end of the garden's [phase 1]...

the end of [phase 1] in 

cultivating disregard[en]'s garden.

it is not complete, but on it's way.

remember, everything, was under $70. 

This includes the table & chairs, soil, pots, 

yes all of the pots, flowers, seeds, plants, 

bench, windows (yes, again, all), wood crates, ladder, 

upcycled wood fence, wheelbarrow & 

my favorite water can, ever.

i am excited to begin the next phase. i'll keep you posted.

here are the after photos...

we already have ideas for the next [phase].

adding upcycled wood fence to create a flower bed,

planting our jasmine flowers 

alongside the back wall [i want them to grow up the wall],

planting some more flowers, & bringing in more color....

[not pictured are our pots with our newly planted herbs...

they are just seeds but, once sprouted, will provide

us our homegrown basil, oregano, dill & rosemary. glory].

and don't think i haven't reminded my husband

a million times about my dreamy, creative shed. 

inspiration posted here.

it WILL happen. one day.

we've already enjoyed a few mornings & evenings out 

in our new garden. it is lovely.

i loooove springtime. vitamin d here i come.

please enjoy the outdoors this evening. 

it is good for your soul. i promise.

remember how i was at the beginning of the week? 

[if not, take a look/read here]

outdoors work wonders. 

                 .jessnicole.

hell[o] forgotten & overlooked garden...

i am here to the rescue 

(with help from the husband, of course)

poor poor backyard, you have not been cultivated yet...

look at that horrible fence...

here are some other views

[phase 1] in cultivating disregard[en]'s garden

there might possibly be over a handful of phases

please be patient. 

redemption is a process...

but know, i have some amazing help

this backyard will be beautiful.

and, please note that, as we like to upcycle goods & resources,

for environmental, financial & well, because-it-is-more-enjoyable reasons, 

we did not spend over $70 in our first phase.

the photos to come will show you all of the amazing finds 

we came across...

stay tuned. i will post later this evening.

                                           .jessnicole.

{meh}day

you know those days...

the days where you know there are a billion

things you could be doing 

but don't really have the vision & motivation?

at least i do. and today is one of those days.

i'm not blogging this to get a "poor jessica" response.

i just want to blog my process of starting this business thingy.

and this is part of my process...

i am lacking motivation today.

the end.

but really, today i feel like i just need to be reminded

of why i love creating. why i love people. 

why i am where i am....

i feel so selfish. bah!

but in all honesty, i really need inspiration & vision.

so to be reminded of some of these things, 

i thought i'd include them in my blog...

God gave me this

at the beginning of 2009 when i really began pursuing 

the passions in my heart...

this is what my God has to say:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, 

to preach good news to the poor. 

He has sent me to bind up

the broken hearted, 

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn and provide for those

who grieve in Zion --

{& the best part}

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, 

a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."

                              Isaiah 61:1-3

breathe.

okay. i feel a little better.

though my little business is not yet off the ground,

though i lack sufficient income & cannot see

the fruition of my labor,

i am right where i need to be.

this still does not make me want to go paint the dresser that

has been sitting in my garage

& is 1/3 of the way finished...

but that's okay.

it's a process. 

and there are so many wonderful connections & relationships

i have made in the midst of pursuing this little business.

i am grateful for that.

and i am grateful for days like today where i can

be reminded of who i am, and where i am. and breathe.

and, to end on an even better note, i thought i would include

some of my creations from last week...

enjoy.

my beautiful sewing machine that 

helped me make my creations

&

 my sewing machine suitcase. 

found by my husband @ a thrift store.

i'm keeping all of my sewing necessities in here....

and with these two things, i made 10 little onesies

for two beautiful babies in my life 

(note: who are not mine)

&

though these are not upcycled pieces of furniture 

(my favorite things to work on),

i still thoroughly enjoyed making them because 

i could picture them on two beautiful little baby boys.

[sigh]

now on to being content with where i'm at.

enjoy the rest of your monday.

                              .jessnicole.

gardening...

sunshine. birds. a light breeze. 

i love spring.

& i love spring even more now that i have 

a backyard to plant flowers & herbs!!

one (of my many) idea & project i have

is to build (of course with the help

of my husband and father-in-law) a craft shed.

and, it can also be my garden shed....

i want it to look something like this

via mrs moy

& a little like this

via junkaholic

okay, but in all honesty, the photo above is what
inspired me to dream and design my own garden shed/craft shed.
isn't it dreamy? i mean, really, wouldn't it be amazing
to sit outside on a sunny (or overcast) afternoon
and just sew/glue/cut/blog away?! 
with some tea/coffee/chai.
really.
and, as i said in this post, i found
free wood to help build my dream shed.
now i just need the time & help....
and just because it is absolutely amazing.

& in our garden, i want to plant gorgeous flowers 
& herbs & vegetables...
and use these to label them... yes?!

via monkeysalwayslook

& buckets like these (we have a few to start with...)

via myadobecottage

by the end of summer, i am determined 
to have a glorious backyard...
photos to follow, once the beautifying begins.


                                  .jessnicole.

[clocks]

i normally hate clocks - because of the ticking sound.

but i am in LOVE with these. and, clocks seem to

be a new fascination of mine....

just for fun, i wanted to post these 

adorable & amazing

clocks.

via reUnited

&

via decoylab

& then this

via SadieOlive

& umm, yes

via whiteport

maybe one day, i will have a room full of clocks. 

like in hook...

but even better.

on another note, the rain is making it

close to impossible to paint furniture outside today.

so hopefully i'll set up some space in our garage

tomorrow and work on my projects...

i'll keep you posted!

                                     .jessnicole.

kitchen inspiration...

i am so wanting to facelift 

our dining room

and kitchen. unfortunately, we don't 

own the house so i can't make permanent changes 

but i can add some color & shelves....

 and, i can dream and be inspired, right?  

here are some inspirations i've come across... 

via wideopenspaces

via magchunk

via magchunk

via martha stewart

via designsponge

so i know we can add some chicken wire to this 

horrible pantry-type shelf in our kitchen. and,

because of my amazing husband, we already have jars in

our pantry. all i need to do is add more shelves & 

a splash of color. and, get this:

last week i received, for free, italian floor tiles

for our kitchen -- that fit just right. no joke. free.

i love craigslist free. 

i cannot wait to start working on the kitchen.

i'll post some before photos...&, of course, some after photos.

remember how jonathan and i went to the pasadena

flea market last week? well, i found an 

amazingly glorious and adorable chest of drawers

that we are going to make into a hutch for our dining room.

cannot WAIT to show you. 

and some other projects this week. it's endless: some chairs, 

a table & the hutch for our dining room. oh, & of course

photos of recent projects (including a living room

i worked on last week) & my website!!!! 

i love how creating is picking up! 

if only there was more time in the day... 

                                        .jessnicole. 

art & craft

went to the pasadena flea market today.

i fell in love.

over & over again.

(my husband says i'm dramatic)

 we ate some fruit for breakfast

 love them.

 we found some fun books to use as decor

 i wish i could have purchased these. 

the problem with some of the vendors,

is that they know they have amazing things

so they charge too much for me...

 but i love how some of the vendors truly 

know how to make a presentation of 

their craft & art.

 my husband, jonathan & i fell in love

with these cobra bicycles-- they fold. 

they are awesome.

we want to ride bicycles down the 

pathway near our little home, on sunny days. 

one day. when we can afford amazing bicycles 

(after we fix our blown out tires...)

 these my friends, were a dollar each. 

i love the dollar tables. 

i found some fun things for my little business. 

photos to come 

(you know, i have to tell you about the 

business before i show you photos...)

& my husband found free upholstery, & 

unwanted hardwood floors a man was getting rid of 

on craigslist free. i'm telling you. 

craigslist free is my new favorite place to shop.

we are going to build a fun craft/art shed out of it! yes!

oh, and i found a desk for $3.00 

on our way to the flea market. 

projects projects projects.

here is a photo of the person i fell in love with the most today. 

 he helped me all day with my crazy ideas.

he is amazing and he is my husband.

i am one blessed lady.

now a night of rest and warmth so i 

can prepare for a week of creativity, upcycling & love.

                                        .jessnicole.