My kind of makeover...

I've never much been the type of girl to go to the salon for pampering.  My nails are generally unpainted, most days I go without makeup and I tend to cut my own hair.  I prefer making over the rooms in my house instead.

I have also always had a thing for small, almost cocoon-like spaces.  So, when I read THIS blog post about the remodel cabin + cub did to their small closet space, I was blown away.  Surely this is the cutest, most efficient work space I have ever seen in my life...

The things in the cabin + cub Etsy shop are equally as adorable, you can check it out HERE!

Read more...

Symbolism

You may have noticed that my banner has recently changed, both at my etsy shop and on this blog.  I have worked hard over the past couple of weeks trying to figure out how best to represent my shop through my logo.  Since I see it as a reflection of my own personality, I wanted to be sure that the things I most love (art, architecture and my family), were incorporated in the design.

The largest element in the logo is the letter L.  “L” stands for life, and the amazing one I have with my family.  It is the anchoring point for everything else in the design, just as my family is my anchor and support for everything that I do.  The tree, which is growing out of the L, is a symbol of art.  The leaves are done in the pointillism technique that my new etsy shop is focusing on.  The small house represents my love for architecture.  Designing houses is a passion of mine, and something that I truly enjoy doing.  

The house is also an obvious representation of home.  If you look closely at the large window, you will notice a cross.  I know that my life would not be the same if it weren’t for the love that Jesus Christ showed me when he died on that cross.

I am very happy with how the design turned out, and ready to incorporate it into gift certificates, mailing labels and business cards! 

Read more...

A bit of Meticulousness

Yes... it IS a word...

me.tic'.u.lous.ness (n)
1. extremely careful and precise
2. extremely or excessively concerned with details

I am starting to feel that most of my work and life involves this.  I can't say that I have gone as far as this Etsy seller ( http://www.thelonebeader.etsy.com/ ), who makes bead art... art out of BEADS! very neat by the way!,

BUT I do my fair share of tedious jobs:

Growing up, I had... we'll call it an obsession... with making sure my bedsheets were completely smooth.  There is just something about a crisp looking bed that starts my day out right.  To this day, I still have to get the bed made immediately and I find myself shopping for new bedsheets and comforters on a regular basis.

Being schooled as an architect, my favorite task was to create models of the buildings that I designed.  All the cuts had to be just perfect, and I would sand the finished product endlessly.

The summer before I got married, I painstakingly created a hand quilted comforter for my husband.  Without a quilting stand, I had to drape the queen sized quilt over my lap while I put on the finishing touches.  Did I mention it was summer? (this isn't the exact quilt, but you get the idea)

When I became a stay at home mom and the dishes started to pile up, I didn't head to the dishwasher.  I like to wash all the dishes... by hand.  Possibly weird, but I KNOW those dishes are clean!

And now, back to the art that I most loved since I was introduced in my junior art class... pointillism/stippling.  I tend to call my art pointillism.  There is just something about the word 'stipple' that just sounds wrong.  But technically, since I don't generally use color most of my art is 'stipple art' (shudder)

I guess it is part of my personality, a big part.  And you know what?  I'm happy being meticulous!

Read more...

My Simple Studio

Every woman needs a sanctuary, and this is mine! A few weeks ago, I convinced my husband to let me take over the then-guest bedroom in the basement for my Arts & Crafts Studio. We used items that we already had around the house, making this room a very minimal investment. This is the first time since college that I have had a space to call my own, and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Take a tour around the room with me:

This is the corner where most the work is done. I have a computer, printer and L-shaped work-space. The awesome picture on the wall was given to me by my older sister. It depicts architecture as art... and since I have a degree in architecture as well as a love for art, it fits the space perfectly!

The second table space is where Daniel gets his 'work' done while we are in the room together. Almost every day we go downstairs while Isaiah is napping. He is learning all types of techniques from watercolor to pastels. My supply cabinets are on either side of the table.

Another supply space. This is an old dresser that we took the drawers out of and made shelves. I covered the plywood shelves with contact paper and dressed them up with colorful tacks. Cleaned out baby food and jelly jars serve as holders for colorful pencils. That masterpiece on the top of the cabinet is Daniel's pastel work.

I covered an old cork-board with colorful blue fabric (left-over from the boys bedroom curtains) and added a bit of black ribbon and daisies, for a girlie touch! See the house image on the upper left-hand corner? It is an 'American Foursquare', similar to our own house, but in much better repair. I am sure that I will discuss our house (and future house plans) in later posts.

I hope that many creative pieces will be produced in the space... for now, it inspires me!

Read more...