Working With What We Have

Do you like my new sitting area?  My honey likes it mucho, probably because it is yet another soft spot to rest his feet.   Keep reading to learn more... 

I've been wanting to show you my new sitting area and my folded books, which the kids think are totally awesome.  Coincidentally,  Emily A. Clark has a link up for her series Working With What You Have.   Perfect timing, right?

I'm still sorting, purging, selling, and boxing our things in preparation for our move.  I've also been painting, de-cluttering, and deep-cleaning because our house is going on the market.  Acquiring stuff we didn't want or need just to stage the house seemed completely counterproductive.  Instead, I've been trying to rearrange and use what we already have.

Depersonalizing our home has meant putting away many of the family photos and children's items (Lego creations, Nerf discs, drawing supplies, Nerf discs) that are usually scattered around the house.  The credenza in the front room was one place that was left wanting.  My solution was to fold a few old paperback books and stick them in a bowl.  It was a simple, free and totally mindless project that makes me want to fold another one and put them in an even bigger bowl.     

The biggest achievement, however, was managing to create an official sitting area in our bedroom by pulling furniture from around the house.

The Morris chair had been out of place near the dining table.  The lamp came from the living room where it felt inadequate competing with an even larger shade.  The faux leather chest had previously served as a coffee table by the TV.  The bowl on the chest was nicked from the kitchen.  The demijohn and the little potted plant came from the living room.  The pillow had been languishing in the linen closet.  On the left (it's more obvious in the top picture) you can even seen a sliver of what used to be an orange dressing mirror that I repainted white.  Yes, the pouf is new.  It was originally destined for the porch to add a bit of color but I thought it might work in here with the red wire table.  The whole purpose was to show the potential of this area and I do think we pulled that off.

Then we hung a bit of artwork and wondered why we hadn't created this space years ago. 

I've mentioned before how I love local artists!  This piece is by Ellie Reinhold .  Even after we have moved away, I will forever be reminded of the 50+ trees in my front yard and the just-now-quick-count of the 95 out back.

It is the middle of the day, but I shall turn on the light for you anyway...

Here's a glimpse at the other side of the room.

Any pillows we want to throw from the bed get tossed into the demijohn basket.  Someday we will come across some great bedside tables (I hope that someday turns out to be soon after we move to England while we are browsing flea markets.)  The side table pictured was sold as a bathroom storage cabinet and is actually quite functional - 2 drawers and 2 shelves -  but it's a bit tall.  The other side of the bed is graced with a plastic veneered file cabinet and doesn't deserve to be in the picture.

Meet Morry

This 25" tall mouse-eared elephant is Morry.  It was smile at first sight when I walked into my favorite local art gallery and saw him standing there.  He's part old man/part old soul.  The slump of his shoulders makes him seem a bit tired but there are playful elements there too:  the worn red scooter, the glint in his eye.  I'm also taken by the screw in his trunk - it's there on purpose, like a nose piercing that he got in his youth.  I imagine him having the walk of Charlie Chaplin.  To me, he's a bit "Tim Burton meets Big Top."  Best of all, he makes me happy.   A shout out to all the local artists out there!  Local artists are awesome!!!  Love you guys!  

Everybody go out and support your local artists!!  You can see more of Brian Mergenthaler's works by clicking here.

Blame It On The Dog

Fortunately for me, the chaos that inspired this post was not mine but my brother's.  Unfortunately for him, he had an 8 ft tall unframed mirror leaning up against a wall...until it wasn't.  In his words, "I don't know what happened.  It was there and then it was all over the place."  That made me laugh.  

I don't know what happened either but for the sake of closure I say we blame the dog.  It's the perfect plan.  Blaming the dog is a win-win.  We use dogs as our scapegoats ALL the time.  I assume this is because they are easier pets to keep than goats. I say give her some extra attention, and a treat too, because I'm sure that giant crashing mirror scared her.  See, a win-win.  

Now I really shouldn't be proposing this because I have a child who is very good at deflecting blame.  For example, I might walk into the kitchen and find her standing in the midst of broken bag of flour, dust covering her clothing.  When confronted, she would most likely look at me and say that she had no idea what I was talking about.  If I were to point out the disaster she would suddenly notice it and immediately know who else must have done it.  She is very sly thinks she is very sly.  She reminds me of that old Shaggy song "Wasn't Me."  Except that she's 11 and I don't even want her listening to that song.  Back to the mirror disaster...

I'd love to be the recipient of all those broken mirror shards!  They are a mosaic in the making!  If my little brother didn't live halfway across the country I'd be there in an instant to help him clean up.

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Isn't that dog amazing!   Pam Isner is a local artist.  So talented!