cottage room makeover

We spent the past week at the cottage. My husband did some hunting and I did some illustration and together we both tackled painting a bedroom. It took about 5 days to complete the project. There's a lot of prep involved when painting old paneling -- but totally worry every minute spent. I would have taken some before photos but I didn't. I always forget to take them because I'm so excited to get into my project. Anyway, at our family cottage we have a lot of paneling. Most of the paneling is wood paneling but in the upstairs it's not a natural color and over time it has yellowed and needed a little update. It hasn't been changed since it was built in the early 70's so I think it's about time for a change, don't you?

(This dresser will be refinished soon & artwork on this wall too.)

This room is the smallest bedroom in the cottage and since we have never painted there yet I thought we should start with the smallest room to see how it would turn out. At some point the red carpeting will be replaced and I'll be working on refinishing some of the furniture in the room (hopefully this Summer) as well as adding some more art work and decorative touches.

I painted this bedside sconce black and found a small black shade to fit. It used to be brass and wood with a burlap weave looking shade in brown with gold trim.

I painted these two framed embroidery projects glossy white done by my husband's Grandma many years ago. The frames were a light gray and the update sure has freshened them up. I think they look great and almost kinda modern especially since handmade work like this is so hip again.

My Mom crochets animals so I asked her to make us a baby owl.
She surprised us with the momma and baby. I think they look so cute perched on the bed.

(New gray and white lamp from Target - match the new curtains and bedding)

(Vase & flower from IKEA)

spring weekend at the cottage

We checked the weather for over two weeks. We told friends up at the cottage that if the weather wasn't good, we weren't coming up. Wednesday night we checked the weather again. It changed a little as far as temperature but, it still looked good. So we packed that night, loaded up the car and left early Thursday morning. Halfway up it started to rain. Okay, rain it's Spring we can handle that. Then... it got colder in the car and pretty soon that's right you guessed it, its snowing. The trees and grass alongside the freeway are completely covered. So, while we're still hopeful that maybe it missed our area at the cottage and even though it looked pretty on the trees and ground, we were not exactly thrilled about seeing the snow. It was so cold! We were over it. But, Mother Nature wanted a little more and well, she's the boss.

Our view from the front of the cottage... upon our arrival.

Even the dogs were bummed out about the weather. It was even too cold for them to go outside to play. I didn't even feel like doing any illustrations which is so unlike me. I usually pack up all kinds of painting supplies and have ideas all planned out.

I think he was trying to tell us to pack it up and let's go home where it's warm!

But, Sunday morning... it warmed up! The bluest skies were out and the sun had melted all of the snow. We took a long walk and the dogs frolicked in the yard. And...

life was good.

it was "real" good!

inspiration: A day of painting...

Okay, first of all I know I have been MIA for well, pretty much the entire month of March. I had a really busy past few months at work, and it pretty much zapped all of my creative energy. But, I'm finally back!

On Easter Sunday, I spent pretty much the entire day drawing, relaxing and then I started a new painting. So the posted image is a painting in progress.

So, I was flipping thru catalogs, of which I get a slew of, and I stumbled upon the image that I'm using for my painting. I've always thought that the English cottage look is so cute & inviting.... so I was inspired to do a painting. I'm going to work on it some more this weekend...at least that's my plan.