People often ask me how I learned how to build things and create spaces. Well, here’s my story… I’d like to start by saying that I have true passion for design and transformation. That is why I enjoy being a mother and a homemaker. Being quarantined just gave me the time and opportunity to do more of the things I enjoy.

As a child (approx. age 11 or so) I started spending my summer vacation time with my dad, who was a contractor and renovations expert. Watching him and my older brother work together, made me want to join in. I constantly begged my dad to take me to work with him and one day he finally gave in! I was excited to say the least, but I was unable to do much of the work that these adult men were able to do. However, This did not discourage me at all, in fact, it actually ENCOURAGED me. As I worked on small task, such as masking a room (applying tape around the border of electrical sockets, door frames, light fixtures etc.) I watched everything that they were doing and saying. I watched, I focused and I learned. Overtime, I had asked so many questions that my dad couldn’t help but to notice that I was extremely interested and started to explain everything he was doing step by step. By the time I was a teenager, I was able to physically help out on some projects and gain hands on experience, but at this stage in my life I was more interested in my social circle and less interested in hanging out with dad at a renovation site.

Over the years, my love for renovating and design grew bigger. As a young adult, and a housewife (at the time) I begin to tackle projects around my home and was quite surprised at how easy it was for me to do these things, especially with the help of my husband.
Over 15 years later, and after a divorce, I was now left to do these things on my own. With Youtube at my disposal, I was able to look up tutorials on task that I did not know how to do. I paired that with constant phone calls to my dad (Hey, Dad. How do you install hardware on kitchen cabinets?) I was able to piece together knowledge and experience to make it beneficial for myself.

Many of the projects that I work on now require precision and strength, but because of my medical conditions (including Rheumatoid Arthritis and Scoliosis) I have problems with physically being able to complete task. Although this does NOT stop me from getting them done, it does delay the timeframe in which I can complete a project. That is why I focus on my own DIY at my own pace. It may take weeks or months to complete something that can normally be done in days, but I know this going into each task, so I am never discouraged. Seeing the changes as I work on each stage of a transformation gives me motivation to see the end results.

Since being quarantined, I have focused on my health and physical strength. I have incorporated ways to improve my mobility and help reduce pain by staying active as much as possible. DIY projects is a great way to be active while doing something that I love. I decided to share my DIY journey with everyone in hopes of inspiring others, for whatever reasons they may have.