Decorating with Wendy

Kitchen Completed

While I may not have been busy blogging these past months, I have not stopped painting for a moment, it seems.  Here are a few pictures of my completed kitchen.  The peninsula is in place.  My cabinets are now painted a color called Basil, and I believe I added the faux brick to my backsplash, since my last post.  Oh, also we did get a new stainless steel refrigerator, which has made a big difference. 

Happy New Year!

I can finally post that the kitchen project is complete.  I'm happy to say it was a success, and worth all of the time and effort.  We had a lot of company over the holidays, so it was well used and appreciated.  Love it!

As it is the eve of the Eve, I am thinking about the new year.  What will it bring?  And, more importantly, what will I bring to it?  I find myself thinking about who I am.  I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend.   I have loved those roles, but find myself wanting to expand my horizons, if you will.  I've been thinking about the gifts that God gives to each of us, and what mine are.  I think I figured out that our gifts are what we love and we were meant to use them to enjoy our life fully.  They are not burdens to be avoided, but rather what will help us rise above our burdens, if that makes sense. 

So, what do I love?  I love to have people into my home.  I love things that bring comfort and warmth, and try to offer that to my guests.  I love to create.  I love to make something beautiful out of something not so beautiful.  I love old, weathered things.  I love old people - people who have been through life and have something to show for it.  I love to encourage.  I sometimes get down and don't do such a great job, but in my heart, I always feel uplifted if I can lift a spirit. 

So, these are the things I'm thinking about.  I'm hoping to make a difference this year.  I believe God always wants me to make a difference and has some way for me to do that.  I think about all of the people who've made a difference in my life, and they've made my life so much more full, just by being who they are.  Those who come to mind are of course my husband, the man who loves me more than anyone has ever loved me.  My children, who bring me life and laughter every day, and keep me out of the pit.  My dad - the most generous man I know.  My mom, who has listened and become the best friend she could be to me.  My sister, who is the greatest encourager I know.   My brothers Scott and Jeff, who are 2 really awesome guys.  My friend Corrine, who is a constant blessing in my life.  My friends Keith and Maria, who give so sacrificially to help others.  The great teachers and staff at Lincoln Prairie, as well as all of the parents I know.  I love that school, and am forever grateful for the caring people that are a part of it.  My dog Peanut, who brings a smile to my face every time I see him. 

Of course there are many more people to thank, that I love, and that have made a great impact on my life, but these are a few of the people that come to mind that I am inspired by in many ways.  So, I hope this year I can make a difference to someone, in their life, and that I will bring a smile to their face, as these people have  brought to mine.  I pray to use the gifts God has given me - whether big or small, it doesn't matter...just as long as it makes a difference.    Oh, I do want to mention Tom Simms who has helped me start this website, using his time and talents and energy to do so.  I have never met him face to face, but I feel like I do know him by his kindness and generosity.  It's people like that that I want to imitate, because they are willing to make a difference to people they have never met. 

So, I pray this year is one that I use the gifts God has blessed me with.  I don't know what 2008 will bring, but I know I can bring whatever God has given me to 2008.  And my prayer is that  I'm a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend.  And, of course, I'm willing to  paint.  And, remember - paint is like love - a little goes a long way.

No Taking this for Granite

We finished installing the granite last night, along with some cute pendant lights.  It's working great with the brick and the new paint color, which I'm happy about.   With every step we take I begin to get more of the vision of what it will look like.  I have so many people to thank, who have helped me along the way.  My directors, my producers, my fellow builders, and all of the little people who helped make me what I am today.  Oh, that's right, I was talking about my kitchen, not me.  Sorry, I just got carried away.

Anyway, without further ado, here are some pictures of the granite as it stands (or lays) now:

A New Plan Emerges

In my last Kitchen update post, we were working on the electrical issues, which were quite a feat.  With that accomplished, we were on to the wall.  The wall as it stood, did not look strong enough to hold a piece of plywood, let alone this heavy piece of marble we were planning to install.   It also would frequently wobble and shake if someone were to have any kind of contact with it.  And, there was the strange occurrence of the dining room lights flickering  when the wall moved.   It seemed destined to fall. And, a bit spooky, with the lights flickering and all.

So, in the end we scrapped the whole wall.  I felt a little remorseful about this, considering all of the work we put into cutting it down.  It would have been much simpler to tear down the whole thing in the first place.  But, I guess this is how it goes in construction.  Ask anyone with a hard hat.  They'll tell you - you never know what you've got until you've got it.  Sort of like the box of chocolates. 

Now, I won't say I feel totally bad about this, because without this weak structure being exposed for what it was, we would not have moved on to a bigger, and better wall.  What I mean by this, is that we were able to build up a wall that not only will hold the heavy stone, but one that will also enhance it's beauty.  And, best of all, we will soon have a built in cabinet.  I couldn't be happier with the outcome, but we had to walk a rough road to arrive here.  In a way, our wall project is, on a small scale, a replica of life.  Sometimes, out of a bad and weak wall, will come stronger, new walls that will stand the test of time, and look beautiful doing it!  (I don't know - that may be a pathetic analogy, but it sure makes you think, doesn't it?) 

Am I Crazy?

Crazy for creating, that is.  In my last post I was tossing around the idea that perhaps I was a creative genius...but, I think this crazy thing is more up my alley.  There are different kinds of "crazy", but the kind I'm talking about is when you're just crazy about something.  My husband, for instance is always saying, "I'm crazy about you!"...and, that's the best kind of crazy to be.  That's what I mean.  (You probably knew that...but, I just wanted to tell you what my hubby always says!)

So, what makes me think that?  Well, for one thing, thoughts of what I'm going to make or paint or decorate often keep me up at night.  I can lay in bed for hours trying to picture what the risers on my stairs would like like in tan.  Or, what the kitchen cabinets would like like in ivory.  Even planning the best shade of white for my trim can take a good hour off my sleep. 

Of course I think about other things besides paint colors.  For instance, fabric.  I love to find the perfect fabric for each room.  I love to go and look for fabric about as much as looking at paint colors.  I also love to plan furniture renovations.  Sometimes it's simple things like converting a chest to an ottoman.  Other times it's cutting bead board to make new cabinets.  Honestly, these are things that can take a lot of hours out of a night.  And, that's just the planning!  Forget about the time it takes to do these things.

People wonder how do I find the time?   I do have a family and household to take care of, after all.  Well, now you know part of the secret.  I plan my strategies in the wee hours of the night.   And, you'd be surprised how much you can get done after everyone's down for the night.  A few weeks ago, for instance, I managed to paint one whole wall of our bathroom after everyone was asleep.  The other part of the secret is that...well, you can always find time for what you love.

And, being creative also saves time.  Yes, that's right.  Creativity allows you to save time on what you don't like, so that you can have more time for what you do like.  Take dinner for instance.  It is a known fact that I don't like to cook that much.  But, being creative helps me to think on the fly of great, nutritious dinners.  I open my refrigerator and freezer, and whip out something - start chopping, dicing, mixing, boiling - and suddenly, before I know it there's a full blown dinner for my family.  And, this happens without planning and without much time.  I simply use my creative skills to mix up a masterpiece. 

It also comes in handy for things like organizing.  You already know where I stand on that subject!  But, honestly, it  can be fun, with the right tools.  I like to take baskets and pretty glass jars, and keep what looks displayable out.  It's fun to find unique ways to make junk look pretty.  The rest of the things that aren't so pretty, like our bills?  Well, they're around here somewhere!

But, overall, what is really great about loving to create things is...you probably guess it by now...creating things!  It's fun to take something that is one thing, and make it into another thing.  Or to change the look of something completely.  Or to discard one thing in order to make way for something that will work better in its place.  It's enjoyable and relaxing and challenging, too.  It's also really good therapy - for free!!  So, am I crazy?  Not with all this great therapy I'm getting!

Am I a Creative Genius (sp?)?

I've been wondering if I am.  No one else has ever said this outright, and I'm not sure if anyone else has ever wondered this...but, all the same, I wonder.  As I've been mentally recapping my projects over the last few years I've noticed a pattern.  It's a pattern where I can't seem to find anything after I've put it down.  It's sort of like when you put down your pencil and can't find your paper...so you go to look for your paper, and when you finally find it, you aren't sure where you put your pencil.  And, then you forget where you put your paper, once you find your pencil.  It's sort of a vicious cycle.  But, I remember reading that genuises (sp?) can create masterpieces, but misplace their paintbrushes while they're creating.

Actually, I never read that, but I do remember seeing pictures of Albert Einstein.  And, he was a creative genuis - no wondering about that!  Now, the thing about Albert was his hair.  It really got me.  It looked like it was the last thing on his mind.  And, yet he was able to get this theory of relativity down pat.  Unless he really was traveling at the speed of light (which would explain his hair), he must have had to think really hard about this.  He was brilliant, but let the little things go, is my summation.  Which leads me to theorize about my own creativity.  I'm thinking that it has to do with letting the little things go (not my hair, though - it's important to have cute hair).  But, definitely things like the laundry, and the bathrooms, and the vacuuming. 

In my own defense, I don't really notice those things...not when I get focused on a project.  When I'm not in the creative mode, I do clean.  But, when I am, I honestly don't see the mess.   I used to beat myself up over this, but now I see the same kind of things happening with my very creative son.  So, it could be genetic.

I also should add that when I am not in the creative mode, I get a little depressed.  I absolutely have to find something creative about everything I do, in order to have the inspiration to persevere.  So, while I may not be in a completely creative mode, there always has to be a little creativity involved, for me to go on.  I invent it if it's not there.  And, you'd be surprised at where you can find it.  For instance, I think it was when I was unloading the dishwasher that I decided to take the cabinet doors off.  And, it may have been when I was wiping the counters that I decided to get new ones.  And, I believe it was when I was cleaning my boring white floor that I decided to pull it up.  So, you see cleaning need not be a chore.   It can literally transform your home.  And, I guess, now that I'm looking back, that's when some of my best ideas came to me. 

So, does creativity thrive without organizational skills?  Is that what I'm proposing here?  Well...no.  Even I notice that sitting here at this very moment at my desk I'm annoyed by the clutter, and I have to clear it off every so often to continue.  But, I have to think that while it is somewhat annoying, it's not debilitating - I can still create!  I mean, there are some people (even some in my own family) who could not do what I'm doing.  They could not function with clutter.  And, while I've always felt a little inferior to organized people, I can now feel a little proud.  I may not be a merry maid, but I will always be a happy decorator!

BrickBratz

I had previously posted some pictures of a "brick wall"  that I created from joint compound and paint.  I've had a lot of people ask me how I made the wall.  In addition to the paint and compound, I used a faux finishing tool called "BrickBratz".  They really made the job simple.  The fun part for me was to paint them, but, if I had to make each brick freehand, or with tape, I would've lost my mind.  I was so impressed with these tools, that I contacted the inventor to see if I could post them on my site. 

The name of the woman who invented these is Brenda Brunderman, and she created this tool to assist her in creating a brick wall look with less work and mess.  She's an amazing artist, by the way.  To check them out, or purchase the BrickBratz, click here.  As soon as I get a chance I'm going to try to do a stone wall using these tools.  They are versatile, in that you can create small or large brick or stone walls.  What a cool invention!

The pictures I posted are of the brick I added above the cabinets.  My dad suggested I go over my cabinets with the brick, to sort of complete the look.  I'm glad I did, because now that the wall is gone, it's a straight shot into the kitchen.  The brick adds dimension and charachter.  I was a little concerned it would be too much, but it actually ended up adding a lot of warmth and charm, in my opinion.

I still have some work to do on the upper corner of the wall, where you will notice the drywall.  That couldn't be avoided, because we had to remove a beam that went into part of that wall.  I'm thinking I may just put some plaster over that spot, to save some work, and also to give it a more old-world feel.  I don't know what I'd call my kitchen now.  Is it old-world?  Cottage?  Farm house?  I can't put my finger on the look.  I just hope it doesn't look "manufactured".  I want to feel like it's always been here.  That brick wall is older than the house itself, wasn't I saying that?  It's always been here, I think.  Oh, did I say I made that.  I was just making that up!  Well, that's what the faux look is all about.  Making people forget it isn't real.

 

An Electrifying Day

I just said that...it was not really electrifying.  But, it was filled with electrical boxes and wires and switches.  And, it was the official day #2 of our wall-kitchen renovation, with our friends, Keith and Maria.  This was about a 13 hour day we put in collectively.  Keith came over at about 8:30am, and was here until about 9:00pm.  Who has friends like these?  I don't know if anybody does.  But, I'm happy we do!  It's good to have friends, but even better to have friends who are electricians.  Not many people can say they moved their electrical wiring themselves.  Not many, but a handful, like ourselves can say that.  We did.  We moved the electricity ourselves.  And, I have the pictures to prove it.  Brace yourselves...they're good.

Okay, now you've seen them.  Now you know.  We did this ourselves.  And, we're good.  And, by the way, Keith is not really an electrician.  I don't want him to read this, and say I made that up.  He's an engineer.  And, a really smart guy at that.  He is sort of unique, as far as engineers go, in that he is creative, too.  He created an idea for our counter, that I will post later.  But, when you see it, you'll say, "Wow, that guy is really smart!".  I'll post it when it's finished.  By the way, one of the words I just used in my last sentence is what he actually created....what do you think it could be?  Well, more on that later. 

For now, I'd like to say that, perhaps the whole idea of electricity isn't too exciting to look at.  But, think about it...where would we be without it?  We'd be in the dark, that's for sure.  All I really know, is that, while, it only looks like a covered up hole, it was a whole lot of work. 

Not much on my part, though, I have to admit.  I actually did very little today, in the way of hard work.  I did get to spend some quality time with Keith's lovely wife, Maria (who is also my partner in business), and we really enjoyed ourselves.  We went shopping, we talked, we ate, and just had fun in general.  We would only have gotten in the way. 

And, I got a new haircut, to boot!  Maria mentioned that she had cut her mom's hair not too long ago.  I thought maybe she could cut mine, too.  She did.  And, I think we have a new style...one they don't know about yet in the salons.  Cute...much shorter...unique...and, something we may be able to use in our decorating portfolio.  It shows off Maria's artistic side. 

We will be having our 3rd and final official wall/kitchen renovation this coming Friday.  I'm looking forward to the final result.  I look forward to posting some pictures when it's completed.  We'll be back....

A Place for People Like Me?

I remember seeing an advertisement in a magazine for a home decorating store.  Pictured was a woman reading a very large wallpaper book in bed, while her husband was trying to sleep.  And, the ad said, "there's a place for people like you".    And, I remember thinking is it really so strange to be reading a wallpaper book when you can't fall asleep at night?  Is it strange to bring paint samples to bed, and examine them for hours?  Is it abnormal to lull yourself to sleep with floor tile brochures?... Is it?  Am I missing something? 

And, this all comes to mind, because on nights like tonight, when I can't sleep, I turn to the decorating forums.  I like to ponder if blue-green and brown are going to be a lasting trend, or what is the best red to go with Putnam Ivory.  I like to hear what others think, too.  I stay up nights pondering the right white or best cream for my bead board walls.  I think about other walls, of friends or family.  And, even walls I haven't seen.  People describe their walls to me, and what colors surround the walls they want to paint, and I think about what color would work  - sight unseen. 

And, I know I'm not alone.  I read the decorating and paint boards.  I know there are others like me - plenty!  And, like the woman in the advertisement.  And, I have to wonder, if there's a place for people like me, (and the woman in the ad), then what kind of place is there for people who are not like me, or the woman in the ad?  Or for all of those other late-night decorating forum type people out there?  Hmmmm.  That's an interesting one to ponder.  But, I'll save it for another day, because all this talk of decorating has just about put me to sleep.  I'll be taking my paint fan deck, and retiring for the night, with visions of paint chips dancing in my head.

A Headache and a Jalapeno

I've been getting these migraine-like headaches lately.  I'm hoping it's not the new glasses I ordered on line.  They are really hip and surprisingly fashionable glasses.  And the price?  Well, it's too  cheap to mention.  People compliment me all the time on these, and when I tell them the price, they stare at me in disbelief.  So, I figure I won't mention it.  But, come to think of it - it's too cheap not to mention - they were under $30.  I know, I know - if something's too good to be true, then it probably is. 

But, maybe it's not too good to be true - maybe I can live with the headaches...they aren't bad enough to ditch a $30.00 pair of great frames over.  And, maybe it's not even the glasses.  Maybe it's the paint.  I have been painting a lot lately.  So, it's probably the paint.  I'll have to limit the time I spend painting for a while.  And, if does happen to be my inexpensive and very cute glasses, I guess I can ration the amount of time I spend in them. 

In the meantime, though, and the reason for this post, is to let you all in on a secret I discovered.  But, first let me go back to the beginning... So, I had this headache, as I was saying, and was not feeling all that well.  I  was laying in bed, but feeling a little guilty that my husband was working around the house, and cooking.  I dragged myself out of the bed - headache and all - and went into the kitchen to see if there was anything I could help him with.  He asked me to cut a jalapeno pepper for the chili dinner he was cooking, and to remove the seeds first.  I had to debate on this, because, when it comes to chile, I say the hotter, the better.  But, I did reluctantly remove the seeds, cut the pepper, put it in the chile, and then went back to bed. 

As I lay there in some distress over the headache, I began to rub my eyes (closed).  I noticed a warm - or, actually hot sensation - at the spot I was rubbing.  Apparently the jalapeno seeds permeated my skin.  But, strangely, I felt a little better, as a result of the heat.  So, I decided to rub my forehead where the pain was.  Lo and behold, there was the heat, and then relief!   I started rubbing my whole forehead, and felt even better.  Soon, I was up and about, touching up paint in the kitchen, and having some chile. 

I thought about this phenomenon, and while I'm no doctor, I think I have an answer.  I believe that when you get a headache your capillaries constrict.  The heat from the jalapeno transferred onto my skin and entered into my bloodstream.  From there, the properties of the pepper that cause the heat are possibly expanding my capillaries, thus relieving my headache.  There you have it.  A medical explanation of how jalapenos may actually relieve headaches.  Just a theory, of course, but it may just be next time you have a headache you'll think twice about opening your medicine cabinet.  You might try the produce aisle instead. **

** I must caution you that I am not a doctor, and this is not a cure I'm promoting.  I also have a high tolerance for heat...all foreheads are not alike.  While my forehead may be tolerant to the heat of the jalapeno, yours may break out in some sort of scary rash.  So, please, don't try this at home, unless you are prepared to face the heat, and possible side effects.  Please consult your doctor before trying this at home.