Hi friends! Today is a special day here on Sweet Tea & Saving Grace. I’m doing something a bit out of the ordinary today, but I’m really excited about it because you’ll get to see more of a behind-the-scenes look at what this blog is all about and how I do what I do! Today, I’m participating in A Tour Through Blogland, and my sweet friend Tara from Suburble asked me to participate. You can check out her tour HERE.
The idea of A Tour Through Blogland is to give readers of both our own blogs and those who are visiting from other blogs a glimpse inside what we do, why we do it, and how we do it. I think it’s great to take a step back sometimes and show the mess that comes before the beautiful images we share of our completed projects, even if the mess is just an idea inside of our heads at the moment!
In order to give you the backstage pass, I’ve been given a set of four questions to answer. Let’s just dive right in, shall we?
1. What am I working on?
I’m honestly always in the middle of about three or four projects at once. Currently, we are putting some final touches on our deck that my amazing husband built this summer. I’ll be sharing more details in the next couple of weeks about the awesome stain we’re using, as well as some DIY projects that add the perfect touches to our new family space.
I’ve got a dining room remodel kind of hanging in limbo right now, too. I’ve been searching Craigslist like a madwoman in search of a really cheap sideboard that I can paint, but I decided to make something for that space instead. I’m going to be throwing in gorgeous yellows and reds into our navy blue dining room, so be sure to stick around for that!
In just a few short weeks, I’ll be packing my bags and heading to Ireland for a week-long adventure with my mom! It’s a dream vacation for me and I honestly can hardly contain myself. I’ll have gobs and gobs of photos to share upon my return, and I’m hoping for some crafty inspiration while I’m there, as well!
In the coming months, I’ll be remodeling my {almost} teen daughter’s bedroom, and giving my laundry room a major facelift. Busy busy!
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I think the best way to answer this question is just by saying that my work is different because it’s mine! I’m inspired by so many things, and my tastes change regularly, so my home is filled with a mix of styles, but they all seem to come together in a cohesive and comfy environment that we call home.
I’m a big fan of vintage finds and unique pieces, so I look for deals on these things and love the challenge of finding them a special place in my home. For example, I recently scored a gorgeous old Royal typewriter that now rests atop my industrial-style console table that separates my contemporary leather and suede sectional from our traditional eat-in kitchen area. See? Mixed bag!
I love color and I’m not afraid to use it, but I’m married to a man who loves his khaki and navy blue! I have to sneak in those pops of color whenever I get a chance, and he seems to be dealing with it pretty well. When I have a crazy idea, I just remind my honey that a coat of paint will fix anything, so it doesn’t hurt to try!
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
There’s something very therapeutic for me when I create something from nothing. I can get lost for hours in my craft room, and I have to make a mess first. I’m messy when I cook and messy when I craft and decorate, but I usually end up with something I love, so it’s totally worth it.
At the end of the day, it’s sweet to look around my home and see the things that my husband and I have created ourselves. Those are the treasures we’ll cherish and pass on to our daughter one day.
My hope in blogging about my craft projects, home decor and remodeling adventures, and organization tips is to inspire other people to create for themselves as well. It’s all too easy to run to the store to buy that little something you need to fill a space on your mantle, but if you take the time to craft something with your own two hands, it will mean so much more to you in the long run.
I also love to give handmade gifts, and the response I get from my friends and loved ones is immeasurable. When you craft from the heart, it means a lot more than any store-bought gift. I think crafting is my love language!
4. How does your writing/creating process work?
Whoo, boy! This is the hardest question to answer because I don’t know that there really is a process. Imagine a tornado swirling around, but it’s a pretty tornado that’s blowing around glitter and glue and paint and canvas and markers and all other kinds of craft supplies. Eventually, that tornado will begin to calm, and instead of chaos at the end, this tornado leaves behind a creation that came from my brain somewhere.
That was a weird analogy.
Honestly, ideas come to me in different ways and all of a sudden, I’ll just think, “OOOH! I gotta write that down!” Or I’ll see something and think, “I can make that!” I have notebooks and notebooks packed full of ideas – some I’ve created, some I probably never will – but they come to me all the time.
I was a big fan of Lego’s as a child, so the figuring-it-out part is my favorite. When I think of something I want to make, I see it in my head finished. I then have to back track and break it apart to figure out how to actually make it work. It’s a challenge sometimes, but it’s a thrill for me and I love the creating process because of it.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse behind the curtain today! It was fun for me to take a break and share with all of you.
Next week, I hope you’ll visit three of my bloggy friends to see their own Tour Through Blogland:
Kara from Happy Go Lucky
Samantha from Samantha Patillo
Rosemary from Not Just Paper & Paint
Thanks friends!
