I tumble for ya'

Right off the ladder on Saturday. Sprained wrist. Bruised arse and equally bruised pride. Looks like I'll be starting again next weekend.

It's dark when I get home ...

... so pardon the flash. I glued a couple more last night. I'm going to do the major push this weekend (after I go to Pia's Brisbane book launch). I'm liking it more and more but it does need toning down a bit. Yes I am gluing it with PVA glue directly to the wall. I plan to leave this house in a pine box so it will be someone else's problem to remove it if they hate it :)

P.S. Need more coats on that skirting board. Told you I threw in the brush in frustration.

Sneak peek at the "wallpaper"

I have been so busy this weekend with family gatherings that the kitchen saw no action ... almost. I admit defeat as far as a professional finish on my painting. My edges are crap. I've got splatters all over the place. My photos are very "selective" :) I definitely need help. Painting should be fun. Because I am so bad I've left lots of jobs undone or worse half done. To cheer myself up I started a small section of my feature wall to see if it works. I'm wallpapering with vintage Penguin and Pelican book covers. OK it really is decoupage but I'm not finished yet. I need to sand and glaze and create a unique wall. I like an aged and worn look.

  

Don't worry about the bubbles. After looking at these photos I went back with a credit card and pushed the air out. I use a small hand-held sander to take the covers back a bit and apply glazes to tone the colours down, age them or wash them out and finally seal them. It's like a giant version of my art. I figured I'll need over 200 covers for this wall. I'm using the back covers primarily interspersed with 60s and 70s front covers all in blues (this ties in with the blue and white tesselated tiles in front of the wood burning stove) and occasionally I'm throwing in a vintage orange cover. Why back covers? Because I have heaps of them and I'm jealously hoarding the front covers for an upcoming exhibition.

Now I have to decide whether I go back to "wallpapering" my wall or finishing this week's posts. All I know is that until I get MUCH better at painting that side of things will stay unfinished. Help!!

A cautionary tale of knowing when to stop

  

Doesn't look like I've done much more does it? That's because every time I paint something I look up and think "damn the door needs painting now" or "I need to paint that bit of trim too" and on and on it goes. Lots and lots of things with one coat of paint. For now. I swear they will get a second coat this afternoon after a nana nap or a movie. It's a long weekend after all. I need to get my priorities right. If you are wondering what that metal cylinder is past the fireplace it's an old hot water heater that runs off the wood burning stove. It will go eventually probably when the plumber comes to do the new bathroom upstairs. Whenever that is! I'm getting good at selective vision. If I ignore it it isn't there :)

About as exciting as watching paint dry

  

Not much progress on the kitchen front I'm sorry. Looking a bit sad. Too many distractions! I'm not the most diligent of painters. Actually I hate it. Any excuse and I'll walk away from painting for a short break, a long break, any break. The cupboards are done though. Could perhaps do with a third coat but they are still drying and I'll see how I feel they look tomorrow. When I say done I mean on this side of the room. The other side still needs one more coat.

Still to do:

• paint splash back white.
• paint counter top. Not sure if it will be white or black. Ideally I'd like a butcher block top but this is just a weekend paint tart-up so butcher block may have to wait. The current top is a badly stained, faded and in places melted blue speckle laminate. I had even thought about building tops from recycled timber off cuts but that is also on the "must do it another weekend" list.
• paint architraves around door to bathroom.
• paint door.
• "wallpaper" the end wall.
• ? "wallpaper" the backs of the retro shelves.
• ignore the old blue and white tessellated tiles. Just ignore them. Perhaps a kilim. Same with the rust on the old enamel wood burning stove. Ignore ... perhaps paint another weekend ...or just ignore.
• Oil the floors.
• Put up with the old microwave. One thing you never consider is how hard it is for blind people to use modern appliances. This old clunker of a microwave is the easiest thing for Kelvin to use. I want a new stainless steel one but can't find one with a basic "tactile" control panel that is easy for him to use.
• re-arrange those shelves and get some 70s retro groove happening!
• get a new camera or learn how to take better shots on a grey day.
• eat chocolate eggs and chocolate rabbits and chocolate anything washed down with white wine.
• relax back at work on Wednesday.

This is a shot after one coat but the main reason to show you is that little industrial stool. It's the inspiration for this spend under $100 fix. Actually I think the $100 includes the wine and chocolate :) Oh I just noticed I got black paint on the white fireplace. Must touch that up ... tomorrow. Glass of wine anyone?