HUGE Announcement

After months of debating, discussing, stressing, budgeting, crying more tears than I would like to admit to, and changing my mind 20 times or so, I have decided to quit teaching.  AAHHH!

I am still in denial.  My last day teaching high school Geometry will be Wednesday.  It was a really hard decision to leave my students at mid-year and I have a huge guilt cloud hanging around me.  Even though they drive me crazy sometimes, I do love them...most of them at least. :)  Teaching during the week and doing furniture on the weekend/evenings is just too much and I am tired of not having any personal time.  I had to give one up so the decision was made for me to quit teaching and I will now do furniture full time.  I am extremely excited and scared to death!  I appreciate any prayers sent my way during this time of transition.   Thank you to all of my friends and family that have been supportive and have had many words of encouragement while I was making my decision.  I love you all!

Decorating for Christmas

Many of you know Christmas is my favorite holiday.  There is something about everyone being a little bit happier that just makes me happier.  This year, I decided not to put up the tree (GASP, I know).  We are super busy this month and we are not going to be here for Christmas day so I just did my wreath and stockings.

The wreath was one of my first Pinterest projects from last year.  I made one for myself, as well as for my mom, MIL, and SIL.  They are super easy and CHEAP which are the 2 most important things when you decide to do a project.  All you need is a grapevine wreath, ribbon, ornaments, and Christmas foliage (Poinsettias, peppermint sprigs, holly, etc).  I got my wreath from Joann's with a coupon so it only cost about $4 and all the ribbon and accessories I got at Wal-Mart.  I decided to go with plastic ornaments so the wreath could be stored easily and I don't have to worry about the ornaments breaking.  To decorate the wreath, I tied pieces of ribbon and ornaments to the grapevine.  THAT'S IT.  So easy!  Overall, it's just a bunch of knots with ornaments, sprigs and poinsettias smashed in there.

My Wreath

My Mom's wreath.  She does red and blue with cardinals for her Christmas decor.  

The stockings are new this year.  After contemplating making my own since pretty stockings at a specialty store or online apparently are worth the price of gold, I decided I didn't have time and bought these white ones at Wal-Mart for $7 each.  Now we need stocking holders....another price of gold item...of course the ones I like are $30 each or something crazy like that, times 4...I don't think so.  I am not spending $120 on stocking holders!  So, I bought the new clear tab hooks by 3M.  I used one on the window to hang my wreath and I used 4 on the mantle to hang the stockings.  Of course, this left things looking a little plain and the white stockings needed something.  I used the left over ribbon from my wreath with a mixture of left over plastic ornaments and real ornaments from our tree and I tied them together and hung them from the "stocking holder".  The finished product ended up being very nice and I am really happy with it AND most importantly, I didn't have to spend a fortune to get it.

The letter I purchased at Hobby Lobby and spray painted it red.  It is sitting on the mantle with a cluster of ornaments and ribbon.  Very simple but it adds a little something.

A furniture update:  I have been working on a dresser but I had the cold that would never end last week and I am behind on it.  I am hoping to have it finished this weekend and will post pics soon.  Also, I have a huge announcement!  I will be posting it tomorrow so check back tomorrow evening to see what it is!

M.I.A.

I know I have been missing in action when it comes to the blog.  As usual, things are super busy and I have put things on the back burner and the blog was the first one to go back there.  It is 5:51 A.M. on a Sunday morning and I am super sick, my Nyquil wore off, so I am laying on the couch with nothing better to do so I thought now was a perfect time to update everyone.

First off, I did go fishing with my husband yesterday even though I woke up not feeling 100%.  I knew I was getting sick but pushed through so I could spend some time with him and practice my fly casting.  I caught my personal best red fish on fly rod and it was so amazing.  This morning I am definitely paying the consequences for being out in the sun and wind all day yesterday but I feel it was worth it.  Here is a picture of my big fish of the day.

I have been working on a large 9-drawer dresser with mirror this week.  It is a beautiful Bassett dresser that needs some updating.  Overall it was in good shape but the color and paint quality was horrible.  The client decided to go with a two-tone look with it.  The top will be stained a dark color to match her current bedroom set and the body will be painted Ivory White by Benjamin Moore (we all know he is my favorite).

Here are a few before pictures:



Can we say huge!?

It has beautiful detail on the drawers.

 

Here is a sneak peek of the after:

It is going to be a great makeover and I should have it finished by the weekend and posted soon. 

There is a lot going on over the next few weeks.  The office is almost complete and that reveal should be posted this week.  We are approaching the Christmas break for me (I teach) so things are slowing down a little at work and hopefully I can keep up with posting updates more over the next few weeks.  I also have a HUGE, and I mean crazy, huge announcement I am going to make this weekend.  Very exciting stuff so check back soon.