It seemed innocent enough when I first made the decision to stencil my entire living room. It will look so beautiful and the wallpaper effect will be breathtaking! While that's true, what I didn't consider is just how long it would take to stencil all four walls. Forever!
Now, I'm no novice when it comes to labor intensive projects. From stenciling my entryway to rope wrapping bar stools, I love nothing better than getting my hands dirty on a fun DIY. This latest project, stenciling all four walls in my living room, will definitely be more than a weekend project though. In fact, over the past two weeks I've managed to only finish 3/4 of one wall. At this rate I should be done by ... maybe Christmas?
The thing I love about a DIY project is that it's a great opportunity to shut off my brain and work with my hands. The only problem is that I'm not very good at shutting off my brain. My solution? National Public Radio. Listening to informative and entertaining programming gives my brain something to focus on while my eyes and hands are busy creating wall decor. Last night, for instance, I completed two entire rows of pattern while listening to President Obama's speech. I've also been known to use old time radio shows to distract my brain from boredom while pulling off a time consuming task. They're not quite as informative (well, actually, they are a bit of a history lesson) but a few episodes of Burns and Allen can get me through just about any mind-numbing task.
What are your tricks for pulling off time consuming tasks?
Image: Jason Loper
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I do exactly the same thing -- talk radio. When I can, I like to a project intensively -- all day for a week. I know I've been at it a looong time when I hear the BBC news in the morning (it runs until 6AM) AND the evening (it starts at 10PM).
Just music. Put on a good playlist and I can work for hours and hours.
Books on tape!
Childrens Books on Tape- Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon
This American Life and comedy albums! And beer.
Wireless headphones and the 6 hr Pride and Prejudice miniseries.
another tip is to take your time and dont force yourself. ive made that mistake and had parts of projects get sloppy, only to wish I just didnt work on it that time I wasnt in the mood... keep it a fun task for when you are motivated
Podcasts. I painted my entire kitchen including cabinets while listening to The Scotchcast. My BF didn't understand how I could do that without stopping painting to reach for a bottle.
May I recommend Radiolab? It's like This American Life, but focused on science and curiosity.
Well, I suppose you could give your project the middle finger, just for fun. Oh wait, looks like you already thought of that. :-)
I listen to NPR when I'm doing projects inside and outside, talk radio in general is perfect for me, and Radiolab sounds great too. I will definitely check that out. Thanks LizU!
Laptop and either Hulu or Netflix. Or music.
I agree with adamwa's comments above. With room painting projects, I used to try to do a whole room in one day, regardless of size. The last wall always ended up looking sloppy. Nowadays, I pace myself by painting one wall per day - and wrap the tray and brushes in a heavy plastic bag overnight.
I say invite ten friends over and finish that project in one night!
Just get the ipod out and listen to tunes! Dance around a bit too....
P.S Cute Butt...just sayin'
Alcohol helps. I'm going to have a drink right now as I tediously sew Spool Birds.
My seams are crooked as it is.
Loud music. Fun music always motivates me. I like 70's R&B, not the slow jams, just the real fun uptempo stuff.
Audible.com- I now have books I mentally associate with specific projects (and books I associate with specific places from listening while on road trips) :)
Having a companion to talk to, even if they can't help a lot is the best for me.
Second best is listening to music.
I do the same thing. I'm most informed after moving into an apartment because of 24/7 NPR. Lately I've been doing smaller projects and Radiolab always gets me through. Every time. Especially if I'm tired, I choose it. It will make you feel alert and happy to be alive in moments -- best stories ever.
music and my hubby are my lifesavers! He works side-by-side with me and we listen and sing-a-long to awesome music! Also... I've really been wondering about the time-commitment for stenciling... most people only seem to do one wall, but I DO really want to try it!
Pandora for me!
Jason, your first sentence cracked me up :-)
LOL toothlesspoodle !
This is a great little article. I saw your stenciled entryway and to know that it's just as frustrating for you makes it seem more realistic and accomplishable by a regular ol' person like myself.
For me, when I do a big project I try to just open a window and listen to the sounds of a quiet house. I live with two (loud) musicians, and as much as I love music, my DIY's are a way of turning all of it off.
I listen to audiobooks on my iphone. This also works for any kind of boring or unpleasant housework. Also, it works for midless exercise. I'll just keep using the elliptical until I finish the chapter. And maybe the next chapter.
But before audible and iphones were invented, I listened to NPR. Three-Mile Island and stripping wallpaper from my living room are inextricably entwined in my memory. Nor can I think of painting the dining room without also thinking of Duane Ingalls Glasscock's ill-fated presidential campaign on WBCN.
sweeney todd soundtrack! nothing like painting and belting out "worst pies in london"... haha! also richard that puts up with it - he also doesn't use painters tape. he is a master a cutting in with a beveled brush.
I have two kids when I do long boring projects we watch movies and episodes of Doctor Who. I just painted my living room paneling red/orange/yellow/ with different colored grooves and it was LONG AND TEDIOUS. we watched 2 seasons of Doctor Who :)
trashy tv shows as I do crafts. Nothing like real housewives to get over my boredom of doing the same pattern over and over again. Like during this: http://thefirstapartment.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-make-your-own-projector.html
~Blair
As I'm reading AT, I'm waiting for each stenciled section to dry. Listening to soundtrack from The Life Aquatic.
This does take longer than I thought it would, but it's looking good.
Audiobooks!
A short history of nearly everything (Bill Bryson): Refinishing all kitchen cabinets
The entire Dark Tower series (Stephen King): Painting the whole house, spring gardening
Just began the entire Game of Thrones series: What project to tackle now??
I just daydream. Sometimes sing show tunes to myself. No external input needed.
I would say take a break. Finish one wall, and then live with it for a while. This way you have time to think if you really want to finish the job on the other 3 walls... or if you want to do something else instead.
Or you could end up like Michelangelo, spending years on painting the Sistine Chapel!
Podcasts! Specifically comedy podcasts for me. I listened to every back episode of My Brother, My Brother, and Me (awesome, hilarious advice show--cannot recommend it enough) while I was repainting my new place this past winter.
NPR and podcasts for me as well; This American Life, Radiolab, Planet Money, The Moth, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me all interspersed with music via my iPod on shuffle or Pandora or even the radio for a little while. I'd like to try an audio book though, I love being read to.
Definitely RadioLab and TAL, plus, To the Best of Our Knowledge (PRI) and sometimes Stuff You Missed in History Class (How Things Work).
Oh...and Star Talk Radio (http://startalkradio.net/archive). That's a relatively new one for me, so it hasn't yet made it into my standard rotation, but it did help me paint my office recently.
Audiobooks are the perfect time-filler, but I tend to get them from the library as they are CRAZY expensive otherwise.
You can buy a movie for half the price of some audiobooks read by a single actor. While I understand it's down to supply and demand, my brain just rebels at paying those prices.
I hear audible is nice as well, but I'm not really into paying subscriptions just to let me buy items for cheaper.
audiobooks, definitely … :-)
(and from audible - i am listening to loads of them, and they are way cheaper that way than bought single)
i still remember what i did when listening to a particular book, too, CarrboroGirl :-D
This American Life, Radio lab, and Savage Love podcasts.
Endless podcasts of "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" and Vonnegut books on tape. I have come to associate "Breakfast of Champions" (as read by the fabulous Stanley Tucci) with painting walls. Also, for some inexplicable reason marathons of Mad Men or 24 (shows I don't otherwise watch) make perfect background noise. I find musical playlists distracting.
Pandora. I paid the 36 bucks, not too bad of a service. Who is the hottie stenciling in the picture? Nice bum!
ted.com! It's the best. Free 18 minute lectures given by people at the forefront of all kinds of fields -- all instructed to give the 'talk of their lives'. Elizabeth Gilbert's should have been cheesy but was awesome. Also Savage Love podcasts! Direct/excellent/crass advice for the weirdest questions
I keep lists of all the TV series that my friends have recommended that I try out, but that I never have time to see. Then I usually binge on an entire season while I'm working. I watched all 3 season of Batman Beyond while striping wallpaper from my bathroom, Game of Thrones while painting and decoupaging my desk, and Fringe while painting my parents’ office.
BBC World Service radio.
I listen to TAL and radiolab at work when doing boring stuff. Only problem is I need to filter out the sad stories or people walking by think my dog just died.
CBC! My cbc player is on all day: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Radio/1447825254/ID=1404737776
this is just awesome! can't wait to see the final look. the hallway project is fantastic as well!
i stenciled one wall (approx. 12x9) in just a few hours, for anyone curious about the time commitment. obviously a living room would take longer, but one wall - especially the one you see through another doorway - makes a great impact!
Thanks for all the motivation!
I stream "The Hills" on Netflix while I hand-sand joint compound off my concrete ceiling. The dialogue alone is enough to keep me entertained.
Where can I get the stencil pictured above?
I simply love that frase "DIY project is a great opportunity to shut off my brain"!
I listen to instrumental music, so I don't get distracted singing, because when this happens I end up singing and dancing in front of the mirror!
Podcasts from the BBC and The Guardian are excellent...if you've got a more Anglophilic sensibility when it comes to language (particularly syntax & diction) and sense of humor, they're excellent!