DIY2 and Nesting

Mike and I have spent the better part of this weekend indoors due to the 100+ degree weather that smacks either of us in the face when we walk outside. Turns out that hot weather is great motivation for doing projects in the house! We've knocked out several wedding projects, began others and also completed the huge "nesting" project of reorganizing the master closet to make room for my clothes.

On Friday afternoon I got to focus on a DIY project that was more my speed which involved paint and a canvas! Mike and I decided to have a wedding guest tree instead of a wedding guest book that everyone signs (and no one looks at after the wedding). These come in a variety of different types, but we decided that we'd paint ours and have our guests use ink to leave a thumbprint and signature (like this one).

Friday night we picked out a tree shape that we liked from some images online. Mike sweetly set up my painting station, laying out the paints, water and my paint palette near the beautiful, new easel he and his dad MADE for me. After the setup was complete, I went to town painting the guest tree.

Meanwhile, Mike worked on making wire hangers in which to hang candles that will go on our centerpieces. Oh, and he also entertained Charlotte who was supervising both of us and playing with his wire pieces.

 

We spent the better part of the evening on our various projects. I focused on the tree. Mike helped by giving input on it and by meticulously wrapping wire in the shape of candle cradles. Charlotte just played and slept. A couple hours later, and just shy of midnight, we wrapped for the night. The tree is done and a good portion of the wire candle cradles are done as well. Here are a couple pictures of the guest tree although the lighting and quality are poor cuz of my camera phone. The first one has truer color quality, but the second gives you a closer look.

On Saturday the heat was just as terrible so we set about crossing another "to do" off the list: reorganizing and installing shelving into the master closet. The closet, which is pretty large (6'x5'). already had some shelving in it which was a good start. However, when Mike and I started talking about moving my clothes in we realized that the space could be better utilized if different shelving was in there.

Well, you know how projects go... they are never as quick as one first estimates. When we looked closer we decided that not only did it need new shelves, but it also needed a fresh face. So, we bought some paint and shelving material and got to work. About five hours later, the closet was scar-free and sporting fresh walls. It also was stripped of the old shelves and new ones went in place of them. I'm so pleased! There is little shelving for towels, sweaters, etc. Medium shelving for shirts and pants. There is even the perfect height shelving for all the dresses I own. It feels good to accomplish that project and get some nesting details situated now so that we won't be staring at them immediately post-wedding.

Today is also hot, providing me a great day to post this and relax a bit. Mike is working on piecing together some fishing rods and reels. Charlotte and Pearl (our other kitty) are sleeping on the couch where he's working and at his feet.

I also just finished putting some touches on our cake toppers. They are a little different than the average wedding cake topper. There is no bride in her white dress standing beside a dapper groom. Rather, the tiger and cow figurines were won with ski-ball tickets that Mike and I won on our first road trip to Myrtle Beach that we took in Round 2 of dating. The plastic, bendy animals have been sitting in Mike's living room and waiting for such a purpose as topping a wedding cake. I found a little top hat and cut a (much) smaller version of a veil to glue on their heads. The result... a cow and tiger ready to be married! Mike claims that the crystal candle holder they are in is their hot tub. What do you think?