Redesigning my blog...again.

What do YOU love?

     You would think, that with four college classes, three kids at home, a husband and a home to take care of, that I would not have time to mess around with the design of my blog. Well, you would be right and I would just ignore all that stuff and just play to my heart's content. My blog is a work in progress. I like to update it with current details of my life and life around me. But I also update the appearance based on my current interests, skills and the latest technology. I get lazy sometimes and just pick something from the Blogger template designer, like my newest "Valentine" background, with all these hearts. But I also like to adjust the size and layout sometimes, or add new features. From my latest schooling, I know enough to be dangerous, but not enough to really go in there and shake things up, redesign from scratch and create new interactive elements, but soon, soon.
     I think that I will go and play around with my visual journal supplies and create an original Valentine's background to upload. The Valentine bug has bitten me and I won't be happy without hearts all over the place for a few weeks, most of them chocolate. And what's wrong with that? Hearts represent love. All kinds of love. I love myself, the hubby, our children, my parents, my friends, my classes, my church, my reading parlour, my shoes, my cookbooks, my spice cupboard, 80's music, dancing, pansies, old dishes, high tea, white, turquoise blue, our bunny Stella, Downton Abbey (part IV is on this Sunday!), fresh veggies, beach glass, hunting for morels, tools, jewelry, melting glass, grilled cheese sandwiches, the scent of lavender, "The Fencing Master," old mirrors, upcycling, Fustini's balsamics and olive oils, Peruvian blue opal, singing, Texas BBQ, the northern lights, warm socks, flannel pajamas, word games, fresh raspberries and oh, the list goes on...and on...and on...well,  you get the idea. Do you ever make a list of all those things you love? Or things that bring you joy? It feels wonderful to make a list of so many good things. One more thing I love...

The Reading Parlour Part 1

     In case you are wondering about my "reading parlour," here are a couple of photos. The first is the earliest "before" I remembered to take. We had already primed most of the emptied out closet, which had been a rough and unpainted particle board, but had not applied any of the gorgeous "Pooh's Favorite Things" shade of turquoise blue paint. The other walls are a dingy butter yellow that even photoshop would not grasp, lol. The railing is very beat up, but still sturdy, so that will eventually get a coat of primer and then ivory paint. since there is big step involved, the railing has to stay, though I would love to get rid of it, I'll just have to make it work.

     The next photo shows the lovely blue color now up in the closet and the first coat of it on the other walls that will need two. Since we primed the closet part so well, one coat did the job. I have placed my two cozy chairs in the new space as well as one of my favorite shabby chic pieces that I've had stored for the last ten, yes ten, years. It is an old door painted white and then sanded to give it a charming worn appearance. The glass of the window has been replaced with a mirror and the loveliest coat hooks have been added as well. There is also a small shelf halfway down than can hold a cup of tea, a plate of scones and a candle or two. Of course it will more likely be where I place my diet grape soda and plate of Girl Scout cookies, lol. But it is charming and sweet and I've been dying to use it for the last ten years, so this is just the best present to myself. I have a good collection of shabby chic things that have been packed away for far too long and I've missed them terribly. I love the faded elegance and welcoming feel of shabby chic things. It never gets old for me.

     You can also just see part of my mini tile collection on the right side. I try to pick up local work as well as pieces from places we visit. And of course anything sweet on Etsy, though I do have a price limit. They are actually hard to find, not many potters make mini tiles so I strike out often. The other half of this particular collection is still packed away somewhere, but I'm going through boxes everyday and will soon happen upon it and if you were here, you would hear me shriek with delight. Really. My camera is flashing a warning about the battery level for the flash, so my photos haven't been very cooperative lately, I'll try to get it corrected before I take any more of the new room, which is much further along now. The built in shelves are up and a lot more is up on the walls, but you'll have to wait a another day or so to see it. Did I mention that my mom is bringing up a chandelier that I can use to replace the current sad and broken lighting fixture?

Cherry Festival

     It's that time of year again here in Traverse City. The National Cherry Festival is under way and the population swells! Took my brother my nephew to see the Blue Angels who make an appearance every other year. Fun show, though I have a hard time with the cost of the fuel to fly those babies. But they are incredible and since my son is now in the Navy, I gotta show some pride here! We walked around town after the show and then hit the classic car show. Now I'm not into the classic cars, though I appreciate their beauty and history.

However, there was the coolest Rockabilly band there and we sat and enjoyed the music in the shade and took a much needed rest since it was a hot and humid day. The band's female lead singer was so cool. She had on a red strapless cowgirl dress with black cowboy boots and she played the most gorgeous upright bass I've ever seen. She had long black hair with those Betty Page bangs and she could sing! A couple Patsy Cline songs and a great rendition of Johnny Cash' "Ring of Fire," it was a great little concert.
     My new "reading parlour" is coming along nicely. The second coat of paint is on and I've installed eight of the twelve built in shelves so far. I've never attempted to create a built in bookcase, but I am happy to report that I am thrilled with what I've got so far. I have to buy one more wide board and one more little one and have them cut to finish it out, but thankfully, Home Depot cuts at no charge! I still need to paint them or cover them, haven't decided just yet what I want to do. I am considering covering them with newsprint, but also considering priming and painting them the turquoise to match the walls and then writing some much loved quotes along the front edges. Decisions decisions. I have been taking photos as I go along so I will have a great before and after series to post later. My flash is misbehaving, I think the battery is low, so I will have to fix them in photoshop, but that is great practice for me. I have to prime the railing and paint it, hang a new chandelier in place of the current blah fixture and then remove the paint spots from the floor. I think I have at least another week to go before it is totally finished, although the chandelier won't be in until August, everything else I can do myself. I am sooo happy to have this small space to call my own, TV free and full of the things I love. Although it is small, it suits me just fine.
     Counting down the days until my workshop with Teesha Moore....ten days to go, woo hoo! I can't wait to just dive in and really immerse myself in the art of visual journal creation. I have all my supplies and have practiced using some of them too, so I shouldn't be too green when I get there. Lol, who am I kidding? I'm such a total newbie at it, but I am a lover of journeys and have every intention of learning all I can when I'm there. Alrighty, off to make some new visual journal pages and then I'll work on some photos from Cherry Festival and my "reading parlour" to share with you. Cheers!