The Makeover!

I've been noticiably blog absent for the past few months and I have to confess I really haven't sat down at my sewing machine very much at all. I moved into a new place in August and what began as a few changes turned out to be a complete remodel. Put it this way...the only thing that didn't get changed was the tile floor my Daddy installed a few years ago. But everything else....pfffftt! Gone. My new pad is a two-bedroom, two-bath apartment. I happen to have a really close relationship with the owners (aka, my parents) and so I pretty much had the liberty to do what I wanted. (although not necessarily my mom's blessing with my color choices! she loves it now...)

Daddy's Girl

The project has been theraputic. Most of you know my handsome Daddy passed away last December 17th at the very young age of 64. This first year has been extremely difficult for me to say the least. I am a Daddy's girl in every sense of the word. My Dad and I were co-owners of Fant & Fant Construction and worked together for about 5 years before the ecomony took a nose dive and I went back to office work and he decided to retire. Working with my Dad was the best job I ever had. Together we planned, designed and completed a variety of really great projects and worked for some truly wonderful people. We loved working together. He and I would be working in a room discussing everything from the economy to politics to religion to the crazy family we both loved. Whenever there would be a question about the direction we should take a project he would say to me, "Well you are the boss". To which I would reply, "No, you are the boss kemosabe". And it always ended in him quoting an old cartoon, "I'll do the thinnin' around here bobalouie". (Quick Draw McGraw) So as I worked on the remodel of my new place I celebrated my Dad's life and legacy and all the wonderful things he taught me in life and about construction. And much the same as when he and I worked together before, I snagged a pair of his work shorts and a work t-shirt. My Daddy is everywhere in my new place.



My Rexy boy who would much rather
I spend time with him than with a paintbrush



I owe a big huge thanks and debt of gratitude to my mom and my Uncle Tony, my boss, my amazing co-workers, my friend Lisa, my sister Deb and her kids; the loves of my life, Jade, Jehran and Jayla, and to my therapist, Kathy, who's picture I'm convinced can be found in the dictionary next to the words "consistent" and "patient". I heart her. The support of these people has been priceless.

Now that the remodel is basically done, I'll be back to sewing bags soon. For now, here are photos of what I have been working on.

Peace,

Amber

Living Room Before

This a partial of the "after" of my living room wall. I painted birch trees on the wall
and added a phrase to frame out the chair. (My sweet niece Jayla knocked out in her favorite chair.)