Getting things together in our new place seems to be going very slowly, but maybe that is just because I want everything finished now so I can sit back and relax. There's still seems to be a lot to do, but I think most of the cleaning is finished (or as good as it's going to get, a lot of things are just damaged and I'm thinking about ways to cover them) and I am focusing more on my improvement projects, so that is good. The boys are starting to calm down and accept this as home. Peter is pretty much there, but Ned still struggles sometimes. On Sunday, Ryan had to chase him down the street right after he yelled, "I want to go home!" Today he said the same thing to me when we were outside, but when I explained that this was our new home, he decided it would be OK to just go inside.
I did get my sewing machine out, finally - mostly because I was forced to after I opened my shop last Friday, thinking that it would take a while to get things going again and then sold a banner on the first day it opened. It was good though, I'd been meaning for several days to get my room to the point where I could sew. Last night I braved the creepy basement and stayed up to put these pillows together. The Etsuko Furuya scooter fabric was an impulse buy that I had to have when I was buying fabric for the curtains in the play area. I knew the colors and funky feel were just what I was going for and had to make a pillow out of it. The other pillow is that piece of thrifted embroidery that I blogged about in February (before we knew we were moving) and that I'm so glad I hadn't done anything with yet. I think you can see just from these two pillows alone that I'm going for an incredibly eclectic look and so far I'm really liking it. I don't expect to have the living room "finished" for a week or two (or three), but I'm happy that minus a few pieces of furniture that I bought (all thrifted, so not a big loss) that just won't fit, this room is turning out almost exactly like I thought it would.
Next on my list though is to tackle this...the sponge painted entryway that many of you have requested to see. Our lease specifically forbids painting (probably only because I brought it up when we looked at the place) and our landlords live across the street and do all of our maintenance and repairs, but I've got another idea to cover up this hideousness.
You would think they'd welcome you painting over that. :)
Posted by: Chistina J. | June 09, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Can't wait to see what you come up with. That looks like someone puked on the wall! I wanted to tell you that I’m hosting an incredible giveaway for a $195 EZ View Desktop on my blog. Come on over and enter!
Posted by: Rachelle | June 09, 2009 at 03:13 PM
You are so awesome and cute. I really hope it works out for me to come visit in July. It would be so fun to see all your hard work in person.
Posted by: Cayenne | June 09, 2009 at 09:11 PM
http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2008/07/starched-fabric-decal-experiment.html
Have you seen this? It might work. Though I don't know what the land lord will think of it.
Posted by: Alison | June 10, 2009 at 07:28 AM
PS I was thinking of a REALLY large rectangle decal roughly wall size. You might be able to use some of you great thrifted sheets or even just white butcher paper.
Posted by: Alison | June 10, 2009 at 07:30 AM
So ... is the sewing room downstairs?
Posted by: Mom | June 10, 2009 at 07:41 AM
I always enjoy seeing your projects!
When we moved this time last year, the kids were excited but definitely had moments of wanting to get back to the old house. Whenever they could not find a toy or book in the new house, they feared it had been left behind. It was hard to explain unpacking, etc. At least we remained in the same school district though.
Posted by: natasha | June 10, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I'm intrigued! Have fun covering it up.
Posted by: Lisa Renata | June 10, 2009 at 08:14 PM
Wow, no painting because they really love their sponge-paint make-over? They should have trusted you to improve the place! I love the pillow fabrics, especially the embroidered one. And poor Ned--sending him lots of love and happy thoughts!
Posted by: Lani | June 11, 2009 at 02:07 AM
what? don't you love the spongepaint? its ever so rad! can you detect my sarcasm. can't wait to see what idea ou have to hide that. love the pillows.
Posted by: heidi | June 11, 2009 at 07:36 PM
Oh if your landlords only knew that you'd be doing them a favor. I'm sure you would leave it looking much better...
Posted by: Aida | June 12, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I'm so glad to hear your in your new place Jessi! Love the pillows!
Posted by: Penny | June 13, 2009 at 07:17 PM