My husband can build stuff

Look at my new bookcase!

 

Chris made it for me. He got a fancy air compressor thingy with tools for Christmas from his folks, and he's been busy. 

I had a sad brown bookcase in my office area, but it was falling apart. Doesn't this look better?

It matches the desk that Laura made for me. Aren't I lucky to have people who make things?

Chris also made this silverware drawer insert. It's way better and makes a whole lot more sense than the little plastic one we had. 

Yay! I can't wait to see what I get...I mean, what Chris makes, next. 

Saturday project

After my anniversary gift of  a new table and chairs, I knew the next step in our dining room was the walls. They were blank and boring

and the large mirror didn't make as much sense in its place anymore since the table was moved. 

So I contemplated ideas. And, I contemplated some more. And, then I decided I wanted it done. 

I used this as inspiration, from House Full of Pretty: 

I checked Hobby Lobby's web site, and they had all their frames half off this weekend! I ran to the store and purchased a ton of different sizes and styles of frames. Then I came home and hung them on my wall. Some of the frames I already knew what I would put in them, but others I still don't. I wanted them all hung on the wall so I could then live with them and decide what should go in each frame.

You may ask if I drew out the design I wanted before hanging them. No.

You may ask if I arranged them on a table or the floor to find the perfect shape. Nope. 

I hung them on the wall. And I got this:

I'm very happy with the way it turned out, and I have room to build on it over time. 

The mirror got a new home on the opposing wall, and it fits the space much better. 

The view from the front door. I think the dining space looks much more open and spacious. 

You can see that several of the frames still have their pretend image inside them. And, I got a few items that weren't and won't be framed artwork to mix it up a bit. You can see a C tile here. 

The green photo is a photo I took at an olive orchard in Austin with my BFFs Kathy and Anna. The sunset is a photo Chris took in Taos last year, and the wooden saint piece is a work of art from my mom from Santa Fe, and it depicts the saint for writers, journalists and editors, Saint Frances de Sales.

I'm leaving this wooden frame empty to help break up the textures. 

And, some of the frames are actually boxes. 

This is a piece of scrapbook paper that I found; really liked the print and colors; and covered the photo box filler with it. 

I'm really happy with how this project turned out, and I'm excited to fill in my frames. Stay tuned!

Ode to old friends

So long old friend. 

You've been with us for six years, and you've held many an important person. 

But recently, you've given out a little, and that's okay. You're getting older. 

And, truth be told, you and your friends never really fit in well with our new house. I'm not saying it was a color issue but...

And, so while we're sad to see you go, we'll remember you like our friend Charlie did: "I've never seen a table foster so many long conversations." So true, my friend. 

As you and your friends are leaving to go live in the attic (except your truly broken brother who is out by the trash), please pass along some wisdom of the ages to the new folks.

We want to be sure they keep your memory alive and host lots of long conversations and delicious meals. 

We think they'll fit into the family nicely because it appears we found a long lost cousin of Coffee Table. They both seem to have similar features.

So here's to you, six-year-old dining room set from Sam's. May the attic treat you kindly, and may your replacements uphold your honor. 

A place for everything

And everything in its place!

I've been after Chris for quite some time about the sideboard in our dining room. 

I knew in my heart that it actually belonged in our bedroom. The wood and lines would go with our bed perfectly.

However, the only kind of change Chris likes is the kind in his pocket. 

The movers had put our dining room table facing into the window. In Chris' mind, the table was put in glue. Now, we couldn't turn the table without moving the sideboard. Soooo...we just lived with it.

The really good thing about the sideboard in the dining room was that it offered incredible storage and a nice place to serve or place cakes and presents.

Finally, I broke. I wanted to purchase new chairs for our dining table, and I knew the table needed to be turned to make that happen, AND the sideboard would finish out our master bedroom. 

SO, I cleaned out the sideboard. Turned out that if I reorganized my other cabinets, all of our things would fit.

Empty sideboard...minus the cat.  

With the sideboard empty, I asked Chris to move it into our bedroom. And then I left the house. Somethings are better done without me there. 

When I returned home, I asked Chris to help me move the table 180 degrees. He obliged. Then he said, "that looks better already." 

Yes, sir. Yes, it does. 

Now, we just need a small cabinet of some kind for the space on the right. And we need to rehang the mirror to be centered. And we need new chairs and really a new table. And we need some more art. 

Maybe this is why Chris isn't a fan of change?

Then Chris went out of town. So I went shopping. 

I found these two canvases for our bedroom and the box lamp. I wanted two of the lamps, but there was only one. I think it looks good, but I may hunt for a matching one. With a few more touches, our bedroom may actually be finished!

Now back to shopping. 

Book It!

Do y'all remember the reading program Book It from grade school? We got pins with stickers, and for every 10 books you read, you got a free personal pan pizza at Pizza Hut. 

I ate a lot of pizza in grade school. 

I miss things like that. Now if I eat a lot of pizza, I just gain weight--not revered for my reading skills. 

Chris and I own a lot of books, and one of my favorite collections of books is my cookbook collection. 

I enjoy cooking so much that I'm always up for a new cookbook, filled with inspiration and recipes that I will cook once and then re-cook my way.

Anyway, my cookbooks have recently been stored in the cabinets above the microwave. This was sad for a few reasons. Mostly because I am short, and reaching them was a hassle. The other sad part was that they were hidden from the world....and me really. 

Thankfully, I have a VERY talented friend who makes furniture. Real, live furniture. And, one of you observant blog readers noticed my new bookcase in my kitchen. 

She made this!!!

And the CORKS holder on top. Yep, she's amazing.

Can you believe it? It even has cute, cute bead board in the back. 

It even has subtle distressing on the edges, which makes it fit in perfectly in my house.

So now my cookbooks have their own pretty home, and I can gaze upon then whenever I wish.

 

THANKS, LAURA!!