Hello Friends!
It's been a while, thank you for all of your emails and messages encouraging me to get back at this. Life has been busy since last fall. Two jobs, a figure competition and basically not a spare moment to just 'be'. That wasn't working for me, so through some re-arrangement I've found the time and space for my 'creativity' to take root and blossom once again.
Re-purposing is a concept introduced to me by my Mother. Taking old 'things', ugly, tattered or discarded and finding a new way to use them. I have discovered it takes a lot of elbow grease in some cases, and there have been more than a few casualties (ie. my gel nails) but the passion it has awakened in me is far more gratifying than beautiful hands.
Many of the projects I undertake are available for sale at Influence (at very reasonable prices I might add!)
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One of the best parts of this journey is the time I share with my youngest daughter Audrey. She is by my side each Saturday morning as we browse other people's cast off's at garage sales. She loves to help and has become quite adept at sanding and painting! Hooray, free labour!
Case in point...I have been complaining about the carpet in our den for years. Ravaged by puppies and other accidents it was a mess and taking away from my new (re-purposed) furniture and accessories.
New flooring is not in the budget right now...so what would you do? I suggested ripping out the carpet and painting the plywood, why not? Can't be worse than stained carpet.
I got to work pleading my case to Curtis, who didn't say no but also didn't say yes. When a thunder stormed rolled through on a recent afternoon, Audrey and I got to work. She didn't complain once as we lugged a couch, desk and other heavy items out of the room! I tugged at a corner of carpet and before you knew it the whole darn thing was in a roll, along with the underlay and on it's way to the garage.
A few hours of prying up tacking strips and removing staples (thank you Audrey) and we were ready for Curtis to arrive home!
Now, before you worry too much about his reaction, he's used to this! Why would he be mad, all the hard labour was done? A trip to RONA, for wood filler, primer and floor paint (and a call to the pizza delivery place because my young worker was whining about being hungry...imagine that!) and we were ready to get to work.
I love latex paint, so fast and easy to work with. By 10:30pm...eight hours after we began...the floor was filled, sanded, primed and painted with two coats of white paint.
Eight hours later, everything was back in it's place.
We love our new space, it's fresh and right in line with the 'feel' I envision for our home. I want to do the family room and a bedroom next, but the sun is shining today so we will get out and enjoy it.
What's even better than our beautiful room, is the look of satisfaction on my daughters face. I didn't keep her on the sidelines, she was right beside me, getting dirty and muscling tacks out of the floor. She sanded, primed, painted, she moved furniture and in those hours she learned something very important. She can make her own dreams come true without relying on someone else to do it for her.
one life lesson for Audrey + one new office for me = one very good day.
Toby
It's been a while, thank you for all of your emails and messages encouraging me to get back at this. Life has been busy since last fall. Two jobs, a figure competition and basically not a spare moment to just 'be'. That wasn't working for me, so through some re-arrangement I've found the time and space for my 'creativity' to take root and blossom once again.
Re-purposing is a concept introduced to me by my Mother. Taking old 'things', ugly, tattered or discarded and finding a new way to use them. I have discovered it takes a lot of elbow grease in some cases, and there have been more than a few casualties (ie. my gel nails) but the passion it has awakened in me is far more gratifying than beautiful hands.
Many of the projects I undertake are available for sale at Influence (at very reasonable prices I might add!)
.JPG)
Sunny Yellow Side Tables $29 each
One of the best parts of this journey is the time I share with my youngest daughter Audrey. She is by my side each Saturday morning as we browse other people's cast off's at garage sales. She loves to help and has become quite adept at sanding and painting! Hooray, free labour!
Case in point...I have been complaining about the carpet in our den for years. Ravaged by puppies and other accidents it was a mess and taking away from my new (re-purposed) furniture and accessories.
The den last month
I got to work pleading my case to Curtis, who didn't say no but also didn't say yes. When a thunder stormed rolled through on a recent afternoon, Audrey and I got to work. She didn't complain once as we lugged a couch, desk and other heavy items out of the room! I tugged at a corner of carpet and before you knew it the whole darn thing was in a roll, along with the underlay and on it's way to the garage.
Audrey prying out the staples
A few hours of prying up tacking strips and removing staples (thank you Audrey) and we were ready for Curtis to arrive home!
Now, before you worry too much about his reaction, he's used to this! Why would he be mad, all the hard labour was done? A trip to RONA, for wood filler, primer and floor paint (and a call to the pizza delivery place because my young worker was whining about being hungry...imagine that!) and we were ready to get to work.
Wood filler drying
I love latex paint, so fast and easy to work with. By 10:30pm...eight hours after we began...the floor was filled, sanded, primed and painted with two coats of white paint.
Primer
One coat of paint (yes I was watching paint dry)
Two coats (bedtime)
Eight hours later, everything was back in it's place.
We love our new space, it's fresh and right in line with the 'feel' I envision for our home. I want to do the family room and a bedroom next, but the sun is shining today so we will get out and enjoy it.
What's even better than our beautiful room, is the look of satisfaction on my daughters face. I didn't keep her on the sidelines, she was right beside me, getting dirty and muscling tacks out of the floor. She sanded, primed, painted, she moved furniture and in those hours she learned something very important. She can make her own dreams come true without relying on someone else to do it for her.
one life lesson for Audrey + one new office for me = one very good day.
Toby
Holy smokes you are one talented lady :)
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