Backyard

We aren't sure, but the land in the back with barn may be on our property. We'll tear down the barn, after salvaging some of the good wood, and my studio will be back there. The creek will be cleaned out and fixed a bit and a beautiful little bridge will go across it.

The Front of the House We Want to Renovate

This is a view from the back of the property looking through the trees to the back of the house.

This is the narrow bathroom on the hallway. We'll be tearing down some of the walls to the left where badly made pantries are now in the kitchen. Taking out the current yellow sink and putting in two pedestal sinks with two matching mirrors. Also taking out the yellow tub and putting in a nicer one. Real tiles on the floor, and a lovely color of paint.

This is the wall in the kitchen that the bathroom is on the other side of. The kitchen won't miss the couple extra feet. Instead of putting the pantry back, we'll be putting in a counter and cabinets.

This is the kitchen when you turn around. Obviously it's pretty rough. We'll be tearing out the current cabinets, putting the stove back where it was originally which is on the left side of this picture, then building new cabinets for the kitchen and putting nice ceramic tile down. I think this house will be unrecognizable when we finish. The room this is looking into is the front entry room. The door on the left goes into the kitchen. The door directly across from this archway is the hallway. Down it is the bathroom, linen closet, three bedrooms, and the extra bath in the master bedroom. . . . This video is the front of the house with all the trees. The ugly left side of the house will be bricked a few feet up from the bottom, all the brick on the house painted to one color, and siding put above the brick on the left. There will also be a new metal roof put on the house. There is a very large room in the house that really serves no purpose. It's on the far left end. While renovating it will be the work space. After we're mostly done, it will be made into a two car garage and storage space.

the things I've found

These are my latest finds. This old metal globe is from the Salvation Army. I've been collecting globes for a while now. It's been a slow going collection, but I love the newest addition.

This is a small pencil sharpener I found at an antique mall in Hattiesburg. It looks like the camera Lydia found for me in Birmingham. Cute set.

These are one of my greatest finds! I got seven of these bubbled glass plates for 4.50 and I'm going to use them in my stained glass. It's going to go above the doors to my studio. I've been drawing some ideas for it in my sketchbook. I think it will look amazing when it's done.

Here is the mosaic I made at the Mosaic Shop in Jackson when I went with my friends, Dottie, Lydia, and Kate. The colors go great with the colors of my apartment decoration.

A crayon tin I got at Cracker Barrel this past weekend. I'm using it to hold the little collage paper cut outs I keep in my purse.

The Birthday Girl

This is my sweet little niece, Mia. She turned five about a week ago. I remember meeting her when she was just under a year old. She has grown and blossomed into a beautiful, kind, considerate little girl. She loves treasure hunts, her cat Bastian, and her family. When she opened her gift from me and her Uncle Matt, there were two ring pops, a pink and a blue, and her first thought was to give the blue one to her big brother. What an angel. Happy Birthday Mia!

Studio Library

The more I think about my future studio, the more excited I get. The latest update with it is the size. It is no longer going to be an 8x12, no sir. Now it will be a 12x12! My father-in-law, Reed, said its not much more expensive to add those four feet, plus it will seem like a lot more space. I'm totally down with that. Part of the studio that I feel very ill-equiped for is the bookshelf. I've been keeping a list of art books I want when I someday have money. Here's the four big ones:

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Lotta Prints: How to Print with Anything from Potatoes to Linoleum by Lotta Jansdotter

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One-Yard Wonders: Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric! by Rebecca Yaker .

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In Stitches by Amy Butler .

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. and Advanced Origami by Michael G. LaFosse .

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So family, friends, and any random reader...my birthday is July 12, anniversary June 20, and I recently adopted a puppy so Mother's Day is May 8. And everyday inbetween and after those is my unbirthday! Just saying :-)

Way to Go Walmart!

I've been looking and drooling over awesome bikes that are far too expensive for me. Then the other day I was at Walmart and saw a bike for 84 dollars that's pretty great. Actually my little sister had it till someone stole it. So I thought, maybe I'll look and see if they have anything good online that's not in the stores in Tupelo. And lo and behold....Look at this beauty!!!!!!!! She will absolutely be mine. I just have to wait till I get paid and have a bit extra money.

Electra Gypsy Bike

Wayne Pate

I love this print of Wayne Pate's. Reminds me of my days in the delta.