"...I also want to share a few photos of my fall cure 2008 project which finally wrapped up last week. AT and its community really helped us with making some of our bath purchase and design decisions. Thanks, AT!" ~ Wig3000 (before pic at bottom)
• Cure Clock: 8 weeks remaining
• Assignment: Read Chapter 1: Creating Your Own Vision
• Curees: 434.....
Welcome to our seventh online Cure. I've been rereading my book in preparation for our eight-week sojourn together and couldn't be happier that after five years (I wrote it in 2004) it's not only still sharp and fresh, but the Cure movement is growing and flourishing in new ways as we explore the marriage of the book and a web community...
This time, I'm working with some of my amazing AT bloggers: Abby, Laure, Leah, Sarahrae and Susie, and we're accompanying this cohort via three posts a week, which will also be shared by email, and low-tech local "discussion boards" where you can chat directly with folks who live near you. If you want to transform your home, even a little bit, I urge you to sign up, join us and let our many hands make light work of your problems. We'll all be done by Memorial Day.
My job is to post on Mondays, and today I've been thinking about the "visioning" element that this whole thing is based on.
"All successful journeys start with a positive vision"
When I've been called up in the past to help people in their homes, it's usually because they're not happy with what they're living with. Crisis is one of the strongest motivators, but though it provides momentum, it doesn't provide a real good direction. Real motivation and energy come from having an idea — even just a vague one — of what you'd like your home to be like. It comes from being excited and inspired by the possibility of not just of changing something, but creating something wonderful and new. This is what this first week is all about.
In reading the first chapter you'll find there are a number of small tasks to get you started and help you "break the ice," but the biggest thing you can do is to dream and pull together a new vision for your home or a single room. I know it may sound silly, but it's important and this dreaming is what is going to carry you when you run out of steam in week four, five or six.
I find my strongest inspiration comes not from magazines and styled shots, but from friends and neighbors, places that I've actually been in that have made an impression or photographs of places that I feel share my style but do it BETTER. I carry these images around inside my head until the time when I'm ready to act on them.
This week — whether you join us or not — try envisioning your home in a way that inspires you. Imagine what you'd like the whole thing or just one room to be like and then draw, cut out or download the images or words that communicate your vision. Put them in a folder or on paper and share them with someone, so that you can hear yourself say them. Once you've done this, your intention will have been born and it's only a matter of time before it happens.
AFTER
"This is my apartment before and after my first round of the AT cure. I only fully redid the living room. I'm now in 2.0 mode to prepare for adopting a dog, and taking on the whole apartment." ~ kittykittymeowmixhead
BEFORE
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Wig3000's before bathroom!
- POST INDEX SPRING 2009
• Week 1 - Creating Your Vision - Intro
- CURE INFO
>> Main Cure Page - Spring 2009
>> About The Book
>> Excerpt from Chapter I
- BUY A BOOK
>> From Amazon
>> From Powell's
>> From Barnes & Noble
I have gotten my room almost to my liking ( you can have a look at http://www.flickr.com/oliviatokyo )but I still have a major project that I hope I will be able to complete for the Spring Cure: my closet. I am a performer and so my wardrobe is extensive. I can barely squeeze anything else in, and I've been trying to purge to no avail. I can't open the door without having something fall out or on top of my head! Hopefully I'll be able to get it in working order in the next 8 weeks.
view OliviaTokyo's profile
Movers will come on Saturday so this weekend i'll get my "before" pictures up on flickr.
Started on my clothing closethref> yesterday and love it.
view ashleym (aka autzve on flickr)'s profile
I've been working in my bedroom (redoing the decor only) and the kitchen (actually building something) it's going well and I have some pics up at my blog- the story of my stuff .
I've been working on a style book too....I can't wait to get started on this cure!
view lorijo's profile
I attempted a solo cure starting in January but didn't finish so I'm off to a fresh start this time ... with a little more support to keep me motivated! Here are some photos of my bedroom and the progress coming along!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathrynclark/sets/72157612577327214/
Looking forward to this!
view kikiclark's profile
Yes, our bathroom really was as horrible as that 'before' picture! There are more pictures over at our home cure group on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/homecure
view wig3000's profile
I will be primarly be working on redecorating my bathroom and getting my landlord to fix the plumbing in there. I already purchased the perfect shower curtain!
view tomahto's profile
The timing this time couldn't be better - this Friday is Persian New Year, which you prepare for by cleaning your home from top to bottom (this is my first year celebrating it, so I'm actually excited about cleaning - who knew THAT would be possible?)
My husband and I live in a tiny 35 m2 triplex in a very old building in Paris. Our biggest challenge is that any clutter is overwhelming and storage is in short supply. We'll be doing a deep cure.
view Hannala's profile
Well, I signed in the Cure and wanted to do my "homework" yesterday evening and read the first chapter. Of course, it took me 30 min. to locate the book in my crowed and cluttered place...
This was def. the last hint for me that I really need the cure. I'll be doing a deep cure, too.
@hannala: Happy Persian New Year! I work in a community Radio, where our Iranian members celebrate it every year with a special programm.
If you are into Farsi, maybe you want to listen via webstream: http://www.lora.ch/sendungen/alle-sendungen/67?list=Nourus - Persisches Neujahr
view nicolezh's profile
Hello everyone!
I bought the book and read till p. 69 - fun! I'm going to do a deep cure, I think.
We bought our first home and moved in in late Jan. The home is absolutely beautiful, but it is much larger than anything we lived in previously. There are so many things to do, but no budget. We don't have nearly enough furniture, and cannot afford to buy anything right now. At least my dining room is furnished (if not done) - I love having people over for dinner parties!
Good luck to everybody. Can't wait to see everyone's progress :)
view firebird's profile
wig3000 - where did you find that fab vanity for your new bathroom? It's perfect for our reno that we're doing!
view iheartdesign's profile
My book is still coming in the mail, i bought some fresh flowers for my room though, i got a double orchid and light purple/pink hyacinths. I'm almost afraid to send in before pics. My room is such a disaster area, i am sprouting seedlings, i have 27 baby chickens coming and a rescued dog sleeping in the corner...:-( feels like a zoo, i'm just glad that the Spring Cure came at this time when i need it most...
view cafegurl19's profile
Thanks, iheartdesign! I bought it at the Jack London Kitchen and Bath Gallery:
http://jlsbathgallery.homeportfolio.com/index.jhtml
view wig3000's profile
cafegurl19, congratulations on the chickens! I have a little flock of hens myself, and am getting some new chicks next month too! If you haven't had them before, you're going to love them!
view heylucy's profile
Aren't we supposed to be getting e-mails this time around?
I checked the spring cure page today to see when it starts, only to realize it already started! But I didn't get any e-mails...except the one confirming my subscription to AT e-mails that I got when I signed up.
Are we going to be getting e-mails or not?
view Mrs.Mack's profile
Is there anywhere to start a discussion board for just Smalltown, USA. I know there are a bunch of us that don't really fit into the communities on the established boards. Just a thought. I would love a great place to connect!
view The Hip Homemaker's profile
Mrs. Mack, I was wondering the same thing about emails!
view firebird's profile
is there a general flickr group for everyone's spring cure photos? i'm going to keep a photo journal of my project(partially to keep me motivated and commited, and also to have something to compare my progress to!) and i'd love to see how everyone else tackles their spring cures =)
view my*life*in*a*box's profile
my*life*in*a*box, I'm glad you found us over on flickr! Hip Homemaker, we have a non-regional group here:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/homecure
The cure is going well over here. I discovered a light on our vintage Wedgewood stove that I didn't know was functioning!
view wig3000's profile
I did give the book away. Found another 2 towns over & got it last night. Had not really remembered just how good it was.
Feel like I'll be finishing my project behind everyone else, but not letting that get me down. (like finishing in December...)
Thank you Maxwell, it is very good, and is standing the test of time. Pics coming tomarrow. I bought a new candle too, while I was out on the book spree. Already had flowers, just needed to water them.
view Chloe C's profile