Boy do I have some good friends. And I know how lucky I am to have them.
See the peeling shutter on the top window? That is what all my shutters looked like before today.
Two of my craft night friends came over today and helped me scrape and repaint them!
We have done projects for each other, like helping Jen sand and prime her kitchen cabinets and doing a faux finish in Diane’s entryway. 
But the biggest and toughest project of them all has been Lori’s shed.
We hauled all the junk out, then cleaned and painted the shed for her, as a group.
We rented a spray gun and just shot paint all over everything. 
One of the group, Diane, is a photographer. She and I got to talking about how cool it would be to do a before and after story about the shed, so she snapped some shots before we got started.
I fetched a "few" of my pretties from my studio and staged the room, and got out my paint brush to foof things up a bit, so Diane could take these shots.
I wrote up a little article to go along with the photos and we sent the package into Romantic Homes, and it was published last summer.
I am lucky to be a part of a group of such giving, talented, and HELPFUL friends!
I think our buddy, Shanna, is next for a redo project, she is house shopping, so is saving up her turn for something in the new home.
I was so relieved to have this eyesore taken care of today. My Holiday Open House is less than a month away and those ragged shutters were one of the things that were making my eyes pop open at 3am with worry.
Thanks to my pals, I can start worrying about something else now.
But not about the eyesore that the yard had become, that is handled today too!
Sugarwings, my husband and I started the big fall clean up.
He had taken down a 30 foot tall cedar tree that needed cut up and burned, along with sticks and leaves around the farm that were cluttering up the yard.
Our friends saw the tree laying out by the driveway, and commented "Karla is going all out for Christmas again, huh?"
Apparently, I am known for my excess and no one was surprised to see a 30 foot Christmas tree in my drive way.
But in a matter of hours, that tree was kindling and burned away in the bon fire pit behind the garden.
After climbing up and down ladders and scraping old paint all day, I was ready to relax by the warm fire and watch the last of the tree go up in flames while I sat back and sipped a glass of wine.
There is nothing like a crisp fall day when you can accomplish a lot of needed yard work and home repairs, enjoy the company of your friends, and then relax by a bonfire at the end of it all.
I think I have mentioned it before, I am pretty lucky!!
What a blessing to have such good friends! And, they obviously care about the work they do! It looks great!
Blessings to YOU,
KJ
What an awesome group you all make! Oh how I would love a group like that!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)
lovely, your home is story book material, and so it is. But to sit by a bonfire in your own backyard sipping a glass of wine, dosen’t get much better than that, tonight I have been standing on my upstairs balcony with The Princess watching fire works displays:)
I love your property and your home and I think you would be the best fun person to have as a host, so when you have your open house i bet people just get this wonderful warm and welcoming feeling when they get on your property! you’ve made it such a home
What a lovely makeover! Hey, send the crew my way — I have the same problem with my shutters, LOL! 🙂 I make a mean batch of lasagna and chocolate chips cookies I would offer in trade.
Karla, your friends are amazing! You had the labor force of an entire crew. And what you girls did to the shed is fantastic! Just like in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” when George Bailey is completely broke and shouts “I’m the richest man in the world!” because all the town rallies around him. You indeed are rich!
I LOVE before and afters! Have a terrific weekend!
That’s a great make over. I should do that to my garage”studio” . I hate to say it, but I kind of liked the shutters all “peely!”;) Jen R
I HATE painting, so I would say you have VERY nice friends. I would come a feed you but no scrapping and painting xoxoxo Clarice
What fantastic friends you have, but they also have a great friend as well. It so nice to see a group help each other. The work get done and everyone has fun.
Thanks for sharing
Karen
Bluemuf
What a great idea you ladies have there. It is so nice to see friends helping each other out – it truly warms my heart. 🙂
Karla waht fabulous friends you have. It is great that you all help each other out.
Alison
What a great idea to get a good days work done with friends.
And Lori has the most beautiful shed that I have ever seen!
Niki
Ok whose shed looks that nice??? You girls went all out. No wonder the article was published (kudos on that, btw!)
You have great friends and they know you appreciate them which makes all the hard work you do together worth it!
Love,
Julie
Karla…
You & your gal pals are the epitome of friends! Kudos to you all…
Priscilla
Sounds like a great, productive day! I love bonfires and would have been there toasting marshmellows! I like them burned. LOL!
What a great group of friends all of you are, helpful, supportive and caring. (just like you, most likely)
Karla,I added you to my links list….hope that’s okay with you.
xo Lidy
Karla you are so lucky to have such a fantastic group of friends. sounds like you have such good fun whilst getting on with the job in hand ,bet you have some great parties!!!!Kathyann (meg’s mum’s muffins )
Nothing like good friends! I love the garage redo and how cool that it turned into an article for a magazine! Now that is really cool!
My goodness, I remember that article about the shed. That’s amazing work! I think my husband would have my head if I foofed up his lawnmower shed like that! As it is I have added a painted window and a window box to the outside. Love all the pictures and what a great crew of friends you have! xo suzy
just amazing what friends can do!!! i can see all the love that goes into the projects….
Oh yes, I remember that article. I loved it!! I still get that issue out from time to time and look at those beautiful pictures.
You sound like me…one little project turns into a HUGE one! Glad to hear you got everything done…
What fabulous friends!!! Our town is getting an “extreme makeover”… we’re all chainsawing all the trees that fell during last weekend’s storm! lol Keeps the landscapers busy, that’s for sure!
My goodness… is that your shed??? I have that magazine–have kept it until now because I just love it… I still get that issue out from time to time and look at those beautiful pictures.
Enjoy the Season
Cielo
My goodness… is that your shed??? I have that magazine–have kept it until now because I just love it… I still get that issue out from time to time and look at those beautiful pictures.
Enjoy the Season
Cielo