:: newspaper logs

Happy Friday Everyone...

I can't believe the weekend is already here...

but I'm oh so glad.

It's another rainy & gloomy day here today,

I guess I should start getting used to this...it is that time of year after all.

The rain just makes it a perfect day to catch up on chores, and just laze around a little.

I've been spending this morning searching the web for some interesting things,

and I'm excited to share them with you very soon.

Today though I thought I would share with you what I do with my newspapers.

Formerly my newspapers {which we receive every day for Papa Wren},

would accumulate in a chair in our kitchen until recycling day rolled around.

I became very tired of looking at this messy stack of newspapers all week,

and decided to come up with a solution for this ever growing stack of paper.

Now mind you, I didn't cancel the paper on Papa {which would be ideal}

Instead I decided on a different way to organize them and reuse them.

I decided to start rolling them up & tying them with twine to make newspaper logs.

This creates a neater look for the papers while they are in a holding pattern,

 and I actually spare them from recycling by sharing them with my parents 

who will be using them to start their wood burning stove very soon.

I also keep a few for myself for starting fires in our fire pit outdoors.

I found a basket I had sitting around and decided to use this to coral the paper logs.

I keep the twine and a little pair of scissors inside the basket, and each day

when Papa leaves for work, I roll up the paper, tie it with a piece of twine and add it to the rest.

No more pile of papers sliding out of the chair, and I actually don't mind looking at this.

As simple as it is, I think it looks kinda cool...I guess I could also hide it away,

but somehow this has become the newspaper chair...isn't it funny how those things happen.

If I ever do get tired of it I can simply move it into the pantry or out into the garage...easy peasy.

So, what do you think?

Is it still an eyesore?

Would you hide it or try it?

Hope you have a wonderful DRY weekend ; )

{peace, love & hugs}

Carrie

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{ studio under control }

Ahhh, nothing feels better than the completion of a project.

I was finally able to tackle my studio today, and

oh what a difference a little organization, and a trash can will make.

My funky gold knitting chair, has some new additions,

one great vintage crocheted pillow { goodwill }, and one sweet little yorkie.

I also couldn't help myself but to keep the two little suitcases

originally purchased for my shop.  

they are just so darn cute, 

and their colors go perfectly in my space.

One holds extra magazines, and the other all of my camera chargers.

The wire in and out box was purchased to keep kids homework in,

but since I love it so much I had to confiscate it.

Now it holds more magazines and hides the lamp cord.

The two ironstone pitchers hold my knitting needles within easy reach.

My little vintage doggie planter just sits there looking all cute,

waiting for me to add some cuttings from the garden.

The lamp is the only thing that's new { Target },

it's just perfect for holding vintage yarn balls, and I love the burlap shade.

Oh, there's my other great vintage chair { goodwill },

and to top off this little fun vignette is my vintage floral painting { goodwill },

I love the sunny yellows, greens and that little pop of the red apples.

This is the business side of my studio, where all the computer magic happens.

If you read my last post you probably saw all of my inspiration photos,

and in all of those photos you saw mostly white furniture.

Now, I love white furniture, but I had absolutely no desire to paint either of these

desks,  they are only a few years old, and match the bookcases.

I did want to lighten up the room though,  and also hide some of the more unsightly bits....

my solution was to add the little skirt under the desks

I'm not much of a seamstress { though I would like to be },

so I grabbed my trusty staple gun, and a fun sheet { goodwill }.

I folded the sheet in half and cut it straight down the middle leaving a nice seam on each side.

I then crawled, and contorted myself under these very small desks with my staple gun in hand,

I began by just gathering small sections of fabric and stapling them in place to achieve a gathered look.

I think it turned out quite nicely, and it definitely hides all the uglies underneath.

My desk chair is a thrift store find also.  I just recently recovered it 

using a fun vintage floral sheet...I love how it turned out, it even has a little brown in it

which makes it work perfectly with the brown chair and desks.

I added the two green shelves above each desk to hold supplies within easy reach.

I found the shelves at a yard sale this Saturday for $1.00 each,

They have chippy paint, and are very old.....love them.

The artwork above my desk area is also a collection of thrift store and yard sale finds.

I'm always on the lookout for new pieces to add to my wall,

I especially love old canvases,  and find them very inspiring.

Welcome to the storage side.

Here you will find all of my yarns, fabrics, and books.

Oh yeah, and do you see the rusty little beauty holding my tri-pods, and craft paper?

I found that fabulous beauty at a yard sale Saturday.

I could hardly contain myself when I saw it.

I immediately snatched it up and inquired about it's price,

I was really afraid it wasn't for sale.

Not exactly like the one in my inspiration photos, but it's close enough for me.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT.

I honestly had the best luck and found some other really great things,

but I'll save those for later.

There's that little green ladder again, it just keeps popping up in my photos.

It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the fact that I'm only 5' 4" on a good day.

I may as well just strap him to my hip around this house.

This is my art corner, and hopefully a sewing table 

when I finally get up my nerve to break out my long neglected sewing machine. 

Hmmm,  let's see,  I'm 37 and papa got it for my 30th birthday,

and it hasn't been used since....how bad is that?.

Oh come on, I know you are also jealous of my gorgeous

golden orange wooden screen there.  

I know, it's not the prettiest thing, and someday I would like to paint it white.

It does serve a purpose though, that corner desk isn't quite as deep as my

other two desks, so this helps me bring it forward without a huge gap.

It also hides my huge art portfolio, and my easel.

Now I just need to come up with a good way to hang things on it,

and it will be a good place to display my art projects, and inspirations.

I'm open to any ideas and suggestions.

So, are you ready to see the befores?

I'm almost too embarrassed to show you what a mess it was before,

Papa teases me and calls me a hoarder.

I promise I am not a hoarder, I just had too much going on in a small space.

So here goes....

WARNING these images may be disturbing to some viewers.

         Isn't it a good thing I added the skirts.

I would love to know what you think of my design on a nickel redo,

I'm also so open to suggestions for improving my space.

Thanks for stopping by.

* peace & love *

 { the vintage wren }

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