The Good Olden Days

When I was about 10 years old I had a huge crush on a girl. Her name was Laura Ingalls Wilder and she lived 100 years ago. I loved every thing about her. Her home made clothes, her makeshift toys, her little log cabin in the big woods, her sod house on the banks of Plum Creek, her little dog Jack and even (or maybe especially) her meager Christmas presents delivered by Mr. Edwards from Santa Clause. She had a life full of adventure and simplicity that I coveted as much as 10 year old's today pine for an iPhone or a Facebook account. It seems I was not alone.

30. Years. Ago.

When I was a kid I wanted to be an artist. I had been considered "artistic" most of my life, hanging out in my room for hours drawing, walking over to J.K.Gill to admire the art supplies and watching over my mothers creative and talented shoulders as she sketched and painted. Art was something I loved to do, it gave me a place in the world and it began to define me. Being artistic is good cover if you are a shy, introverted, young girl, believe me! Quite possibly, the best artistic experience I have had in my life, and certainly the most fun was when I was in High School in a class called "Art Staff". Not just anyone could sign up for this class, portfolios were submitted and there was a selection process. I'm not sure how I pulled it off but at the time I actually had a "cool" friend who wanted to try out with me. She was beautiful, popular and could really draw. We both wanted to be in this elite group, we both entered our portfolios, we both waited for our acceptance letters, I got mine. I was sad for her but she was happy for me, these were really more my people then hers. To be in this class meant we were in charge of making banners for school events, designing and painting murals in the school hallways (I wonder if they are still there!!) and silk screening t-shirts and posters. It was fun, creative and sometimes hard work. I loved it! I have great memories of my 2 years on "Art Staff", but what I remember most is the feeling I got being a part of this class, of this very talented group of fellow artists, I felt like I belonged there, and it's part of what got me to where I am now. I know some of my fellow "Art Staffers" went on to careers in the art world, and I would like to think that my many years as a hairdresser, and my fewer years as a blogger, could be considered "art" as well!

A Mini Make-Over!

When school lets out and summer begins, I am always excited to spend lazy days with my children, going to the library, strolling to the store for fresh fruit and spending cool summer nights on the back deck with my wonderful husband, sipping margaritas. Ha! About 2 days in, I am racing off to work leaving a list of chores for my kids, while trying to figure out how I'm going to keep one of them occupied while the other is at camp, then coming home to discover that the library books are over due and I forgot to take anything out of the freezer for dinner! I love summer but summer is certainly not easier! My point is this: I have had very little time to work on any projects, visit Goodwill or blog about it! I did do a mini-make over on this college bound little dresser a few weeks ago. It was languishing in a spare bedroom at our lake house, getting little or no use. When my son moved to a smaller place I decided this could be the new home for this compact gem. My son is fairly immune to my many attempts at transforming cast off second hand furniture, so when I asked him how he would like me to overhaul this, and keeping in mind that it would likely end up stashed in a closet, he said it was up to me. So I pondered, and sanded, and pondered and primed and then just pondered. After being completely uninspired by anything I came up with, I decided to do a much smaller version of another dresser I had transformed. Can you steal an idea from yourself?