White Kitchen Reveal

(click on images to zoom in)

Who says over 50 yrs. old Knotty Pine (KP) wood cannot be painted on?? Painted white of all colors too!!   Not this girl!! Check out the post on my whole kitchen by clicking HERE.  

 First of all, let's take a trip down memory lane.  This was my Knotty Pine Kitchen back in June.

Scary, isn't it?!!!
I used TSP to scrub down each door, cabinet and wall.  What a chore that was and I'd have to say, the hardest.

These next three pictures are from before I painted the countertops and after.

PREP AREA

 U Shape Countertop

Another view of the U Shape Counter

I have to use this kitchen island for the next 13 days since I can't use my countertops yet.

Every cabinet door took two coats of primer.  The wall only took one.  I used Zinnser Cover Stain Primer.  The salesman at our local hardware store was very nice in helping me figure out what I needed and I owe it all to him!!  Thanks Neal!

After I primed I painted at least 2-3 coats of white paint on everything.  I have one wall left to paint in the kitchen nook area and hopefully I will be able to tackle that one in the week to come.  I'm not going to paint the KP ceiling because I believe that will add character . . . .yeah right, who am I foolin'?  I'm afraid I'll break my back in painting so I'm going to let it go!

I used Giani Faux Granite for my countertops.  YES!  It's faux granite.

A 3-step process that was very simple. The instructions and video tutorial were VERY helpful.  The only drawback is that I won't be able to use my countertops for 14 days because it needs to "cure".  I'll let you know if I make it that long!! (click on image above to take you to their site).

So there you have it, all my cupboards are painted and my countertops are totally transformed.  I can't believe the hard part is over but I'm sure glad it is.

The carpet?  Well it's going to stay for now.  I do want to get rid of it but that will have to wait until next summer, I hope!

The kitchen isn't decorated the way I want it just yet.  I just couldn't wait to show you.  But I'm certain I'll be posting projects and crafts for it as I go along.

 I think I need me a good little break, an icy cold drink and some "me" time for a day or two.

Until next time,

 

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Native Language & Culture Camp

Aanii (hello in Anishinaabe)!
On July 25-27th hubby and I had the pleasure of attending our first Native American Language and Culture camp here in Manistee, MI.  Some of you may already know but for those of you don't, I am half Native American, from my father's side who belonged to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (LRBOI) from our area. My siblings and I and all our children are official citizens of  the LRBOI.  One of the reasons why my hubby and I moved up here.

Four sessions were held daily and it was so hard to choose from but here are the few that I attended:

This was the first session I attended, learning to make Indian Corn Soup.  Did you know that Indian Corn Soup takes three days to make?  The corn is the reason why it takes so long but oh so worth it.  Here the kids are removing the corn kernels from the cobs.  It took awhile because the corn kernels are hard.  On the left two ladies are putting wood ash (real wood not pre-treated wood) in a cotton cloth and tying them into small sacks that then get put into the soup with the corn kernels.  Ewwwwww!!  That's what I thought at first too!  Come to find out, the wood ash helps the kernels to open.  How in the world did the Native Americans ever figure that out??  Don't worry, any wood ash that seeps out is rinsed away.

Here's the delicious soup three days later.  Broth, chicken meat were added.

There was plenty to go around for everyone at the camp, almost 300 people.  I plan to make some this coming Fall so look out for the post/recipe.

One of the moms there was carrying around this papoose.  I would've loved one for my kids.  They are so snuggly and secure.

I attended several sessions learning to speak the Anishinaabe language.  I have such a LONG, LONG ways to go.  The key is not to give up.  We must keep it going for generations to come!  **Hint, hint to my kids and my grandchildren and future grandchildren!! :)

This guy was braiding sweet grass.  I'm not sure the purpose for it.  I'm still learning but I just took the picture because I thought it was cool

Making baby moccasins.

Making baby moccasins.

Here are the pair of baby moccasins I made.  My first try!!  We used strong felt material to make these and to practice with.  I will be making some soon out of deer hide and I can't wait!

Here's a picture of the moccasins with a vase my sister painted years ago.  Now she's the one with all the artist talent!!

I went around the camp when I wasn't in one and just took pictures.  Here is the session of Plants & Medicines Important to our People.

Here are the youth having their own sessions separate from all the others.

Drummers doing what they do, drum. :)

This was such a fun time for hubby and I.  He didn't attend some of the sessions with me but we both learned a lot.  I was most fascinated by the elderly woman speaking the Anishinaabe language.  Some stories they told were in English as well, one about eating Muskrat brains when she was little (I almost choked when I heard that one).  Another spoke about harvesting wild rice in the area we live in.  I also learned to make fresh teas from blueberries and Sassafras which apparently grows wild all around upper Michigan.

Anyway, that was our weekend.  I'm so looking forward to next years.  We are allowed to bring non-Native friends so if you're interested in learning more about the Native Americans and want to come up and join us, by all means please let me know.  Or perhaps you can be allowed to attend a camp with your local Native American tribe.  A great learning experience, especially if you are a teacher.

Until next time,

No Sew Under the Sink Curtains

Need a quick and easy way to make curtains under your kitchen sink?  Look no further.

This is what you'll need:

• A pair of cafe curtain panels (big enough for your "window") I found mine at K-mart
• Scissors
• Pins
• Tension rod - measured for window and ready to go
• Liquid stitch
• Hot iron (DO NOT use steam)

Feed the curtain rod through one of the curtain panels and place it under the sink where it will eventually end up.

With both hands, grab each side of the panel and pull up to the length you want your curtain.

At the same time, make sure the folded edge meets where the rod is.  Wrong side touching wrong side, pin from one edge to the other.  This folded edge is your new curtain top edge.

Iron folded edge but make sure to remove pin first, one at at time until the whole edge is ironed flat.  While you're at it, iron the rest of the curtain if it needs it.

I turned over the panel (I'm not sure why) but this is just to show the ironed edge.

Open up the panel, lay flat and about four inches from the ironed edge (towards the top edge), cut straight through.  If you need to draw a line, us a yard stick and pencil and lightly make the mark on the wrong side of the curtain panel.  I can pretty much eyeball myself.

Fold down the raw edge about 1/2 inch (wrong side facing wrong side). As you fold it, iron it as you go all the way across.

Open up the edge and place a light stream of liquid stitch NOT a giant blob like mine :/  Do it all the way down the edge then fold over.

Heat the folded/glued edge according to directions on the liquid stitch tube.

Once the edge is "stitched" add another stream of liquid stitch on top of it.  Go all the way down then carefully fold over.

Repeat ironing step.  Set aside and repeat the same process with the second panel.

Here are the two complete panels side by side.  We're very close to being done!

Now take your tension rod and feed it through the new inserts of both panels.  Make sure the panels are facing the same way.

I pushed the rod against my countertop and spread out the curtain panels evenly and fluffed up the top edge.

Place curtains in "window" and voila!  We are done!  This project took no more than 45 minutes from start to finish.

It's that time of the season for Sunflowers, that's why I chose this pattern.  I will be replacing these curtains come Fall and come Christmas.  How fun is that going to be?  and of course I will be saving all my curtains to reuse for years to come.

Aren't they adorable?

Question I have now is, "what do I do with the tier?"  There's got to be something I can make out of it!  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!  Thx!

I learned later that I shouldn't use the liquid stitch with sheer fabric.  It says it right on the tube where I somehow missed it until it was too late.  I can see why it says it though, you can see the liquid stitch straight through the fabric.  Not good if it's out in the open for everyone to see BUT since I used it for under my kitchen sink, I don't think anyone will take notice but you may reconsider using sheer fabric for your project.

Until next time,

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Inspire Me Monday #18