Sweet Treats

If you are looking for some "sweet treats" to whip up on a hot Saturday, then you should check out Lisa's Sweet as Sugar Cookies blog!  She's having a party and there are some delicious looking recipes that have been posted.  Of course I'm going to check out the Blackberry Dumplings, Blackberry Peach Pie and the Blackberry Ice Cream.  I've got my eye on a couple of chocolate recipes also, but the blackberry treats are a good place to start. 

My blackberry bushes are pretty well bloomed out this year and that "devil" Mockingbird got his fair share again.  I saw him in the fig tree yesterday while I was watering...so I'm going to have to keep my eye on him so he doesn't get all the best figs!

We did some work earlier this morning on our covered deck area outside. We hung curtains so we can keep the sun out as it sets in the evening. Even with the afternoon heat, our overhead fan and a strong breeze make a little time on the deck a pleasant early evening activity, but the sun can still be really hot at that time of day.  The curtains can be pulled together until the sun sets to give relief.  Next on the outdoor list is lighting and misters.

Today...I'm determined to finish the guest room.  All the furniture is in place and we got the first layer of curtains hung.  I haven't decided on the final outcome for curtains...but I have time.  Once I finish hanging items on the walls I'll post pictures. 

till tomorrow...

debi 

Final Push - Newly Wed Home

The Newly Weds were gone all last week on their "Texas" Adventure.  Emily and Jared visited several points of interest (Original Dr. Pepper plant, Blue Bell Creamery, Spoetzl Brewery, Luckenbach, Kyle Field, The Texas State Capitol, and many other places.  They stayed in various Bed and Breakfast and were given the royal treatment at each location.  They stated they had a great time.

However, while they were away playing...we (as a family) got busy finishing the last of the projects in their home.  (We just thought we were done working for them! HA!)

This is the same house Emily bought a year ago in January.  Before she began dating Jared we had completed most of the projects right on her list, but the one back bedroom needed some major ceiling work.  It just never quite got on any one's radar...Jared came into her life and all renovations ceased...then the wedding took over!

We were determined to finish the majority of items while they were gone.

Emily's brother-in-law, BJ, does remodeling work for a living...so he came in and prepared the room so he could spray texture on the ceiling. Emily had patched the bad spot on the ceiling, I sanded it smooth, and BJ came in to make it all look perfect. 

BJ and his dad have also done work for a friend of mine - they do great work!!!

 (If you happen to live in the Dallas area and need professional remodeling work...be sure to call Tom Wright - (972) 562-6327.)

All the walls were sealed off to keep them clear of the over spray.

There was also one small spot on the wall Emily patched, so BJ also added a little texture to the spot to blend it in. 

I didn't take a picture of the room before we began, but here's what we did with all the stuff...just shoved it into the other back room.

Once the texture dried overnight, we came in Saturday morning and painted the ceiling.  If you have not used this product...it's wonderful

The paint goes on pink, but dries white. It's so much easier to see where you've painted because of the color. No missed spots!!

When the ceiling dried, we started right away on the walls.

Emily had already purchased the paint...so it was just a matter of putting it on the walls.  It covered easily since the old color was also dark.  Emily stayed with her brown color pallet for the bedrooms.

Many hands made short work of the task.

When everything dried the paper was pulled up and Ashley cleaned the wood floors.

Ready to move furniture back in...

We hung curtains, made the bed and readied the room for guests.

Once we cleared out the other back room...we got Jared's "Man Cave" ready for his game time.  There are many "extra" pieces of furniture and several boxes to still unpack.  With the combining of two homes there are several things to be consolidated, but they'll be able to quickly decide what they want to keep, now that they can see everything!

With the back rooms finished...we moved to the front office.

I think Austin was done in with all the activity.

When we last saw this room we had fresh paint and new carpet.

Built in bookcases were added next.

Peter and I got the trimwork stained on Friday night...so by Saturday afternoon, we were ready to get this room whipped into shape.

Emily got a really cute craft table from a lady at work...and then she "took" my extra desk for times she works at home.

As we cleared out the back rooms, all books, knick knacks and office supplies were brought into this room and arranged. 

By Saturday afternoon we had news the newlyweds were coming home earlier than we expected...so a last rush of activity, and all was clean and ready for their arrival!

Meanwhile, these two discovered the new guests room and laid claim to it stating that now there was room for them to stay overnight!

As we left for the day, we put up the wedding signs we'd gathered along the road that had helped point the way to the wedding.

The happy couple arrived late last night, wondering who put signs in their yard (Emily thought someone had filled her yard with election signs)!  She and Jared were pleasantly surprised to find they were their very own signs!!!  They were also VERY HAPPY to arrive home to a clean, organized and completed home! (With one small bathroom still needing paint, that now feels minor.) Their only task now is to hang pictures...and OH...

come get all the stuff they have left at my house from the wedding!

Here's to happily ever after...

Till tomorrow,

debi

Small Bathroom Makeover

After four days of being couped up in the house, we were able to get out and do some grocery shopping (along with the rest of McKinney!)

The day was too beautiful to be locked up working on the small bathroom, so I didn't get the new handles put on the doors or the original shower bar put back, but I did get the mirror hung and the towel hooks put up.

The mirror "frame" is from an old dresser...minus the dresser.  I like the look it creates in an otherwise "generic" new home bath.  I can also remove it whenever I move and take it with me, and there's still the original mirror underneath.

The Shower curtain is made from drapery weight fabric embellished with trim and western style silver buttons.  Very simple.

I already had the red, white and blue towels for the grand kids, but I want to add in black, along with the red and white.

Peter put up the three towel holders.  He made sure that one was low enough for our little guy to hang up his own towel. (He'll be excited about that!)

So, the last few things to complete: 

1. polish the marble sink top and make it shiny new again

2. install the new knobs for the doors

3. finish the switch plate covers 

4. hang the freshly painted shower curtain bar

I'm still deciding about my choices for the floor...any thoughts? 

I found this small light awhile back in Oklahoma, and knowing I was going to make this bathroom black and white...I got it so the grand kids would have a night light for their bathroom.

Once I check off my "To Do" list for this room I'm ready to move on to the next project.  (I'm actually already plotting it out, but I can't say it too loud!  Peter likes to think we're done...ha! NEVER!)

Till tomorrow...

debi

P.S.  Just a reminder of what this bathroom looked like before...

Small Bathroom Makeover

We accomplished more work in the small bathroom today.  Peter got the rest of the tin nailed up along the ceiling line.

We then got the wood strips nailed up to create the board and batten effect.  (You'll remember I used this same technique, board and batten, in 2009 in the bedroom makeover.)  I liked what it did for that room and I know it will give architectural interest to this otherwise uninteresting space.

 

I really enjoy working on projects with Peter...we have a good "rhythm and flow" of working with each other and can ordinarily grasp the end result that we want to see achieved. 

Peter always tells me, "If you can draw it, I can build it."  Sometimes I have to explain a little more (he can't always translate my picture) but working together we usually end up with a better product or completed project. 

I think this small bathroom will be another successful collaboration of effort!

I patched the holes from the old towel bars, patched the nail holes, and I'm ready for coat one of paint...primer!

More work to come, but I think it will go fairly quickly...stay the course! (I have so many other projects buzzing around in my head!)

Till tomorrow...
debi

Small Bathroom Makeover

The small bathroom makeover continues....

We began the project here.

With all the holiday activities going on it feels like I began this project years ago.

Peter began nailing up the tin pieces along the ceiling.

He will have to cut down the other piece along the top of the tub.

 Hopefully, we will be able to make more progress tomorrow and Saturday!



Till tomorrow...

debi

Small Bathroom Makeover

I love having many "irons" in the fire.  I usually have several projects going at one time, and this time of year is no different.  Currently I've been working on Christmas gifts (which I can't show you since I know there are snoopers out there!), but I'm also working on redoing my upstairs bath. 

The upstairs in our house used to be the girl's domain  I rarely went upstairs and they were responsible for their own "cleaning."  Now, however all the little birds have flown the coupe and have nests of their own, and the upstairs is now my domain. 

I have created an office, a sewing room, and an art area...plus the grandkids have their own play room!  No one really goes upstairs any more except me and the kids, but that may soon change! 

This coming year we may have a young woman come to live with us, so I've been highly motivated to downsize, clear out and make changes. 

I've been cleaning out the closets upstairs and the girls have been forced to take all their high school memorabilia, prom dresses, books and "stuff" that was accumulated over the years.

Furniture has also been leaving at a pretty good clip.  If the girls don't want it, I've found other families that have need of what I have, and if it helps them, I'm happy to send it their way!!!  As I've also mentioned, I'm downsizing my fabric also.

This bathroom upstairs has not been touched since we moved in the house (and that's been 11 years.)

The walls are blue, the tub, tile and cabinets are white and the flooring is blue and white.  There is a small bit of wallpaper along the ceiling that must come down. 

Once I started the process of pulling the paper down, I found another paper pasted underneath (cows).  Obviously the builder put up the wrong paper, discovered their error and then put our choice right over the top of the wrong paper. 

Just more work to pull it off!

The cabinets in this bath are the standard "new house" white, plain Jane cabinets.

The cabinet over the toilet is also plain Jane white, and the light fixture is too ugly to even discuss.

Here's a close up of the flooring...which will also be coming up in the days to come!

My first step was to paint all the cabinets a high gloss black.  I must confess at this point that I thought I could spray paint in that bathroom...HA!  Should have taken a picture of my black legs and feet from the over spray. When my husband came home he asked what I was doing...I just said I was working on a "project gone wrong."  Didn't want to confess too much, but he soon found out.  Needless to say...I rolled on the rest of the paint!  (It was fast and fun while it lasted!) AND...I did have the window open!!!

I'm also working on a mirror idea and I painted this piece black to match the cupboards.  This was originally the mirror from an old dresser, but it is missing the mirror.  The guy at the Antique shop gave me quite a bit off the price...when I pointed out there was no longer a mirror in the frame.  He laughed...but, I didn't have to pay very much for the piece.

Well...that is the first sneak peek of this bathroom.  I've got to finish pulling down the paper and then we'll start working on the walls.  We bought some old tin pieces to use in this bathroom...and I'm anxious to show you more as we pull this project together.

Till tomorrow...
debi

More Curtains

Last fall I bought this one embroidered drapery panel at Canton.  I bought it from the "linens by the pound" guy and I think it cost me about $1.00.  I dug through all the linens for a long time...but could only find ONE panel!

Emily was with me as we searched, so I told her I would make her new curtains from this one panel.

I already had this piece of brown upholstery weight fabric in my stash. 

I began by ripping out the hem at the bottom.

I reworked the bottom to look exactly like the top so I could cut the panel in half.

I cut the panel in half and serged the edges of the panel and the lining. I stitched the brown upholstery piece to the bottom of each panel.

The girls got the drapery rod hung up...

then got the panels up.

Fluffing...

Here is the finished project.

Emily liked them closed so she can see the design.

Emily's going to use the shades underneath, but I'll dress them up with fabric and ribbon.

Much more sewing still to come!!! (I still have the couch cushions to re-cover!)
Till tomorrow...
debi