Let's Get it Started! (Craft Closet--Part 2)

 So when I last left you, I mentioned that I had scoured the world wide web for some crafty inspiration and greeted the hubby with those four dangerous words (at least in our house they are dangerous), "I have an idea!"

You see, we have a bit of DIY ADD around here.  We have a big brainstorm and get a great idea for a little home improvement project and "BAM!" we jump right in.  Halfway through, more inspiration hits (or we hit a snag) and we are opening up a whole new can of worms (or tearing up floors) all while *trying* to finish the first project.

I knew what the hubby was thinking, "How many other projects do we have going on around here?  Why do we need to start one more?"  But this time, I had a plan. . .this would be my birthday gift from the hubby!  No shopping required (besides Home Improvement stores, and what guy is going to turn THAT down?), no guessing at what I might want (I had inspiration pictures, remember?), no tedious wrapping paper involved--it was a win-win for everyone!  Well, until we looked at our schedules around January (my birthday month).  We were swamped with other obligations!  No time for DIYing here.  So I agreed to wait a bit. . .

Valentine's Day rolled around and the hubby asked for gift suggestions.  "The Craft Closet," I quickly answered.  No flowers, no chocolate, no jewelry, just a little demolition and construction in the living room closet--too much to ask?  I think not.

The weekend after Valentine's Day, I began to realize that Step One of this project was contingent upon ME cleaning out the closet to make way for the facelift.  So. . . while the hubby was away at a weekend training session, I emptied the contents of the crap craft-closet right in the middle of the living room floor, completely blocking access to his the bike trainer and creating a major hazard and eyesore in the most used room in the house. There was no getting out of it now.  We were committed to making this change happen.  Remember all of this?

Well, you can just imagine the hubby's excitement when he came home and witnessed my work!  

All that was left once I removed all of the  craft supplies. . .

Not only had I emptied the contents of the closet into the living room floor and surrounded it with a baby fence to keep the little people from pilfering through the goods, but I had also drawn out plans for the shelving and desk that I envisioned inside the now-empty space.  

The hubby completed what I started by removing what was left of the doors and shelving. . .

Doors removed and "shelves" ready to come down.

Ready for a New Look!!

After we corrected confirmed my plans and measurements, we set off to the big box Home Improvement store to pick out and price wood and accessories.  

Supplies were purchased and the transformation began. . .

I started by priming the back wall of the closet.  The sides were knotty pine, so I left those untouched.  Since we knew the back would be covered by shelving, we didn't worry about that ugly seam on the back wall.

The hubby spent the next weekend measuring, cutting, and installing the shelving and desk that I, um, we designed.

Project Supervisor!

Pretty soon it looked something like this. . .

(note the baby gate "holding pen" for the closet contents)

A closer look. . .

Shelves!  Storage!  Work space!

While the hubby was busy working his magic, I had been shopping for accessories. . .

Storage units from Habitat for Humanity $8 each (there were two more in the garage)

Thrift Shop Chair $5
(I spied it first, the hubby wasn't crazy about it, but after thinking about it, I sent my daddy back to snag it!)

So, we went from a total disaster to a closet full of shelves. . . What next?  Why priming and painting, of course!

Stay tuned!

Friday Finds--Personal Space

Wow!  Has it really been a MONTH since I last posted on this blog?
 Yep.
In a word, we have been busy.
 Doing what?  I'm not sure.

The last few weeks have felt a little like "Groundhog Day", if you know what I mean--Get up, get ready for work, pack lunches, hustle children out the door, go to work, sit in meetings, work in a training run (marathon/half update soon!), pick up kids, cook dinner, give kids baths, collapse in front of bad reality TV, wash. . . rinse. . . repeat. . . everyday.  Honestly, that kind of monotony wears me out.  You would think that I could get into a groove, get on a schedule, whatever . . .  When every minute is packed with the same old same old, I get bored.
And unmotivated.
And my creative juices dry right up.

Creativity has been sadly lacking around here lately.  Our current schedule hasn't left much time for fun extras (knitting, sewing, etc. . .)

But that is all about to change.  Not only is Spring Break right around the corner (4.5 days with kids and a much-needed teacher workday--it's not like I'm not counting or anything), but I have a fantastic new space to create in!  Well, not quite yet. . . but it is coming along quite nicely, and I can't wait to share it with you!

As I have mentioned countless times before, we live in an old house that was started in 1948 and then built in chunks and modified when things needed a change.  Bigger bathroom?  Bump out this wall!  Need another bedroom?  Attach it to this one!  Not enough closet space?  Add one to the living room!  Yep. That's right.  We have a closet in our "formal" living room.  Not a "coat closet" as you walk in the door.  No, a full-fledged closet with sliding doors, tucked away in the corner.

Doors closed. . .
(Please ignore the crooked picture and glare-filled photography)

When we moved into the house, I laid claim on this little corner and declared it "mine".  In our first house (pre-baby), I had a "craft room"--a place for my sewing machine, a bookcase, my cutting table, gift wrapping supplies, etc. . .  it also became a catch-all for things without a home.  Our cat loved to go in and climb around the room and it affectionately became known as "cat's junkyard".  As we transitioned from a home with 2 adults and 2 pets into a home with a small child, my craft room suddenly became a nursery and all of my supplies (junk) were forced into a small hall closet. When we moved to our current home in 2005, I decided that this odd living room closet would be a perfect space to house my craft supplies.  However, I never had a great storage system in place.  Things often got tossed in and set aside.  Projects went unfinished because I had no real "workspace" besides the breakfast table--and cleaning that baby off for every summertime meal is a real pain.  Alas, works in progress stayed "in progress" and buried in the abyss. . .

Prepare yourself. . .

It was bad.  Very bad.  

I am not proud, but this was the reality of my craft closet. 

A few months ago, I got the wild idea (was inspired by a few blogs found via pinterest) to turn this closet into a workstation--a sewing nook, a creation station, whatever you want to call it, I was craving organization and a fresh look.  

So, here are FIVE Friday Finds that inspired me (and my wonderful hubby) to gut the old "craft closet" and create a little personal space for myself!

This was my first find.  It is from Gwenny Penny and it reminded me the most of my own space.

Yellow Song Bird created this gorgeous space. LOVE the bunting!

Seven Pretty converted her closet, too!

Lovely design created this beauty.

Ana-white is an incredible craftswoman who designed this space.

I had NO idea that there were so many closet crafters out there!  (Pun intended)  I grabbed the inspiration and ran with it. . . straight to the hubby.  

You can imagine his excitement when I said, "Hey, I have an idea. . ."

Wanna see what happened to the abyss, the crap  craft-closet?  Well, you will just have to stay tuned. . .  and I promise it won't be an entire month before I post again!  I am super excited to share our project with you and the finished sewing nook!

Time to apply another coat of paint. . .

Thirty Days of Thankful

Last Year, I decided to join the masses on Facebook and participate in "Thirty Days of Thankful".  Each day leading up to Thanksgiving I posted a little something I was thankful for whether it was big or small, personal or public.  This exercise helped me to refocus my thoughts to positives that surround me each and every day that often go unnoticed--my kids' giggles, a kind word from a coworker, a gesture of love from the hubby. . .things we enjoy in the moment, but move on from.  When I was forced to sit at the end of each day, reflect and choose one moment that touched my heart or one thing that impacted my day, I was required to shut out the negative of the day or to make lemonade out of an otherwise lemon of a day by finding the silver lining.

You see, as unattractive as it is, I tend to be a glass-half empty whiner when things get tough.  I envy those with the ability to have a sunny outlook in the middle of the darkest storm, yet I was hopeful that reflecting on my "thankfuls" each day would help to change that mindset--if only for thirty days.

About half-way through the month, a friend and mentor mentioned how much she was enjoying reading my thankful statement each day. (I am sure she was relieved to see a change from my usual ho-hum or snarky status updates.)  She then told me of a book that was written by a Godly woman who decided to take a similar challenge by "Daring to live fully, right where you are".  Ann Voskamp's beautiful book One Thousand Gifts soon found its way onto my nook reader and into my heart.  Her words touched my soul as she sought out moments each day that were gifts--the sheen of the soap bubbles, the rise of the moon.  Her words are a "celebration of Grace and a recognition of the power of gratitude" and a beautiful reminder of just how blessed we all are each day.

This year, as November rolled around I began to see Facebook Friends posting about the "30 days of Thankful Challenge" once again.  I began the month with gusto and loved the reminder to find a little positive each and everyday (a challenging task for a public school employee this time of year).  However, about a week into the challenge, I felt that something was missing and took a moment to reflect on what could make this challenge even better.  I realized that the people that I love most were missing out on my "Thankfuls".  Oftentimes, the hubby is too busy to catch up on Facebook during the week, so he was missing out on these moments of gratitude.  The Reporter and The Little Guy are too young for Facebook (obviously), so they too were missing out on Mommy's positives.  At that moment, I decided to make the "Thankfuls" personal this year.  I wanted them to understand how thankful I am for their presence in my life, but I also wanted to extend the challenge to my family--Could the Hubby and The Reporter find something meaningful to be thankful for each day?  Would they be able to look past the surface and find true grace in each moment?

I decided that each evening at dinner we would share our thankful thoughts for the day.  However, I wanted a way to document this challenge. I headed right out for the supplies.

I found beautiful Fall Scrapbook paper. . . .

Cut it into one inch strips. . . 

And waited until dinner. . .

That night at dinner, I pitched my idea to the family.  At the conclusion of the meal, I asked the Hubby and The Reporter to write down one thing that they were thankful for that day.  The first few days of "Thankfuls" were a struggle, but now that we are half-way through the month, the thoughts are becoming deeper and the thankfuls more sincere.  And our dining room is wrapped in gratitude. . . .

and our hearts are full of love.

Who knew that $1.50 purchase of scrapbook paper could have such an impact?

Hey There Little Red Riding Hood. . .

 Well, Hi there!  Long time, no blog!  I guess that's what happens when you are a full-time working mama to two crazy kiddos, the wife to a hubby that works shifts, and a girl trying to cling to some sort of me-time and identity, huh?

 Honestly, since going back to work, my free time has taken a huge nose dive.  During summer break, I found time to sip a hot cup of coffee and blog before the kids woke from their slumber.  Now, however, mornings are spent rushing around, packing lunches (that should have been packed the night before), choosing outfits (that should have been chosen the night before), and waking grumpy kiddos to dress them, feed them, and whisk them off to their destination of the day.  Then I'm off to work, meetings, and maybe a short workout before we rush back in the door to cook dinner, get baths, and read the "required 20 minutes" before tucking the little loves into bed.  Whew!  It makes me tired just thinking about it!!

Last weekend, we took a break from the craziness to enjoy every kids' favorite Fall holiday--Halloween!  Who doesn't enjoy the chance to play dress-up and eat junk?!  We decked out the house and joined in the fun!

The Reporter had fun with our newest obsession around here. . . .

Skulls and Spiderwebs!

Pumpkin Fun!

Light Garlands!!  The lights on the left were a Target dollar bin find spruced up the ribbons and bandannas!  The lights on the right belonged to my grandmother and are accented by fabric scraps from my sewing closet!  Such an easy project kids can help with that makes a big impact!


After lots of talk about costumes, The Reporter agreed on a "couple costume" for herself and The Little Guy.  Our original plan was Pebbles and Bam-Bam (oh, so appropriate).  However, the weather took a chilly turn and we had to return to the drawing board for something with a little more coverage!  In true procrastinator fashion, I was sitting at my sewing machine in the eleventh hour putting together costumes. . . and the results were fantastic, if I do say so myself!

Little Red requested a "twirly cape with a round hood, not a pointy one!"

For The Little Guy, we went with comfort and ease!  Who knew that an $8 hoodie would make such a cute wolf suit!  

Hey there Little Red Riding Hood!~!

Oh Grandmother, What big TEETH you have!!!!

The Better to EAT you with, My Dear!!!!

Everything Old is New Again!

When the hubby and I were planning to get married, we were given the opportunity to decorate a brand new apartment and later a new house.  As we registered for wedding gifts and purchased furniture, we were both drawn to sleek modern lines, dark woods, chrome/stainless steel and neutral color palettes (with the exception of our purple couch)We favored simplicity over fussiness and modern over traditional.

Ten years, two houses (and an apartment) and two kiddos later, our style has morphed a bit.  As I think about those changes, I realize that this shift in "style" (and I use that term loosely) has been influenced by several things. For example, we now tend to choose things that are functional and child-friendly over things that are are "for looks".  But I believe that the biggest influence in our shift is our current dwelling.

In 2005, we made a big decision to leave a town and people that we loved to return to my hometown.  Sadly, both of my grandparents had passed away prior to 2005, so their home (built in the late 1940s) was inhabited by a single male that truly did not give it the love that it clearly needed and deserved.  So we picked up and moved all of our "modern" furnishings into a little old "farm" house.  I knew right away that we would have to scale back the modern feel and add a little vintage touch.  Suddenly I realized that THIS was the look I loved--a shabby chic, old-home with vintage flair.  However, we were not (and still are not) in a place financially to totally replace all of our furnishings with pieces that say "vintage", so we make do with what we have and "update" when we can!

One place that I really craved a vintage feel was on our side porch.  Yep, you read correctly--side porch.  It is really a patio that adjoins the carport, but it is the outdoor space that we gravitate toward the most. (One day when we can afford to screen-in the back porch--I wish, I wish--that may take over as first choice, but for now the patio is the big winner.)  When we first moved in we had NO outdoor furniture for this space--none.  I think that our neighbors felt pity for us and donated an A-frame swing stand that featured an add-on swing leg to hold a baby swing for The Reporter.  There was an old beat-up swing in the garage that I decided to sand and stain--a project that took way longer than it should have.  And for a few years, this was our spot--the place we gathered after a long day at work to take a minute to breathe, a spot for me to rest and knit while the reporter rode her scooter, and a great beer/wine spot while the hubby cooked on the grill.  Really the swing was fine (especially after I added a cute cushion) and the space worked for us, but I really longed for something more, something cuter, something vintage.

I began noticing cute vintage gliders and chairs on front porches around our area and thought to myself, "Now THAT is what that space needs!" Perhaps it was because I spent many an afternoon on an old metal glider with my grandparents on that very patio, but it became my mission to find a set of vintage, metal patio furniture for that space.  Every time I tried out a new running route, I spied "new" porch furniture and fantasized about finding it on the curb one day--free for the taking.  I even rehearsed a few lines that I could say to convince the current owner that the furniture would really be better off with me.  If you have ever tried to snag a set of metal patio furniture, you already know what I came to realize--people don't part with this stuff and if they do, the price is high.  Even a rusted out old glider could set you back a cool $200 plus any work that you would have to follow-up with.  I wasn't prepared to part with that amount of cash to spruce up the patio, so I kept stalking furniture on my long runs and hoped to run into a deal.

Well, run in I did.  A little antique shop downtown near the school I work in happened to announce a "Going Out of Business" sale in the Spring.  One evening while the Reporter was in Bible Study, I took the Little Guy on a walk and we spotted gold. . . a glider, chairs, and more with a reasonable price tag and an additional 30% off!  I rushed home to tell the hubby and planned to visit during store hours the following day. (I also checked out their website, emailed the owner and reserved every piece they had in stock so I could have first dibs at opening time the next day--I wasn't obsessed, at all.)

The next morning I took an hour off from work, headed downtown and made my purchase.  The hubby shook his head when he saw the condition of the items I had raved to him about.  They didn't need a complete overhaul, but they weren't pristine, either.  I paid for my items, we loaded them up and we took them home.  And there they sat. . .

...until summer vacation.  I couldn't find the time to give them the attention they needed and I couldn't decide on a color combo that I loved.  

But finally, after scarping, brushing, spray priming, painting arms, taping/blocking arms/legs/gliding mechanisms, spray painting chair seats and backs we have this. . .

. . . and I am pleased! I am planning to add some accessories as we use the space now that the weather is cooling off, but we have already enjoyed a glass of wine, or two out there!

Next vintage project?

Recovering and painting the frame of this:

Suggestions?

Make it Work!

Happy Labor Day!  I love that each year we begin the school year, get into the groove of getting up early, being productive, and getting on a schedule.  Then 2 weeks later--a day off!  A chance to bid long summer days farewell and squeeze in a quick trip to the beach or lake.  Or in my case, a chance to clean the house sans The Reporter, clean off the SD card in the camera, and catch up on blogging ( I may or may not be writing multiple posts over the weekend to stockpile and publish when I am too busy to write during the school year. . . )

As I was downloading pictures, I realized that there were so many projects that I had not posted in the second half of the summer.  I was also amazed at how much I really did use my sewing machine this summer.  You see, I usually get the machine out, look at it for a while, get intimidated and put it back in the closet with the hope that "next time" I will get brave and make something.  This summer, I decided to make friends with my machine, once and for all.  I set-up a special "sewing-area" in the living room so I could sew, the kids could play, and the husband could roll his eyes each time he had to shimmy past the sewing table to get to the bike trainer! The combination of having the machine out all summer, the siren song of Pinterest, and the return of Project Runway (!) inspired me to tackle a little sewing and "Make it work"!

So here you have it--a little wrap up of the second half of summer-sewing. . . .

A special little gift for our newest little tailgate buddy!
I was super excited to find this ASU fabric at Hobby Lobby!
I had purchased the ribbon in Boone a while back,
so I decided to do a variety of burpies to go along with a little knitted hat, of course!

More Sleepover Pillowcases and Bandana Pants!
This set was for a little girl that LOVES all things pink and dramatic!

And this set for a more subdued sister!

A little something for The Reporter to wear to school, inspired by this tutorial.
So cute, SO easy, and SO gonna make more of these!!!

   

What do you do when your kiddos start to outgrow their clothes in length, but the waist still fits? Well, six months ago I would have sent this straight to the consignment box, but we decided to "Make it Work!"

Adding a 3 inch ruffle gave it just enough length for school-wear and made it super-fun for a
six year old that loves to twirl!

Now that summer is "over" and it is back to the daily grind, does that mean that my sewing machine will go back into hibernation?  No way!  I am trying to sneak in a little sewing time here and there and have even committed to one of my 

40 by 40 projects. . . .

Any guesses??

Baby, I Can Knit While You Drive. . .

Ahhhh. . . summertime. . . the open road. . . 

kids in the backseat for hours at a time. . . this is what I live for. . .

Several (ok many) years ago, Trisha Yearwood sang a song entitiled “Baby, You Can Sleep While I Drive”.  I often hum this familiar tune as we travel, but with different words. . . Baby, I can knit while you drive. 

You see, I have a little obsession with knitting.  OK, not little—it is a huge, time-consuming obsession.  I have been knitting for 5 years now and have progressed from the dreaded garter stitch scarf to cabled socks and lace stoles.  I knit whenever I can, and have even found myself dreaming of stitch patterns (nerdy, I know).  My hubby has caught me snoozing mid-stitch more times than I can count when he arrives home after a long night of work. 

Knitting is more than just a finished project for me.  It is like therapy.  Each tiny flick of the needle moving stitches from left to right brings me a sense of peace and calm.  It keeps my hands busy when I would otherwise busy myself with biting my nails, or picking at my cuticles.  It helps me pass the time when I am waiting impatiently for a meeting to begin or to be called in for an appointment.  It keeps me occupied so that I can endure scary movie scenes and football season with my hubby. And believe it or not, I really concentrate better when my hands are busy clicking along on a project.  I have happily knitted along to keynote speakers during workshops and have even snuck my knitting into the “cry room” at church while my babies were little. 

I am not quite skilled enough to knit and read at the same time, although some knitters are, but audio books are an option. I can, however, knit and nurse at the same time-- A skill that has saved me from utter boredom during those early days of non-stop nursing sessions, and produced some pretty great hats and socks and such.

Unfortunately, between working full-time during the school year, taking care of a household, and parenting two children, my knitting time is very limited.  Oh yes, after all the chores are completed and children are fast asleep, I can sneak in a few stitches, but honestly, who has energy for that at the end of a long day?  My favorite time to knit is early in the morning—just me, my coffee, and my needles—but in the hustle and bustle everyday life, that opportunity is typically limited to the weekend, if I’m lucky.

I have, though, found the perfect time and place to focus on knitting, with minimal interruptions—the car.  No, no—not at stoplights as I drive to school, although the thought has crossed my mind.  When I am safely buckled into the passenger seat, you will find me knitting away, no matter how long the trip may be. I get excited about any car trip, as soon as it is mentioned!  One mile to my parents’ house for dinner?  Why, that is enough time to do two rows on this hat!  A trip across town to go to church? Wow—I can turn the heel of this sock!  A trip to the in-laws’ for dinner?  A baby hat will surely be made!  A trip to the beach (mountains, family reunion out of state, any other far-away place)?  Well, that is the jackpot, the ultimate prize.  The possibilities are endless. 

When we prepare for a long trip out of town, I first pack all the regular things—you know, clothes, toiletries, etc.  Then I pack the essentials—“The front seat bag”—full of projects.  Yes, plural.  I always overestimate the number of projects I will need to keep my hands busy because I would certainly not want to be stuck without something to do!  Heaven forbid we are stuck in traffic and I knit through all ten skeins of yarn I have packed without a back-up plan!  Never mind that a cabled sock would typically take me weeks to complete—I should pack 5 extra projects “just in case”!  Stranded without knitting?  Never!

I realize that many couples share the driving experience when they travel.  However, my husband’s line of work required many hours of strategic driving training, so I am only asking him to use these well-tuned skills to deliver us safely to our destination and back home.  Prior to my knitting obsession, I read while he drove, so now I can knit AND carry on a conversation with him!  Bonus! 

So tonight, as we are packing for a family reunion six (SIX) hours away, I am not laying out clothing and planning outfits.  Nope.  I am winding yarn and carefully organizing my projects for the drive.  

Because Baby, I WILL knit while you drive. . . .

Make and Do

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have always been a lover of books.  I have recently become enamored with non-fiction, but as a  young child, my selections were usually fiction--delving into words of fantasy to escape my own little world.  However, I often picked up informational books for fun--to learn new things or get ideas about how things were made.  I guess my obsession with arts and crafts started early, as one of my favorite childhood books was the Childcraft Make and Do book.

How many of you had a copy of this very book? I still have my copy somewhere in my parents' attic.  I could spend hours combing through the pages of this book looking for my next "art project".  Would it be clay beads?  What about a doll house made entirely of old shoe boxes?  Stilts out of tin cans, anyone?  I fantasized that my projects would be just as perfect as those pictured on the pages of Childcraft.  Somehow, they never turned out quite the same--a little drippy glue here, a misplaced bead there.  But still I held onto the hope that I, too, could create art pretty enough to display.

Well, not much has changed over the years.  I still comb through pages of books and the internet (Have I mentioned Pinterest?) to find "art projects" to occupy my time (as if I have any spare time!).  Most of my projects over the past few years have focused on knitting (my primary crafty love), with some occasional EASY sewing thrown in for the kiddos.  The Reporter makes frequent requests for stuffed animals, legwarmers, and pillows.  I also enjoy "crafting" new recipes and kitchen projects.  This summer I decided to get back to crafting and involving the kids in the process (although the Little Guy is happy just to roll a ball around the living room as the Reporter and I craft!).  So, here you have it. . . . a photo journal of some of our recent projects (and a few links to where ideas came from, if they weren't originals!).  As the summer progresses, I hope to have more to show, especially with our upcoming Christmas in July project I will share with you next week!   I hope this will inspire you to pull out your sewing machine, or just a few pipe cleaners, and get crafty!  

Tile Coasters found here

The Reporter inherited these flowers and butterflies from her cousins.
 We transformed them into a mobile!

Bandanna Pants!  Tutorial found here.

A first birthday shirt and hat!

My favorite project this summer, so far--the Sleepover Pillowcase!
We made one for a gift and one for The Reporter!

Fun Fourth Shirt!!!  Idea from here.

A little kitchen creativity for The Little Guy's birthday!  Almost Vegan Mudpie!

Now, go get crafty!!