I won't bore you too much with my reno except to say that for me... it is freaking huuuuge and without doubt the most mentally challenging and physically demanding thing I've ever done, but also the most rewarding. I'm determined to update the entire house, inside and out.. including the kitchen and 2 bathrooms within my budget of just $25,000. So far the renovating Gods have been kind to me and I'm (mostly) loving it... now that most of the really hard physical work is done.. I hope! Get the picture.... I'm a long way from finished but atleast I have the main living spaces livable again and my bedroom and upstairs bathroom are complete. My upstairs bathroom was very old and outdated. I removed the old vanity, sourced matching tiles (not easy), retiled and grouted where the old vanity was (easy), removed all the towel rails and shower shelf (with a grinder because the screws were stripped.. sooo much fun :), removed all the silicon from around the bathtub (worst job ever), painted the walls, arcs and ceiling (yes I love painting walls too :), painted the tiles... prep, 2 undercoats, 3 topcoats plus sand between each coat (big job), repositioned the new vanity with an inexpensive Bunnings (my second home :) cabinet then sourced a stone top from offcuts at a local kitchen place, spent days sourcing the nicest / best value toilet, tapwear, hand rails, basin, mirror, etc both on-line and locally.. then haggled (saved $600), replaced the toilet, resiliconed the bathtub, fitted all the tapwear, rails, etc. Job done!!! All this without one tradesman. I had help with the plumbing and vanity install but youtube and I did everything we possibly could ourselves. All for just under $2,000. I keep forgetting to take before photos but I do have one plus some of the in between and after. So proud of it. And me :) Ok so that's the smallest room in the house done.. yay!!! Aaaand I have my studio back. Just in time too because holy frioli I need to paint. Not my house but my heART. Turns out it's what keeps me sane which of course I should have known. I have absolutely no idea how I'm gonna fit all this in but I'm determined to keep moving forward with both. My art will be my priority now, if the reno takes another year.. or 5 then so be it. So I started with these little 20x20mm (8"x8") cuties, just to warm up and get the paint flowing through my veins again. Can you believe the first two sold within hours of showing them to the world... thank you thank you art Gods :) The 3rd is a gift for my sister. I've also decided to spend some (virtual) time painting along with my very favourite artist and role model Flora Bowley who's intuitive artistic style and warm inspiring heart is where I always come home to when I need some art and life encouragement and support. Her first monthly Real Time Live painting sessions saw me out of bed at 5.30am last Sunday morning but was soooo worth it. We painted together for 2 hours... layers of learning, being brave and bold, letting go and having fun. Just what the doctor ordered..... .... loving it so far although it's no where near finished and I have absolutely no idea where it will end up or how it will get there. I'm just gonna do the work, trust the process, believe in myself and have faith that something amazing WILL appear. Aaaah... such is life :) And because I love watching the tennis but don't want to waste time.. I created this in a graphics program (Coreldraw). I'd love to sell large scale framed graphic prints one day. What do you think? Sharing a pic of my amazing Mitch all suited up for his Year 10 formal. So proud :) Mitch has spent the past 6 months off school and on crutches with a very nasty knee injury after coming off his motorbike (again). So that's been another long and difficult journey for him (us) just to get him to surgery which was 7 days before his formal hence the brace... there was no way he was going to miss it. That's my Mo xxx So that's about it for now. I will share more of my reno as I go... I hope you don't mind. I had intended to just touch on it but writing this has.. again, shown me that I am achieving. I am moving forward. And can I just say... more for my own benefit than yours.... this is my journey. It's ok that sometimes I have massive hopes and dreams and plans and best intentions, and other times I'm lost and overwhelmed and tired and filled with fear and doubt. It's ok that sometimes I can be passionate and energetic and willing and able, and other times I just can't. It's ok that sometimes I can move mountains and other times I have to take dolly steps. And it's ok that.. despite my intentions and my words, sometimes my plans change... and sometimes I change my plans. It's all ok. This journey of mine may meander around and up and down and seemingly take forever to get anywhere. But it's all O K. It's all perfectly ok Phillipa, you are where you're meant to be. JUST KEEP GOING and you WILL get there. As Thomas Edison once said.... I failed my way to success. I don't think I'm failing but I can definitely relate to that. Sometimes it seems like 1 step forward and 2 steps back, but it's all forward motion I guess. I reckon if good old Thomas E. can do it, so can I... ha ha. At least I don't have to do it in the dark :) I am blessed in so many ways. A huuuuge thank you to Greg... I am forever grateful and hope I get the chance to repay you someday xxx And to my Dad (and his boots :) ... you are the best! xxx Have an awesome 2019 everyone!!! PS. My apologies... waaay too much text and not enough art pics in this post. But if you've just read every word ... THANK YOU! I truly appreciate your support!!! And I promise much more art to follow. Well that's the plan anyway :)
4 Comments
Nat
13/1/2019 10:08:50 am
You are an amazing strong, courageous, and wonderful woman my beautiful Sister In Law. Love you lots. Xxxxx
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Pip
13/1/2019 06:03:58 pm
Thank you as always Nat :) xxx
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Donna
13/1/2019 02:33:31 pm
You are so clever, love your reno's so far and those last paintings were gorgeous.
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Pip
13/1/2019 06:06:09 pm
Thanks so much Donna :) xxx
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