Studio!

It only took about two years, but I finally cleaned out the attic and carved out my studio space.


I hate that it is this hideous green, but I'm too lazy to paint it right now. Some day I'll paint it, but the kitchen is still teal and much more urgent (but notice I'm not painting it NOW so it's not that urgent.)

I have some Jen Oaks art up there! And the saloon sign was my Grandpa Ed's. I can't make myself part with it, even if it is tacky.

Here is the view a bit further back, from the top of the stairs.


First, we need NEW light fixtures. Just some plain dome ones but that hold two light bulbs instead of one. That will help immensely--it's so dark up there. I want to get some kind of attractive storage bins to set on the metal shelves, but until then it is holding just empty USPS boxes. I also want a rug and an easy chair. (I'll put it where the junk is to the bottom right corner of this pic.) I will sit in it and knit. We put our old TV up there, so I can watch the Cubs until doomsday and Dirk won't care.

Eventually when we buy a new computer I'll put a it next to the window and have an all-purpose design studio, not just for sewing and knitting.

It's a giant work-in-progress but for now I can at least sew and not feel like I'm surrounded by moving boxes and trash. Woo hoo!

Town Hall for Hope

As many of you know, I am a big fan of Dave Ramsey. We followed his plan and payed off over $20,000 of debt in the last two years. I listen to his radio show every day where he tells it to you straight.

On April 23rd he is doing what I think is a GREAT idea, he is hosting a "Town Hall for Hope" where he will explain what's going on with the economy in REAL terms, not using the scare tactics that the media uses to boost ratings and incite fear. He is going to answer questions and help us truly understand.

Here is a blurb from his facebook page:

• Tired of hearing the fear, doom and gloom that’s filling the airwaves? Join Dave Ramsey for an intimate, nationwide town hall meeting and discover what’s happening with the economy, how we got here, and where we’re going. Plus, Dave will answer your questions live throughout the event!
• Join us for this free event April 23 at 8:00 p.m. EDT in one of the thousands of venues across the country as we stand together to reignite the fire of hope!

The best part? IT'S FREE! There are a lot of churches in my area hosting the event, and one I'm familiar with--Edmond Church of Christ. We'll be there.

Click here for more information:


Go! Get informed! Learn what's going on in our world so we can avoid situations like this in the future. I am excited!!

Dining Room Finished

I chose to paint my dining room "Red Velvet Cake" a color from Martha Stewart's collection at Lowes.

So here is the after photo:



And what will go on the red wall? Mirrors! I'm trying to collect a bunch of different shaped mirrors to hang up. Today I managed to find four decently priced ones to go with the two I already have. The most I paid was $20, for the large round one.


I plan on using the greenish-blue that is in the bottom left mirror as an accent color in the curtains, when I get around to finding some. :)

The bathroom is also finished, but it still needs a shower curtain and rug. I'll post photos someday.

Meanwhile I am cleaning up plaster dust from all the sanding Dirk had to do to repair the arch way, that stuff is EVERYWHERE!

HELP

I need help figuring out what color to paint my dining room!

Here is a video tour:


My dining room. from rachel o'donnell on Vimeo.

Dirk just announced that he hates purple. I wasn't going to do PURPLE purple, but a deep plum, but if he hates it... now I'm back to square one.

I want a wall of mirrors on the big wall across from the windows. I have a few old mirrors I've collected and cleaned up. I needs help!

Product Review Sunday!

For those of you who have cats or dogs that shed, then you have got to try the Pledge Fabric Sweeper.

I saw a commercial for one and thought I'd give it a try. IT WORKS! It's like a mega lint roller that picks up pet hair, but it's not a sticky roller. There is nothing to tear off and through away, it collects the hair in the handle. I was SO impressed. Sophie doesn't shed at all, but Sam is a hair machine and it's always all over my couch, but this thing swept it up in about 3 minutes.

It's under $5, and they say you just throw it away when it gets full, but I think I could even just take the handle off and re-use it. But, I think it will take at least a few months to fill it up. And we could easily go through 10 sticky roller sheets to clean our couch.

So if you are tired of going through a bunch of sticky rollers, save your money and get one of these.

I give it a B+. The only reason it doesn't get an A is because it's not easily reusable. It would take a little work to get the handle off, but I realize that if they made it reusable then customers would only buy one. It really is a great product!
Give it a shot.

Blast from the Past, artistically speaking

Today I went through my old bedroom at my parents house and dug out all the old artwork from high school and college. I have one word for most of it: ummmmmm?

I had my camera handy, so here in all of it's embarrassing glory is my collection of Rachel Walker Artwork (because I've done zero fine art since getting married.) It's in chronological order--oldest to newest, complete with commentary!

We start with a large drawing of 007 himself. Who doesn't want a giant pencil drawing of Sean Connery? I think I did this when I was a freshman in high school. It's like, 24x36 or something. Huge. I just remember using so many PENCILS on it.


Up next is probably one of my favorite things drawings. It's colored pencil--a tribute to my favorite candy bar.

I am being transparent and honest with the portrayal of my skills, so here I have the crappy oil painting I did of me and my dad. Oh the horror.

I have no comment on the next drawing, except to say that it is colored pencil, airbrush and extremely stupid.


Here is a drawing of my sister's baby photo, next to the Campbells soup kid. We thought they looked alike. It's pencil.


Below is the climax of my colored pencil skills, with a drawing of my beloved Cubbies. Too bad they sucked that year. (Micah, I'll buy you a soda if you can name them all.)

And the last of my high school stuff, one I lovingly call Plastic People! Oh this one turned out bad. My eye is too low, Jonathan looks OK, but Joe and Neal just look, plastic. Bad bad bad. :(


Next we move on to the college years, where things did improve!


Below is a thing I did for 2D-Design where you had to morph an object into something completely different then back again but differently. O'Keefe wanted to keep this but I said NO WAY I liked it too much. (It's a toaster into a trash can, if you can't tell.)


And lastly, the giant self portrait I had to paint for Drawing I (ironic, isn't it?) It's six feet tall, I think, but my painting skills vastly improved since that horrible thing I did at age 15. I guess I'm better large scale.


I have a few more paintings I did in college, one hanging in my cube at work and some up in the attic, but I'm too lazy to photograph them so this is all you get. Oh there were some way more drawings from high school that were too embarrassing to post. I went through a whole baseball player phase where I drew tons of ball players. DUMB. I quit doing fine art in my senior year of college. Drawing was so my identity in high school, but after college I didn't need to hide behind it anymore. I've started sketching again in journals, which is good. I used to keep journals all the time. Maybe I'll dig some of those out and scan some in to share. Those are FUN because I'd collect anything and everything I thought was funny or inspiring and glue it in my book.

And that is all for tonight. This super long blast from my artistic past.