Moving On, part II

The "after" shot

The picture makes it look a little more distressed than it does in person.

While the sofa drama was playing itself out, I calmed myself as all artsy types do...by painting something.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided the little desk I was using as a buffet in our dining room was too small. All the furniture was the same height and that is just not right. I had gotten that little desk at my favorite local resale shop for $8.00 a couple of years ago, and decided they could have it back if I could find something to take it's place.

Then, over the weekend, we were organizing the guest room, which serves as the "small" playroom for all toys that fit neatly into a 21 month old's mouth. The clouds broke open, and there it was...the perfect piece of furniture to use as my buffet. The only problem was it was black with pink and white drawer fronts - not quite the look I'm going for in the dining room. And, it needed to be a little taller. Other than that, perfect! We had gotten this dresser unfinished before Hunter was born, 8 years ago. We(I) painted it white and blue for his nursery. When Ella came along, I painted it the black and pink/white combo. for her nursery.

After a trip to garage, where I found 4 fence post finials that would be perfect for new feet, the new buffet was on it's way. Scott went out of town for 2 days and came home to our beautiful new, but antiqued work of art. I love it so much, I keep walking by it just to say hi. It needs new knobs for the bottom drawers, but I'm sure I've got some around here somewhere.

My only regret, one that keeps haunting me project after project, is that once the creative process takes over, I can't seem to slow it down long enough to take a "before" photo. Trust me, the change is dramatic, unbelievable, astonishing really.

Really, the most unbelievable part is just how much pleasure I get out of things like this. Scott says a drill and a can of paint are my crack. Joan Steffand has nothing on me. From "trash to treasure" is my middle name. Well, that and, "one who forgot to take before photos".

Moving on is harder than it looks

Now that China's weather emergency seems to have settled down, I can move on to the decorating emergency developing in our home.

My floral sofa and I have had a rocky relationship lately, ever since the new wood floors came to town actually. The floors changed the look of everything, and got my eye wandering to new, simple sofas.

In an impulsive moment, late one December night, I posted pictures of my loyal floral sofa on Craigslist, and offered it up for sale. I received several responses, which mostly ended with people named "Victoria Smith" and "Amy Letsmakeadeal" offering to wire me money from Brazil straight to my bank account, and could I give them account information please?

I gave up and decided to try and work things out with my loyal floral sofa. After all, it doesn't show a darn thing, and believe me, my kids have tested this out thoroughly. And, we have a history together, we know each other well, and that has to count for something.

But then, everything changed. Last week I recieved an email from "Sweetie". "Sweetie" had seen my listing on Craigslist and wanted to know how long my loyal floral sofa is. Nice try, "Sweetie". I emailed her back a short, curt response.

"It's 82" long. CASH ONLY. LOCAL ONLY." And no, you can't have my bank account number.

She emailed me back saying how much she loved my beautiful sofa. It was just what she was looking for. Could I send her some more pictures, please? After many emails back and forth, "Sweetie" appears to be a real live person who apparently "adores" my sofa. She is sending her husband over tonight to PAY FOR IT WITH CASH!

How did this happen? Months ago, we were a happy pair, and now I am faced with saying goodbye to my loyal floral sofa, and more importantly find a younger fresher substitute. I have my eye on one, but it's a little risky, however I'm in a dangerous mood.

But, we have to wait and see if Mr. "Sweetie" actually shows up with real CASH tonight. I've already made my emotional break with the "Sweeties" new loyal floral sofa. Ella, on the other hand is having some trouble dealing with the loss.

The drama, it is dramatic.

Trying to empathize, I gently said, "we've had a lot of fun on that couch, haven't we? Reading books, talking, watching shows..." My plan was to then talk about how we'd do all the same stuff on our new younger sofa.

She interrupted me saying, "I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!!!"

All of this on the Eve of Chinese New Year. I hope our family can weather this storm and come out on the other end stronger, closer, and with some real live CASH!

Because I'd rather think about decorating than real life...

Before, well sort of. This was taken during the mess of getting ready to rearrange, but the important thing is the table is black
My apprentice
Base coat done

Ta Da - After, well sort of, I've done a bit of rearranging since this photo. It's a much lighter look, a nice change.

My brother has a saying that the choices we make as parents define what "normal" looks like to our kids. It occurred to me as Ella helped me paint our dining room table that she is growing up thinking that this is normal. At some point I will have to explain to her that her mother is crazy and normal people don't paint their dining room table and chairs because they tire of the old finish. But we sure had fun!

LOOK! Good decorating blogs!

I've recently found some great blogs by decorators that post great pictures. I love looking at pictures of other people's creatively decorated homes. They give me inspiration and help me to form my own style, by sorting through what I like and what I don't.

So here's my list of sites that I've been enjoying lately:

Cote De Texas

Habitually Chic

Absolutely Beautiful Things

Jackie Blue Home

Enjoy!