Viola! a la Inspired by Brenda

Brenda always redoes everything, the paint on her walls, the color of the doors, adding a porch, switching around furniture, changing her room from craft bliss to quiet study, and I was just plain inspired to do SOMETHING to change our house too. So, I've picked out paint swatches and I'm itching to change some wall colors (but Brian is being a wee bit more resistant than it seems my brother-in-law John is). Now, as background knowledge, Brian has been pestering me to finish a project I started about three days before Christmas. However, I'm just not quite crafty enough to be inspired by the kitchen table, so Brian allowed me (and helped me as well) to design a craft space for Caitlin and myself. So, I'm blogging about it. I've finally decided to try to get organized in my craft space so I can do more crafts, no two bones about it. I think it's going to help because I'm already thinking about things to create. Plus, it always helps to revisit your long unseen paper pile to remember those ideas you had so long ago...

Anyway, I was (when we had cable) a crazy fan of "Designed to Sell" on HGTV. I seriously watched it every Sunday and loved the ideas. They all appeared so simple that it seemed I should be able to do something creative in my own space, while I still lived here. But, I think I lacked the follow through necessary to actually embark on and complete these types of projects...until NOW. I saw something similar that the designer did with a spare room and it's closet to add versatility as an office. I'm using mine for crafting.

Well, here are the before and after photos. {Brenda, hope this does you proud!}

Here is the "before" photo...a barren closet, desolate with just one lone shelf to keep it company. (Sorry, I just finished reading "Into the Wild" by Jack Krakauer.)

Then, I took a little trip to Lowes for a hallway door (yep, just a cheapy, but it works really well surprisingly), some 1 x 3's as braces, and some nails. Brian got out some of his woodworking tools and away he went creating a one-of-a-kind masterpiece for my artistic endeavors. ha, ha, ha

We made this fabulous custom desk. We had to call Deacon a few times to figure out what "bar height" actually was. Did you know there are two heights considered "bar height"? One of them is 42" (which is what we chose for this desk) and the other is 36" (I believe, but don't quote me, just call Deacon). I wanted it high enough so that Cody wouldn't get into everything on my desk on a daily basis. I think this is going to work!

It took us the entire day to get it all done (mainly because we didn't really start until 1 p.m. in the afternoon), but LOOK AT THAT! I used this amazing little label maker and WENT TO TOWN organizing and then labeling where everything actually was placed. Should make my scrapbooking pursuits a little easier. (Oh, by the way, a big thanks to Brian who went out at 8:30 p.m. to look for a space/height appropriate chair for my desk. This one I put together - with the drill - in about ten minutes. It swivels and has a cushioned chair - just perfect!)This final spot, along the wall to the right of my desk, is Caitlin's spot. I organized and labeled all these shelving units as well, but still have to figure out how to arrange and organize Caitlin's art supplies. She has so many and they get all over the place so fast that it's hard. But, I'm hoping that since she has space in here with me, that she will keep her things tidy and away from our dining room table. What do you think?

{Yeah! It's a new year and I already have one project under my belt. Can't wait to get my hands on some paint!}

By the way, those of you who I've told could come visit now that we have a "spare" room again, there's still space. All of these items I've arranged so we can move/shift them quickly to restage our "guest" room. So, come visit and check out our new space!

Parade

Again, I'm behind on my posts, so I thought I would post a few of my "older" photos to try to get caught up! So sorry all you LOYAL fans of "Artistically Denied." ha, ha, ha

This is the parade we have tried to make a tradition (since Caitlin was two) the day after Thanksgiving. It's always so fun with Cody and Caitlin enjoying the "small city" feel, as it's nowhere near as crowded as the big NYC one they have every year. But, it is filled with lots of fun and interesting characters that the kiddos love to see and hug and high five and scream at, etc.

Caitlin and Cody just enjoying the show (but waiting for the next group to walk by).

Ahhhh, the ever so lovely snow things. I really couldn't tell what these were exactly, but both Caitlin and Codes wanted to get some hugs from those big, fluffy, white, marshmallowish people. Cody wanted to hug those big lady bugs, but I don't think they could see him with the eye holes way up high and he down so low.

Caitlin really enjoyed the bands and music. She was dancing through most of it.

A Raggedy Andy hug...what those would have been worth when I was young. Now they seem so much like mop heads or something. They were nice enough to stop and give our kiddos a hug though.

High fiving the gingerbread people. They were very friendly. I think they gave us all some sugar. ha, ha, ha

Finally, the big guy himself...Santy Claus. I had forgotten that he always ends the parade, so we were waiting through this big lull in the parade and I was ready to go. The lady next to me was astonished that I wasn't waiting to see the final float with Santa Claus on it. Whoops! We stayed.