Jen Bowles Design

Me & BGD

Heading to NYC.
On the Acela train.
Bumpity bump bump.

Swap Pile Swag

Another treasure from the swap pile: a well-loved Radio Flyer wagon cart. 
Perfect for holding beach rocks by our back door.  

As I was taking these pictures I noticed that the faux green grass door mat from the previous owners has seen better days.  I'll be keeping my eye out for this Smith & Hawken Bird door mat next time I'm at Target. 

Trash to Treasure

Lori was oh-so-close with her guess of what I turned the church shutter into:  a key/mail/calendar/dog leash organizer!  
A few disclaimers:  the wall in this room is not yet painted.  It's still the builder's slightly off-white from 2000.  Once the wall is painted this piece will totally pop.  Also, the calendar is purely utilitarian.  I am not naturally drawn to sluggo hippos in polka dot bikinis--though Ebby's favorite book as a toddler was Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton.   Next year I will buy a fabulous calendar that will be positively stunning on my turquoise shutter. 
At any rate, I'm pretty happy about this project.  Mostly because--I did it all by myself : )  I sanded, primed and painted the piece, which was no big deal.  The next few steps were big ones for me.  After purchasing the hardware, I drilled pilot holes and screwed in the zinc hooks.  I'm not usually that good with power tools, though I'm looking to improve greatly so this was good practice.  Then I had to screw on the mounting hardware.  Used a combination of the drill and a screwdriver for that.  Finally, the hanging on the wall.  I got out the stud finder and was pretty sure there was a stud in the spot I wanted to hang this puppy.  Naturally when I banged in a test nail I got nothing but sheetrock.  Back to the hardware stash for a self-drilling anchor.  Self-drilling, just my speed.  Sure it could be more centered or higher or straighter but above all--it is done. 
Next up: the kitchen chalkboard.

Projects in progress

Or maybe I mean Projects and Progress.
There seems to be quite a lot going on around here lately.
We are slowly but surely transforming the new house from "theirs" to "ours".
And I know that we're reaching the end (for now) because my budget tells me so ; )
I completed painting the family room, kitchen and dining room.
New light fixtures (goodbye bright brass, hello brushed nickel) are installed in the hallway, kitchen and dining room.
I've spent countless hours (just ask my husband) and a few dollars at IKEA and we have quite a few new pieces of furniture (mostly shelving), including my new family room chair (finally).  I've even managed to put together 3 bookcases, a lime green desk chair, and a cardboard drawer set and only needed to ask for male assistance twice. 
Of course there's plenty more to be done but I'm working on it diligently.
In fact, here are a few of my projects that are currently in the shoppe (aka garage)...
First, a china cabinet type unit. I bought this at a flea market maybe 10 years ago for $20.  I always meant to paint it, but the closest I got was wallpapering the back.  It lived in two houses like this.  When we moved to North Carolina my husband (BGD, long story) thought he'd seen the last of it.  It went to my mom's barnlet where she was given permission to embellish it at will and even sell it if she saw fit.  Fortunately for me, she never got to it.  A few weeks ago with a two wheel dolly, the minivan and pure determination, I rescued the brown cabinet and brought it home.  BGD was not thrilled.  To say the least.  I assured him that this time I would be transforming it and that he'd not even recognize it when I was finished.  
I started by removing the glass door and the 2 interior shelves.  Next I peeled off the striped wallpaper--which I still like, but not for the new look.  The door will also remain off, I'm envisioning an open unit for storage of books and files and such.  More of a home office unit than a dish and serveware holding unit.  Next I sanded.  Then I primed.  Then I primed a second coat.
And that's where I stand currently.
I've been trying to decide a) where the piece is going to go and b) how to paint it and c) what color.  There are so many fun details that it's almost begging for some kind of fun paint job, something colorful and whimsical.  But then again maybe I'll just paint it a solid color and do a little distressing.  But which solid color?  A blue, a green, which green, lime or dill pickle??  Slowly but surely I'm working it out in my head and I have confidence that that will soon translate to actual paint and new hardware.

My other rehab project involves another flea market find:  a shutter and box combination off an old church.  At least that's what the dealer that sold it to me at Metrolina in Charlotte told me.  I've only had this one for 2 or 3 years and guess what--it's done!  I just have to take some 'after'

pictures to share.  Take a guess as to what I turned it into...

Framed

No Music, No Problem

Since moving into our new (to us), smaller (than our last house) house, I've been trying to figure out where all of our stuff is going to live.  I've also been painting, cleaning, and trying to keep the kids out of my hair amused.  And one of these fine days I'll post some pictures of my various projects.    For today though, a shot of our music stand.  As in our last house, it is in the dining room.  It's not in the music room because, well, we don't have a music room as no one in the family plays a musical instrument.  Yet.  There's always hope for the future I suppose.  In the meantime I have my Hobby Lobby music stand for display.  In our old dining room it did display a book of vintage sheet music on the stand.  For a while here it was displaying...sheetrock dust.  When we had the doorway between the dining room and kitchen enlarged there was quite a bit of dust generated during the course of the work.  Two weeks later, I finally got around to dusting the music stand and painting the dining room walls.  I was picking up some of our nicer framed artwork and thought I'd rest it on the music stand, what with it's perfect little ledge.  And guess what?  I like it there, I really like it.

Late summer favorites

My latest collection of flickr favorites are definitely reflecting my love of blue, green, flowers and the beach.  Oh, and fabric : )


1. from Easter-indisponivel WP #013, 2. Earli Cheer, 3. Fabric flower, 4. Ribbon-spool mini, 5. Garden flowers, 6. Fleece Dog Cuddler, 7. Annie's garden, 8. playful paisley spring, 9. Side of the road in Oregon..ahhhh, 10. sneak peek..., 11. Katie Jump Rope dot, 12. i may get to it..., 13. guest of honor / ah16 ice, 14. ice cream scoop pincushion with birdie, 15. All Dressed Up, 16. il_430xN.34729794, 17. starfish, 18. il_fullxfull.25399751, 19. Illustration Friday (Sail), 20. 100_3662

WordPlay

Go here: Wordle  and try making one of these:

Here's the link to a bigger shot: Summer2008WordCollage

(Read about on Jennifer Pebbles blog, here )

Is it too late for wedding china?

I mean sure, our 14th anniversary was last month but I've finally found a pattern that could make me want to own fine china.  I could even be convinced to mix and match it with the blue pattern that's just peeking in at the bottom of the picture. 
Nice work Martha & Macy's.

Pancake Breakfast

Fresh picked berries from the backyard garden.� Check.
Just add water pancake mix.� Check.
New turquoise nonstick skillet pan and lime green silicone spatula.� Check.
Square IKEA plate.� Check.
Gas range.� Check.
And in the 15 minutes I had before having to leave to drop off Ebby at drama camp, I made and ate delicious blueberry pancakes.
I think I'm going to like this new place.
Once I get unpacked and all the outside workers stop dropping by ; )