Design Photography

I try, I really do. I repeat the mantra: perfection isn't necessary, it's a process, just do it...

So I quickly snap my progress pictures with my iPhone (and it's not even the iPhone 4.0!) and I figure they're good enough. But then today, not one but TWO wonderful blogs showcased truly art quality photos.

You should look at them if you haven't already - Lindsey at Better After  and Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia (who was featuring Heather at Pretty Petals) (sometimes giving others proper credit sounds like a convoluted soap opera plot...) have them posted on their sites. When I scrolled through them, I was suddenly not content with my quick and dirty phone photos, and my overachieving gene kicked in, and I remembered how much I used to love art photography, and I started thinking of a new camera, and perhaps taking a class, and...and...and. But as Janelle at Isabella and Max Rooms reminded me this week (read her Monday's post if you need a reminder too), you really can't do it all at one time.

To remind myself of that, I went back and found some of my favorite photos from last summer. This year, I'm on to enjoying working slowly through our home. Right now, I can't handle both actually doing the work and then worrying about whether the picture of it looks wonderful. (Although I so appreciate those who do take the time to do so, and so it's enough to know that someone else is out there doing an even better job than I could do!) I'll close with a picture of one of our goldens, Haly, who looks about as contemplative as I feel right now.

Remix Crossroads - Input Anyone?

So.....I won't find out if my sewing machine is fixable for another three weeks. Apparently there's an epidemic of broken sewing machines and people wanting them repaired. The economy perhaps?

I finished painting the chairs black, and I'm very glad I did. They look much crisper and will work well as I start to transition other pieces in my dining room. But if anyone comes across this blog and has an opinion, I'd like to hear it. Since my sewing machine is on the injured list, I have time...

What fabric should I chose that will work with a yellow and white wallpaper? That's the one thing I want to keep - I love the classic look and the white chair rail and casings. (The window valances are a deep purple with dragonflies and those are gold sheers. Both need to be replaced, and whatever I choose for the chairs will be echoed in the windows somehow.) So the only color I have in the room is yellow. Should I stick with all yellow and cream with just black as an accent?

What about fabric like these? Advice appreciated!

 
Or, would a tone on tone yellow be crisp against the black, like this: 

A Snag - Stubborn Sewing Machine and a Hideous Kitchen

Well, my Elna sewing machine hadn't been touched in about five years, and apparently felt quite uncooperative as a result. I dropped her off at my local repair shop, but alas, I received a call today saying it's something in the electrical board...so now I have to find an actual Elna dealer and cross my fingers that it's fixable.

I'm not in the mood to buy a new machine or search Craigslist for a used one. I have too many other house projects to spend money on! I did, however, get one coat of black paint on my chairs, and I'm going to like those a lot. Still no decision on fabric though. And I dropped off one of the old MDF boards from the chairs - our local hardware store is wonderful and they're cutting new boards for me so the chair seats will be solid. It's always nice when your guests don't fall through during Thanksgiving dinner.

While I'm waiting for a verdict on the sewing machine, I'll be searching for ideas to replace my very dated, very large stained-glass quail in my kitchen cabinet. I couldn't bear to take a picture of it as a stand-alone, so I'm showing one from my son's college graduation. It's embarrassing. (Not just the quail stained glass, but the entire kitchen!) Eventually, I will muster the courage to paint the cabinets that beautiful white I see in so many inspiration rooms, but for now, I have to master smaller projects.

Step Two: Sanding and Priming

Well, my least favorite part of any project is the prep work. Since "they" say that's the most important step, I suppose I'd better find a way to enjoy that aspect. Maybe I can combine meditation with sanding and priming? Probably not....

It was so nice out that I did do most of the work on our deck, though I know I can't finish the paint coats out there - too many butterflies and floating pine needles to risk ruining the final coat.  I'm curious as to whether this new primer will hold up to heavily used dining room chairs. It's called Glidden Gripper and was recommended on Remodeling for Geeks (a very helpful site, by the way).  Bob Vila likes it too, and who doesn't trust Bob Vila?

My husband brought the chairs in for me before dinner, and now they sit waiting for me in the dining room. After reading Kristin's post on My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia today about foam rollers giving a smooth finish, I realize I'll have to make a trip to Home Depot tomorrow before I can start the actual painting. Fortunately, I love any chance to wander around home stores and discover new projects. I just have to discipline myself not to start another one before I've finished this one!

Step One: Unstapling and unstapling....and unstapling

Ok, so it took many hours and a few chipped nails, but I removed all the fabric. Whoever put it on in the first place sure was staple-happy. (Note to self: consider gluing the trim rather than stapling for easier removal on the next remix).

What I found underneath the fabric was, well, a bit crumbly. I'm going to put new foam on and I'll have our local hardware store cut new MDF seats for me.

I'm undecided whether to paint the chairs cream or black. I painted part of one in cream, and although I love that look and am planning to paint my kitchen cabinets that color (when I work up the nerve and time), right now my cabinets are that awful oak. I have no other painted cream, but I do have black accents throughout the kitchen and great room. So I think I need to stick with the black idea.

Now I'm off to look for replacement fabric and drop off the pattern for the chair seat MDF boards. Enjoy the day - it's a gorgeous one in our coastal town, and although it's still hot, the humidity has finally broken.

Stay? Sell?

We're so fortunate to live in a wonderful neighborhood with incredible privacy, safe streets, and good neighbors. But, our home was built in the late 80's and we've spent our 15 years here focusing on paying our mortgage. Besides, with three kids, two dogs, and everyone's friends over, it just seemed to make sense to let our home be well-lived/loved. So we put our own design sensibilities aside and now we're living in a time warp. Now that we can see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, we're looking forward to couple-hood again. Part of that means deciding where and how to live as a couple - it's a remix of sorts, both personally and physically. And another part means deciding whether I have the commitment and talent to take on some major projects like the ones I've seen on so many blogs like My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Better After, and Isabella & Max Rooms.

In creating our remix, I've been so inspired and encouraged by the many blogs by women all around the country. What incredible talent and warmth!

Tomorrow, I'll be working on remixing some horrible chairs that I picked up at a consignment shop. I'm still deciding what to do with them, but first, I have to rip off all that fabric!