Picture Frame Update

There are times when I catch myself in the mental trap of spending more time on the computer reading about what other people have done than actually participating in the creative process myself...I've been feeling like that lately, so last night I decided to try a new technique on a picture frame/mirror that I had already started painting. 

I hadn't tried this technique before, and I tend to hesitate when I'm trying something new until I'm sure of what I'm doing. I realized though that I could hem and haw, and compare my plan to the success of others, and look for a better idea, or more specific directions...or I could just do it. So that's what I did!

Here's the before:

I had used a gray first, but I wasn't really happy with it...it was kind of plain and just boring. I grabbed a very light blue that I had on hand and brushed it over the gray. I let it dry for about 20 minutes (give or take, the paint was still a little wet so I probably could have waited longer for a different result), then came back and gently distressed with a fine grit sanding block so the gray peeked through. 

Here's how it turned out - keep in mind these photos aren't staged & I know the mirror is super dirty. The sun was going down so the lighting wasn't great.

I'll have to try to remember to take some better pictures tomorrow after I clean it up a little more.

I'm really not sure what to think about this..the blue really didn't turn out the way I wanted (at all) - it was just some oops paint I picked up for $5 and it didn't end up looking like the sample dabbed on the can. I think i would have looked better with a brighter color, but now that it's done, I'll just keep improvising and see where it takes me!

In My Head

In my head, I'm thinking about all the crafts I'd like to do if only I had the time.

I wanted to make this cute little wreath as a housewarming gift for my sister when she and her husband bought their first house...almost a year ago.

Front Door Wreath from Teach Craft Love

I really want to make this for my son's room to keep track of those growing milestones!

Child's Growth Chart from Etsy seller GraceWords

I would love a small stool or chair like this for my crafting area in the garage.

Office Chair Redesign from Design Squish

Remember that huge tri-fold mirror I wasn't quite sure what to do with? I still have it, and this idea is growing on me!

Thrift Store Mirror to Chalkboard from You're Talking Too Much

We still doesn't have any grown-up furniture in our bedroom, and I would love to make a headboard for our bed...something like this, or upholstered - I'm not sure yet, but this one Mandi made from an old door is really amazing! 

Old Door into Headboard from Vintage Revivals

& this is just a sampling of inspiration from my Pinterest boards! It doesn't include the painting I still want to do in the house, the sewing I want to learn, and the Paisley & Porter business projects. I'm starting to remember why I never did much of this before I was unemployed! I'm hoping to knock out a few projects that have been floating around in my brain for ages in the next week or so - stay tuned.

Rue de whatever

Is it really Monday again already? 

I haven't been doing much the past few days, other than being miserable and trying to recover from a summer cold. 

I realized that I never showed you the photos of the French road sign I did back in May...these are just the raw photos, not edited since 1) I don't have time right now, and 2) I didn't like the way it turned out so I've already painted over it.

I was pretty happy with it up until I added the white arrow. I was going for 'rustic' so I just freehanded that part instead of lining it up with pencil first - but I really hated the way it looked! I got frustrated and threw it behind a pile of stuff in the garage so I couldn't see it.

I found it again yesterday and decided it needed a fresh start. I don't know yet exactly what I'm going to do with it next, but I put a coat of fresh gray (Comfort Gray by SW) - I'm thinking something beachy.

I've got to dash out the door for work now, but I have some cool yard sale finds to share later this week. Have a good one, girls!

Em

Sink or Swim?

I know I said I had every intention of keeping a regular blog schedule when I went back to work, but so far that hasn’t worked very well, has it?

I’m finding it really difficult to balance my time. There is so much to do at work that I’ve been skipping my lunch hour and staying at least an hour late…every.single.day. It’s hard to say that I mind, because it makes for a nice fat paycheck, but I’ve been struggling on an emotional level about the creative time I’ve lost. By the time I make it home I’ve used most of my brainpower and don’t have any left for the creative process. I thought for a few weeks that my creativity had just dried up, but I actually realized that it’s just hibernating. Or something….

I kind of think I was just overwhelmed. I was putting pressure on myself to continue creating and blogging, and collecting everything and anything that I thought would stimulate that mindset. Combined with working 45+ hours each week, I think I just freaked myself out and made my brain just shut down in protest. I finally had it last weekend and almost went over the edge cleaning out my workspace and getting rid of stuff. My sweet husband found me out in the garage dragging projects out to the curb and gave me a pep talk. He has a wonderful way of readjusting my perspective and pointing out insights about myself that I know in my heart but can’t put into words just yet. I ended up bringing most of the stuff back inside, except for the nightstand I showed pictures of. I was having a difficult time with it to begin with, and I wasn’t happy how it had turned out. It was a piece of junk, didn’t have good bones, and wasn’t in good condition to start. I realized that I had brought it home for the wrong reasons (an impulse buy without careful inspection) so I let it go…I’m feeling a lot better now and am trying to focus myself better and be more intentional about how I spend my free time (doing something creative instead of sitting on the computer looking at other creative people’s stuff, etc)

source

In other news, our wonderful babysitter and her family are moving to Oklahoma. Her husband will be starting a great new job, and they’ll be closer to their families. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them, but the hubs and I have been in a scramble to make some other childcare arrangements for The Boy. We’ve enrolled him in preschool starting in August, and we feel really good about the school he’ll be in. All the same, it will be a big adjustment for all of us. We have every intention of keeping in close contact with them, but it won’t quite be the same – I guess that’s just part of life, so I’m hoping it’s an easy transition for everyone.

Aside from all that, life has been pretty normal. It felt really good to do something crafty for our little 4th of July get-together, and I feel like my creative juices are flowing again. I think as long as I keep the momentum going, I’ll be OK. I have a few ideas in the works now & I’ll show them here as they’re completed.

Have a great day, y’all!

-Em

Stars & Stripes

I hope y’all had an awesome holiday! I don’t have time for a lengthy post right now, but I did edit some of the pictures we took from the little celebration we had at our house..

I’ve been SO busy – I’m still trying to figure out how to balance work, home life, and blogging. If anyone has any suggestions, I’m ALL ears!