Under Construction: A New Crafty Space

There are so many new things going on around here; One of them is that I am getting a new craft space!  Right now Emma and Halle are sharing a room and they are getting to the age where they need their own space.  My studio used to be our third bedroom. So, the most economical thing for us at this point was to add on a small room in the backyard where we have a large patio.  The new space will be seperated from the main house.  I'm a little hesitant about the summer's because the girls will be home and I won't be able to hang out in my scrapbook room while they're in the house.  I guess I will be forcing them to play in the sprinklers a lot!  I also love the setup of my current scrapbook room and it will be a bit of a challenge to move it all and reorganize it into a new space. But, my gorgeous shelves get to come with me, I will get to pick out some new flooring and paint color!  Maybe even a trendy wallpaper?  Here's the concrete pad right after they poured it.  I think it's measured at about 12x10; don't mark  my words on that though.  I'll get REAL measurements for y'all shortly.  Framing goes up later this week and I will try and post photos as the project comes along.  Hopefully it will be completely finished within two or three weeks!

 

   

My Blog Is Not a Stepford Wife

Sigh... Hello bloggers. I know, I know... it's been a LOOOONG while.  Let's have a photo reminder of how I feel about my blog right now:

So with that said, I am going to try this, "blogging on a regular basis," thing a try again and I'm going to try it with a new outlook.  The best CHA roomate EVER, aka Haley at The Zen of Making, and I were chatting up late one night at the most recent show in Anaheim.  I was telling her how when I do blog I always feel like I have to make something that's new, fresh and super-creative, have just the right photos, and things have to be JUST PERFECT.  That's when Haley said, "My blog is not a Stepford Wife."  She convinced me I needed to take a step back and not worry so much.  Just blog.  It doesn't need to be perfect.  I liked this sentiment and thought on it for a while.  So, with my new blog comes a new Art Journal that I'm going to not stress about either
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This is one of the new Dylusions Art Journal by Dyan Reavely for Ranger Ink.  Dyan demo'd an awesome video for me while I was there working for Craft Test Dummies and I was amazed at how fast she worked and didn't seem to care little stray blots of ink going here or there.  She was relaxed and creating beautiful things.  Why can't I do that?  Because I am my worst critic.  We all are.  My daughter's are now into Tim Holtz' products and were creating the othe day and my oldest said, "I'll never make things that look like mom's."  And it made me sad to hear that.  I love their art and creations.  But how many times have I said to myself, "I'll never make something that looks like Tammy Tutterow's or Jen McGuire's?"  Too many.  I need to start being happy with my own work and quit comparing it to everyone else.  So, here we go.  Next month is National Crafting Month and I have high hopes.  I can't promise I'll blog every day, or show you a shnazzy creation, but stop by for a chat.  We can at least talk about cheap, trashy and guilty reality TV gossip.  Like, can you BELIEVE that bitch Stassi on, "Vanderpump Rules?"  Ugh.  I can't stand her.