Final stretch... really. You have one more week to go. This is the most important week. This is the last week in which you'll have the full power of the group behind you and you will begin to let go. That is as it should be. 8 weeks is a long time and you have been working very hard mentally and physically, holding your home in a very special way.
This is also an important week because it is Thanksgiving. After all of this work on yourself (really), it is fitting that you should direct your attention to others, give thanks and spread some love. This completes the Cure.
I didn't write this in the book because I didn't know it at the time, but I see it very clearly now. In the eight weeks we take a journey very deep inside of our home and we block out a great deal to get our work done. We are strengthening our own inner practice. But in the end we must bring what we have made back out to the world. After taking care of ourselves, we now practice love through selflessly sharing our home, our food, and our drink with others. And you needn't be at home to do this. Your work in the 8 weeks has prepared you for this wherever you are.
So Thanksgiving is perfect. It's a holiday that everyone can share, in which food is central and which is all about the simplicity of thankfulness.
With the joy that you've gained from working on your home and sharing with this group, try to bring that to some of those around you in the next week and beyond. Give it away and see what happens.
This Week's Assignment:
This week is all about party preparation on every level so whatever your schedule is leading you towards this week, whether it's travelling, staying home or going out, see if you can get yourself and your home into the party spirit.
There will be no post later this week due to the holiday, but I am already looking forward to a group sharing after the weekend.
(The last post is here - all Worksheets are here - The Book Blog is here)
Might this rug work in my bedroom?
http://www.companyc.com/html/rugs_pg3_cid361_521.htm
The rug would be placed between this wall:
http://sanfrancisco.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/111606/look/reversible-decor-the-magic-of-papertak-014683
the crib, and the bed:
http://flickr.com/photos/15376711@N00/300489455/in/set-72157594381282827/
Mama Chilanga--I think you are now headed in the right direction! It's a wee bit too busy in the pattern--it might conflict with the airiness of the duvet (but that seems to be your taste, which is fine) but it is perfect for the number picture wall, I think. Colours aren't overwhelming. Nice.
I wish I had a better eye. Some people mix patterns so easily, with great results. I'm not afraid to have the Dwell silhouette bird pattern and another pattern on the rug... but I just don't have the ability to tell when patterns are complimentary or when they compete and clash.
I like this pattern because the rug will be in the part of the room where the toddler plays and hangs most... and I think she'll like the pattern and colors.
I'm also looking to keep this a bit more airy than our acid fuschia, lime and orange living room
The last one: the spike in cirtron is beautiful. And it has just enough "Open" space to go with your duvet in a wonderful way. Hands down favourite. Order it too, Mama (if you can!)....take a pic of both on the floor where you want them, and that will help you "see" I think why one is more harmonious than the other.
Tell me, you guys, do my curtains look skimpy?
I DO NOT want to go to all the trouble of sewing the stripped fabric on them if they're "dinky." OK? (link in my name)
I'd rather start over with a velvet or chenille....
Alana, they're not dinky, but can you still buy two more panels? That would give them a bit more fullness.
Thanks Lisa.
I've been moping about this for two days....ever since someone left a comment at flickr on a different photo.
Well, you probably can't tell from the photos, but what I have is one Ikea curtain panel per side (tabs folded under and attached by clips) and 1/2 of a piece of fabric originally 54" wide. I couldn't afford to buy enough for two full panels so I did that. Bad idea, actually, Instead of giving me a little bit of what I wanted, I look at them and remind myself of what I could not have.
Bleh.
So, yeah, the IKEA is available--but they'll be waaaay out of proportion to the little "side" panels--and unfortunately, there isn't any of that fabric left in the store where I bought it many, many moons ago.
Mama Chilanga, like you, I don't think mixing patterns is easy (even though I like how it looks!) I remember you were previously looking at an Angela Adams rug. Did you look at the Spike Shag rug in Pool or Citron? It has pattern without being overwhelming and the toddler would probably think it feels nice:
http://www.angelaadams.com/individual_woolrugs.php?cw=35&ptrn=109
http://www.angelaadams.com/individual_woolrugs.php?cw=25&ptrn=110
Oh, those certainly are perfect!
I've already put in an order for the Company C Dandelion rug, but if it doesn't work for us, it looks like these would be great!
Ooh, yeah, the Angela Adams Spike Shag in Citron. That has pattern without being too much -- if you're wanting to have a calmer, more subdued space, but still with some pattern and interest, I think the Spike in Citron would look great with the bedding you have. The 3x5' has just the right amount of pattern for my eyes (admittedly, my eyes likely don't look at pattern the same way yours do!)
Bought a bed frame and two new pillows today, so in a few minutes I'm going to try to assemble the bed frame and wrestle the mattress and box spring onto it and see about doing a little arranging.
I don't think I'm goingto replace the lamp yet, and I don't really have space for one on each side anyway, because the spending is sort of making me twitch a bit now.
Hopefully photos later this evening.
"In the eight weeks we take a journey very deep inside of our home and we block out a great deal to get our work done. We are strengthening our own inner practice. But in the end we must bring what we have made back out to the world."
See, losing the self to find the self and sharing the Boon. Maxwell also sees his Cure as a Hero's Journey!
Go wtrmaus! I totally understand about the spending! I'm kind of there myself, thought there's more I could spend!
So, LadyJ, how does my curtain dilemna fit into the Hero's journey?
And shouldn't it be "heroine?" (excepting JeffreyK and chrisnyc, of course.) What ever happened with Jefferey's bathroom? In the middle of a ripped apart bathroom myself now, I sympathise a whole lot more than I did!
Mama Chilanga - I photoshopped your bedding with the rugs and posted them on Flickr. Click on my name to see the images. I think the Dandelion rug will work - but I've taken the liberty of suggesting a couple things to add to pull it together. I know you've already ordered the rug but go look at the images anyway - I hope they help!!
Alana, could you buy the extra panels from Ikea and use the striped fabric to trim the edges? I agree with Lisa that it is a fullness issue. No matter what material you use - if you don't have enough of it it will look 'dinky". I'll try to find a photo of the edging I am thinking of and post it tomorrow.
How am I doing with the Cure? (insert Peppermint Patty scream here) I realized on Saturday that I am not really doing the 8 week cure - I am on the 8 month cure. There is no way to finish what needs to be finished - and I have been so careful to plan the work so I wouldn't be overwhelmed. So much needed to be done, the plumbing work (and holes in the walls) delayed progress and honestly, the big projects down the road have taken over my imagination. So check back during the spring cure to see if I've managed to get any farther!!
My place is in chaos still - but, I still have this long weekend of work to push through.
Some of the stuff that IS done -
New landing strip (although not what I originally planned it looks good and works - woo hoo)
New office area (all neatly organized)
Reorganized closet (for a happy cat/girl relationship as well as getting rid of clothes that don't fit)
Fresh paint new rug and shower curtain for bathroom. Cleaned out and organized medicine cabinet and bathroom storage boxes. The medicine cabinet got a fresh coat of paint and new knobs - looking great!!
FINALLY hung the bathroom mirror.
Freshly skim coated walls - they are silky smooth (I am getting really good at it) and new paint in main room and front hall makes everything feel brand new.
Alana, I ended up painting the main room white - I know, I know ...... after all thoses weeks of color angst!!!! I admitted to myself that my favorite interior designers - Victoria Hagan, Vincente Wolf, Darryl Carter - rely on white walls in their designs. I bought Benjamin Moore Monterey White because Darryl Carter is located in DC and likes it alot - I rationalized that the color would thus work best with DC light. I know - boring - and I don't know if it will stay that way for forever but it does look good for now. The front hall is a soft beige to separate it from the main room which really changes my perception of the space.
My murphy bed will be moved next week - then I can finish painting the wall it is on (first weekend in Dec), install the new bookcases, put the books away and get the sofa where it belongs. God that will be great. I am also planning to install a couple picture rails in the main room to act as a gallery space. However, that will be it until the New Year.
After the holidays, I will start the next big push which includes:
Replace the light fixtures and door knobs - ALL of them. Or course, first I need to figure out what I want.
Install curtains for the main room.
find the perfect mirror for the front hall and install the mirror in the main room window.
Frame and hang some of the great prints and art I own.
Additional light fixtures for the main room.
I need to gut the front hall closet and rebuilt it for better storage.
And finally ... the BIG PROJECT - I am also designing a custom folding wall that will hide the murphy bed and some additional storage, will solve all of my bed relocation concerns and, most important, will look so much better than that ugly thing I have. I met with my carpenter two weeks ago and I am so excited about it I can hardly stand it.
I am exhausted just thinking about the work ahead of me this weekend.
oh my .... sorry the last post was so huge!!
You're so right.
The Angela Adams citron is the best choice... but I think your idea of using throw pillows to tie in the rug might just make the Dandelion rug work (and it is probably less of a dust trap than the shag!)
Oh, alex! Your plans sound wonderful--if exhausting!
Where will you post your progress? On the open threads? Or the last "cure" thread? I'll do the same and we can cheer each other on.
If white is what you need to move on, right now, then white is an excellent choice. Once you get things more firmly in place and your reality catched up with your vision: you'll know if you want more colour than that!
If your monterey white is the same as mine, (HC 27) then it is a lovely and soft.
Looking forward to seeing the edging idea. I really need to keep costs down, now!
How do you DO that, alex??
You made all three options look wonderful!
You're amazing!
I was just browsing design blogs and thought you may be interested in our project here in New Orleans documenting demolitions.
There are some photos of a magnificent Church that is about to be demolished.
Karen, you might want to email the AT editors about your blog since your post is somewhat buried in a Cure thread. Thank you and good luck.
Okay, so the bed looks MUCH better (see in my name), but it's staying in the same place. Amazing what a bedframe and new linens can do.
The rest of the room is still in flux, and I'm not so sure about the lap quilt on the wall anymore.
Comments and suggestions welcome, as always.
By the way, all of your progress is amazing, I am truly impressed! I need to say it, in case I haven't, especially since I haven't been commenting on flickr or here as much as I should be, especially given the input I've gotten.
So I'm thinking at some point we need to post final After sets on flickr. I am looking forward to posting one because the mister is rearranging his office right now and a LOT of the stuff from the living room will hopefully go in there. So the living room, while still waiting for it's own Cure, will be a little less embarassing. I want final tours from everybody so we can see everything all finished!
Alana - the curtain issue is a standard Trial. You've got consult your Tools, your Companions and all the experience you've gained leading up to this point. Then you have to bring it on home.
As Buffy the Vampire Slayer said, "I ALWAYS find a way."
I'm with you, Anne (in Reno), about posting final Flickr pics. In fact, (may I have a drum roll, please?) I'm about to invite you all to my "Virtual Housewarming", to begin December 1st, on my Flickr site. The invitation is on my Flickrs even as I type (link in my name as usual). I will post the link to the Final Flickr Pics, aka My Virtual Housewarming, on whatever the most recent Cure post is, on December 1st. I'm also sending the invitation, by email, to several friends -- my "Housewarming" will be way bigger than it could be in real life. It's BYOR (Bring your own refreshments -- food and drink -- you can have whatever you like best, while you look at my pictures!)
I'm planning to wrap up what I can do this time around in the Cure by Saturday, dress up the place a little for the "Party" and do the final photo shoot on Saturday (decided I needed a definite day to treat as my goal date). Then I'll get the pictures developed, and I'll post them on December 1st, when my Flickr space allotment is freed up.
Now -- in Cure-y things...
Alex, those rug-and-bedding combos you did for Mama Chilanga are amazing! Wow! I really really like the spike in citron best, but you sure made the dandelion work with the addition of that throw pillow. Excellent!
Mama Chilanga -- I'm really eager to see the finished product!
Alana -- would you consider doing what I did with my living room drapes, with inner panels of a light color, and outer panels of a contrasting/coordinating darker color? You could maybe tie them together with the fabric you plan to put on the bottom of them? (I dunno. Just trying to suggest something different, to make your head swim even more...)
Alex -- I can hardly wait to see pics of all you've done, and I'll definitely be around in the Spring to see what else you've done!
Wrtrmaus -- your new bedding is perfect! I love it! Great colors. Yay, you!
About posting "Apres-Cure" progress -- I vote for us posting on the last Cure post. It'll make it easier to find -- maybe an alert on an open thread or something (don't know what Maxwell will think about that, but...) I sure do want to see what else people do!
I promised myself an early night tonight. Part of that "head" stuff I need to work on. Right there, page 208 (from last week's chapter), "look into ways to improve your sleep" -- one basic way I need to do that, that I need to get back to is allowing more time for sleep!
Hooray Anne!
(Just a standard trial, eh?)
OK: Companions: Ought I stick with the same IKEA cotton curtains? Only purchase another set for greater "fullness?"
Oh how I wish I didn't have to wait until tomorrow for alex's idea! Patience is NOT one of this heroine's virtues!
Wrtrmaus! Lovely bed! What a difference? Isn't it energising? What a wonderful sleep you'll have tonight.
Anne (in Reno) how will I know when you've got your final sets up? and indeed, that goes for everyone....
Beth--you are fantastic! I feel warm and fuzzy just reading your invite!
What a fabulous idea. We should all do this.
Glad you liked it! (big smile) Glad you'll be there. Here. Wherever!
I will post my final set here if I get it done soon enough or on the next/last Cure thread. I missed the UPS guy today with my curtains for the bedroom (waah!) but we NEEDED to go to Guitar Center (waah again, hate that place). Hopefully they will come tomorrow while I am baking pies (in my awesome oven!).
Alana, what is the return policy on those sheers? Can you just get a pair and see how they look before you decide?
Beth, I'm looking forward to your housewarming!
Wrtrmaus--here's how to hang that lovely lap quilt of yours when you decide where to put it: rings on clips will do the job!
http://designerguys.com/dg3/episodes/season1/4080/index.html#gallery
And Anne(in Reno) I actually have a matching set in the dining room...so, yes, I could "try" it out.
The problem NOW (of course, this just can't be easy!) is that I bought "just enough" fabric to do a "topping" treatment of the fabric I have now...and at something like $40/yd I'm reluctant to buy more. The striped fabric is to be about 14" long all along the top of both fabrics--because I cut the stupid curtains, intending them to clear the bench when pulling them closed. I had floor length drapes up there before and it was always a hassle closing them. But I hate them that short. They look "dinky." Link to all fabrics in question in my name.
Plus the blasted IKEA things are lined--so it itn't a "simple" sewing matter, either (of course!)
I took a pic of the window with the drapes closed to give the proper effect of the side panels...I just might end up "wasting" my last few pics so I can get the roll developed and uploaded.
wrtrmaus--sorry, click on the after pic with the stool in it to see the pic I meant.
I'll post my pictures to the most recent Cure post when they are done. I'll take them tomorrow - not much choice unless you'd like to see the seasonal decorations, as they will be going up over the weekend.
wtrmaus - your bedspread looks beautiful. And with your setup, you do only need one bedside lamp.
Alana - You have a *beautful* home. And if any of that snow is extra, could you plz send it to Virginia?
All - I will keep checking the last Cure thread to check on everyone's progress - like Alex's, and I think Alana's too? And when I finally get *everything* done, I will post a link here also.
Gotta go, the commute is liable to be bad with the storm today...
Alana,
I pulled the book with the images last night to bring in to the office to scan - but I ran out of the house with my head filled with pie recipes for tomorrow!! eek!
So I searched the internet and managed to find a couple of images that explain my idea. You can find them on my flickr site.
Whether you use the idea or not, I hope they help you make a decision!!
Alana,
I just read your comments from 1:44am (yikes! I hope you are in a different time zone)
First, short curtains aren't necessarily bad. IN fact they can be very stylish. With the wood rod and rings, they are definately country - but a full length curtain will be too.
Short curtains were popular among many of the mid-century modernists because they created a cleaner look. Typically they were on a transverse rod or ceiling track - pleated so the fullness remained even when closed.
One thing I love is when the windows are open a short curtain will blow in the breeze - which can be a lovely sight.
Whether you decide to lengthen them or not is your call. It sounds like a lot of work if they are lined - definately a project for the long dark days of February not before the holidays. However, I would recommend no puddling on the floor - it would really clash with the rest of your stuff. IMHO, they should be about 1-2 inches off the floor if full length. Then - add a pull rod (a metal or plastic stick attached to the leading edge's curtain ring) to help close them.
Just posted BEFORE/AFTER photos of our living room.
THere are still a few more things to do:
a) Paint... which we're putting off until our next out-of-town trip -- or next housesitting assignment, so the resident toddler doesn't get underfoot.
b) Re-upholster red slipper chair in a lime chennille fabric with pink, yellow and blue dots.
c) Add red/orange Eames rocker (on its way here via UPS as we speak!)
d) Add West Elm sideboard/credenza on opposing wall.
Other than that, we're done!
We're thrilled with the results. We wanted a room that would be good for grown-up cocktail parties AND toddler playdates. I also wanted to get rid of the old furniture and look as I associated it with the ex-boyfriend I was with at the time ;-)
We are unlikely to move out of our one-bedroom apartment for a *while*... so we really needed to make it work for our family of three.
Here's to new beginnings!
The bedroom is next....
Alex, that was very kind of you--it probably took more work to find those images than scanning would have. Thank you.
The wheels are churning.
So a wood rod and rings are "country?" I hadn't thought so---it doesn't really matter. If anything, I would have thought "traditional". I'll be taking a closer look at pics of my style with respect to cutais rods from now on, for sure!
It snowed again last night! I'd gladly send some to you Tara--but Virginia is such a lovely state. I'd hate to muck it up.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for most of you, too.
Hope it is a wonderful day for all of you! Will you take pics of your feasts and post them?
What pie recipe have you settled upon, Alex?
Alana,
I hope that saying the style was country didn't upset you - I didn't mean to in any way. Perhaps a better term would be casual -- mainly in reference to the rings and simple panels over a more elborate treatment. I like simple window treatments - not trying to say anything negative.
IMHO, Thanksgiving Pie is apple - always. I know many think I am wrong - and they can live with their dillusions.
I've lived in the city for ten years and hate the bother of travelling to be with family (none are nearby) so I always spend the holiday at a friends house. The house changes every year so I have had to be fairly flexible in what is going to be on the table. This year, I am bringing apple pie and cranberry martinis to the host dinner. No matter where I celebrate, I usually make some turkey, stuffing and pie for myself on the following friday - otherwise I won't have leftovers which is the very best part.
Enjoy the snow - go out and stomp in some of it for me (we never get enough of it here in DC)
Alana, snow won't mess up the state & will give me something to laugh at - I'm from New England originally, and to watch this area shut down for an inch of snow is hilarious (I enjoy the free day off, though!). I'm a couple hours south of Alex.
I can post pics of the one-person feast if you'd like; I'm certainly cooking enough to share! Apple pie, banana bread, ham, rolls, etc., and am trying the cranberry sauce recipe they posted at the Kitchen site as well.
Apple pie??? Where's the pumpkin pie??????? (oops, is my bias showing?)
Don't want any snow here, thanks, Alana. Any that we've had has gone away, and it can stay there, too. But...it's colder now than it was this morning, and there's a northwest wind blowing chillily out there, and I bet you or someone near you is sending something our way! Oh well... it's been amazing up til now.
Get back to work, Beth...
Mama Chilanga,
What an AMAZING change! Comparing your old look to the new, it's a whole different style. From neutrals to brights, traditional to modern. I love it! In fact, your walls even look brighter, though that probably has more to do with the photography. But I love what you did, the colors you used, and can't wait to see the bedroom.
Alana,
I guess I was totally off, I thought when you were saying "hem" the panels that you meant the bottom of your curtains. I agree with Alex that a wide edging will look great, but also try the fabric at the outer edges. It will add to the look of fuller curtains. By the way, your fabrics look great together.
Beth, Thanksgiving here means pumpkin pie to me, too. I just made one and the apple is up next. I'm loving this new oven, but normally I do sloshy pies on a baking sheet so I don't spill 'em, and I spilled pumpkin everywhere when I put it in the oven because my baking sheet won't fit in my new oven! I'm not sure what to do, there have to be baking sheets that fit, I just managed to set off the smoke alarm again! I guess this oven has a proper ventilation mechanism in the back and not only does it take up more space, it blows straight out at the smoke detector!
Anyways, no Cure news, I'm just waiting for theUPS guy to bring my bedroom curtains, but if you want a great pumpkin pie recipe, click the link in my name, I make it every year now!
Thanks for the cheer!
My grandmother makes the best apple pie ever: we always had some for whatever celebration. Good memories!
And you are all making me want to cook up something in the oven! And dress the table and eat with candles. But dh is at the dentist after work so it's cauliflower soup and biscuits for supper in the kitchen.
It is funny to watch folks unable to handle an inch of snow! You'll just have to go up to New England for a weekend in the winter sometime, Tara.
No offense taken at the mention of "country." I like country when it is simple, pared back: Shaker country. I am also attracted to Arts and Crafts (though not what passes as uphostery! I like curves!) --especially in architecture. We have several "kit" homes in this city--bungalows purchased from the Sears catalogue in the 20's and 30's--I wish we lived in one of those! I also love rooms decked out as "traditional" --it looks so rich and opulent...which leads me down the neo-classical path as well!
What do they all have in common?
Clean lines
Honest materials brilliantly and beautifully crafted.
I love the mix of textures in traditional and country: though the colour and pattern mix can get pretty wild and crazy in country (what I don't like!)
In the past I favoured high contrast in colour, but no more. It's too busy for me now.
On a curing note, I hung the sconces from the bathroom on either side of the picture in the entryway. I'll take a pic tonight when the refections off the glass dissappear!
And I'm contemplating moving the curtains over--which gives me something to buy for the dining room and leads to all sorts of other quandries (which I will not get into!)
Just wanted to say "Happy Thanksgiving" all! Have a great day tomorrow! Have some pie for me (preferably pumpkin)!
Woo Hoo!! More apple pie for me!;)
Thanks for the compliment, Lisa!
I wanted a more playful vibe for our little girl and her friends -- and wanted to create more room for her by discarding all the big, oversized pieces, too.
I also associated the old "look" with the ex I was with at the time... so even though it was perfectly nice, we were well overdue for a change!
I'll be tweaking the bedroom, kitchen and home office over the next few months -- and continuing to fill my outbox! But I may wait for the Spring Cure to make any big changes.
On another note: Anyone care to post their favorite Apple Pie recipe?
Here's a bit of an After view - there's still quite a bit to do but at this point I'm so Cured out that I can't see anything else to fix. The living room requires much work in the future but I am pretty much done with the bedroom, bathroom and office. New furniture would be lovely in a lot of places but will have to wait until I can convince the mister that it is necessary.
Sorry, I forget who it was, but someone up there suggested using the stripe (which is sheer) as the edging for the Ikea curtains. And that gave me an idea to perhaps use the gold I have (in very limited quantity) as the top edging (to get these dang things to the floor I need about 14" on "top" (or bottom, but due to the bench detail on the bottom will be lost) --for that I just might be able to use the gold! Any disparities in width between the two--the gold and cream) can be taken care of by the stripe.
I have yet to take my measurements and figure out how much fabric I have--the question is: how wide should the side "cuff" be? Would four inches be enough of an impact? Or what about 6?" Am I not thinking large enough?
I am, by the way, seriously considering purchasing another set of these for the fullness I want. So that has to be calculated into yardages, etc. But I would treat them as one: no treatment in the midlle: just a cuff either on the innnermost or outermost "panel' or both.
Hey--happy Turkey Day!
And I'm thankful for you all.
While I munch my breakfast... Alana, how wide are the panels? (sorry, that fact is escaping my memory this early in the morning, 7:04, and I don't have time to look it up.) When I first started considering your question, and trying to space my fingers 4 and 6 inches apart (too lazy to find the ruler!), I began to wonder about 8 inches for the striped part. But then I thought about how it would look when they're closed, and thought 16 inches of stripe might be too wide, and might look like an extra panel in the middle (making people think "huh?", or as a friend of mine would say, "vahum??") I like the idea of using the gold on top, and tying the two colors together with the stripe. Ordinarily I think I'd prefer the gold on the bottom, but, as you say, the bench would hide that. I would put the "cuff" on the innermost panel. When open, it would still be visible. But then, what do I know?
Gah...just dropped cottage cheese on myself (one of the hazards of eating and computering at the same time. At least none hit the keyboard!)
I have a feeling not many people will be posting to this thread today -- too busy with Thanksgiving. Hope it's a joyous day for all!
Alana, just in passing, I just noticed the time stamp on your most recent post. Even allowing for the time difference, what were you doing up at that hour? (musta been 1:26 ish?) DS couldn't sleep? Or running yourself ragged with the Cure? Take care of yourself, okay?
According to the schedule we live on, we should be living somewhere in the middle of the Pacific. Yes, ds is up to insomniac habits again.
Yikes: more snow today.
Thanks for being concerned. Gotta get breakfast.
Yep, seems like just the Canadians today.
The pole is about 126" long.(or 63" per side as I have a middle support) Return to the window is 3 1/2 inches.
Each Ikea panel (bomull) is 57" so instantly, I can see I need two.
The length from the bottom of the rod to the floor is 89 1/2"
The current length of the cut Bomull curtain panels is 78 1/2" (no hem)
The honey coloured panels once I take out the seams should be 78 3/4" long and at least say, 27" wide. (Assuming they were 54" to begin with. The could have been 60")
The gold stripe is 59" wide (Including selvages) and 136" long. (I wanted to also get enough out of this fabric to do a window treatment on the windows on either side of the fireplace. But there should be more at the store should I need it.)
So, now that the kids have finished their math, it is time to do mine!
So, while you were all eating yummy pie, I uploaded some more photos.
Bad news: the Bromill curtains have been discontinued. However our local IKEA is expecting a shipment in in the next few days...of the ones only 245 cm long, though, not the 300 cm which I wanted. Even worse, they had them marked down last week from $40 to $10 to clear them out--and I was there--and missed it!
I emerged from my Thanksgiving stupor just long enough to take some pictures of the marginally improved bedroom. They're on my flickr.
However, I am still too turkey/pie/stuffing-logged to even attempt Alana's curtain math. Run away, run away! ....okay, walk away slowly while attempting not to jostle stomach.
Speaking of Alana, your entry is lovely! The dramatic, the flowers, the welcome sign...excellent. :)
Whoops! That should read, "The dramatic art"
Hey Cathy, good to see you!
And no the curtain math is not for those sufferring turkey stupor! Did you know it actually is a sophorific? That is, I was told that if I fed my son turkey--he would fall asleep easier.
So, you're not imagining it--and that's why Uncle Harry always snores after dinner!
Off to see your pics.
I'm back and now I wished I had worked harder on the Cure and sharing. I've decided the bedroom is my highest priority this weekend so I'll be working on that. I don't know if I'll have time to wrestle with the crowds at the stores but maybe I'll start a style tray. I'm with wrtrmaus in that I don't have much sense of style. I scanned and skipped the survey at the beginning of the book. I stopped listening to the top 40 songs in the 1970s and now I don't watch TV or movies either, so I'm hopeless as far as pop culture goes. I like pink and I live alone so I think I'll just try to make my bedroom more feminine. I also think I'll ask my manager if it's OK to paint the living room yellow (which Alex says makes people feel happy). I love Mama Chilanga's living room. I wish I could help with Alana's curtains but I'm not clear on the options. I love both apple pie and pumpkin pie but if forced to choose I'd choose apple. :)
Hi Marilyn: another one for the apple camp!
You do what you can, when you can. Join the group in the Spring, too. Maxwell actually writes one should do the deep treatment at least once a year--and preferably twice. So, you're just following the program.
I remember the first time I started waking up to the chaos in my life--that was probably 4-5 years ago. I could show you pics that look just like your before (before) pics--and that was from YEARS ago! It's taken that long to break the habits of a life-time (I'm still working on it.)
So, don't be sad you didn't do "more." You've done what you could--and next time block out bits of specific times (3 evening a week, one full weekend day, something like that) and set specific goals. That'll help.
Oh and about the style tray: do it on-line!
Hi, everybody!
Marilyn, I'm with Alana, you do what you can and give yourself permission to do the rest at another time. I'm planning to be back for the Spring Cure, and I'll look for you there -- I'm hoping to find that some of my friends from this Cure will be Curing again in the Spring.
I'm doing my style tray as bookmarks on my computer. I like being able to pull up the pictures and look at them whenever I like without adding to the paper avalanche in my apartment.
I'm home in the afternoon today because they replaced two windows at work, and used some noxious-smelling stuff in the process. When I got back to work after lunch one of my co-workers said, "You're not going to be able to stay" and she was right. Allergies are so silly. But at least I got to come home, and do some curing. I put up some photos in the corner behind my desk, that I've been intending to put up for quite some time now. A friend is coming over this evening, so I scurried around and did a bunch of stuff this morning before work, too. I'm also getting ready for my Virtual Housewarming photoshoot that will happen this weekend.
Alana -- your entryway is gorgeous. I left a few comments on your flickr.
I'd better do something instead of just playing on the computer...
(oh and by the way, math makes my head hurt.)
slight clarification. The photoshoot is happening this weekend. The Virtual Housewarming isn't until next Friday. One of my friends to whom I emailed the invitation replied that she's looking forward to it, but how I'm going to serve the chocolate is a mystery to her! Virtual chocolate contains fewer calories. :)
Marilyn: Glad you like the living room. It makes me happy to look at it, but I know not everyone is a fan of such strong colors.
Alana: Love the new pics!
Thanks Beth--it's always great to get comments!
About the shower rod: when I took the plasric off I was heart sick: there was rust everywhere. I had been told by a previous landlord that putting a piece of plastic up would keep the chrome nice. However, he was wrong. All it did was trap moisture underneath and rust it.
So, I broke down and got some CLR. I used it very sparingly, with a scouring pad--and it looks fantastic. There are a few spots that aren't like new: but they aren't rusty!
I'm suffering from some sort of decision paralysis. I went to buy a new purse this afternoon (the strap on my old one broke) and even though I found something that would fit over my head and shoulder (I like hands-free shopping) I couldn't buy it. Wasn't sure that's what I really wanted--though I wasn't sure there was anything there I really wanted either.
Hey, no worries about the math. It's mostly there in case I lose the bits of paper I have all that recorded on! I haven't figured out what to do yet.
How is everyone today?
For those of you who had parties, are you recovered yet? Or does thanksgiving go on all weekend?
How'd the family like the kitchen, Leela?
So far the house is surviving the onslaught of family, we'll post a recap tomorrow...
Looking forward to it Anne!
OK, I'm starting to feel a bit pathetic: should I just stop posting? Nothing worse than talking to yourself on the internet!
But, as you all know, I'm still fixing things up around here--and it's a hard habit to break: go do something, come back to the post and announce it!
So, whatever. Just got two curtain rods installed in two bedrooms this morning--dd's (meaning to do that for about 11 months. I've had the curtain rod that long too!)and ours. And I've converted two tab top panels to rod pockets. Now, they just need hemming and I'll have new (floor length)curtains in our bedroom.
Yay, Alana! Glad to know I'm not the only one who buys things and then lets them "age" before actually using them!
Please don't stop posting and announcing your successes. We Canadians'll just have to keep the Good Ship AT Cure afloat until everybody else gets back after Thanksgiving. I'm assuming people will be back...tell me it isn't over yet!
I was out today doing a small bit more retail therapy. Even with the holiday season approaching, you'd be amazed how hard it is to find a round red tablecloth. I finally found one, at Wally World, and carried it around for a little while, but decided it was too shiny for me, so i bought some fabric instead. For now, I'm going to have a square tablecloth. Someday I may rounden it, or I may use the fabric for something else.
I also bought some roses for my Virtual Party fresh flowers. The apartment smells wonderful!
I bought a couple of throw pillows for the loveseat, but they're too big, and the color isn't quite right, so they're going back.
For the chairs, I bought a couple of pillow forms, because I discovered last night that a couple of the "fat quarters" I've had for about a year or so, thinking/planning/hoping to start a quilt, are just right for pillows for the chairs. For the party photo shoot, I'm just going to drape the fabric around the forms, so that y'all will get the general idea. Someday I'll go over to a friend's and use her sewing machine to make actual real pillows. (Someday I will buy a new sewing machine!)
Didn't find pillow shams yet, and I'm not just going to settle for something that will "do", so my new bed pillows (half price! yay!) will just be on their own for the photo shoot. All in good time, right?
The light is quickly waning, so photo taking will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon (besides which, I forgot to buy film!) I suppose I could do some other stuff, though. Come on, Beth, vacuum those floors! Dust that rocking chair!
Ok, Beth, I'll keep you company. I'm so glad you're still here, too! It's actually motivating to know I can come post "mission accomplished" and keep plugging on one more thing.... Is this part of the "only child" syndrome, do you think? We can't let our accomplishments go unnoticed? :) (Oh and dh never notices anything. of course.)
About taking things back? Well, everything I bought at Ikea on Friday is going back. Except for the towels (and they were purchased to replace some I took back!)
I think I have thoroughly moved into the sewing stage: so I really can put away all the painting/staining stuff on the dining room table instead of trying to work around it! Of course my sewing supplies were a mess, scattered in four different containers so I sorted and consolidated last night.
I do have three more shelves to stain, but that involves sanding which I'm realising I really dislike.
About sewing: what's wrong with your machine--or is it gone? You know they aren't that expensive these days at all. Something for the Christmas list perhaps? I consider one as essential to a household as a screwdriver.
Hi you two! I bet everyone's busy/away for the holiday weekend. I know I've been getting a lot done; long holiday weekends are great for tying up loose ends. I went to Ikea yet again today and bought a bedside lamp and a different duvet cover. The lamp is great, and the duvet, while a bit more feminine than what I usually go for, feels a lot more "me" than the previous one. I'm still having trouble deciding on curtains, though. If I do plain, what color? And if I do a pattern, what kind? Eek! I like The rug, second nightstand, and second lamp will have to wait until I get another influx of funds.
Now I'm going to eat peanut butter on toasted waffles and do some knitting or reading. :)
CathyinMN -- your new duvet cover is so pretty! And I really like your bedside lamp. About colors for curtains, hmm... I'm going to look at the library books on color that I lugged home a few weeks ago (hey, I'd better check when they're due and renew them!), but hopefully Alana will weigh in on that question. And Alex when she's back among us.
I took the toss pillows back. Had to wait in line for quite a while, but that was okay. The ones I bought for the bedroom are really too big (too puffy) too, but I'm going to do liposuction on them one of these days, and take out some of their stuffing.
My sewing machine was not working well (and was frustrating me to bits) so it's gone. I plan to get a new one but keep finding other things to spend my money on! Christmas list is a nice thought, but isn't an option for me, as I just give Mum a list of suggestions of books from one store, she phones in her order, and doesn't have to "shop", as she's really not able to do that any more. I do miss not having a sewing machine. (But where will I put it when I get one? The old one lived under the old desk in my bedroom. The old desk which is no longer there. Hmmmmmm....)
I don't know if it's "only child syndrome" or not, although that's definitely a possibility! I sure do like to post my achievements. It motivates me.
I need to finish my snack (those waffles sound good, Cathy!) and go achieve a couple of pictures of the bathroom with its Party Flowers. Gotta shine the taps first. They can't stay shiny more than a minute! Is everybody else as messy as I am when I wash my hands, or is it just me?
I'm back, I'm back. Worked Friday, and spent today rearranging DD's room. Told her we'd do it together but then it would be waiting a few more weeks & I realized it's not good to let the chaos brew until after Christmas adds more. So, it's done. All the furniture moved, walls stripped of posters & some rehung (not all, which made a huge difference). I switched futons with her, so the purple cover is now in her room & looks much better. The couch in the LR now has a black cushion. The curtains I thought I'd have to take down may actually work so they are being washed & rehung. And the floor is finally fixed!
It is shocking how little I took out of there, compared to how much neater it looks now. (Wait, those two med. boxes of stuff I didn't put back yet probably help too!) Now, to see how she reacts when she comes home tomorrow....
It can't be only child syndrome (can it?) because I'm the oldest, but being able to post my achievements helps me too.
I'm thrilled you guys can sew. The machines don't like me - they jam constantly - so I have to do it all by hand (hence the sempstress). CathyinMN, your bedspread looks great! Glad you found it's hiding spot!
Alana, I took pics of the paint strips in a few places for comparison - do you want me to post those? I may end up painting foam board samples to test the two colors, see what looks better with the large swatches.
FWIW my post-Cure pics will have Christmas decorations - I've already got them up, as this was my best chance to do that.
Alright, I trashed the house to clean up DD's room, so I need to go clean up now.
Way to go, Tara! Hope DD likes her room!
I tend to make sewing machines do silly things, too, but I keep on trying. The last one seemed to have the tension adjusted properly, but the thread was always gumming up on the underside, or snapping. Grrr. I'd be going along happily, and then KaChung it would stop. grumble grumble. Hopefully the next one I get will be Beth-proof.
Just in passing, only children tend to share a lot of traits with oldest children... ... ...
Happy dance -- the fabric-as-tablecloth works really well! I like it, it drapes nicely, it's the right shade of red, it's soft...Yay! (And when I have access to a sewing machine, I'll hem it. Good ol' carpal tunnel syndrome put an end to doing a lot of hand-sewing. The carpal tunnels are getting better, but I don't think they'd like hemming a tablecloth.)
Y'know, Tara, I think your "sempstress" is what I've seen as "seamstress". Just different spellings. It would be handy to have one, however a person wants to spell it.
And I, for one, am glad your After pics will have Christmas decorations. I love Christmas decorations. I'll be putting mine up soon.
Maybe I'll get some neat new ideas from yours!
Good to see you again Tara. And let's hope dd is thrilled and doesn't have a fit.
You can post the pics: but it'd probably be more useful to paint the boards, take pics of that, and post those. Live with the boards for about a week and observe them at the times of the day when you are home. Now that you have an even darker couch cover, I'm even more inclined to go with a deeper colour....
I picked out my living room colour in the winter...and that's when the room looks best...snow really does reflect a lot of light! In the summer the room just feels like a cave. We'll see how the new paint job makes the room feel next summer as it snowed before I was done so I won't be able to tell if it has "lifted" the room as I hoped it would until, oh, gee, April.
Beth, I hate to be the one to tell you: but what was happening to your thread happens to mine about every year! I take it in to the Sears repair place (it's a Kenmore) and they do maintenance on it. I know I can do it myself...but, well, you know. It always works like new and I don't have to fuss. Where to keep it? How about under the table behind the loveseat? When you have a project, you can pull it out and set up....but on a day to day basis it can be hidden. And don't you have a storage room almost empty by now? ;)
Got one panel of the curtains up: hem is about an inch too short. It wouldn't be difficult--just time consuming--to re-hem, so I'm hemming and hawing over whether I will or not. ;)
And as they're 100% cotton--they had to be re-ironed too. Hate that.
CathyinMin--for your drapes pick up on either the duvet cover or the chair. Honestly, though, the duvet cover looks a bit too light if you have to stick with white walls. But maybe the flash just washed out the colour in the pic?
If you stick with this duvet, then pick up on the sheen in your curtain fabric. Did you sew the red velvet drapes you wanted? (or was that skywaykate? Forgive me if I've got mixed up!)
We're staying indoors this weekend--minus 22 C (or minus 8 F) is the low tonight and the high on Tuesday--so lots of curing/sewing to do. Hopefully dh will get further on sanding that darn bathroom!
Hey, it's only minus 17 C here (1.4 F)! It's supposed to warm up greatly by next weekend. I'll believe it when I see it. It snowed overnight -- Tara, I'd be glad to send it to you if I could figure out how to package it up! We had hardly any before last night. sigh...
In cure news, I'm just diddling around getting ready for my photoshoot this afternoon. Made the bed within an inch of its life (Alex, you won't believe it -- I took the night-time books out of the bed, so the bed would look nice and smooth! They'll be going back tonight, as I like 'em nice and handy in the middle of the night.)
Can anyone enlighten me on the difference between "euro-style" pillow shams and regular pillow shams? I saw some euro-style shams in the style I'd like, on a clearance shelf (they were sold out of the regular ones in that style/color), and I wondered if the euro-style would work on a standard North American pillow. I'm thinking probably not, but wanted to check.
I was in Linen 'N' Things yesterday, and looked at the dark brown lamp again. Not clear glass, I've realized that won't work with beige walls. Dark brown. The shape is like my green lamp in the living room, if it was smoothed out. (I sure wish it was on the website!) This is for the bedroom, with its new dark brown and orange and cream color scheme. I've found a couple of lamps on the web, and wanted to run them past people while there were still people to run them past. Just for opinions, I can't buy them until after Christmas.
I think this one is too round and squat, actually... I've put a round tray on one of the nightstands, and I really like it. There wouldn't be room for this, too, but I'll show it to you anyway...
http://www.continentalfactorydirect.com/item.php?selected_item=53608#
This one's more like the one in Linen 'n' Things, but the LNT one is sleeker. When I look at these pics again, I think the LNT one is going to win. Oh well, I'm not going to waste all this typing, here's the other one...
http://www.continentalfactorydirect.com/item.php?selected_item=53690
For floor lamps in the living room, I kinda like this one. I keep looking for one like the one we had when I was growing up, but so far no luck.
http://www.kichler.com/kichlercatalog.jsp
Anyway, anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.
...maybe if I split my comment novel into two parts, people won't notice how long-winded I'm being... (yeah, right...)
Alana, about the sewing machine. I haven't been good at regular maintenance of things -- that's definitely something I need to learn. I don't know if it's just laziness ( likely) or not wanting someone to say "you've wrecked your machine, you dunderhead". When I get a new machine, I'll make sure I take it for regular check-ups. Hiding a sewing machine under the table behind the loveseat would work nicely if the table was a normal table. But it's a magazine-rack type table. There is, however, space in the storage room, if I rearrange some of the "display" kind of things. I'm so used to the storage room being a disaster, that I need to be reminded that it is usable now. (or will be soon, once I corral the left-over shredding -- that will happen this afternoon.) Thanks, Alana, both for the info about sewing machine maintenance, and for the reminder about the storage room! So your machine is a Kenmore -- my last two have been Singers. The other one was in a table-thing, and was harder to lug around, but easier to work into the decor. The one I just got rid of was a portable. Definitely portable is the way to go. I'll take a look at the Kenmores.
Stop yakking, Beth...
Euro pillows are 26" square.
Beth--that last like took me to a chandelier--but you said floor lamp?
Orange, dark brown and cream? Yikes--I'm doing my bedroom in the same only instead of cream, I'm using white! I've not mentioned the plans for the bedroom as I won't be done in a week--but heavens! We're doing the same colour scheme. Spooky.
The orange, though, is negotiable. I'm just anxious to have some.
Suggestion for The Opoponax:
http://www.thecompanystore.com/parent.asp?product=GL63x&dept%5Fid=5071
Hey, since everyone is talking about their sewing machines I wanted to show this fabric I'm going to cover mine with. It's a vinyl print for only $3.99 regulary and I got it 33% off yesterday. It will be easy to clean, dust, and will semi-protect my machine because of the fleece-like stuff underneath.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myprojects/306777675/
This way if I get backed up on my projects again, it will at least go with the decor while it sits on my dining room table for weeks. You can find this type of stuff in the upholstery section of any Hancocks or JoAnn's. So maybe instead of hiding it under a table you could set it in your bookcase?
A cover is an excellent idea no matter where it's put.
Those are pretty curtains for the Oponomax.
A cover is an excellent idea no matter where it's put.
Those are pretty curtains for the Oponomax.
Oh wow--no more posting whenever I want! A certain amount of "time" has to elapse before I post again! Well, that'll kill my involvement.
Alana - post all you want, You too, smallcitybeth - I actually like reading your 'novelettes."
On the Kenmores - Mom has 2 at her house that still work that date to 1950. Sears may still even sell parts; they did last time I needed one about 7 years ago.
I'm done with DD's room, completely, except two things. I'm repainting it to match & am literally waiting for paint to dry. The other thing is sorting the 2 bins of things I took off flat surfaces that I don't want them back on.
Break is over, back to the sorting... I won't be far.
Just checking in on my end-of-Cure efforts. I did some things during the weeks we were "officially" doing them during the Cure and other things when it worked out, due to schedule issues. I didn't do
everything, but I am so happy with what I did. I think I really shook up the chi.
I focused on different things than during Cure I, like getting rid of the TV in the LR (I sold it and the VCR this weekend on craigslist) and rearranging that area to make it a great reading area, moving the bookcase from the bedroom. I've already spent many happy hours reading there.
Also, I've identified things that are problem areas for me from the checklist that is at the beginning of Maxwell's book. My score has been great for both Cures, but it's the same annoying things that come up again and again. More below.
Today, I did a repair (yay!), the bane of my existence, because I never get them done. Although I didn't get all my repair list done during this Cure, I've identified this as a maintenance thing that is really disgruntling and that I want to do better on and keep up with. Same with cleaning.
I also cleaned out a large restaurant-kitchen-type table in the kitchen that is really a very inefficient storage unit since it only has one shelf underneath and otherwise it's open storage. I have several stacking organizers on that shelf and I reorganized it, cleaned it, and ordered a piece of translucent, dark red plexiglas (Tap Plastics) to cover one end, which I've had on my list forever. The sheets happen to come in the perfect size. I think it'll look cool. I considered getting some new organizers for it, but decided not to spend more on this in favor of a more permanent solution later.
I'm still going to do some straightening up in some of the kitchen storage areas tonight and (gasp) wash the floor, which I truly detest, but which always makes me happy when it's done. The problem is that the tile in the kitchen and hall is of a color that it never looks dirty, so there's no visual cue to motivate me. I don't know why I hate floor washing so much. It just seems like such a fussy task.
Finally, I identified another perpetual problem: what to do with "projects," such as repairs and other things that I don't want to do right away. I was leaving them in the middle of the LR to nudge myself that I needed to take care of them, and they would just sit there, irritating me, but I wouldn't do them. So, I've made under the bed (the basement of urban dwellers, I think I read on this site) the temporary project holding area, until I figure out a better storage solution for these. I don't like having anything under the bed, so I don't want these things taking up residence there.
Finally, I realized that I don't want to continually feel like I have to GET organized, I want to BE organized and not have to put energy into this, but just maintain, with seasonal cleanings and purgings.
OK, a long post, I know.
Ah, when are we planning on putting up the post-Cure pics? I just realized I don't know.
Thanks!
Tara: I don't know about other people, but I'm posting mine on December 1st (when I get more space on my Flickr). If you missed the invitation to my Virtual Housewarming, the link is in my name. On Dec. 1, when I put the pics on Flickr, I'll put a link on the Cure thread, either this one, or if Maxwell puts up a new one for "after Cure week", it'll be on that one.
How are other people planning to handle final pics?
Something that may help, Pixie, is designating a "chore/repair" night a week. I remember reading advice from Jackie O, once a long time ago, (before she was Jackie O, even: I grew up with a pack rat)) to take Thursday nights as "grooming" night--set the hair, do the nails, tweezing, etc. Love the idea of dedicating a regular time of the week to necesary stuff: you could call it your "home grooming" evening!!
A final photo shoot. Hmmm. I haven't really any new pics to show you--except of covered boxes and straightened shelves, lol. Dolling the place up for a photo shoot is a wonderful idea though.
Set a date Tara, and We'll be there.
Hah! Survived the weekend! And the party was a success as well! Due to a series of unforseen events, we ended up missing the big family Thanksgiving, so the mister and I ended up eating Chinese food and watching Casino Royale on Thursday. It was a nice way to relax. Late Thursday evening the first batch of relatives showed up (sister with husband and two toddlers) and passed out in my office and on our living room floor. This was the excuse for the major living room cleanup by the mister and boy did it need it! We'll see how long it lasts. Friday the rest of the family showed up (two more siblings with one more husband and two more children as well as my parents) and I successfully had a lovely sit-down dinner with everyone fitting at our tiny table. My father-in-law made a leaf for our table that mostly fits and I found a tablecloth that also mostly fits with the leaf in the table so Friday evening was a successful sit-down dinner/family party. Saturday all the same family was hanging around and that night more in-laws came as well as a lot of friends that the mister invited, but he cleverly told them all to show up about an hour later than we told the family to come so we had a nicely staggered dinner with plenty of food (lasagnas from the new oven!) and just shoved the table in front of the computer so there would be better access to food and nobody would mess with all the computer stuff. My sister's husband was going to do a separate dinner that evening with his family since he didn't see them on Thanksgiving but instead he just brought them over to our house and made a bunch of super-nice appetizers and snacks (which was the one thing I forgot to get so it was perfect).
I got to give lots of house tours and everybody was very impressed, all the coats got put on our bed so everyone got to see our nice blue bedroom. Everything flowed really well, when people arrived they all clumped in the kitchen but they eventually spread out and there was a group in the living room with the kiddoes and a group by the piano and a group in the purple room. The mister hung chili pepper lights on his drumset as decor and they looked great! We even had a good lighting scheme going on because we started using some of the lights that are on dimmers that we normally never use. So overall it was a raging success and I took a 4-hour nap this afternoon after all the family left town. The house is mostly recovered, I cheated and used paper plates to cut down on dishwashing but ended up getting out the wineglasses because people kept bringing nice wine to share. So there are a couple of loads of laundry and dishes left to take care of but I have to say the weekend was a great success. And I sent one of the guests home with my AT Cure book, she just moved to a new place right around the corner and sounded very interested...
Oh, and my After pics are linked in my name. They have sort of been up all along, I keep posting when I finish each area so I mostly had to collect them all together. So not much new and exciting there, but very satisfying overall. And I'm still on the lookout for protein furniture, this is going to be a lifelong quest at this rate.
Alana,
That's a nice thought but I know that a regular repair evening won't work for me because I can't count on not being too tired after work--I just don't plan on anything more housey than basics like going through the mail, putting things away and into the dishwasher, stuff like that. I can plan all kinds of things, but if I'm tired and cranky, there's no way I'll do it. And my evening activities are so variable. I think the problem for me is psychological anyway--I just don't want to do these things, but I do want them done.
I love the Jackie O story.
Anne (in Reno) -- so glad your weekend was a success! Sounds like it was very very busy, but satisfying. (I got tired just reading about it!)
Must have felt great using that new oven -- it sure looks good. And I was just looking at your pics, and admiring your dresser and bed. I really like the style, and the color of the wood. You've done really well on the Cure! Yay, you!
I'm probably going to bore people completely with my final photos -- since I'm also including friends who aren't familiar with the Cure, there'll be more detail that any of you need or want, but oh well... ... ...
Overall I'm quite satisfied with what I accomplished in the Cure, although I didn't get everything done that I'd planned. (I did a bunch of things I didn't plan, though!) I'm a bit disappointed (and embarrassed) that I didn't get all the sorting and shredding done in the storage room. But I did some things in the kitchen and in the bedroom that I had no thought of when the Cure began, and I'm really happy with those rooms. In fact, I'm really happy with everything but the storage room.
Pixie, I hear you on the problem of getting repairs done. The Cure has kept me energized and doing things in the evenings, when I usually would consider myself too tired to do anything. (I expect to go flumpf! one of these days, now that the Cure is basically over.) I didn't get some of the repairs done that I intended to do, but now that the place looks so great, I won't mind asking the building manager to come and fix the dripping bathroom tap, and to fix the door on the entry closet. When I closed that closet door for picture-taking today, I realized that I'd better get it fixed soon. It's supposed to be on a track, but it's become derailed at the bottom and it sort of swings back and forth. That's probably not good. I also didn't get the new door handles put on the bedroom and bathroom -- maybe I'll get them done before the Spring Cure, maybe that'll be one of my projects for the Cure. Repairs are a pain.
Anyway, it looks good in here! In fact, I keep thinking "who lives here, anyway?" That's especially so with the living room, because it is so different than it was for the first 7 years I lived here. I think it'll take some getting used to. I like it, don't get me wrong, it's just different.
Congratulations Anne! Your place looks great. The bedrooms looks good both day and night (I hadn't seen the day pictures before).
I consider my final pictures to be my cats in the kitchen (much cleaner than before) and the dining table (ditto). I haven't finished anything else. I'm hoping to continue the deep treatment this winter and maybe will finish the landing strip, bathroom, and bedroom.
The bedroom is my highest Cure priority. Since I need inspiration to continue decluttering it, I've put together a style tray (link in my name). I plan to work on the bedroom in the Spring Cure.
Marilyn,
I just love your cats. They know what really matters.
Yay, Marilyn! You've done really well, and it's great that you have plans for deep treating, and for the Spring Cure. Judging from your style tray, your bedroom will be lovely!
I love the pic of the cats sleeping on/around your papasan chair (I may or may not have the name of that chair right.) The other day when I was in Pier 1, I saw a chair cushion/cover for one of those chairs, and thought of you.
Okay, I am back from the long weekend .... exhausted and getting tired of this whole thing. Of course, I'm not done - which I knew going into the weekend but I am finding that fact very disheartening today. If I am going to be tired after a long weekend - I should have finished something darn it!!
In the book, painting seems to about around week seven or so ... Maxwell describes all the other aspects of your day/week proceeded calmly with more and more order. This is the biggest joke ever - but not a really funny one this morning.
How do you,or more specifically, how does one single girl paint her tiny apartment and maintain order? I don't think it's possible ... as I move into week three (or four maybe, I don't know) of painting, I can assure you that life is lived climbing over boxes, piles of books and around artwork propped up against some wall not to be painted today. Furniture is shuffled around to reach walls, trim, locate a chair to sit down to eat a meal, find a sweater - forget about finding space to put the murphy bed down just sleep on the sofa. I am tired. And grumpy. And have about six more months to go.
sigh
Congrats to all of you who have finished!! It has been wonderful to watch everyone take apart and put back together their homes - so many have already posted process photos that look great. I can't wait to see the rest of them.
alex, just to let you know, each time I "finish" the Cure, my work has been highly imperfect, ie, I do what I can and then the next time I address areas that I didn't dig so deeply into. This is working well for me.
Sounds like you're taking on a bigger project than I -- I haven't done any painting yet!
I forgot, my dad brought me new shelves this weekend for over the fireplace - they look so much better! I think he thinks it's cute that I'm trying to fix up the place. And he has definitely been very helpful whenever I needed tips. So that's pretty cool.
And Marilyn, thanks! I love the look you have going for your bedroom in that style tray, can't wait to see it in the Spring Cure!
Beth, the dresser was actually a street find, a neighbor was getting rid of it! The bed matching it was a complete coincidence :)
Okay, guys. This will be one of my last posts! I've enjoyed following everyone's progress and appreciated all of the advice, but it's time to wrap things up and start living in my lovely post-Cure home. :) Honestly, I'm a little relieved that it's all over. So tired of making decisions!! lol
My apartment is pretty close to being done. The lighting has improved exponentially, the bedroom is restful (though I'm starting to save up for a queen bed), it's a bit more colorful, and art for the walls is on the way. I'll have to take the quiz again tonight. When I started, my score was somewhere around 2, and I bet it's improved. ;) I even sat in the reading nook and *read* for a good hour and a half the other night. I haven't done that in who knows how long!
After a round of mopping/dusting/vacuuming/picking up, I'll do my final photoshoot (no brown slipcover yet...I'm thisclose to canceling my order and finding another way to do it).
Must get back to work!
CathyinMN-your cat is too cute. I conclude that nothing matters but the companion animals.
New shot of bedroom...
Definitely a work in progress...