break down:  name the room+ list the functions+ list the furniture+ list the tweaks to the furniture or pieces needed+ draw a map= make it happen

i’m working on my office-

which is code for: i have 4 albums to make, 2 orders to edit, and a wedding and session to work on… but if i spend another second at my computer i’ll break it.

so, i’m conquering the chaos.

i am all about repurposing and highly functional pieces.

there is a lot of that going on here.

i’ll show you pictures of the before and after later…

i thought i had the perfect set up- but it turns out all of my painting supplies are in my mud room.  who wants to paint in a mud room?

AND there was a lot of space in my office that was used once or twice a week and the rest of the time wasted, so- i’ve decided to move those once or twice a week’s into another room and use the whole space ALL of the time.

doesn’t sound like rocket science, but believe me, it’s close.

WE WASTE SO MUCH! space, stuff, food, time, energy…

i’m overwhelmed with my wasteful life, so, i’m fixing it. and my office is first.

i have to tell you that when brandon got home today i had a bit of a whine session.  i’m really not a complainer- but i was overwhelmed and i think a bit cranky- i was giggling because what i really wanted to do was throw myself on the floor like a 2 year old and flip around like crazy until all of the energy was gone.  i sweetly summoned my husband to help me relocate a large piece of furniture (we have moved this before together) and he started cracking up.  he said, ” you know shauna, i know you think this little furniture move is going to solve your problems… and make you feel better… but it won’t. your problem is you just can’t put anything away, if you learn how to do that, your problems will be solved.” i couldn’t help but laugh, he is SOOO right.  my brain is just constantly hopping from one thing to the next- and as my creative life evolves, my space has to as well.  that is why things work for a season and you have to change it up.  i know some of you have had your furniture in the same place & pictures hung on the same walls, in the same place for YEARS.  i can’t swing it.  it all has to move with me.  so, move it will. and normally when it is hardest to keep things put up (because where they go doesn’t make sense anymore) i know it is time for a little evolution… enter today’s evolving goodness.

here is where i started last night:

ROOM:  office

FUNCTION: client meetings, art studio, paper home, edit room, assembly room, etsy wrapping station & storage

QUESTIONS THAT LEAVES: where will i be most productive doing these things? what pieces of furniture do i need to accomplish these tasks? are there tasks that will be better in other areas or rooms of the office?

FURNITURE NEEDED: EDIT DESK- small so that it can be tucked away when not in use, TABLE- for meetings with plenty of room to add chairs if needed, EASEL- and plenty of room for large canvases, STORAGE- for etsy items, STORAGE- for art supplies, STORAGE- for business paperwork with easy access RUG- so that my chairs don’t screw up the floor

TWEEKS TO FURNITURE OR ITEMS NEEDED: luckily i have it all, but i did have to grab a map table from the living room that used to be our party art table (once a month use, or daily… hm…. daily) sorry kids! & i ordered my rug last night!

MY MAP:

and because I LOVE to see how other creatives work, here are some really cool spaces via designsponge

here is a little peak at what’s there:

Craft room photograph from this Flickr stream. Michelle Adams’ home office by Patrick Cline from Real Living Australia via Flickr.

Alcove office photograph from Ideal Home. Tray photograph from Real Simple.

(i JUST ordered that stool (well, 4 of them) from OVERSTOCK. love them.)

and i have to say, elsie shared a sweet post about her studio, here is a peak into her creative world:

check the full post here- if you don’t follow her blog- you really should- she shares LOADS of daily inspiration & creative things… it’s a must.

send me photos of your work spaces!! i want to see them!

off to hang out with friends and make new ones!!

Share/Bookmark

this favorite is dedicated to becca.

when we have a family, i'm going to need one of these... this is soo smart.

absolute favorite that i must order and have to cherish forever:

Dr. King we will forever honor your life in our home. Thank you.

check out all of his designs here

and this mama/designer has STOLEN MY HEART.  i want to buy her children’s book… IT IS SO SPECIAL!

this book is about her search for her birth mother

this is what brought me to her blog to browse:

these are downloadable valentines envelopes... adorable!

check out NATALIEJOST.COM ASTA PRONTO!

this etsy shop has done it. sweet, sweet moments. skippydesigns… you’ve got it.

find it here

and in case you missed my two latest obsessions… here they are:

my two current obsessions are the following:

that’s right, flag pennants. i want them everywhere. (and don’t think i’m not looking for scrap leather to make this necklace happen asta pronto!

i even considered starting a new branch of my business called pennant portraits with a tagline something like…”raise the banner of your family high” – you think i’m kidding- at 330 AM i rolled over and checked go daddy to see if pennantportraits.com was avaiable.

when i tried to remember the killer tag line the next morning it went something like this… “hey romeo (that’s what i call brandon) you are never going to guess what i came up with! (he hears this a lot and always acts enthused) you know those flag things (he gathers quickly because of my great description) they hang up at car dealerships? (should have been a red flag, no pun intended)- i can name the new part of my business after that and the tag line is killer, it’s GREAT, CHECK IT: the banner of your family- no wait, raise and celebrate,-… hold on- something high, you know so you’ll know to be happy… cause those flags make you happy & smile, or do they? well- last night- it was BRILLIANT.”

second obsession… with no funny story (unless i told you about the time i caught a bigger fish than brandon. the same fish story he has butchered anytime anyone mentions fishing in both of our presence.  it was huge. AND I TOOK IT OFF THE HOOK MYSELF.  (not when he tells it… but I tell you the truth- this country girl can tie a fishing knot and cast with the best of them!) and really, my fish was bigger than his, he’s just bitter.

so, i just discovered this incredibly cool take on the pennant:

tutorial here… thanks natalie for sharing your skills!!

ADIOS… off to tackle the chair of clean laundry upstairs & get out my new favorite books & devour them!!!

HAPPY SATURDAY!

Share/Bookmark