Friday Flashback: Quilts (in which I write about winter stuff in the heat of July)

This qualifies as a flashback post because this picture was taken, oh, around October. You know how I know? There are pumpkins in our apartment, and that hasn’t happened in…a while. Also. That terrarium has been dead for months and we’ve since framed that map and stained the coffee table darker.

Anyway. These quilts? Were made by my grandma. The top one was a graduation gift (twin-sized) and the bottom one was our wedding gift (queen-sized). Each one is an incredible work of art that perhaps I’ll show you someday, if you behave. She intricately pieces the top using her crazy sewing machine but she hadquilts the top, batting, and bottom together WHICH TAKES MONTHS.

We are so blessed to have these magnificent quilts, but more than that, we’re so blessed by our grandparents–all of them! I grew up across the street from one set of grandparents and the other set have taken to full-time RVing and camp out in my parents’ backyard sometimes. Kenny’s grandparents are pretty swell too. It’s the best.

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Flashback Friday: A Story of a TV Stand (in which I realized I really loved my boyfriend/fiance/husband)

There are many reasons why I fell in love with the man who is now my husband.

It may have been because he is so smart. He is basically a genius, after all. These days, he studies for the bar exam about 23 hours a day.

Or it may have been because he is great with kids. He could say something super mean to campers and they would love it. Not sure how/why.

Or it may have been simply the fact that he put up with yours truly. That, I must sometimes admit, has got to be a tough job.

But one time when I knew for sure that he was the one for me was when he took it upon himself to build me some furniture.

Ladies, if a man decides to build you some furniture, SNAP HIM UP.

Long long ago, when Ken and Anne were not yet married and Ken was still in law school, he decided to build us a TV stand. He sort of used some plans from Ana White but mostly just did his own thing.

I should mention that Ken (before this time, of course) had NO carpentry skills or experience whatsoever. Unless it was building a Pinewood Derby car. I think everyone who participated in weekday church programs did that though, so it doesn’t count.

Oh, and I should also mention that Ken did this without a workshop of any kind. Unless you count the livingroom of his 600ish square foot apartment. Sawdust got everywhere.

At my request, he stained the top and painted the bottom.

And now it is perfect.

We go back and forth on wanting to add doors. Our hesitation stems mainly from the fact that neither of us want to mess this up and hinges confuse us. I’ve debated making fabric curtain-y things to hide our games, but I don’t want our house to become to shabby-chic. We’ve already got a ton of doilies in the bedroom…

So for now, it stays as it is, which is fine with me. After all, Kenny built it. Himself.

Can you tell I’m a wee bit proud?

Friday Flashback: Husband Edition (in which I share two rare sightings of Ken being crafty)

Once upon a time, I worked at a summer camp. So did this guy name Ken. And, SPOILER ALERT: we got married after a few years.

Anyone who has ever been to camp knows that Arts ‘n’ Crafts is a main component of the camp experience.

And at our camp, Kenny had to help on occasion with crafts. These are some of his favorite camp memories, I’m sure.

Here’s Ken making one of his infamous “brown lanyard specials” (you’d get double or triple the length, or in some cases, miles long pieces of lanyard string IF you chose brown) and expressing his excitement at rinsing out tie-dye (and sporting  it well himself).

Miss those days.

Friday Flashback: Bachelor Edition (in which I take you back to a scary place in our lives)

A long time ago, Kenny and I were not married. It kind of seems like a different lifetime, but it’s been only a few months in reality.

This Friday flashback goes back to that point in our lives. Brace yourself.

Kenny lived in Lansing and went to law school. This was his bachelor apartment.

You entered the apartment directly into the living room (see the above door on the left).

Kenny had some nice furniture from his parents, so the apartment had that going for him. We still use that sofa (slipcovered) and chair-and-a-half in our living room.

Here’s the kitchen, which was directly off the living room. Soon after Kenny moved in, we hit up the dollar store and local bookstore to create a manly gallery wall. Other than that, the kitchen was a sea of many shades of white. Gray is so last year.

We obviously staged this photo with the classy “mid-dinner-preparation” look. 🙂

And of course, Kenny loves maps, so he hung a map in his dining room. Note: The Vera Bradley lunchbox and camera case are mine, not Ken’s. I know you were probably wondering.

And finally, here is Keny’s classy bedroom/bike storage area. The decor is his college diploma. Can you say “narcissist”? 😉

Also–that black nightstand was one of Kenny’s first thrift store makeovers he ever tackled. That’s what made me really love him. 🙂 Unfortunately, he didn’t love his finished product, so when he moved out, he left it by the dumpster.

Looking at these pictures really doesn’t make me miss this time in our lives. I would much rather live with Kenny. And I know he loves my craft projects and crazy decor choices.

I’m also rather pleased that Kenny’s bike has a storage space that is not in our bedroom.

Have a great weekend! What’s your plans? Ken will be studying for his law school exams (last ones!!!). So that means I will be seeking to quietly entertain myself. I’m becoming an expert at that. 🙂

Friday Flashback: Vacuum Riding (in which one photo explains my entire philosophy of cleaning)

Let me just throw this out there.

This is how I feel about vacuuming.

I’ll interpret: I don’t like to actually use it for it’s intended purpose. Vacuums are, on occasion, a fun play toy, but when it comes to actual cleaning? Count me out.

Unless I have to take pictures for the blog. But I can still pretty much get away with shoving the stuff in a non-photographed corner. Also. Bad photography hides a multitude of sins, which in this case means stuff ground into the carpet.

So now that my secret is out, tell me yours. What items did you misuse (creatively, of course) in your childhood? All in the name of imagination…

See other Friday Flashback posts here and here. I know you’re curious.

Also. Have a great weekend! Over and out.