Year End Review 2015 & What’s to Come
Hi and welcome to my 2015 year end review. I am taking some time off from projects to enjoy this time with my family, but I wanted to do a quick write up to summarize 2015. I hope everybody is having a wonderful holiday break and that you are enjoying your time off. After what seemed like a revolving door of wonderful house guests throughout the summer and fall, we decided to stay home and relax for these two weeks off. We are go, go, go when regular schedules rule the day, so it’s been nothing but pajamas, Star Wars movies, Monster High and Legos this week.
I started this blog almost a year ago when when moved to Oklahoma and it’s been a very rewarding time. I have had more success than I imagined this first year and I wanted to do a little recap in case you are new or have just found me. I so appreciate all of those that have stopped by and everybody’s support.
My biggest post of the year, and probably my favorite, was my concrete dining table. I built our first table in Virginia and used the same base, but wanted a solid top this time that was easy to clean. After seeing Restoration Hardwares beautiful table, I recreated it for small fraction of the cost. We have loved it and you can check out the step by step HERE.
I had a huge opportunity come my way this fall when Corey of Sawdust 2 Stitches asked me personally to be a guest blogger for her site. If I had to pick one blogger that inspired me and who I truly admired before I started, it would have been Corey. She is amazing, so of course I jumped at the opportunity. I wrote 2 articles for her and will have another post coming in February. I really hope to meet her in person at Haven Conference this summer. For my first post, I upcycled some old chairs to go with the dining table. You can see the full tutorial HERE.
To finish up the dining room, I upcycled a piece of found wood for a hanging shelf.
One of my very first posts was my faux industrial TV surround shelves that I copied from Corey and used to hide all the cords around my TV.
And in that same room, another one of my most popular posts was my birch tree gallery wall.
I built the little table above as well as my coffee table, tree stump end table and crate end table to finish out my occasional living room set.
I have a lot more projects in this room, all of which you can see by checking out my project gallery.
This was the first year I got to decorate our new house for Christmas, which was so fun. Check out all my Christmas project HERE.
Right before years end, I jumped on board to co-host the Pretty Pintastic Party with some other amazing bloggers, so make sure you stop by and link up or get inspired every Friday early morning.
What’s to come? First thing is I’m going to work on this entertaining/bar area. I promised both the kids loft beds when we moved in so I best get to work on that ;). Our bedroom and Matt’s office need so much love and hopefully we can start on our kitchen remodel soon. I have built much with all the holiday decorating and celebrating, so I’m looking forward to being back in my garage next week.
I’ve learned a ton this year about blogging, photography, decor, friendships, the list goes on and on. I’ve really and truly enjoyed every minute of this new path and I am so looking forward to continuing in 2016. Thank you all so much for coming along on this journey with me!
April
Love those crates in the corner….what an idea!!!
Thanks Christine!
You make such cool stuff! I’m so impressed. I hope 2016 is even better!
Thanks so much Corinna!
I’m so glad I found your blog this year April I have loved all your projects! I have to say your dining table is my favorite too and I can’t wait until we have a big enough dining room so I can make one.
I can’t wait to see what you share in 2016!
Thanks so much Sydney, I’m so glad I found you too! Happy New Year!
You’ve been a busy girl! So impressed with all you’ve accomplished this year! I went to the Lazy Daisy today and saw so many things that I refused to buy because “April could make those for me.” Ha! Eric wants me to have you make a table for our new kitchen (remodel coming soon) and pay to have you drive them to RVA. May cost more than buying in a store, but it would be worth it. Proud of you!!
Ohh that sounds fun! Can’t wait to see your kitchen remodel, that’ll be such a fun project. We are starting to think about ours, but who knows when it’ll actually happen. Thanks for all your support this year, I love you!!
Love everything you made.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you came by!
I think the crate end table is my favorite project! Well, maybe a it’s a tie with the factory cart table. 😉 (I built one too! 😛 )
Thank you Ashley! I’m going to check out your site, thanks for stopping by!
Love all your posts!! You are really talented! The tree stump end table is to die for, thanks for sharing them with us at #2usestuesday.
Happy 2016!
Thanks so much Pii!
You’ve had a truly amazing year April and I’m so glad I’ve been able to get to know you through it all! I have to say my favorite posts was your vintage bicycle post (I know it’s not on this list but it’s still my fav) and your new dinning room table post! You have such an amazing and unique style and I hope you always keep it!
Cat
Thanks so much Cat! I’ve loved getting to know you too! I’m so glad to hear you liked the bicycle, I wasn’t sure about that one. Now that I’ve done it, I love it too! Have a fantastic year!