Blogging Break

I'm taking a blogging break for a few weeks. I'm in the process of moving, as mentioned in the previous post. So we're busy painting and cleaning, and packing and more deep cleaning. So I will be back then. I will also have pictures of the painted rooms and hopefully a slew full of finished crafts!

Happy February!

Wall paper madness!

 Yesterday was the first of many BIG days on tackling the Condo! Above is the lovely wallpaper that seemed to govern the home! It's quite loud and made the kitchen a little dark (to say the least).

 My hubby and brother getting the wall paper steamer ready, and pulling out the stove and fridge.

 The master bath. It's a purpleish periwinkle!

 My awesome sister hard at work!

 After one coat. We used Behr paint w/ primer.  It's super thick and goopy for sure. But, we only needed two coats (not quite an entire can of paint).

 The boys again hard at work!

 My hard working man!

 Me working the steamer.

 What it looked like at our feet. It was a huge mess! Always think not twice, but at least ten times before putting up wallpaper!!!

 The second bedroom was a dark purple/brown color. It looked small and like a cave.

 My wonderful sister again. We also used paint with primer for this room.

My heroic hard working parents!

So we arrived at 12:15. Got the steamer up and going at almost one. My brother and sister, and parents came to help. My siblings had to leave earlier for work, but my parents stayed until we got one coat up in the second bedroom. They finished the master bath! My hubby and I stayed until 7:15. We finished steaming at about 6:50, because 1) the areas left were not reachable by the steamer (ie under the windowsill) 2) My in laws watched our two little children throughout this whole time! 3) we couldn't do anymore! We were so exhausted! Our arms ached. However waking up this morning, it's not my arms, it's my back!

So, wall paper is awful! We didn't do the dinning room. That'll be for another day! Still left to do:
2nd coat in 2nd bedroom
upstairs pink/mauve bathroom*
master bedroom
touch up base boards and trim
pink and yellow loft*

*will have to wait until after we move in, we have to pack too!

Jeffrey Hale Fine Art

Jeffrey Hale Fine Art now has limited edition prints available at Ugallery's Paperworks!
Here's January's newsletter from Ugallery.com

Greetings Art Lovers, We welcome you back from the long holiday weekend with two prints that ooze exactly what the subject line proclaims - humor and class. Yeah baby. Jeffrey Hale adds some sophistication to our Papework collection with his Modigliani-esque portraits. This piece, "Lonely", captures one of Jeffrey's co-workers with the long mask-like faces, bold colors and elongated features reminiscent of the Italian painter. I had the opportunity to interview Jeffrey last April, and he's had a special place in my heart ever since. He told me about the art world in Salt Lake City, his unique take on color theory ("I don't agree with the concept that only certain colors are aesthetically pleasing together."), and his two young children that take up much of his time. He's a genuinely good guy, and we're proud to have him and his belissima artwork as part of our Paperwork community. Next up this week is Charlie Cawley, a Paperwork veteran contributing his second piece to the site. Charlie is a weird guy, and that's what we love about him. He embraces the quirkier side of life from within the frames of his camera lens. Many of Charlie's shots document humorous or surreal scenes that he spots from the window of his car. When I asked about "Caught!", Charlie responded: "sometimes I feel more like a hunter of images than I do a photographer." I loved that idea. Without futher fuss, enjoy the art and the rest of your short week. Artfully yours, Bailey

Lonely by Jeffrey Hale 8"x10" $20 | 11"x14" $50 | 16"x20" $100 | 20"x30" $250 | 30"x40" $500 This painting captures one of Jeffrey Hale’s co-workers. Jeffrey works as a medical data processor by day, and he relishes the opportunity to meet and interact with people through his job. With monochromatic colors and a sparse background, “Lonely” is a very personal painting for Jeffrey, a “self-reflection and my present experiences in life.” Jeffrey lives in Salt Lake City but grew up in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, with wife, his young son and daughter. Caught! by Charlie Cawley 8"x10" $20 | 11"x14" $50 | 16"x20" $100 While living in St. Petersburg, Florida, Charlie Cawley drove past this scene everyday. Each time, he "caught" this fish in the metal ring which had once been a street sign frame. Charlie grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife and two dogs. His work has been shown at the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego, the University of New Mexico Museum in Albuquerque, the Florida Holocaust Museum, the Gregg Museum at NC State University and is in the permanent collection at the St Petersburg Museum of Fine Art in St Petersburg, Florida. He has a BFA from the University of New Mexico and is the author of The Adventures of Charlie and the Incredible Truth Machine.

Quick Cards

 Lately, I really like small cards. They're quick, and they're great for gifts for showers, weddings, things where you don't want to write a whole lot, or need something quick.  These cards are all 3x3 and take just a couple of minutes to make.

Paper Giveaway

Core'dinations is giving away new coordination paper stacks! 

Go to this link for a chance to win: 

http://pages.email.darice.com/coredinations/p?eKey=BluFcigel0cdtElF0XSgE

Color of the Year

 Image credit: Pantone

I Love watching the styles of color for fashion and home. And for 2011 the color of the year is Honeysuckle. I love it. I won't be using it in my home, but I'm eager for a shirt in the color, and looking out for some fabulous fabrics for new necklaces and flowers in this color. So do you love the new color? To see the color and learn more, check out the link.

Honeysuckle-Color of the Year

Valentine Cards

I haven't ever been really into Valentine's Day. I have a few decorations, but was into it as a kid, but grew out of it fast. Not because my card boxes never won prizes in class, but the commercialization of it all. The day where you have to say I love you, when if you have someone to say it to, you really want to say it every day. And where you're supposed to buy roses and get a fancy dinner reservation. It's always meant more to me to do it on a random day, not on FEBRUARY 14th because you have to and that's what you do. Anyway, I'm shifting, just a little, but back into the fun part for my kids. I bought clearance Valentines for the kids (I have for years, you can buy them now, for 2.50, or in a month for 25 cents) and actually want to make some Valentine cards.  So here's a couple.

 This is using a simple watercolor technique. After coloring the cakes in w/ markers. Take a damp paint brush and lightly touch the pictures to give a fancier feel.

I like the non traditional colors here. Just something elegant.



So Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Stupid Cupid Day!

So Many Colors

At the end of next month, we're moving out of our small apartment to a family owned Condo.  Before moving in, we are tearing down 2 wall papered rooms, and repainting almost all of it. Since we are not home owners, this is exciting that we can do a little choosing.

We picked paint yesterday. All of it is going to be the same color with the exception of one bathroom we're not repainting, and the kids bedroom we're painting a very light blue.
 I went to the paint store and spent time narrowing it down. I already knew what I wanted, so it made the process much easier.  I picked the one I liked best, and another top two. Then texted my mom with the one I wanted. She then went to the store. She ended up picked the SAME three that I did! I just think that so cool that we choose the same colors!

The final choice is Behr 740C-2 "Cozy Cottage"

Pictures soon to follow!

Christmas Cards

Don't throw out those old Christmas Greeting Cards! Well, maybe just the cheesy ugly ones! Cut off the back and throw or recycle that, but keep the picture! They make for great Christmas Tags! Use the whole front, or maybe a snippet or a shape, but their pretty pictures, glitter, shine and Christmas sentiments are great to go on top of a present!

I meant to take a picture of all the ones we have (my mom is brilliant and has been doing this for a long time!), but alas you'll have to do with the stack of cards after taking them off the back of the front door! 

Happy New Year!


~Katie