Every now and then I like to show you some truly genius, beautiful, fun, or just down right amazing DIY projects that others have done.  I have been busy this week trying to get my studioffice makeover started and don’t have anything completed yet to show you, so I thought it the perfect time to feature a few projects that have inspired me.

For starters- since we all have a few hard edged office looking things in our homes, like printers, modems, scanners, etc.  I thought you would appreciate this idea. It is one of those that has you saying to yourself, “now why didn’t I think of that?”   Look what Pamela at PB & J Stories did.   She transformed a drawer front with hinges so her printer can be easily accessed, yet hidden.

I had never been to Pamela’s blog before and enjoyed looking around and reading her posts. I found out that her husband is in the Navy and just returned from deployment. Reading her post brought back many pleasant memories for me when I first met my husband – I stood on the docks in Norfolk… and San Diego… and Bremerton… and San Francisco….. literally waiting for the ship to come in many times. A big part of life as a Navy spouse is waiting and moving – A LOT!  Someday I will tell you the story about how I met my husband. XO It was not your average ordinary boy meets girl scenario.

OK – the printer drawer was genius, now look at what Carrie over at Lovely, Etc. did to her sub flooring!  Your jaw is going to drop.  I have stenciled quite a few floors, but this is just amazing. The detail and the border – I am so impressed with her talent and patience to do a big and detailed project like this.  She said it took a lot of time, but WOW – it was worth it.  Sub flooring never looked so good!

xo Valentine’s Day xo  is less than two weeks away.  Are you ready to surprise someone with a Valentine goodie or treat?

Poppies at Play made the sweetest Valentine cinnamon buns.    Hmmmm…mmm..mmm they look yummy and they are not even baked yet!   Sometimes I like the dough better than the baked buns.  Do you fall into that category, too?  :)  Making them would be such a nice way to send your family out the door on Valentine’s morning, or to take to work to share with your co-workers.  Simple, yet a delicious way to make the ones around you feel the love or as my youngest would say, feel the  “Mommy Love”.   When she was growing up and wanted something from me – to hem her jeans or to make her favorite meal, she would look at me all cute and tell me she needed some “Mommy Love”.  To her, it meant the special things that I did just for her.  I can just imagine her saying she needs some “Mommy Love” in the way of some Heart Shaped Cinnamon Buns come the 14th.

So after genius, amazing, and yummy delicious that I cannot top, I will tell you about the small project I did for Momtastic – it is Valentine’s Day related.   I was having so much fun making the pom poms for my Mondo Pom Pom Throw that I was inspired to make Pom Pom Valentine Flowers. They are easy to make and the best part – they don’t need any water. Give one to anyone who is nice to you on February 14th.  If you want to find out more, you can click over to my post –

DIY: Valentine Pom Pom Flowers

Are you going to tell us who you have a blog crush on?  It is only 11 more days until you can reveal who it is.  If you want to find out more about the Link up here on Feb 14th – just click the button to read the post all about it.

I have been assessing my house for the past few weeks trying to figure out what projects I need to do if we have to move and what projects I would love to do if we stay.     One thing I noted is that I see a trend happening in all of my rooms – I am removing the window treatments!  Well – not all, but for the past year I have noticed I like my windows with less – less fuss, less fabric. I want to see clearly outside and don’t want too much competition with the outside view, but I still want them to look nice.

I once read in a decorating book that windows are the smile of a house.

Think about it – when you walk up to a house with shiny, clean, unobstructed windows you feel the house is welcoming you with a big smile.   Now imagine walking up to that same house where all the drapes and shades are closed tight and never opened or they are crooked and uneven or there is a different color at every window and spider webs in the corners.   It is like the house is saying – GO AWAY!    I like my house to smile from the outside as well as the inside.

When I was a college student living in NYC I had two very nice windows in my apartment, but not even what seemed 4 feet away was another building.  No view at all.  It was stifling. I felt trapped and spent many hours on the roof where I could enjoy the view for miles.  A view opens up the possibilities and keeps life bright and cheery.

I have a Pinterest board titled Wonderful Windows.  Someday I imagine the windows in my house will look like these-

Two Ellie

via

Verdigris Vie

For now this is as close as I can get-

In my Dining Room and Family Room

Right before Christmas I removed the curtain panels from the French doors in my family room.  We used to need them to shut out the sun glare when the TV was in one of the corner cabinets and not mounted above the fireplace where it is now.  It felt so good to take them down. There is no need for privacy in this room as it opens up to the back of the house, plus there is a row of trees between properties, so no one can see anything anyway.

I love white or a neutral color fabric at my windows because I don’t want the fabric to dictate what I can or can’t bring into the room color or style wise. If I like something I can place it in these rooms and it goes automatically.     At Christmas I was able to just that when I added snowflakes and wreaths with fuchsia ribbon to my dining and family rooms.

Before

After

In my bedroom

I need privacy, but have a wonderful view that I want to enjoy during the day.  I simply use cloth roller shades at night.  They are classic and 18 years old!  Talk about good classic design!  The panels are from Target and I made the no-sew valances from tablecloths.

Where I don’t have panels – I like valances to add some color and interest.  The valance in my bathroom is a simple rectangle of fabric tied onto an antique swing rod that I found at a flea market.  Above my kitchen window is my most elaborate treatment. I used a M’Fay pattern to make it and let me tell you  – It was not easy!!!  Sewing the beaded trim on the bottom edge was a breeze compared to the construction involved with making the valance.

In my kitchen by the banquette we needed a sun filtering and blocking treatment.  We get full morning sun that can make it impossible to read the paper or even sit without getting sun glare in your eyes.  Since this is a bay window, drapes would not work or if I did add them the window would end up looking like a “stage”. Installing 3 1/2- inch wide plantation shutters was the best choice in window treatments I ever made.  The wide louvers when set straight across provide much more light and a view. Smaller louvers will obstruct the view.    I bought these from Smith and Noble. They told me they would not fit or work on a bay window, but I insisted they would. I was told that if I ordered them, I could not return them as they were custom.    They didn’t know – an obstacle is like a creative challenge for me.  They fit perfectly.

The hall bathroom only had one little window. I “faked” it to make it look much larger by adding molding above it to hang the valance and keeping the window clear.  For privacy, there is a roller shade hidden behind the valance.

In my studioffice – I just took down the cardboard valances since I am re-doing  this room.  I just painted the trim around the windows – more on that coming soon.  Guest room has no-sew panels and a sun blocking roller shade for guests who like privacy and do not like to wake up in a bright room.

The window in the upstairs hallway has nothing on it.  I tried to make it have more presence by adding old shutters to the sides and by making a small window seat to place in front of it.  If we end up staying in this house, I want to beef this window up with molding.

My daughters’ rooms are both pretty bare now, but there are roller shades for privacy in each. I won’t be doing anything with their rooms until I know if we are moving or not.

There is also a window and door in my mudroom. Right now they have white wood blinds on them, but at one time I added a seashell swag on the window. I made the swag as a project for one of  the appearances I did on Lifetime TV. It is in my basement now, all wrapped up  – waiting for a beach house someday.

The sidelights by my front door – I used clear Gallery Glass Window Color to resemble a beveled glass design.  It looks nice from the street – the light comes in and you can still see out.

Which brings me to the outside of the windows – how do the treatments look to people passing by?

I did a screen test – no – not for Hollywood, but a window screen test to show you in the winter months how much better a window can look when the screen is taken down.  The window in the photo below with the screen is grayed out – no shine and the mullions are not crisp and white. Imagine all the shiny windows above and next to it with the same gray look.  It looks flat – no shine and life to the windows.  I should have put the screen in one of the upstairs windows to demonstrate this as the two on the bottom are in the shade and it is not as obvious.  I love my screens – I am an open window kind of girl and put them back in as soon as the weather gets warm, but I love the way my house looks more in the winter when the screens are off– it smiles brighter.

I took a drive around to get some photos to show you what I mean by windows that could be smiling more.  All of these houses are beautiful, well tended, flower gardens lining the walks, and trimmed hedges – so you know someone cares.  What I photographed are just slight details that can make a huge difference in how a window can look to to the outside world.  It can be as simple as lining all the treatments in a neutral color, keeping the treatments even, the same across the front of the house, and keeping the windows sparkly clean.

When I am in a rush to get somewhere in the morning, I am the first to admit I  am guilty of not taking the time to pull my shades up evenly across the windows in my room.  When I come home and see that the shade is all askew, I immediately have to fix it. It just looks better.

These windows could be smiling more if they didn’t have color variations at each window or the treatments had white/off white linings.

Windows smile more when the treatments inside are lined up evenly with each other and/or with the window sash?

Are your windows smiling?  Take notice of these little details on the exterior of your windows to make sure they are smiling to the world and look as good from the outside as they do from the inside.  :)

I am working on the two windows in my studioffice now and will show you what I am doing with them soon – nothing elaborate, but definitely more interesting.

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Last week I lined my desk drawer with pages from a thrift store book on lettering.  I love how it turned out, but since the drawer is nice and big, it needed some sort of dividers to keep everything from shifting around.  Dividers would also make it easy to find things and maintain as well as easy to find and keep organized.    I clipped an inspiring drawer photo from a magazine a long time ago and when I brought the desk up from my basement, I went looking for the clipping.  I found it!

Here it is – I love the way the drawers are divided with a simple label for each compartment.  The scan quality of the photo isn’t great, but if you look at the bottom left you can see what I am talking about.

I was sent a P-Touch1290 label maker before the holidays to review, but I didn’t have time to do anything with it. When I moved my desk up from my basement – not only did the clipping come to mind, but so did an idea of how I could use the P-Touch.

I thought about making the DIY Drawer Organizers that Stephanie Lynn at Under The Table Dreaming did with her kitchen drawers and painting them white, but I didn’t want something permanent and locked into one size dividers as I don’t know what I may want to put in my drawer a year from now.

If you know me, you know I enjoy finding ways to re-purpose items. I went around my house and collected all the small boxes I could find.  I found quite a few since Christmas wasn’t that long ago. They held candy, jewels, checks, wallet, etc.  I used the tops and the bottoms of each box. Since the boxes were all different colors, I sprayed the top edges with spray paint just so they would look cohesive.  I also picked out a few pieces of scrapbook paper and lined the boxes using a few decorative patterns. I still have to collect more boxes, but you can see how I have created pretty dividers to organize all my drawer junk.  The boxes can be changed and rearranged in many different ways -they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

How to Make Drawer Dividers Using Boxes and Scrapbook Paper

What You Will Need:

Make a Liner for Each Box

1. Lay scrapbook paper right-side down. Trace the top of the box on the paper making sure there is extra space all around that is the same measurement or taller then the height of the box.

2. Use a colored pencil/pen and a ruler. Make a line on each side of the box outline 1/8” inside the lines. This will allow for the fact that the inside of the box is smaller than the outside. If it is a very thick box, make the lines 1/4”.  Once you make one line – you will understand this step, if it seems confusing.

-Once the lines are made you need to score the lines. This is easily done by lining  up the ruler with each line and gently running the closed tip of a pair of scissors or a paper clip along the ruler. You don’t have to press too hard, you just want to make an indent in the paper.

3. Cut outside the lines to cut off each corner- so that no pencil marks show on the 4 tab like sections.

4.  Your lining should look like this.

Fit the Liner into the Box

1.  Fold the score lines and place the paper into the box. If it is too big – adjust the size by taking another 1/8” off of one or more sides until it fits.

2. Once it fits, mark the height of the sides of the box on the liner. Remove and cut off excess.

3. Rub a glue stick allover the back of the liner.

4.  Place in box. Smooth the bottom and sides with your fingers to make sure the paper is adhered.  If you want to cover the outside of the box, measure the height and cut a strip to size.  Glue the strip around the box.

Make the Strip for the Label

1.  Using a paper cutter – cut the card-stock into 1/2-inch strips.

2. Score down the center of each strip by running the closed tip of a pair of scissors along the ruler. This will create a scored line to fold the strip in half nice and neatly.

3.  Place the folded strip along the back of your lined box. Mark the length and cut with scissors.

4. Run a glue stick along the inside bottom of the strip.  Attach to top back of box. Smooth with your hands to make sure it is adhered.

5. Peel the backing from your label and attach to the paper strip.

6.  All done.

—————

The P-Touch was quite easy to use right out of the box. It came with one cartridge and full instructions.  I just started playing with it until I understood how it worked. It came with a diagram of all the sizes, fonts, and stylish designs you can create on the labels.   I just went with the simple Helvetica font.    Once I made a few, I started having fun with it and thought of all the other places that could use a label – like the circuit breakers in the electrical box in the basement. We labeled that years ago, but the writing has faded and now it is a guessing game on which breaker is for what.  The labels made with the P-touch are said to be indestructible and will never fade.

The only downside I found using it was that it needed 6 AAA batteries – which can get costly if you start labeling everything in sight, like me :)  Would be more cost effective if you could just plug it into a wall socket, but then the initial price of the machine would be more.  The retail cost of the the P Touch runs around $39.99.

The labels come out the back of the machine once you press print.  There is a side button to press and your label is instantly cut.  It is quite fun and easy to use.

I am feeling very organized  and I like the feeling, the feeling of  order.

Since I love the black and white lettered drawer liner, I added a few clear plastic boxes to the mix. They won’t need a scrapbook liner since they are see-through.

This was a fun project since I love to organize. Once I was finished with the drawer, I started making labels  for the file folders in my file cabinet.   The P-Touch only comes with one sample starter pack of tape and I used it up, so I will have to get a full roll to finish my file drawer on my next trip to Walmart or Staples.  It will be a huge milestone for me to finally have the files in the cabinet all nice and neat with easy to read labels instead of my scribbled on handwriting in all different colors of inks.

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I usually find my color inspiration from something I love and plan on using in the room as my starting point.  It could be a piece of fabric or a favorite object. I then look at photo clippings from magazines or Pinterest that I have gathered to build a color scheme.

After taking the quiz, if you haven’t tried the My Image Inspiration tool, it is easy and fun to use, too.   You just have to have an inspiration photo on your computer to upload.  Everything else is done for you – well except the physical effort required to actually paint your room.

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I have partnered with Glidden/ Akzo Nobel Paints for this post and the My Colortopia program but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Before I started moving my studioffice all around last week, I started making something to keep me warm as it is COLD!!! outside and I like it warm. This past weekend it snowed, which made for a nice snow day on Saturday, but the throw blanket I keep in my living room to snuggle up with has not been available for about 2 months now.  You will find out why below.

I needed to finish up embellishing a new throw I bought at Marshall’s to keep me all comfy cozy.  It is large, furry, fuchsia, soft and super cuddly – perfect for the winter months, plus it gives my room an added color pop.  When I bought it, it had plain edges, but I knew I would be adding big pom poms to embellish it and make it my own.

This project all started when a certain new member of my household took over my warm and snuggly leopard throw. Like we humans, Kindi, my daughter’s dog, likes it is all snuggly – comfy cozy.  This is her favorite spot, perhaps the throw reminds her of Africa where she was born and lived the the first year of her life.  She doesn’t mind snuggling with my husband either. I didn’t have the heart to keep taking it away from her when I wanted to use it, so I had find something new to use.

Sometimes I don’t even see her as she blends right in. You can see why I couldn’t take it away from her.  

I got my inspiration to make the pom pom trim when I saw this photo in an old Woman’s Day magazine from the late 60’s that I found at a thrift store.  I don’t knit or know how to weave, but maybe in time for spring I can have one of my knitting friends make one for me – I will make the pom poms.  I know I want to infuse a lighter pink into my family room once I can open up my windows again. I love the colors – pink, lavender and tangerine.  This is such a classic photo – the car, the turtle neck  – very chic.  Shows you that classics – are always in style.

From woman's Day Magazine Jan 1968

This was a very easy project that I did while I watched a movie on TV.  The throw was on my lap keeping me all nice and warm while I worked on it. 

How to Make a Pom Pom

I used 4 different colors of yarn.

1.  Cut a piece of cardboard 3 1/2” square .  Begin to make the pom pom by wrapping your yarn around the cardboard. I went around 30 times for each of my pom poms. If you are using only one color yarn you will have to wrap about 100 times to get a mondo size pop pom.

2.  Once the yarn is wrapped around the cardboard, cut the ends.  Carefully remove from the cardboard.

3. Lay the wrapped yarn on an 8-inch piece of yarn and then tie it tightly around the wrapped yarn.  Make a double knot to secure.   You may want to have someone hold their finger over the knot as you tie to make sure you tie the yarn on as tightly as you can.

4.  Hold the 2 ends of the 8-inch piece of yarn that is wrapped around the pom pom  in one hand and place one scissor tip into the loops and start cutting the loops open.  Do not cut off the tied 8-inch piece of yarn, keep it long.  You need these ends to tie the pom pom onto your throw.  Once the loops are all open, give the pom pom a haircut with scissors shaping it into a nice round shape.  You can make it small and dense or large and fluffy.

How to Tie Pom Poms onto the Throw

I spaced the pom poms 6” apart.

Simply thread one of the end pieces from the 8-inch piece of yarn that is tied around the pom pom into a large eye needle.

Once the yarn is through the edge of the throw, remove the needle and tie the pom pom on using the other tied end.  Make a few knots so you know it will be secure.

It truly brightens up the room and it so cozy and warm.  <3

How are you staying warm and snuggly this Winter?  I am going to make a super simple and yum-o veggie soup for dinner tonight and eat it by the fire all wrapped up in my fun new throw.

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Coming February 14th

Before

This is my very first completed project in my just rearranged studioffice.  I figured I would start out with a simple project.  You all know that I think the desk is pretty, but the aged yellow finish is just not my cup of tea so I am going to be changing it.   I started with the inside of the drawer.  The rest of the desk is going to be painted.

If you  haven’t read my previous post – I found this desk  curbside. It was a freebie that I put in my basement as I didn’t have place for it. That all changed when I recently cleaned out my basement.  I got inspired and decided the time was right to make the desk my own.  I am not only making it over, but the rest of my studioffice, too.

Even if the inside of this drawer gets filled with “drawer junk”, it would bother me that it was not pretty.  I had to make it it look more attractive.

Here is what the inside of the drawer looked like when I brought the desk  up from my basement.

When I go thrifting – my first destination is always to head to the book section.  It is where  I found all of these books that have provided me with decorative paper and prints to use on decorative projects.   The book on the bottom left is the one I used to line the drawer. I only used 10 pages.   The book cost me $1.50. I also have a file where I keep all sorts of b/w illustrations and drawings to use.    These illustrations could be framed, used to wallpaper a wall, wrap a gift, make tags, scrapbooking…are just a few ideas that I can think of.

I simply cut out the pages I liked and used Mod Podge Matte Formula to adhere and seal each page to the inside of the drawer.

I used a flat wide paint brush to apply the ModPodge to the drawer, not the book pages.  Once I had each page positioned on the Mod Podge covered area, I applied one coat of Mod Podge to the top of the book page.   Doing it this way will lessen any wrinkling.  I did one area at a time until I had the entire surface covered.     I then went over a few areas that I missed with the Mod Podge and let it dry.

I used a pair of scissors to trim the paper to size to fit into each corner.    Made sure it fit perfectly and then applied the Mod Podge.  Took about 25 minutes start to finish.  My photos are dark because I did this late last night.

After

A lining fit for a desk –don’t cha think?  I know it will be filled with stuff soon, but  I do love how it looks. I will get a little dose of design/writing inspiration every time I open it now. I am making an organizer to go in the drawer to keep all my “drawer junk” in so everything will be nice and neat.   I will show you next week.

If you want to see another way I used b/w book illustrations, click over to the post I did on how I made a craft cart – Zoom Zoom Zoom..Craft Cart on Wheels

+ + +

My new post is up over at Momtastic - Snuggle In For Some Decorating Inspiration.

So what is the difference between a Hue and a Color?  Find out on my newest post over at  My Colortopia

Enjoy your weekend.

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Do you remember getting Valentine cards in elementary school on Valentine’s Day?  Those cute little cards in envelopes from your classmates, delivered right to a crafty mailbox that you made in art class the week before to hang on your desk in anticipation of all the Valentines that would be coming your way during the classroom Valentine party?    I do.  I loved getting all those cute little cards that showed me some love – the cards from a secret admirer were the best and would have the school yard buzzing on who could have sent it.    They made you feel special.

Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it and I thought it would be fun for us to show a little” bloggy” love to each other this February 14th – not with a card, but a post about why we have a blog crush on a certain blog, blogs, or blogger.

I know you have a blog/blogger that you love…the one that gets you all excited when their latest post shows up in your reader or inbox.     Or maybe it is the blogger that you relate to because you share the same problem, or the one that makes you laugh, or inspires you consistently.  You may love the design of their site, their photography, tutorials, humor, their authentic voice, or they may even be your sister. You may just want to tell us about a post they wrote that inspired you into action or do an interview style post about them.  Whatever the reason– this February 14th, share the reasons with the rest of us by writing a post about your favorite blog or blogger and link it up here at

It can be about one or a few of the blogs you love.  If you don’t have a blog, you can still participate by writing about your favorite blog or blogger in the comments section that day.

We all need a little blog love now and then and I think Valentines Day is the day we can tell each other just how ardently we admire and love the inspiration we all receive from each other.  Used a bit from that famous Mr. Darcy quote in that sentence, but you get the drift.

Instead of posting about our projects, life, etc…  this party is about featuring others.

The blog you love doesn’t have to be popular or even in the DIY niche.   I am always searching  for new blogs from which to glean inspiration.  Sharing your favorite(s) here will help us not only get to know you and the blogger you are writing about better,  but will also help us find blogs that we may not know about.

Help me spread the word with the button in my sidebar, so that on Valentines Day our little niche of the blogging world will be filled with lots of love.

via

After de-cluttering my basement and unearthing the desk I picked up on the curb, I decided to get right to it and redesign my home office which I call my Studioffice, because it acts as a little bit of both – a creative studio and a business office.

I have posted about this home office/studio a few times as it is my favorite room, but when I made the Partners desk 15 years ago it didn’t have to compete with the work table.  Now the work table is where I spend most of my time. I also wanted to be able to create a better backdrop/staging area for when I take photos of my projects to post here.

Here is how the office looked yesterday. I already started to take apart the desk and then the blogger in me said – “Wait – take a photo or two.” :)

Before

I loved this desk and it has served me well for many years, but I do enjoy changing things up and when I finish redecorating this room – the space will be better designed for the way I work now.

What I disliked most about this layout and working at this desk was that my back was to the windows – bad Feng Shui!

As a fix, I placed the mirror on the wall, so it would reflect the light and I could see the window.

Center worktable – more de-cluttering going on.  One of you may win some of my un-needed stuff. More on that soon.

This layout is history….  If you would like to read more about how I made the work table and designed the other parts of the room you can read the posts  – My StudiOffice Part 1 and Part 2

In Transition

I took the desk apart.

Moved everything around and brought up the free curbside find desk from my basement.  Kindii had to check it out.

On Sunday night, I didn’t sleep a wink. My mind was playing with all the ways I could redesign this room without it costing too much. This is the layout I worked out and it went together perfectly.  Look how much more room I have now!

I am thrilled so far how it is all coming together.  I am writing this post sitting at the desk with all the mess around me. What I love is that I can see both windows to my right and the French doors in my family room to my left as I work at my desk now. LOVE the light and being able to see outside!  OMG!!! I cannot tell you how happy this is making me.   Much better Feng Shui to the room now – flow and energy.  Since my hubby’s unemployment I haven’t really done anything for myself.  I did the bathroom, but that was for resale.  This is for me alone – a little design indulgence. I feel energized!

None of this would be happening if I hadn’t taken control and de-cluttered my basement.  This is the year I “edit” and I am sticking to it !  Now, I am on a roll and it feels great. If you have been procrastinating about tacking your clutter issues– just start with one area and get your groove going.  You will be so happy that you did.

I have plans and projects for this room that I will be doing over the next few weeks and sharing with you.    I am going to paint and thanks to My Colortopia, I picked out the perfect color paint and made my palette using the My Color Inspiration Tool.

The only other hint I will give you is it will be light, simple, pretty and lots of color pops.

Here are a few projects I have planned:

-Set up one side as a mini photo studio.

-Paint desk, walls, stool, and file cabinets.

-Build 2 new pieces of furniture out of a few smaller pieces and thrift store finds.

-Make a new tablecloth for my sewing machine, chair seat cover, rug, and simple treatment for the windows.

-Show you how I will hide the electrical cords from the desk.  There is an outlet on the floor which helps.

…and so much more. I am super excited to get started.

I know I told you I would be posting a about a party and a giveaway.  My excitement for redoing my Studioffice sidetracked me.  I will post about them in a separate post early Thursday morning.

Until then-

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WARNING – this post is not pretty, but something I know most of us have to deal with every once in a while.  I de-cluttered my basement over the weekend and I can tell you that it is liberating now that it is behind me.   I still have more to do, but this was one of the biggest problem areas in my house.

One of my readers Eileen, wrote to me after I posted about my resolution to “edit” more this year.  She simply stated that “clutter”  is exhausting.  I could not agree with her more and had to start tackling some of the visual clutter in my house.   You may have noticed that I didn’t have a post last Friday. This is because I am sticking to my goal to edit, edit, edit.  It has taken me all weekend to get my basement back into shape.

Here are the “BEFORE” photos.

But wait – there’s more…Basement Clutter Zones 3, 4, and 5!

Yes – it is everywhere – the basement a.k.a… the dumping ground.  It was driving me crazy and I had to take the time to get it under control before I move onto anything else.  I had to make the decision to edit and keep at it to free my mind so I can concentrate on new projects. I edited – until I was left with this-

The furniture in the finished section of the basement is going to go to my daughters who will both be getting an apartment come Spring/Summer.  I plan on helping them paint the furniture to their liking and set them each up using lots of hand-me downs as well as some new stuff.  What they don’t want or use will then be donated.

Below is the unfinished section of the basement – for storage.  I still have lots of “stuff” as I am not sure if we will have to move or not and I may want some of these items.  Living in limbo is no fun.

Some of the stuff, I am sure my daughters will take – my youngest already has dibs on the big blue floor vase.  I know where everything is now and have separated it into departments so that when I go down to my basement now,  it will feel  like a shopping experience :)  All the florals and wreaths are hanging from the ceiling in marked bags – fall – spring, etc.  All my painting supplies are in the back corner and separated in baskets.  On the opposite side of this wall is a workbench and a wall of tools and a row of little cubbies of drawers for nails and stuff.  The fabric area – is hidden. It is under the steps in a little cubby area in the wall behind where the bags are hanging.

This metal shelf  (the leaning tower of craft) holds all crafty stuff that I use.  Each basket has a certain type item in it.  I hate throwing any of this away, as it is the little bits and pieces that always come in handy when doing a project that save me a trip to Michaels or Lowes.  Since creating is my business – I need this stuff and hope to organize it better soon.   I didn’t want to spend money to buy any new organizing totes – I just used what I had and still have a few empties on the top.

Under all that clutter – there was a desk – a very pretty one that I found one afternoon while driving down a neighboring street.  It was placed at the curb in front of a house with a sign that said – FREE.   I had to stop and take a look – it was perfect – except for the color – which I know some of you would like, but I have a new vision for it.

When the homeowner saw that I was interested, she came out of her house and helped me put it in my car. I told her I would give her some money for it, but she said, “No, please just take it – you are doing me a huge favor”.  As the saying goes – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

I love the shape and it has a big drawer in the front.  I plan on switching the big partner’s desk in my studioffice with this.

I am sooooo excited about this project.  I plan on starting very soon.  If we have to move, I will have to stage my studioffice and the big desk would have to go anyway, so I am getting a head start.  If we stay, I will get to enjoy my newly designed space.

I have always wanted a pretty desk and am going to re-design my studioffice to try to get it closer to my vision of something like this.

  houzz

Or this-

House Beautiful

All the unwanted clutter is bagged up and in my car. As soon as I press “POST” on my computer, I am off to the trash, consignment, and Goodwill to unload the bags and bags of stuff I cleaned out.

How are you doing on your resolution or word for the year?  If you would like to read about how others are trying to make their lives better you will find tons of inspiration over at The Lettered Cottage.  Layla is having a link up about “words” for the year.  Going through them makes you realize we are not alone in our quest to fulfill our goals and dreams so we can create better lives for ourselves.  I enjoyed reading them.

Tomorrow I have a announcement that I think you will <3 and a box of goodies that I am giving away to one of you– till then.

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Between Naps on The Porch    Home Stories A 2 Z     Coastal Charm   Today’s Creative Blog

Back in December a week before Christmas I drove to NYC one morning to meet a marketing director in a very modern building that is located on this busy corner.

It is actually called a tower where a lot of very inspiring things happen inside that I am sure have touched your life, hands, and eyes.

 It is the Hearst Tower – where many of the magazines you read each month are created.  House Beautiful, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day Veranda, and Elle Décor are a just a few.

via

 Once I was checked through security I was whisked upstairs to a video production room that was all black with bright lights focused on a stool for me to sit on to tape a tiny video promotion for My Colortopia.    I was in and out in less than a half an hour and then strolled the streets of NYC to do some Christmas shopping  before leaving to go home.

You can see what I did if you have a copy of the February issue of House Beautiful magazine and a smart phone?

 If you do – open it up to the first page, download the free Digimarc Discover app and then scan anything on the page.  You will be taken to a short video of clips of  Nicole Bache from Making It Lovely and me.  Isn’t that exciting?  We are two of the 7 bloggers on the My Colortopia Team that were asked to be part of this promotion for My Colortopia about paint and painting.

 If you don’t have the  magazine – you can still see the video on the House Beautiful You Tube site.  I downloaded it so you can see it right now  – no magazine needed ;)   It is mix of short clips of our answers to paint questions.

It was a very impromptu taping and not all of the other members of The My Colortopia Team could get to NYC or Chicago on such short notice. That is why there are only the two of us.   I am a morning commute away from NYC so it was easy for me to get there.

I am so excited that I made it into my favorite decorating magazine. Even if it is in this teeniest of tiniest – invisible way – I am thrilled.  :)

If you haven’t been yet – check out My Colortopia. There are lots of things to do there now besides the blog.   Try uploading a photo of an image or a piece of furniture or fabric you like at the My Image Inspiration Tool. It will show you what color schemes will go with it.  Do you have a painting question?  Don’t be shy – click over and ask it in the advise column.  Your question will be answered by one of the team members. There will be even more coming shortly, so stayed tuned.

I am also updating a few things around here.  A new header and in the next few weeks you will see a few more tweaks that I hope will make it easier to navigate around the blog.

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