then mixed a white latex paint to the same primer to lighten it. I went back and forth, adding a little more paint to primer, leaving some of the dark areas. I like using just primer as the main paint, as it leaves a nice chalky finish. 

I spray painted the chandelier sleeves white, as the off white looked odd with the gray/white of the chandelier.

Then, I added the crystals that I already had from a previous project. I did purchase a string of glass beads and strung it on the chain. I also had the chain from a jewelry project. So, out of pocket, this project cost $5. I love the new look!

There will be more before and afters of this office coming soon. Can you see that the wall color is different in this last photo from the before photo?

Meaningful

I painted this "Breathe" painting about 2 years ago. You can read the post here. It has become more and more meaningful. Every time I look at it, it reminds me to breathe, and pray. 

If you all get a chance, please pray for my mom. The doctors say she has lung cancer - the non-smoker's kind. She is having surgery on Monday to get the lung taken out. 
Thank you.

Home Office Closet - Before and In Progress

I am finally posting some before and in-progress pictures of my home office closet. I have been working to reorganize and beautify this entire office. I originally had all my paintings hanging in here awaiting sales. I had more furniture than I needed, and I knew that if I could make better use of the closet, I could keep things more organized and functional. 

Below is the before. What a mess! I took these photos in the middle of back to school supply shopping. 

The sliding closet doors kept me from being able to get into the closet and really keep it functional. I wanted to replace these doors with bi-fold doors, but I couldn't find any that were small enough for the width of this closet. I guess builders usually go in "off-sizes" when they put in closet doors, I'm not sure why. Here is the closet with the doors removed. See what I mean about DISORGANIZED and MESSY?

After removing the doors, I went upstairs and stole my daughter's curtains. She didn't like them anyway. It worked perfectly.

I can now close the curtains and hide the mess. 

I spray painted my husband's and my college filing cabinets the same color, and used a piece of heavy stone that my husband's step mom gave me a year ago. I now have a counter that I can place items on, paperwork, etc. I don't use it as a desk, as there is already a desk in this room.

I also added and extra shelf all by myself - no help from my husband! :) Up until now I was a little scared of power tools. 

I still need to paint in there, but for now I love it. It is so functional!

This past weekend I also painted this room. It's getting a little makeover.

I've been painting on flat canvas these days. This means the canvas is unstretched, so the painting would have to be framed. These paintings are approximately 16x20, and are very affordable. Shipping is also less because they are rolled into a tube, instead of packaged in a large box.

"In the Midst of it All" for sale. Click here to view.

Room view framed:

A Temporary Lighting Solution?

As you know, I am organizing my home office. I'm showing you little glimpses at a time, as it is not even close to being finished. I have painted my big brown desk, and have cleared it of most of the things that were cluttering it up. I removed an old lamp, as I wanted something a little different.

I had these old rusted out candle holders forever, and I attached clamp lights from the hardware store. I had this set up purely for functional purposes for when I take photos of my paintings. One has a fluorescent white light and the other has an incandescent bulb. They are growing on me and my 8 year old thinks they are "cool", so I am keeping them in there for a while.

Have a great Monday everyone!

School Days

The children are all back in school now. It's time for me to get back in the studio! I also have a lot of home freshening up projects I'm working on. See my first Craigslist purchase above? I love that old school desk/chair. I'm not wild about the orange oak. I'm thinking of painting or staining it....

Office Organization

I'm in the middle of trying to organize my home office. What a mess! I'm working on organizing the closet right now. Here are some photos that have inspired me:

country living

This next one isn't a closet, but it is a small space. So organized and pretty!

better homes and gardens

better homes and gardens

better homes and gardens

blisstree


If I ever get done with my office, I will show you some before and afters. It will probably be a before and during though, as life always gets in the way, and I can't seem to ever complete a project! :)

Joan Mitchell

I love the art of abstract expressionist painter Joan Mitchell. There is so much depth and feeling in her work.

Have a great Wednesday everyone!


Images from rivian-shareart.blogspot.com and askart.com

Conquered

A couple of weekends ago, a bunch of girls and their dads climbed this mountain. Mt. Princeton - 14,197 feet. 4 hours up, 4 hours down. So proud of this 11 year old who suffered a concussion only a month and a half prior to the trip!