IN RECOVERY...

 Hi Sweet Friends!  I wanted to pop in and say a quick hello and leave a little missive to let you know that I will be missing for a few more days or so.  I am in recovery from a very slight sort of freak accident in which I received a mild concussion, a nice goose egg, some slightly blurred vision, some strained neck muscles, and a major headache.  I am fine, really, just getting back on my feet and having to catch up on a few things on the home front.  

I have so many things to share with you as soon as I return, including my fabulous new studio storage desk that I can't wait to use!  I hope you are all well and enjoying the anticipation of Spring.  We have our first signs here...

I hope you each enjoy a blessed a beauty filled day!

 

Comment are off for this post.

WHEN REALITY AND VIRTUALITY COLLIDE...

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One any given day there are at least one thousand and one things on my "to do" list.  There are at least two thousand and two things on my "want to do" list.  And then there is reality where I actually only accomplish one or two things from each list and if I am really lucky dipping my toe in the virtual world of blogging is one of them.  Sometimes that is just not possible, this past week reality and virtuality collided.  My real live life had to take precedence over my virtual blog presence.

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I had such grand plans of doing a big "TA DA!" of my finished desk in the studio as well as a sweet little Valentine tutorial but alas I was needed elsewhere.  It has been a week filled with care giving and shuttling to and from appointments for both my mother and step-father, today is the last one so hopefully I can get a real post in by the weekend.

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My moments have been full, busy, and for the most part happy but I have sorely missed all by blog friends and all the news in the neighborhood.  I still have some comments that have been left unattended and I hope I have not offended, I will be able to get to those very soon and hopefully to visit around too.  Mostly I just wanted to pop in and say HI!  I miss you!  And I hope to visit with you soon.

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I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful day!

I THINK I CAN (PART 1)...

(Recycled tin cans - from studio scraps to stylish storage)

 "A little railroad engine was employed about a station yard for such work as it was built for, pulling a few cars on and off the switches..." and so begins the tale of a little blue engine who faced a very big task that those larger, more powerful, and better equipped than he refused to do for fear of failure.  This story is about the value of optimism and hard work.  In some ways it is a metaphor for reaching our goals and dreams.

(Achieving a stylish, inspiring, and organized studio on shoe string budget has been a big dream of mine)

Many times the path to achievement looks too difficult, like the steep grade the rail cars needed to be pulled up and over, so we don't even try.  In order to make it over difficult terrain much effort is going to have be exerted to get to the desired destination.  We have to be agreeable to the struggle to get there.  We have to be like the little engine that could, harboring a positive attitude to think that we can.

(At times it has seemed impossible and discouraging)

While he was small and seemingly inadequate for the task he was willing to try.  He was reaching to overcome what appeared to be impossible odds while repeating the mantra, "I think I can, I think I can..."  He did not make excuses as to why he could not meet the challenge or be up for the task.  He did not refuse to try despite his inadequacies or inexperience.  He positioned himself in the forefront with bravery.  He got up his momentum and kept puffing along, faster and faster, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."

 (I have been trying to keep my momentum, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...)

And just when he could clearly see his goal in sight, suddenly he started to lose steam. Progress began to go more slowly, which is where discouragement often sets in.  It is almost at the pinnacle when we so often give up.  This is when we have to draw on that positive attitude and belief in ourselves and our abilities.  It is where we find out if we really have the staying power to reach outside our comfort zone into the unknown where goals are met and dreams come true.

(There were days when I would lose steam and want to forfeit the dream, too much work)

Sometimes it takes much longer than we think it should.  Our progress is impeded in some way, there are interruptions in our daily lives and schedules that hinder progress.  Obstacles surmount and we gradually give up and slide back down the grade letting the dream fade, sighing and thinking, "Would that not have been lovely, Oh well, I guess it was not meant to be."  

(By keeping my eyes on the prize, the view from the top, I have chugged on)

Do you give up or do you chug on?

(Sifting through disturbing mess to feeling incredibly blessed)

Do you think you can? 

(Not letting the overall work at hand interrupt the flow of creativity)

I know you can!

(I have just about untangled myself from stressed out mess to place of creative rest)

If you could do something and know you would not fail what would it be?

(PART 2 CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING HERE)

 

P.S.  I was inspired to make these simple cost effective supply storage cans after seeing the ones that Sonya (Counting My Blessings) made HERE.  Thanks Sonya for a great idea!

HOW MUCH STUFF CAN YOU STORE IN A 6 INCH SPACE?

I am pretty sure you are getting tired of me posting on working on the studio as I am pretty sure I am tired of working ON the studio instead of IN the studio.  But, there is a huge beaming light at the end of the tunnel and I can see it.  I am reaching for it.  I know the place where I create will continue to evolve and change as need arises, in these final stages of getting the last furniture pieces in place and having a place for everything, only the things I love and want to create with, I feel like I have accomplished a huge goal.

 Honestly, it feels just a tad bit scary to be at a done place, the real work will now have to begin.  The thought is both daunting and exhilarating because it means another step towards my goals.  Little fears trickle in...What if I can't create anything except a pretty functional room?  What if I fail to move forward?  What if?  What if?  What if?...such a nasty hiss!  The Pollyanna side of me pushes the Doubting Thomas aside and whispers...What if you succeed?  What if you glad beyond glad that you took the time, effort, and energy to create a tailor made functional for you creative space?  What if you create your masterpiece?  What if?  What if?  What if?...whispered with such hope.

So it is with Pollyanna positivity that I press on and with any luck I will actually have the job complete this weekend.  I know, I know, you have heard this before and if I could have foreseen the future I would not have said that and it may not happen this weekend either but I will give it my best try.  (Just in case you are wondering I am waiting on Handy Hubby to finish up some welding and that is the hold up.)  While I am a lady in waiting for my knight in shining welder shield to come to my rescue I have been working on a tiny overflow storage area, behind the door storage.  You might not think you can do much with a mere 6 inch space but I will prove that you can!

I began with two old wooden crates that I picked up at a flea market for a mere $3.00 each...

I had Handy Hubby cut them down into equal sections.  I glued and clamped the sections together and Handy Hubby added a 1/8 inch wood backing to the whole thing.  Once dry and secure I used old book pages to cover the back of the unit.  We then attached it to the wall by using screws into the wall studs...

I purchased a wooden thread holder at a flea market and cut it apart into three sections, attaching one section in each of the three upper boxes...

I also found some small tension rods at a flea market.  I spray painted those with brown spray paint and installed them for extra ribbon storage...

Lastly I found glass jars that fit the shelving on sale at Hobby Lobby and filled them with ribbon scraps sorted out into like color families...

(There's room for two more jars but they are out of stock.  I will purchase those with my sale price rain check as soon as they get more in.)

On top are some free boxes that were given to me.  These small boxes store craft feathers...

I glued a strip of on old dictionary page around them and stamped a feather on each one.  I used colored pencils to color in the feathers to match what is in each box.

I consider this over flow and room to grow storage, after all, I have other ribbon storage here...

And here...

And here... 

And more thread storage here...

 I was thinking I might add some hooks to the sides where I could hang things from that too, maybe like extra shipping tags or who knows what.  I even gave pause to adding decorated tin cans to the sides to store pencils, pens, or paint brushes and I still might!

You could fill a whole unit like this just with threads, with rows of ribbons, or with jars of supplies.  

It is amazing what you can actually store in a 6 inch space!

Here is a sneak peek at that very last furniture piece...

So, I guess you know what I will be up to this weekend, got and great plans?

ART CHALLENGE WINNER(S)...

Thank you so much to all you precious dears who stepped out of your comfort zone and dipped your toe in making some very beautiful and amazing art!  I loved each and every entry and all the thought you put behind it.  It was also a joy getting to know some new friends.

And the winner is...

Vee (A Haven for Vee), congratulations!

BUT WAIT, that is not all...

The winners are also...

Michelle (Old Rose Cottage)

Cindy (Blessings From Cindy)

Gail (Little Beach Designs)

Dora (Words to Live By)

Nancy (Babbelot) 

While Vee may have won the collage I would love to send each of you a little thank you gift for making my very first art challenge such a delight.  Please send me your mailing addresses, my email link in on my right side bar.  Also, please give me a few days, say until the middle of next week to get some little creations together to send you.  I will email you when they go out in the post.

Thank you and I hope you all enjoy a blessed day!