Oh my Gosh She's Alive...

No, I was not abducted by aliens, kidnapped by a cult, gone underground, and most importantly not eaten by zombies. I was simply living my crazy life... Really there isn't much of an excuse but that's all I have. If you are wondering I haven't done anything too interesting to say the least. In fact when I look back at it all I couldn't tell you what it was exactly that was keeping me so busy... maybe is was my husband, two kids, two dogs, one cat, and six chickens. Maybe...

Well I can tell you that I haven't stopped my endeavors of re-purposing furniture and crafting. Doing those things help me to keep my sanity and believe me when I say EVERYONE in this house appreciates my sanity. The alternative can be... well... crazy.

This summer I have gone to more second hand stores, thrift shops, peddler markets, Goodwills, Salvation Army's. garage sales, consignment stores, and antique shops I have ever, ever, ever gone into before in my entire life. I've become a bit obsessed. If I am in a poopy mood "picking" is an instant pick me upper. I have to admit it was getting a bit out of control. My basement and garage are filled with potential projects. The last time I brought a one-of-a-kind home my husband stepped in and told me that I wasn't allowed to buy anything else until I finished some of my pieces in waiting. So I stopped "picking" and started sanding, filling, sanding, gluing, sanding, painting, did I mention sanding? I did?

So far I have four chairs done, a table, half of two large dressers, and have been working on my outdoor furniture. Pictures will soon be available for viewing. And of course I will post any tutorial that I used in order to create my master pieces.

Finally I would like to share that I just started working with Anne Sloan's Chalk paint... This stuff is AMAZING. No joke. I didn't believe the hype myself but it's all true. Minimal prep including no sanding needed. I still sand because I'm a freak but it truly is not a must. Gorgeous colors and there are tutorials all over pinterest, youtube, Anne Sloan's site... I am still just learning but my very first piece created not only took less than half the time of other paint mediums I've used but the piece was left with an even clean finish.

Using Chalk Paint: Beginners Tutorial

So that's it for tonight. I promise I will get some pictures up asap. 
X's 

Gonna Pop Some Tags...

Oh Macklemore how I love your jams and no, I am not just talking about your onsies. Thrift Shop gets stuck in my head for days... and days. I have a love hate relationship with it. I truly love it because the lyrics are clever, Mack's abilities to rap are amazing, and the beat is insane but thanks to our local radio stations it's so over played and I start feeling bitter about it. Unless that is, my boy is in the car. You should hear my three year old sing this song (clean version of course), it's so flipping cute! "I'm gonna pop some tags, only got twenty-dollars in my pocket..." So in love.

For those who do not know what I am talking about here is the video... pretty funny.

Thrift Shop by Macklemore

***warning this is NOT the clean version***

Funny right? Thrift Shop is hilarious it also makes some very good points about what we place value in as he questions "Fifty dollars for a t-shirt?" You can also hear points being made about "Big" business but most importantly individuality. Oh' You didn't hear that the first time? Well please listen again... 

I have to admit after listing to this song I really need my thrift shop fix. That's how I found my Wingback chair.

So anyway, for those who don't really care for this song let me try to convince you one more time. Macklemore should not be taken for some chump comedic rapper. He is legit! The lyrics in some of his songs can literally bring tears to my eyes. Again, some of you may have heard this one on the radio (slightly less overplayed) but it's probably my favorite. The words are so true, the theme tragic yet hopeful, the piano sweet, and the hook beautiful. 

Same Love by Macklemore

I love it! I get tears every time. The lyrics he's put together are so strong. Everyone of them has an intended point to make, sharp and with a punch. No fluffy stuff in the middle or a completely unrelated hook. 

Theology, self-love, politics, humanity... etc. are topics all brought up in this very cleaver and inspiring song. Props to Mack for being true to his beliefs. Hopefully it will inspire others who struggle to do the same whether their struggle is with sexuality, self-love, bullying, mental illness... I could go on forever... 

Wait. What does this have to do with being crafty? Isn't this blog supposed to be about DIY? Nope, I warned you in my first post you would have to listen to me grumble about my thoughts on REAL life every once in a while. This is about as real as it gets.

...And here she is...

Soooo... Kristie, where is this amazing beautiful chair you were bragging about in your last post? Well, here she is!

Isn't she a beauty? She looks like she might be a pinkish color but she is actually fawn. My husband and the kids think I should just leave it alone because it's in such great condition and the color isn't hideous. But once I get an idea in my head there's no stopping me...

So after much debating I've decided that I am going to go black. Why? Well, if I mess it up too bad it's less likely to show but also because I love black. Ask anyone who knows me. Black is my go to color. It's classy, always in style, makes everyone look thinner, and it helps bring out the bold in other contrasting colors. To my fellow geeks out there, yes I know black is not a color but an absence of color. Noted and still don't care, black is my favorite (non?) color.

I found a picture that is sort of an inspiration piece. Clearly there are differences between the two pieces but I think I can do a little something to make the two similar. This is a Chesterfield Queen Anne Wingback Chair... isn't it gorgeous!?

Now, I've been asking myself what to do with the legs. Should I paint them black, solid white, distressed white with black underneath, maybe silver? Still unsure about that one but if you have a suggestion please share. Also using silver upholstery tacks like in the Chesterfield picture. All I have to do now is find time (without kiddies around) and a place in the house to complete my little project. I can tell I'm getting old when I am this excited about painting furniture... Oh youth, how I miss thee.

X's

My New Old Goodwill Chair

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve! Today I walked into our local Goodwill not really looking for anything specific and there she was... Calling my name... A beautiful wingback chair in amazing condition. I have been looking for this chair for two years; since I saw an awesome tutorial by Hyphen Interiors.

Painted Upholstery – The Process

Click Here for the Tutorial

Now you may be wondering where is this beauty of mine? Where are the pics? Well, since I drive a little tiny car that could never hold a tall wingback chair (esp. with two kiddies in the back) I decided that I would pay for the chair and have my husband pick it up on his way home from work. The Goodwill store is literally just down the road from where he works... He pulled into our drive and I had a huge smile on my face and was all giddy. He walks in and gives me an extremely odd look. What? Where is it? Where is my baby? Turns out he totally missed my three texts asking him to pick it up.  

Boo! So now I have to wait until tomorrow... Oh the plans I have for this chair; and did I mention I got this beauty for $20! It's an ugly camel color but I'll fix that. If it turns out beautifully I will post some pictures. If it is a crazy mess you can still count on pictures :) Again, wish me luck on another first for me!

Here we go again...

So I am going to do it! I am going to get into jewelry making again… The first time didn't count, haha. I failed miserably and swore I would never touch another jump ring for the rest of my life. I really wanted to get into bead work and the pieces I see in shops and Etsy are so lovely. I just didn't have the patients or the steadiness to do it. My hands tremble terribly and they get worse when I try to control them. It’s not a constant issue but when it is, it’s a bitch problem.

To buy the supplies I sold a ton of my clothes on eBay. I needed to purge anyway so now I have a clean closet and jewelry making supplies. 

For those who don’t know (and that is likely all of you) I have a bridal accessory shop on Etsy; who doesn't, lol. I create bridal hair fascinators using vintage or vintage inspired embellishments. My shop is in the middle of a big change but I am renaming it Afterlight Couture by Kristie. It’s a mouthful so let’s just call it Afterlight. This is one of my favorite pieces. The broach used to embellish the piece is vintage 40's and one-of-a-kind.

Visit Afterlight

So like my feather pieces I am going to learn how to wrap and stamp jewelry via YouTube or trial and error. If there is anyone out there that wants to share a little advice, I would be so very grateful! I am going to start tonight after the little monster hit’s the sack. Wish me luck!

Not so Perfect but Still Crafty

Yes, I am a crafter, I have an Etsy store (who doesn't right?), I also make 95% of my Christmas gifts, haha sorry fam. But I am so much more than just crafty. I am a mommy, wife, artist, friend, sister, but most of all I am a real person that is not even close to being perfect in anyway. 

The only reason I write this horribly long blog entry is because sometimes I read blogs and think OMG how does she/he do it? How can this person possibly be this happy all of the time? It was bad for my self-esteem, lol. I am not saying I am a total Debby Downer but I have my moments. 

Maybe I am just jealous... I just can't do it all... I can't work full time, get my son to school on time, cook dinner, laundry, doctor visits, vet visits,etc… I’m lucky if my son gets a bath more than three times a week. My life is a jumbled up, unorganized, and a chaotic mess. Trying to be one of those people has seriously sent me to a mental hospital and all for nothing because I wasn't succeeding at any of what I was killing myself to be.

Love this...

There are so many things that aren't awesome about me... I don't like talking to strangers. Not because they're scary but because it's awkward. I mean, is this random person seriously asking me about the weather? And then what do I say? Um yea, I guess it is raining outside... I also really dislike having to entertain people and there are only a few people I know that I can have comfortable silence with... maybe like three. It's not because I don't like people but because sometimes I am just mentally lazy... hanging out with family for too long can put me in a two day coma afterwards. 

Just like I am more than a crafter, I am also more than just grumpy and tired. lol I am a first-time mommy to an insane little manimal… Yes you read that right, man + animal = manimal… He is just getting into his terrible threes.  I am married to the man of my dreams. I hate to brag but it’s true… I won’t go on and on about him now but I have a feeling you will get to know him very well throughout this blog. Crafting is my outlet and I plan on sharing all of my projects with you and when I say all I mean the pretty ones and the ones that turn out not so pretty.

I know it’s so GOD awful cheesy but my family is my reason for everything good I do. It doesn't matter how many times my son throws himself down on floor at the grocery store I would never give up the random kisses, his little arms around my neck, the “I wuv you mama”, or when he calls me "princess mama"... and especially when he sings Lady Gaga in the car.

In this blog I want to share my successes big and small. I also want to write about my past experiences, lessons learned and maybe some regrets. I have no idea where this is going to go. I guess I am just going to wing it. Wish me luck!

Eian and Barry
Holland, MI Tulip Festival 2012

Kaitlinh and Eian
Greenville, MI Home 2012

Eian and "princess mama"
Greenville, MI Halloween 2012

***Just a little warning; I am horrible with grammar. You can make fun of me, correct me, or question my intelligence but grammar is just not a skill I have.***