There is no after photo. Yet. So we’ll start with the before.

We are in the midst of remaking our kids’ room. This little 10 by 10 room has worked hard for us; first holding one little baby, then two, and soon the littlest baby (who’s not so little any more) will move in there too. Seeing as we have three kids, the whole redoing of the room is taking time–time being in short supply.

I’m lucky to have a carpenter in the family and not just a carpenter, but one that will drive down and build a bed just because I asked nicely (thanks brother!). So there is a new bunk bed and it’s pretty fantastic –I can’t wait to show you. And I’ve slapped some primer up on the wall, because the blue’s got to go, but I don’t have a particularly grand vision for how the whole room will come together.  There are still many bits that need figuring out before the big revel can happen, not to mention getting the bits done.

I was thinking I’d ask you guys for some help along the way. Maybe do some during posts instead of one big Here’s the crummy before picture, and holy crap check out the AFTER! post. I think I’m going to paint the room white, because the room is so damn small, but a good white, a warm white. Got any suggestions.  I think I might paint the dresser gray, maybe change the handles? Are you up for playing along (while I do the work, ha!)?

There is still snow on the ground (and in the forecast) but it is officially spring and trash picking season has begun! woohoo! thrifty may be good, but free is better. I picked up this beauty from the curb in a frozen rain the other night. And I might have spent all my good trash karma on it (trash picking is my thoroughly unglamorous hobby). I mean seriously, who throws good danish chairs away?

I’m thinking about recovering it with oil cloth, because my children always seem to be covered in peanut butter. All the cool kids are coming out with oil cloth lines these days too. Naomi Ito has a beautiful one, of course, but it might be too matchy matchy with my pillows (which I was going to link to, but I guess I never posted about them-oh well). I know Anna Maria Horner had some little folks oil cloth a while back. Any other good laminated fabric you know of? Not too girly, not too theme-y. Something just right.

-a metal container with a beautiful wooden top; I want to say teak because it sounds fancy, but really I have no idea.

-a slightly creepy bunny tin.

-a basket to put the baby my yarn in

-a super awesome stripey blanket

grand total: 10 bucks. I forgot how awesome the thrift store can be, how did that happen?

We went to a old fashioned sap boil last night. No fancy, shiny evaporators, just a wood fire and an old cake pan filled with sap.  And lots of beautiful food– even brats boiled in sap! which is genius and ridiculously delicious.

After running and talking and drinking and shivering, we came in from the cold and had some delicious, smokey and sweet maple syrup on our yogurt for dessert. It doesn’t get better than that.

I’m going to sneak in a little rainbow before the end of the day. While I was tiding up my studio I came across a couple fitted sheets I cut out a long time ago but didn’t sew up. I ran this one through the serger and 10 minutes later I had a fitted sheet. My kids’ beds are funny sizes, so don’t think I’m crazy for making sheets, it’s kind of necessary.

We’re slowly changing up the kids’ room–see that little sneak peek up there? This weekend it will get painted, but I’ve been saying that for the last four weekends, so maybe not. Oh and now you know: there is a panda at the end of the rainbow or a white tiger, depending on which way you go. Happy St. Patrick’s Day.