Hey sweet dear awesome people!! how are you? our trip to Alabama was AMAZING.. much needed.
I admit now.. it really was a good thing for our family. So I am happy we went! I shared pictures on instagram and facebook of the AWESOME place we stayed in
and I had tons of people email, message me and ask me where this place was and the info on it! I will do a blog post later this week about it.. so watch for it! I even managed to get a little creating in while there as well (yes I brought my paints! lol).. here is a peak of that.. (not finished yet)..
SOOO.. We have been back for a week and we are just CRAZY busy trying to get this house done! I don't know if I mentioned it to you all, we have a HUGE family reunion being hosted at our new/old house the week of July 4th! Last year when we purchased the house in May, we totally thought we would be in by Christmas.... haha. SO when my mom came to me and asked me if we could have the Hoggan/Campbell Family reunion summer of 2013 at our house during the week of the 4th, I said SURE! I would talk to Ben to make sure! Well during the same time, Ben's family had come to him and asked HIM if they could have their big Tomlinson Family reunion he said SURE TOO! So when we finally "met up" and talked about it.. we didn't know who to say yes to and who to say NO to.. so.. we suggested having ONE BIG family reunion. Now when I say big I MEAN BIG. As you know my parents divorced when I was young, and my mom remarried an awesome guy who also had 5 young kids, the SAME age of us 7 siblings. So when they married we had a family of 12 and then not soon after they added one more addition to the family. SO I am talking 13 siblings, of whom each all have an average of 4 kids ore more PLUS bens family.. and he comes from a family of 8 siblings as well, and some of them are older and have kids who have kids! So all in all, we have are planning for around 75-100! that is INSANE! Most are going to be camping on our property (we have 6 acres.. all of which are fully landscaped and have LOTS of places great to put a tent). ANd some with newborn babies and "the older" ones.. that can't sleep in tents are staying in our old/new house! Of course we had totally planned to be moved in for almost 6 months by now.. and had planned on moving our kids out in tents and freeing up their rooms for the family members who needed a room. BUt as you ALL know from numerous posts on Facebooks and instagram.. we ARE NOT moved in and are infact STILL finishing the house! lol.
So that is TRULY why I have been MIA. We used to have a goal to be moved in by the reunion.. anymore.. HONESTLy we are just hoping to have carpet down, beds in every room, bathrooms working and the kitchen working so every9one can take showers and we can eat during the reunion! lol. Oh and did I mention that next week I am hosting a Mini Retreat for my dear Friend Liz? here at my house too? I actually am BEYOND excited for this! liz and her mom and sisters are coming and we are going to create, eat and shop and possibly even do some surfing! SOO excited for this.. it's a good "getting my feet wet" before my big art retreat in September! can't wait!
Now can you see why I was so stressed about leaving for Alabama? Ben is just working SO hard. He leaves like at 7 am and doesn't get home until 1-2 am each day. Working ALL day long, hardly stopping to eat. He is a machine. He is doing everything himself, so it's taking time. I am helping by putting together lights, adding hardware to cabinets, running to town and getting paints, screws, whatever it takes so ben doesn't have to waste time going to town. I have also rolled up my sleeves and started getting familiar with the Nail gun and have officially completed two of the "wall" treatments we are doing in our home.
This is the first one I did.. first time using a nail gun.. it really was so easy I was shocked! (added wood to the back of the peninsula in our kitchen)..
The next one, I decided to pull allie in.. I even cut all the measured and cut all the wood needed, myself using the chopsaw! I didn't want to bother ben at all.. he is just working so hard! Allie and I ended up doing this wall, Allie actually nailed on the wall herself, while I cut pieces to fit. We made a good team!
I got the idea to do wood planks in our masterbath toilet room... on pinterest! I thought it would be SO simple and just add a fun little element to the room.. and I was right! I am in LOVE with it!
the left is the Pinterest Inspiration.. and the right is Allie's Wall!
Today I am going to be painting bathrooms, and tackling another "wall" treatment in our house. Another Wall that is getting wood planks, but this time doing a little different designs to it. It's in a "niche" that was created in the hallway to the new addition, when we had to take out a window in one of the bedrooms to add on. The outside of the house is brick, so through the hallway you see the exposed brick, but where the window was.. there is obviously sheetrock to cover the hole. SO instead of just doing painted sheetrock, we thought it would be fun to add a wood wall in the niche to really make the art we are putting in stand out! So that is what I will be doing today. It has to be done sometime and it somethings ben would normally have to do, so anything I can do to help him, is one step closer to us getting IN! lol.
It's probably not perfect but i am actually kinda excited to say I helped "build" the house.. not just design it. you know?
So.. please be patient with me over the next few weeks.. as I am probably going to be scarce.. we are just working day and night and morning and afternoons to have a functioning house for this massive awesome reunion we are in charge of :). (did I mentioned we are in charge of all the food, games and activities as well? yep! That is something we totally offered to do last year.. because ben and I LOVE to plan stuff like this.. so that is another thing we are trying to juggle in between everything). Ben has been busy getting the yard ready, as well as putting in games like a shuffle board, the ring game, mini golf stations, etc. He just wants to make this the best reunion ever. So we are working hard to make sure it is.. AND be in our home at least sleeping on mattresses by the time it comes lol.
Before I leave to go help ben, I did want to tell you about some summer online classes going on! WHICH by the way.. some of you have been emailing asking me if I plan on doing one.. and the answer is YES.. but it will be in mid to late July! So watch for that :).
But in the meantime here are some other fabulous courses you can do to keep your creative juices flowing this summer!
First off is my dear awesome amazing True.. Margie! She is.. HANDSDOWN.. the most creative person I know when it comes to re-purposing things for your home! She loves creating unique decorations from Dollar store finds, thrift finds and things just around the house!! You will be blown away by what she makes! Her class is called "Spark your Summer!"
it includes home decorating ideas for the 4th of July..
Nautical Themes BBq's
AND vintage Style Tea Parties! it's going to ROCK! You can JOIN here!
Spark your Summer!
The next class is from the BRILLIANT Junelle Jacobson! SHe is doing a summer class spin off of her "spring" class called " Wild Art Summer".
It's totally what we expect from Junelle, amazing gorgeous mixed media art and watercolor, to inspire you for the summer! (love the camper!!). You can Sign up for her class here!
The last class.. or classes.. is a series of classes the my dear friend and true.. Jeanne Oliver is doing with some of her creative friends! It's called Creativley Made Home Summer Series
Each week is a new class and they are just mini classes, but ALL so fun and different! From sewing, to making Santos Dolls, Jewelry to painting mixed media. Totally a fun mix of awesome classes to take through the summer! You can find out all about on her ning website, which is FREE to join and an awesome art community!
And speaking of Ms. Jeanne Oliver.. I had the pleasure of being interviewed by her recently.. for her Creativity takes Courage series! It's a video interview and she asks me about my business, how I got started, how I do what I do, about licensing, online classes and more! So make sure you come check that out too.. it is also on her ning website.. and you can find the direct link here! Creativity Takes Courage!
So.. that is what I am up to and all of my creative friends are up to as well!
SUPER crazy busy, but excited and full of energy! My fibro has been giving me fits here and there, but for the most part.. TOTALLy being controlled by hots baths, epson salt, oils and my Meds. Which is a GREAT thing! Summer is ALWAYS good for my fibro.. it just is.. I long for summer all year long lol.
I will be back later this week to share with you the place we stayed in ALabama AND next week I PROMISE I am doing my blog post on the stuff that has been helping me with my fibro!
thanks for sticking with me.. I know it takes effort and you guys are AMAZING!
OH!! and one more announcement! I will be listing some NEW original Art in the etsy store next week and so wanted to give you the heads up! I will send out an email reminder so watch for it!
Happy monday friends!
xoxoxo
Nice work! I bet that place is really starting to come together now. When I moved into a new place and it seemed really sparse I found small additions like hall way runners or paintings really could make a big difference right away
Posted by: Sean Carter | July 12, 2013 at 08:13 AM
Good luck with the remodel & the reunion! Love that bathroom wall!
Posted by: Eniko DeLisle | June 11, 2013 at 10:38 AM
I am teaching an online class this summer too! Summerscapes with my artist friends Blenda Tyvoll and Jan SChmuckal and we are creating are favorite summer landscapes in watercolor, oil and mixed media! (do links work here? http://www.miriamschulmanstudio.com/online-art-classes.html )
Am loving all the art supplies from the fundraiser kits especially the borders and the papers. Incorporated those into my latest peacock collage.. hope to have it posted on etsy soon.
enjoy summer with family-- how lucky you are to have such a large one.
xo Miriam
Posted by: Miriam Schulman ( SchulmanArt) | June 11, 2013 at 08:55 AM
My Fibro loves summer too! So excited to see the house when it is done!! Hang in there!
Posted by: Allison G | June 10, 2013 at 11:22 PM
Christy, I am totally amazed by your energy and enthusiasm! You are unbelievable...I love it! I can't wait to see photos of your new/old house when it is finished. The reunion sounds huge and so much fun. Only you and Ben would attempt something of this magnitude in the middle of renovating your house.
xo
jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | June 10, 2013 at 10:37 PM
P.S. forgot to thank you for the most educational, fun, inspirational, etc etc She Art 3 class. I just took a class with Dina Wakely drawing faces and without She Art 3 I would have been so embarrassed. I love what I have created from your class and cannot wait for another. I will patiently wait until you have the time to do another, and another, and........Have a wonderful summer.
Posted by: sue schultheis | June 10, 2013 at 08:38 PM
Who could be upset with YOU?? Now is a time that is all about Christy and her family (and extended family). Everything will be done, the reunion will be phenomenal and your new/old home will be lived in and cozy before you know it. Enjoy.
Posted by: sue schultheis | June 10, 2013 at 08:35 PM
Hey Christy,
You are truly an inspiration!! I am so excited for you and your family and the upcoming family reunions. Your blog, store, classes, etc. are so fun and encouraging and there's so much to learn. Thanks for sharing so generously.
Posted by: Lori Follis | June 10, 2013 at 07:17 PM
Thanks Christy! Love the wood panel bathroom wall.
Posted by: ursula wollenberg | June 10, 2013 at 04:48 PM
You just make us feel like family! I am sure your reunion will make the history books - it sounds amazing and I know everything will fall into place. Hope you will be able to slow down a bit, relax and enjoy every minute of it.
Posted by: Julie Yonge | June 10, 2013 at 04:23 PM
CHRISTY, CHRISTY, CHRISTY...WHERE ARE YOUR SAFETY GLASSES? Mother Hen Candice is shouting over the nail gun. You and Ben be careful in your rush to finish everything. Hand everyone a tool when they arrive for the reunion - LOL
Eager to see the results.
(I posted a variation of this before but it didn't show up, so if this now shows up twice, I apologize!)
Posted by: Candice Schwark | June 10, 2013 at 04:06 PM
Good luck with the house- I have been there and it is totally worth it in the end! (Yes really). Also, I got my fundraiser packets in the mail and they are AWESOME. They were a great idea and so much fun to get.
Posted by: Pam | June 10, 2013 at 02:21 PM
Oh cool! I saw you pin that. lol Great to see them in action! Good luck with with everything! Whew - busy start to summer for sure. Thanks for the class leads.
Posted by: Carrie/scrapchick | June 10, 2013 at 01:28 PM
You rock, just make sure you are taking care of yourself and not having any Fibro episodes if you can help it??? Thinking of you always, HUGS! Kristin
Posted by: Kristin Townsend | June 10, 2013 at 01:24 PM
Thanks for sharing the pic of the bath. I am remodeling an older home too. I think that wall would look great in my master bath. Good luck on finishing the house.
Posted by: Ellen | June 10, 2013 at 12:56 PM