The Dixon Details: March 2010

I'm the type of person that needs to be creating something at all times in order to feel sane. I NEED to create. Accomplishing projects is pretty much the best feeling ever. This means just about anything if you really think about it. Some projects take longer than others, such as creating a baby, that's about nine months but when that "project" is out, wow, what a feeling. Then on to the next project, raising a little person... so that's a life-time project. Other things I create don't take that long but I'm just trying to stress the fact that I'm a creator. I take on too many projects at once, of course, so it really does feel good to finish something. Cooking, knitting, sewing, folding laundry, doing the dishes, decorating, painting... and many more projects are on my list... some that I have to do in order to "create" my home, so really, many of you out there are the same way. This post is pretty much a picture list of some of my latest completed projects. And some are Ben's... he's a creative person as well, in his own special way.

Over spring break we went with some friends to a little shop called Wild @ Art. They have tons of ceramics that you get to pick from and then paint. They then fire it up in the oven for you and a week later you get to pick it up. Ben chose to paint a cute little Piggy Bank for Kharisma. He is so proud of his work...

Cute little pig...

Side views...

And just when you think Ben is such a cute dad for making such a cute little pink and purple pig for his baby girl....

You see this:

Yes, that is what you think it is. A stab wound.
Complete with blood splatters that were creatively made with
a toothbrush. I told you he was creative...
in his own special way.

But just look at the eyes on this thing.

Adorable.
Right?

I painted a very innocent gravy boat and matching plate.

It was super fun and I can't wait to go back and do it again. Painting is such a peaceful outlet for me; I should do it more often.

Next, this project I didn't so much make, mostly just found and put together.

I found this ridiculously cute lamp shade at a antique store. It took me awhile but I

finally found the perfect lamp for it, at WalMart. I love mixing the old with the new. This

will go in Kharisma's room.

A new found project of mine: baking. I've never really liked baking as much as cooking because it just seemed to take a long time. True, still does, but I finally baked a cake from scratch. It took me about five hours... it was really messy... Delicious though. Poor little Kharisma was such a trooper. She sat in her high chair for about two hours. I kept putting food on her tray to keep her happy. This cake had so many steps. It's chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache, chocolate glaze, chocolate shavings/curls, and chocolate truffles. Ben doesn't even like chocolate. It turned out well, I ate too much and tried to get everyone that came to my house to eat some as well. I plan on making it again for Easter, this was just a practice run. Ben told me the pictures don't do it justice... apparently it looked better in real life.

Yeah, those truffle eggs... luster dust. That's right. I painted on a thin

layer of pearly luster dust. Fancy. I know.

And now, another Ben project. This one has been in the works before Kharisma was even conceived. He's pretty much a big nerd so this project may only make sense to other big nerds. He made Kharisma a mobile to hang above her crib. Cute, yes. But, (and there always is with his projects) it is the Kreb's Cycle. (You can't see it with this font color but if you click on the words Kreb Cycle it will take you to a link that explains what that is.) I do remember learning this in my biology class but it surely did not inspire me to create this:

I'm just glad he finally finished it.

Last, my favorite project of all. We re-finished an old sewing table! I say we because both Ben and I worked on it. Another analysis of the type of person I am: I always see the potential. I usually look at things and immediately assess what I can do to it to improve it. This happens in many areas... buying a house, for instance, was a time that this trait of mine was sort of a downfall. We spent the three years we were in our cute-little-old house improving and remodeling. However, we did make a profit on it when we sold it but it was also a pretty stressful three years. My mom recently pointed out that this trait can also be seen in me by looking back on my dating years in high school... always finding the "projects". I fail to agree completely on this, but, whatever. So, when my eyes fell upon this table in the local thrift store I was hooked... head over heels in love with it. My dear friend was with me and failed to see what the big deal was, but I don't blame her, it was quite ugly and dirty in the store but in my mind I could already see what I was going to do with it. I'm sad a didn't take a "before" picture so just imagine this table dirty, lighter in color, wooden handles on the drawers, a plain front and not shiny. And now...

TA DAA!!

Beautiful! At least I think it is. I should have staged the picture a little better... taken out the trash can on the side and my green cutting mat behind it but you get the idea.

It folds out for optimal sewing space. And, the sewing machine fits nicely inside...

Originally there was an old sewing machine attached to the table that folded down inside but we took it off and Ben made a piece of wood to take it's place.

I bought these sweet new knobs for the drawers. I tried to find some antique ones but they are pretty impossible to find... I went to four different shops (and found my cute lamp shade) and just ended up going to Home Depot.

I attached this cute panel on the front just using scrapbook paper. I don't really like that you can see the nails but I'm not going to complain because Ben finished this while I was in Utah so I was just excited to see it done!