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.
heather says
First, love the yellow horses. Second, the Norwalk virus is RAMPANT this season and is super contagious. I hope you guys feel better super duper soon. Tons of vomiting and feeling like crap = not good. :( I send you warm soup from the freezing tundra.
Kelli says
Poor Clara! My two yo daughter Lily woke up this morning throwing up. Poor babies, we’ll love em up till they’re better. Hope you feel better soon!
Love the bookends, they look great! Nice vision with that one, can’t say I would’ve seen potential in their spongy specialness..hehe
Natalie M. says
Run camera crew runnnn. That bug is so catchy and so not fun. Hope you and John take turns so your not both down for the count at once…or no unforgettable scenes from a female bridal party award winning comedy
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
I love finding interesting bookends! My parents had these Jesus and Mary ones and Mary’s head broke off. Awkward moment….
But we recently inherited some 70’s deer bookends from Mike’s grandma when she passed away. They were going to be canned, but I saved them and sprayed them gloss white…
http://thelilhousethatcould.com/2011/08/31/return-of-the-deer/
They’re now my favorite part of the entryway :) Though I really wanted to spray them hot pink, in an Antonio moment. Maybe someday they’ll get a bright color like yours!
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
Aaaand I just noticed that we both have Decorate and Undecorate in our bookends… too funny (though they seem to be different editions)!
YoungHouseLove says
So cute! I love them!
xo,
s
Kahley @ Ambiance says
They are fabulous! I am looooving these guys!
Liz says
Love the small projects being tackled. Very inspirational for starting DIYers!
Kimberly says
Yuck! Our little one got sick Friday morning but was better by Sunday. Somehow, knock on wood, I didn’t get sick. But it’s definitely been going around!!!
I hope all of you feel better very, very soon! And Happy Valentine’s Day!
Emily Scanlon says
I’m going to have to ‘stage’ my house soon…and your beautiful horsey bookends make me happy. Maybe that would be a good thing to do with some of our books for staging. I should go searching for something quirky and fun to prop up my tomes… Amazeballs!
YoungHouseLove says
Happy to help Emily! Good luck!
xo,
s
my honest answer says
Oh wow I hope you all feel better soon! Especially with those cover shots coming up… Take a day off the blog and rest up (as much as is possible with the photographers there). Seriously.
Stephanie says
I’ve started my own ‘get on that’ challenge, and it is feeling good! We’ve been living in our (very first!) house for 6 months and we’re now settled enough that I should start moving things to convenient locations. First I tucked the trash away in a kitchen cabinet, then grabbed wrapping paper that had scattered all over the house and gave it it’s own draw, this week I’m reorganizing plates and glasses so I don’t have to stand on my counter daily reaching for things :)
ps- i am very excited about your book :)
Shannah says
Your challenge inspired me to pull the house paint out of storage and touch up all of those “you can’t be serious” spots around the house.
You know, like the hole I patched with spackle but didn’t repaint…2 years ago. {eek}
So 2 years of thinking about doing took me about 45 minutes to do in total. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Isn’t that amazing? I put things off for so long and they they just take a little while to do! So funny.
xo,
s
ETVTKF says
Please rest and get well soon!!!
Sara says
I just did this last weekend to a pair of owl bookends that I picked up at the antique mall here in Austin! They’re gray right now, but I’m really feeling your yellow so mine may be destined for another go-round with the spray paint. I think that doing the same project makes me an official YHL-er, right??
YoungHouseLove says
Amen! You’re part of the gang!
xo,
s
Krystle @ ColorTansformedFamily says
You guys can make some of the ugliest things pretty! These turned out beautiful. It makes me want to buy more spray paint. You have also inspired me to start making use of things I have stockpiled away. Like a jump start on sprin cleaning.
Karen F says
Wow, I would never have given those a second look if I saw them in their original state, but you made them beautiful!
Hope you all feel better soon!
Kate says
Oh I love them! I’ve been looking for ceramic horse heads for months now and can’t find any that are in this more classic shape (as opposed to cheesy cowboy-ish ones at HobLob). I did just find three amazing antique solid brass rocking chair horses, though, so I’m quite happy for awhile.
You’re so right: it’s the the little things. :)
Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage says
Why is it moms get sick at the worst possible time?? Hang in there! :) And the bookends look fab! :)
Katie says
Love them! I found a similar set of horse head book ends this past summer at a thrift store while on vacation. My sister thought I was crazy for buying them, they were $6 for the pair and two totally different colors but now they are spray painted glossy white and look great on my bookshelf! She would never admit it, but I think now she’s jealous :)
Tamara says
You are rubbing off on me! I have a future project planned (waiting for sunnier days) to spray paint a ceramic piece, something I would have *never* considered before. Thanks for the inspiration!
Allyn says
Further evidence that we should be friends: I have almost these exact bookends in our living room (holding up my collection of the new Penguin classics hardcover books. Swoon). Our bookends are shiny white at the moment, but I could see that changing.
YoungHouseLove says
Love it!
xo,
s
Anya says
I was definitely “dude, get on that..” this weekend when I finally tidied everything up and organized from our move 4 weeks ago.. Nothing like a housewarming party to get your act together! Next up is starting a picture frame wall, like your hallway, and hanging bedroom curtains with our new drill!
I love all your cute ceramic animals and I need to do some thrifting to find my own :)
Lindsey @ arkadian belle woods says
I love them! At least they finally found their home! They’re amazing!
PS – Sherry…I made a BIG announcement on my blog about an amazing boutique in Carytown!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s amazing! Congrats!
xo,
s
Sherry from BC says
Such a shot of lovely sunny colour next to your globe…..I love globes. I have picked up several thrifting and they always make me smile. The pop of yellow really sets off the books. Hope the bug isn’t too horrible for you with all you have on your plate right now. It always amazes me how much you accomplish. I have been trying to do one thing a week along with you. I have managed so far this year and it does chip away at the huge to do list. Can’t wait to see your book. Ginger ale and crackers for everyone!
Lori says
Speedy recovery to all of you! Cleaning up vomit is one of the worst… The bookends look great and the color works perfectly with the office. Even though winter has been pretty mild this year, I’m still ready for spring to come already :-)
Molly K says
Oh goodness. I hope you all feel better soon.
Though, this is how my (now) husband and I spent our very first Valentine’s Day. Back when we first started dating my husband (very new boyfriend at the time) thought he had food poisoning so we scrapped our date of lunch at Cheesecake Factory and a trip to the Planetarium (huge geeks, I know)and I went over to his apartment to take care of him with gatorade and saltines. Not exactly a dream date, especially when the next day I got it full force!
Now it’s kind of a joke with us though – like “Well, at least we’re not puking!” :)
Stay hydrated over there! and Happy Valentine’s Day!
YoungHouseLove says
LOL – that’s a good phrase for any bad day. “Well, at least we’re not puking!” Today being an exception for us, of course.
-John
tamrah ryan says
We have had a stomach bug here too, but no one is puking today, which is awesome. We were also sick over Christmas with a stomach bug. Christmas and Vday are my two favorite holidays, so all I’ll say booerns.
Hope you all feel tip top soon!
Erika says
So cute! I love the yellow, it’s a perfect reminder that spring is just around the corner. Hope you are all feeling better soon:)
Kim says
I got the bug this weekend too! I then gave it to my husband! It’s the norovirus and its going around. Rumor has it, it’s super hard to get rid of in your house so bleach the hard surfaces more than once so you don’t get it again! Apparently it can last up to 3 weeks in your house!!!
Meg says
Questions: Your shelves always look so organized. Do you have a secret box full of novels & non-shelf-worthy books hiding somewhere?!
YoungHouseLove says
Not really. Sherry long ago trained me that if I was going to shell out the money for a book, then I should splurge for the pretty hardcover version. I guess we do have a few yard sale paperbacks up in my closet, but definitely not a big collection.
-John
Kasey M. says
John you must spend a lot of time at the library…how can your house NOT be full of books? I got a Kindle in 2010 and I still can’t keep my paperbacks in order (there are some books I just have to buy “for real” so I can write in them).
YoungHouseLove says
I think that might be why! I have had it ingrained in me that I can always borrow and return books from the library instead of buying them all!
xo,
s
Lindsay L says
I LOVE THEM!! Those horses need a name though right?? I hope y’all feel better! I had a stomach bug last week and it was the worst.
YoungHouseLove says
Now accepting name submissions!
xo,
s
hjc says
I was thinking the same thing! I submit Fred and George (Weasley) for consideration (the only “famous” twins I could think of right off the bat!).
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, nice!
xo,
s
emily @ go haus go says
Happy Valentines Day!!!! Here’s to no vomiting and lots of love today!
annabelvita says
I’ve actually been adding rather than subtracting to my to do list – oops! I bought a beautiful bit of furniture last week and I can’t wait to paint her up (with the use of several YHL tutorials). Here’s the before: http://annabelvita.com/secretary-desk-with-hutch-makeover
YoungHouseLove says
It’s gonna be awesome!
xo,
s
Kristen says
Love the bookends! I’m usually not a huge fan of yellow but they’re just the perfect little punch!
Rachel says
Adorable! Did you name them? They need formal names. Like Heathcliff or something.
Hope ya’ll feel better!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh I love it! Heathcliff and who else… what can his brother’s name be? Any votes?
xo,
s
Meredith says
I think if you have Heathcliff his friend should be Harold. Sounds fitting to me!
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
What about Heath and Cliff? A little nod to Wuthering Heights in both of them and their each stand alone names. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- cute!
xo,
s
Whitney Dupuis says
My husband and I are fighting the same illness battle, unfortunately. Yesterday was the worst but I really think I made a mistake by coming to work.
On a brighter note, I absolutely love those bookends. Everything about them. Even the color! Maybe especially the color. Am I rambling? Oh well, you get the idea…
Chelsea says
So do you guys spray paint outside year-round? I’m such a ridiculous rule follower – so when I read the backs of the cans recommending the lowest temperature and/or humidity I tend to think I can’t spray paint through the winter months (even though they’ve been pretty mild in DC!)! Tell me I’m wrong and I can spray paint the chair I’ve been wanting to transform!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I follow those too! It’s been an amazingly mild winter here though, so it’s almost always above 50 degrees, which is usually what the can says!
xo,
s
annabelvita says
My step dad just spray painted a bed outside – he said the important thing was to warm the can up AND the thing being painted to a warm temperature. Probably harder to get a perfect finish but a good shortcut if needs must.
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh says
I would never have thought to do this and now that I need some bookends you can bet I’m going to keep my eye out for animals to paint. (Uh, ceramic ones. I don’t plan to leap out of bushes and slather down a pup in puce spray paint)
Pam the Goatherd says
Thank you for my “laugh for the day”!!!!
Kasey M. says
SO glad I read this and laughed out loud at work!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- hilarious!
xo,
s
Katherine says
“So I’ve Been Hoarding Little Animal Friends And Now I Get To Spray Paint Them”
This made me LOL! You are so self-aware, Sherry!! Kudos!
Love love love the horse heads. They look perfect there. You should share a picture of the cabinet where you house ALL those cans of spray paint I suspect you of stowing away somewhere just so you have them on hand.
Feel better!
Leigh says
I hope you guys feel better soon! My fam also has a stomach bug, ugh. Apparently it’s going around.
Love the cheery yellow bookends. I was in Target over the weekend and saw a white ceramic horse head. I immediately thought of you guys, now you post this…oh the irony…
Crystal says
I saw that at Target too and thought of them! Haha…
kayakgirl73 says
Hope you all feel better soon. This big is going around. My MIL had it last week and my sister has it now and they are in different states.
Darcy says
UGH!! Stomach bugs are the WORST — for your LO and for you! I’m sorry to hear that the my favorite little blog family has been hit by it too!!
In my whole life, I have never been a big fan of yellow until I started reading your blog — Now I LURVE it! Especially when its on a horse– gotta love a horse of a different color!! omg…did I just really say that?!?!? lol!
ANYHOO — congrats on getting the last 20 projects done! You’re in the HOME STRETCH!! GO PETERSIKS GO!!!!!
Stephanie says
My son is super sick with the stomach thing today – it’s been spreading like wildfire through our school system….crossing fingers that he doesn’t share :) Hope you guys feel better quickly!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
ps – the horses are GREAT!!
Chesley says
I am so, so sorry! We have the bug too, my daughter is 2 and seeing her helpless broke my heart. But after 2.5 days of ickiness, we are all seemingly in the clear. Our doctor recommended probiotics for all of us, which we are dissolving in water for little one and taking in pill form for ourselves. Good luck and feel better soon. Oh, and love the bookends.
Dan says
Love your blog, but this is my first time commenting, even though i have been following it since you moved. Sometimes i feel like i know you guys. My wife and I live in a downstairs Condo with our new daughter and we do a fair amount of DIY house fixing, too. (new kitchen floor, painting, rearranging, etc..)
anyway,you said “But I still have a ways to go, which is why I love forcing myself to tackle one small thing we week.”
that looks like a typo. should be “one small thing every week”?
Feel better, and keep up the good work!
Kate Battle says
I’m always jealous of you guys being able to spray paint outside in the winter. It is like 18 degrees here in Wisconsin…
I finished my kitchen this weekend! I used the same method you guys did to paint your cabinets and I must say, they turned out swell!
http://retroranchrevamp.com/2012/02/12/retro-kitchen-remodel-done/
I hope all three of you feel better soon! It is the pits being sick (esp. barfy) when you have people in your house and a million things to do! :(
Nicole says
Awww! Hope you three are able to rest and get better.
The yellow horses with the bright spines of the books looks so cheery and nice!
Linda says
Oh, just hoping you all feel better soon! And, yes, I also wouldn’t have ‘seen’ the beauty in those original horse heads – but you’ve inspired me to check out both spray paint and thrift shops for transformational possibilities!
Amy @ this DIY life says
Ooo! Ooo! My mom and I horsed around last week too! Here’s ours: http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/cowgirl-up/. I luuuuve the yellow BTW!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so cute!
xo,
s
Summer says
The pop of color is fabulous! -I’m not talking about your green faces. I hope you feel better soon.
May I ask, what color you used for your horses Sherry? I’ve been looking for a similar shade of yellow for some office chairs.
YoungHouseLove says
I think it’s called Sun Yellow from Rustoleum! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Shelley says
Wow. They look awesome. So jealous. I’ve been wanting, maybe even needing, a little touch of horse around here for quite a while. This re-inspired me to keep my eyes out.
Two years ago I illustrated a children’s book for TAPS {Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors}, all about a real horse named Klinger, who pulls the caisson wagon at Arlington Cemetery. The book is gifted to all military children who have lost a parent. I cried my eyes out working on this book…and every time I see a horse, I think of Klinger and all the precious faces of the kiddos I met along the way. Which is good, because I never want to forget them. You can check it out here http://www.taps.org/friends/shop.aspx?id=4281 if you are interested).
Hope you guys feel better soon! Happy Valentine’s Day. =)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my, what a simultaneously sweet but heartbreaking story. I can imagine why it’s be difficult to work on!
-John