Bathroom Rehab

This home improvement project was supposed to be a quick and simple task but it turned into a huge ordeal. Don't they all seem to go that way?

Since we moved into this house 3.5 years ago, the half bath has been a dark shade of grey with chinsy black fixtures. The paint the prior owners used was textured with grains of sand. Even though I hated this room, we never got to it because we weren't really sure how to deal with the textured paint. Being the super savvy home decorators that we are (not), we decided that the best way to handle it would be to put more textured paint over it. I mean, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em right? No, not right.

We ended up with a huge, gloppy textured mess. See below.

I stopped Brian midway through and told him to put the brush down and walk away. Upon doing some research on the dreaded textured paint, I decided that the best plan would be to prime the walls with 2 coats of heavy duty primer and then do 2 coats of flat paint. Small job turns to huge job.

Here is the old color with the new textured paint on top. Yeeew...no double yeeeew!

After putting the new plan in action, we completed the job. The new half bath is light and airy. The light fixture makes the room literally glow. I found the mirror at the Hobby Lobby on clearance ($45.00). I made the curtain from fabric in my stash, whooo hooo! Nothing like decorating while stash busting. I'm glad that I found a place to use this fabric because I simply adore it!

Once I got the sewing machine humming again, I couldn't stop. I just had to make a cute hand towel. I made the towel out of a thrifted table cloth and embroidered a little humming bird and flower. Do you ever color with your kids? It's really soothing and mindless. I feel the same way about these simple embroidery projects. Soothes the soul.

Project complete, thank goodness. Even the kids can't get over the transformation. They keep wanting to go potty in the "new" bathroom. Can't say that I blame them.

I Am in Love With...

These bud vases! I bought these from the thrift store for a craft project that hasn't happened yet. A few weeks ago we were having people over so I grabbed the vases and cut a few lilies from the yard and I had a lovely centerpiece for the table. You don't have to have a big bunch of flowers to make a pretty display. Even one flower per vase is lovely.

Today I looked out and saw that some lilacs had bloomed. I went out and cut just a few and voila,

The Girls' Room is Finished!

Mom and I were sewing these drapes until the moment we had to leave for the airport. She made sure that I had detailed instructions for the few things that needed to be completed. I am thrilled with the outcome! The only snafu is that we miss calculated the length of the closet panels. I have to take them down and drop the hem but other than that, I am in love with them! Thanks Mom!

Before

After

This room feels just dreamy. I like to sit in here and enjoy its sweet, sleepy vibes! The other thing Brian and I love to do in this room is rock our baby girls and look out the window at the pond. Can't wait for summer when the full moon shines down on the water's ripples. Who knew a retention pond could be so lovely?

Finally...Some Forward Progress

I guess making the list of things to do worked. Here's what I have managed to accomplish.

Finished the hat order that was giving me a tough time. It turned out darn cute too.

I got totally down on my decorating sense about choosing window treatments for the girls' room but I have come to a decision and I am ecstatic! Whewww!

Started a dress for the girls.

Started a little crochet bag for the summer. Very excited to finish it and to have weather that would be appropriate for it!

the Crafty Nook

I just put the kiddos to bed and as I stated previously, I am stuck. I walked around my house trying to decide what I wanted to do with the next couple of hours. I could take a shower... nah! I could clean...nope. I could work on a project...that would be nice but I don't know where to start so...uh,uh. What I have decided to do, for the next 10 minutes anyway, is share my latest obsession. My own little place in the world that I have lovingly dubbed the Crafty Nook.

My hubby has been so WONDERFUL lately! He is happy to help me with whatever I ask and for that I am so grateful! He works A LOT and never really enjoys doing things around the house but what he does enjoy is seeing pure delight on his wife's face. He took me to Lowe's Saturday to buy this bookcase and the huge folding table. He then put the bookcase together for me without a single complaint. The list of things he has done simply because I ask is endless lately. I tear up thinking about how sweet he has been in my manic state of musical rooms.

So this is the beginning of what is going to be painfully girly. Flowers and pretty colors everywhere. Stenciling on the wall and perhaps the bookcase as well, Doilies and lovely table cloths wherever I can find a place for them. This is my place where I can do whatever strikes my fancy. MY GOODNESS I am excited!

And this last photo is a needle point birth announcement from my birth. I found it in a basement closet last week and about died. The best part is that my new business name is going to be Shannon Leigh. I just had to hang this in the Nook.