Today is the last day of my staycation. I spent a blissful week and a half making things, seeing friends, and sleeping in. I got to crack open beers before noon and play Mike Tyson's Punch-Out on my NES (which, in retrospect, was a preeety racist game - observe Piston Honda's dialogue screen).
Perhaps the most satisfying part of my time off was spending the first few days repainting, moving things around, and generally nesting.

More after the jump...

I took these with my phone from the car while returning from a vacation in the sticks. You can see the rear window defrosting bands in at least one of them.

They remind me of the Polaroids my parents took when I was small.

More after the jump...

I work with quite a few potluck enthusiasts. I get bashful, though, whenever we have these sorts of celebrations because my cooking skills are...unimpressive. After a few half-hearted attempts the only thing I've learned is this single nugget of wisdom: Choose your battles. I figure what I lack in accurate measurements and cooking times, I make up for in presentation.

More after the jump...

I moved out of a shoebox-sized apartment a few weeks ago. I got the keys to the new place on a Wednesday and my brother and a friend were set to come the following Saturday morning to move all the big stuff.

What LB should have done: Boxed up and moved all small items including, but not limited to, clothing, shoes, kitchenware, linens, end tables, bathroom stuff, art stuff, hanging frames, lamps, and books.

What LB did: Spent three days painting rooms, getting her studio squared away, and getting all clothing on wooden hangers.

I guess I didn't realize the miscellany one person could pack into a 400-some square foot space - I am sure Brian and Dan wish I had. Consider this my formal apology, guys. I guess I was just too excited to move to a place I could paint and arrange and otherwise decorate to focus on any rational packing schedule. 

Anyway, observe the breakfast area as it was when I moved in:

Pretty standard. A few weeks prior I had ordered a birch wall stencil from an awesome fellow Etsian, Cutting Edge Stencils (go visit her, here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CuttingEdgeStencils). Here's a photo of it from her store: 

 

It took some time, but it was worth it. Here is Stella Artois hanging out in front of my freshly-birched wall:

Q: What hangs out in trees?

A: Birds, of course!

I've wanted an antique birdcage ever since I saw one that was turned into a light fixture, but they're popular right now and, consequently, overpriced. I looked around on Craigslist one day and found what is possibly the best find ever: an affordable antique birdcage in the shape of a painted lady. Here it is at my parents' house in the process of getting de-pooped:

 

Bonus:  It reminds me of the Holiday House from The Thief of Always:

Once that was all cleaned off and disinfected, we moved my kitchen table in and I had someplace to have breakfast!

I know I shouldn't let them on the table, but Dick Grayson is a *skoach* too chubby to to make it to the window ledge. 
I thrift pretty often and found a portfolio of bird prints at Goodwill. I framed and gridded some of them to go with the cage:

 Finally, a house that grand shouldn't be left unoccupied:

Al in all, I am pleased.

I welcome any of you who are itching to tell me about your redecorating to leave a link!

Your Sister in Craft,

LB