Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! We’re celebrating with Burger, Clara, each other, and a photography crew in our house for the third straight week. But there’s a twist today: we’re trying not to vomit! Poor Clara got sick the entire evening on Saturday and into the morning on Sunday and now it appears that John and I have the bug… but the show must go on! The good news is that we finished all of our secret projects so we just have to get the last 20 in the can by Friday and we’re done-zo. Oh yeah and we’re supposed to shoot some cover shots tomorrow (ahhhhhhhhhhhh) but we won’t think about that right now. So Happy V-day from our slightly green household to yours! Now let’s horse around a little…
I’ve started to realize that my little self-imposed “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge should probably just be called “So I’ve Been Hoarding Little Animal Friends And Now I Get To Spray Paint Them.” Here’s Exhibit A and Exhibit B. Although, in my defense I’ve apparently been hoarding other things like coat hooks and old light fixtures too, so it’s not like I have a spare room full of ceramic animals. Yet. But I did have these guys that we bought for $2.50 each almost exactly a year ago in Delaware in a whirlwind thrift-store-palooza. And then they sat in our playroom for 12 months. Poor guys.
But I had big plans for these little orange and black sponge painted horse heads from the start. First I gave them a few thin and even coats of primer (slippery ceramic things like this usually do best with some spray primer before any spray paint).
Here they are all primed up and steely gray:
But spring is in the air! So some happy yellow spray paint was just what the doctor ordered.
It took about five thin thin thin coats (more of a mist than a real coat of paint). You really want to just hold the can about 12″ away and keep your arm moving the whole time (there are more spray painting tips for ya right here). After a few days of letting them cure outside in the carport I brought those babies in and put them to work:
Yeehaw.
Who’s ready for warm weather and cherry blossoms and birds singing? This girl (points to self with yellow spray painted thumbs).
So that’s the story of two $2.50 thrift store book ends that sat in the playroom for a year collecting dust. One more thing off the ol’ list and out of that room. Hurrah! At this rate the room will be empty and ready for a big makeover in about three years. Haha. Kidding. But I still have a ways to go, which is why I love forcing myself to tackle one small thing we week. It’s do-able and not too overwhelming, but it definitely adds up to 4-5 little accomplishments each month along with some other big projects that we’re juggling (like zee book and zee kitchen). Did I just get French for a second? Anyway, the weirdest thing is that sometimes these little projects make me beam the most. How strange is that? It’s the little things.
What have you guys been up to? Are there any other Dude Get On That Already challengers who have tackled things that need to be cleaned/organized/painted/etc? Anyone else trying not to lose their lunch on V-day? Do tell.
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
Love the horses in yellow! They definitely brighten up the space (and how could they not when they’re holding all those books!). There’s definitely something going around. I thought it was just allergies but now I’m starting to think I’m sick, too :( Hopefully, it’s a short bug. Feel better!
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
Love them & I don’t even like the color yellow! :)
N Shirley says
Wow, they turned out great! I do hope you all feel better very soon! We don’t want any green people in the shots of the authors!
Brandi @His Shabby Her Chic says
You guys find the best stuff! I grew up about 20 miles north of Rehoboth, where are these awesome thrift stores?? It will be something to do when I visit my family
YoungHouseLove says
Ugh, we don’t remember exactly. Maybe in the comments of that post we mentioned it? It was a year ago! Haha.
xo,
s
Suzanne says
Never thought of myself as a bright accent piece loving kinda gal, but I <3 those bookends! Hope you all are feeling better soon…pretty much everyone I know (including our family) in Richmond has had the stomach bug…no fun.
Danica Allen says
oh no! You guys don’t have time for the flu! Here’s hoping for a quick recovery. Hang in there and squeeze in a nap today if at all possible. Sending a germ free get well wish your way.
Sonia says
absolutely adorable!
Katie says
I love these!! I would have those orange and black horses and thought, “Uuuugly.” But you have transformed them into such a hip and cheery shot of color. Guess that’s why y’all are writing zee book :)
Tara says
I hope you are all feeling better! We just had the same stomach bug over the weekend. Our 7-month-old throwing up Friday, me on Saturday, and my husband on Sunday. I’m just glad we weren’t all sick at the same time so we could take care of each other and the baby!
Love the horse heads!
Holly says
they are darling! nice pop o’ color ;)
Elizabeth says
Favorite part of this post? That you have books titled “Decorate” and “UnDecorate” right next to each other.
WHICH IS IT?!!
Haha! Hope all you Petersiks feel better soon!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!
YoungHouseLove says
That always cracks me up too!
-John
Deanna says
Yes. Hilarious. That’s what I noticed right away. :)
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
I love horse head book ends like those. I’ve seen so many different styles, but I’ve never taken any home with me. Love the pop of yellow on yours. :) I’d love to see the random stuff you’ve got in that room. Mostly thrift store stuff?
This is a self-imposed (for me and to my hubby) project to get things in our kitchen done: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/new-glasses/
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, it’s mostly frames and mirrors and pillows leftover from our first house that haven’t found a place yet and random other things like lamps and thrift store finds!
xo,
s
Laurabeth says
Get well soon!
Keeley @ My Life on a Plate says
I love the punchy, cheery color scheme that you’re doing with this house! Now I feel like my home is too traditional and subdued. :)
I need to start my own Dude Get on it Already. We have sooo many half-finished projects at our house. It gives me a headache to think about it.
Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says
My maiden name is Keeley! :) Just thought I would share. lol
Shannon says
Love the yellow! Do you have any issues spray painting in colder months? I put off any until it warms up a bit but wonder if that is necessary?
YoungHouseLove says
We just follow the directions on the can- so since it usually says 50 degrees, we’re lucky here (we had such a mild winter so it’s usually always over 50!).
xo,
s
Emily F says
LOVE these! I think they are my favorite member of the ceramic animal collection thus far (except for maybe Henrietta). They look perfect with the books and globe!
shannon says
“In sickness and in health….” See, it’s romantic! Feel better, you two.
Laurie @ House to Your Home says
Happy Valentine’s Day, here’s hoping you all have a speedy recovery! Try and have fun and enjoy the photo shoot!! (Love those horses!!
Tiffany M. says
All of your ceramic friends make me wish I had some! These are the cutest, brightest bookends I have seen. Love!
Amanda Miller says
Obsessssedddd.
Questions.. :) :) Do you do the primer the same way you do the paint? Thin coats? And how long do you typically let them sit until you cover the primer with the paint?
Thanks!! Love you guys!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, thin thin thin! Just a mist! I let them sit as long as it says (sometimes it says “follow within one hour with paint” so we do that- and other times that doesn’t seem to matter so sometimes I don’t spray them until the next day!).
xo,
s
Jenne says
What a superb Valentine from YHL – my favorite blog embracing my favorite animal :)
Hope you all are feeling better soon; nothing more heartwrenching than when your baby is sick . . .
Ainhoa@ALittleBite says
Five coats, huh? So that’s why my attempt at spray painting was a disaster! I tried to do it in a couple of coats. I’ll have to try again!
Karla says
I love them.
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
I love them! Yellow is such a sunshine-y, cheerful color. They look great with the blue of the globe and highlight your lovely stencil on the wall. Hope you feel better soon!
reagan@besimplemassage says
I’m a little J (jealous) that you have a whole room dedicated to things you might get on eventually. I just got scolded for not throwing away, using, Goodwilling, a bunch of things I’ve had since we’ve been in our house. So my dude got on that while I was at work because he couldn’t take it. He thinks I’m a hoarder too. Really I just sentimentally attach myself to old flower pots, vases, and stuff I think might be worth something, but I’ll never do anything with. Ha, in my defense, it really wasn’t that much stuff and I was gonna get on that in the Spring, right?
Your yellow bookends remind me of Forsythia, one of the first hints of Spring. Yay Spring!
Nikki says
Hope you guys feel better soon and get some rest!!!
erika m says
I just love how you see something past the halloween horses or the orange trim or the zillion other little things that you make glamorous…really you have such a gift. LOVE the yellow.
Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says
Cute! You really do have quite the animal collection. lol Everyone has their thing, right? I agree about the little things… I think it’s because the little things feel more creative to me than doing big projects. Big projects can become overwhelming and feel like a chore. But when you do something small, the results are instantly gratifying. That’s just my opinion, anyway. :)
Claire says
“So I’ve Been Hoarding Little Animal Friends And Now I Get To Spray Paint Them” – hahahaha! Sherry, you are too funny. Love the revamped bookends!
Michelle N says
Love ’em! Hope you guys get to feeling better.
adriane Wacker says
I love the yellow, did you paint the bottom half of your office navy blue? Maybe I missed that post!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, it’s a slate blue-gray! Here’s that post for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/grounded/
xo,
s
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story says
Love them. I am so into horses now a days that I love them in any color! Love them both in red and the yellow. Reminds me of the red guy on my coffee table.
http://whatsurhomestory.com/living-room-goes-from-drab-to-fab/
Vidya @ Whats Ur Home Story says
Hope you guys fell better soon. My daughter had a puking session last night too.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw man, I hope she feels better!
xo,
s
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh he’s handsome!
xo,
s
Deb says
Little green around the gills today myself, luckily I’m a redhead so green is my colour.
My get on that already challenge to myself was switching out matting board on a favourite picture and I’m feeling quite virtuous about getting it done. Now to get onto recovering my lamp (paper shade that suffered a cat related trauma about 18 months ago)…next month maybe.
Theresa says
So so cute!
I did lose my lunch, plus breakfast and dinner. Hyperemesis is SO much fun. Just as well I tend to make cute babies!
Michelle says
I’m trying to add a little spring to my home today. It always looks so empty without all the holiday decorations so I think I need to rearrange accessories and bring in pops of color. Your yellow animals make me smile! Maybe I’ll find something to spray…
Hope y’all get to feeling better. You’re too busy to be sick!
bridget b. says
cool! looks like something you would pay much more than 2.50 for at any store!
Sugar Cookie says
I love this! I’m definitely ready for spring, so the bright and cheery color is perfect!
julie (etsy stalkers) says
they did look so sad – probably from being tossed aside for so long. horse heads need love too. ;)
http://www.etsystalkers.com/
http://pintereststalkers.blogspot.com/
Ruth says
Wow! What a great transformation and the yellow is perfect.
Hope you and yours enjoy Valentine’s day.
Sarah M says
Ahhhh! A breath of sunshine! Love, love, LOVE them!
Kelley says
Yucky! The stomach bug, not your horsies – they are cute as a button :) I had it 2 weeks ago and it was seriously no fun.
Andrea Dvorak says
Yay for yellow horse head book ends – who doesn’t need a set of those anyway?! You guys are an inspiration with the ‘get on that’ deal. This weekend, I went and picked up a load of houseplants last week since the air was feeling a little stale around our place. I’ve also nearly finished some DIY v-day art for our embarrassingly-bare-after-living-here-11-months walls, and we FINALLY picked out backsplash tile. Order those babies up!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! You got lots done Andrea! Congrats!
xo,
s
Regina Miller says
I have been following you guys for awhile now, and I’ve wanted to comment on things before about a million times. For whatever reason, these yellow horses have pushed me over the edge and I just must say … you’re AWESOME!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Regina!
xo,
s
JanetL says
My DGOTAP(roject) was organizing some kitchen cabinets and cutlery drawers that had been a wreck for a while. :) I was pretty ecstatic when I was done.
keri says
Get well soon!
Elizabeth says
yellow is my favorite color, so I am especially a big fan of these! I can’t wait to have a house, because for now, I’ve been spray painting things on our fire escape, and it really doesn’t make for the best application!
tae says
these look awesome! how long do you wait to spray paint between coats?
hope you feel better!
YoungHouseLove says
I usually just follow the can directions (when you mist it really lightly it dries almost immediately so you can go in for another coat pretty soon). Just don’t load too much on at a time or it’ll get drippy!
xo,
s
Karen says
Sheer genius! Love them.
Amy says
Blargh. Actually, I *am* trying not to lose my lunch (or breakfast, as the case may be) on Valentine’s Day. We don’t really *do* the day, so maybe my gift to the hubby can be not puking on him?
Good job keeping up with your DGOTA Challenge. :)
Ashlee McClung says
Love them painted yellow! Perfect!