Ongoing Remodel

I have been working on our main bathroom remodel for a few months - catching an hour here and there
My goal is get it completed before our next RANSOM.MADE EVENT which is October 11th and 12th - just around the corner!
so far I have (well we have, George helped)....removed wallpaper, mirror, lighting and flooring
                                                                     painted, added new mirrors, and new lighting
                                                                     removed paint from vanity
                                                                      removed cupboard doors, and
                                                                      fronts from drawers

Next step is - stain vanity, cupboard doors, and drawer fronts a lovely rich dark stain
then all we have left is tile on the floor!    here are pictures!

 removed large mirror that went clear across the 2 sink vanity
 removed lighting - which I really liked, but was outdated
 removed my favorite yellow plaid wallpaper - yup outdated

                               stripped the yellow paint from the vanity
                               removed the wood floor - which I laid and
                               finished myself during the last renovation


                          

  tapped off the tile for protection while stripping

Stripped 3 layers of paint - one layer of stain (we have lived her 26 years )

new door fronts, and cupboard doors to be stained - they are beautiful!

new paint, new curtains
new lighting
and new mirrors
it is looking good !

2x4 Summer Blocks......

requested by a Customer - I loved them - made myself a set - put "Autumn" on the back

sets like these will be available at our Ransom.made "Autumn Event"

October 11th, and 12th

"Spring/Summer"

"Autumn/Winter"

one 7 piece set is $15.00 one sided

                           $20.00  two sided

14 piece set - all 4 seasons is $35.00

A "Big Tray" -  a Grandmas best friend!

I love to use small displays, and vignettes to decorate my home  - problem -   I have 17 grandchildren and one on the way!  needless to say, I am always rearranging my displays and putting things up when little curious fingers are around.
I soved my problem!   I just arrange my displays and Vignettes on trays, and when the babies come I just pick up the tray, and put it in a safe place.  When the babies, have gone home, It just takes a minute to replace the trays  and voila!  I am decorated again.....I have been doing this for a few years and it works great!  wish I would have thought of this when my kids were little!

Here are some of the trays I have out now

Center piece on kitchen table

 Family room coffee table

on Living Room coffee table

I AM A PAINT BRUSH PURIST

I do a lot of crafting, and a lot of home and furniture painting and I love it!
Everyone says "to save time, spray painting is the way to go".
I will say that over the past few years, they have made great improvements in spray paint... primer, paint & primer in one, high gloss, matt, plastic, metalic, with trigger nozzles, and spray tips that work from any angle. I have tried them all - yes, they all saved me time but ....... I really cannot get the exact look or colors I want, and spray paint just does not sand and distress well. However,  the biggest difference, for me is the process.
 I love the PROCESS!:
1. Preparation - Find a uncluttered surface the correct size for the job, lay out the a drop cloth, a huge one for furniture - sheets of wax paper for small projects
2. Choose Paint - usually I have the right color in my workshop,but sometimes I must go to the hardware store (one of my favorite places to go anyway) When the correct color is found I place it in a wire basket along with other supplies ready for the project to begin.
3. Paint Brush - I have about 40 or 50 brushes in various sizes I use weekly and sometimes when I am down, I reward myself with a new paint brush or two.
4. Painting  -  painting is Therapudic  the smell of new wood, the texture of the paint, the rhythm of the brush. taking the project from nothing to finished - making it look like my drawn plan.
thinking of the place I will display the finished project, or of the customer I am making it for
Creative,Satisfying, and fulfilling!
Spary painting does eliminate steps and time but........
I choose hand painting every time -  I am a Paint Brush purest!

AHH SUMMER TIME 

some great designs for Summer decorating, or gift giving

Rustic "I Love Summer Sign" - this is my July $10.00 special (2 for $18.00)
 the "I Love USA" sign was my $8.00 June Special - it can still be ordered

Rustic Garden Sign  $12.00
this is one of my favorite 2014 designs

FLOWER BOXES ARE ALWAYS A GREAT IDEA!
I have lots of flower box designs - just let me know what you need, and I can design just for you

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TODDLER ART


I am always amazed at how young children develop artistic abilities, and tastes!
I wish I would have noticed these things when my children were little.
However - it is much easier for me to see the artisit in the child when I am not the one who has to clean it off the walls or carpets while trying to control all the other siblings from wanting to join in the colorful fun!

Well we had a wonderful Birthday Celebration for my Daughter in Law last night and Abby slipped away for a while to my makeup drawer. She was eventually discovered and all was cleaned up - but.....
This morning I discovered some  Toddler art work in my bedroom......
I have a set of  chests in my room with the word Paris painted on them as I walked by this morning I noticed that an "I" had been added with the exact same red color.
the little artist did not sign her name (thank goodness) but  I suppect it was Abby as she was the only one who left last night with this color of nail polish applied to her feet and toes.

What was she thinking?   did she notice the colors matched first, or that there were letters on the chest?  was she signing her name and got interrupted?  was she writing another word? was she adding another fleur dis le motif?

It is partly, ok mostly my fault that she knew where to find my make up and nail polish,
I was watching her the other day, and I asked her if she wanted to help me put on my makeup  oops!
Anyway, miraculously, there is none on the carpert or walls!
I was going to clean the polish off the chest - it would be easy to take off then distress it a little - , but I decided to leave it there, Maybe even  add a little frame on top of my new Toddler Art.

I am getting excited about our upcoming Ransom.made Autumn Event!

It is not until October 10th and 11th, but I am getting started on Halloween, and Thanksgiving  designs I know you will all like!

I am organizing my workshop (aka Garage) so I can get serious about it!

I am using this old set of canisters I found to hold some of my small stuff that I  use all the time

I also found this wooden painters box - it is divided in sections - great for brushes

I collect old tool boxes, I guess this is a tool box of sorts

I have been gathering wire baskets, they are very useful - I keep small wood scraps in this large one

I use the smaller ones for customers orders, and projects in progress - keeping all the supplies for each in one spot - works out great - just grab the basket, and craft away