it seems like every time i go home, my little brother (brandon, in the photo below) and i start building something. what happens is, jordan is usually studying inside and brandon and i start going through the garage looking for stuff that we can turn into better stuff. this time i had the thought to build a potting bench. i just posted photos of our new house, but i didn't take a photo of the backyard when we got there and i wish i would have. we have done so much gardening and have a lot of pots and i needed a place to put all of my new tools and watering can. 

so, brandon and i got to work. and as with other projects we've done, this is typically the order of events every time: brandon and i go to the garage and start looking and getting things out, in this case some old lumber, some tools and nails. we of course make a mess in the process. this is when my dad usually comes out to check on us, and gives us a look probably thinking were crazy and wondering if we one: will finish what we've started and two: clean up our mess. brandon and i will go on with full steam, i usually have the plans and he's got the hammer and nails. and then we get to the part when it get's a little harder. my dad usually sees us struggling or doing something wrong and comes out and takes over the project. this is all while i continue to say what i want it to look like and watch. 

the idea for this came from this broken globe i found in my classroom last year. it seemed every day a student would try to put it together. it became a little annoying and i thought i could put it to some use, so instead of tossing it, i took it home with me. i originally thought it would be an awesome popcorn bowl except there was a hole in the bottom. i held onto it, and one day jordan and i were shopping at urban outfitters and we found this cord kit for only 2 dollars! sale was even 50 percent off, awesome. so i set off with my 2 cord kits thinking of globe pendant lights... and my parents were coming over in a couple weekends, i knew my dad would be able to help with this project.

step one,

+ use screwdriver take apart the light socket thing so that the cord can fit through the globe

 + for this kit the wires had a spring system that held them in,

 use the paperclip and press down on the wire and it should come out easy

(the first time we tried just pulling out the wire, and it just broke off... if this happens be extremely careful

 in putting it back together, you will have to use electrical tape to put the wires back)

+ MAKE NOTE OF EACH WIRES PLACEMENT!!! 

note: electricity isn't something to mess with, be very careful or have your dad do it, which is what i did. as i mentioned

earlier, you might be able to find a cord kit that would better fit your globe so that you don't have to take it all apart

step two, 

+ pull cord through

+ connect wires back to original place and make sure they are secure

step three,

+ now put everything together! 

step four, 

+ test it out!

 if it works, make sure to screw everything in place correctly

if not, just take it apart, the wires may have a poor connection, just tinker with them if until it works

step five,

+ screw in hook that came with kit

+ hang up globe at desired length and you're all done! 

we put the lights up in our loft to make it a little cozier. we are using this space a lot more now that we have a little reading nook. this was such a fun and easy project, i hope that you find a broken globe soon! also, a big thanks to dad for helping me with this, i'll update soon on the other projects we worked on that weekend! 

this is the result of painting outside in the sweltering heat. 

we made what we call fancy cut-offs. 

we took an old t-shirt, cut the sleeves and neck off, made a deep v in the back for a racerback and cut off some fabric off the bottom to tie the back together. (this is demonstrated in the third picture- we made a knot a couple inches above where the cut ended and wrapped it around until it was a couple of inches to the top and made a knot and cut off excess fabric. we played around with how much we cut or how far we wrapped around the fabric, these are the basics but you want to make it to fit how you would like it!so, go ahead and make a summer t-shirt to paint furniture, or other things that involve getting dirty and being underneath the sun. 

my grandpa had some connections. they said to take what we wanted. and we did.

all in all. it was tough work. we got there early that morning and didn't get back until mid afternoon. but      it was pretty fun. i am thankful for a family that doesn't mind getting their hands a little dirty and risk bee stings (i forgot how terrible they are!) we spent the rest of the day at my grandparents putting together a little something for jordan, because we couldn't forget about him.