pre-demolition*

here's a few pics of the house before all the paneling was taken down. it's kinda hard to differentiate between the rooms because EVERY single room had wood paneling. all walls will be replaced with drywall and will be painted this week. so i should have new pics with colorful walls soon. all the 70's carpeting will be removed as well. [thankfully!]

the kitchen is prolly my favorite room of all. i love these cabinets!

guest room

sewing room

half bath

den pic #1

den pic #2

bedroom

paper studio

full bath with the blue tub

confessions of self-professed packrat*

this is my studio. it's even messier that this now. to make things requires materials, supplies and the like. i've been collecting stuff for projects since i was a kid. i also have a hard time throwing away anything that can be useful. unfortuately, this can become a problem over time. i out grew my apartment over a year ago. i have been struggling to be productive in cramped quarters ever since. i can be organized, but with as much stuff/materials as i have that requires space, space i didn't have in my apartment.

instead of trying to find a bigger apartment in the less than affordable rental properites of new orleans, i decided to buy a house. i've been dreaming of owning my own house for years now. just think of it, complete control of your environment. i can paint the walls any color i like, drill holes for built in shelving, or drip paint on the floors in my studio if i so choose, because it's mine. i have big plans for this house, including two studios, one for sewing and one for paper/drawing/computer/ect... + print shop space, as well.

i will be the first to admit that i am a true packrat space-monger, so hopefully the 1250+ sqft will tide me over for a few years. right now construction and structural repairs are underway. next time i'll try to post a few pics documenting the changes being made.

the russian music box*

i made this as a present for my ex-boyfriend a couple years ago. it is made entirely from items i had lying around my house, with the exception of the copper wire.

my good friend carolyn gave me this mini disco ball a while back. it's has a tiny motor inside to make it rotate. it also has a short cord with a plug on the end made to fit into a singular bulb socket on a string of x-mas lights. i've always wanted to put this ingenious invention to good use. this was the end result, a double barrel music box/nightlight. i spent a month or two actually constructing it and a month prior contemplating design and such.

it has two wind-up music boxes in the back. one plays close to you and the other plays chim-chim-cheree. they sound really great when played simultaneously. one of the music boxes has a rotating spring that spins around.

here's a list of other recycled/household items used:
weighted stand for a drafter's desk lamp
scraps of matboard
paper, paper, paper
pipe cleaners
glitter
wire
glue
spray mount
thread (and sewing machine)
old russian novels
pom pom balls
short strand of x-mas lights
color pencils
ink
and a few other things i'm probably forgetting...

Nadine*

*nadine*

some of nadine's handy work.

so i just splurged and bought myself a new sewing machine for my birthday. loretta, my always dependable kenmore 30 stitch, is going on ten years now. she's been put through more than most domestic machines, and has always done good work, but even the best of us deserve a break. i've been wanting an industrial machine for a while now. i need a machine that can keep up with me and all my projects.

introducing nadine. nadine is a two-tone pink kenmore industrial made entirely of metal, a serious heavy weight. beauty and brawn, now that's what i'm talking about! the test stitches above are all i've had the chance to do, but new projects powered by nadine are on the way.