artistic freedom and fun!

Cambyr inspired me to pull an all-nighter with her working on my newest vision....

(She by the way...inspired by my work, decided to build her own custom furniture for her clothes...I LOVE mutual inspiration...and I love being this kind of example to my kids!)

Cambyr moving from cardboard to wood for the first time!

When I was at Home Depot buying the trim for the rest of the house I talked to a guy about my latest idea and he pointed me to the proper material for the job! Better still, it was slightly damaged so he gave me an expensive 1/2 sheet of PVC for half off! Yeah, now the project was much more affordable!

I started with a clean fresh sheet and some long sheets of paper that were just gifted to me serendipitously!

clean sheet of PVC

yes, amazing what comes from
listening to your heart!

I actually had so much fun drawing and cutting out the designs then fitting them as tightly as I could to maximize my use of the PVC sheet.

my homemade stencils

laying them out to fit

so fun deciding what to do next....

I outlined them and cut them with a jig-saw and then tested out the three spray paint cans I bought to see what kind of technique I would use.

But then, I was exhausted and Cambyr was too. Time to get some sleep and get back to it as soon as I woke up! Yeah, finally excited about doing more work on the little place! Being able to balance the MUST DO stuff with the WANT TO DO stuff really helps to take it all in stride and truly ENJOY the journey!

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Got some sleep and cut everything out and laid them out on the grass out back to decide on a final layout...

This was the winner!

Then I trimmed out the rest of the place....and with the left-over pieces even trimmed out the loft, which I hadn't planned on doing! BONUS!

It's really starting to come together now!

books have a home and continuing trimming out the place

This weekend I couldn't start the priming on the siding because of all the rain....my contact from the paint store was adamant about letting the surface dry for a week in between painting and rain! DAMN that doesn't help me getting into the water any time soon!

Oh, well, now I'm really learning to juggle...and fit things in where they can when they can. So, with rain stopping outside work, I focused on some fun inside stuff...

Got some bookshelves installed and I'm loving them! Customizing them to the books I love most!

first iteration

had a better idea when integrating
in my thrift store cabinet!
LOVE IT!

i also managed to finish out some trim work that I needed to get done as well. I stained everything last night to prep for today and tried to do most of the installing today. Like everything...I seemed to have greatly underestimated how much trim I needed and will have to do another round to finish it all up.

before

after

before

after

before

after

even found a transition threshold for the two floors.

At least it is coming along....and I'm happy.

And check out this cool tool the paint-advice guy told me was indispensable!  (Yeah, I'm a sucker and bought one!)

10 tools in one
i'm pulling out the hidden screwdriver!

Some privacy, trimming and flooring

My last major work before my latest out of the country trip was working on the floor installation. I wanted to get back into it, but I also wanted to finish up the major interior carpentry to avoid sawdust getting all over the new floor (and in the cracks in those hard to reach places...if you know what I mean! ;-) )

So, I first worked to finish off the row of flooring that was unfinished when I last worked. I really have the system down now and it was easy, enjoyable and seamless....which is the ultimate goal more than even the look of the pieces together because we don't want our bare feet to feel those cracks!

I was very happy with my work and also decided to use a test piece of material on the table saw...I was using the scroll saw because I was worried the blade on the table saw would damage the material...thank goodness I did the test because it worked great and now I have nicer cuts and having it look more polished!


I didn't start the next row of flooring until I finished trimming out my kitchen octagon window. I had all the boards cut already and just needed to install them....hoping my cuts came out correct! At first I thought I really screwed up, however, after some quiet observation and realizing that a few of the boards were a few millimeters off I was able to fix them and love the result! (Thank goodness I learned from my previous efforts and used the big old outdoor screws instead of finish nails...made it easier to undo and fix my mistakes as well as update the trim in the future with a more creative design I have in mind)

before trim

after trim!

The most fun I had today was making curtain rods! I had a set of old used curtains that I had planned on using that had rods and mounting hardware but I couldn't find the rods/hardware anywhere! I looked for a few days baffled at where they could have gone....not like they were small and easy to hide! 

But, like all things in life it seems....it was fortuitous that I couldn't find them! Instead, I followed my inspiration and my heart and decided to find branches to continue to bring the outdoors in and truly make this home my dream!

I spent the morning searching the woods behind my house for the perfect branch. I was hoping for one to span the entire length...but knew it would be tricky to find one that long that would have the diameter that I needed for the holes in the curtains. I found a few candidates and while I pulled them out got the brilliant (and I'll admit Pinterest idea)  of also using the forking branches to hold up each "rod". As I cleaned off the bark it revealed secrets that nature had kept hidden to the unobservant eye!

Beautiful patterns created by the micro inhabitants of the forest were seen and added a depth of beauty and awe to my chosen materials! I was so excited with each inch of bark I excitedly removed...feeling as if I were Charlie looking for the Golden ticket to enter Willy Wonka's chocolate factory!

The sun was shining and warm, the birds were singing, I was so present in that moment, so happy to be right there doing what I was doing, I felt connected to the whole process and grateful to be so hugely involved in my own life. I was learning skills, learning about myself, about nature, how to work with nature as well as myself. It was a beautiful moment!

It didn't end there either! Bringing the materials and supplies to the site and taking my time to feel out how I wanted to install everything was so fun and even more satisfying when I stepped back to see the final result! Ahhhhhh happy again at the progress I am making!

the path of the curtains is similar to the path of my life!

love that i can drape them over the branches
to say hello to the world!

So thrilled with how it came out!

The last thing I needed to accomplish was the floor. Honestly, since I've gone in stages it's taken a bit longer, but it's been more enjoyable to break it up. And with getting the hang of it the next row went even smoother. Again, stoked to see the end result! I have one tiny section left and have just barely enough material to finish it! Yeah...there is some waste due to how I will have to cut them, but I will be using up the leftover material from the other floor color so that balanced it out. 

I also am using some of the leftover wood in my place to build a tiny wooden box that will fit the 6.5 inches sized wood I need for my stove. I will be using the experimental trim cuts I was playing with, which might actually make it a bit more artistic and whimsical than it would have been otherwise. 

But I'll need to save all those cuts and installation for tomorrow before I head up to Vermont for the weekend. (One last weekend of spring skiing to terminate the season! Hey, still gotta make time for physical pursuits/fun/exploration otherwise this whole thing would bog me down too much)

Now that I have a semi-locking door and privacy...I just need to finish the floor and then I will truly have a place to relax and recharge while I am still finishing up the work. I can't wait to move the futon mattress on to the futon couch/sleeper and add the throw pillows for a nice place to sit and have tea with my friends. I already have an enclosed incense box I brought back from Chile with me that I love to light when I am in there working and I've ordered a nice portable Bluetooth speaker to charge with my new mini solar panel array so the rest of my time will be filled with beautiful sounds to keep me company while I work and enjoy my little floating dream!

things are heating up!

Stair treads installed!

And looking FAB-U-LOUS!!!

finally trimmed out the crooked window!

up close details...damn I am getting GOOD! ;-)

I am so happy at the outcome of these stairs!

NEVER GIVE UP! 

that's my lesson.

It felt so fabulous to trim out these windows that have been waiting so long. I don't know what I was avoiding...

suppose I was just waiting for the proper inspiration to come along and tie it together for me....I'm glad I waited...I love it.

Finally all of the insulation is covered...
last barnboard row sets it apart and i love it

I got a super HUGE surprise in the mail today...I just put my order for this stove in...it said it would be 3-4 weeks...I got it in 3-4 days! AMAZING....so I spent the end of today installing the wall hanging unit where I wanted it. Aiming to have the top of the stove at countertop height so it will feel like a regular cooking stove next to the counter! And it will be near the futon, so it will be fun to cuddle up on it and get warm with a nice cup of tea or cacao drink! :-)

getting ready for the wood burning stove!

The best part was having my kids happily hang with me all day. Sure it was Easter, but we bought them some material of their choosing so they could cuddle in for a movie later and they learned some skills and practiced some techniques as well as lent me much needed hands to help  me make sure everything was level and solid! Awesome helpers!

having fun with the drill gun.

undoing some of my earlier stair mistakes

popping packing bubbles was the highlight for this gal!

Finishing details

Finished off the barnboard details

 I managed to finish off the stair installation this morning and glue the treads down into place. Except for the bottom one, which I plan to make a storage box with the tread lifting up with a hing....still have to figure that one out. But at least the bulk of the work is done!

I used hard as nails to glue the stairs in place and was thrilled that they came out level in all directions without needing the pack of shims I bought! I'm getting better at this carpentry stuff! (I'm so proud of myself!)

I also buckled down and almost finish trimming out the loft windows. I wanted to do something creative to cover up the seams of the plywood, but it didn't turn out the way I wanted so, I scrapped that idea, took the loss in money and went for the materials I had on hand...the leaf trim that I hand stained. Not only did it work out perfectly covering the mistakes I had made....but it's beautiful and ties everything in!

treads stained and ready to install

laying out the fabric - first 3 yards

 I was also determined to finish covering up all the insulation this weekend, so this time I decided to just go to the fabric store and splurge on fabric that really spoke to me to cover it up. Now that I know how easy it is to just tuck in....well, that was something I knew I could easily finish up.

I love LOVE the look of aqua/turqoise with deep rich wood colors...so since I didn't get the exact color I wanted for behind the mandala in the salon, I got a more vibrant one for the loft. Plus it will tie in perfectly with the bedspread I found in the fall last year! Again...things coming together so nicely...they always seem to when you follow your heart...follow your true dreams of your true self!

cutting it up...tedious, but oh so satisfying!

before

After!

It felt really good to see so much done...sometimes its the little details we overlook, and don't realize how much those little details really contribute to the vision coming together. I added little 1/4 round trim along the corners of the loft as well and only have a few more things and I'm pretty much done! Hard to believe how close I'm getting to finishing it all up! I can so taste it....but love savoring what is currently in my mouth...it's watering just being here!

Notches in my belt

It's hard to believe how fast time can seem to pass when looking back. I've been traveling for work and now that I'm back (and not jet lagged) it's time to get back into building mode again. During my travels I finished a book I love called "the rock warriors handbook". You don't even have to be s Rick clone to get some amazingly precious nuggets from its message. And upon finishing the book on my flight home I was reminded once again to..... ENJOY THE JOURNEY!

It was good timing for that message because I found myself feeling overwhelmed at the thought of trying to finish my home by May. First, I created a deadline for myself which was first inspired by the possibility of being on the home and garden TV show that had approached me in the fall. They didn't think I'd be done by April when the next season would air. I pushed to prove I could... And in the process got burnt out. So now that I'm back from my trip...I took all deadlines of the table and am already feeling more energized and light.

Next, I realized much of my overwhelm was coming from trying to hard to look at the finished product. There is SO MUCH work left to do.... Especially on the raft side which I still haven't redesigned. But the book reminded me if I'm not enjoying the simple steps of each movement, feeling the joy for being able to do this.... Then I'm doing it for the wrong reasons. Doing this to be done just to said "i did It", just to build a list of accomplishment to move on to the next item on the list is WRONG. And I know those aren't my reasons. I chose this for me, for my vision of my life, And that in itself is my joy in this process.

So I pulled back that vision and focused only on a single track today. First with some finishing touches in the loft. Earlier in the week I attempted to do the windows but everything felt difficult and it took me to long to do s simple task. So I stepped away, revalidated and was able to easily accomplish it today (while enjoying each step).

nailing in the prestained cuts...finding out my measurements weren't so great..nothing new!

Next I wanted to finish up some of the trim work... Only I realized after the fact that I had used the wrong boards in the wrong place... Luckily it was an easy fix, I had the right supplies! I also needed to cover up the silicones hosts that we leaking before the silicon... Now it's looking much cleaner and I'm confident it won't leak again! 

hiding the sticky seams

used the board in the wrong place...luckily I had more and they were the same size!

I was definitely feeling like I needed to do the tasks I was somewhat avoiding since I was in a better frame of mind and so I worked to finish the remaining walls with whatever materials I had left. 

That included a cut I am super proud of....A single piece that not only had to work around the shape of the octagon window, but also had to lock in the upper and lower sections of the tongue and groove! It ended up being a very satisfying challenge! 

before

after! I'm so proud of this!

I had two full sized tongue and groove pieces left...and I immediately knew what I was supposed to do with them, even though I resisted it at first. I needed to use them to finish up each wall at the top. My resistance was that I had to decide to either rip them to fit just below the roof joist beams and then figure out what to do with the portion above that line or notch them out to give it a more finished professional look, help to hide all my carpentry mistakes and be done in one shot. After some deliberation, i realized I could totally do the notching I had avoided numerous times during this build. Now was the time to face my fears!

Part of my apprehension was the fact that I learned the hard way about how being off even a 1/16 of an inch can add up over a run and drastically change your measurements down the line if not corrected for immediately. Then I realized....it IS a lesson i LEARNED! I won't make the same mistakes because I am totally aware of the consequences now....So, armed with my new awareness I slowly took my time and used my new skills to measure out and create the notches.

I have to say too, I thoroughly enjoyed that part of the journey (armed as well with my new attitude). I had an opportunity before me to be a proficient notcher-outer! So, I measured three times and cut iteratively, allowing myself space to breath and correct for errors. And only slight mishaps (including breaking a few scroll saw blades and cracking some wood) that just add character to my story....I FUCKING DID IT! And my second super proud moment of the day ensued!

measuring  three times

ideally cutting once!

before installing notched board

after the notches....wow it looks so good!

just starting to get dark, but the last one is done!

To celebrate I spent some time cleaning everything up...my goal tomorrow is to have some fun painting the mandala on the canvas for the ceiling. No clue how exactly I'm going to do that....but that will just be another step I will thoroughly enjoy tomorrow!

looking aft

looking forward...to tomorrow! :-)