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!

Sunday + husband + Ikea laminate flooring = Disaster!

Photos of finished project to follow probably next year

(all 338 square foot of it)

Needless Worry

 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!

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

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!

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...

 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 

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!