Garage to Studio Remodel....The Beginning

Hello friends!  After a year of home improvement projects (kitchen and bath and an assortment of various other things) I didn't think my husband would breathe a word of projects for...well....into infinity.  WRONG-O. It's so unlike him. ;-)  Or maybe he's tired of paint cans on the kitchen table.  That's probably it.  hehehe

Out of the blue this weekend he said "I think next year's big project should be converting the garage into your studio."  Um....WHAT????  I'd been dreaming/planning/hoping for this project....but wasn't sure he'd ever be on board.  I think he wants a new garage....that might be part of the motivation.  

This last year I have been blessed with finding a path that I never really intended, but just happened to find me.  My sign painting business, Onion Grove Mercantile, has kept me busier than I ever imagined....and I love every minute of it!!  Well most minutes of it.  When I had one or two signs to paint it wasn't a big deal to work on them at the kitchen table....but when I have 40 signs to work on it becomes *a bit* of an issue.  A space of my own would be amazing....a space that can stay messy and I can dribble paint without panic.

So here she is friends.  Oh, and there are actually DOORS on this little barn....they're just all open right at this particular moment.  I'm thinking we'll enclose one side, install a window, then have a swinging barn door on the right side.  The little door up top there needs some work too....that would be neato with a window in the big space, and the window reinstalled above that. (Stained glass??  I really am getting crazy now!)

 

(source...BHG)

I sorta totally love this....I'm not insane though....there shall be no tiled floor in my studio, or curtains...but I'm really digging the barn light and details.

Here is all the interior beauty.  Can you see it?   Windows installed on the left wall there to let in some light, work tables, a big sign easel, paint storage......maybe a new floor?  This one is pretty bad.  You would think we've had a crazy earthquake or something...heaves like you wouldn't believe.  The space is really big though....would work perfectly for working on some of those giganto signs you folks come up with! :-)

Then there's this dilemma.  My husband seems to think...*rolling eyes and being sarcastic*....that this piece of junk needs to be INSIDE the garage.  Just kidding, just kidding.  I luvs this car....super fun to drive and I just look cool doing it....so the baby needs a home.  A new-garage-type-home me thinks.  Sitting in the middle of my studio is just not going to work for either of us.

Currently this is the access to the attic....as long as I stay thin and sprightly this works...otherwise, uh...not so much.  I'm thinking something more like this would be nice.....along the back wall.

 

(source?...who knows...broken link on Pinterest...shocker, right?  I'm becoming a total Pinterest snob...I know, shame on me)

This is the attic space....nice and tall.  Swimming anyone?  The whole thing needs to be shored up, and the floor relayed...right now it's a bit like walking on marshmallows....and not in a good way.  A big hearty prayer before each step comes in handy.

ANNNDDD....the electrical.  Houston we have a problem.   Not so much problem in terms of *do the lights turn on or not*...more like *I'm afraid the whole joint might burn down if I plug in a radio*.

Call me crazy....but I'm thinking duct tape might not be an approved electrical component.

So friends....you'll have to listen to me blabber on about this project for the next year....til  next summer when we hope to get to work....and recruit the greatest contractor ever.  After the door incident though, I'm not sure he'll ever talk to me again. ;-)  hehehe 

I've got a year to work on him though.

The Lonely Orphaned Sign

Hey folks!  Look, I'm still here!  Not much, but once in a while. ;-)   Onion Grove Mercantile is going a little crazy now....crazytown crazy.  A few pins by my magical  friend named Michael and I've been catapulted into the sign stratosphere....and let me tell you, it's a darn fun place to orbit!  Busy place, thus the lack of attention to poor ole Notes From the Heartland.  I've been learning lots about business....how to stay organized...how to keep books (sorta)...how to NOT dip my hair in the paint EVERY.TIME.I.PAINT...I mean, not like that happens EVERY time....okay, it happens EVERY time.

This past week brought a new lesson.  Custom work is risky....unless you demand funds up front.  This poor girl pictured above is an orphan.  Painted, ready to go, never paid for.  Lesson learned...the hard way.  

But she's so lovely, I just keep moving her around my own house.  If you're interested in seeing the rest of the non-orphaned signs I've been up to you can check them out on FACEBOOK and the O-FFIC-IAL Onion Grove Mercantile website.  Talk to you soon friends!

Crock Pot Mongolian Beef

I don't ordinarily blog about food this often...but it's winter....and I live in Iowa...and I'm cold....and hungry.  So there.  Today is your lucky day though friends because I have discovered what may be one of my FAVE crockpot concoctions ever.  Crockpot Mongolian Beef....who woulda thunk it? Not I.  

Go forth...make Crockpot Mongolian Beef.  You can thank me later...oh and I like tulips and chocolates.  

Crockpot Mongolian Beef
1 1/2 lb. ball tip steak or flank steak (from Wallace Farms if you're nearby...Nick rocks)
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 sliced green onions
1 t. dried onion
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. white wine
1/4 c. cooking sherry
1/2 T. white wine vinegar
1 t. sesame oil
1 t. molasses
1 t. ginger
1/4 t. black pepper
1 t. red chili flakes
1/2 T. peanut butter
3 T. brown sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch

1) Slice meat thin, put in baggie with cornstarch.
2) Put all liquid and dry spices into crockpot, add PB, mix well.
3) Add garlic and 3 green onions.  Put meat on top, toss gingerly.
4) Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours (mine took around 4).

Holiday Tour 2011...just a teensy late

Did you hear? Our home was included in the Clarence Friends of the Library 2011 Holiday Home Tour.  The preparation is nothing short of a type of torture that I'm SURE has been outlawed by the Geneva Convention.  HOWEVER, the benefit is that all those nagging little (and big) projects that had been hanging out there in la la land got DONE.  Go grab a snack, a drink, and some toothpicks to keep your eyes open as you peruse the next 30 something photos of the house....in all its CLEANESS.  Did I mention I have an eight year old boy, a four year old boy and a 35 year old boy?  They all live here...at the same time....at the same time I had to keep the ENTIRE house clean.  I deserve a trophy for that.  Or a tiara.

Have I mentioned how much I love my kitchen now?  I'm going to share that love AGAIN soon in a Before and After post.   

The dining room.  I managed to hide my oakey oak dining room table...the hubster put the kabosh on painting or staining it.   Little does he know the plans afoot when he leaves on his next business travel overseas.  BWAHAHAHA.

Hedge apples....just because they're cool. 

God bless my husband and friend for lugging the cabinet out of the basement.  I love this thing.  Love.  The weight...well....just shy of elephant.

The $1 chair.  More on that to come too....I'm such a tease. 

So here's the deal.  When a person hides their oakey oak dining table...well...you have to do something about those oakey oak dining CHAIRS.  Solution?  Hide them in the basement and scrounge the house.  I kinda love the bench there.  That might stay...at least until I find permanent "new" chairs.  Actually what I would sorta totally love is to have mismatched...just all in the same wood tone....or painted....

The den....because my dad is a genius bookcase builder.  Love that guy.

Master bedroom. Makes me want a nap.

Guest room.  Uh yes, I'm a ding dong and this is the only shot I took.

Back to being a tease.  This is the new downstairs bath....that deserves its own post.  Its own blog really.  Its own country to run to be honest.

Back stairs.  Do I have a photo of the beautiful front stair case and foyer tree you ask?  Uh no.  Woops.

Upstairs bath.  Artwork by a very famous artiste named Marshall V.  He was two.  Genius. Pure genius.

Boys' room

If you're still awake I thank you for taking the time to go through my virtual Holiday Home Tour. Oh, it's January you say?  Just pretend it's Dec. 25 and you're delighted to look at Christmas photos. ;-)

Cranberry Pork Roast (Tenderloin)

Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum.  I have a new "thing" for my crockpot.  Who knew?  This could possibly be the best invention for busy moms since the electric sweeper.  I actually have TWO crockpots now.  A little one and a big one....because recipes call for different sizes, did you know?  I mean, who wants to make a gallon of cheese dip?  Not I.  But a gallon of  yummy soup, yes please.

ANYWAY, tonight I tried a new recipe and it was the bomb.  Cranberry Pork Roast.  Well actually mine was Cranberry Pork Tenderloin because that's what I had in the freezer....and I only get meat from Nick from Wallace Farms....and my next meat delivery isn't for a couple weeks.  Don't get me started...but you should get a meat guy...it will change your life for the better.

Here's the deets peeps....you'd better try it...you'll thank me.

Cranberry Pork Roast (Tenderloin)

Pork Roast (2.5-3lbs) or Tenderloin

1 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 T. cornstarch

1 c. fresh cranberries 

1/4 c. white sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/3 c. golden raisins

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/3 c. cranberry juice

1/2 small lemon, sliced

In a zipper bag combine dry spices, cornstarch and meat.  Shake.  Plop into crockpot.  Dump other ingredients on top.  Top the whole show with sliced lemons.

Cover, cook on low 8 hours.  Enjoy!

Oh, and on a side note. RUN, do not walk, to your grocery store RIGHT NOW and grab every bag of fresh cranberries you see.  Bring them home and throw them all in your freezer.  

Just try finding fresh cranberries in July....dare ya.

Well Hello There Loveys

What the.....what?  I know, right?  I'm POSTING.  Seriously...it's a small piece of miracle.  Okay, maybe a large piece of miracle.  How ya'll been?  We only have oh.....400,000 months to catch up on...yes?  I think everyone goes through this, right?  You go along fine for a while, thinking of lots of things to talk about, yammering endlessly.  Then, whammo.  You hit the wall.  Or in my case, I got busy as H-E-double hockey sticks!!  I haven't been brave enough to count how many signs I painted before Christmas.  Seriously folks, it was crazy.  Then I landed my lil ole self in the hospital...I'm fine....but don't overdo it ladies (and gentlemen)...stress catches up with your body.  

Our elf, Elfy, kept us company all through December.  I kinda wish our bathroom sink was bigger...who wouldn't want to take a marshmallow bath with a guy from the North Pole?  Okay that sounded weird.  

Think of it in a "non weird" way.

Anywho, the sign painting has been going along swimmingly.  I have lots of favorites from this year that I'll share soon....there are a bajillion. 

And my friends....seriously??!!  My friends are having knockout years....while I've been not blogging, they've been lighting up the night sky!  Did you hear that my dear Loo Who (Michael from Inspired by Charm) was published in a REAL LIFE magazine!!  Shut up, you say?  No, really!  Awesome, right??  If you haven't seen Folk you must run out into the street THIS MINUTE and find a copy.  I'm going to stalk my favorite flower farmer until her shipment comes in...then I'm on it like white on rice.  I mean, he's so famous now that I feel like a groupie. Okay, who am I kidding....I'm a Loo Who groupie. You rock Michael!!  

Remember the little people. ;-)

Then there's my friend Kim...yeah you know her....Kim at The NewlyWoodwards.   She's awesome all on her own...I mean really? Anyone who can set monthly goals and actually accomplish them...crazy.  But then she goes and gets herself in the FAMILY WAY!!  Shut up, you say?  No, really!!  Kim is going to have a BEEBEE!!  And that beebee will undoubtedly reside in the snazziest room, with the snazziest jammies, with snazzy stuff to do.  All made by my Kim.

And if I don't feel sluggy and boring enough....my friend CATHY goes and gets her flower farm  listed with Silos and Smokestacks!!!!   That's a big deal folks.  BIG.  STINKIN'.  DEAL.

And , well,  everyone else has been up to all kinds of cool stuff too.....==================>

I can't promise I'll be all bloggy everyday...but I promise to try harder!  See ya soon!