Looking Back

and Moving Forward 

2013 

a year in review

First a quick shot of my buffet for Christmas this year.

I didn't get it finished. I got sick and gave up.

(I didn't have Christmas dinner at my house)

That white tree in the foreground is a white feather tree given to me by my sister.

I got it just a day or two before Christmas so it didn't get decorated but I'll be anxious

to do it up next year!

That little white tree fence was given to me last year by MVL reader....Belinda.

Hi, Belinda!

So...

I've succumbed to peer pressure....

Everyone is listing all their accomplishments of the last year during this last week of 2013.

I thought I'd list what I got done too.

I'm afraid it was far less than I intended.

I did not get any major projects done but let's review anyway.

January started out with my Mom recuperating from her heart valve surgery in my back bedroom.

see post here

Today, she is 100%. That was a great start to the new year but a slow start for me and projects.

I gathered up some vintage pink doilies to make a table runner for Valentine's Day.

see post here

I made a lampshade and pillow and dressed up the guest bedroom with a vintage headboard.

see post here

Warm weather took me outside on the deck where I fashioned a chandelier out 

of outdoor led candles and a birdcage.

see post here

Harvey has been on a big time diet this year. This photo was taken in July. He's lost more weight since then.

Some of you noticed in his Christmas tree decorating photo how thin he is.

more photos to come....this one was in low light. 

He's just about reached his goal weight but he is hungry all the time.

He follows me around the house and demands to be fed.

This summer I did a little painting including this dog portrait for a fellow blogger...

see post here

That's Kelly's little Emmett from My Soulful Home.

I made a fun umbrella slipcover for my outdoor umbrella.

see post here

Fixed up a Goodwill lamp and made a burlap lampshade and interchangeable lamp jewelry.

see post here and here

In the fall I made lots of sweater pumpkins

see post here

and scary little flying bats

see post here

For Thanksgiving I sewed up a burlap table runner and gave instructions on how to make one for yourself.

see post here

During the fall...I was busy painting my living room.

Lamps.com sent me a pretty lamp to review and it was my first photography 

of the living room's new color - Sherwin Williams: Shoji White.

see post here

For Christmas I made lots of little bottle brush trees and included directions.

see post here

You can see the new living room color in these photos.

The day I posted photos of these trees it was cloudy so the photos were not as bright as I would have liked.

So I took a few more photos today in the sunlight.

There....that's the ugly truth...those chippy windows.

Still to be painted. First thing on list for 2014.

And the room badly needs drapes.

Another shot of the wall color. More chippy woodwork.

Did I tell you that the piece of furniture I was going to make into a potting bench has

ended up in that far corner? 

The dresser I had there before was too small and this piece

is just right. 

So its going to get painted soon and stay.

I think.

Last year...in January I brought this ottoman home. 

Now, Pier 1 has a new fabric choice in this style.

A solid linen in a color called parchment.

I'll be selling this one and have already got the new one on order.

I wanted a solid when I bought this one and was going to slipcover.

Now I don't have to.

Sometimes it pays to procrastinate.

sometimes....

but rarely

I've got lots I need to get done this year

Here is a new list...

Paint the windows in the living room and dining room and all woodwork.

Paint the dining room to match the living room.

Make drapes for the living room and dining room

paint the shutters I have in the dining room

get the salvaged piece of carrera marble I've got in my car cut for my kitchen island top

find a new piece of furniture to use as a potting bench cause I brought that piece inside and 

and like it in the corner of my living room

paint that piece of furniture for my living room

paint my french dresser which I am now using in the dining room

fix up a mirror that is on that chest

get the thermostat fixed on the oven

fix the garage door...make it work and look better

Paint the front door

Those are just the musts!

There are plenty of other things I just want to do.

And projects that will just come up.

Oh...and I need to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life!

Here's to a full and busy and productive 2014!

Happy New Year!

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