Around the House

Cameras + Books = two of my favorite things.

An old camera case, given to us by B's grandmother.

Remember this DIY project from forever ago? 

We decided to hang the fabric pieces over our new/old bed. We'll probably re-do the bedframe, but for now, we like how beat up it is.

A little self portrait action.

A little dog portrait action.

Our new home is slowly begin to feel like our space. There are so many things we'd like to do and my wish list for the space feels never ending, but until we've found gainful employment, we're going to make do with what we have. Being forced to not buy anything new (this includes flea market and vintage finds) reminds me that what we already have is enough. Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective or a fresh coat of paint to see an item in a new way. Other times it take a healthy dose of gratitude and a spoonful of humility to make you realize that everything you need is already in front of you. 

"Oops" paint = Happy Accident

We've been busy bees, painting all weekend long. On our second trip to the paint store, we requested another gallon of Tide Pool (from our color palette to finish our bedrooms) and the paint mixer guy accidentally gave us Marina Isle, one shade darker than Tide Pools. We were initially going to paint the bathroom yellow, but since we now had this "oops" paint in our possession (it only cost us $5), we decided to give it a whirl and we're do happy we did! 

We still need to replace the mirror, those awful blinds, and get a new bathmat, but our space is beginning to come together. The bathroom is teeny-tiny and the orange was too overwhelming for such a small space. Thanks to our happy accident paint, I'm feeling soothed and calmer already. Happy Monday! 

New home paint palette

After much deliberation, B and I have finally agreed on a paint palette for our new home. The current colors in the house are: pea green, bright sherbet orange, and light blue-green. The colors are too saturated and I think the pea green is starting to give me a headache so they have to go. ASAP. If you've ever owned or rented an old (and by "old" I mean built 1930's or earlier) home then you that these spaces get dirty quickly. Without the help of central air and filters (two large dogs don't help the situation al all), dirt accumulates quickly so we are always cognizant of choosing colors that are too light lest we want spend all of our time scrubbing the walls. We've decided to try Behr's Premium Plus Ultra line because this job definitely requires primer and I'd love to cut down on the time it would take to finish this project. It's hard to know if we're making the right decision with these colors until they're on the walls. We've already painted swatches but the prior colors are so saturated, it's hard to tell what the end result will be. Off to go paint now! 

Thoughts on a rainy Sunday

views from our new porch on a rainy Sunday

It's a rainy Sunday here in Raleigh, here in our new home. We've been here for a few days now but I still feel slightly disoriented and out of place. The boxes lining the rooms of our home don't help the feeling of disorientation but we're working on creating a space all our own beginning with painting, hopefully this week. I've finally decided on a color palette so the most difficult part is over.

The move went well if you don't count the locked gas pump on our moving truck which the rental truck company had no explanation for. Luckily we were only delayed a couple of hours and I'd like to think I handled the situation with grace. I'm sure the woman who answered my roadside assistance call for help would beg to differ though.

We arrived on Thursday after a four day move back and forth from Athens and spent Friday and Saturday celebrating the nuptials of two of our friends. Friends from Athens actually stayed with us last night serving as a sort of helpful bridge to our new life here. We've had house guests all weekend and will have another friend of B's staying with us tonight. The great thing about about having guests when you yourself have just arrived in your home means you don't have to apologize for the lack of food, or the mess, or the fact that you have to weave around boxes to get anywhere. After all, you've just moved in so who's going to judge?

I wanted to thank all the amazing bright stars in the blogging world that helped keep the blog running while we moved: Pugly Pixel, Here Comes the Sun, Color Collective, For the easily distracted..., Pennyweight, Bright.Bazaar, Modish, and I Art U. I am so thankful for their help and their fantastic posts.

Thanks for all of your support and kind words as we make our way through this transition. Sometimes when I get discouraged or anxious, I read your kind words and I feel better. Maybe the rain is making me feel extra sappy, but I do believe you are the loveliest readers around. xoxo

Happy Weekend

Birthday flowers from my sweet ex-pat friends in London.

Our dogs love to cuddle. Here's Bella's actually hugging Kya's derriere.

I took a walk with my new Popeye camera (c/o four corner store).

We now have an official place to call home in Raleigh!

How was your week friends? We have been going, going, going all week and our moving to-do list grows longer and longer. Despite the general craziness that I currently call my life, I had a lovely birthday and B gifted me with a couple of fun items. Perhaps the most exciting news of the week is that as of yesterday, we have an official address in Raleigh! It's an old home, built in the 1920's and we'll be renting the upstairs (claw foot tube included!). I can't wait to get settled in, but first, I need to decide upon a paint palette for the interior. Decisions, decisions.

This weekend, we'll be traveling to see our families and say our goodbyes before we move. Although we'll only be 7 hours away, it will be an adjustment for us. Change is good, but no one ever said it was going to be easy, right?. Anyway, that's enough about me, what's going on with you? Anyone going to see Harry Potter this weekend (crossing my fingers we can see it tonight!)? xoxo

p.s. we're finishing up the foster care visitation room project tonight. I'll post pictures soon!

Bloggie art in my home makes me very happy

I thought I'd take you on a mini tour of some of the artwork in my home. Nothing fancy, but I think you may recognize some of it from fellow bloggers. Yup, not only do I have computer buddies, but some of you have managed to infiltrate my home. (Please forgive the quality of these photos and my new camera and I are still getting to know each other.)

Below is a vintage "gossip table" that I fell in love with. Please notice the two side doily mirrors given to me by the wonderful Diana at Our City Lights. It was like magic, one day I went to the door and poof!, these bad boys were sitting on my doorstep. Diana had them in her home and didn't have the heart to throw them away and she believed I would give them a good home. She was right and every time I see them they make me smile. Thank you Diana. (You're probably thinking, "that's not art work" but to me, these are as special as any piece of art, so there).

Here is one of the walls in our little living area. Being small space dwellers, B and I have had to double, sometimes triple the functionality of our rooms. Our living room serves as a TV room, and office, and currently our bedroom because since the roach incident, I can't sleep in our actual bedroom.

This is a lovely watercolor print by the very talented Laura Trevey (she's a watercolor wizard). Laura has two creative blogs found here and here.
This is one of B's pieces. He's been drawing a lot of fish lately and they're all unique and pretty great (if you want my opinion.) To say B is a man of many talents would be a ridiculous understatement.
One of my very favorite pieces in the house (if not my favorite) is this giraffe by the hilarious blogger Lenorenevermore. How I got to be so lucky as to obtain one of her pieces is happenstance really or just pure generosity on her part. She doesn't currently have a shop, but she should.
The next two portraits were done by yours truly. This one is actually a self portrait I drew in the midst of my social work experience (some time ago). It's a pretty honest reflection of how I felt while investigating child abuse.

I drew this of B more recently while under the influence (so to speak). It was a quick sketch but he's in there for sure.

These two beauties are by the amazingly talent Sam of Matou en Peluche. Remember her previous giveaway? She's such a sweetheart and I hope to have more of her work soon. These are sitting on a shelf in our sea foam bathroom.

There's more from where those came from! I hope you enjoyed your mini tour. My "collection" is small but it's growing steadily. Do you have art from people you know?