A to Z Challenge - 2019 - Y is for YouTube

Happy Monday!  We have the last two letters in the 10th Anniversary A to Z Challenge this week.   I am so happy that I have made it this far with no complications.  I was so involved with getting the Studio together in March that I had almost no time to prep for the A to Z and yet I managed to meet all the deadlines and have relatively (I hope) interesting offerings for each letter.

For the letter "Y" I am presenting a YouTube video walk through the new studio!  I have been wanting to try my hand at making some how-to videos.  I thought that starting with a tour of the studio would be fun.  I hope you think so too!

I left out some things I wanted to say and I'm sure I fumbled a bit but for a first attempt I think it is okay.  In case you want to see some of the companies I mention, I am linking them here:

The shed was made by The Shed Shop in Hayward, California.

The ScrapBox was made by The Original ScrapBox Company.

The binders are from Totally Tiffany.   

I hope you liked my video tour.  Do you think I could do more of them?  Have something you'd like me to demonstrate?  My niece said she wants to see more about the Junk Journal I mentioned so maybe that will be the next video.  Love any feedback.  Hope I didn't scare you away and that you'll come back tomorrow for the big finale!

Mainly in March - 2019 - The Studio, Part 3

So, we've seen the first part about clearing the backyard and we've seen the second part about all my craft supplies.  Now comes the third part where I convince my husband that putting a shed in the backyard would be a good use of some of that space.  (Notice I said shed to begin with so as to make it more appealing to him).  I had been seeing "She Sheds" and I really liked them.

Of course I did my research about sheds.  I wanted something made of wood that would be sturdy enough to hold all my supplies.  I looked at a bunch of different options and I found a great local company that has been in business for a long time called The Shed Shop.  A friend of mine has one from them in her backyard that she uses as an office and it is very nice.  If we kept it at 120 square feet we would not have to get a building permit.  I needed electricity though so we did have to get an electrical permit, but The Shed Shop takes care of all that for you.  We picked out an 8 foot x 15 foot Tall Classic shed.

The Shed Shop sent someone out to measure our backyard to make sure we could accommodate the structure and we have plenty of room.  Next step was to prepare the foundation.  I was at work but hubby and our daughter took pictures of the concrete being laid.

We've had a lot of rain recently so the actual construction had to be delayed a few days but it didn't take them long to put it up once they started.

Next came the electrical installation.  That took two days and fortunately the rain stayed away long enough for it to be finished, except for one quick burst of hail which made the guys run and hide inside the shed! 

The inspector came to make sure that everything was up to code and then we were free to start tackling the inside.  We are extremely lucky to have a friend who does sheet rock and he came and put up the insulation and covered the walls and ceiling.

Once that was done I could paint.  I knew I wanted white for most of it but picking out the color for the accent wall was almost overwhelming.  I had a color picked out but when it came time to actually get the paint, I changed it and I am so glad I did.

  Notice how the wall color kind of looks like one of my favorite drinks?

The color is called Nautical

Baby Blue Ocean at Benihana

Once the paint was done we picked out some indoor/outdoor carpeting and baseboard.

Then comes the fun part of moving everything in!  My biggest piece of furniture is my Scrapbox so that had to go in first.  

My paper tower and craft table were the last two big pieces of furniture and now we fill in the blanks. 

I decided not to keep my sewing machine and the cabinet it is in.  I never sewed that much so I'd rather use that space for my paper supplies.  Anybody need a sewing machine or cabinet? 


We put up a workbench because I like to work standing.

 

And here it is for now. 

I have everything in, although not everything is put away where it belongs.  I need to have a few shelves put up but I have made enough space and organized it enough so that I know where everything is and I can finally start creating things again!  So excited.  When everything is finally done for real I'm going to try my hand at making a walk-through video.  Waddya think about that? 

Observations in October - 2018 - #31Things - Covet and Hobby

Behind again but I guess that's what life is about sometimes.  These two prompts go well together though I think, Covet and Hobby.

I am Catholic and we were told by the 10 Commandments not to covet so I try my hardest not to.  However, when it comes to my crafting, there are a few things I covet.  You know I have a room to pursue my hobby (which I hope to turn into a money making venture)

and I am so grateful that I have that room, but I really wish I could make it more like one of these:

 

         


   





Imagine what kind of production I could have with spaces like that!  For sure I could take my "hobby" to the next level. 

Of course, to be able to have a room like that, I might need a house like one of these:




I don't covet much!  Got a hobby?  Covet things?  Share!

Suddenly September - 2016

September 14:

Oh my goodness, half the month is almost gone already!  I can't believe the time is flying by so fast.

In yesterday's Blog-Tember Challenge we were to choose who we would like to be if we had the chance to be someone else for a day.  I'd have to say it would be Stevie Nicks.


                     

I worked on an Art Journaling project taught by Sara Naumann a few years ago where I had to pick  a muse and I picked Stevie.  She and I have several things in common already and I just think it would be great to actually wear her clothes and live in her house for a day.  She is very devoted to several causes, one of which being our wounded servicemen and she has gone to Bethesda Naval Hospital to spend time with the soldiers in the hospital there.  She brought them iPods loaded with her favorite music.  I wouldn't want to get on stage and sing, I'm too introverted for that, but I think it would be great just to be her for a day.  

An alternate thought would be to go back to my younger self, before my dad and sister passed away, so that I could spend one more day with them.  I miss them a lot!

For today's prompt, we are to make a Mood Board.  This is something I do sometimes around the full moon.  I call them Full Mood Dreamboards and learned to make them from Jamie Ridler.

This is the album I keep them in.  I don't make them every month but I do believe in their power, especially if you "offer them up" on the full moon (which this month is the 16th).

If you notice, one of the first ones I did in the bottom left hand corner is a picture of the Workbox I wanted to be able to have in my craft room.  I now have that and am loving it!

This one is about focusing on my goals and it ties in perfectly with my word of the year this year, which is Focus, and also with the organization of our house.

I made this board in 2013 so obviously the things may not "come true" right away, but I really believe that if you put your heart's desires out in the Universe, magical things can happen.  This full moon is the Full Harvest Moon and it asks, "What dreams do you want to bring to life?"  The Dreamboard I have started looks like this:

I am still longing for more organization and fixing up of our little house but I am also looking for some calm serenity.  We've had a few rough years with lots of things going on with my husband's health and other family issues and I long for the days when we won't have to worry about any of that anymore.  Over the next few days I'll finish the board so that by the full moon on the 16th I'l be ready to release the intention to the Universe.  Crazy?  I don't think so.  Try it sometime! Make sure to visit the other bloggers participating in the Blog-tember Challenge and see what their boards look like.