Posted in Baby Boos, diy, tagged crafts on October 13, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Last Saturday found Ava searching for the perfect rocks
To make a special gift for Mrs. Frear
Frogs are the classroom mascot
The note had no less than four hearts and said, “Mrs. Frear, You’re Frogtastick!!!”
Yes Ava, she is! We are so thankful for the wonderful staff at Farragut Primary!
Posted in diy, Ect., tagged children's art on August 29, 2011| 2 Comments »
One of the display pieces from the shop has been repurposed for our resident artists.
I want the kids to know that art and seeking/making beauty isn’t a every now and then thing. Art without mess, something I haven’t mastered.
It’s been a hard week. Our son is having some health issues. The shop lease is up and I’m not renewing it. Work is in full swing with many demands. I have been focusing on the gray. I want to see the beauty of God in this real, gritty sometimes crazy life of mine. I need new eyes and a renewed heart. His handy work is all around me. Maybe this new art caddy is more for me than the kids.
Posted in diy, Ect., tagged tablescapes on August 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »
I was asked to do a tablescape for a women’s luncheon at church.
The red, turquoise, and lime make me smile. Love them together.
Posted in diy, tagged home improvement on July 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Today is the one year anniversary of us living in our current home. The kitchen linoleum was one of the first things to go. Then we scraped, scraped, and scraped two layers of ancient flooring, primed, and laid tile. Fun times.
Next to go was the drop ceiling and lighting. Followed by replacing the fridge and painting the cabinets. Over the course of the year we have painted seven rooms, ripped out old flooring and tiled the kitchen and sunroom, ripped out carpet and refinished one set of stairs, and changed light fixtures and hardware all over the house. Typing this out makes me feel better because there is still soooo much work to be done. Below is more what the kitchen looks like now (well, now it’s full of dirty dishes) but this shot shows the painted cabinets.
Happy Birthday House! Thanks for being a great Home for our family!
Posted in Baby Boos, diy, Ect. on July 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »
My kids love to create. We have an art cabinet, an art basket, art buckets, and a craft bar (post for another day).
We were up to our ears in artwork. Raise your hand if you’ve had to sneak your kid’s papers into the trash late at night. I came up with this solution for our kitchen. I used a curtain rod and sliding clips we already had. The masterpieces are changed out every few days.
Just a few of the creations this week
A made this mask with grosgrain ribbon today. I think she was going for purple gorilla look.
Watercolor by G.
A circa 2006.
A vintage 2010.
A’s handy work vintage 2008. These paintings make me smile every time I walk past. It fits my design philosophy of using what you love in your home. Each time I look at these it reminds me of the little hands and perspectives that designed them. I’m striving to really appreciate my children’s story as it unfolds. I’m so very grateful to be part of it.
Posted in diy, Ect. on July 15, 2011| 1 Comment »
This is the current state of the union when it comes to our fireplace. I’m campaigning for painting it white and somehow dealing with the ugly brass firebox. Handy Hubby (worn out by my projects, I’m sure) likes it as is. It’s one of those round and round discussions at our house. Kinda like how big of an issue it is that I heard a creature in the attic. I’m sure it’s a rodent of unusual size (name that movie). Hubby is convinced it does not exist, I’m hearing things. Nice try, I don’t buy it baby.
All this to say, our home, like all issues in marriage is a matter of compromise and negotiation and hopefully a little grace for everyone involved. That’s why this reclaimed banister (white on right of fireplace) made my heart skip a little today. Joey brought it home and said, “I’m not sure what we’ll do with it, but I knew you’d like it.” It sat in the garage for a week or so because things were super hectic around here. Today it caught my eye, I brought it upstairs, dusted it off, and over coffee it hit me: He gets me. Thirteen years, two babies, four degrees, and a ton of up and downs: He gets me. He knows full well how difficult and flawed I am and he still loves and surprises me. He gets me, that’s a narrative I need to remember.
Posted in diy, Ect. on July 5, 2011| 2 Comments »
As I’ve mentioned before we love our home, just not some of the 80s details. Enter exhibit A. This is in fact a horrible builder grade Boob Light from the 90s. If you have these in your home, please don’t be offended. I have three more yet to be replaced in mine. Female anatomy, however beautiful, should not inspire lighting.
In my parents’ wonderful, treasure trove of a basement I found and was awarded one 1950s orignal school light with heavy milkglass. These lights were replaced in said school with florescent lighting (the bane of my existence design wise) in the 70s but they did not replace the lights in the closets. This school was being demolished for a newer one when my father (tender-hearted giant) rescued it. Hallelujah!
Handy Hubby rigged this so the base could be painted.
Here is the after. Angels sang.
Grand total of four light fixtures replaced, 10 really ugly ones to go.
Posted in diy, Ect. on June 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »
We moved into our current home a little less than a year ago. It is a tremendous blessing after our previous house was on the market over 18 months. Our home was built in the 80s and has some unique features. Not the least of which is the plumbing. We noticed a wail, moan, gurgle from the master bath our first night. We were too tired to care. After a few weeks, handy hubby remedied the ghost potty issue. Soon after, there were issues with the tub. We plan on remodeling the entire bath, so patching dry wall is low on our list of projects right now. Previously I covered the vortex of plumbing woe with a mirror but now it’s got a new lease on life.
I bought the shudders, you guessed it, at a yard sale. Now they hold my costume jewelry and scarves and cover the vortex. It makes me smile every time I see it. And I think that’s the key. Our homes should make us smile and tell our story. It doesn’t matter if even your best friend doesn’t get it. If you love it, find a way to use it in your home.
Posted in diy, Ect., Shop on June 19, 2011| 2 Comments »
I picked up this sad little picnic basket knowing she needed a little TLC
A little help from the helpful hardware place in Banner Red
Now she’s ready for a 4th of July bash. You could channel your grandmother’s spirit and make a blackberry cobbler or rhubarb pie. Wear her pearls and be belle of the barbecue.
How fun would this little vintage tin be filled with iced animal crackers as a hostess gift at your next playdate?
Both the tin and picnic basket will be available at Design Narrative in Homespun Antique Mall between Fresh Market and Steinmart on Kingston Pike
Posted in diy on June 13, 2011| 4 Comments »
Each year our church hosts a valentine banquet for couples. Different people host a table and provide the china. It honestly wasn’t something I wanted to do. Then I started pulling out china from the far reaches of my cabinets and playing with burlap. Major fun ensued. A casual comment from a friend at the banquet spurred a little hope. A hope that maybe the fluffy stuff, the stuff I love to do but isn’t at all what I spent 6+ years in grad school for, is significant. Not change the world significant, but significant in bringing joy to my life. Thanks friend.
designnarrative 