2.28.2011

Naughty Rain, go to your room!

Dear God,
Please part the sky in the next hour and let the sun out!
The rain just does not understand that I have a deadline to meet. 
I cannot go outside and spray my projects until it stops.
I've been patient the past several days,
and used my time efficiently,
BUT

Its the snowball effect...or should I say "rainfall" effect...
without the chair, I cannot put out the desk...
without the desk, the bed will not look happy.
If the bed is not happy and sits by itself, then the art wont look right.
Its all about creating a "feeling"...It has to be staged just so....
YOU know how I am, after all, this is how You
created me to be!

Yes, yes, I know...ALL things work together for good. Yes, I know
there are 100 other things to work on instead.
Yes, I do trust you with this incredible opportunity.
and Yes, I know Your timing is always the best.

I will go use this time to work on something else....
BUT if that sun peeks through...Im sooo outside!!!

Amen

UPDATE:


I've got connections;)
Better hurry while it lasts!!!


2.25.2011

Have paint, Will travel!


Good Morning!
No time to chat today, Im off to paint my retail space 
(Ok, its a 8 x 10 booth, but retail space sounds so much more sophisticated, hee hee)
Its currently a lovely PLUM *sarcasm* color
which is a beautiful accent color, but toooo dark for me.
Heading to Lowes for a great fresh color....

So, in the meantime, enjoy some
eye candy....Rooms
that let you daydream and relax!

Luxury-furniture-design.com

Luxury-furniture-design.com

houzz.com
myhomeideas.com
Thank you for stopping by!
I hope today you will find YOUR
favorite dreaming spot and become inspired to tackle a
forgotten project... 
OR
 better yet, dream of a new one :)

*Jodi*




2.24.2011

Paws and effect

My friend Susan gave me a really cool "old school" 
elementary desk.....
Actually, she was hauling it to Goodwill and I hijacked it
from the back of her van.
Im blessed with friends who like me even when I pick through their "junk"

Do you remember sitting at a old metal desk like this??? too cute!

I confess, I hate to pass up free stuff that can be freshened up
or repurposed.
Last week I asked my 16 year old son
to jump out of the truck (I stopped, but barely)
 to lug 2 chairs from the curb into the back seat
of the truck. You see, earlier that morning, I'd noticed the small round wood table
and 4 good chairs at the curb (that means FREE!) I was in my
slippers with my hair all over the place, and so I would not stop.
As if you must look good to pick from the curb, right?
I decided that if it was still there later in the day, it would be all mine.
After school, Jordon willingly became my curb hauling buddy.

Later that evening, while admiring my "find",
I began to think... Isn't it odd only 2 chairs were left?
and then it occurred to me...
WHAT IF  a cute little family of  FOUR came by
earlier and could only fit 2 chairs and table in their car???
WHAT IF they came back later to find the other 2 GONE? 
I felt a little bad! 

ANYWHOOOOO...
back to the adorable desk.
Mr. Fresh kindly took it apart, and yesterday I started
 to paint it.
(After all, the sun was out, with no snow to be seen in my neck of the woods)
I chose a deep red high gloss that I
may antique to tone down a little.

Next, I sanded down the top to roughen it up.
...then I began to paint on the chalkboard paint.  I went on
to other things as it dried.
When I came back to check it...THIS is what I found.
Do you see those little toes???

Our little stinker, Smokey the cat, jumped up onto the 
counter...into the wet paint!
My floors resembled an episode of Blues Clues!
We were finding "clues" all over the house. 
Nothing a little sandpaper and another coat of paint cant fix.

 How could I get mad at this sweet lil guy?

Be sure to check out some of the blogs I follow ----> 
you will find AMAZING and talented women!

Friday I'm going to paint my booth! I decided on a really pretty crisp
blue that will brighten up the space, and coordinate with
the items I will sell.  I have added a few things
to the FOR SALE page. The photo and staging
is not very good quality, but Im working towards that:)
I will be adding so much more.
Once I set up the booth, I will post pictures!

Please....Don't forget
You're NEVER to old to follow your dreams
 xoxo Jodi







2.23.2011

Sunny Day...


Good Morning!
I did not wake up to candy...
or SNOW.
In fact, while I was out just a short time ago
it looked like this
Park near my house

Gorgeous blue skies and bright, glorious sunshine.

I know, I really need to take a photo class!!! 

About that time I received a text from
my friend Shannon...
who lives on Whidbey Island...really close to my old
house..the one I was homesick for
the other day.
NOT so homesick today....

Its a little dark, but thats because of all that SNOW!!! Its blocking the sun.
Holy Cow! It looks so calm and peaceful, doesn't it?

In all fairness, they say its coming tonight.
We'll see.
I think the seagulls are happy either way!


I, too, will learn to be content in ANY situation
and enjoy each storm, take in the view, sit and wait for
those blue skies to return!

or go poop on a car and head south...

depends on the day I guess!

**Jodi**


2.22.2011

Does that make me Vintage?

Hi Friends! I missed you yesterday.  In honor of (Belated) President's Day
I thought I would share this....

Alphamom.com

I like how Aaron thinks!
I had a great day with my family. They were home from school
and work because of President's Day.  I hope
you were able to have some fun too.

Yesterday was a special day for another reason...
My firstborn turned 21 !!!!  Does that make me Vintage?
Where do the years go? Seriously, I still feel 20 on the
inside (if only I looked it on the outside, dang)

May I introduce you to my ADULT son,  Jarrod....


Did I say ADULT? Well...ok, but look how talented he is?
College has taught him alot:)

Doing what he loves the most...

He is an amazing young man. His heart is tender and kind.He is a student at Western Washington University. He LOVES to play the guitar and is super TALENTED at it.
 He hopes to produce 
both his own, and others, music someday. I know he will.
Keep up the good work, kiddo.
I can still call you that, because Im Mom, thats why...

He couldn't make it home on his Birthday, but we will celebrate this weekend
with his favorite cake. German Chocolate.
Specially made by...
his DAD.

country living

Ok, the secret is out. I do not enjoy baking...or cooking...
just painting, rearranging...you know...
but I married well :)
Mr. Fresh loves to spend time
in the kitchen
and I would not want to step on his toes.
 *wink*
 I do, however, enjoy taste testing!

By the way...Isn't it annoying that I don't have many of my own pictures?
Im sorry, Im quite new on the blog scene
and Im realizing what a lame photo organizer I have been for...ummm,
the.past.twenty.two. YEARS!
Im going to get right on that, as soon as all my projects and furniture go to
their new happy new home...Next Week!!


Im so excited!!!!!!
I hope its nice and cozy where you are! We are supposed to have like 3 inches of
SNOW... I wish it were candy.

2.20.2011

Woe to the teacup!

Good morning! 
Its a bright, crisp, and COLD morning in the Northwest.  
I do think Spring is just around the corner, I can FEEL it, can you? 
I love waking up with the sun shining in my eyes.

As you savor your morning coffee, tea, or soda enjoy a chuckle with this...

If you were 
serving brunch to your best girlfriends...
How would YOU match up the cup with the gal???
Hmmmmm.....Im thinking that would stimulate some interesting conversation!
Splendora.com


2.19.2011

Home is...where your magazines get delivered!

Did anyone else get their Better Homes and Gardens magazine in the mail this week? I always look forward to a new magazine in the mail! Great ideas and inspiration...but when I opened to this...

I felt a little bummed out.  Not because its been a dark, wet, loonnng winter...but because we moved last summer from a house with a beautiful yard and alot of flowers, blueberries, AND a white picket fence and gazebo with a swing.  I loved the summer days curled up in the swing with a magazine or book.  It was a bright, cheerful and fun house to decorate and we often entertained there.

Getting ready for our daughter "princess fresh"'s graduation party

Front porch swing just like my grandma and grampa's 

Side yard with blueberries, hydrangeas and Rhodies


Gorgeous early spring Day on Whidbey Island
Mr. Fresh is in the Navy, and so for nearly 2 years we lived 2 states apart so that our kids could graduate with their friends. For a Navy family, we were very lucky to be in the same town for 8 years!  Last Spring, we moved to a new, but familiar town just 1.5 hours and a ferry ride away.  This is familiar territory because we had moved to Kitsap County in 1992 and stayed until 2002. ya, ya, ya...move on.....

Mr. Fresh and I decided to buy another house and rent out our Whidbey Island house. I always wanted an OLD house with soul. (Another name for a LOT of maintenance!) And with Mr. Fresh living 2 states away ...I proudly picked this....all by myself.....
ummmm, come on now, it has POTENTIAL!

I surely did not buy this house for its curb appeal!  Maybe it was the fact that I had been raising 3 teens alone and lost my brain cells...or maybe because I needed a project...or maybe, just maybe it was this....
wood floors, stunning molding and dark stairs! Be blind to the UGLY kitchen!

The adorable built ins with a view of the water


I was too distracted by the FANTASTIC china cabinets to realize our table would barely fit!

And my favorite room...we turned into a (small!) family room. This room has the best view in the house!

ok, ok, right, the magazine picture...
 

This is a city house, with neighbors very close, and a gravel alley (I use that word lightly..pot hole alley is more accurate) When we moved in, the back yard was only a shed and a couple dirt patches, huge "bee bushes" and a old cracked patio.  I was desperate for change, delusional from lack of, ahem, "freshness" and t.m.t.d. (too much teen drama)....   I do believe the word "Potential" is over rated.  Look for yourself!
Clearly, I'd lost my mind....Frightening! Isnt it?

The shed has since come down and we layed some sod last fall. Mr. Fresh and the Jr. freshies (our 2 son's) put in a brick walkway that leads to the DIRT driveway which leads to the OLD garage doors of the SINGLE car garage (hence the painting my projects on the kitchen counters!)...get the picture???  

So... WHY do I love it here? That's easy....

Home is where your sweetie is, and together, we can build a picket fence, plant blueberries, and flowers to
our hearts content! 
However...
 when I close my eyes each night, 
I hope and pray the house fairy will come....
...and I will wake up to this!
Just as I pictured it could be all along.

Source unknown


2.18.2011

Would you like sawdust with that?

 Cover your eyes until I say its ok...(well read this, but pretend they are closed, ok?, K) I cant believe I am actually going to show pictures of my home with this HUGE mess. Not only is my house in disarray, but Im using my cell phone to take the pictures! But this is the deal...I've always been just me. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I wear my heart on my sleeve. It just is what it is.  Right now, THIS is what it is. I will let you uncover your eyes if you PROMISE to remember that THIS is NOT how we normally live (messy sometimes, yes! Hoardy? no!) Also, these things are in a state of transition. Like a day at the Salon, they will be ready to go out by March 1st! Ok...carefully remove the blindfold...
Living Room!

Laundry Room/Pantry....


Kitchen! This is the ugliest kitchen on the planet, we want to tear out a wall and redo this room SO bad.
Im hoping that I will get enough stain and paint on the floor that we will just HAVE to do it
soon.  juuuust kidddding...sorta.
I have a lot of repurposing to do here, it involves epoxy, a  sewing machine, etc.
This room has awesome views of the Seattle Ferry and Manette bridge.
On a nice day, I will show you!

Thanks for sticking with me, hope I didn't scare you away!

2.17.2011

Oh Shoot!

My living room is OVERFLOWING with furniture, the kitchen counters are full of projects, and the dining room table is stacked with dishes. Sounds like an episode of "Hoarders", right? But I'm not a hoarder (thank goodness Im not opening a pet store!) ...I've been busy putting together all the goodies for my first ever Antique Booth! It's located in the Poulsbo Antique Mall in Poulsbo, WA.

This charming little Scandanavian town is located in Kitsap County between Tacoma and Pt. Townsend. Its a great day trip with views of the water and Olympic Mountains.  Feast on pastries in the local bakery, and spend the day meandering through the unique shops and restaurants.  (This is where a good blogger with a awesome camera would insert a breathtaking photo.....*crickets churp*....my battery was DEAD, its always dead when I need it!) Guess you will just have to make the trip, it is well worth the drive.

Last night I began working on an upholstered headboard. I needed to use the nail gun. Not the little hand held wimpy kind,  but the big loud compressor-don't point it at your face-kind.  It had been awhile since I used it, so I asked my husband (from here on out referred as "Mr. Fresh") for a refresher (ha ha, no pun intended).  As he left for the gym with our 16 year old son, he smiled and said "its easy, you will figure it out in no time."  It only took a mere 60 minutes to get the nail gun thingy attached to the hose which attaches to the big red compressor which has to be turned on to a certain pressure...and makes a very LOUD jump out of your pants sound.  Please note that jumping out of your pants in not a good thing to do when you have a NAIL gun in your hand! Then there were the staples. Now, I know it would have been a smarter idea to inspect the nail gun while unattached...but I just wanted the staples to stay in the gun. **UGH** after many attempts to get the fabric on just so and *bang* no staples I was ready to toss the dumb thing. Then... (clouds part, angelic music inserted) I saw it, the teeny little button at the very back of the handle...click...snap...the staples were locked in.  yippee!  The headboard was done in no time and turned out beautifully.  What I failed to mention was that in my frustration, I accidentally stapled the wool rug to the hardwood floor...oh well, It kept slipping around anyways.  Mr. Fresh will never have to know, he thinks Im pretty smart.

Coming soon (when I  get a new battery...and can figure out how to attach photo's!!) a little sneak peak of my projects. Im going to link up to my facebook page too!  This is so much better than sitting in an office 8 hours a day!! I love my life....

Lesson of the day? Go learn something new today, and don't worry if you nail your rug to the floor! Its part of the process and  it may save you from a fall later:)  You will be so happy you tried....its only a nail after all.

 *Jodi*