Keeping it clean!

Today is my normal day for an Inspiration Avenue post, but I'm not playing this week. Once again, I have no art to show. As I mentioned yesterday, this mountain of dust collectors had to be cleaned, dusted, washed, or polished.



More cat toys grace the floor in the dining room. I move them and Bleubeard always brings them back.


Speaking of which, here is where he was hiding. My visitor Ed had held him on his lap every day when we drank coffee at this table.


Bleubeard knew he was in trouble when he saw my camera pointed at him.


It didn't take him long to "get the picture."


And this is the type of picture I normally get!


He immediately took off for the kitchen, but before he could eat from his large dog bowl (you can see it on the floor under the light switch and key holder) I keep filled with food for him,


he was on the move trying to get out of camera range!


Wow, I need to straighten that area rug. Maybe Bleubeard will do it for me.


or maybe I'll catch my finger in the camera lens. Do you think USPS would be mad if they saw I was using one of their boxes for Bleubeard's cat scratcher? It is very economical and saves my basket. OK, enough playing with the cat
with the camera in this room.


In case you couldn't tell, this is my kitchen. The stairs lead to my office. The kitchen is all white, copper, and cobalt blue. I dreamed of a kitchen like this back in the early 90s, when blue was the "in" color. I already had most of the copper and cobalt accessories at that time, but the kitchen had to wait for the remodel.


My friend Joseph (see my right sidebar) and I stamped the ceiling using anaglyptus (raised wallpaper). I was able to get a sample free and I created the stamp using cardboard, foam, and glue, to which I added the wallpaper.

I painted the wallpaper "stamp" using a brush and copper craft paint. I then handed the stamp to Joseph who did the actual stamping of the ceiling (have I not mentioned I am not much of a stamper?). This was after he had carefully removed all that horrible "popcorn" from the kitchen ceiling that graces the entire house, of course. We also took the room from "country" to bungalow style by cutting and removing the country inspired scroll woodwork over the sink. BTW, this is the south wall.


I am very proud of the ceiling. Joseph, not so much! I realize all that dark blue looks black in the photo, but that is because the rope lighting I added under the top cabinets lasted about six weeks before it died.


It's hard to get a photo of the east wall because there is so much going on.


Here's another view of the lower bookcase my friend Joseph and I built one weekend. If you can't tell, I'm moving counterclockwise as I take the photos.


On the north wall, I have hanging copper. I have lots of imitation copper I plan to use in assemblages, but the imitation stuff has a pink tint to them, and aren't tin lined. All the molds shown here are.


Moving further along the north wall to the corner of the west wall, you see I use every square inch to display my blue and copper "dust collectors."


One of my biggest dust collectors is my one of a kind cheese grater/pot rack. I had it hanging over an island from the ceiling in my old kitchen, but this kitchen isn't big enough to use it that way.


Finally, I wanted to show my new bank (see this post), in the same place/position as the one that was stolen from me.


It was odd, as I was taking these photos off my camera, that I realized I still had a Christmas decoration hanging in my dining room. Although I polished this cabinet and removed everything on the table and on top of the cabinet, I failed to realize the little tree was still there. I'm sure I was on autopilot most of the time I was cleaning. It took the photos to actually open my eyes to my oversight.

Speaking of photos, you can see I have only shown three rooms: kitchen, dining/living, and main floor craft room. I have not even shown the bedrooms, office, two baths, or basement.

I hope by now you see I have a LOT of stuff. Way too many rocking horses (about 450), way too many other dust collectors, and way too many books. Some of what I own (and clean) was given to me, so the memories force me to hold onto them. Now I need to keep it all clean, not just clutter free and neat, so I don't have to spend two weeks deep cleaning again until next spring. It's a good thing most of my home is now a craft center. And thanks for taking this two day journey with me. Sorry if this all looks familiar to many long time readers, but your presence is always appreciated!!

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