Remember Pioneer Day from Michigan

Today July 24th is significant for me.  As a child I grew up celebrating this as it was (and still is) a Utah state holiday "Pioneer Day" or "Days of 47" celebrating the area being declared as the place the pioneers would settle and call home on July 24, 1847. The stories of these early pioneers moving west are numerous and show perseverance in the midst of major trial and hardship.  Many of my direct ancestors were part of those groups that traveled west.  As this day rolls around each year I can't help but think of my family and those who are celebrating on this day.  Also the traditional fireworks in my home town last night. Hope all who showed up to mom's had fun sitting on the front lawn watching them.   

I love old photos and came across one yesterday that made me realize my mom was likely at the event in the picture.  Sure enough she was and my sister has the dress my mom made for the occasion.  She ironed up the dress and took a picture.  What a fun piece of history to have. The event was the 100th Jubilee celebration on July 24, 1947. My mom was 15 and remembers it well. A large parade came through Sugar House area which is where she lived. My mom sewed her own clothes and this dress is a great example. She used material that had been specially printed for this occasion.  The material had seagulls, sego lillies and the number 47 on it.   My sister shared the following funny.

 
"Now to tease my mom a little. She sewed most of her own clothes when she was young. She told us that she often didn't finish the items and would have to pin them on herself. Here is proof . . . No buttons and buttonholes."

I love the pin still holding it together. 

Happy Pioneer Day to Utah from this little corner of Michigan.  

Sam's Extreme Room Makeover

As a child the only time I ever recall any room being painted was after we had a major house fire.  My parents let me pick my room color, HOT PINK!  It stayed that way for decades even as my dad's office.  When we moved here 6 1/2 years ago we bought a new house!  I was so excited to not have to paint.  But little did I realize that what now seems like white primer paint can start looking dingy and old quickly.  It is also not the easiest to keep clean. The boys have been asking for their rooms to be painted for years.  In fact Dan has been asking since we were in Illinois.  SIGH  Since we were not going anywhere this summer (again) I figured why not fulfill the request.  I committed to Sam first as it became part of his birthday present, since it's in summer.  My thought was to have a fun mom/son project while Dan was off to scout camp.  But when I proposed this to Sam he instantly thought of it as an extreme makeover surprise, since he loves that home show. 

I started off making a Pinterest - Sam's extreme room makeover board that lists all of the requirements I had for the room and then began to collect little ideas I thought would be fun to incorporate. Sam has some extreme interests.  He is obsessed with science to the point I can not satisfy his intense need for more understanding. I knew that would need to be a theme.  He is not instinctively organized so there needed to be a spot for everything.  I needed to create more space and be very careful about what goes back into the room.  He had a request for a ceiling idea that I figured out a cool plan.  But it will have to come in phase 2.  I put a call out on Facebook indicating what I was doing and received some fun feedback and ideas, one of which turned out to be my favorite part.  I have read and viewed pictures of people making over blah furniture so I figured why not, he has some OK furniture.  I did buy a headboard, frame, bed and bedding as a set from a garage sale.  Yup I actually purchased something at a garage sale.  But it was from a friend.  (if you know me well you know I have personal issues with garage sales - OK for anyone else, just not me) I am saving the frame and bed part for another project and kept the headboard and bedding for this project.  Below you will see some before and after pictures.  Our cameras all died within a week of each other.  So some pictures aren't the best as they are cell phone shots.  But you get the idea.  Final wall decor pictures and ceiling mural will come later. 

Final note, it would turn out to be the hottest week so far, the week I had to be outside a lot spray painting.  But I did have fun and felt very motivated by the idea that Sam might have a place he felt was personally his.  Result, he tells us the colors are earthy, CALMING and comfortable.  Success! 

Youtube videos of Sam seeing his room for the first time and then giving a tour.

Initial Reaction
http://youtu.be/PdKrRkgmgN0

Sam giving tour of room
http://youtu.be/XV5ud7RXgWs

SORRY for placement of these pictures.  I really hate Blogger editor.  It shows one thing in edit and does another in publish.  SIGH

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE (excuse shadows)

AFTER (love the new handle)

NEW WORK TABLE BUILT BY NICK, fits over Al's crate

PAINTED AND INSTALLED, fits like a glove, Finished pillows up top

Earthy shelving, can expand

Material squares after painting design on with homemade stencils.