but it’s done
How to summarize the last few weeks? TWO 44 page reports, a website launch, site updates, non-paying clients, lots of gardening, laundry, and dishes. Oh, and the living room. I could go on and on, as you know, about all these distractions, but that’s not why we are here. Well, it’s not why you are here. You lucky bastards.
I’d love to tell you the dining room is done (it isn’t) or that the den is done (ditto) but the living room IS done – except for a few throw pillows that haven’t arrived and artwork, yet to be determined. And I still want a new front door. But I’m not waiting for those things, so you will just have to use your imagination. I really just spent the last few weeks working and waiting for things to be delivered. I painted trim and accessories and spent about a million hours deciding on a clock and pillows. I seem to have developed a case of sudden onset ADD (no hyper-activity tho, I could really use that). I can’t keep with one thing without getting distracted. Plus, I can’t seem to make any decisions. It’s true. My usual focused decisive brain (stop laughing, I’m serious) has apparently followed my memory and positive attitude out the door. I wonder where they went. Canada, maybe. Good heath care, fewer republicans, more moose.
But in my quest for the perfect clock – I went to my favorite “artisan” website Etsy.com. Check it out – photos, pottery, knitting, lighting and clocks of course. All created by below, above or just plain average Joe’s. So I got my groovy clock (bonus: clockmaker minneapolian) and I came across the coolest frames. Now, I should preface this by saying I do this a lot. I see something on t.v. or online or in a magazine and I think…I could do that! And off I go. So I’m walking out the backdoor and Ben asks “What’s with the crowbar?” I replied “I’m gettin crafty!” It should be noted here that the words that used to throw my poor beleaguered husband into a panic were “I’m late,” now the words that frighten him to the core are “I’m gettin crafty!” Followed closely by, “I was thinking…” But off I went to the garage to tear about two wood pallets that I had saved from previous deliveries. This is another thing I do. I save shit. Not in a hoarders kind of way…well kind of like that…but I like to think of it as artistic process. Ha. I got both of these pallets in the same week, and I thought you could use these for something. I was thinking twin bed headboards. Even though I don’t have twin beds. Huh.
I’d say about 25% of my craft projects turn out. 25% I pretend I like for about a week and the other 50% end up in the trash, where they rightfully belong, but not before I’ve spent hours trying to make them work. I am my father’s daughter. I don’t quit until completely and utterly beaten. And even then, not willingly. Anyway. This time it worked. The backs are the pallet planks, the “mat” is a piece of laminated plywood. The art goes in the middle (I put in a sample) and the then you put a piece of plexiglass over the mat and art with exposed screws. (see imagination). I’m pretty happy with the outcome.
the After…because it’s taken me so long to finish this room, I would imagine most of you don’t remember the Before. See blog “what do to” – Dated (God help me) January 30, 2012. Obama is still the President right?
I hate to do the budget and timeline. You’ve NO IDEA how much I hate to list the budget. But here is the deal. OK, here is the excuse…the timeline was based on two factors, the amount I WAS working at the time and the date of Ashley’s wedding. I wanted to be sure I was done to focus on her. Which, let’s be honest, is exactly what she wants and, by coincidence, exactly what she deserves. But she is, if nothing else, super organized (I may not be her mother) so I have some wiggle room there. I had not anticipated the new client who is keeping me hopping. Which comes to the budget, which I blew already. Making more money means I should be able to spend more money, yes? I mean come on my brain may be in Canada, but I’m still an American! And that’s how we roll. To that end I spent about $4000 on the living room and I’m embarrassed. I feel like such a consumer whore with an eco footprint the size of Sasquatch. I’m shamed and guilty. (note: a few things are repurposed – the table is made of old grocery crates from my great-grandparents, the bench and ottoman I had already, the bookcase is a hand me down and the frames, of course)
I’m hosting a baby shower on the 3rd of June so the pressure is on to get the dining room and den done by then. It’s going to be an ugly 14 days. Donations are being accepted.
I may have to adopt a new motto. “Better living through Chemistry”