Hop Art Studio

New Space

Have you ever had one of those moments of total awareness?

I was sitting in my son's school cafeteria watching the 6th grade promotion. I was listening to a long, drawn out, boring speak by their principal, when he said to the children, "This is the half way point of your education. You've had 6 years of school and you have 6 more years until you graduate from High School."

I looked over at my hubby, he looked at me and I said, "OMGosh! We still have 6 more years left!" LOL

It hit me. 6 years left! 6 years left until Ben graduates form school. I'll be 51! Not that that's old, I don't consider it old, but I hadn't thought of it until that moment when the principal said,  "6 more years until you graduate from High School."

Then it hit me. I will have 6 years, plus 4 more for college, before I get to convert one of the boys rooms into my art space. Oh no! I can't wait that long. 10 years! There will be a lot of changes in the next 10 years.

So my head started spinning and I realized that stooping and bending and trying to find my supplies in the darkness of the space under the stairs was just not going to work for the next 6 years! ( plus 4...lol.)

So I ran to Target, bought a cheap desk and filing cabinet. Spent the afternoon in 90+ degrees of the garage building it. And carted all of my supplies up the stairs!

I decided to use the space that I had originally planned would be my space. I knew that it was in a good spot. It had extra lighting, extra plugs, cable hook up and was accessible to the breezeway (where I planned to set up my easel to paint) and the bonus room.

We are planning on insulating and drywalling the bonus room. Until then I placed all of my stuff along one wall near the door. All I need do is cross the breezeway to access my supplies.

I like the way the space turned out. And I like the fact that I don't have to bend down and reach around in a pretty dark space anymore. As time goes by I'll be better organizing the space.

But hey I only have 6 more years left!

Building Storage

This has been a really busy week at our home. As you may remember we will be moving in June. Yesterday the "For Sale" sign went up in the yard.

I'm really excited about the move back east. I can hardly wait to start house hunting. So much fun!

One of my dreams is to have my own art room. Hopefully it will happen.

I came across this magazine while I was out shopping today and I just had to buy it! OMGosh, I'm totally inspired to get hubby working on some of these projects. I'm an organization freak...I admit it, I have a serious problem with messes. And I can see lots of possiblities in my  next home.

Well, all I need do now is pray that the house sells by June (when he needs to report.)  Should work out great since schools out in June. (Shhhhhhhh, don't tell the boys that school get's out in May in Florida and that their summer will be a short one once we get there!)

Storage

Oh Lookee what I found at Tuesday Morning!!!

I feel like a kid who just got a very cool toy!

Now, do I have any place to put this? Noooooooooo! But did that stop me from buying not one but two of these very cool storage thingys? Noooooooooo!

I don't know if Tuesday Morning has the same merchandise across the country or not. But I thought these were a great deal. They were $9.99.

Oh I can't wait to find a place for them in my next home when I get my own art room!

Coming Out of the Closet!

Okay, I admit it, I'm a closet stamper. I have been for years. But now I finally feel like I can actually share the truth...LOL. I actually love my little space. It's a great compromise when you don't have a lot of room.

My wonderful husband put the shelves in there for me one mother's day. The lighting, outlets, and phone jack were already there. I found the perfect size chair and desk. It does get a bit cramped at times but I have everything well organized and within arms length. The best part is I can put the stamp storage on the table and close the curtains. The room looks nice and neat!

Ribbons! Oh lovely ribbons. They call to me every time I go to the craft and scrapbooking store. I got this wonderful idea from Creating Keepsakes Magazine. I wrap the ribbons and drop them into the compartments. This has really helped me to match my ribbons to the projects I'm working on.

Directly next to the closet is my craft bookshelf. I keep more stamp sets here. It also contains scrapbook papers, Sizzix, Xyron, Acrylic paints, catalogs, a basket full of this and that, and envelopes.

My stamp pad storage system is a tape cassette holder by Fellows (I believe they no longer make them.) On top of the system I stack paper that are ready for card making. Another smaller stack is kept on my table.

Stamps sets are conviently stored  next to my chair. I have 2 of these storage units. I have a binder where I have stamped all the sets I own.This way I can pull out the binder and locate the set I need. I don't have a lot of sets, so this system works for me.

To store all the other odds and ends that I have I use an over the door shoe rack organizer. This really helps when you are tight on space. In this area are things that I don't use very often.

Hopefully in our next home I will have my own art studio. A place where I can actually spread my stuff out. Set up my easels. Have a drafting table again where I can work on some Prismacolor pencils illustrations. A place where I can leave all of my creative mess out and have fun. But for now, I remain a closet stamper. And I love it!

Flowers

I have been admiring all the Primaflower containers at the scrapbooking stores and on line. But I just couldn't bring myself to buying them. I know that they would sit prettily on my shelves and I wouldn't use them often. Ahhhhh Ha! Brain storm moment. I have Stampin' Ups! wonderful flower punch. So during one evening I punched out beautiful flowers from my scraps. Took out one of my saved glass containers (ya never know when you'll need a jar or two) and made this lovely Faux Prima container.( The jar is a McCormick's spice container). I actually use the flowers more often.