We started our garden this week. Our yard is going to need quite the make over (it hasn't been tended in over 10 years!) But that is the charm of it really. It's like having a secret garden....we're uncovering all sorts of wonderful things. We've had the kids out digging and planting and watering. A garden is magic to a child, and magic to me really. My Garden is a new book by Kevin Henkes (one of my children's illustrator hero's) and this couldn't be any more perfect for this time of year! So charming and sweet and simple. I absolutely love his illustrations....like I said...he's my favorite to admire. And the story is just as charming: this little girl imagines what her garden would be like if she could have it any way she wanted: and there are endless possibilities. I have this book standing upright on my desk and it's like having a bouquet of flowers right next to me. Happy reading and happy gardening!
The Tree Swing.
We moved in about a month ago, and the very first thing we did was put in a tree swing in the back. Well, not we exactly....my monkey husband who climbed 30 feet up a tree and even chopped off a huge limb (in his dress shirt and slacks mind you....it was that urgent!) to give the rope maximum swinging power. My kids have spent hours on this thing. It reminds me of this print, but with much more action. And it makes me so happy to see them swinging up to the sky without a care in the world. And somehow when I watch, I remember my carefree moments as a child, and realize that they aren't so far away. Better yet, they can still be had....mixed with the typical mothering-worries of course....but there are so many moments of bliss in every day. I am thankful for reminders from a tree swing.
ABC Things That Go
Don't you love how this print turned out over at 6th Street Design Studio? I love seeing how you all frame and display prints from the shop! She has great design ideas, and I can't wait to see more of her little boys room! I've got to finish the book before I do any fun re-do's in our new house....but I love these colors for a boys room.
Fabric.
I got something in the mail this weekend. I am so thrilled about some new items coming soon. Can you guess what this will be for?
Be a Rock Star.
I'm loving when my kids pretend to be rock stars. On most days, my kids are the experts on something...the top of their world. And so I ask myself....when was the last time I pretended I was a rock star? Not the spike your hair stiff kind (although that would be pretty wonderful) but a rock star at whatever I am doing at the moment. Like a rock star kitchen sweeper. Or a rock star laundry folder. Think about that. Aren't kids awesome? I learn the coolest stuff. Today is going to be a great day..... I am off to be a really cool rock star.
From the Archives: Golden Shoes.
This is a post from last year's Easter weekend. Moving has thwarted our festivities a bit, but The Country Bunny still remains a tradition.
This weekend we celebrated Easter, and it was our best yet. Easter egg hunts, cake decorating, a wonderful morning at church, candy eating, family gathering and really, really great memories.
One activity we did I think will turn into a yearly tradition: reading of "The Country Bunny and the Little Golden Shoes".
(If this book is new to you, here is the one sentence recap: A country bunny with 21 children to tend to, is able to maintain her status as one of the 5 Easter bunnies, because of her mothering skills in the home, and the extra help of a special pair of magical golden shoes. Message: As long as you always try your best, you will get the help you need to do great things.)
My children have read this before, and my husband and I grew up on this story. It is one of my ALL TIME favorites. But this year, we made it even more special.
On Easter Eve, we walked over to my Grandmother's house where she was waiting for us...ready to read her very own copy of this story (she is the Country Bunny to a "T"). She read it aloud in her own words (which we audio recorded) and then at the end, I pulled out a wrapped box with a real pair of golden shoes to hang up on the wall as a reminder of the amazing message in this book. The kids were tickled to think they had their very own pair to look at.
I wish I could have posted this before Easter, but alas...it was a last minute idea. I had bought a pair of old vintage toddler shoes at an antique store years ago, and I spray painted them gold. I laced them up with leather lacing, and VOILA. A family heirloom to pull out every Easter.
If you haven't ever read this book, you may be a bit confused. You need to go read it...it is worth reading ANY time of the year!
The Making of an Art Studio: Part 2
The last time we met in the studio, we were repainting the walls and floor. You can see here what the studio looked like before. It wasn't very lovely, and doesn't show the grotesque carpet we removed. But since then, it's a new place. We'll start with the floor. Isn't it so pretty?
So, for the art studio, we didn't want carpet. And since we were needing to remove it anyways, we looked at other hard floor options (so much easier to clean than carpet with all the art making going on!). I love white floors, so we looked at this option and I dreamily considered this option. But they each came with a steep price tag ($350 for installed laminate and at least triple for hardwood) and with the cement floor underneath (this room is in the basement) we thought, "Why not just paint the cement floors white?" So we did. And I am in love.....with my floors AND my husband since he did all the work. And it cost so much less (money, not time that is!).
How to Paint a cement floor
MATERIALS:
1. To rip up existing floor, if there is one: crowbar, hammer, pliers, razor, etc.
2. To get the surface ready: Mop, rags, etching solution, concrete patch, trowel, sand paper, vacuum (shop vac, or good home vacuum with attachment pieces), oil remover (if necessary), concrete sealant and primer.
3. To paint: 1 part Epoxy paint, good synthetic paint brush, roller with a good long handle.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS:
1. Rip up the existing flooring. Make sure to be meticulous about removing all nails, staples, and remnants from the cement. There will most likely be damage when you remove anything nailed or stuck to the floor, but that can be fixed later. Better not to hurt the floor, but carpet glue and floor boards can be nasty to get up, and can do a bit of damage.
2. Clean up any stains from oil or glue. Oil stains will show through the paint, and will eventually cause damage. So get rid of any oil stains first, being careful to allow plenty of time to dry and treat. Here is a great link with options for cleaning up oil stains.
3. Scrape off any unwanted surface material. We had large amounts of carpet glue that we had to scrape and scrub. Give yourself plenty of time to take care of this! It's super important if you want crisp and beautiful floors!
4. Fill any holes with concrete patch. Using a trowel, patch up any gouges or holes and allow time to dry. Sand down and refill if necessary to get your floor smooth and even.
5. Clean the floor with a vacuum and mop to remove all dust and dirt, and wipe up with a wet rag or mop. Allow plenty of time to dry (at least 24 hours). The floor has to be completely dry to paint. To check for any moisture, place a piece of plastic wrap on the floor, and weigh it down with something heavy. Let it sit overnight, and if there is any condensation on the plastic, you know you need more time. Give your room ventilation and a fan to speed up the process.
6.Tape off the floor by placing painters tape along the edges of the baseboards just where it meets the floor.
7.Treat the floor with an etching solution. This is possibly optional, but we read so many tutorials and never got a consistent answer about this step. The etching process treats the cement so that it can take the paint properly. We decided not to skip this step since we really didn't want to be doing this floor over again. It's not that hard. Just wipe the floor with the solution, and then make sure to wipe it up/vacuum it up according to the directions on the bottle. Allow time to dry.
8. Prime the surface of the concrete. We used this concrete primer and it worked great. Again, allow time to dry anywhere from 4-24 hours.
9. Paint the floor. This is the fun part! We used this paint with a white finish, but I suggest going to your local hardware store and finding what you need and talking with someone you can trust as you gather your materials. You can paint this just like you paint a wall: cutting the edges in first with a brush, and then rolling the paint on the main surfaces. Make sure to get a long handle to your roller, or you'll break your back! We used a 1 part epoxy because we were told that a 2 part epoxy has really toxic fumes, and needed proper ventilation, which with one window and because it was in the basement, we went with the 1 part epoxy paint. The difference is in the sheen, and how hard the surface is. Allow 24 hours for it to dry between coats.
10. Repaint as many times as needed. We painted 3 coats, and it looks perfect!
11. We didn't put a finish on the floor but I am told you can. We kept this a more matte finish with less sheen, but it cleans up really well! I love it!
Total Cost:$80
Concrete Patch: $10
Etch: $20
Primer: $25
Epoxy Sealer Paint $25
You can't beat 80 bucks on brand-new mess free floors! But be warned: It look a lot of TIME. Each process needs plenty of time to dry. I think the whole process took about a week of evenings. My husband is the greatest...Let me tell you!
Stay tuned to see the walls and more....I am cranking through my illustrations so there is nothing on the walls yet. Decorating will have to wait a few more days. But I am very much enjoying the space. White floors.....yummy.
The Lion is in.
New in the shop. More to come and join the new Retro Line.
Also, did you know you can get any image in the shop in a folded matte printed card? Yep. Just $3 for which ever design suits your fancy.
And don't forgt: great deal for CJANE readers this week! Free card of choice when you mention CJANE in your order.