Installing these shelves in the crafting room has been one of my favorite things ever.  I love them for how cute they are and how my previously cluttered desktops are now manageable.

See?  I didn’t straighten up anything before taking these photos.  The chaos that was my working desk before (on the right) is now SO much better.  And that cute miniature desk lamp in the bottom corner of that photo?  Put my minimal electrical DIY skills to work to replace the broken switch.  Perfectly fine now.

These adorable little shelves featuring a couple of vintage yardsticks courtesy of a lovely friend make my world a beautiful place.

The other thing in this room that makes my world a beautiful place?  This clock.

How could I love it more?  It is the coolest clock I have ever seen.  A valentine gift from my own Cristybella, who I cherish more than I can adequately express.

I’m just working on one more thing for the room at the moment, but there have been so many roadblocks on the path to success with this little endeavor that I’m lowering the probability of a successful outcome to around 33%.

In the meantime, happy Thursday everyone and thank you for dropping by

.

.

.

sharing with

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Saturday, I popped into the neighborhood thrift store hoping to find a large painting in a pretty frame.  Oh lucky day!

This well proportioned frame works perfectly.  I just removed the canvas, painted the frame surface and anchored utility wire into the rabbet (recess where the painting rests) with little wood screws.

So I suppose technically, it’s not a pinboard since there is no surface in which to push actual pins.

I just don’t know the name for this style of pinboard.  What is it called?

It’s exactly what I had in mind.  Except perhaps for the pink acrylic paint I sponged over the silver after having a dream about it.  Looked different in the dream.  Oh well, I’m keeping it for now.

Thank you for dropping in today, I’m always so excited and humbled that friends pop in to read this blog.  I really do appreciate you!

.

.

.

sharing with

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

nifty thrifty Sunday at nifty thrifty things

But last weekend, that’s exactly what I did.  After procrastinating for (ahem) an entire year I took out my snowman pencil and some other tools, did a lot of complaining and made two trips to Home Depot.  But finally shelves are installed in the study.

I needed to do this after having attended to installing shelves in my own craft room recently.  Still buoyed by the success of that effort, I was counting on that confidence to propel me through this task.

Cristy doesn’t much care for the lighting, and I have to agree.  Too harsh.   Plus, we need to thoughtfully edit and place items on these shelves.  My hasty arrangement to fill in the empty space leaves something to be desired.

Just to the left of this desk is the adjacent view to the outdoor bird feeder and our recently acquired lounge chair with its temporary cushions.

We seem to make progress about an inch at a time, assembling the rooms of our house to correspond with the way we use them.  The still-to-do list for this study includes cushions for the lounge chair, a complementary companion chair and better lighting for the desk.

However, for the moment, feels darned good to cross through 1 item on the list.

I still don’t like to drill holes in the house, but I do like these shelves.  Cable bracket hardware and shelves from the Container Store.  Toggle bolts from Home Depot.

Thank you for dropping by today!

.

.

.

sharing with

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

After a crafting fail last weekend, I decided to soothe my bruised feelings with a simple no-fail project, painting some seashells pearly white.

Since natural shells are porous, I applied primer first to minimize paint absorbtion, then brushed on metallic white craft paint.

Then I made a few silvery ones too, while I had the jar of shells handy.  I applied metallic silver spray paint to these and touched up one with silver glitter craft paint.

I’m envisioning a shell and pearl garland, perhaps adorning a vase of branches.  Further contemplation needed.  Until then, I’ll enjoy the soft glow of these pretty ark shells.

Thank you for dropping by, I appreciate your company so very much!

.

.

.

sharing with

The Inspiration Board at homework

nifty thrifty Sunday at nifty thrifty things

SNS at Funky Junk Interiors

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Most of the solution was already at my fingertips — I had five finished shelves salvaged from a discarded CD cabinet.  Ready to hang.

Still…I waited.

Then one day, a friend appeared as if by magic bearing a gift:  two vintage yardsticks from her personal collection.  The puzzle pieces neatly clicked into place.

I scoured the town to find a few extra (new) yardsticks from hardware/lumber purveyors.  Not as easy a task as I’d first imagined.

Seems that old fashioned wooden yardsticks are not as common as they were years ago.

But I happily have enough to tackle the task at hand:  adding functional storage to my crafting room embellished with nostalgically pretty yardsticks.

I selected heavy corner braces for the shelf brackets, because of their industrial look.

Cut the yardsticks to size with a small hand saw and glued them to the front shelf edges.

Then I removed (most) of the clutter from my desk surface.  I absolutely love them!

Two more will hang on the adjacent wall along with a pinboard…but I still need a tiny dose of extra inspiration for that.

Thank you to my lovely friend for the yardsticks, they are absolute treasures!

I’m so grateful you stopped by today

.

.

.

sharing with

Get Schooled Saturday at Too Much Time on My Hands

Share the Love at Very Merry Vintage Style

Get Your Craft On at TCB

The Inspiration Board at homework

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

nifty thrifty Sunday at nifty thrifty things

SNS at Funky Junk Interiors

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

When Cristybella and I were at the shore last weekend, she picked up a short, bulky piece of driftwood with a nicely curved shape.  She said it would make a nice candlestick holder.  I loved that idea.

The broad, flat shape makes it perfectly stable.

A couple of days later, the candles arrived.  Just like harmonic convergence.

Today I pulled out the tools and my snowman pencil.  Traced three circles around the circumference of a candle on the wood and started drilling, keeping my fingers crossed that the piece would not split apart.

Thankfully, good fortune was on my side.  A short while later, I had this.

Three seconds later I changed my mind and moved it to the bedroom next to the painted driftwood pieces.

Yes, I like it here much better.

Thank you Partylite for the lovely dripless tapers and thank you Carolyn for the giveaway!!

Almost feels like my birthday

.

.

.

sharing with

The Inspiration Board at homework

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

SNS at Funky Junk Interiors

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage

Wow us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

And added a few pale colored buttons to a narrow strand of ribbon, just because.

It was my first project using the Cameo.  The big plus for me is the ability to import free-hand drawings.

I love this little sawtooth key – reminds me of big clunky car keys from years gone by.

And of course the wavy version of the timeless skeleton key.

Just a little touch of love to brighten up a small corner of the world.  Hope you have a fabulous weekend and thank you for stopping by today!

.

.

.

sharing with

Get Your Craft On at TCB

The Inspiration Board at homework

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

nifty thrifty Sunday at nifty thrifty things

SNS at Funky Junk Interiors

So today I pulled out a paintbrush and some acrylic paint, inspired by the wonderfully talented Michele at michele made me.  I loved the way she painted her twig trees — see?

twig tree by Michele Made Me

Just the thing to brighten up a bowl of driftwood.

Artistic interpretations notwithstanding, they’re cute as can be and oh so easy   Every time I glance at this bowl of softened, weathered wood pieces with the brightly colored patterns, I can almost hear the sea breeze.

Thanks so much for the inspiration, Michele!  And thank you for dropping by for a visit

.

.

.

sharing with

Sunday’s Best at My 1929 Charmer

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative

mesh produce bags.  They have great texture and the color is so perfect for a home sweet homemade valentine.  They’re  little bit lacy.  If you squint your eyes.

Isn’t this the cutest thing?  Recycled paper topped with the mesh topped with a cardboard heart covered in stripes of ribbon.  It’s my favorite so far.

The paper beneath the mesh is a community map enclosed in our monthly civic association newsletter.  [HOA dollars at work!]  I’ll be making more valentines like these – they’re so stinkin cute.

This valentine is for my sister-in-law.  Thankfully she doesn’t read this blog   She loves blue and silver.  I sandwiched two layers of white tulle, as a lace alternative, between the aluminum foil heart and the paper hearts.

Last weekend when I was working on cross stitching I knew as soon as I finished the blue and silver heart I had to fashion it into a valentine for her.

It’s sort of the great thing about making your own valentines.  Just layer together what you have…more is definitely more.

Hope you’re having a wonderfully fabulous weekend!  Thank you so much for dropping by–

.

.

.

sharing with

Get Your Craft On at TCB

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

The Inspiration Board at homework

{wow me} Wednesday at Ginger Snap Crafts

Twice Owned Tuesday at House of Grace

nifty thrifty Sunday at nifty thrifty things

Old keys take us mysterious places.  So I followed that notion with one my my paper heart shapes. I’ve been using a heart-shaped candy box as a template to cut my valentine shapes from junk mail card stock.  I covered one side with an old Italian map, pure romance!  Then wove a string cage on top….

and finished knotting all around the edges adding a dot of glue at each tie.

Then added that touch of mystery.  A gilded key (really just glitter spray, but gilded sounds so much more mysterious).

I tied the ribbon through corrugated cardboard with a piece of hand painted art paper covering the top.  Glued the pink heart to the map heart.

voila ~ a caged heart with a gilded key.

The back side is covered with plain brown paper (used grocery bag) to write my valentine message.

Hope you’re having a wonderful week and please check back for more valentines in progress!

.

.

.

sharing with

It’s a Party at A Creative Princess

nifty thrifty Sunday at nifty thrifty things

Creative Me at The Southern Institute

Share the Love at Very Merry Vintage Style

The Inspiration Board at homework

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

SNS at Funky Junk Interiors

Share Awesomeness at The 36th Avenue

Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage