Tisket..Tasket...Maggie Got Some Baskets

I had gotten some baskets from someone at work before I moved, not knowing exactly what I was going to use them for.  I knew they would come in handy though. 

 

Well, they have served many purposes throughout these two weeks while I attempt to get things organized and under control but I think I have finally found permanent homes for a couple of them.

 

 

I have been trying to come up with some way to get more storage in my bathroom so I hung these little guys up on the extra towel bar with some ribbon I had.

 

 

These two I labeled "Emma's Stuff" and "Evan's Stuff" {you know I really wanted to label them junk instead of stuff but I was being nice, lol}.  I placed them next to the hallway enterance to their bedrooms.  Now I have a place close by to toss their "stuff" that accumulates all day and drives me nuts.

 

Oh yeah...I got these ideas from Pinterest!

 

You can follow me here: Pinterest



Kitchen Makeover: Step Two

Step Two of my kitchen makeover is FINALLY complete!

 

There was a reason I was dreading this part :) Step two was to paint the cabinets.  Peopled looked at me as if I was crazy when I told them I was painting the cabinets...in an apartment.  But they were already painted a million times so I figured once more couldn't hurt {they can keep my deposit if they want, I just couldn't live with those ugly beige cabinets any longer}.

 

First I had to wait for help to get the cabinet doors off.  My trusty power screwdriver just wasn't powerfull enough.  Then I had to paint all the frames of the cabinets...this part I had help on.  It took 3 coats of my white paint to cover that ugly beige.

 

My helper helped me to put the doors back on and then it was up to me.  It took me all week to get them painted due to the many coats, but I got it done and they look awesome now.

 

The finaly step in my kitchen makeover is to get an old wooden window to hang above the sink to make it feel like I actually have a window.



Tooting My Own Horn Again!!

 

I just wanted to toot my own horn again!  My little business is growing!!  Yay!!

Today I packed up a sample of my products and met with two great ladies at the Decorative Arts Center in my town.  They were so excited to see what I brought with me...zipping and unzipping...snapping and unsnapping :)

 

 

They have a great little gift shop full of unique items made by local artists and crafters like myself.  And soon my products will be available in the museum gift shop too!!!!  I don't know who was more excited...me or them, lol!

Wordless Wednesday

Home Sweet Home

 

After being greeted by that ugly blue door for two weeks now, I couldn't take it anymore.  I felt like it was definitely in need of some sprucing up.  Our front door is located in a hallway where all the doors look the same {I have already imagined myself painting the door, but I don't think it would be appreciated by management} so I decided that a wreath was just the thing that it needed.
 

I chose to just use what I had on hand for now and with some inspirational pictures in my head from Pinterest, I went to work.  I traced a large dinner plate on cardboard for the outside circle and a bowl for the inside circle.  Then I wrapped my cardboard ring in yarn, created a loop to hang it with and decorated with a couple fabric flowers. 

 

It turned out pretty cute and it will work until I decide to whip up something a little more fancy. 

"Emma, mom is painting EVERYTHING!!"

 

 

Since painting my kitchen walls I has been in an insane painting mood. I think I am beginning to scare my children because when Evan ran to the kitchen to get a drink and saw painting yet another thing in the house he yelled "Emma, mom is painting everything".

Following my Pinterest inspiration, I painted the legs and ledge on the underside {I have no idea waht that thing is acutually calle} of my kitchen table.

I think it turned out beautiful!!

My Kitchen Makeover: Step One

Yay!! I am finally all moved thanks to the help of my friends and family. I felt as if I had hardly anything to move but it took several trips and lots of stairs climbing. Phew! Not looking forward to having to ever do that again.

Now it is on to the fun part...decorating!

We moved into an apartment and they had just redone the kitchen floor and counters and repainted the cabinets. It looked okay but not quit my style or what I was imagining.

My first step is to repaint the walls. I picked turquoise...my new favorite color :)

This is my "before" shot of the kitchen

Just getting underway

I even pulled out the fridge!!

Step one is all finished...walls are painted

My helper, Lucy

Check out my helper sleeping on the job!

Lucy Is Ready To Ride

 

While riding bikes with the kids one day we saw a lady with a tiny white dog like our Lucy riding in a bike basket. Too cute!! I instantly had to have one to include our beloved Lucy in our bike rides.

Unfortunately the basket that she had was purchased online and I am way too impatient to wait...so I went searching the local stores and finally decided on a black metal basket. I was hoping for a wicker style one but all the stores seemed to be out...and again, I was too impatient to wait any longer.

The basket I got has a handle and is able to be removed for shopping purposes. I put a small blanket I crocheted in the bottom for Miss Lucy to sit on and I shortened one of my lanyards I already had made to strap her in.

Whala! Lucy is ready to ride :)

My Choosen Therapy

Between all the chaos that is going on right now I am working on knitting a throw blanket.  It started out as a replacement for the crocheted ones that my pup Lucy destroyed :/  But now it is going to be a gift to someone special {they saw me working on it and liked it, and I just can't resist making someone smile}.  The process is SLOW going but it is very relaxing and theraputic for me when I start getting STRESSED. 

My Beach House Inspiration

I wanted to share my inspiration for decorating my new apartment but I lost all my pictures due to a phone mishap :( So I went searching and borrowed some from my sisters face book page,lol!! They are not the best pictures but they will do.

I absolutely love the kitchen!! The turquoise cabinets are amazing. And the orange sherbet/coral walls in the living area is surprisingly cozy.

The Living Room

The Amazing Kitchen

I have started collecting...vintage dishes

 

I have fallen in love with these vintage Pyrex dishes!!

I first saw them at the beach house we stayed in on vacation. The kitchen was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen and I trying to recreate it at home...starting with these dishes.

I had forgotten all about them in all the excitement of everyday life, but one day we went to a local flea market and I saw them. Now I have several people searching for them for me :)

I have never been a collector of anything but I am now!!

Does this discribe you as much as it does me?!

I came across this image while searching pinterest the other time for probably the 10th time that day :)  I can not seem to get enough of the site!!  Especially now that I am getting ready to move and am in need of some fresh ideas.  I can't wait to share all the great things I have found with you.



http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/31-insanely-easy-and-clever-diy-projects?sub=1624957_372448u

I made my own version of these candle holders using clear candle votives {I couldn't find any white ones that I liked}, french vanilla coffee beans, and vanilla scented votives from the dollar store.  I didn't even have to light the candles and my home smelled AWESOME for days!! 

BEWARE:  if you have children, be careful where you put them. I put mine on my coffee table and had to clean up coffee beans several times :)

My Studio is Finished!!

I did it!!!  My studio is finally complete...for now any ways:)  I am sure I will find more things I need.  I have my desk for business things, my printer and packaging station, supply storage, and of coarse my space in the middle for cutting and sewing. 

My Emma wants a desk of her own now so she filled the bottom 2 shelves of the corner thingy with her stuff she needed for HER office :)

These are some of my display props I use at craft shows. I just love that bike...so cute.

Exciting News

Drum roll please ............. my items are now being sold at the Farmer's Country Store in my town!!!!  I am so excited :)  One major accomplishment down!  I snapped this picture as I was getting my items prepared to show to the shop owner.  How cute is my cosmetic bag with my new tag?! 

Studio-in-Progress Update

Today I got the corner stand painted :)  As you can see, I am going for all white furniture in my studio.  I am so impatient that I almost tried painting the floor...but then I decided that I should wait until I get the walls painted.  It is really hard being patient!!

I also made some calls to some local shops about selling my items so now I need to make sure I get them ready.  I made these tags for my items today.  I am all about trying to be as professional and presentable as possible.  I purchase an awesome PDF file from WhiskerGraphics that I can edit to say what I want.  Hopefully the owner will love my items...and then I will definetly need to get my studio finished so I can start making larger quantities :)

Studio-In-Progress

This is a picture of the very begining of the making of my studio in my basement.  A little scary, isn't it :) 

This is my accomplishment so far...I painted the desk white :)  I did get these cool polka dot storage bins that I love and I am going to create my studio around those colors.  My current desk chair already matches by coincidence. 

It is going to be awesome when it is finally finished.  Right now I do all my sewing in my dining room and keep all my supplies in the tiny closet.  I hate having to take all my stuff in and out, and it always seems so crowded because the room is so small.  I will be able to get so much more done when I have my studio finished and it is all ready to go at any given moment. 

Building My Dream

This week I finally opened my business banking account and filed my business taxes. I'm feeling so professional now and am supper gung-ho about my blooming business...which means my head is overflowing with ideas and dreams!

I am most excited about finally building my own studio in my basement.  With my sister's help, I got the area I plan on using cleaned up and things sorted out.  I hope to have it finished by the end of the month and I will be sure to share pictures :) 

Meanwhile, these are some pictures of studio's I love:

sewing rooms studio by Tofu Studio

Spoiled Rotten...is there really such a thing?

Miss Lucy is modeling her new bed Grandpa made her.  Some say she is spoiled rotten...but I wonder if there is really such a thing :)    

I had to get another big bone because they both wanted the one I got for Harvey...

...now they both want the new one :)

Pretty Little Thursday

I Love this Travel Mug from sewZinski on Etsy.  Isn't Sarah talented?  She hand paints tons of these awesome colorful coffee mugs to share with the rest of us.  I doubt you could have a "bad day" using one of these!!

Wordless Wednesday

Project Tuesday: Harvey's Sweater

It is slow in the making but I think that Harvey's sweater is going to be great!!!  I love the colors together.  This is the back :)

MS Support

My family will be walking in local MS Walk to support one of my High School Class Mates, Julie.  Julies was diagnosed with MS in 2008.

This week, all the proceeds from my shop will go to help fight MS.  If you would like to help support Julie and all the others suffering with MS, you can donate to her team.

Pretty Little Thursday

My find today is this adorable little block from Bubblewrapp'd on Etsy!!  I absolutely love it :)  It would definitely cheer up any room.