Young Creative Minds & the Project Dance

 As an artist mom one thing I know is that you don't want to mess with young minds......creativity will be tainted with adult minds.
 Scotty was so nice to sign me and William up for an open studio time at the Des Monies Art Center.  William loved it and was a bit intimidated not by painting but painting in a different place than home.  Home is safe and not distracting.  I saw a big difference in his concentration at the studio .....he can paint for an hour and be totally focused at home. At the studio he looked around at what other kids were doing and seemed a bit distracted.  It was interesting to watch.

I told myself before I went to the studio that other moms will have different parenting styles with there kids and that is perfectly okay.   It's saves me from judging or getting frustrated and really just focusing on William and not others.  But of course even after I told myself that boundary,  I ran into a good mom but she had many opinions on what her son should or should not be painting.  And one time told him that he can't do that or shouldn't do that.  Or stop cutting the paper you are making a mess....PLEASE!!!  I wasn't expecting that!
I just thought how sad....it's such a joy to just watch and see what they come up with on there own.  I know it's fall and a fall picture would be appropriate at this time of year but if they see something else to paint let them do that!! It was hard for me to believe that this little boy needed his mom coaching him the whole time, I was so curious of what he would put on the paper......but again I'm not his mom and next time I know what to expect a little better going to the studio!

 So I'm totally using my son to make some art work for my walls.  I wish I had more time to paint but for now I using my William.  It helps that he is totally into it so I guess I'm not totally using him! I had some poster board I was going to use for Fisher's Lorax party.  His party didn't end up happening so I thought what can I do with this poster board....then I remembered how I wanted to hang William's paintings down my hallway!  It wasn't on my to do list but William was doing all the work and was entertained.

 so as I was doing laundry I would check on him and see what he was coming up with and I just fell in love!! I thought I want to wear this as a skirt for spring.....might have to make some fabric out of this one!! Just love his painted belly, and yes he probably should be wearing a shirt since it's cold but this crazy mom just went though every ones closet and got rid of anything stained!

 So I tacked it up in my dark charcoal hallway for now....I love how bright it makes this hallway!

 I plan to frame his painting in a bright brassy gold frame and get a painting light to go above it.  I will do this  down the road as I do have many other projects going on.  Sometimes you get a start on projects naturally.  As much as I'm focused on getting the mudroom done, just like art you have to go with the flow. Decorating is just not on my list right now....we are doing our best to tackle the practical....but it was nice to see this pretty piece up!

 So this weekend we planned to work on the mudroom, then Scotty came home with papers from the county for the land we are in the process of buying.  So our neighbor started clearing the tall grass and we ended up helping him with that.

 That's another project that we will be tackling next spring but we got to tap into it a little this weekend.

 Another project that's not on the list is making a fireplace mantel for the living room.  This is totally decorative project and is not on the practical list at all.  BUT....when you have 2 little boys who get the kindle fire confused with the TV and like to touch it and put there finger prints all over it.  We needed to tap into this project to get the TV up! It just wasn't a battle I was willing to win....judge me if ya please!

 Much better! and I'm so thankful for a husband who listens to my daily struggles and makes it better! So the fireplace project is not happening for a while but it is planned out....

 I'm not a carpenter but I love to try.....we plan to build this simple mantel under the TV.  I'm more than excited to be done with the entertainment center.  One less thing to dust and and remove finger prints from!!

 It would be a lovely Christmas miracle to see the fireplace done by Christmas but no exceptions!
So we got a little side tracked taping into other projects this weekend. Do you ever do this with projects?! I call it the project dance and sometimes other projects cut in when you least expect it!

Babystep Projects: Eating what I can doing what I can

 As I mentioned in the post before I go crazy not being able to do.  I've done pretty much nothing but rest, eat and take care the of the boys. I know that IS something and I've learned it's okay to let it all go during the 1st trimester.   If you could see my house you might have to call hoarders, clutter everywhere!  But today  I decided I'm going to do a few things, not just clean but something creative.  It's medicine to my mind and soul and boy do I need it!
I picked really easy projects.....like repotting my boxwood.  Scotty got this little guy for our anniversary last month.  The man has learned me well and knows how much I would prefer a boxwood over flowers. So it was time for him to have a new pot and it sound good to play in the dirt a little.  Just like my eating habits these days if it sounds good, go for it!

I just used a cheap hanging basket pot that I had.  I plan for this boxwood to grow bigger and I will eventually buy a permanent pot for him.  So the free one will do for now!

It's not perfectly centered but I guess nothing in my world right now is perfect! I just love the touch of green.  I have to go get more little box woods this time a year, I'm sure they are going on sale soon.  I just love having the green around during the winter!

 So while I was outside with the boys I looked at my desk I bought on craigslist for $30 bucks.  At 1st I was overwhelmed with all the stripping sanding and painting it needed, then I thought I can take that hardware off and clean it.

 I bought this desk because of the hardware.  I think it was Nate Berkus that said to buy a piece just for the hardware.  Or he said if you just like the hardware and not the piece ask the thrift store if you can take off the hardware and donate the piece. Luckily I liked both the dresser and the hardware. It can be quite the deal since hardware can be pricey.

 So I sat on the deck with screw driver and got a little part of this project done.....

 I plan to either put different trim or cut more straight lines on the bottom of this dresser....just not a fan of curvy dressers and my swiffer duster doesn't get under it very easy either.
We sold our nightstands in our bedroom and I plan to put this desk on one side of the bed.   I want to put my make up in one drawer and use it as a vanity and then we will put a few office supplies in the other drawers.  Funny thing is I was not planning for our office to be in our bedroom,  I guess God had it planned out.  Because our office will be no more once the baby comes!

 I had a little helper help me clean the hardware.

 All nice and clean....

Nothing big but it does make me feel good to get a start on some of my projects.

 Eating what I can, doing what I can.....as I tell my boys I'll be back but for now resting!

Big tub of a Kitchen Sink

My favorite thing about my kitchen right now is my sink!!  I've been wanting a one bowl sink since the day I moved.  My old house had a big one bowl sink that I just loved it and got used to using it.  I don't see the reason for having 2 bowls unless you do your dishes by hand and need that rinse bowl.  I can put a whole cookie sheet in this thing and not have to fight that middle divider and have water splashing on me since this baby is 9.5 inches deep.  This is a granite composite sink, 33X22 9.5 deep.  We purchased it on amazon and the brand is Blanco.

I like how it blends in with the counters to give a continuous look.  I picked a really simple design with not too many curves.

 I got an all in one spray faucet.  My sister told me to do a single hole faucet for easy cleaning, why clean around a big silver plate if you don't have to.  Speaking of clean this sink is so easy to clean or if you don't have time to clean it, it still looks clean.  I had a white sink before that showed everything. Now I can pour my coffee and not see a thing. Who really has time to shine up a sink anyway....I know I don't!! Now I just spray it with some cleaner wipe it out and I'm good to go!

Having good smelling soap to wash your dishes with makes the chores of life a little sweeter.....Meyers Rosemary is my scent right now.
Life has become a little sweeter in the Gates household, we found out we are having a 3rd baby! When we bought this sink I told Scotty we could bathe a baby really easy in this sink.....a month or so later we got a little surprise.  I'm due the beginning of April!

Charcoal Hallway

When we 1st moved in I painted everything white....trim and the walls.  I love white but my hallway was a little too white. I envisioned the hallway being a small art gallery for my kidos. I decided to paint the walls a charcoal gray....couldn't go quite all black (that would creep me out in a hallway).  So here's what the hallway looked like this when we 1st moved in......

Here's what it looked like after new flooring and white paint. Decided to snap a picture in the middle of painting the walls gray:)

Here's the charcoal walls....

I plan to hang some of Williams work on this wall....

I want to blow his pictures up big to make a bright statement in this dark hallway.  And I want to hang some picture lights above his work to brighten this dark narrow space up too.

Here's a couple of Williams drawings that I love. I might just buy a poster board and let me go at it, instead of having them blown up....better quality and inexpensive!

I want to get gold lights....they are classic and wouldn't get lost in the dark wall.  These will be such a nice touch especially at night walking down this hallway.

Still finishing the kitchen, we are determined to finish before we finish something else or start something new! Boundaries are a great thing for young and old!!

Finishing: Counter top Before and After

 We got the counter tops in!!  I got to hang with my sister and mom all day Saturday and came home to new counter tops and sink! Here's the BEFORE:

and AFTER:

 It's starting to feel more like my kitchen.  We are going to put wide plank white bead board up 3/4 up the wall. I finally found the paint color I liked, after adding a little white and a little gray to my blue.   Scotty decided he wants tile for the back splash, which I'm fine with, so more decisions to make.

Our goal is finish the upstairs before we move on the downstairs.  This is a good goal and keeps the sanity around here.  I'm guessing it won't be until next year till we start the downstairs.  Which I'm fine with.  After last summer and remodeling full board, I like this slow pace and finishing feels great.  So with all our finishing projects I have lists.  Does anyone else love lists?!

KITCHEN:
Finish painting the walls Blue
Touch up the ceiling that's not supposed to be blue
Paint the last kitchen drawer
Put hardware on drawer
Put on the cabinet
Paint all the cabinets semi gloss (made the mistake of painting the cabinets satin, it's a pain to paint them again but will be well worth it)
Start looking at tile
Buy tile
Install tile
Finish the floor by the sliding door
Trim the room with baseboard
Caulk around sink
Get tool to tighten the sink faucet more(a wrench wasn't doing the job or the faucet was in to tight of a place for the wrench to work)
Get a new trash can
Make decorating list
So there's my kitchen list.....getting excited to cross those babies off ( or some days I call them a stronger B word;)

Been planing the mudroom.  Love this room.  I got this wallpaper sample and I think I love it. It's matching my gray ceiling perfect.   This is a damask wallpaper.  It has golds, tans, blue gray and off white.....a lot of colors I love.

More on this room to come...  I have a couple antique dog pictures that I'm planing to hang in this room along with Katie girl and all her cousins, because we all love our dogs and they are like family! I love the contrast of a classy wallpaper with something really rustic like dogs..... And really a mudroom is the perfect place to have a dog gallery, don't ya think?!

Decisions, decisions in the Kitchen

 Lately we've been going back and finishing up on all our projects from the 1st year in our home.  I've been simi happy with our kitchen.  I love the white cabinets and the floor.  It just seems a little too white with the light cabinets, walls and counter tops.
So we've been thinking down the road.  With ?'s like: are we going to stay here for 10 more years or until we are old?  Do we really want to go out in the country and buy some land and build? If we do stay here do we want to add on?
We decided if we do stay here we will add on and make the kitchen bigger and possible add a 2nd level to this house.  So that effects the decisions we make now.  If we are to make the kitchen bigger and change the counter tops we may not want to invest in pricey counter tops now if everything is going to change later. But at the same time if we invest in granite counter tops and sell the house as is would that be a worth the investment?  We went back and forth and finally Scotty said let's do laminate for now.  I said okay and felt relieved and went and ordered some laminate!
Then the decisions started again.....with the hundreds of different laminates to choose from!

 We had about ten narrowed down......

I kept on going back to this soapstone looking one that has a little black and gray in it.....

 It was between these 2...........we went with the gray/black one.
Then it was time to decided on a new sink. Scotty and I got used to using a large one bowel sink in our old house and we loved it.  So now I'm trying to decide on what color to go with.  I'm leaning toward the black  granite composite one.

 So in a couple of weeks we should have new counter tops and I plan to put a bead board back splash.  Not only because I like it now but it wouldn't be that big of investment if we change it later.    I plan to put  bead board 3/4's up the walls and trim it out too. I plan to paint above the bead board.    So that's my next decision is to choose a paint color...... More to come!

Deck Deck Deck......Done!!! (Cable Railing)

 Deck railing complete!  We worked hard at getting this baby done last weekend and finished it last night!  So happy and now we feel like we can sit back in those chairs with no worries of falling off the deck!

We used cable to rail the deck, love how it doesn't block the view!

 I painted the railing a dark brown solid color stain.....it's awesome, it's at Home depot, it's name brand is Behr....Love it!

 Learned what a turn buckle and

  ferrule and ferrule tool is....I feel so educated now!:)

 Scotty drilling all those holes...

 So glad it's done....now waiting to buy some land, we are buying to the 2nd tree back....can't wait for the boys to have a back yard and to put there swing set up!

Gates Establishment Sign

So hard to believe this time last year we were packing boxes getting ready  to move to Iowa. Scotty and I were just saying how it feels like home now....our roots are settling in and there is no place I love more than Home!

So the side porch is complete with a little GATES Establishment sign and bakers table to potters table complete too!

Here's the before.....

 And after

 I nailed galvanized metal around my potters table to waterproof it.....It was a lot of bending and pounding!

 Can't wait till it ages and looks more like this!

 It has a little drawer that I hold my old gardening tools.

 So much more welcoming!

 Okay I don't normally do DIY because I work so fast because I have 2 little boogers to take care of so I don't have time....but I thought I'll put some effort in showing you how I make this simple sign.
1. Print out letters.  (okay so my printer is out of ink, and I actually traced them off my computer screen...thank God there was only 5 letters....for you just print them out)
2. Position letters on your sign.
3. Trace letters with a pen and press hard.

 They should look like this....

 5. Paint the letters.....I do the outline 1st then paint the inside.

 6. Tape the lines and paint.

And there you go!  The GATES estates is claimed and the front yard 2013 is done!  Off to the back yard!