Sunday, 7 October 2012

Not enjoying painting ...

... but I'm not talking about THAT sort of painting. I'm talking about painting doors, window frames, skirting boards, etc. We're giving our living room a serious make over. I've always wanted a smooth flat ceiling yet every house we've ever owned has had the old-fashioned Artex stippled ceiling. On a few occasions I've stripped the Artex off myself and put up a textured ceiling paper. LOL ... that's fun if you've never tried it, papering a ceiling. However, this time I decided to have the job done properly so we had a tradesman in to re-plaster the ceiling for us, and it looks great. While I had the walls stripped of wallpaper I took the opportunity to run in some electric cables to give us some extra power points.

The best bit is that we've also decided to refurnish the room so it's out with the old 3-piece suite and in with something new. We are having two 2-seater Sofa's, one of which is an electric recliner and a 'special' chair for me. I have ordered a real Stressless recliner by the Norwegian manufacturer Ekornes. It's not a cheap option but once you've sat in one ..... hmmmmm.

Anyway, it's all coming together well and the end is in sight, which is a good thing because I haven't touched a brush (art type) or a pencil for weeks. The new furniture arrives next week and I've decided that the very last item to be put into the newly decorated room will be MY chair. So this post is by way of a warning that I'm likely not to post again for a while because once I'm in that chair I'm not moving for at least a month.

Because I have no art to share, I've decided to do something that I've been thinking of doing for a long time but never seem to get round to it .... share with you one of my other hobbies, photography. I have a Sony H9 Bridge camera with Zeiss lens and 15x optical zoom. It's a very versatile bit of kit but not in the same league as DSLR, which is something I'm thinking of getting very soon. I've never really been able to justify the cost of a good DSLR with the few opportunities I've had for photography, but now I'm retired things should be different ... if I can ever drag myself out of that chair.

A selection of my photo's are in a slideshow in my sidebar, and here are a few others. I hope you like them.




    







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34 comments:

  1. ann @ studiohyde7 October 2012 at 22:28

    Sounds like a major makeover John, good for you...I'm not keen on artex ceilings either...(Luckily we don't have any here). I do, however, have a recliner, a Sherborne and it is Gorgeous. So much that husb. decided he should get one too. The trouble is when we totally recline them, that's it, we are off in the world of nod, usually after a good lunch, any jobs planned get forgotten...you have been warned!
    I can see that you have an eye for art, as your photos are wonderful. Hope your new look room comes along well and you have a good week.

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:05

      Hee-hee-hee .... thanks for the warning Ann. Can't wait. ;-)

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  2. Judy8 October 2012 at 09:17

    Amazing photos John! Good luck with your makeover work! And we'll see you back in blogland when you get out of that comfortable chair! :)

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  3. Gatepost productions8 October 2012 at 09:46

    I know the feeling, John. There were fine Victorian ceilings here that had been ruined by Artex.

    I have now (over the years) panelled them all with exotic woods - maintenance free.

    I tried to get a special chair from the USA for my mother-in-law ... but it was the wrong voltage!! (boom boom)

    Wonderful photographs, thanks for sharing.

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:16

      Your ceilings sound fabulous John. Now let me see ... Mother-in-law ... electric chair ... Boom!! Hey, great idea!!! ;-)

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  4. Sandra Busby8 October 2012 at 14:44

    Wow! What amazing photo's! And what a great idea to share them when your art has had to take a back seat. You have a very artistic eye :0)
    Hope the decor goes to plan :0)

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:18

      Thank you Sandra. I've been told before that I have an artistic eye but I haven't figured out which one of the four it is. :)

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  5. Trudy R. Gomez8 October 2012 at 14:53

    A man of many talents! Good luck and blessings with the remodel. My husband and I have papered a ceiling...BOY, was that tough.

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:29

      Yes, papering ceilings is not easy. Thank you Trudy.

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  6. Vicki Holdwick8 October 2012 at 15:53

    The photos are wonderful,

    Thanks,

    xoxo

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  7. suzanneberry8 October 2012 at 18:41

    hi john! good luck with the renovation, sounds like it's going to be lovely. such hard work but so worth the effort.

    and thank you for you very kind words, i so appreciate them. taking it a day at a time and some days it works. take good care my friend and again, thank you so much.

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:31

      Hey Suzanne, how lovely of you to visit. May you have more good days than bad ones, and stay strong. ;-)

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  8. _Frankb108 October 2012 at 19:59

    We removed an artex ceiling in our house once and it was a nightmare. You definitely deserve a recliner after that job!

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:35

      I cheated this time Frank. Had new plasterboard fixed to the old ceiling and then plastered. It's lowered the ceiling by half-an-inch but the hardest job I had was carrying a cup of tea to the plasterer. Nice to see you blogging again. ;-)

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  9. Laura9 October 2012 at 09:03

    Oh do I know that feeling when there is nothing but chaos around you. It will be worth it in the end and keep thinking of that lovely soft armchair. Though don't settle too long as we want to see your lovely drawing and paintings too. Love these photos. The quality is fab. You should show more of them. Take care.

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:43

      Thank you Laura. I really enjoy the end process as order comes out of the chaos. Glad you like the photo's.

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  10. Crystal Cook9 October 2012 at 16:46

    Oh boy do I feel your pain about not loving that kind of painting. We're re-painting our whole house right now too and I am so tired of all the clutter and chaos of furniture being moved and painting tools all over the house that I feel like tearing my hair out!!! Like Frank said, you deserve a recliner for sure!!!

    And your photos are so lovely John, you have such a great artistic eye.

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    1. John (JWJarts)9 October 2012 at 22:46

      Oh dear, I don't envy you at all Crystal ... one room at a time is as much as I can manage. Thanks for the lovely comment.

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  11. sue greco10 October 2012 at 02:50

    Hi John,

    I enjoyed your photos especially of the birds as I am a birder. Also, fantastic photo of the ladybug. Wow! When all is done, enjoy your recliner, you deserve it!

    Sue

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    1. John (JWJarts)10 October 2012 at 08:45

      Thank you Sue. That Robin is always getting under feet when I'm working in the garden. ;)

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  12. Unknown10 October 2012 at 06:40

    I suggest a sketchbook and pencil should be kept next to YOUR chair so you can sketch your feet, your new room etc :) Enjoy!

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    1. John (JWJarts)10 October 2012 at 08:46

      LOL ... I think my feet are going to get sketched a lot going forward. Thanks Sue.

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  13. jsicignano2.blogspot.com10 October 2012 at 19:09

    Hi John,

    Lovely photos and I just love your forum. Must take time to sign up and look at it more thoroughly. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. John (JWJarts)11 October 2012 at 18:37

      Wow Joan ... it would be absolutely awesome to have you in the forum. The other members could learn so much from you. Glad you like the photo's. ;)

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  14. JANE MINTER12 October 2012 at 21:50

    hope you put your feet up soon ! ...beautiful shots john

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    1. John (JWJarts)14 October 2012 at 17:28

      Thank you very much Jane ... nearly finished now. ;-)

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  15. Floriana Quaini14 October 2012 at 11:44

    Ciao John,
    bellissime foto simboli della gioia di vivere!
    Ciao, ciao, Floriana

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    1. John (JWJarts)14 October 2012 at 17:30

      Grazie Floriana e la ringrazio molto per la visita.

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  16. Sharon Whitley23 October 2012 at 22:13

    Oh I do feel for you - I had the same thing back in April and May this year after moving into a new house - too busy painting walls and ceilings and doors and no time to paint watercolours - drove me mad but it had to be done! You should showcase more of your photography - after all it's another form of art - they're gorgeous, and obviously taken with an artist eye - hope you get the DLSR you want and hope you get back to painting (arty type) very soon!

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    1. John (JWJarts)24 October 2012 at 15:26

      As you say Sharon, these things have to be done. Still, I'm on the home straight now so I'll soon be picking up the other brushes. Thank you for the lovely comment about my photo's. ;)

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  17. Barbra Joan16 November 2012 at 22:02

    Thank you John for the lovely photos. BJ

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Your comments are very much appreciated and I value every one. Thank you

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