bathroom renovation

The bathroom needed a make over for a long time now. The walls needed a new coat of paint and over all I wanted to create more space in our tiny little shoe box size bathroom, by hanging shelves on the wall.

I primed, fixed holes, and painted the whole bathroom purple! ;) My favorite color.

We are really happy with the way it turned out. Some new accessories were added and I build the shelves for on the wall. (Yes, I am proud that I made that work!) The final touch was to attach some attractive welding in the front, which gave the whole idea more sophistication.

Anyway, I can't wait to return to "my bathroom"!

(not yet done with the display on the shelves, but had to get on the road for our trip!)

sewing with sophia

Before we left we worked on "making our home more beautiful" projects. When my parents left back for Germany they took with them the crib Mateo and before him Sophia was using. The crib is an old erloom. My younger sisters slept in it already and it was build by a carpenter friend of my grandfathers. When they were they were leaving it seemed the right time to say good bye to the little bed and send them off with it.

Mateo therefore moved into the lower bed of Sophia's bunk bed. We bought a new dresser and to make the room more cheerful we sewed a garland. Sophia and I worked on this project together.We decided what the shapes should look like, the fabric, the pattern, and we sewed it together too.

We were a team! I drew on the pattern, she cut, I sewed. She sewed some too, and felt very happy about it. She was making something for her very own room, to make it more beautiful. We are not done with their room, as we need to change the curtains and perhaps rug, but slowly and gradually it is turning into their little happy space, reflecting both their qualities and things they like.

lovely indeed

Isn't this just lovely? It brings so much cheerfulness into the room. I feel ready right now to lay on it with a book and sip my cappuccino!

(found here)

spring is almost here

Spring is almost here, as the rain starts to seize and little birds building their nests and patiently sit on their eggs to await the arrival of their young. A hummingbird build a little nest right outside our door.

Inspired by our happy chirpers outside I added these darling wooden birds to our wall in the bedroom. I smile when I hear the real ones sing outside and see these ones on the wall.

I also pulled out one of my favorite pillows and this time placed it on this chair. The little changes can make so much difference. I heart spring! Spring also brings the birthday of my eldest. She is turning eight this year! EIGHT!!!!

happy spring time coming.

decorating inspiration

In my spare time ;) when I can't think anymore, but just want to look at pretty things, I have found these images. They have inspired me in our home decorating. Most I found via apartment therapy.

We are in need of a new shower curtain. This one would be so cheerfully perfect for Spring coming.
We have a very similar trunk to the one in this picture. I like how she has many different plants sitting on it.
In this picture I love the birds on the wall. I started a little diy of yellow birds over our dresser in the bedroom. Birds have always enchanted me.
I am inspired by this round mirror wall. I want to try something similar on our wall facing our sliding glass door. I am thinking of painting the little wall space purple and then hanging a mirror arrangement.

a little diy

Unfortunately, I don't have any before pictures, but then again all it took was some paint. I can't remember where I picked up this little decoration piece. It was dark brown with some gold. Not really what I liked nor went with anything we have. So, I took to my trusted paint brush and gave it a new color. Now I finally have something to keep my alarm clock on. For now this will do! ;)

happy valentine's day

Hearts are everywhere, in my classroom and at home.

My four and five year olds at school learned how to cut hearts by folding the paper. They were so happy cutting hearts that we had enough to fill a whole wall! ;) The joy of repetition.

I recently organized the school Valentine's celebration. Here are some pictures from our simply lovely day.

And hearts are greeting us as we walk in the door.

Love and friendship,

Julia

homemaking continued

Just a little more decoration for the holidays. I finally got around to making us a Christmas wreath for outside. Typically I don't really want to spend the money on green branches, and so I had to find an alternative. Luckily, I found this one that I really liked and gave it a try.

I think it did turn out cheerful and bright, like I hoped.

home making contentment

Yes, we are on our winter break and I relish the time in our home. I know this might sound like a cliche`, but today I felt perfectly content, listening to german christmas carols and decorating the apartment for the holidays.

A popcorn/cranberry garland is becoming somewhat of a tradition, as I simply adore the look of it. And the branches I picked up make my happy in a simple sort of way.

Presents for our East Coast family is all wrapped and went home with Lewis.

As I typically go into a little emotional frenzy every time we go on break, I hope to stay focused on the moment. We planed a few adventures and projects, but maybe they work out, and maybe not. Perhaps the children want to do something different, and that is OK too. Changing plans can be very good, you know!

fall windows

Last weekend I wanted to do something at home to welcome the fall season. To invite fall into our house.

Sophia and her dear friends from next door were ready to do this little project with me.

They grated and sharpened crayons on wax paper.

I then added another sheet of wax paper and ironed everything, for the crayons to melt.

I printed out a leaf coloring page and traced it onto the melted crayon paper. The girls then set out to cut them all out.

Together they are now twirling through the air.

A fitting poem the children at school are learning right now:

Little leaves fall gently down

Yellow and Orange, Red and Brown;

Twirling, twirling round and round,

Quietly without a sound

softly falling to the ground

down and down and down and down.

We move our hands and arms, twirl and end all together on the floor in child's pose.

kitchen remodel

I know I haven't been around much in this blog sphere, but wanted to show you the most final result of our kitchen. Yes, our little, tiny apartment kitchen got a remodel. See also here.

The pictures don't really do it justice. However, I am loving it. I enjoy being in the kitchen. The color feels light and yet warm at the same time.

To my family and friends: Come visit soon!

kitchen remodel

(kitchen before)

Well, I was ready to start a SMALL project like painting a small kitchen shelf or something the like, when it occurred to us that it was really the whole kitchen that needed a make over. So quickly I went from a small project to a BIG project.

First I had to take everything out of the kitchen, which took me far longer then I expected. (Isn't that true most of the time?) I was amazed, shocked and ready to discard when I saw how much stuff, was actually in those cupboards, and we are generally not the hoarding type.

I unscrewed all the doors and hooks, took out the drawers and brought everything outside. What was possible I sanded outside, as that process gets kind of messy. The best part about sanding was the revelation of beautiful wood underneath two layers of contact paper. So, I not only sanded I also ripped out two layers of that very sticky paper. Believe me I was busy for one day just doing that!

(sanding and sanding away)

But now we have beautiful wood shelves inside the cupboard, coated with a clear finish for easy cleaning! That really is our favorite part, the inside of our cabinets. Other favorite parts are freshly painted ceiling and yellow kitchen cupboards. Yes, yellow. We don't get natural light into our kitchen :( but now we brought some sunshine inside with yellow paint. I am not quite done with the yellow painting, but will show picture of the finished product.

(yes, I had great help!)

It has been a long five days without a functional kitchen. Astounding how much time we do actually spend in the kitchen, preparing three meals and snacks and then the clean up and putting groceries away.... Well, in a day or two we will have a beautiful and very cheerful kitchen back and until then I will practice contentment with what I have.

a new painting

My amazing sister, as creative and talented as she is pained us this wonderful painting. I had found the original painting here.

I really wanted one and she agreed do paint it for me. I must say I like it even more than the original, the colors are so cheerful and bright and of course it makes me think of my little sister Lena every time I look at it!

Thank you, Lena!

We love you!

flowers for my classroom

Hurray, Summer is here and my classroom got a face lift or flower decoration. I have been thinking about how make the entry the "face" of our school more inviting, welcoming and cheerful.

I bought these sturdy and wonderful looking wooden picnic benches for the children to eat their snack and lunch at. They already brightened the sight with their happy looking bright blue umbrellas.

During camp we painted flowers on the doors. That certainly added a very cheerful and warm touch.

We also made a garland, or more like a prayer flag that I will show in another post.

My next idea is to have a black board facing the drive way on which we can write morning messages, welcomes, reminders, inspirational words, mathematical problems, poems etc. to help build our school community. Will let you know if and how that comes together.

Oh, it always makes me happy to make a place more beautiful!