Curious to get more of just before and after photos? I decided to share with you guys all the goes intro transforming the pieces I create, specially the ones brought to me by clients looking to restore the glory of old pieces in their homes – often times passed on by family – but that don’t fit the current style or needs, or might simply seen better days and just need a refresh…

Although I absolutely love seeing what these pieces look like when I’m finished with them, often times they’re also the most challenging ones, and bring back limiting beliefs, insecurities and fears when things don’t go exactly as planned or the vision I had for them. I feel responsible to preserve the piece’s integrity and memories, while giving a new life that not only makes them shine again, but most importantly fits what the owner’s vision for them and will make them happy and proud of using and showing them off in their homes, and knowing they made the right decision for trusting me with them.

Not only that, but I will admit, I LOVE experimenting with colors, types of finishes, textures, techniques, appliqués and etc., so it can be hard to just simply restore them to its prior original state, specially when I may not have the necessary skills or if the wear and tear will never be able to be completed unnoticed… which again, brings up the fear of falling short and disappointing my current and future clients when they see the before and after images, as I will admit, I usually have a hard time seeing the “big” difference if I just re-stained a piece for instance…

With that I thought I would create a space not only to showcase and highlight the before and after of the commission pieces I work on; but also to share the challenges, struggles, learnings and success of this process, and most importantly to show appreciation to all who have and the ones who might trust me to work on their pieces.

Hope you enjoy the journey and posts, and feel free to share your thoughts and feedback!

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus your own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.