~Creating a Space for Creating~

What I did on my break…

I rarely leave home without my black framed glasses and day planner.

Two special paperweights.

My space to create was in a corner of J’s lodge, on the lower level, until last Spring when I purchased a new computer.  I thought about making my new space in the bonus room/studio on the upper level. 

In the end, I decided I wanted my desk in the bay window of the master bedroom. 

For a look at the 2009 master bedroom makeover, click HERE.

Easter weekend, I corralled a kid or two to bring a small harvest table up from the lodge.  Eldest daughter set up my new computer.  That was as far as I got in organizing the bay window into a space to create, until this week.

Whether it is approaching Fall or something else, I’ve had an urge to do a bit of nesting the last week or two.

I moved the desk over a couple of feet, from where it was centered on the bay, added a lamp, leftover from the condo master bedroom redo, brought a small trunk in and an oak split basket for magazines. The basket was made by a Missouri artisan, several years ago.  The trunk and basket are good pieces for storage and they help hide cords and cables. 

After adding a few accessories and necessities, the space is complete

I bought the small footstool at an old Welcome Home store, to use in our truck, for my feet, when I had a foot injury, about 5 years ago. 

When my foot healed I re-covered the stool in burlap for use at my desk.

Linking to Centsational Girl’s Where Do You Blog? Party.

~Studying in Black & White~

Tuesday morning, bright and early; the truck is loaded with tables, chairs, baskets, bits and pieces, for the trip home. 

The table and chairs are on their way to our daughter. 

Other things will go to “Mom’s Basement Boutique”, at home, for further consideration.

J, fishing in Minnesota 2002.  The two of us at Cape Hatteras, during our road trip down the Outer Banks, in 2005. 

It’s time to update the larger of two guest rooms, at the condo.

Snapshot memories will be used. 

Perhaps I’ll use the bedding from the master bedroom redo; a blue and white quilt and shams. 

While we are home, I’ll continue to study, in black and white and color, the possibilities for the redo.

A rustic lakeside retreat, is what I have in mind.

 

Some things will stay…

…some things will go.

The TV armoire is definitely staying.

New paint for this shelf.

Bye Bye Birdie…

…faux oars too.

I painted the Gull and oars, several years ago…time for change.

So there you have it; another makeover in the making.

Doctor appointments, this week.  Hoping for good news about  J’s pro time numbers, among other things.

If all goes well, we’ll make a stop at Trader Joe’s while in the outskirts of the big city.  I enjoy our trips to Trader Joe’s after our medical appointments.  Like sugar, it always “makes the medicine go down in a most delightful way”.

Family gathering for a good cause, this coming weekend.  More about that in an upcoming post.

Edit

Tuesday Evening

Had a call, a little while ago, from youngest daughter.  She’s felt under the weather a couple days. 

She’s been advised to go to ER; possible Appendicitis. Will let you all know how things are, when I know more.

Thoughts and prayers much appreciated.

Thanks!

Update

Tuesday Night

Thank you for your continued good thoughts and prayers. 

M is home.  The test for Appendicitis was okay. She has been given something for pain.  They say it may be a virus. If she isn’t feeling better by Thursday or Friday, she will have a CT Scan.

She has had some troublesome health issues, over the years. 

I am optimistic this will turn out okay.

As mother’s we never stop worrying about our children, even when they are grown up, with children of their own.

~Project Break~

Inspiration

 

The inspiration photo that started it all.

We are loading the truck and driving to the lake, to complete the condo master bedroom makeover, begun a couple of months ago.

The furniture, we ordered, is in.  The room is painted.

The bits and pieces, picked up here and there, have been painted and packed.

Accessories are collected.

It’s time for putting it all together.

I’m taking a short blog break, during this week, so I can concentrate my energies on “The Project”.

Elements of Change

 

I’ll be back soon with the “reveal” of the condo master bedroom redo.

Until then, a Rooster Party post will be published, Thursday.

Have a wonderful week!

~Breakfast Room Light~

 

The farmhouse table and benches are finished and will be ready for pick up, Monday.  We are excited to see how they look at the condo.

 

While we were awaiting the table and another piece of furniture, we made a small change in the breakfast room, here at home.

I have looked, awhile, for a bar type light fixture, for above the big table, in the breakfast room.  I found several, but they were too heavy and ornate for the look I wanted.

Last Wednesday, I was browsing JC Penney Wednesday Deals, when I found exactly what I had in mind.

Before

AFTER

The regular cost was around $150.00.  The price was marked down to $60.00.  There was a code for reduced shipping costs.  I ordered the light Wednesday. It arrived Friday afternoon.

I recommend looking at JCP Clearance and Wednesday Deals.  I’ve found several bargains.

I’m linking to Rhoda’s Thrifty Treasures.

If all goes according to plan, I will post photos of the new table and benches, Tuesday or Wednesday.

~A Day in Our Life at the Lake~

 I borrowed an inspiration photo, from Kathysue, of Good Life Design. That started the ball rolling toward a makeover of the master bedroom, at the condo.

We haven’t done much with the room since buying the condo, seven years ago.  We decided it’s about time.

I’ve tried a few different looks in the room, without buying furniture or painting.  I’ve never been quite satisfied with the results.  When I saw the above photo at Good Life Design, I was smitten.  While we don’t have the open rafters, we do have a double sliding door, that overlooks the lake.

I found a bed and dresser at the Ashley Furniture website.  Tuesday morning we drove to Versailles Missouri, where we ordered the poster bed and dresser, without mirror, at Bescheinen Furniture.

In this photo, from the Ashley site, you can see the bed is similar to the one in the inspiration photo. The finish is a sort of buttery cream color, rather than stark white.  We will use the dresser for a flat screen tv.  I’ll find mismatched pieces for either side of the bed. 

I’m looking for oars, to hang above the bed.  I wish I had come up with this makeover idea a couple of months earlier.  I saw a set of antique oars, a few months ago, at the now closed Countryside Antiques and Collectibles, Camdenton Mo.

The furniture will be delivered late in July, giving us plenty of time to paint the room Sherwin Williams Antique White.

While wandering around the store, we found this chair and decided to add it to the room redo.

Before returning to the condo, we stopped at JB Hook’s for lunch.

 

I had a Bloody Mary.  J’s drink was Boulevard Wheat. We shared a Crab Cake Appetizer.

My Cobb Salad with shrimp was delicious. The crackers are served with a sundried tomato spread.  J enjoyed a Philly Steak Sandwich with homemade chips.

Lunchtime View

I finally got around to driving the Camaro, while at the lake.  Absolutely love it!

Self portrait, on the road to Versailles.

~Dining Room Revamp~

Do you see something different, about the dining room, in the two following photos?

 

While I had the dining room slipcovers removed, for laundering, I took a couple of photos.  The chairs aren’t the only difference, in these pictures.

The three prints show a vineyard and red roofed Italian houses.  I purchased these prints from JC Penney, when we were building our home, in 2003. I used them in the foyer and living room, previously.  I moved them to the dining room from the upstairs hallway.

 

The calendar page botanicals have been moved to a guest room, upstairs.  While I liked them in the dining room, I believe they are better suited for the bedroom.  I’ll post photos of them, in their new home, soon.

 

The pieces sitting on the cabinet are Lenox.

While I was playing in the dining room, I borrowed the hearth room fern, for a centerpiece and set the table with Spode Italian. 

The 90 inch round cloth and 8 napkins, from Horchow, were purchased online a few months ago, while they were marked at 60% off.

The dining room changes began with the large wooden piece, over the center print, found at All About Home, in our town.  I believe this piece is salvaged from an old wardrobe or cabinet. I like how it complements the prints.

 

Linking to Marty’s Tabletop Tuesday.

Photos, for this post, were done with the Canon G11 Powershot.