This was me- moping, er, mopping my way through the past 2+ months of life. Deciding after 9 years in a 43 year old house in the ever growing climate of the tropics, that some sorely needed improvements were going to happen.
Multi-tsk-ing, oh, tasking, my way through being my own contractor and sourcing, buying, researching and ordering parts and pieces for bathroom renovations. Tsk-ing was more like it. What should have taken two weeks turned into almost 2 months with my studio serving as a staging arena for tiles, sink, plumbing parts, grout, concrete and lots of boxes.
We don’t have Home Depot ( but will in a few months ) so everything had to be purchased blind with hopes that it would all fit and look ok.
This is why I sacrificed painting:
Horrific
Terrific
Hard to imagine that a 5.5 X 7 foot room could be so involved- re-routing plumbing, and so many components to coordinate.
I missed you all- readers, artists, bloggers, brushes, tubes, canvas, turps, silence, ( hammer drills, you are irreplaceable but caused way too many Exdedrin to be ingested )
The daily frenzy of coordination and builders tramping through here made me wonder if I was Coming Or Going…………
Coming Or Going 8 X 10 Oil on Panel
And because I know you missed her too, and in case you were wondering if the chaos had any effect on her…. this ought to dispel your concerns…
Cloud
It’s good to be back.
Think I’ll brush my teeth again, and wash my face again, and comb my hair again……..
Tags: Bathroom renovation, Blogging withdrawal pitfalls, Cloud puppy, do it yourself contracting, home improvement, New Painting- Coming Or Going, not painting for too long
Asheville: The North West of The South East 
April 13, 2011 at 2:07 pm |
Nice job, Bonnie! Amazing isn’t it how a small room can involve so many decisions and so much work. so now you’re ready to tackle the kitchen?? But seriously, I’m surprised you didn’t retain that orange polka-dot motif from the “before” bathroom.
Great painting! The off-kilter composition gives it so much energy and motion. Is that your living room?
April 13, 2011 at 8:36 pm |
Hey Don- it’s going to be a good loooong while before I can tolerate any more demo. But suffice to say I’ve given myself a good education. Hope life in Florida is keeping your creative spirit dancing.
Glad you like the painting. Glad you didn’t forget me here either!
April 13, 2011 at 2:17 pm |
Excellent reason to be absent for awhile, Bonnie! Your new space is beautiful!
Love the energy in the painting and I so missed Cloud and friends!
Welcome back!
April 13, 2011 at 8:38 pm |
Thank you Leslie- really makes me feel good to know that I haven’t been written off. It was an excellent reason wasn’t it? Funny how you can look at something you dislike for so long and live with it. But the minute you decide- BANG! That’s it. Nice to be back and to know you’re still reading.
April 13, 2011 at 2:24 pm |
Are you sure that’s not really the ladies room at Saks?
New painting is sublime!
April 13, 2011 at 8:38 pm |
Ted- I’m busted. That IS the ladies room in Saks. Figures you’d know that.
April 13, 2011 at 3:47 pm |
Love the mop person and the new bathroom. And the critters.
Construction in one’s home always takes more time then expected and makes you crazy. But the bathroom came out fab. The new Luria Inn is looking good.
April 13, 2011 at 8:39 pm |
Carollaaa- it was all worth it. Like a pregnancy. You endure it and when it’s over you’re so glad and you forget about the pain. Which is why many moms have more than one. Good thing, since I have another bathroom….
April 13, 2011 at 4:10 pm |
Looking very modern. Congratulations on surviving the renovation.
I love this painting. It’s very vibrant and energetic. and I’ve always been interested in figures whose feet get tangled up in their cast shadows.
BTW, We recently rescued a little dog who looks very much like yours.
April 13, 2011 at 8:41 pm |
Thank you Bill. I recall you going through a similar experience- you don’t know until you’re in it, right? I started this painting after the last dust mote of concrete was vacuumed out- didn’t draw it in first, just put brush to canvas. Maybe that’s why it appears energetic to your eye.
Thanks for the good words. I really appreciate it.
April 13, 2011 at 7:47 pm |
Love yer noo terlet paper holder!
Comin an goin, yah… Worth every step.
Garrett kiss a Cloud.
Welcome back!
April 13, 2011 at 8:42 pm |
Sam- you must have a very sharp, highly magnified eye to notice the tip of a piece of stainless steel. A+ to you for that.
Cloud, right? Something else.
April 13, 2011 at 9:36 pm |
Hi Bonnie,
Your work is so colorful and full of life. I really like it. My name is Diane. I was born on St Croix but I now live in Maryland. I am an artist like yourself (3yrs now)but I am self taught. My brother (your A/C guy) gave me your information so I had to see what the fuss was all about. Now that I have seen your work, I understand what the fuss was about. lol I hope we can meet and talk. I will be in the islands in mid May.
Diane
April 13, 2011 at 11:40 pm |
Hi Diane- thank you so much for your lovely note. Self taught sometimes incorporates the best teacher. Luke told me about you and did mention that you’d be coming back for a visit next month. I’d be happy to meet up with you when you get here- you can get my number from your brother and we’ll go from there. I took a look at your website too. Some lovely images of St. Croix. Three years? Don’t stop.
April 14, 2011 at 12:41 am |
Thanks I am glad you were able to see my work. I will be in St Croix the 3rd week of May. It would be great to chat with you.
Diane
April 14, 2011 at 2:52 am |
Wow! I’m amazed at what you’ve done. Now you’ll have to start one of those home makeover TV shows. “Bathrooms by Bonnie!” I can see it now.
The painting is wonderful.
I see Cloud looking very very stressed there. I can tell she needs to have her belly snorgled to soothe her. I volunteer.
April 14, 2011 at 4:48 pm |
Jala- once you do it, you learn the formula. I was frozen with fear in the beginning but then got the rhythm going. Now I’d like to draft you for your volunteer position of Cloud snorgler. Maybe we could plop her right into your mammal pile.
April 14, 2011 at 10:02 am |
At last! Fresh updates on the B&B (bathroom & blog). So glad you’re back, and with a new painting to boot.
April 14, 2011 at 12:53 pm |
Sharon- thanks for remaining interested. You’ve no idea how it keeps me going and inspired.
April 14, 2011 at 3:01 pm |
It looks good. … at least the toiletpaper rolls have found a new home … other than on top of the toilet tank. hee hee!
I don’t know all the ins and outs of renovations: I’m in a rental house, so changing a beer poster seems like a big deal. 🙂
note: it’s good to see that you were not up to no good on your blogging holiday.
April 14, 2011 at 4:51 pm |
Ross- you’re right about their previous locations. True, now you have to stand up to reach for them but that’s what good preparedness teaches you.
Changing a beer poster IS a big deal, if you’re loyal to your brand.
Thanks for stopping by. I think of you in Japan often and can’t imagine what life is like for those affected. Very glad you were not one.
April 14, 2011 at 10:22 pm |
I loved the fact that I told by my sweet love that I didn’t have to do the renovation of the bathroom. Normally I would have, but luckily I listened and could watch the dust fly without being a part of it. I love the results, and will use the shower there some day bolts of lightening prevent me from using the open air shower.
October 10, 2011 at 10:38 pm |
Bathroom looks good and so does the painting. A great composition with a title that expresses it in words.
Are you going to wash your brushes in that sink?
We did a bathroom remodel recently. DIdn’t use a licensed contractor and after having a beautiful marble shower installed, it leaked like the Titanic ruining an adjacent wall. Had to tear it out an do it over. A very expensive lesson. This is why my language deteriorates.
January 28, 2013 at 8:39 pm |
beautiful makeover and I do love those above the counter sinks.
Where’d you go?