Creative Tuesday: Kitchen

It's Creative Tuesday and I have to admit I almost bailed on this one.  I'll tell you why in a second... and why I'm glad I didn't.  Wondering what a Creative Tuesday is?  Every two weeks we grab our pads and something to color with to create for the theme over at Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday's assignment -- neat, no?

This week's theme is Kitchen.  Wait, wha?  Like I should draw my kitchen?  Oh no.  Not good.  What could really be so interesting about a kitchen.  Hmmm.  ...days of thought later....

Funny story ----------  by now you may know... and if you your new in these parts, welcome! and I'll tell you... I have a five month old puppy.  Sammy... Sammy as in Samantha, ...is a golden retriever which is code word for too smart for her own good.  And did I mention that she is getting taller/longer/faster/nosier?

Do you see where this is heading?  Yup, countersurfing.  I think countersurfing is technically defined as a pup taking whatever they want off the counter... whenever they want to.  Oh, big trouble!  Katie, our four and 1/2 year old golden, also went through this very phase.  I thought I was well prepared.  And Sammy has schooled me that I am most certainly not.  And on the very same breath.. how cute is this picture!!

And so, we work on the commands "take it" and "leave it" ... as in take that toy of yours on the ground, and leave that yummy bacon on the counter.  And I am also learning to cook with my new kitchen buddy and it normally ends with me laughing so hard when she ends up with something like flour on her nose.  The whole experience led me down the path to a fun "kitchen scene" that I otherwise wouldn't have thought of... and boy am I glad I did!!

Creative-wise I did things a little differently this time, since Creative Tuesday is all about exploring styles.  I started with card stock paper, doodled the scene in pencil, traced it in pen, and then scanned it to the computer.  Then colored it all in using GIMP -- which is a free software download.  Phew. 

Interesting exercise.  I have so much to learn about digital coloring, if I may use that term, but I loved the experience.  And here is the result! For those of you wondering... this is Sammy in the drawing.  Katie is so tall she can just put her head on the counter without jumping.

I hope you consider joining in this or the next assignment (really hope you do) and please take a look other artists in the community here.   

I'd like to add that Sammy's good cooking will also be linked at Tasty Tuesday where you can share your tastiest things and pawsome recipes!

Breakfast Bar - almost done!

I shared with you last week here that we are getting closer to finishing the breakfast bar/pass through/hole in the wall between the kitchen and the dining room.

Well, this weekend it got some much needed color. 

The mister and I agreed this would be the living area accent wall that I have been dreaming of.  It's small enough that I can freshen the color often... and it's a fun place to put color to get that cozy dining effect that I love!

Here is where we were last... a mostly primed wall... errr.. hole.

You can see I put a little smudge of the color on the wall to the far right.  I couldn't resist trying out the color as soon as we brought it home.  Picking out color is so nerve-wrecking.  I usually feel like I am making a huge mistake when I am at the store. 

Luckily for me, Mr. Happy, as always, knew exactly what I was thinking and found me the perfect color. 

Yup, he's a keeper for sure!

Ahhh.... fresh paint!

Harvest Brown.  so very us! natural, earthy, simple!

Almost looks like cake batter in this pan doesn't it?

I started edging right away.  Stepping back every so often to see how it was progressing. 

This is hands down the darkest color I have ever painted on a wall in my entire life!  You see I was a military brat growing up (living in mostly military housing) and I usually had a minimal selection of light colors to pick from -- if I even had the option to paintt all.  And after that into my adulthood... I have rented. a lot. 

Let's just say that posters and thumbtacks are my friend!

Feels so good to be able to put my own touch on our house... it really is becoming our home!

Here you can start to get an idea of what it's looking like.  Warm, soft, comforting.  Doesn't it seem like a place you can linger in and talk and laugh!  Yup, that's what I am going for!

I am so so so very happy with the results!  Did I remember to take an "I'm done" photo?  Nope. (not yet)

I went straight from painting the wall to painting the inner edges of the doorway and pass through edges. 

And then right on to our 15 foot catherdral ceilings.  I know, I know.  I'm hogging all this painting for myself.  (ya, right)  The ceiling is getting a good two coats of ceiling white to increase the openess and light in the room.  I am painting over the icky faded off white -- so nice to say good riddens to the dingy old color.  It is already making the room so much cleaner!

I still have at least one more day of paining to finish the ceiling over the entryway and in front of the kitchen.  The new countertop should be installed this week -- wait till you see what we designed!  I also still have to clean the room from top to bottom to erradicat spackle dust.  The mister is painting the radiator covers and re-installing the molding.

And then I can put the living and dining rooms back together!  Oh, and somewhere in there I get to shop for three bar stools to go with the new breakfast bar counter. 

Can't wait to have my first sit and laughs at the hottest new eating spot on the block!!