bold2boss

Some life experiences are transformative, ripping apart the way you understand, view and experience life.  As I lay there in that dim room, searching through a haze of exhaustion and confusion, I knew this was to be one. I could see a tiny ruddy body, limp and lifeless; my baby girl, torn from my body now transforming my life.  Silhouetted figures lean over her speaking in hushed tones; tubes; chest compressions..she’s dying…alone in this dark room surrounded by strangers. I reach for her, struggling to get closer, to give her something familiar in all this strangeness…  “Baby,” I whisper, “I’m here, stay with me…stay, please stay.” She did stay.  Her tiny delicate body wired up, naked under the harsh buzzing lights of the neonatal intensive care unit.  My delicate black haired baby, clinging to life…fierce eyes glaring and penetrating my soul. I went home without her…empty, desolate and alone...waiting for her to gather strength, waiting to bring her ...

Finally I can share the beautiful results of our year long project! Here are a few pictures of the living room transformation…(there is so much more of this little rancher reno that I will share soon… bedrooms , bathroom , kitchen, and more...) ...beautiful transformation into a light-filled home notice the popcorn ceiling, lighting fixture and yellow walls…the cheap yellow laminate flooring isn’t so obvious in the picture but is a glaring element that set the color and visual tone Prepping the floor for beautiful white-washed oak hardwood scraping the popcorn ceiling and prepping it for pot lighting  such messy work but so worth the result…and fairly quick…a good shoulder workout I used a process of coating the popcorn with non-caustic stripper (…at the time this seemed to be the best technique I’d tried yet, but not so now – see my painted popcorn ceiling removal  post) notice all the trim and crown molding removed…lots of drywall patching on the ceiling and walls Calculatio...

The rough edges of the bureau draw me closer. The ruts and worn edges under my fingertips are like the groves of a record, replaying our precious stories. Memories flood around me, mixing joy and aching nostalgia… little feet pattering down the hall soft rosy cheeks snuggled against teddies Laughter and warm embraces, music and dancing feet. …passing time. My fingers linger on the imperfections as I savor the precious memories… our life and love resonating in these marks, our history inscribed…our beautiful life… beautiful imperfections have a beautiful week xo shelley

The thick blanket of snowy winter on the garden is just as beautiful as when in full bloom.  the chickens stay snuggled in their cozy nest. all is soft, still and muted. have a beautiful week.  xo shelley  

Fall is here! I love the renewed greenness that comes with the fall. In the garden fresh sprigs, tender shoots of grass and even new blossoms are coaxed out by the rain and gentle warmth of the horizon sun – the world is lush and alive. ...fallen leaves amidst the lavender and heather... ...lavender scent fills the autumn breeze... ...soft filtered sun through the turning leaves... ...the hens scratching up fallen seeds and tender new sprigs... ...grateful for the cool reprieve of fall... ...pecking at the flowers pushing through the grapevines... ...even new blossoms emerge in the fall warmth... ...Russian Sage waves in the fall breeze... ...cozy nest in the lush tuffs of grass... ...babies grown, moving onto ventures of their own... Have a beautiful week! xo shelley

The spring sunlight streaming through my windows has inspired me to do some decorating…adding fresh arrangements to my livingroom to take advantage of the beautiful visas.  These beautiful stems just opened their blossoms…perfect accompaniment to my spring arrangements. image my favorite spot to curl up with my morning coffee to watch the sun rise.  Our beach-combing collections…such perfect summer memories.  Some of my favorite garden ornaments snuck from the flower beds.  I’m collecting lavender to add to this vignette…it’s in full bloom in my garden just waiting to be picked.  Some more of my favorite garden ornaments…these hold lovely verbenia scented candles.  Shells and lightly scented candles – the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon glass of wine.  Have a beautiful week!  xo  shelley

I love the look and feel of finished concrete –  the texture and feeling that is both organic and industrial – and although typical in modern and industrial design, I think it works really well in many other genres…it reminds me of old French farmhouses and converted barn spaces. I used concrete for a fabulous countertop in my bathroom – it is easy, flexible and creative.  There are tons of instruction online…but it is super easy, just trowel several coats of a feather finish (made to be able to be trowelled on very thinly) concrete product onto a rough material, such as plywood, and seal. I wanted an especially distressed look with some efflorescence and color variation so I faux-finished using drywall compound and some cement powder, troweling it into the surface to highlight the texture (I used drywall compound because it is what I had available to create needed a white color – applied in this very thin way and mixed with the cement powder it has been durable). Many of...