HINTS AND TIPS

I would like to pass along some great hints and handy tips to enhance your design projects .

One of my favorites comes from my mentor, Kenneth Brown. He has preached for years the many uses of painter’s blue tape. Not for painting projects…..but for the placement of wall hangings and furniture arranging.

It is so simple…

You put the tape on the wall in the size, shape and number of wall hangings you are thinking of using. This saves unneeded holes in the wall and also allows you to visualize the proportions of the arrangements. You add, delete or move the tape as needed …..no extra HOLES in the wall!

The other and more cost saving use is putting the tape on the floor, the size of the furniture you are thinking of, and where you wish to place it. You can actually see how the pieces will “fit” in the room and how the proportions work. You can "see" and "walk around" the pieces ....allowing you to decide what your purchases should be. Think of the money you can save!

In the room pictures of our new home, you see MANY drapery panels!!! I discovered a fabulous find!

While looking for window treatments, I browsed through my Ballard Design Catalog. I wanted to have panels at each and every window throughout the house.... and I wanted them… all the same! My thinking …unify the space and have one room flow into the next. Our floor plan is open and chopping up window treatments would detract.

Ballard Design has a section called “The Ballard Essentials“. Under Ballard Essential “Panels” are Rod pocket panels, which I chose, and Grommeted panels. They come in three lengths--- 84” , 96” and 108” and are 54” wide. The choices of fabrics and colors are many including velvet, twill, linen and quilted cotton. AND ….THEY ARE LINED!!! BUT THE BEST FEATURE IS THE PRICE…….starting at $35 a panel. The quality and workmanship is tops and I have yet to see where you can find anything to compare. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the market for drapery panels.

www.ballarddesigns.com

Enjoy, and I hope these ideas will help in your next design project…..
Patty

THE FINAL RESTING PLACE.....

ITS TEMPORARY HOME FOR TWO MORE WEEKS

IT’S SEPTEMBER

All the entries are in ….. 21.… That’s fabulous. Now we just wait to see who “hits” it on target, or who comes closest!

Meanwhile, Master Carpenter is in the next phase………..Paint! I have to say this is not his best, or favorite thing to do! The enthusiasm is not as high as it was in the planning and construction phase.

Master Carpenter has a second passion…some will be surprised! He’s now a farmer! His first “crop” was picked yesterday!

I am working on a mini project. The “order” is in and UPS is in control right now… Nothing spectacular…..but an old favorite! To all my “family” readers, do you have any guesses as to what it might be?

Watch the hit numbers and “Good Luck” !!!

Patty

FIRST A PRIMER, SAND IT, THEN THE REAL PAINT....NOT A FAVORITE JOB!!

THE FIRST OF THE "KILLER TOMATOES"

SLOW BUT SURE……..

It’s been a few days since I checked in. Master Carpenter has been very busy, participating in a chess tournament, day trip to Atlanta, nights of Mexican Dominoes and Hand and Foot Canasta and Geocaching. It’s amazing how busy you become when you retire!

We have been asked “how” did the materials appear in our garage! Well, you don’t think Kermit was the transport …do you? The secret is revealed. The “big box” hardware stores have all the solutions for the Master Carpenters out there in the DIY world!

I did a little rearranging of the furniture in the great room yesterday. It was about time……it’s been three months! I’m now able to have my desk/office in the great room so I can enjoy all it’s beauty! Actually, it’s a better set up because I don’t have to remove the laptop every time we need the island or the dining table. When the project is finished I’ll show what I changed. Who knows, it could get tweaked a little before that!

The contest is coming along …..so far we have 18 Entrants!!! That is amazing! Thank you all……….but then when a prize is involved the excitement goes up a few notches! For those who haven’t entered, remember the cut off is August 31st.

Enjoy the progression …..oh by the way, Master Carpenter doesn’t know it yet, but the next project is forming in my fertile mind!

WHAT WELL-DRESSED "MASTER CARPENTERS" ARE WEARING THIS SEASON

GOTTA GET IT DELIVERED AND RETURN IN 75 MINUTES

THE PROJECT MOVES ALONG

IF ALL ELSE FAILS...READ THE MANUAL!

MEASURE TWICE ..CUT ONCE.


Scroll down to add your comments....sorry about the space!

CONTINUATION OF "OPERATION BUILT-IN"

THE LUMBER ARRIVES

CHECKING OUT THE NEW "TOYS"

PRACTICE SESSION....PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

OUT WITH THE OLD!!!

OFF WITH THE MOULDING...WE ARE NOW COMMITTED!!!

HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS?

A BLANK CANVAS TO WORK WITH IN THE DEN

BLOG CONTEST

The response to a "Contest" with a "Prize" has taken off..........

After consulting my Technical Advisor and Chief Supporter, and now, Master Carpenter, Emil, we have come up with a format for the contest.

Here is how it will work.......

The person who guesses the DATE of the 5000 "hit" to the blog will win. All you need to do is make a COMMENT ( where the little pencil is) at the end of THIS blog entry. Put your name and the date for your guess for the 5000 blog entry.

All entries must be in by August 31, 2009

Simple..........

And remember.... there will be a Prize. I know my readers and you love prizes..............so have fun and Enjoy

Patty

CONTEST ENTRIES

CLAIRE OCT 14
PATCH DEC 14 (1414 HOURS OR 2:14PM)
CAROL NOV 26
MK SEP 29
MAGGIE JAN 5
ERICA JAN 19
PATTI McD SEPT 19
BARRY M SEPT 18
BOB D DEC 4
PAM D OCT 28
SUE W NOV 14
PAT W OCT 31
HELEN M NOV 1
MARK McD NOV 22
LINDA W FEB 2
ELLIE S FEB 14

CARLA D NOV 15
AP (ANGELA) D NOV 9
STEVE D NOV 30
MEREDITH NOV 6
HENRY (HAPPY)W JAN 7
PHIL TILDEN NOV 23
JOAN AND CHUCK G SEPT 11

ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Loyal Readers,

There are two huge events coming up.....

First, we are at 3356 hits on the blog!!! That is an unbelievable accomplishment. I never dreamed we would ever reach this number, let alone so quickly!!

To celebrate this monumental celebration I will start watching very closely the hits. As soon as the 5000 hit appears..................the first reader to comment on this fantastic number will receive a token of my appreciation...... So keep checking out there.........1644 to go!!!!

The Second huge event is that September 31 this blog will have it's FIRST BIRTHDAY !!

I want to thank you ALL for taking the time out of your busy lives to read my thoughts and ideas. I hope, over the past year, I have inspired you to enjoy design and that you have tried new things to adorn your homes and lives. The other day I heard someone relate that we change our hair, clothes and appearances.......why not apply that same theory to our homes. Makes sense to me............................the spaces we live in contribute to our overall approach to life!

Thank you again and keep checking.............

MASTER HANDYMAN AT WORK!

Today we started our new project. First step, always first step…… trip to Lowe's!

Emil headed out early in the day and was back with all his materials in less than an hour. That is a record!

I hope to “document” as much as I can. That way you can see how the Master Carpenter does his magic!

WORK COMMENCES

OOPS...DRILL BATTERY RECHARGING...BREAK TIME!!

EUREKA!! FIRST STEP COMPLETED!!!

THINGS ARE BREWING

It's mid August .....it's hot.....

BUT.....

My mind is popping with ideas!

Nothing concrete, nothing I can describe, nothing I can show...

I will reveal that Emil and I have been "working" on something grand!!! In a week, or so, I should be able to pass along what our project is. It's a BIGGIE !! Will take my "Carpenter" some time to construct. Now, here's a clue!! Have tools will build!!

We are in the planning stage as I write. That means... lots of adjustments, redesigning and "discussions" to come. I might have to take pictures as the "project" goes through the different stages .

In the past week, we did finish the frames for the "builder" bath mirrors, but we are waiting for the "finishing" touch before pictures can be published!!! That special touch is a secret and very hush..hush !! No...no...no clues here!

Do I have you on the edge of your seat?
Stay tuned...........

ANNIVERSARY BASH

Where do I begin……the weekend was full of
GREAT family, love, and fabulous camaraderie….

The pictures only relate bits and pieces of the event. The real, feelings, and love are impossible to show.

Steve, Angela and Tess were the first to arrive on Wednesday afternoon. We had an old fashioned dinner, at home, that evening. It was perfect! Intimate and close….a great start to the wild events of the following days. Thursday, they rested and enjoyed the pool at the hotel. In the late afternoon, the five of us headed out for a “Farmers Market” that Steve was recommended as a MUST. We drove around for over an hour and finally found it. …..the peaches and tomatoes were worth the search! We then enjoyed an Italian dinner at a restaurant Emil had heard great things about. A very quaint setting and a great meal.

Friday the gang started to show up…..Bobby, Carla, Patti, Mark, Maggie, Happy, Pat, MK, and Max arrived!!!!! Everyone, except for Happy, followed Emil’s explicit directions. Somehow, Happy lost a page! We all connected and caught up with all our lives…. then the 14 of us headed out to “I Love NY Pizza” for …you guessed it…pizza.

Saturday, Bobby, Sue, Claire, Erica and Adam arrived……the BASH was officially started! We spent the day eating…………..hamburgers, cheeses, steaks, corn on the cob, grilled zucchini and egg plant, pasta salad, etc. PLUS…… the Wedding Cake AND………..A Special Birthday Cake for MK’s 18th Birthday………AND thoroughly having a ball!!!!

The day ended with a number of the family playing some fun, crazy, (very quiet) game, called: LCR.

Some side notes:

Tours on Kermit around our grounds were conducted for two days. Everyone enjoyed the ride and the scenery. Kermit is exhausted and is resting……..



For months…our “darling” children have plotted and planned a “This is Your Life” presentation. They had conference calls, individual calls, shopping excursions and mail-order duties…….and finally Friday and Saturday, rehearsals at the hotel! We were absolutely taken back with the entire, loving, though devious, event! I never knew they didn’t like Hamburger Helper (5 nights every week).. Or .. Taking out The Atlas, meaning their lives were about to be turned upside down with a new assignment, was their worst nightmare!

We also have some new items ..with more to come

Next week we plan to purchase a TV for our kitchen (thanks in part to a gift card). We need a larger screen because the one we have is a “little” small for our “old” eyes. Hey, going from 14” to 24” is a big deal!!!

In Oct/Nov we will enjoy a wonderful joint Birthday Dinner in a fabulous Atlanta restaurant… Have been drooling over the menu! That will be a special treat!

Believe it or not, we have created a new “room”
to our home. We had a screened porch with two chairs, now we have a ROOM with a sofa, coffee table, area rug, along with the original two chairs, herb planter and touches of color with flowers. Might get a fan…depends on whether Emil can tolerate the “draft”! He’s not a fan person. Usually feels uncomfortable when he’s under one. Believe it or not he has been known to wear a sweat shirt, with hood, in the middle of summer!!

We are able now to enjoying music with our iPod! We have it set up, with the speakers, so we both can enjoy listening to it . I actually have turned off Fox News during the day…….. And when we entertain, we can have mood music. How Grand!

To my complete surprise …Carla and Bobby were able to get back a very treasured and meaningful item of jewelry. It’s Emil’s VPI miniature Class Ring that he gave me on our First Anniversary …long, long story… but thank you for all your hard work and persistence. I am so happy to have it on my finger once more.

AND…

We have Erica’s new art piece!!!

Everyone was so, so, generous with gifts. We truly didn’t expect anything and received so much!!!!

(Even Kermit received some gifts!)

Thank you all ..we love you…..how about 2011 !!!!

A SMALLER VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL

THE FLORIDA CREW ARRIVE

1 + 1 = THIS!!!

OUR "NEW ROOM"

DANCING TO "OUR SONG" ON THE IPOD

BOB AND CARLA RECAPTURE OUR "LOST" VA TECH MINIATURE RING

ERICA'S PAINTING IN A PLACE OF HONOR

KERMIT ALSO RECEIVED PRESENTS

STEVE, ANGELA & TESS ARRIVE

THE MCDONALDS ARRIVE

BOB & CARLA ARRIVE

ERICA & ADAM ARRIVE

THE THREE CONSPIRATORS

OUR GREAT ROOM BECOMES A BANQUET HALL

STEVE, BOB AND PATTI

BOB AND SUE ARRIVE

BROTHERS BOB AND HAP (HENRY)

CLAIRE FLEW IN FROM CALIFORNIA JUST FOR THE "BASH"

BABY HAS A NAME

After viewing the following you will understand how we arrived at our baby's name..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco

PLEASE WELCOME......"KERMIT"......TO OUR FAMILY