DIY Lighting

Being a craft-minded person, anytime I see something unusual, I am constantly saying "I could make that!" or "I could make that and it would look amazing in my kitchen!" both phrases which are finally coming into play with the remodel o' fun. I am one of those people who likes to make things. I am also one of those people who likes light! Lots and lots and lots of light! In my tiny one room efficiency I am currently in, I have five lamps, four overhead sources of light, and one night light. I do not like stumbling around in the dark, and do not like getting dressed in the dark, only to find later that I have two different shades of blue on that don't match at all. I love natural and synthetic light. I will take it in any form. So, in having a kitchen where I could possibly make some lighting for above the kitchen table, I am now deciding if I would like to try to do so. Here are some options that I'm currently mulling over.

Here is the lighting that started the DIY Lighting frenzy.
Its made using a large, perfectly round balloon, craft glue, and yarn or twine.
I love how organic this is.

Here's another version of the same, smaller with holes cut out in the bottom.

These chandeliers are put together using junk. I got plenty of junk in a trunk.

I am a huge sucker for origami cranes.
I figure this could be put together with those, some
pliable twigs and LOTS of patience.


These chandeliers are obviously WAY too big for my kitchen, but oh so beautiful.
It would be the hardest to make, and most time consuming
...but guess what they're made out of???
EYEGLASS LENSES!
Did you know Alan and I both work in an optical shop? Making eyeglasses?
You'd be amazed how quickly we could accumulate say, a thousand old lenses to upcycle.


Isn't it awesome?!?
Some lady's old bifocals hanging in my kitchen.
I can imagine it now!

I'm a Grown Up Now!

My lovely boyfriend has all the patience in the world. Thank goodness he has all of it, because I don't have much. At least he has enough for both of us. He is also a very wise spender, which I am not always. Alan has had a bucket of spare change in his possession for about, um... 8 years! For the last 8 years he has taken the change out of his pocket at the end of the day and tossed it into this bucket. I am constantly sneaking quarters out of my piggy bank, because I have no patience to wait and cash it all in. This week, I took the overflowing bucket to the bank and cashed it in. Can you guess how much 8 years of spare change adds up to??? $684.65!! I could not believe it! So what to do with all that moolah? Funnel it into our house, of course!

This evening Alan and I went to Home Depot to price toilets and sinks for the bathroom. We also checked out a few ranges that we liked. We settled on two gas ranges that were around $1,300.00. Frankly not a bad price for a gas range and large oven. We decided that since the range was such a large purchase, we would wait until after we had the kitchen flooring in, and the oven would be our last purchase of the kitchen remodel. After settling on a toilet and picking a sink and pedestal, we decided to wander down the road to Lowe's to double check on pricing and see if there was anything better we might like. We didn't find any sinks, pedestals, or toilets that we liked, BUT we found an amazing range that was comparable to the ones that we had priced at Home Depot for about $600 less. Here's a link to what our new range looks like, its not the best link, but work with me here, huh? We bought it on the spot. I am a grown up now. It is ridiculous.

And did I mention I graduated from under-grad today? Cum Laude? No big deal or anything. Again, I am now an adult. Ha! Just an amazing day surrounded by those that never forget to mention how proud they are of me, and make me feel way too loved. I am one of the luckiest gals ever. Seriously.

And not that anyone ever checks up on this, but I am currently listening to (and fairly obsessed with): 40 Day Dream by Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros.

Color Me Bad

Do you know that I own two Sherwin Williams color wheels? Each wheel contains every color that they currently sell, which is in the thousands. I own two of them. TWO! Why? I have no idea. Why not! I have forever been slightly obsessed with having color in my home. I have had a yellow bedroom, an apple green bedroom, a red kitchen, a lime bathroom, and on and on. I am currently living in an apartment where we cannot paint. And frankly, I didn't want to. Painting is tedious business. And I would hate to paint it a beautiful color, only to repaint it Chalk White before I leave. So now that I have a house with all white walls, what have I been doing? Daydreaming colors galore. I probably look at those color wheels at least once a day. I need to stop. I am afraid that I will get in the house and just go color crazy and then end up with a 64 box of crayons on the walls. So what to do when you want a grown-up house, with grown up colors? I'm busy figuring that out. In the mean time, here are some photos of color inspiration that make me almost pee my pants when I think how beautiful they'd look in our home.

I love mustard yellows.
The trick is finding one that won't be "Harvest Gold" circa
the 60's and 70's once it is on the walls.

I know this is a bathroom, however this sweet potato/coral color is the main contender for the kitchen. I have chosen a great color similar to this, just a little bit lighter and toned down a bit more, from Glidden's color wheel that I think may work beautifully.

This is the exact color scheme that I will be using in the bedroom. I love the single wall being this beautiful, deep blue. The creamy tan walls help keep it from being too overwhelming, making it just a stunning accent wall.

Although I don't have any walls in mind for this color, I simply love it.

Things I Wish For

I absolutely love living in the Oklahoma City Metro area. There is always something to see, do, explore and experience. However, there are a few things that I wish we had better access to. One of which, is a flower market. There's a great little florist down the way from my work place, but she only sells the typical floral-shop type flowers. I am a wild flower type of girl, though. That girl stopped on the side of the highway picking wild flowers from the shoulder? That was probably me. The girl stealing wild roses from the side of bank on 23rd Street? That was probably me as well. My favorite of all favorite flowers are Ranunculus. These flowers make me swoon. Do flowers make anyone else swoon besides me? I am obsessed with how amazing they are. I. Love. I. Love.

Pearls and Painted Hair

As I grunged my way through sanding, shop vac-ing, and re-painting the bathroom’s built in cabinetry this evening, I realized what a mess I have become. This last week I have consistently been covered in dirt, grime, and now…paint. I expect that I will be quite the hot mess for the next few months as we make our way through the house. Anyway, as saw dust and grimy goodness flew into my hair tonight, I thought about jewelry. Why? I don’t know. Every girl likes jewelry! One of my favorite jewelry designers on etsy.com, Linkel Designs, has some beautiful pieces I would love to be wearing as I continue to paint my way around the home are these, and these, and these, and these.

The prices can't be beat for such pretty pieces. Think I may just need some pearls on as I hammer away at old shelving and other demolition jobs. My grandmother would be so proud that she taught her feminist granddaughter some class. Well, at least she tried...