tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39955168656184465682024-03-13T08:06:28.213-07:00FindersKeepersFindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-74267323504529599712011-05-26T10:11:00.000-07:002011-05-26T10:12:19.760-07:00Blog has movedHello,<br />
I am moving my blog here <a href="http://tangerinehome.blogspot.com/">http://tangerinehome.blogspot.com/</a> I will be posting updates of my etsy handmade home décor business and our home renovation projects there for now on. Soon to come will be our laundry room makeover so follow me there now.FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-75791754305160102482011-05-20T15:05:00.000-07:002011-05-26T10:17:32.815-07:00Grey Stag Tea Towel now availableMy grey stag deer tea towel is now available at my new etsy shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TangerineHome">TangerineHome</a> This handmade tea towel is screenprinted by me onto a grey 100% linen using water based non-toxic white ink. Linen is a natural material made from the fibers of the flax plant. It is very absorbent and gets softer and softer with each washing, perfect for drying hands or the dishes!<br />
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Tea towel features a 100% cotton twill loop on the backside for easy hanging. It is pre-washed and pre-shrunk.<br />
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I will have more colors coming soon!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aH70AzaESBI/TdbkUuAWvVI/AAAAAAAAAY4/t1HI2qaXuf0/s1600/stag_towel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aH70AzaESBI/TdbkUuAWvVI/AAAAAAAAAY4/t1HI2qaXuf0/s400/stag_towel.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-903693843377750742011-05-19T12:59:00.000-07:002011-05-19T12:59:13.253-07:00Our house on Rearranged Design!<div style="text-align: center;">Our little house is featured on <a href="http://www.rearrangeddesign.com/2011/05/house-tour-amy.html">Rearranged Design</a> today, check it out! Thanks Ana!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owwj0njO8hs/TdV2CGoEhFI/AAAAAAAAAYw/0bR83z7QEg0/s1600/IMG_8893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-owwj0njO8hs/TdV2CGoEhFI/AAAAAAAAAYw/0bR83z7QEg0/s400/IMG_8893.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-4295199944746731162011-05-13T10:10:00.000-07:002011-05-13T10:18:16.898-07:00Sneak PeekSo as I've mentioned before I've been hard at work on a new collection for my etsy shop and I'm going to be moving everything plus my new collection to my new shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/TangerineHome">TangerineHome</a> Currently I'm working on a series of 100% linen tea/hand towels which are screenprinted with a water based non-toxic ink. I'm super excited about these! The linen is soft, mostly environmentally friendly since linen is made from the flax plant and is super absorbent! Here is a sneak peek of one of those new tea towels!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RK7GasuYQ2Q/Tc1jp_SMdMI/AAAAAAAAAYA/8qtXt7-ldDY/s1600/224072_201857519851676_201586833212078_458096_6138104_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RK7GasuYQ2Q/Tc1jp_SMdMI/AAAAAAAAAYA/8qtXt7-ldDY/s1600/224072_201857519851676_201586833212078_458096_6138104_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Like Tangerine on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TangerineHome">Facebook</a> and be one of the first to know when this towel along with several other new items will be available in my new Etsy shop! There will soon be a new blog as well.FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-36766744143593782402011-04-29T14:01:00.000-07:002011-04-29T14:01:43.717-07:00Coming soon...New name, new etsy shop and many new handmade, eco-friendly home décor items. More information coming soon!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6bQM-mNBcA/TbsnIx9_y8I/AAAAAAAAAX8/x3tNrkuRvsc/s1600/tangerine_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S6bQM-mNBcA/TbsnIx9_y8I/AAAAAAAAAX8/x3tNrkuRvsc/s1600/tangerine_logo.jpg" /></a></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-73686363707958181882011-04-26T11:12:00.001-07:002011-04-26T11:12:42.299-07:00Big Changes Coming!I've been hard at work on new designs for my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/amyburkhart">Etsy</a> shop! I've also decided that with these new designs is going to come a whole new name, look, website and shop! I want the new branding to represent my modern approach to home décor. So in a few weeks I will be unveiling my new name and website, I'm pretty excited about it! I will be introducing environmentally friendly items into my shop, using organic materials and water based eco friendly inks, all handmade in my San Diego, CA studio. I can't wait to share it all with you! Stay tuned!FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-61594153504297631422011-04-21T10:52:00.000-07:002011-04-21T11:18:10.390-07:00Light FixturesThe past couple of weeks we have been working on renovating our laundry room. Currently there is just a bare bulb for a ceiling light so I've been in search of a stylish period style light fixture that will look appropriate in our 1940 cottage. After a little searching around on the trusty internet I came across this fantastic website, <a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/"></a><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/">Schoolhouse Electric</a>! Not only is their website super cute, clean and easy to use, it's filled with some pretty great light fixtures! I have my eye on several of them because we need new light fixtures in just about every room as well as some new outdoor light fixtures. Here are just a few of my favorites:<br />
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For our laundry room and hallway I really like some of these classic styles:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/fixtures-detail.asp?FixtureID=276&all=0"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Marian4_AB.BR-2000_AB.OP-1457-07-4%20T.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/fixtures-detail.asp?FixtureID=231&all=0"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Northwestern6_SN.BL-9878-14-6%20T.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_950307201"></span><span id="goog_950307202"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/fixtures-detail.asp?FixtureID=275&all=0"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Otis4_MB.BR-2000_MB.OP-9878-10-4%20T.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Two of these would be really cute on the wall in our restroom, one on each side of the vanity mirror:<br />
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Here are a few others I really love:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/fixtures-detail.asp?FixtureID=261&all=0"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/MIT_SNbkv.Cage%20T.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Luna%20Rod%20AB%20Clear%2010%20T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Luna%20Rod%20AB%20Clear%2010%20T.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How cool is this one below? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Rensselaer%20Single%20NC%20T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Rensselaer%20Single%20NC%20T.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/New%20Fixture%20with%20SIlver%20Tip%20Bulb%20CAGE%20T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/New%20Fixture%20with%20SIlver%20Tip%20Bulb%20CAGE%20T.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They also have a great selection of light bulbs including the classic Edison bulbs which have recently been gaining popularity once again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Long%20Bulb%20T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/photos/Long%20Bulb%20T.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their <a href="http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/">website</a> is filled with so many cute light fixtures that would work great in just about any period style home, barnyard style or even modern home! I think I will definetely be purchasing a few light fixtures from them but with so many great options the hard part is choosing which ones!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-41698817915202331942011-04-20T09:25:00.000-07:002011-04-20T09:25:23.207-07:00New exciting things coming!So it's be awhile since my last post but it's not because I'm doing nothing it's actually quite the opposite! I'm in the process of getting all set up so I can start screenprinting and I have all sorts of new home accessory products coming to my Etsy shop! It's still going to be several more weeks before this happens but I'm very excited about it!<br />
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We have also been working on our laundry room makeover which I hope to have completed in the next couple of weeks so there will be photos up soon! It's about 75% complete, we just have some cabinets to paint, need to find a new light fixture and a few other things before it's completed. Since I don't want to post without a photo here is a photo of my red tubes pillow cover.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1gl0d7gWSc/Ta8IwGrrQ9I/AAAAAAAAAX4/fH6dvhOXBwI/s1600/IMG_9028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p1gl0d7gWSc/Ta8IwGrrQ9I/AAAAAAAAAX4/fH6dvhOXBwI/s400/IMG_9028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-71232460267026168392011-03-26T18:30:00.000-07:002011-03-26T18:37:17.709-07:00Driveway Landscape ProjectAfter many delays we have finally finished our driveway landscape project! Our driveway is very long and narrow. There is a narrow planting area that runs the length of our driveway and is the dividing line between our property and our neighbors. When we first purchased the house this area looked like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z_FnwiMqy7g/TY6Hhwkla6I/AAAAAAAAAW0/JFWXhE17IOo/s1600/IMG_6123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z_FnwiMqy7g/TY6Hhwkla6I/AAAAAAAAAW0/JFWXhE17IOo/s1600/IMG_6123.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zoOS_1s06LI/TY6HynCduWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/Xy68Q76QEM4/s1600/IMG_6121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zoOS_1s06LI/TY6HynCduWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/Xy68Q76QEM4/s1600/IMG_6121.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> There were hedges running the length of our driveway. This photo was after we did a major trimming job on them, they were so overgrown and a huge mess. The white building behind them is our neighbors garage. The hedges were a great privacy barrier but they grew into the driveway, were always dropping piles of leaves in the driveway making a huge mess everyday and when the car was in the driveway you couldn't get into the passenger side because the hedges prevented you from opening the door. Also the way the bricks had been placed allowed weeds to constantly grow in between them and it was really difficult to pull them out. It just looked like a big mess all the time. So we decided to hire someone to come remove the hedges.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JzL_GE456bc/TY6I3rXlKpI/AAAAAAAAAW8/BP_dAc6y-gg/s1600/IMG_8866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JzL_GE456bc/TY6I3rXlKpI/AAAAAAAAAW8/BP_dAc6y-gg/s1600/IMG_8866.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the hedges were removed this area was even more sad looking for awhile. We pulled up all the bricks with plans to reuse them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WxKXSXX-shI/TY6JaWQ9sHI/AAAAAAAAAXA/CpN8ByXEmC0/s1600/IMG_6728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WxKXSXX-shI/TY6JaWQ9sHI/AAAAAAAAAXA/CpN8ByXEmC0/s1600/IMG_6728.jpg" /></a></div>We decide to reuse the bricks by creating a border on the edge of driveway which would widen it just enough that when passengers got out of the car it would be wide enough that they would no longer be stepping into the dirt. First we had to make a large trench by removing a lot of dirt and tamping it all down. We added this edging to prevent the bricks from moving around.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w-XmVg01xig/TY6KNOaktRI/AAAAAAAAAXE/Cqw9rcFbMAM/s1600/IMG_6727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w-XmVg01xig/TY6KNOaktRI/AAAAAAAAAXE/Cqw9rcFbMAM/s1600/IMG_6727.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next we laid down a weed barrier and then we added a gravel base on top and tamped that all down.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RYc5PPwZpyY/TY6KeJljwfI/AAAAAAAAAXI/-yasXneUHl4/s1600/IMG_6730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RYc5PPwZpyY/TY6KeJljwfI/AAAAAAAAAXI/-yasXneUHl4/s1600/IMG_6730.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">After the gravel base was laid down we poured a layer of sand on top and tamped that down. Next we started laying down the bricks and used a mallet to set them into the sand.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_8MEGf2TsLA/TY6K11hI_oI/AAAAAAAAAXM/7U3q7i1VZBw/s1600/IMG_6731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_8MEGf2TsLA/TY6K11hI_oI/AAAAAAAAAXM/7U3q7i1VZBw/s1600/IMG_6731.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once the bricks were laid we swept sand into the cracks which keeps the bricks from moving around. It's really solid, those bricks aren't going anywhere!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vvRL8uL9XPs/TY6Ls_c4mVI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/R84s66S3ckc/s1600/IMG_6740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vvRL8uL9XPs/TY6Ls_c4mVI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/R84s66S3ckc/s1600/IMG_6740.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the final outcome. It was just the perfect amount of width we needed!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k4S64RvyPJg/TY6MJFuv8NI/AAAAAAAAAXU/wvM-AAM0Nh0/s1600/IMG_6734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k4S64RvyPJg/TY6MJFuv8NI/AAAAAAAAAXU/wvM-AAM0Nh0/s1600/IMG_6734.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> We continued this process all the way up to the garage. We are really happy with the result! I love the added detail of the brick edging.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Next was the fun part, planting! This area gets a lot of sun and it was really important to us that it didn't require a lot of watering. First we needed to address the privacy issue that removing the hedges caused.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XMACPctWGOE/TY6NQ6-zU1I/AAAAAAAAAXY/xWapJ1cnDpU/s1600/IMG_9188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XMACPctWGOE/TY6NQ6-zU1I/AAAAAAAAAXY/xWapJ1cnDpU/s1600/IMG_9188.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">When we removed the hedges it uncovered our neighbors garage window which looks almost right into our dining room window. We wanted to screen this window. First our neighbors painted their garage to match the rest of their house since they were never able to do that when the hedges were there. Once they completed the painting we constructed this wire trellis and planted White Star Jasmine which will grow along the wires and eventually cover the entire side of their garage including the window. We can't wait for it to start blooming, White Star Jasmine has the most wonderful scent! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s6AU5rjsXCk/TY6OIFOt_GI/AAAAAAAAAXc/y8jtTNHHIRo/s1600/IMG_9189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s6AU5rjsXCk/TY6OIFOt_GI/AAAAAAAAAXc/y8jtTNHHIRo/s1600/IMG_9189.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I choose to fill in the rest of the area with a combination of pony tail grass and succulents, filling in the remaining area with a pretty rock mulch which will help maintain moisture in the soil, block out weeds and won't break down like wood mulch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i1vf2y-twAY/TY6OtBUVnAI/AAAAAAAAAXg/6sGrb6DmNUI/s1600/IMG_9191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i1vf2y-twAY/TY6OtBUVnAI/AAAAAAAAAXg/6sGrb6DmNUI/s1600/IMG_9191.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Ponytail grass is really pretty when the wind blows it. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mhjniowUcWw/TY6PDp46J3I/AAAAAAAAAXo/JAjqjd-wyHQ/s1600/IMG_9210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mhjniowUcWw/TY6PDp46J3I/AAAAAAAAAXo/JAjqjd-wyHQ/s1600/IMG_9210.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4fkaPunIcWY/TY6PLY3yZzI/AAAAAAAAAXs/XNte--pqKXQ/s1600/IMG_9205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4fkaPunIcWY/TY6PLY3yZzI/AAAAAAAAAXs/XNte--pqKXQ/s1600/IMG_9205.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">To the right is our neighbors driveway. They decided to lay brick down too and I think it looks great! Where the post is they plan on building a little fence to cover up their trash cans. I haven't planted much right behind it yet because I'm going to wait for them to finish this fence so the plants don't get trampled. Once they complete that project I will add a few more of the grass and succulents, right now it looks a little disconnected,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KqSjAfHwLqM/TY6P0r8o2bI/AAAAAAAAAXw/KPUtkeyoUhU/s1600/IMG_9216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KqSjAfHwLqM/TY6P0r8o2bI/AAAAAAAAAXw/KPUtkeyoUhU/s1600/IMG_9216.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RHnMYEig7AA/TY6P7r39HnI/AAAAAAAAAX0/zQws1XBNhyU/s1600/IMG_9213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RHnMYEig7AA/TY6P7r39HnI/AAAAAAAAAX0/zQws1XBNhyU/s1600/IMG_9213.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next we plan on doing the same brick work on the other side of the driveway along with similar plantings. It was hard work but the result was worth it! Plus no more stepping in mud in my heels when I get out of the car:)</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-6604762608036100232011-03-06T14:46:00.000-08:002011-03-06T14:46:23.879-08:00Stag Deer Now in Burnt Orange!My Stag Deer Pillow cover is now available in one of my favorite colors, burnt orange! Get it <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69486677/stag-deer-burnt-orange-and-cream?ref=em">here</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-guc-kG3EWJQ/TXQOc1Yj7BI/AAAAAAAAAWw/2OpjJodkypE/s1600/IMG_9166-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-guc-kG3EWJQ/TXQOc1Yj7BI/AAAAAAAAAWw/2OpjJodkypE/s400/IMG_9166-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-74948504174134054502011-03-04T12:49:00.000-08:002011-03-04T12:49:08.020-08:00Little Bird Pillow in Inside Out Magazine!I want to thank <a href="http://www.homelife.com.au/magazine/inside+out/">Inside Out</a> magazine for featuring my Little Bird pillow in their March/April 2011 issue along with several other fantastic pillows! I just love everything about this photo!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V0mDv_VkEXU/TXFPPV_oG7I/AAAAAAAAAWo/8Z5w7K46hvw/s1600/il_fullxfull.214391905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V0mDv_VkEXU/TXFPPV_oG7I/AAAAAAAAAWo/8Z5w7K46hvw/s640/il_fullxfull.214391905.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wOktjlVcr2s/TXFPZVnpwuI/AAAAAAAAAWs/TaGaEkmGFus/s1600/il_fullxfull.189320679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wOktjlVcr2s/TXFPZVnpwuI/AAAAAAAAAWs/TaGaEkmGFus/s400/il_fullxfull.189320679.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Get your Little Bird pillow at my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60760550/little-bird-brown-felt-applique-on-white">etsy</a> shop</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-40377698413609114042011-02-28T10:35:00.000-08:002011-02-28T15:09:06.592-08:00Office Corner OrganizationSan Diego doesn't get much rain but these past two weeks have been filled with it so our landscape project we've been working on has been delayed (you can read a little about it <a href="http://finderskeepers-designs.blogspot.com/2011/02/driveway-landscaping-make-over-sneak.html">here</a>). I thought I would be done with that project by now and would be able to have the full reveal but it looks like it's going to be another week or two, weather permitting. When it comes to house projects everything seems to take longer than planned.<br />
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This past weekend I took advantage of the rainy weather and took care of some much needed cleaning and organizing in my office/art/sewing room. My Etsy shop has been getting more and more busy and my sewing area looked like a fabric bomb had exploded. So I took some time out to sort through all my fabric, separating it into solids, prints, felt and remnants stacks. I purchased some cute boxes from IKEA, one for each stack and placed the fabric in each box. Now I can find what I'm looking for quickly rather than constantly sorting through my growing stack of assorted fabrics!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MV8Mdj1Tayo/TWvmtdbE1GI/AAAAAAAAAWY/tXv1Qmp1u-c/s1600/IMG_9121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MV8Mdj1Tayo/TWvmtdbE1GI/AAAAAAAAAWY/tXv1Qmp1u-c/s1600/IMG_9121.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Next I needed somewhere to put my newly organized fabrics as well as some books and other items that have been stacked up in the corner waiting for a home.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eT49aNJamcs/TWvndbbE6uI/AAAAAAAAAWc/tZOLHSFTscI/s1600/IMG_9108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eT49aNJamcs/TWvndbbE6uI/AAAAAAAAAWc/tZOLHSFTscI/s1600/IMG_9108.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I had been putting this off because I wanted to search around for a interesting bookshelf but due to time and money constraints I decided it was time to hit up IKEA for a bookshelf. I found this modern looking white bookshelf, added some vintage finds and one of my collage art pieces to add a little character and voila, a well organized office corner!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RCINDg4ozwM/TWvo4BcxIJI/AAAAAAAAAWg/X8ucGl3jvCc/s1600/IMG_9116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RCINDg4ozwM/TWvo4BcxIJI/AAAAAAAAAWg/X8ucGl3jvCc/s1600/IMG_9116.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-69575225105034792852011-02-16T17:40:00.000-08:002011-02-16T17:40:24.198-08:00Geometric Modern Pillow CoverI found this great modern geometric fabric! I think it's a great color combination. I made a pillow cover out of it and it's now available at my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/67276413/modern-geometric-16-x-16-blue-and-green">Etsy</a> shop! A great way to add some color and style to a chair, sofa or bed!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TieADPfIqAA/TVx7r3N5vvI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/WPr0hXV8SL4/s1600/IMG_9088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TieADPfIqAA/TVx7r3N5vvI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/WPr0hXV8SL4/s400/IMG_9088.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSoOm4rq5YE/TVx7xjCeo4I/AAAAAAAAAWU/36fjv0ykvi0/s1600/IMG_9093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSoOm4rq5YE/TVx7xjCeo4I/AAAAAAAAAWU/36fjv0ykvi0/s400/IMG_9093.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-57529683896830012202011-02-15T13:38:00.000-08:002011-02-15T13:39:58.636-08:00Driveway Landscaping Make-over Sneak PeekThe past several weekends we have been hard at work expanding our driveway by edging it with bricks and doing an entire landscaping make-over next to the driveway. It's already a huge transformation but it's going to be another week or two before the project is completed. In the meantime here is a sneak peek of what is being done! I'll go more into detail about the project in the big reveal!<br />
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A before photo. The bricks have been laid, I'll show the real before photo in the final reveal in a few weeks!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fYH2td5EJ4U/TVrws47bhwI/AAAAAAAAAWE/BjwHMsxRLeQ/s1600/IMG_6906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fYH2td5EJ4U/TVrws47bhwI/AAAAAAAAAWE/BjwHMsxRLeQ/s400/IMG_6906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKdPJ_vQlL0/TVrxESS7L6I/AAAAAAAAAWI/b40weoaE250/s1600/IMG_6913+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lKdPJ_vQlL0/TVrxESS7L6I/AAAAAAAAAWI/b40weoaE250/s400/IMG_6913+1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YouO-SN-N30/TVrxMYNWHfI/AAAAAAAAAWM/We-V4LvvXQg/s1600/IMG_6914+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YouO-SN-N30/TVrxMYNWHfI/AAAAAAAAAWM/We-V4LvvXQg/s400/IMG_6914+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> We are trying to do a mostly water wise xeriscape garden. Here I used Ponytail grass and succulents.FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-21957985876457643772011-02-10T13:56:00.000-08:002011-02-10T13:56:45.223-08:00Sam MaloofA little less than 2 years ago my dad signed us both up for a class offered through UC Riverside called "A Day with Sam Maloof". It was a birthday present to me and what a great birthday present it was! For those who don't know, Sam Maloof is known as one of the finest woodworkers/furniture makers of our time and a leader of the California modern arts movement. If you have never seen his furniture you must check it out, it's really beautiful! So this class was to be taught by the master himself in his workshop which is located on the property of his home in Alta Loma, California. There are two homes on the property, the newer home where Sam's wife still lives and Sam's old home where he lived with his first wife. You can tour the old home and see Sam and his wife's art collection and a lot of his original furniture pieces, I wanted to take everything home with me! Sadly Sam had fallen ill and was unable to teach the class so one of his woodworking partners filled in. We were really disappointed that Sam wasn't going to teach the class but his partner did a really excellent job and we were happy we still attended! We got to tour the workshop and learn about many of the woodworking techniques Sam used, it was a fantastic experience! Sam and his wife were very kind and invited us all over to the house so we could still meet Sam and what a honer it was! Sadly Sam passed away just a few months later but he has left behind some truly beautiful art pieces. If you are ever in the area I highly encourage you to go tour his house. Here is a link to the Sam Mallof Foundation where you can get more info <a href="http://www.malooffoundation.org/">http://www.malooffoundation.org/</a><br />
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After the class was over we got to tour the grounds and the old house which houses many of Sam's furniture and art collection. I was so upset with myself because I forgot my camera. All I had was my cell phone and the camera on it is terrible. So I'm going to apologize now for the terrible, low quality images that are to follow but I wanted to share anyways.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EsK-9w_VFts/TVRWK_4vQ_I/AAAAAAAAAU8/27v2U704McU/s1600/04-25-09_1153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EsK-9w_VFts/TVRWK_4vQ_I/AAAAAAAAAU8/27v2U704McU/s400/04-25-09_1153.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A wooden gate on the property made by Sam Maloof.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9og2mbNSI2k/TVRWp4JdbPI/AAAAAAAAAVA/j5wwwqcmn5w/s1600/04-25-09_1209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9og2mbNSI2k/TVRWp4JdbPI/AAAAAAAAAVA/j5wwwqcmn5w/s400/04-25-09_1209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Sam and his wife were huge art collectors. There was beautiful pottery everywhere I looked!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7j0m3vHpVtE/TVRXN0gRoWI/AAAAAAAAAVI/hBHK1WXTc0A/s1600/04-25-09_1217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7j0m3vHpVtE/TVRXN0gRoWI/AAAAAAAAAVI/hBHK1WXTc0A/s400/04-25-09_1217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A Sam Maloof chair, beautiful isn't it? Sorry for the terrible photo, this chair deserves better.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0lzzepx6PUU/TVRXcFjFiJI/AAAAAAAAAVM/syDHd4XLRjg/s1600/04-25-09_1219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0lzzepx6PUU/TVRXcFjFiJI/AAAAAAAAAVM/syDHd4XLRjg/s400/04-25-09_1219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tlXcvZZcfM/TVRXixFguzI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/WcY_rOK8Rfg/s1600/04-25-09_1221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tlXcvZZcfM/TVRXixFguzI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/WcY_rOK8Rfg/s400/04-25-09_1221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> More of Sam and his wife's art collection.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8hFcZi8zFMk/TVRXt-NDAaI/AAAAAAAAAVU/GHBfpeGVs58/s1600/04-25-09_1222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8hFcZi8zFMk/TVRXt-NDAaI/AAAAAAAAAVU/GHBfpeGVs58/s400/04-25-09_1222.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm so in love with this stain glass window!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjxJQU-8028/TVRX3cVN2MI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4bs8pRxsWk0/s1600/04-25-09_1223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjxJQU-8028/TVRX3cVN2MI/AAAAAAAAAVY/4bs8pRxsWk0/s400/04-25-09_1223.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpHQr4tRVqI/TVRYBQ4cIWI/AAAAAAAAAVc/UENkGTCPKpg/s1600/04-25-09_1218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpHQr4tRVqI/TVRYBQ4cIWI/AAAAAAAAAVc/UENkGTCPKpg/s400/04-25-09_1218.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I'll take one of these please!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ty-42wceGc/TVRYI4xP75I/AAAAAAAAAVg/j1X2BzOCID8/s1600/04-25-09_1225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ty-42wceGc/TVRYI4xP75I/AAAAAAAAAVg/j1X2BzOCID8/s400/04-25-09_1225.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amazing pottery collection</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zIunCUiFWU/TVRYd_njnpI/AAAAAAAAAVk/0gPp1l97PmM/s1600/04-25-09_1227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5zIunCUiFWU/TVRYd_njnpI/AAAAAAAAAVk/0gPp1l97PmM/s400/04-25-09_1227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-meKufu1vz_s/TVRYnnPORsI/AAAAAAAAAVo/G8EARP_wOwQ/s1600/04-25-09_1232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-meKufu1vz_s/TVRYnnPORsI/AAAAAAAAAVo/G8EARP_wOwQ/s400/04-25-09_1232.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Another wonderful cell phone photo, gotta love that poor quality. This is one of Sam Maloof's famous rocking chairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1SCod90SZ8/TVRZi56QnZI/AAAAAAAAAVs/TsfJk7h9Xe0/s1600/04-25-09_1236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n1SCod90SZ8/TVRZi56QnZI/AAAAAAAAAVs/TsfJk7h9Xe0/s400/04-25-09_1236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Beautiful wood carved spiral staircase.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj0eG-uSe80/TVRZv1xFi_I/AAAAAAAAAVw/y437cDBsqd0/s1600/04-25-09_1242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj0eG-uSe80/TVRZv1xFi_I/AAAAAAAAAVw/y437cDBsqd0/s400/04-25-09_1242.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one of my favorite chairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The gardens on the property are really beautiful too, well worth taking the time to walk though. They appear to use mostly drought tolerant plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJF8DH-nCjw/TVRaMBLNgUI/AAAAAAAAAV4/3GCctrn3cGQ/s1600/04-25-09_1442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJF8DH-nCjw/TVRaMBLNgUI/AAAAAAAAAV4/3GCctrn3cGQ/s400/04-25-09_1442.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIG6t57FWPc/TVRaq7c8HMI/AAAAAAAAAV8/RsWucueuQGk/s1600/04-25-09_1457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IIG6t57FWPc/TVRaq7c8HMI/AAAAAAAAAV8/RsWucueuQGk/s400/04-25-09_1457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This made me swoon. I'm hoping to do something similar in our backyard one of these days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57EbPshuERk/TVRa91yCxqI/AAAAAAAAAWA/slE3K8K3PMg/s1600/04-25-09_1500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-57EbPshuERk/TVRa91yCxqI/AAAAAAAAAWA/slE3K8K3PMg/s400/04-25-09_1500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wood carving that sits in the garden.</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-42369978158133706272011-02-09T17:47:00.000-08:002011-02-10T08:50:57.031-08:00Red Tubes PillowMy newest pillow creation now available at my Etsy shop! More colors soon to come! Made completely from Eco-Felt which is made from recycled post consumer plastic bottles.This super soft pillow cover is full of texture and color! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLf9mohYdgo/TVNDG2j1QuI/AAAAAAAAAUo/QRrcVdkPBUE/s1600/IMG_9028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLf9mohYdgo/TVNDG2j1QuI/AAAAAAAAAUo/QRrcVdkPBUE/s400/IMG_9028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-87638921824430120952011-01-28T11:25:00.000-08:002011-01-28T11:25:20.892-08:00Xeriscape Idea Gathering<div style="font-family: inherit;">This year is going to be a year filled with landscaping projects. Our entire landscape needs to be started over from scratch. Pretty much everything was dead when we moved into the house and what was still living was poorly placed or too large for the space it had been planted.</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal">When you think of San Diego, California you may think of it as a tropical place with sandy beaches and palm trees but in reality San Diego is a desert. California has been facing serious water shortages for many years now. Our water rates keep rising and there are water cutbacks in effect. Every resident of San Diego is only allowed to water their landscaping on certain days at a restricted amount of time to help conserve water. The result is often sad, brown looking lawns in the summertime. Before we even became homeowners I knew I did not want to have a front lawn. The thought of being out there every weekend mowing, edging, fighting the weeds that always overtake laws, fertilizing, etc... just doesn't appeal to me. Some people may like the look of a front lawn and that's fine, it's a personal choice. For me though a nice mixture of shrubs, trees, rocks and flowering/non-flowering plants is far more interesting than a green (or brown) lawn, and if done properly, less work! I've told several people I plan to do a xeriscape front yard and immediately they think this means I'm going to plant some cactus with some rocks sprinkled around(there's nothing wrong with this either, I love cactus) but there is such a huge variety of plants that needs very little water, you can have a really lush garden and save yourself a lot of money in water costs not to mention your helping the environment and you can spend your weekends doing far more enjoyable activities other than mowing the lawn.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A few weeks ago I walked around one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Diego, North Park. This area has a lot of cute historical craftsman houses. I love walking though this area and looking at all the great detail of these wonderful houses! A lot have started ripping out their front yards and replacing them with drought tolerant plants. I took a lot of photos for my idea book and I thought I would share some of my favorites!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMIOH7JfnI/AAAAAAAAATg/ZMnzqiaF0VM/s1600/IMG_8790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMIOH7JfnI/AAAAAAAAATg/ZMnzqiaF0VM/s400/IMG_8790.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> This is one of the few modern houses in this area. I love how they designed the concrete walkway and all the plants are drought tolerant plants. I think the soft plants are a nice contrast to the hard edges of the modern house and pathway. It makes this house not stick out so much next to all the old Craftsman houses and adds a lot of interest to the yard.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMJaC6UviI/AAAAAAAAATk/Xp-0MWLGlnk/s1600/IMG_8802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMJaC6UviI/AAAAAAAAATk/Xp-0MWLGlnk/s640/IMG_8802.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I just love this cute little bungalow! I want their screen door for our house! So many interesting things going on in this yard! I like that none of the plants are so overgrown or tall that it covers up the house or windows. Houses from the 1920's have such cute windows I never understand why people want to cover them up with huge plants. There is a lot of rosemary used, succulents, trees, grasses, rocks, it all gives the yard a lot of color and texture.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMKnVzu3-I/AAAAAAAAATo/j8fQO30NCCk/s1600/IMG_8800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMKnVzu3-I/AAAAAAAAATo/j8fQO30NCCk/s640/IMG_8800.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I find this mixture of succulents, rosemary and rocks to be so much more interesting than most of the dead grass curbsides normally seen in front of houses. And as an added bonus I'm sure these people don't have all the neighborhood dogs doing their business in their yard.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMLixOl2HI/AAAAAAAAATs/bedytJf4_rQ/s1600/IMG_8805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMLixOl2HI/AAAAAAAAATs/bedytJf4_rQ/s640/IMG_8805.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">We plan on doing something similar to this in our front yard so when I saw this I had to shoot a photo for my idea book! I love the dry stacked stone wall with a assortment of low lying agave and other plantings in front. I do wonder though if those agave are going to get a lot bigger, I certainly hope not because it looks good the way it is now.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMMXOPMlVI/AAAAAAAAATw/sZebQQIGMO8/s1600/IMG_8812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMMXOPMlVI/AAAAAAAAATw/sZebQQIGMO8/s640/IMG_8812.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Not only does rosemary smell and taste good it has this beautiful purple flower! Flowers in January, what's not to love about that? Also, it's extremely drought tolerant! Just please don't cut into a square hedge, it looks so much better when you just let it be!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMNC7uycpI/AAAAAAAAAT0/7C5v53xU9iQ/s1600/IMG_8815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMNC7uycpI/AAAAAAAAAT0/7C5v53xU9iQ/s640/IMG_8815.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Look at this beautiful red and green sticks of fire! There is so much color in this landscape although I do wish it were a little fuller. If planting sticks of fire be careful because handling this plant can cause skin irritation.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMNwZ8RNvI/AAAAAAAAAT4/pl5lS83fKvc/s1600/IMG_8817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMNwZ8RNvI/AAAAAAAAAT4/pl5lS83fKvc/s640/IMG_8817.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">I really like this soft, almost feathery looking tree, anyone know the name of it? Two different varieties of agave flank the sidewalk and more sticks of fire in the background.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMO4E_nvPI/AAAAAAAAAUA/fjq9SeLoS60/s1600/IMG_8822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMO4E_nvPI/AAAAAAAAAUA/fjq9SeLoS60/s640/IMG_8822.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The walkway to this house is similar to the modern house above. I think off setting the stones from each other adds a little more interest than a straight walkway. The low lying plants next to the sidewalk soften the edges and in my opinion look great! This along with the cute patio and door make this house so inviting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMRDZc5zKI/AAAAAAAAAUE/eqomj5uJ6xU/s1600/IMG_8848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMRDZc5zKI/AAAAAAAAAUE/eqomj5uJ6xU/s640/IMG_8848.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another really nicely done xeriscape! More flowers in January! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMRYBNa9xI/AAAAAAAAAUI/omcAZ87_vWo/s1600/IMG_8844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMRYBNa9xI/AAAAAAAAAUI/omcAZ87_vWo/s640/IMG_8844.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stone is a really great mulch! Although it doesn't add organic matter to your soil like wood mulch does it doesn't need to be replaced like wood mulch and it helps retain moisture in soil and helps block out weeds. It also comes in a variety of colors and sizes! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMSCtVDHrI/AAAAAAAAAUM/pkBJMT-a7f8/s1600/IMG_8847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMSCtVDHrI/AAAAAAAAAUM/pkBJMT-a7f8/s640/IMG_8847.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This looks so natural, like something you would come across while hiking. It reminds me of Japanese gardens but with drought tolerant plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMSkqFAUnI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/lRzwowl-rQ4/s1600/IMG_8846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMSkqFAUnI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/lRzwowl-rQ4/s640/IMG_8846.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I need to find out the name of this plant! The little white flowers are so pretty, I bet this plant flowers all the rest of the winter and into spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMTCJEqD_I/AAAAAAAAAUU/g0Y4D876Knc/s1600/IMG_8857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMTCJEqD_I/AAAAAAAAAUU/g0Y4D876Knc/s640/IMG_8857.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I use to live right up the street from this house when I was still living in a apartment. I use to walk by all the time and admire the landscaping. This is a perfect example of how you can still have grass in your front yard but minimize it and offset water usage by mixing in drought tolerant plants. There are tropical plants mixed in as well so this landscape most likely uses more water than the previous houses but I'm sure it's a lot less than having it all be lawn. Look at the curbside landscaping, wonderful!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMUKFOZJEI/AAAAAAAAAUY/AhEdwiEHpMU/s1600/IMG_8853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMUKFOZJEI/AAAAAAAAAUY/AhEdwiEHpMU/s640/IMG_8853.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This mixture of succulents in front of that bright adobe color is just wonderful! And more flowers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMUeVPAZGI/AAAAAAAAAUc/s2ei3_7B8NI/s1600/IMG_8854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMUeVPAZGI/AAAAAAAAAUc/s2ei3_7B8NI/s640/IMG_8854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMUlBKNpTI/AAAAAAAAAUg/UpUPMLqvYp4/s1600/IMG_8856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUMUlBKNpTI/AAAAAAAAAUg/UpUPMLqvYp4/s640/IMG_8856.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've always thought that large agave plant in the front corner was so perfectly placed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can't wait to get started on our landscaping but first I have to dig out our yard full of bermuda grass ugh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those living in San Diego, the city is currently offering rebates to those that replace their living lawns with drought tolerant plants. There are also other landscape related rebates. Go here for more information http://www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation/residentialoutdoor.shtml</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-83625039238827648822011-01-27T08:50:00.000-08:002011-01-27T08:50:10.136-08:00Featured on Etsy Front Page!Yesterday my grey Stag Deer pillow cover was featured on the Etsy front page! To many this may not seem like much but in the Etsy world it's really exciting! Here is a screen shot!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUGhfXbCdOI/AAAAAAAAATY/3fD2BTOlXdc/s1600/fp_17722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUGhfXbCdOI/AAAAAAAAATY/3fD2BTOlXdc/s400/fp_17722.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Here is a close up of the item which can be purchased in my Etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/amyburkhart">shop</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUGiH6Z-fwI/AAAAAAAAATc/2VJAqdQq8ck/s1600/il_fullxfull.198293424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TUGiH6Z-fwI/AAAAAAAAATc/2VJAqdQq8ck/s400/il_fullxfull.198293424.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-6253740199109288382011-01-25T09:26:00.000-08:002011-01-25T09:27:17.192-08:00Our home featured on Apartment Therapy!Great news! Last Friday our living room was featured on Apartment Therapy! See it <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/living-room/amys-new-year-reflection-before-and-after-137348">here</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TT8Hk9Gw-7I/AAAAAAAAATU/c9Sdy1hxplk/s1600/IMG_8893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TT8Hk9Gw-7I/AAAAAAAAATU/c9Sdy1hxplk/s400/IMG_8893.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-59925585046742081142011-01-25T09:06:00.000-08:002011-01-25T09:06:57.718-08:00FindersKeepers Designs at California Center for the Arts, Escondido!A few of my pillows will be for sale in the museum shop at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido during their newest exhibit starting February 11, 2011 - April. For more information about the upcoming exhibit check the museums website <a href="http://www.artcenter.org/museum/index.html">here</a><br />
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Here are a few of the pillows that will be available for purchase: <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TT8CmASyr-I/AAAAAAAAATQ/SJ1SUt2KcwM/s1600/il_fullxfull.194094642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TT8CmASyr-I/AAAAAAAAATQ/SJ1SUt2KcwM/s400/il_fullxfull.194094642.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-48553744977847807852011-01-23T18:07:00.000-08:002011-01-24T09:13:18.215-08:00Year 1, A Look Back - House ExteriorThe past couple of weeks I've been writing about all the house renovation projects we have completed in 2010 as a way to look back and see how much we have progressed. It seems we are always looking ahead at what still needs to be done so it's great to take a few moments and remember just how much we have truly accomplished in such a short time. In November we celebrated one year of owning our first home! There have been many, many weekends of hard work. I believe though that where we have spent at least 75% of our time so far has been painting and repairing the exterior of the house.<br />
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We purchased our house through a short sale. If you don't know what a short sale is it's anything but a SHORT sale. 9 months it took, of waiting, placing offers on other houses but always loosing out to someone with a bigger offer, more waiting until finally the word came that the short sale had gone through! Well 9 months of nobody living in the house had taken it's toll on the landscaping. When we moved in most of the landscaping was dead. What was left was planted in bad locations and with no thought or design at all. In order to paint the house and eventually create a more cohesive and drought tolerant landscape we have pretty much ripped everything out. In the after photos you are going to see a pretty sad landscape but that will hopefully be changing soon! 2011 is going to be filled with many many weekends of landscaping projects, this is when we will really see the house come together, I can't wait!<br />
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So now for the before photos:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzYJDFpSTI/AAAAAAAAASg/Z3VyK7gD4Gs/s1600/IMG_4613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzYJDFpSTI/AAAAAAAAASg/Z3VyK7gD4Gs/s400/IMG_4613.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> So this is what the house looked like when it was put on the market. The landscape was living because there were renters living there taking care of it. The house was white with a light blue trim that was cracking and falling off of all the windows.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzYjJIsWXI/AAAAAAAAASk/bEmqBpkrvq0/s1600/IMG_5404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzYjJIsWXI/AAAAAAAAASk/bEmqBpkrvq0/s400/IMG_5404.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzYsY5QxKI/AAAAAAAAASo/sAHqzMBkLy4/s1600/IMG_4629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzYsY5QxKI/AAAAAAAAASo/sAHqzMBkLy4/s400/IMG_4629.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is what the landscaping looked like when we moved in after 9 months of nobody living in the house and watering the landscaping.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzY8SxgZOI/AAAAAAAAASs/HZhNRU1vY_o/s1600/IMG_6050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzY8SxgZOI/AAAAAAAAASs/HZhNRU1vY_o/s640/IMG_6050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>All the windows were in really bad condition. There were layers and layers of cracked and peeling paint. Also, somebody had used caulk or something to fill holes in the windows and it had seeped through the paint leaving dark blue spots.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzZeSEWEMI/AAAAAAAAASw/3CpzDL2ggHk/s1600/IMG_6051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzZeSEWEMI/AAAAAAAAASw/3CpzDL2ggHk/s640/IMG_6051.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzZtu06y0I/AAAAAAAAAS0/_u18DjYX4Co/s1600/IMG_6049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzZtu06y0I/AAAAAAAAAS0/_u18DjYX4Co/s640/IMG_6049.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>We had to strip ALL the windows and get them down to bare wood. This took several months and was not a fun job at all! We also repaired several of the broken sash cords which is the rope that makes these old windows go up and down.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzZ_nw8riI/AAAAAAAAAS4/HKPBWrmsVRY/s1600/wndow_before_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzZ_nw8riI/AAAAAAAAAS4/HKPBWrmsVRY/s640/wndow_before_after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>All the hard work really paid off though! We went with a sage green color for the house exterior, a burgundy and cream for the trim.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzaoapc_1I/AAAAAAAAAS8/BHQemMuOEps/s1600/IMG_8863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzaoapc_1I/AAAAAAAAAS8/BHQemMuOEps/s640/IMG_8863.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The stairs use to be painted blue as well as the railings. The room to the right of the stairs is the kitchen. The hope is that we will eventually move this room out a little to make our tiny kitchen larger. Then we will add a large wood porch to the front. So for now I just painted over the blue stairs but this will hopefully just be a temporary fix.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzaxBdVOtI/AAAAAAAAATA/9A4WaDuvtek/s1600/IMG_8943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTzaxBdVOtI/AAAAAAAAATA/9A4WaDuvtek/s640/IMG_8943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTza1t3H8iI/AAAAAAAAATE/hc-OiOPYp7s/s1600/IMG_8946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTza1t3H8iI/AAAAAAAAATE/hc-OiOPYp7s/s640/IMG_8946.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Painting the exterior of your house is hard, hard work. If you have the money to pay a professional I highly recommend it! Also, don't skimp on the paint. Pay the extra money for good quality paint. You don't want to be out there doing it all over again in a few years. It's VERY time consuming and not cheap. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2010 COMPLETED EXTERIOR PROJECTS:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-Removed overgrown and dead plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Stripped and painted all windows</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Repaired glazing on windows (the stuff that holds the glass in the window frame).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Painted entire house exterior</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Stripped blue sidewalk going to front door</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Painted front porch and stairs (was blue)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Painted blue railing black</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Repaired door bell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2011 PROJECTS:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Landscaping, lots of it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- New wood porch on front of house (probably won't happen in 2011 but it's a possibility) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Get rid of ugly security gate on the front door and replace with a nice period style front door. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- New backdoor light fixture </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">- Widen driveway with bricks (in the works now, photos will be coming in a few weeks!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-12894522028228573932011-01-19T19:24:00.000-08:002011-01-23T18:08:45.994-08:00Year 1, A Look Back - Bathroom<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejFmU4TaI/AAAAAAAAARo/viJLe9dpi_w/s1600/IMG_5719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The past few postings I've been writing about the projects we have completed during our first year in our first home and the projects we hope to complete in 2011. The next room is the bathroom. We still have a lot of work to do in this room but a complete restroom renovation isn't in the budget right now so we just did a few small cosmetic changes to add a little charm for now.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few BEFORE photos:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejFmU4TaI/AAAAAAAAARo/viJLe9dpi_w/s1600/IMG_5719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejFmU4TaI/AAAAAAAAARo/viJLe9dpi_w/s640/IMG_5719.jpg" width="424" /> </a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejYT57JLI/AAAAAAAAARs/KKdnQUVPHcM/s1600/IMG_4593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejYT57JLI/AAAAAAAAARs/KKdnQUVPHcM/s400/IMG_4593.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejk8HNCZI/AAAAAAAAARw/D30CM3tYMXY/s1600/IMG_4644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejk8HNCZI/AAAAAAAAARw/D30CM3tYMXY/s640/IMG_4644.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejrrEou6I/AAAAAAAAAR0/Kq572zjuuzU/s1600/IMG_5721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTejrrEou6I/AAAAAAAAAR0/Kq572zjuuzU/s640/IMG_5721.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now for some AFTER photos: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTekiPMOvfI/AAAAAAAAAR4/7yz05jnW8Co/s1600/IMG_8006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTekiPMOvfI/AAAAAAAAAR4/7yz05jnW8Co/s640/IMG_8006.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We liked the spa blue color that the walls were already painted but the restroom needed all new paint so we went with a slightly darker blue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTelEoebVKI/AAAAAAAAAR8/EwxQOZANh90/s1600/IMG_8013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTelEoebVKI/AAAAAAAAAR8/EwxQOZANh90/s640/IMG_8013.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">New molding was installed around the window and I made this little cafe curtain. I sewed a small bird in the lower left corner to go with the bird theme we have in this room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTemcLOr3OI/AAAAAAAAASI/SI8HQ5iGjjE/s1600/IMG_7999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTemcLOr3OI/AAAAAAAAASI/SI8HQ5iGjjE/s640/IMG_7999.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I love our bird cage shower curtain!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTel9tytGmI/AAAAAAAAASE/IO1FsWUf5gE/s1600/IMG_7997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTel9tytGmI/AAAAAAAAASE/IO1FsWUf5gE/s640/IMG_7997.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another view of the birdcage shower curtain as well as some Charley Harper bird prints hanging over the toilet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTemrGFDMVI/AAAAAAAAASM/NRnkX4vybRE/s1600/IMG_8028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTemrGFDMVI/AAAAAAAAASM/NRnkX4vybRE/s640/IMG_8028.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nothing has really changed here yet, just added a few accessories and a towel rack.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTem8gMX1tI/AAAAAAAAASQ/mbf5Yb-HMoM/s1600/IMG_8926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTem8gMX1tI/AAAAAAAAASQ/mbf5Yb-HMoM/s640/IMG_8926.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I made this shelf out of some wood that was left over from another project. Then added a few accessories.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTenTCUY3aI/AAAAAAAAASU/E52KySgLIXc/s1600/IMG_8934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTenTCUY3aI/AAAAAAAAASU/E52KySgLIXc/s640/IMG_8934.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Added a new towel rack</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTend5CAdOI/AAAAAAAAASY/kvhpah0lC6U/s1600/IMG_8937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTend5CAdOI/AAAAAAAAASY/kvhpah0lC6U/s640/IMG_8937.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>New molding was installed around our door. We still have to refinish and paint the door (A 2011 project).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTeogG9ruXI/AAAAAAAAASc/CPgw6YU9VAA/s1600/doorway_beforeafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TTeogG9ruXI/AAAAAAAAASc/CPgw6YU9VAA/s640/doorway_beforeafter.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Before the door frame was all torn up. My dad came down to install the molding and he did a great job repairing this!<br />
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2010 Completed Bathroom projects:<br />
- All new paint<br />
- New molding around the door and window<br />
- Made new window curtain<br />
- New shower curtain<br />
- Made a shelf<br />
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Projects we would like to complete in 2011:<br />
- Strip and paint door<br />
- Add a vent to the ceiling so we get proper ventilation in the restroom (currently the window is the only ventilation)<br />
- Install Crown Molding <br />
- All new period style flooring (most likely won't happen in 2011) <br />
- New period style vanity (most likely won't happen in 2011)<br />
- New tile in shower (most likely won't happen in 2011)<br />
- New bathroom hardware in shower and sink (most likely won't happen in 2011)<br />
- Install baseboards or bead board (can't be done until new flooring is installed so this probably won't get done this year either).FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-58093794525242318272011-01-13T18:39:00.000-08:002011-01-19T19:43:15.733-08:00Year 1, A Look Back - Living RoomTo celebrate a new year and just a little over one year of home ownership, I'm writing a series of blogs that look back on all the progress we have made on the house in the past year room by room. I'm also posting projects we are hoping to accomplish in 2011. In this next blog I'm going to focus on the living room.<br />
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First, a few before photos.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-74Jff_vI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ryB7jkQSSlw/s1600/IMG_5712.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561870638120959730" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-74Jff_vI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/ryB7jkQSSlw/s640/IMG_5712.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-7uFAWcsI/AAAAAAAAAQI/jswW_w-r20Y/s1600/IMG_5716.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561870465117876930" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-7uFAWcsI/AAAAAAAAAQI/jswW_w-r20Y/s640/IMG_5716.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-7mK1SDaI/AAAAAAAAAQA/86JwwAehrWs/s1600/IMG_5731.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" height="425" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561870329243110818" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-7mK1SDaI/AAAAAAAAAQA/86JwwAehrWs/s640/IMG_5731.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
Now the after photos!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-8RXm6hsI/AAAAAAAAAQY/iFI4g1YA1fc/s1600/IMG_8901.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561871071406884546" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-8RXm6hsI/AAAAAAAAAQY/iFI4g1YA1fc/s640/IMG_8901.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-8gIQKHGI/AAAAAAAAAQg/rKg-RKWHOZY/s1600/IMG_8893.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561871324982942818" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-8gIQKHGI/AAAAAAAAAQg/rKg-RKWHOZY/s640/IMG_8893.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
I still need to refinish and reupholster this wood lounge chair.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-8q9SW_6I/AAAAAAAAAQo/uxtLFnsdQ2E/s1600/IMG_8888.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="461" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561871511017947042" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-8q9SW_6I/AAAAAAAAAQo/uxtLFnsdQ2E/s640/IMG_8888.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-9g7Jx-qI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/35Ww27JC0Wk/s1600/IMG_8912.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561872438158031522" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-9g7Jx-qI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/35Ww27JC0Wk/s640/IMG_8912.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-846B7CVI/AAAAAAAAAQw/KkFR2rJZUDk/s1600/IMG_8898.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561871750661867858" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-846B7CVI/AAAAAAAAAQw/KkFR2rJZUDk/s640/IMG_8898.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a>We still need blinds for all the windows, I'm really not too fond of this fabric pinned up look! I think we are going to get either simple white roman or roller shades that fit inside the window so we don't hide the beautiful molding my dad installed.<br />
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2010 Completed Projects:<br />
- Refinished hardwood floors<br />
- All new paint<br />
- New molding around the windows, doors and baseboards<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-_GgbjeaI/AAAAAAAAARI/0DOT1PFTJIM/s1600/door_before_after.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="474" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561874183331477922" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS-_GgbjeaI/AAAAAAAAARI/0DOT1PFTJIM/s640/door_before_after.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>A before and after shot of the door molding. I love how it turned out! Now one of these days we hope to get a nicer door but that will have to wait for now.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS_BpkqIbSI/AAAAAAAAARY/J1LJRjr6D6U/s1600/windows_before_after.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="290" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561876984785038626" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS_BpkqIbSI/AAAAAAAAARY/J1LJRjr6D6U/s640/windows_before_after.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>A before and after shot of the molding around the windows.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS_FurPS7fI/AAAAAAAAARg/kaS8lpS6JQc/s1600/IMG_8908.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561881470497385970" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS_FurPS7fI/AAAAAAAAARg/kaS8lpS6JQc/s640/IMG_8908.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a>It's amazing what some nice baseboard molding can do, really.<br />
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Living Room Projects for 2011:<br />
- Window shades<br />
– Refinish and reupholster wood lounge chair <br />
- The rest are decorating projects like a tall plant for one of the corners and probably a lamp in the other. The room isn't quite right yet but I think these little things will complete the room.FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-80339380696768990102011-01-12T11:21:00.000-08:002011-01-19T19:40:29.398-08:00Year 1, A Look Back - Dining RoomWe have had our little house for just a little over a year now. It's crazy how fast a year has passed! So many weekends spent fixing up the little 1940 bungalow. Since we seem to focus on our ever growing to-do list I thought it would be good to stop and reflect back on everything we have accomplished in such a short time so we can pat ourselves on the back and see how much all our hard work has paid off. The next several posts are going to be about everything we have accomplished in 2010 but I'm also going to list our project goals for 2011. This first post is going to be about our dining room since it is the most completed room in the house I thought I would start there.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4BPw_lL7I/AAAAAAAAAOo/uWYpYeohI3A/s1600/IMG_5704.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561383960210386866" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4BPw_lL7I/AAAAAAAAAOo/uWYpYeohI3A/s640/IMG_5704.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="424" /></a></div><br />
This is a photo of the dining room when we moved in. When we first looked at this house our biggest concerns were the tiny kitchen and this tiny dining room. Although we looked at many houses that had no dining room at all so I was excited just to have one! My fiance didn't think we would ever be able to fit a full sized table in this room but I was convinced we could. This photo below shows the small table the people who were living here before us had.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4CSEW_5YI/AAAAAAAAAOw/umQAUByGljs/s1600/IMG_4577.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561385099280246146" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4CSEW_5YI/AAAAAAAAAOw/umQAUByGljs/s640/IMG_4577.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="422" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS459lYEPQI/AAAAAAAAAPw/9diBWL2zYC4/s1600/IMG_8881.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561446320016997634" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS459lYEPQI/AAAAAAAAAPw/9diBWL2zYC4/s640/IMG_8881.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a><br />
This is our dining room after. As you can see we fit a table that seats 6 plus we have an extension piece to the table so we can fit even more if needed! What we accomplished in 2010:<br />
1) Refinished hardwood floors<br />
2) All new paint<br />
3) Refinished windows<br />
4) New molding around windows, door and baseboard<br />
5) New dining room table and chairs, a great find on Craigslist!<br />
6) New mid-century modern light fixture (won on ebay!)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4EGkZqzRI/AAAAAAAAAPA/UfGVkfR-e9I/s1600/IMG_8758.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="426" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561387100746206482" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4EGkZqzRI/AAAAAAAAAPA/UfGVkfR-e9I/s640/IMG_8758.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>All new molding around the bay windows gives the house more character and brings more attention to the windows.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4EG7BOQvI/AAAAAAAAAPI/99Ut3LLoje0/s1600/IMG_8759.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561387106817688306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4EG7BOQvI/AAAAAAAAAPI/99Ut3LLoje0/s640/IMG_8759.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a>New baseboards really finished this room off nicely.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4EwXz5OSI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/lgbFz9AvHx0/s1600/IMG_8763.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561387818921048354" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4EwXz5OSI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/lgbFz9AvHx0/s640/IMG_8763.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a>New molding around doors includes a pediment and plinth blocks.<br />
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And of course I can't forget all the finishing details!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4FIJysFwI/AAAAAAAAAPY/x5PdFQs6S_g/s1600/centerpiece.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="308" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561388227474757378" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4FIJysFwI/AAAAAAAAAPY/x5PdFQs6S_g/s640/centerpiece.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>I found this metal trough at a local modern home store and planted colorful succulents in it. I think it makes a great centerpiece on our table!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4Fi7LNmSI/AAAAAAAAAPg/ALg8EsFW6O4/s1600/IMG_8756.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561388687407552802" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4Fi7LNmSI/AAAAAAAAAPg/ALg8EsFW6O4/s640/IMG_8756.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a>New light fixture and woolly wall planter. I love how the hanging plants are like a piece of art and they add a punch of color to the room not to mention plants are great air purifiers.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4GBYbgA5I/AAAAAAAAAPo/LY0x5YPYDFk/s1600/IMG_8766.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561389210656572306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TS4GBYbgA5I/AAAAAAAAAPo/LY0x5YPYDFk/s640/IMG_8766.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="426" /></a>Our collection of vintage camera's and a mid-century pot given to us by our very good friends help fill this little nook.<br />
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Dining room projects for 2011:<br />
1) Window shadesFindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3995516865618446568.post-84893534406793816602010-12-12T15:44:00.000-08:002010-12-12T15:49:56.443-08:00Reclaimed Wood Assemblage Art Piece<div>I have completed my first assemblage piece for FindersKeepers which can now purchased at my Etsy shop <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/64196254/modern-mixed-wood-assemblage-55-x-13">here</a>! There will be more to come soon. This piece is made completely out of reclaimed wood. Each piece has been sanded and oiled with a natural oil to bring out the beauty of the color and wood grain. Here are a few photos of it!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TQVe8OL6ABI/AAAAAAAAAOc/TDvMLnDRfnE/s1600/IMG_8676.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TQVe8OL6ABI/AAAAAAAAAOc/TDvMLnDRfnE/s400/IMG_8676.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549946504497201170" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TQVeznPAQnI/AAAAAAAAAOU/E5TTl6Y1s1I/s1600/IMG_8671.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_18G7vhch71s/TQVeznPAQnI/AAAAAAAAAOU/E5TTl6Y1s1I/s400/IMG_8671.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549946356602258034" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div>FindersKeepershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01139354997865856918noreply@blogger.com0