Studio Makeover

Happy Sunday Everyone! Bo and I have been working like crazy around the house for the last few month.   We have finally completed one of the project rooms, so if your not too busy, I would love to share some photos of my new studio with you.  

This is the armoire I used for a computer desk and work station before.

I loved having all of my cards, photos, notes and mementos out where I could see them, but frankly it was a little over stimulating.  In the next photo you can see the lovely honeycomb blinds (Yikes!).  And the scalloped cornice I that has been a mainstay of this room's decor since we moving in fifteen years ago.  In my defense it has been recovered three times.  I love the line it creates across the room, but it was time for the toile to go.

  In the bottom right corner of the photo above you can see the stamping table we made a few years back.  It has a butcher block top and I wanted to stay with this kind of look.  So we decided to make another, this time with unfinished wood.  Bo cut it down to the perfect size and then we got to work. 

We sanded, stained, drilled (yes! I drilled), and applied polyurethane until it was super shiny.  We purchased two unfinished cabinets at Lowe's, painted them black and used them for the base of the desk.

And now...here is the finished desk!  I know I've said it before, but "I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!" and this time it is a desk!

It is so functional and pretty easy to keep tidy.  I added some crystal knobs to the cabinets and they have lots of storage space left for me to fill.

And guess what...no more honey comb shades.  Whoopie!  I had really put off replacing them, because oddly none of the windows in this room are the same size and so it would mean having custom shades made, and who wants to spend all that money on something as boring as blinds?  Not me.  So I decided to try my hand at sewing some faux roman shades out of muslin. 

Ahhh, much better. I covered the cornice with a beautiful paisley print and a black ruffled trim.  As you can see, I still have all my photos and things around me, they are just spaced out a little more so I can appreciate them.

Here is one last look from the same vantage point that the first photo of the armoire was taken.  It's a very big change, and I feel very lucky to have such a lovely room to call my own.

I hope you enjoyed this little Studio Tour.  Hopefully there will be an abundance of artwork produced here.

Until next time,

jamie

I have a confession to make...

I love Pintrest!  I don't just mean the "Oh!  That's a cool website!" It's a crazy kind of love.  I just want to check back every few minutes to make sure that I haven't missed the next great project, or who knows someone may have just pinned a wonderful recipe (for something that isn't white) with only three ingredients.  What ever my latest interest is I know that I can always find good information and endless ideas about it on Pintrest.  But, I realized something last night...while I have pinned 99 things on my "I have to make this" board, I haven't really been making very much.  So today I decided it was high time I created something new.  I wanted to create something that was inspired by a in on my board.  So this was the inspiration piece.  It was pinned from a cute blog called Thinking Inking , she has tons of really great cards so stop by if you get a chance.

And here is my card. 

Not exactly the same, but It does share a few similarities.  That's what I love about art.  You may start with a map in your hand, but the route you take to your destination is never quite the one you had planned.  At least in my case.  This little fairy is from Crafty Secrets.  It is a stamp from one of their clear art stamp sets called born to fly.  I have wanted her forever.  I paper pieced her dress and if you look closely you can see the sparkly pink bows on her shoes.  Love that glitter! 

Have you made anything lately?  If not I encourage you to get to work on any little crafty project you have around.  It's good for the soul.

Take care,

j

Lovable Links Edition 2

Happy Tuesday friends!  Just wanted to share a few fun ideas I found on the Internet this week.  Starting out with these super cute "vintage inspired favors and gift wrap" from Kelly at  Live.laugh.love

I am definitely going to try this project!

Along similar lines I fell in love with these beautiful utensil holders.   Lace and burlap...who could ask for more?  Thank you Ruffled Blog !

Next I found these shabby chic little houses at Stampington & Co.  This is a great blog with lots of tutorials and wonderful stamping projects.  This project by Kristen Robertson is called "Where My Heart Lives".

Finally I pinned these cute crochet eggs on my Yarn pinboard this week.  It's a little late for Easter, but I think they would be darling in a nest, for a spring decoration. Hmmmm, future post?  You will just have to wait and see.  For now you can visit

Easy Makes Me Happy for the free pattern.

   

I hope you enjoy these links and find them useful be sure to let me know if you make any of the projects.  Did you discover any new projects this week?

Enjoy the rest of your week,

j

Do you do belly bands?

Hi everyone! Instead of making the same old tags for Easter treats this year I decided to make belly bands. I started with some chocolate covered peeps and simply wrapped a strip of paper around the middle of the package. Then just decorate as you would a card or tag. Fun, easy and something a little different.

I used my computer to generate the text in a circle and then stamped the chick from Rubber Stampede .  I used the Tim Holtz mini rosette die with yellow cardstock and embellished with a ribbon and a flower.  

I have used belly bands before on books and frames, but this is my first try at treats and I think I like it! Do you have a clever use for a belly band?  I would love to hear it!

Hope your weekend is filled with spring fun!

jamie

"I'm in love, i'm in love and I don't care who knows it!" Buddy the Elf

I know, I know!  You have heard me say this a million times, about paper, fabric, rubber stamps and anything that has caught my eye on a particular day.  But today's object of adoration is simply to wonderful not to share.

Sooooo...here she is!

Is she not the most beautiful thing ever?  She is a replica of a vintage Santos.  Which really  meant nothing to me until I brought her home yesterday.  After her photo shoot I let her take a little break and I did some research.  It is always so cool to me when you find something you love and low and behold you loved it before you even knew it existed.  Which is the case here.

Although I am not particularly religious (not at all really) I have always love religious artifacts and art work.  Mostly of the Spanish variety.  Every time we visit my son in Tyler, there is store there that I am so intrigued with, I will go in one day even if Bo just waits in the car.  They sell Mexican religious artifacts, shoes, and work boots.  Odd?  Kinda. Cool?  Oh Yeah!  Anyway when I was drawn to this little beauty I had no idea that she was a replica of Spanish religious artifacts.  Which proves you are never to old to learn something new!  If you would like to read more about Santos, there is a great definition on Wikipedia .

What kind of art are you drawn to?  I would love to hear, who knows maybe I will find something else to love.

Have a great week!

jamie