Blogspot has been having some issues of late, but I'm going to give this a try.  My post from yesterday keeps disappearing and reappearing.  We'll see what happens with this!

I promised you long ago I would post some photos of our finished downstairs now that all the construction and projects are done.  So, here we go!

The finished living room.  The floor in this room has been replaced with random width boards from our attic.  When the old oak boards were removed, it was discovered the beams holding up the floor were rotting out, so all of those had to be replaced.  The exterior door you can see above was replaced.  Tom added antique strap hinges and an antique lock.  The walls were re-plastered by an expert plaster guy who specializes in old houses.  The (gross) paneling wainscotting was removed and new chair rail made.  And it was painted of course!

The finished living room again.
And again.  This time facing towards the kitchen.
Another shot, much like the first.
The living room again, this time from the dining room doorway.
This is the room with no name (which used to be my old studio....remember those horrible photos of this horrible room?!)  This room was re-plastered as well.  The above shot shows the new exterior door (complete with antique strap hinges and an antique lock).  This room was also repainted.  And the doorway to the living room was re-done.

Another shot of the room with no name.
The room with no name yet again.
Standing in the living room, looking through the room with no name and into the laundry room.
The new laundry room.  This room got a new floor, new washer and dryer and I think that's it.  Oh, it also got a new door to the furnace room with looks a hundred times better than the old door to the furnace room.


The kitchen.  Not much happened in here besides painting.  The pale mustard makes the room look so much larger than it did when the paint was dark green.


The dining room, which you've seen before.  All that really happened in here was a new entry door.  I think I have a shot of that....

Turns out I don't have a shot of that.  Anyway, that's about it!  It's been a long, slow, torturous project, but definitely worth it in the end.

On a (VERY) sad note, my best bud Anne's former husband Tom (and the carpenter for the above projects, and my very good friend) was killed in a motorcycle accident last week.  It's very sad.  Anne is holding up well.  They were very close and still living together even though they were divorced a couple years ago.   My husband Art considered Tom to be one of his very best friends and is having a hard time coping with this terrible loss. It's been a hard couple of weeks for all of his friends and family. 

Onward to happier topics...I've been making jewelry as usual and am on a new kick....French cut steel buckles!  I'm having such fun with them.  The photo below shows a completed bracelet and more buckles just waiting for me.

Did you notice the two tiny pins?
I can hardly wait to turn these into earrings!

I think I've covered all my news and all my photos!  Hope you all have a great weekend!!

And, don't forget Sweet Girl's Blog Giveaway!!  www.LizMathews.blogspot.com