Distractions

Did I mention I was published!!

2011-03-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

I just cannot tell you how excited I was when I received an e-mail a while back from Jana Holstein of Somerset Digital Studio to tell me that they would be adding one of my pieces of artwork to the Spring issue. To say that I was over the moon was an understatement and it was all thanks to the encouragement of Dawn over at The Feathered Nest. Dawn is such an inspiration to so many people, she always takes the time out of her busy life to send a personal message of love, and is like the guardian angel of blogland! She wrote to me over a year ago and suggested that I try submitting some of my digital work to Somerset. I was very hesitant at first as I always felt that I was not 'good enough' as I was self taught and knew nothing about PSI and layer masks (still don't actually!). But then I decided 'why not?' What's the worst that can happen? And look what did happen!!! See, anything is possible, you just need a bit of a prod, belief in yourself and the guidance of an angel in disguise! So thank you Dawn and thank you Somerset for making one of my dreams come true!

And on another note...

We, at last, had a beautiful day here in northern Va. It was chilly but sunny for the first day of Spring. I managed to clean all of my flower beds, put on new topsoil and wood chips and start my herb garden. I hope you all had a Sunday as wonderful as mine! Happy week ahead!

Drop Cloths Rock!

2011-02-22T10:04:00.001-08:00

So…what have I been up to in the last few weeks: Painting enormous canvases!Six to be precise. Over five feet high and four feet wide, these were one of my biggest challenges yet! Now, you must take into account that my house is the size of a dolls house, not to mention the fact that the only place I have to work is the family/work/junk room in the basement. Not a happy household for a while I can tell you! But it was definitely worth the disruption just to see the look on my client Gloria’s face when we hung them yesterday.

I was on a bit of a tight budget so buying pre-stretched canvas was a no no. Way too expensive for a project this size. Guess what I used? Drop cloths of course! Those things have a multitude of uses as we all know, and are perfect for making a custom sized canvas.

I purchased 1 and a half inch width furring in 8 foot lengths and cut it all to size, then screwed and glued it all together. I washed all my drop cloths so that they would shrink and so that I could stretch them more easily onto the frames. I think it was at this point that I lost it! Have you ever tried stretching canvas onto a frame on your own? Not a pretty sight! I think I went through about 50,000 staples, 6 band aids and a trip to the chiropractor!

I primed all the canvases with 2 – 3 coats of primer and then started the background painting. I was lucky that Gloria gave me pretty much free reign on the composition which gave me a lot more freedom to work.

Sizing everything up was tough as I had to prop the canvases up on any and every flat surface including in front of the t.v. and the sofa (my husband was still on it at the time!).

At this point I’ll let the pictures tell the story:

And yesterday they were at last in their final resting place and boy do they look impressive if I say so myself! What makes me happiest though is that Gloria and her husband Sean LOVE them! And if they are happy, so am I.

If I ever decide to take on a project of this magnitude again I think I would have to charge a gazillion dollars - or move house!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

From the heart…

2011-02-13T21:56:00.001-08:00

I photographed this hydrangea at my dear friend Nena’s home last summer. It really was heart shaped (only a little bit of photo editing was used) and I knew there would be a time for me to use it. So this is for all of you wonderful blog buddies out there, who leave such heartfelt comments and brighten my day – everyday!

May you all have a wonderful Valentines Day, filled with love and laughter and of course …. chocolate!

And remember – if you can’t be with the one you love - love the one your with!

HAPPY VALENTINES!

The first of 2011!

2011-01-10T11:29:00.001-08:00

Well Christmas came and went, as did the new year, without one single post from me – sorry! So to all – a very belated happy new year and may you fulfill all your dreams and ambitions in 2011!

The Boy With The Broken Halo

My first piece of digital artwork for the new year. It does have personal meaning to me but, as with all my artwork, I like to think that my images evoke something meaningful and special for whoever views them. If you are interested in purchasing any of my pieces please just drop me an e-mail or you can view all my artwork for sale on Red Bubble.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Art for Art sake

2010-12-07T06:02:00.000-08:00

This is the first piece of digital art I have made in over six months! I'd forgotten how much I love to do this. I don't really know where the inspiration came from for this one but I think it came out just fine. My son came up with the title "CRANIUM' - d'ya get it?!

Hope your week is going well. I still have jet lag (or that's my excuse for getting up late!) and can't seem to get back into the work groove, but oh well - it is nearly Christmas after all!

I’m Back…!

2010-12-02T12:30:00.001-08:00

…from my trip home to Peacehaven in east Sussex, England. And peaceful haven it was not! The weather was unbelievable: snow, bone chilling winds and a high of 30 degrees every day. At least I was on the south coast which made for a much warmer climate than the rest of the U.K. Those poor folks up in Scotland are housebound and oh how I remember that feeling of cabin fever from the snow storm we had here in Virginia last January.

All in all though, I had a wonderful time with my mum. She is getting on in years now, 81 to be precise, and I worry about her so much. Her health hasn’t been great of late and with the loss of my sister and nephew this time last year, things are taking a toll on her. I just want to wrap her up in a big cozy blanket and make sure she is safe and taken care of. I wish she lived closer so I could spend more time with her but as lifestyles are so different now from the ‘good ol’ days’ that probably will never happen. I will just have to make more time in the coming year to visit as often as possible, finances permitting.

So it’s back to reality now. Work for me starts again tomorrow and Christmas is quickly approaching. I haven’t even thought about Christmas here yet as I had an overload of it in England! Every high street was decked out in lights and garland and all the sales were in full swing. I even put up the Christmas tree at my mum’s house a week ago!

Below are some pics I wanted to share with you all. I am so lucky to have homes in such beautifully scenic locations even though they are so different from each other. I never take that for granted.

The view at the end of the road from my mum’s house

The English channel

Below is a view of the walk you can take from Newhaven (the cliffs in the background) all the way to Hove (about 20 miles) along the coast. Very exhilarating!

Brighton Pier just before sunset

…and Brighton Pier at sunset

And of course Brighton wouldn’t be Brighton without seagulls!

Brighton Pavilion

And the sky as I left on Tuesday morning…

I will catch up on everyone’s blogs tonight. I have been computer-less for over two weeks which was quite freeing I must say, but I did miss my nightly read!

Have a great week!

xx Anji xx

A bit of a break

2010-11-12T22:20:00.001-08:00

One last post before I go on my merry way to visit my lovely mum in the U.K. A much overdue visit I must admit but at least I will make it home before the year is out and before Christmas. Naturally, I have nothing ready! No packing even thought about let alone started, still need to get some gifts, do my laundry, feed the cat, milk the goats (oh, I don’t have any!), and all in the next 24 hours! A challenge, I know, but it will all get done.

I have been so fortunate in the last month or so to have worked with some wonderful new clients. They have all been so welcoming and generous – it makes such a difference to my job. I have frescoed a two story home for Karen and Alex (let me tell ya, that 28 foot ladder was rather daunting!), faux marbled a kitchen for Gordon and Ann, faux plastered a powder room for Michelle and faux gold leafed a hallway for Gloria. A lot of strenuous work for these ol’ bones but so worthwhile. I love leaving a clients house with a smile on my face knowing that they loved what I did. It’s amazing what a bit of paint can do! Below are a few pics of the finishes but as usual the quality is pretty bad. If anyone has tips of how to take a good photo of a paint finish – please let me know!

I will be away for two very short weeks (which is definitely not long enough) and will not be able to comment on any of your blogs but will catch up on all the happenings on my return in December. Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, stay safe and keep warm!

For You

Peaking

2010-11-02T19:48:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post for today. I just wanted to share some of my photos of the fall foliage here in northern Virginia. I took these a week or so ago just as the colors had reached their peak – breathtaking. Alas, most of the leaves have blown away now and many of the trees are bare but what a feast for the eyes while it lasted.

The sunsets this time of year simply take my breathe away.

I just love taking pictures at the ‘golden hour’. Everything glows – even these horses!

Does anyone know what species of bird this is? I’m thinking it is a kestrel but I really have no idea I’m just happy that I was able to get a photo of it.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

XXXX Anji XXXX

Rejuvenated!

2010-10-17T20:51:00.001-07:00

Don’t you just love it when you find a bargain?! I managed to get my hands on this lovely buffet/sideboard thingy in Salvation Army on 25% off day. It is solid wood which is unusual to find nowadays and even though it was in need of a bit of cosmetic surgery it was in good shape. Not one to be deterred by that lovely thick, molasses type varnish, I took it home, sanded, primed, sanded, filled, sanded, painted and distressed it – and all in one day! It now sits proudly in my work/family/basement room crammed full of my ‘stuff’. I love my stuff! My only problem now is that it is in the room where I attempted to lay laminate floor (with my impatient husband) which never really got finished! And…now I don’t like the color I painted the room so I might have to change that. Oh the perils of working in Benjamin Moore where you are constantly surrounded by hues of blue and grey and robins egg! Giving color advise to others is easy but choosing for yourself, well, you know how that goes.

Before

After

I have also been doing my usual workaholic routine and have had no time for anything arty. But I did take some time off this weekend to enjoy having my son home from college for a few days. It’s never long enough though but what’s a mum to do.

Below are some pictures of a platinum distressed ceiling I did last week and a silver/gold antiqued glazed chair. I am pretty chuffed with the results. The pictures don’t really do them justice but I think you get the idea.

Well that’s enough of tooting my own horn – just wanted to share. I have been really bad at not leaving comments on my fave blogs and I apologize. Time constraints and all that. I will make up for it soon though, promise!

I hope you had a wonderful last few weeks? The weather here in Virginia this weekend was un-be-liev-able! Perfect temps, sun, and that wonderful autumnal feel in the air. The leaves are finally changing to those beautiful hues of reds and gold's and I can’t wait to get out and take some pictures before it’s too late! Of course I will be posting them as soon as I do.

Have a wonderful peaceful week ahead – XxX Anji

Finding time…

2010-09-26T21:11:00.001-07:00

Well, it is yet again the end of another week. A week that just flew by in a whirl with work, work, and work. Absolutely NO time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the simple things. You know, when I get time to read some of the wonderful blogs out there, I am so very envious. How I wish I had time to go off and see all the ‘junque’ shows, all the creativity and camaraderie that so many people have through blogging. I wonder to myself ‘will I still be working when I am 70 years old just trying to make ends meet?’ I like to think that I am a humble type, not really wanting material things from life, not fame or fortune, just a tiny slice of that pie. That big, fat, juicy pie that some people get to eat everyday. I feel like I am always stuck on the ‘soup and salad’ course and occasionally get to the entree - but never to dessert! It’s time to put things into perspective I guess – time to choose exactly what it is I want from life, time for some reflection. But maybe all I am really looking for is ‘time’. If I ever get enough of it, I will try and figure out a way of bottling it, and I will adhere a beautiful hand written label that says ‘use wisely’.

So until I figure that out I will wish you all a happy and healthy week.

Until next time…

Catch Of The Day

2010-09-18T21:08:00.001-07:00

Just a little image to show you what my husband is up to when I am at work all day. And he didn’t even bring it home for dinner!

Looking Back

2010-09-12T22:26:00.001-07:00

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last post. I really do appreciate any feedback and if I only knew how to respond – I would! Another blogger thingy I have to learn….

I also want to add a HUGE thanks to Gale over at http://myrepurposedlife.blogspot.com/ for such helpful advise on blogging. I am, for the first time, using Windows Live Writer to write this post and let me tell ya – easy – you have no idea! (unless you use it of course!) Even though it took me a while to figure out how to actually get Writer in the first place it was well worth the time. Some of the editing functions are fantastic – uploading images for one. Pop on over to Gale’s blog for some really great tips. Thank you so much Gale!!

Another very busy weekend, too much work and not enough rest. But I did want to upload a few more pics of my trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as I am still on a bit of a high from it! Did you know that there is a town named Intercourse? On the other side of Intercourse is a town called Paradise and sandwiched in between the two – a town called Blue Balls! I know, I know, I sound like a little kid still in school but I still get a laugh from it. I’m sure it has nothing to do with what first comes to mind but you have to wonder….

Please double click on the images if you want to enlarge (the quality is so much better).

As always – hoping you have a wonderful week ahead!

Anji X x X

The Simple Life

2010-09-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

I have got to stop popping off for the weekend - I mean it. I seem to spend so much time going on 'quick trips' and never get anything accomplished OR any work done. But, with the weather this past weekend in the mid eighties, clear blue skies and a September breeze, how could I pass up a trip to Amish country in Pennsylvania? Not the tourist kind of trip where you are obliged to take buggy rides and dress up in a bonnet but the kind where you get to drive around the farmland seeing acres and acres of corn, wheat and tobacco. Where Monday is wash day and the clothes drying on the line are fresh and crisp and sway gently in the breeze. Time has stood still in Lanc aster, a better simpler time where children run around in bare feet, laughing and playing with their siblings. Where the only cars you see are from the tourists, where horse drawn carriages are the only means of transport and ~ where life is pure.

I felt so unbelievably humbled and privileged to be able to get these photos. It's very rare that the Amish allow this at all but I guess it was my lucky day and I was able to chat and laugh with this beautiful family, always being mindful not to outstay my welcome.

Onto a farm machinery auction! My poor husband drove me around for hours looking for real life events and boy did he hit the jackpot! Never did I realize that there would be so much choice! Not just farm equipment but hand cranked washing machines, buggy parts and office desks. I had a field day taking pictures there and no one minded - in fact they were trying to get in on the act!

We decided to stay over night in a charming little motel and then headed out Monday morning to see more of the breathtaking countryside. We were not disappointed - the weather was better than the day before and the cloud formations were unbelievable.

So now, of course, I want to be a photographer and travel the length and breadth of the states, snapping away at all of this beauty. Throw on my jeans and cowboy boots (I bought me some when I was in Nashville!), toss my equipment into the back of my truck (I actually own a chevy Aveo!) and take flight! I will have nothing to think about except my next destination and my long, blond hair (I have shoulder length brown hair) will flow like a river in the wind.
But for now I will just have to dream. Tomorrow I have the delight of sanding furniture all day, grocery shopping and laundry...but I always have my memories!

Wishing you a wonderful week everyone
XXXXXX ANJI XXXXXX

Inevitable

2010-09-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

This is a piece of artwork I made last year for all the mum's whose children are going off to college. It is inevitable that our babies will grow up to be independent, young adults and leave our nests to venture out into the unknown. All we can do is make sure their journey is safe and let them know they are loved.
A little piece of my heart is still empty today but I will fill that hole with thoughts of seeing my son Josh in the fall.
Please feel free to take this image and use it any way you want. Double click to enlarge it and right click to save.
Hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful day!

Empty nest again!

2010-08-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

I will eventually post some more pictures of my trip to Galax and Nashville but for now I wanted to add a few of my son Josh. He left for college in Vermont again today and it never ceases to amaze me how a little piece of my heart is broken every time he leaves. Each trip home seems shorter and shorter and I find myself wishing that he had chosen a school that was closer or never gone to college at all! I think that is the problem sometimes, only having one child, that it is so much more difficult to let go. But he arrived there safely tonight after his 9 hour drive and is happy to be back with his friends. I hope that this will be the best semester ever for him and I can't wait to see him again in the fall.
And to all you mum's out there who are feeling a little bit teary like me, just remember - you are not alone.

Hoping everyone has a great week ahead ~ Anji XxX

2010-08-20T21:20:00.001-07:00

Since my last post I managed to finish the flooring in my family/work room (a labour of love I can tell ya!) and fitted in a road trip to Galax Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, Virginia, Nashville, Tennessee, Cave City, Kentucky, and lots and lots of highway in West Virginia! What a fascinating vacation it was. I wish we had had more time in each location but we were on limited time as my son, Josh, is back to school next week. We went to Galax last year on a whim and had so much fun that we made a vow to try and visit each and every year we are in the states. I never knew I was into bluegrass until I moved here 3 years ago! Coming from London, I had a staple diet of David Bowie and punk rock growing up and never for the life of me did I ever think I would be tapping my feet and doing a little jig to a fiddle and banjo! I even bought myself a pair of cowboy boots while we were there, so I could 'fit in', but I think my British accent gave me away! I felt right at home regardless - music just seems to have that effect on people. I must have taken a 1,000 photos but I will post just a few and hope you get a feel of what it was like there.

If anyone lives near Galax, and even if you don't (!) try and visit next year - it is so worth it.

And one more thing for now - am I the only one who cannot figure out this new template thingymijig? I have completely messed up my blog page, spent the best part of two hours trying to upload pictures and get them to stay where I want them. And forget about trying to add LARGE images - they won't fit on the page! If anyone can offer ANY guidance it will be very much appreciated.
Have a great weekend!

Warning!

2010-08-08T20:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday + husband + Ikea laminate flooring = Disaster!

Photos of finished project to follow probably next year

(all 338 square foot of it)

Needless Worry

2010-08-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

Oh to be a mother! You spend your life worrying about how they will cope out in the real world: will they eat enough, wash behind their ears, set their alarm clocks so they are not perpetually late for everything, get their hearts broken, forget to put gas in their car, the list goes on and on... and then they come home with 6 months worth of laundry and stories about how hard it is to juggle class work and their social life - 'it's all so hard mum"! But for the few weeks you have them home again in the summer, those moments of stress subside and you are grateful that they are safe and well and yours.

My boy Joshua

Josh is studying music at Bennington College, Vermont. Much too far away from home in Virginia but what's a mum to do. Below is a link to one of the songs that he wrote recently. He usually plays acoustic guitar but he let rip on his Les Paul electric for this track! Take a listen when you get a chance - this ol' mum would greatly appreciate it!

http://jangles.bandcamp.com/track/dead-man

I scored again!

2010-08-02T21:32:00.000-07:00

I have to share yet another unbelievable find - a shop in the middle of nowhere choc-a-block with treasures! It was a complete fluke that it was open when my husband and I drove by at the weekend. Bill, the owner, is the nicest guy and his shop is his passion. He only opens on Friday's (sometimes!) Saturday's and the occasional Sunday. He bought the property 10 years ago after his wife saw an ad in the local paper saying that the previous owner was retiring and selling the shop and all it's contents. They had never done anything in the retail trade before but once they laid eyes on this property - well, that was it. They both gave up their jobs and lovingly restored every floorboard, door, stair tread, completely rewired, updated the plumbing, and put in air conditioning. Bill was so gracious in telling me the history of the property: Originally the local tavern, it has undergone very few changes in its 150 years. An amazing place to say the least.

If you're in the Virginia area - stop by - it will be well worth it! And tell them Anji sent you

Highland Antiques and Collectibles

1618 Zachary Taylor Hwy

Mineral Va 23117

Hope your week is going well!

Mine is as I, at last, have my son home from college in Vermont for a few weeks. I missed him so much! More on him in the next few days. I will upload one of his new songs that will definitely get your foot tapping!

A great find

2010-07-26T21:31:00.000-07:00

Front Royal is one of those wonderfully small towns in Virginia that has been caught in time. I love to go there on a Sunday morning and browse around the flea market (one of the best in my book) and then go and have coffee on Main Street. While I was there a few months ago I stumbled across an amazing architectural salvage store tucked back in a little alley. It has apparently been there for years but was taken over in January by the nicest couple, Pat and Valentina. They are so passionate about their store and love to tell the history of every piece they have lovingly restored. It is jam packed with windows, doors, stained glass, bathtubs, door knobs and drawer pulls, tools, columns, the list goes on and on. If you are ever in the area please stop by and take a look - they are located at:

Architectural Old House Parts

122 E. Main Street

Front Royal

Va 22630

No rest for the wicked!

2010-07-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished a kitchen re-do today and I am exhausted! It took me the best part of a week as I had to cart every door home to my house as my client had the painters in and there was no room for me to work. How I squashed them into my little Aveo is beyond me but my trusty little car did a fine job. In fact she has been known to bring home half a flea market in her without a word of complaint. I love my car.

Anywhoo...back to the kitchen. It started life as a run-of-the-mill oak finish and has now been transformed into a very sleek and sophisticated kitchen with style. I used a new product by Benjamin Moore (I work for them part time as a colour consultant) called Advance. It is an alkyd but is water based which means clean up is a breeze and drying time is cut in half. Oh the miracle of science! I still had to do a LOT of coats to get the finish I wanted but it was well worth it.

Before

After

I also managed to take part in an arts and crafts market on Saturday called Fenton Street Market in Maryland. Good fun but sales where nothing to write home about. I don't think anyone is really buying this time of year. Still, it was great to meet a whole new group of like minded people. I will definitely take part again nearer Christmas and probably try my hand at a few other venues.

I got up bright and early on Sunday morning (4.45 a.m. ~ mad!!) so I could catch the sunrise on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah. How amazing that was. Butterflies and dragonflies were everywhere and the mist sat quietly on the mountains. And how often can you say you saw a bear crossing the road? Well, I managed to see two, yes two, in the space of an hour! I really feel blessed to have all this beauty around me in Virginia, and right on my doorstep.

Well tomorrow brings yet another project - this time a kitchen, living room and hallway. Best get myself geared up for a loonnnggg week!
Hope you have a good one!

...and another...

2010-07-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

I'm sure by now you are all a bit sick of seeing the work I have been doing over the last few months but just one more - maybe!!
I loved doing this one. Faux finishing is something I have done for years but it never bores me. I love to see how some simple glazing can turn a plain space into a thing of beauty and interest. This 'column' is in fact a toilet! Still not sure why the builder placed it right in the middle of the kitchen/dining/living room but there you have it! The owner and I decided it was best to make it a focal point rather than try and blend it into it's surroundings and I think it worked out just fine. Below are pictures of all the steps it took to acheive this finish. I'm not really sure if there is a posh name for it or not - I just call it gorgeous! It eventually took four layers of glazing over the base coat but it was well worth the time as I think it gives it so much depth.

I hope you all had a great Fourth of July holiday. It was scorching here in northern Virginia but at least it didn't rain. I managed to get out and see the fireworks display at Great Meadow and it was spectacular. I'll definitely do it again next year.

Hoping you all have a great week ahead!

...and another...

2010-06-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

The next project I got my hands on was a redo of a living room. I was lucky in the fact that I pretty much had free reign of the design but was really limited budget wise. There was little money for new furniture or any large items so I had to try and make do with 'stealing' things from the rest of the house.

Below are pictures of the before and after room make over. I still find it hard to believe that this is the same room! It's now fresh and calming, a room for all seasons. It is a very dark room so I started by adding a central ceiling light. This made a huge difference right from the get go and made it so much easier to see what I was painting! I painted the ceiling in Benjamin Moore Linen White, the walls Soft Fern and all the crown molding and trim in BM White Dove. I made a window seat cushion, valance and cushions for the sofa from fabric I picked up at Hancock fabrics, all on sale. The cushion is a beautiful linen with cabbage roses in muted colours in it. I wish they had more as I would have done MY whole house in it!

I purchased the mirror from Home Goods and hung it above the sofa to add more light and depth to the room. I also did a lot of de-cluttering and a HUGE amount of furniture rearranging. Gone is the original rug (to another room in the house) and in it's place one with light, airy colours. I borrowed the chairs from my clients sun room and thankfully she is leaving them right where I plonked them!!! There are still a few more things to add to the room (new lampshades, artwork, coffee table) but we are on hold for a bit or until that money tree in the back yard starts growing again!

I am extremely proud of this particular make over. It was so labour intensive (my poor arms ached for days after all that painting and sewing!) and really hard to accomplish on a restricted budget but I think it turned out beautifully. I would love to know what you think? Comments and criticisms greatly appreciated!

More projects to come in the next few days....

And as always - hoping your week ahead is full of joy and happiness and a bit of fun thrown in the mix!

Anji

Click on images for a larger view - they look so much better that way!

Before

After (and yes - this is the same room!)

After

After

MIA - again!

2010-06-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

Its been forever since I last did a post, I know, but I spend so much time reading and commenting on everyone elses blogs I don't have the enthusiasm to do my own! I will back track now to the end of March when I took on so much work I thought I would collapse! I am so fortunate to have such good friends who are willing to employ me, keep me fed and watered and put up with my complaining - you are such kindred spirits and you know who you are! So, I will start with the bathroom renovation...
This was a major undertaking but well worth the effort. My dear friend Nena bought this house 10 years ago but had never lived in it due to traveling the world with her husband and family. A great investment but in dire need of some updates. So we chose to start with the master bathroom. Out came walls, vanities, toilets, laundry shoot and the like and in less than a month --- a bathroom fit for a king!! (or queen for that matter).

Below are the before and after shots.

View from bathroom to master bedroom (no door!)

Progress!

We added a larger window to give more natural light to the room

We picked this up at ReStore (habitat for humanity) for a mere $80!

A huge shower in place of the closet

At last - a door!

And a soaking tub - what more could you ask for?

We purchased the double vanity with marble top from Craig's List for a song! I striped the oak finish base and stained it in a mocha/coffee color then added new handles

Separate thrown room!

Seamless glass shower door - yummy!

We got the mirror from a thrift store. It has beautiful carved oak leaves around the frame. I sanded it and stained it to match the vanity.

I don't think these pictures do it justice as it is now such a beautiful room. It has heated flooring, double headed shower, ambient lighting and faux finished walls. But I hope you get the idea.

Nearly everything was purchased on the cheap. Wall and floor tiles from Home Depot, light fixtures ,faucets, towel rails, shelving from Lowes, and most of the accessories from thrift stores!

It was an absolute pleasure working with Nena - she is the sweetest person in the world! And she kept me fed and watered throughout this whole renovation!

Lots more of my other 'projects' to follow soon.

Hoping you have a wonderful fun filled week

Anji

Gone in a flash!

2010-03-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have Spring for 4 days here in Virginia - then it disappeared again! I did manage to get some photos of my rapidly fading tulips and thought it would be nice to share them with you just so we can all remember what Spring might look like again next year!

Hoping you all have a great week ahead...

Art Is Hard!

2010-02-25T19:46:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week of ceiling painting, faux finishing and commuting and alas, not much time to do anything really creative. But I did manage to squeeze this artwork in this morning before going to work. You know, art really can be hard when you have no ideas running through your head and the weather is just blah and you are simply exhausted! I did have a wonderful weekend away with the 'girls' though last weekend and as soon as I get a chance to sort through my photos I will fill you in with some of the frolicking we got up to!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

More Freebies

2010-02-16T10:31:00.000-08:00

As promised - more vintage photos for you to use in your artwork.

Hope you are enjoying your day!

Some Freebies for you

2010-02-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

I have had a lot of spare time on my hands over the last 5 days due to the blizzard of 2010 (the new official name for the snow storm we have just had!) and have not been able to get out of the house. It gave me a chance to go through the numerous old photos I have been collecting forever an I thought I would share some with you. Please feel free to use them in your artwork or for anything else. I would love to see what you do with them!

Left click to view large, right click to save

I'll post some more tomorrow.

P.S. If anyone has a tip on uploading more than one picture at a time could you please let me know. I have tried to do it so many times and it never works - thanks!

Lessons Learned

2010-02-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

Lesson number 1: You know when those nice people on the weather channels tell you that there is a storm of epic proportion coming your way ~ listen! I, for one, did not. I was all set to go away on Friday morning to a little retreat up in the hills of Shenandoah for a much needed bit of R&R. My girl friends and I had been planning this trip for weeks: a bit of arting, food, wine, chatting and generally just to get away from the stresses of the world and Zen out! Come Wednesday the weather forecast was for heavy snow in northern Virginia and the D.C. area, somewhere between 12 and 24 inches. I was having none of it and insisted to everyone that it would all be okay, just being hyped up and we should still go. Along comes Thursday with even more panic and frantic calls to call off the whole thing, we can always plan another trip when the weather gets better. No, not me, I was still having none of it. Mmm ~ bad idea. When I eventually admitted defeat on Thursday evening and fell into a sulk, I had really not planned on getting supplies in for being housebound for an indefinite period because I was so annoyed at the inconvenience. So Friday it snowed and snowed and snowed! And Saturday it continued relentlessly. When all was said and done, Gainesville had managed to accumulate 31 inches on top of the 6 inches from the Tuesday before. I was stranded ~ alone ~ with no milk for my tea! I spent the best part of 5 hours yesterday trying to unearth my car and make an escape route to civilization! But even today (Monday) the roads are treacherous, there are still over 100,000 people without electricity and I still have no milk! I have severe cabin fever and knew it was getting worse today when I started making my cat some 'kitten mittens' out of duct tape so he get out to pee! So lessons learned from this past weekend: Be prepared and listen to the weather forecast!

My backyard

Ice in my bird bath

And on a more somber note ~ Below is the most recent photo my husband sent to me from Haiti. I think this says it all really. He will be coming back home some time in early March so that will be somewhat of a relief for me. He says things are moving very slowly over there at the moment. Supplies are very limited and disease is everywhere. My heart goes out to the people suffering this tragic disaster.

Haiti

I'm sure I will have plenty of more time on my hands over the next few days to update my blog. We have another snow storm coming this way tomorrow afternoon through Wednesday! Yippee!!!

Have a great week everyone!

Don't Count Your Chickens...

2010-01-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

A New Day Dawns

And now it is suddenly January 24th and I did not, for one moment, stick to my new years resolution! I had every intention mind you, but things come along in life so unexpectedly and we are powerless to change them.
When I first heard about the earthquake in Haiti my first thoughts were 'how could this happen and what can I do to help'. I think everyone felt the same at the time but little did I realize that my husband would be whisked away to help with the relief effort - indefinitely. I am so glad that he had the opportunity to do his bit but I must admit (and I am being a bit selfish here) I am constantly worried about his safety. I feel that I have spent the last few months in a state of disbelief and this just adds to my state of mind. During the frenzy of trying to get him ready and on a plane, a very close friend of mine was taken seriously ill and was on life support. I spent a lot of time trying to contact her friends, letting them know her condition, as I felt they would want to send out some positive energy and prayers for her and her family. All I can say is that thank god, after three soul searching days - she woke up. She will be fine but she has a lot of recovering to do and a very long road to travel. I only hope that her family and friends will be allowed to travel it with her.
So, with all my good intentions out the window I think I will just have to come up with a new resolution. One that is very flexible and I don't feel guilty about if I break it! Maybe I will just learn to knit or crochet... on second thoughts.
I did manage to do some digital artwork during my week of mayhem and I must admit I am very chuffed with it. While I was back in the U.K. I managed to scan lots of old family photos and send them to myself via email for when I got back home. I then cropped and re sized and played around with the resolution and saturation and made them into a family tree. I started this project weeks ago and was so glad when I finally got around to finishing it last week. I think it is such a lovely keepsake for my family and is so much nicer than keeping those memories in a shoe box!
If enough people are interested I will try and write a tutorial on how to do it in Photo Shop but as you may have figured out by now - nothing ever really goes the way I plan it so don't hold your breath!

Reflection

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Love Anji

Tribute

2010-01-15T21:29:00.000-08:00

The Lights Are On But No One's Home

Well it seems the last time I posted was way back in November and oh what a horrible few months it has been since then. My sister Sue had been ill for quite a long time but I never expected the call I received on November 21. She had slipped into a coma and was not expected to last through the week. I immediately took a flight to the U.K. but did not make it in time. She passed away whilst I was flying. The following day was one I am still in denial about - her son Ben (my nephew) took his own life. The thought of living life without his mum was too much for him to bare. This has had such a profound affect on me and the rest of my family. When something like this happens it leaves you cold, wondering if there was anything you could have done or said. Since my return to the states in late December I have found it hard to focus on much of anything really, but know that life must go on and I try and console myself in the fact that they are both at peace and in a much happier place. I could spend my days wondering 'what if?' but I have chosen to be thankful for having these loved ones in my life and to have had the privilege of knowing them. I will hold dear the wonderful memories we shared; giggling under our bedsheets every night in the room we shared, staying up way too late and watching scary movies, the excitement of when Sue announced she was pregnant, the birth of Ben, picnics in the park on lazy Sunday afternoons, shopping till our feet ached, and so many other wonderful events we shared in our lives. I am one of the luckiest people on earth.

New Direction

It is hard to say that I will start afresh this year ~ but I will try. I plan on creating a lot more artwork and not worry about housework. Eat things I love and not things I should. Cry when I feel like it and not hold it in. Pay it forward as much as I can. And I will try and update my blog more often even if no one reads it!
I will be sharing a lot of tips on all the things I get my hands into; furniture refinishing, faux finish paint techniques, interior decorating, painting, and numerous other projects that I love to do. So stay tuned (you one fan you!) as I may be posting something you have always wanted to know about.
But for today I will just upload a few of the digital art pieces I have worked on since I arrived back.

Grounded

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and peaceful new year ahead.

Anji

Not A Trick In Sight!

2009-11-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately Halloween came and went with not ONE trick or treater! I was quite disappointed. Our little townhouse culdesac, on a golf course, really doesn't have that sense of community that I am so used to. After living overseas for many years and knowing every neighbour, coming back to the states has been somewhat of a letdown. As much as I try and get involved in things nothing ever seems to be going on. It's a shame that all of us live such transient lifestyles nowadays. Gone are the family get togethers on a Sunday, popping over for a cup of tea on a whim, and the simple pleasure of chatting to a complete stranger in the queue at the supermarket. I think we are all guilty of having to get things done yesterday and no longer take the time to be in the moment. So, time for some reflection on my part and think about how to make a change...that will follow on another post when I have an epiphany! Any suggestions are welcome though!

I had a few commissioned pieces to work on this weekend but because my computer is from the ark I have only managed to get a bit done. I thought I'd share what I have been up to regardless.

These are the photos I had to work with

This is little Michaela who I met and photographed for the first time last week.
What a little angel she is

...and this is what I ended up with

I'm not sure I'm happy with any of them yet . Any critique is very welcome though so please tell me what you think! (but be nice!)
Off to use my coupon at Micheal's before it expires and buy a bunch of stuff I don't need - hey - that's what Sunday's are all about right?!

Have a great week!

The Power Of Mother Nature

2009-10-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

It's been a quite busy and hectic week for me this week, what with a visit from my mother-in-law, lots of new work in the pipeline, and a lot of traveling to and from jobs. But I did manage to take some time for myself last Sunday and catch the last of the fall foliage on the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia. From start to finish along Skyline Drive my jaw was on the floor. The beauty I was surrounded by was so breathtaking I ended up taking over 400 photos! Of course, not all of them came out the way I had anticipated but I had to share some of them with you.

Bountiful harvests of apples were everywhere

...and the light at the end of the day was heaven sent.

I suppose this will be the end of my foliage images. Every morning as I head off to work there seems to be less and less vibrancy on the trees and the nights draw darker so much earlier. But I am so glad that I was able to witness this beauty first hand and will cherish each and every image that captured mother nature at her finest.

2009-10-15T16:22:00.000-07:00

The weather is so miserable here today so I have decided not to do any 'real' work and just fiddle around on my computer. I have taken so many photos over the last few weeks it's been wonderful to be able just to play around with them all day even though my ancient computer was being extremely temperamental. Still - I think the results of these two images below didn't come out half bad! I will be adding them to my Red Bubble, Flickr, and Imagekind sites so if you would like to purchase either of them just jot me an e-mail.

Winds Of Change

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Upward and Onward!

2009-10-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

I decided to leave the pity party that I held for my self Saturday night (no one turned up to that either!) and venture out Sunday morning and explore places in Virginia that I had not seen before. The first part of my exploration was to Sky Meadows National Park which I didn't realize was so close to my house in Gainesville. What a beautiful place! The weather could not have been better ~ a sunny, crisp, autumnal day ~ and the fall colours are just about ready to 'pop'. It was a rather steep hike to get to the overlook but so worth it. I now have aspirations to move to Sky Meadows with my tent, paints and canvases and paint with wild abandon all day! Unfortunately I don't think it is for sale.

This is the spectacular view from the top of the overlook

Ahhh... a perfect Sunday afternoon!

I then ventured on to Paris (yes - Paris,Virginia - no passport required!) a very small village (population 51) with some gorgeous, period houses and a very well known restaurant named The Ashby Inn. Not too much happening there so back onto route 50 and and few side roads later I found Upperville. I happened upon my dream house - a renovated church in the most picturesque setting - which again was not for sale. But we can always dream...

Can you imagine looking out at this view every morning! Pure bliss!

And one last photo op before I went home ...how could I resist!

It's amazing that just a few hours outside, exploring your surroundings, can lift your spirits to no end and put a new spin on what is important in life - I'll be doing it more often.

Have a great week!

Nothing Ventured...

2009-10-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Distractions - Come join me on my journey of discoveries and distractions that may not all be wonderful but are never dull!
I decided to eventually start my blog after months of soul searching, reviewing millions of other blogs, loving every one of them, realizing that blogging is such a great tool to share our ups and downs, pitfalls and triumphs, and a wonderful way of meeting kindred spirits.
So, where to begin? I have been dabbling with photo shop for about 8 months now and discovered that it was easier than I first thought. I became a bit addicted and spent hours creating images of all the ideas I had stored away in my brain for years! I was amazed at the response I received after joining Flickr, Red Bubble, and Imagekind, (all of which are sites for artists to showcase their work on line) that my confidence in my art grew. I then saw an add last week on Craig's List asking for artists to display their work in a new coffee shop that had just opened in my area. "Aha!" I thought "free advertising" and off I went to the printers to get my work printed out. I have spent the last week (in between working) cutting and gluing, framing and matting and on Thursday I hung all my work on the coffee shop walls. Today was my 'showing' and how excited I was at the anticipation of actually selling something. And wouldn't ya know it - nothing! Not even one inquiry, zilch, nada.
There's always tomorrow I guess... or maybe I'll just stick to the day job!