I'm baaaaaack! Can I share my latest (year-long) craft? Hint: we bought a historic home! - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
PassPorter.com
Award-winning travel guidebooks

   guidebooks   |   news   |   podcasts   |   boards   |   blog   |   worksheets   |   photos   |   articles   |   updates   |   register   |   follow us on


Forums Closed
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.

So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.

Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.

And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.

We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm​. You made it all happen.

There are other changes as well.

Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:

We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.

It's time to move on and move forward.

PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.

But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.

So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.

And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.

That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!

If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.

So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!

Best wishes for a wonderful and magical new year!

Go Back   PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums > PassPorter Villa: Sharing the Fun Together > The Craft Room: Collecting, Scrapbooking, and more!
Register


Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.

To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.

If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-03-2017, 12:17 PM   #1
alicia
Community Rank: Traveler
 
alicia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Columbia, Tennessee
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 299

Post Thanks / Like
Exclamation I'm baaaaaack! Can I share my latest (year-long) craft? Hint: we bought a historic home!

(I do swear that I have some Disney-related things to share here, lol!)

Hey Guys and gals! I've got some pictures to share of our latest project(s)

This past year has been a rough one! I'm finally able to slow down and think about Disney again. We're looking at next January. So, here's the reason for my super-long absence. The family farm, which was just four doors down and across the road, was about to be put on the auction block by the bank because of grandpa's decisions. The hubby and I swooped down abiut a month before the auctuon and were anle to purchase it. It is 77 acres, 3 barns, shop, storage building, and a home that dates to the 1840s (ish). The house had sat abandoned for more than a decade because the grandparents built a new one across the road. Now, grandma is a hoarder, in the true sense. She left a hoard here and started a new one in the new house. In March 2016, we began packing and storing the hoard in a barn (icccck!), right after our last trip. We had a mess to fix, clean, paint, and repair:

Before, front view:
housefrontbefore by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Front hall before:

entryhallbefore by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Bathroom before:

bathroombeofre by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

bedroom one before:

br1before by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

bedroom 2 before:

br2before by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

dining room before:

diningroombefore by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

guest room before:

guestroombefore by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

living room before (was a kitchen added in the 1910s:

lrbefore by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

kitchen before (was a sleeper porch enclosed in the 1930s:

kitchenbefore by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

We (with a couple of helpful family members) had to replace windows, add storm doors, re-wire, re-plumb, relocate the kitchen, gut and rebuild the bathroom (even replace studs and joists), sand and refinish the floors, paint ALL remaining surfaces, drywall 4 ceilings (we suck at that!), and build one bathroom from the ground up. Most of it took place from May 20- September 15!!! Whooooo! Obviously, some things will take longer to complete, but we're mostly finished now!

Front after (don't fret, the arched windows were not original, but a later, Gothic Revival change). They are still over 6 feet tall! We also are working on the limestone wall and new planters.

front by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Front hall at Christmas, looking toward the entry to the rest of the house. I faux painted and did a border using my Cricuit, to keep the Victorian paper intact. It was a horrid mauve

christmasentry by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Bathroom after (sorry about the construction mess):

bathroomafter by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Bedroom 2 (a HUGE difference!):

br2befoeandafter by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Here's my Disney fix! I bought a Port Orleans bed scarf and pillow!

br2 by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Dining Room after (door now where there was a window! It's now painted.

diningafter by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

The guest room is my Disney room (along with the kitchen!)

Guest Be after by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

Living room (WAS the old kitchen):

lrxmas by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

The kitchen also had a lot of my Disney stuff!

kitchenafter by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

My Disney coffee bar!

Mickey coffee bar by Alicia Helton, on Flickr



We built this bathroom ourselves! The tub was sitting in the barn lot. I had to clean, clean, clean, and paint it from 20 years of dirt and poo. The window was one of the 150-year old ones that I used Rustoleum Looking Glass on and chalk painted. The magazine rack was in the house and was ruined, so it was chalk painted to match. We used my parent's first table for my vanity.

New bathroom by Alicia Helton, on Flickr

whoooo! That was a lot!! If you'd like to see more, I have a public album on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/bellydonsah...8707654&type=3
__________________
Welcome home! DVC 8/2017 @Saratoga Springs!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips1988 Poly, 1991 CBR, 1993 CBR, 1995 BC, Jan. 2007 All StarS, Oct. 2008 FW Cabins, 12/2014 POR, 3/2016 POR, DVC member 8/2017 @SSR!, January 2018 POR

Last edited by alicia; 06-03-2017 at 07:30 PM..
alicia is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2017, 03:35 PM   #2
chezp
PassPorter Message Board Manager
PassPorter Guide Author

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
chezp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 190,285

Post Thanks / Like
Wow, my goodness you have been busy and it looks amazing!
__________________

Relaxing on board the Magic. The trip report for our back-to-back cruises on the Disney Magic has started!
My Countdown Counting down to: 2019
Happy New Year!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips21 trips to WDW, 6 to Disneyland in California, 9 to Disneyland Paris, 1 to Hong Kong Disneyland, 1 to Tokyo Disney, 1 to Aulani, 1 to Hilton Head, 2 to Vero Beach and 13 Disney cruises on the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy
chezp is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2017, 04:56 PM   #3
GingerJ
PassPorter Guide Author

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Navigator
 
GingerJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Ohio & Florida
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 6,129

Post Thanks / Like
Nice! You really worked hard on that!

I'm confused....did you buy the house? Move in? Fix it up before the auction? Or what?

Either way, that's a fantastic job you did!

ETA---Oh, I looked at your title again and saw that you did buy it!
__________________
GingerJ, Co-Author, PassPorter's Disneyland Resort and Southern California Attractions LIVE! Guide
& Guide for the Collecting, Scrapbooking, and More!, DL: Southern California Attractions, Technical Support, Using Your PassPorter, and Using Disney Tech forums
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW visits: 1977, 1985, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 3-2014, 9-2014, 11-2015 (birthday trip), 5-2016, 2-2017, 3-2017 x2, 6-2017, 8-2017, 10-2017x2, 11-2017x2, 12-2017. DISNEYLAND(no kids): 1984, 1993, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 6-2014 (DS19 & me!), 8-2014 (solo), 12-2015 (solo), 9-2016
GingerJ is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2017, 07:27 PM   #4
alicia
Community Rank: Traveler
 
alicia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Columbia, Tennessee
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 299

Post Thanks / Like
Thanks chezp! We have, for sure! It's been a struggle to maintain accuracy and make it liveable! I still have two rooms of 70s crappy paneling I'd like to remove and drywall (or rather, Pay someone else to. Lol)

Gingerj, I'm sorry I didn't state that well. I'll go back and fix it, whooops! Yes, we tried to keep it in the family, as everyone's horses and cattle are here! Thank you!! It has been a labour of love!
__________________
Welcome home! DVC 8/2017 @Saratoga Springs!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips1988 Poly, 1991 CBR, 1993 CBR, 1995 BC, Jan. 2007 All StarS, Oct. 2008 FW Cabins, 12/2014 POR, 3/2016 POR, DVC member 8/2017 @SSR!, January 2018 POR

Last edited by alicia; 06-04-2017 at 01:13 AM..
alicia is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2017, 09:56 PM   #5
Cam22
Batman's Gal/Mickey's Pal
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank:
Legend VIP
 
Cam22's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Owensboro, KY USA
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 95,254

Post Thanks / Like
Your hard work has paid off with such a beautiful home. Love the Disney touches, too.
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsAKL Jambo April/May 2017--SSR/OKW Sept/Oct 2016 --AKL Kidani May 2016 -- Polynesian Village Resort May 2015 -- OKW/Magic December 2014 -- AKL Jambo House October 2014 -- VWL May 2014--SSR October 2013--AKL/Kidani June 2013--CBR October 2012--BWI June 2012--AKV Jambo House/Kidani Village June 2011 -- November 2010 Beach Club -- June 2010 Beach Club -- October 2009 CBR and Gaylord Palms -- June 2009 AKV/Kidani Village -- June 2008 VWL --June 2007 OKW--June 2006 Disney Wonder/SSR -- June 2005 SSR -- June 2004 VWL -- June 2003 AKL -- August 1997 Off Property -- March 1980 Cocoa Beach
Cam22 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2017, 01:14 AM   #6
alicia
Community Rank: Traveler
 
alicia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Columbia, Tennessee
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 299

Post Thanks / Like
Thanks Cam! I've got more stuff scathere's in the kitchen and guest room. I try to keep it contained, lol!
__________________
Welcome home! DVC 8/2017 @Saratoga Springs!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips1988 Poly, 1991 CBR, 1993 CBR, 1995 BC, Jan. 2007 All StarS, Oct. 2008 FW Cabins, 12/2014 POR, 3/2016 POR, DVC member 8/2017 @SSR!, January 2018 POR
alicia is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2017, 08:55 PM   #7
LilMarcieMouse
Mrs. Jack Sparrow
PassPorter's Club Passholder


What's this?

PassPorter Guide

Community Rank: Legend
 
LilMarcieMouse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Aboard the Black Pearl
Concierge Level: 7
Posts: 21,228

Post Thanks / Like
I love the work you did. A lot of love in that home.
__________________
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips'77 Jelly Stone Park, '95 Port Orleans, '97 AllStar Sports, '98 Contemporary and The Magic, 2001 All Star Movies, 2003 Polynesian, Wonder and Animal Kingdom Loadge.
LilMarcieMouse is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2017, 09:26 AM   #8
gremlinkid73
Community Rank: Trekker
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,077

Post Thanks / Like
Love older houses as they have so much character. You did an amazing job restoring yours.
gremlinkid73 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2017, 10:19 AM   #9
Her Dotness
Community Rank: Explorer
 
Her Dotness's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: St. Louis, Missouri suburb
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 11,403

Post Thanks / Like
Absolutely gorgeous!

I subscribe to Early American Homes. As old as yours is and you've before-after photos, they might be interested in featuring it. Most of those they use are East Coast Colonial or Civil War restorations. Yours with existing outbuildings and a definite family history might be of much interest to them.

Consider that?

ETA: If you choose to contact the mag which does an article, DO for sure PM me. I will be dying to see it!!
__________________
“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
My Countdown Counting down to: Our Happiest Place for Mickey’s and my birthday—again!
Happy Birthday, Mickey and me!
My Previous TripsWDW 10/2017--VGF; WDW 12/2015--GF; WDW 11/2014--WL; WDW 11/2013--GF; WDW 1/2010--GF; WDW 7/2004--CR Tower /// DH to WDW several times in the 1970's & 1984; Me DL 1969.

Last edited by Her Dotness; 06-05-2017 at 10:24 AM..
Her Dotness is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2017, 11:54 AM   #10
BriarRose4
Community Rank: Jetsetter
 
BriarRose4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Northern New Jersey
Concierge Level: 6
Posts: 2,357

Post Thanks / Like
Looks fantastic! Good that you were able to keep such a treasure. I love older houses too.
__________________
The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous TripsWDW Sept 1995 Contemporary - WDW July 1997 Polynesian - WDW July 1998 Polynesian - WDW July 2000 Grand Floridian -WDW July 2003 Grand Floridian
BriarRose4 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 07:34 AM   #11
Poobah7206
Community Rank: Adventurer
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: IL
Posts: 607

Post Thanks / Like
Wow that is a lot of work!! You should be very proud of your renovation.
__________________
Raelynn


Poobah7206 is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Old 06-08-2017, 07:11 PM   #12
alicia
Community Rank: Traveler
 
alicia's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Columbia, Tennessee
Concierge Level: 3
Posts: 299

Post Thanks / Like
Ahhhhhh, I posted a long answer to everyone and my phone ate it!!

Thank you all so mich! We most certainly have put a lot of work and love in it!

GingerJ. Thank you! I would be so afraid it isn't up to par, but I may consider it! I just need some more time to finish some things!
__________________
Welcome home! DVC 8/2017 @Saratoga Springs!
My PassPorter Bookshelf
My Previous Trips1988 Poly, 1991 CBR, 1993 CBR, 1995 BC, Jan. 2007 All StarS, Oct. 2008 FW Cabins, 12/2014 POR, 3/2016 POR, DVC member 8/2017 @SSR!, January 2018 POR
alicia is offline  
 
Reply With Quote
Reply




Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump














Please login or register to hide these ads -- it's free and easy!

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:51 PM.

-->

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like v3.4.0 Patch Level 1 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
(c) 1998-2017 PassPorter Travel Press/MediaMarx, Inc.
Celebrating 19 Years of Making Dreams Come True
Ad Management plugin by RedTyger