Fourth of July Weekend…

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We had a great weekend…Cana officially is my little Water Bug…(she even took to responding to this name by Monday).  She would have stayed outside and in the water at all times had we had any energy left to keep up with her.  No w I am sitting here typing this just to say that I blogged about the holiday weekend – ha.  I have no energy or brainpower to write anything of any depth. 

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July and holiday weekend!

Big Girl in the House

I know - i know I am not doing such a splendid job of keeping up with this blog, but I really do think about it all the time.  I am just trying to keep up with real life as it is FLYING by!  My little baby girl is growing up so fast and I spent last week being potty boot camp momma and stayed home with Cana all week.  Can I just say I was more scared of this step than any other step we have taken with her...I had no idea what I was doing or how to do it, but I have this amazing little girl that after two accidents has done perfectly since.  She loves to "celebrate" so after every pee or poop she got the whole family doing the potty dance in celebration and got a skittle.  She LOVED it...I cried every time I watched her from behind walk off in her little panty covered butt. 
Now this week has been so hard as I had to go back to work...I so loved being home last week.  I love being around Cana doing anything...and I love taking advantage of nap time and painting...I love planning and making dinner...having time to have playdates...all of it was so much fun.
I did get a few more pieces done during naptimes and after bedtime - here are some pics and they will soon be available on Etsy.

I can't get it to turn around...ugh...

I have a few more pieces ready to start or to finish, but they aren't ready for photographs...

Jerod and I are headed to LA on Friday - yea...a few days away just us to sleep in, eat and lay around on the beach!!!!  I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of those weeks...

We have all been sick at least once here in the Starkey household, some of us twice (with different things) in less than five days.  I am really ready to wake up to a new week. 

A Pink Party

I am incredibly behind and have so many posts to write, but I am going to start with the greatness of this weekend and Cana's birthday.  I can't believe I have a two year old...
Cana is the pride and joy of my life.  She loves trash trucks, buses, and trains, but proves her girliness with pink everything, bracelets, love for mani/pedis and hair products, and always finding my heels to wear around the house.  She likes to go fast and high in swings but is as gentle as can be when someone is sad - she sits down next to you and pats your back til you smile.  She gets caught doing something wrong and instantly cocks her to the side, smiles, and says "hi".  Cana loves to read and loves her cow!  She refuses to eat meat, but loves her blueberries and marshmallows. Cana is talking all the time and about all things.  97% of the time she loves her big girl bed and sleeping in it.  Her favorite jam is still California Girls but her music palatte is expanding as she will break out in song on her own with songs like Chris Tomlin's "Spirit Fall", Mammaw's version of God Made Me, and her own rendition of If You're Happy and You Know It.  There is nothing sweeter or cuter than her singing.  That will be a post in itself later on...


About a month ago we started working on her saying she was two and asking her what kind of party she wanted.  From the very beginning she answered with "Pink Party" so we had a pink party...We invited family and a few of Cana's little friends over to swing, swim and eat.  Jerod made her dreams come true by putting up a swing in the backyard for her so now she can swing her heart out anytime.

It was a great day...with clothes, without clothes, with all things pink and many wonderful friends and family around!!!!  I am so proud of my sweet Cana and I love nothing more than being her mommy!

Trip with Evie - We're off to the Auction **See what I won**

I am going to my first auction tonight- like real auction.  Evie heard on HGTV that cities often have these kinds of acutions if they have a design district, which Dallas does and lo and behold she found it here.  I have been reviewing rules online all day and I am giddy nervous.  They say you can't bid without meaning to, but there is a part of me that can see me "accidently" needing a Uhaul to get home.  These pieces are incredible...and they at least start REALLY cheap.  I am looking for a mid century modern sideboard to use in our front living room as a tv console, but there are a few other little items like a couch, dresser, and stool I want too.  Look at this stuff...and it starts at $50.  ( I half expect to get there and find out it is all like doll house size ... have you ever done that before - be honest - looked at Etsy and found the cutest little piece of furniture, only to find out once you look closer at the typed dimensions it's the size of your palm. ) 

I so wish I could be a shopper for people...I would love to go do this all the time for people who don't have the time or the desire to sit through stuff like this. 
I will be reporting back tomorrow...

Here's what actually walked away with...LOL - a lot more than I thought and none that I was expecting - SO much fun though.  I want to do this for a living more than anything.

Too many options...

Now that the market is over my brain is completely on overload about what to do next.  I have several pieces of furniture to work on - a plant stand, another set of nightstands, a chair and cushion - all of which would be to sell, but I think for a little bit I need to turn inside our house and pick something that we have to stare at all the time to work on.  So now that limits the list to...
1)  Painting my office and finish decorating the room... I want a work table like this...

 and shelves like this...

2)  Painting the downstairs guest bathroom - no true vision yet...I just don't like it the way it is.

3)  Painting the utility room/pantry
I didn't know the scope of possibilities for a pantry or laundry room until I ran across these...
{show & tell}
Her amazing laundry room...I am so inspired by this to design a laundry room with color and flare for us so that we might enjoy being in there more...haha - but it would take a great pic.

 {House of Smith's}

Gasp...can you imagine your pantry looking like this ...

I LOVE it....I know I couldn't keep it that clean, but again it would take a great pic and I would make it look like this atleast everytime we had a party ....

4)  Stenciling the atrium hallway

I love the current color of the hall it's just boring.   There is so much natural light there because of the french doors - it has potential of being the "prettiest" spot in our house...so maybe something like this...

(Wall Stencils from Royal Design Studio)

5)  Repainting the living room or the master bath (the LR I have confessed already to Jerod I want to repaint, our bathroom not so much - surprise honey!!! )

I am loving this bedroom by Dana Miller who writes House*Tweaking...see how the bathroom doesn't scream at you and I feel like ours does. 

The grays and yellow...our bedroom is already gray but I love the contrast of the light gray with it and a splash of color...ours is gray with a red bathroom and the bathroom comes across more bold than the bedroom.  I also love the idea of the fabric closet door b/c in our little master bedroom there are four doors and three of them are all in a row and open into the other one's doorway - it drives me CRAZY...

6)  Build outdoor table - I am withholding this picture because it is so much in my mind and a combo of so many pictures...

7)  Spray paint outdoor chairs

Chairs that look like this...(except worse b/c they are hunter green)

Could be so much better in this color....right!?!?!?

 Krylon Rich Plum...

8)  Finishing the desk and wall dividers for Jerod's studio - embarrassed and so sorry honey that it's not done yet...I got way way way sidetracked.

9)  Cana's quilt - well again I got sidetracked...the squares are all cut, I just need to sew them together and then take to the quilter ladies house to quilt it on her fancy machine for several hours...

10)  Painting the antique dresser for Cana's room - it's going white...We just have to haul it downstairs and into the garage - ugghhhh...

11)  Learn how to use my new Silhoutte machine and make some fun stuff - self explanatory and fyi I got it for christmas and i keep putting off the tutorial - not for lack of wanting to use it - just lack of attention span.

12)  Line the back of the built ins in the dining area with a patterned fabric - the living room/dining room need some work... - some color, some pop...it's too traditional and bland with too many mid to dark colors. 


The possibilities are completely endless....
Since I haven't picked or been focused on a project the last few days I truly feel blah...I am sick.

Well unitl I can decide - I need to stick to focusing on getting our eggs painted with Cana...she is going to love it!!!! 

What projects do you want to get done in your house?  Maybe I should just come help you...

Cuteness that is almost 2 (and we won't mentioin HIS age...)

This is the cuteness I get to live with all the time and LOVE it...she is growing up so fast.

  I realized today I have to get with the game and start planning birthday #2.  I am thinking zoo or something involving lots of water...

I could do this all the time...

So today was not what many would call "successful", I sold one table completely and another I am keeping my fingers crossed the lady will call tomorrow like she said (She had to go home and measure first...I know probably naive, but I am believing for one more sale this weekend...) BUT I can't wait to do it again!!  I can't explain how fun it was to set up an 8 by 10 space and have it look like an image that has been in my head for nights as I fall asleep.  I got to feel like myself and do what I love and enjoy it regardless...
Girls...I am telling you - find something you like to do and give it a good ole try because it is worth it. 
Here are a few pictures of the day and as sad as it was for me to have to bring so much back home with me, I was kind of glad because I already have pieces for the next show I decide to do and between now and then I can work on some personal projects - like some room painting, a little pantry and laundry room makeover, outside work, - who knows the options are endless...

Open

My Etsy store is open - StarkeyStyle.  There is a link on the right side of my blog.  I have put a few pieces in the store and then will add more after the Deep Ellum Market tomorrow.  ( Well let's hope maybe I can't because then that would mean everything sold...haha - a girl can dream)


Would love to see you tomorrow if you are in Dallas...I will be under the tent behind Cafe Brazil.


Sorry this is short and impersonal, but I am so tired, my throat hurts and I still have work to do, but I wanted to give an update...Hope you all have a great weekend.

Shout Outs and Count Down

For starters - Happy Birthday to a great brother...Little Brother ... enjoy this last one in your 20's.  Have a great day celebrating you with that beautiful family of yours!  We love you.

  

And most importantly "a million hugs and kisses, thank yous and you are so incredibly sweet" to my dear hubby who is selflessly doing something in honor of my favorite activity - MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers).  My MOPS group is hosting a fundraisor tonight at Greenville's Rusty Taco where 20% of all proceeds between 5 and 8 will be given to our MOPS group.  Jerod has very generously agreed to do something I know is not is favorite thing to do - he is going to provide music for the event.  It's always a little awkward to sit in a corner, of a non stage friendly restaurant, and play the keyboard and sing - having people kind of listen and kind of not.  Baby - know that I will hear every song but more than the words you sing I will hear what you are doing for me and I love you dearly for it!!!!  I know you will rock out the impossible.

Finally, agghhhhh I have my first booth in five days...there is so much to do to finish the last final details of each piece, to decide on staging, pricing and all that kind of stuff.  I am SO SO excited!!!!!!  If you can come please do - I would love to see you there.  Here is the flyer and one sneak preview of a piece that will be there...

 

 

 

Deep Ellum Outdoor Market

Sneak Peak for Outdoor Market

Crazy Ideas: Before sleep...

This is how crazy I am ... the other night I couldn't go to sleep.  Those of you who know me personally or have ever lived with me, you know this is NEVER a problem for me...I can fall asleep sitting up in the middle of a conversation if I am tired.  But this particular night I couldn't turn off the imagination and my thoughts started thinking about Home Depot.  I know weird...but what can I say I love the store, the smell and anything I come home with from there.  As I was thinking about it - I wondered how many other women love the store too, and I started to realize out of my circle I knew a lot of women that love it.  And let's be real - even if you are sending your man to do the shopping there aren't you as the women somewhere involved in what you expect the outcome to look like of whatever the project may be.  So what if...they decorated a Home Depot for women.  One of my favorite looks is an industiral chic look...concrete and chandeliers for example...wood and shiny metal...brocade patterns and something rustic...so I am thinking... pretty up the aisle signs, add chandeliers to the raftors, add some complimentary purple to the orange, score the concrete, add mirrors to aisle ends along with clearance ends (like at target - a woman loves a clearance item), and move paint, lighting and flooring to the front of the store and put the machines, tools, etc. in the back for eye appeal, I am not kidding the list goes on and on...
So if anyone knows any Home Depot executives - let them know there is a crazy girl in Dallas ready to decorate for them if they want to work on targeting their woman audience.

It's a Cloud 9 Day

I am on cloud 9 today...so many great things are happening and I just can't really believe I have gotten this far:

This morning I interviewed and it was confirmed that I will have a booth at the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market on April 16th!!!  Here is the link and if you are around Dallas - PLEASE COME.

I also just created my ETSY shop - there's nothing in it yet to buy, but I can't download those pictures here at work...so I have to finish that process when I get home and over the weekend. 

I have a ton of work to do in the next 16 days to be ready...but I welcome it all - I am so excited, happy and thankful. 

Back Yard Dreams

I do have to report that garage sales rock!!!  Cana and I were driving home from MOPS this morning and I passed a sign, then I thought about it and told myself I had to turn around - it is these moments that will keep me busy in the future...
Glad I did - this chair was tagged at $15 and I asked her if she would take $5 and I walked away with a new chair getting my way.  I have ideas for it...

Tomorrow will be at least partially committed to getting the backyard ready for the next phase - grass - which is coming next weekend.  This is the not fun step - leveling, digging, cleaning, etc., so I decided to dream rather than just dread the hard work...

Oh how I would love to decorate the finish product with any of the following West Elm back yards...

This one for the beach, the lanterns, and the straight clean lines of it.

This one because it feels so homey and inviting!

This one because - "hello orange candelabra."

    

Hated Spots

In our den - other living room - the back one - by the kitchen - I don't know what the technical word is for this space.  What do you call that space attached to your kitchen that is a room with couch and a tv?  It's been a debated topic in our home since we bought it.  Anyways, in that room, there is a spot I hate.  The builder had some logic behind (well I assume he did) putting the cable plug and the electrical outlets right in the middle of the wall.  I am sure it has something to do with hanging your tv, but if you go to that much design trouble (or laziness - I really dont know which it was in this case) why wouldn't you put something below where you could run your wires out and/or be able to plug things in that don't hang on the wall. 
So not being able to ever buy a TV large enough to sit on the console and cover the plugs - I have stared and loathed that spot - until now. 

I was sitting at work one day, much as I am right now thinking and reading through other blogs.  I saw a coffee table on one that had been redone, which made my mind drift to the coffee table I had to recently put in the garage because she just no longer had a place to sit in our house.  I was sad about her demotion but really truly no room.  I then started thinking ... what can I do with her - who needs her - etc.  Then it hit me - I immediately texted Jerod and said "I have a brilliant idea - we don't have to get rid of the coffee table."  IT was such a good idea I even told him I couldn't text it - it had to be in person.  I know - dramatic and silly, but sometimes I really don't want the greatness of an idea, the tone of a comment, or the beauty of a wall to be lost in a cell phone - in my sometimes crazy mind I think it will be received the way I want/expect it to be received if I just wait for the conversation or the real camera. 

So let me show you the idea of getting rid of Hated Spot #1 and using the coffee table...

First of all - meet the coffee table that served us so well.  We first got her in our uptown apartment because we didn't have room for a dining table in that place so my mother in law made this for us out of an old church door.  So cool - right?



Here you can see the leg and overall shape



Here you can see the top of it (and yes Harrison almost always comes for a picture).

It was big enough for us to eat at, work at, and it was durable.  It went with us to House #1, then to Jerod's studio away from home, then to House #2,  then to studio #2 and it is (was) still in great condition for a coffee table.

Here is the HATED SPOT...We didn't have any choice but to plug the cable in up there, but we were using the plugs on the side to plug everything else in so they weren't hanging from the center of the wall. 

I hung that huge loud picture on the side to try and draw attention over.  haha...I tried. 

 

And NOW....

There she hangs...in all her bronze and black silk glaze finish...

I sawed the legs, painted her and then Jerod worked his magic and did a perfect job of hanging her (straight I may add)!!!!!!

 

I am so happy with this cover up and I am falling in love with gold tones and bronzes.  So now that I like the furniture in the room, the tv wall, and it feels more complete - I got inspired yesterday to start working on the big blank wall next to this wall and really want to fill it with some sort of wall art bigger than what is there.  That project will come later this week...stay tuned as we finish the final details of the Starkey den, back living room, by the kitchen room, or whatever you want to call it.  (we even for awhile tried to call it underseas - since that was the sherwin williams name given to the walls - but we couldn't get that one to stick...)