Sunday, January 25, 2009

Bienvenue to my Scrappy Space


Hi my friends!

Although a couple details are still pending, I couldn't wait any longer to share my scrap room/home office with you. I like to refer to it as my HAPPY ROOM because it really makes me smile every time I step into this room. It's just so ME! :-)

First, this is a photo of the room as you enter, with my gorgeous vintage chandelier from Perfectly Charming in Ohio that my BFF bought me for Christmas. I love it!



And here's an expanded view as you enter the room... the walls are painted Jalapeno Pepper from Benjamin Moore (I found this paint color in a Pottery Barn catalog). It's a bit darker than I anticipated, but I love the warm, cozy feeling I get when I walk into the room -- and green is my favorite color!



I really wanted to have some type of wall art collage in my room, so I created this using a mix of old and new frames and objects. The red vintage frame on top is from my visit to Ohio (Perfectly Charming again!), the middle row holds some framed prints I picked up a while back at an arts festival on Miami Beach, and the number card is from IKEA. The frame on the bottom left has a photo mat that everyone signed at my bridal shower and it holds a photo of my mom and me (taken just seven months before she passed away).



Here's a close up look at my awesome three tier wire basket from Sadie Olive. This was one of my fave birthday presents last year! I love the weathered look and how it holds lots of stuff. I mainly keep my inks and wood mounted stamps in it.



On the opposite side of the room, in front of my desk, I have my IKEA Expedit bookcase, which is the best! It not only looks nice, but it also holds a ton of stuff. I have all my albums on the bottom cubes, books, magazines, acrylic paints and glitter, cards, frames and more on it...



On top, I have another three tier wire basket from my dear friend, Damaris, as well as a little chalkboard I picked up in Ohio, apothecary jars (which I have yet to fill) from Target, and my beautiful milk glass lamp (also from Perfectly Charming in Ohio).



Here's a close up of my acrylic paints, Stickles, glitter and Mod Podge -- all housed in a tray I picked up at Ross for a few bucks.



This milk glass vase is from an antique shop in Naples... Richard and I came across a couple of great finds during our weekend trip last fall! I'd like to fill it with some fresh flowers from time to time just to liven it up a little.



And now I present to you my gorgeous Art Deco 1930's typewriter that works. It's in excellent condition and I love it. It was a Christmas gift from my honey. Look at this beauty...



In this little nook between my desk and the IKEA bookcase, I have a beautiful old red chair (one of two) that my mother-in-law gave me a few years ago. She had these in her garage for a long time and I fell in love with them! Above the chair, I have two 12x12 frames that I bought from Damaris to put a couple of my layouts. Below the chair, I have a basket (the first gift basket my honey ever gave me filled with Valentine's Day goodies!) filled with unfinished projects.



This is a photo of my desk with my wireless keyboard and mouse that are awesome! I also have my magnetic mat on my desktop for my scrapbooking projects. I keep my trimmers on the open shelves below my desk. The sugar and creamer set that I use for my pens and paintbrushes are some very cool finds from a trip to a Goodwill store in California.



Behind my desk, I have an old bookshelf from Linens 'n Things that holds some of my treasures, as well as my printer and organizers down below. The jars hold ribbons and buttons, more milk glass from Naples, a cute pedestal from Perfectly Charming, an antique amber glass container and old keys that belonged to my Mom, an Eiffel Tower clock that my friend Jeanie gave me a long time ago, and more.



This is a red letterpress photo mat from Sycamore Street Press that I fell in love with and just had to have! I love how the red stands out and the detail on it is pretty cool. It comes in a large size and you cut it down to fit your photo frame.



This is an Elsie Flannigan print I bought on Etsy back in 2007. I loved the green and the painting itself with the girl holding her camera.



This is just a close up of my other IKEA bookcase, with my fave litle Epson printer, mini album basket (another find at my mother-in-law's house), and my cute owl paper weight from Sadie Olive (a birthday gift from my friend Lou).



I wanted to display my clipboards, but didn't know where to put them, so I tied a ribbon around the top in order to hang them on the front of my closet doors.



Finally, behind my door, I have an inspiration board where I can keep layouts or projects I see in magazines that I like, as well as photos and cards that make me happy. My Tim Holtz apron hangs from an over-the-door hook for easy access.



That's all!!! I am still waiting for my Kellie Rae print, which will have a home on the wall next to my ladder bookcase. Also, I have two curtain valances that will go on the top of my windows.

Sometimes I still find myself moving things from one place to another (and back again) trying to decide what I like best, but overall I am very happy with my room. It reflects my design style, it holds many photos and other things that I hold dear to my heart, and it makes me happy! I know that I am very lucky to be able to have an entire room to myself and I am thankful to have this retreat where I can just relax and unwind after a long, stressful workday.

Please tell me what you think, share ideas or suggestions, ask questions, etc. I'd love to hear from you!

Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa

Monday, January 19, 2009

Creative inspiration

Hi there!

I've been quite busy cleaning and organizing and I am still not completely done!!! Will I ever be done? Maybe. In any case, I have actually made lots of progress and I just might be able to post pics of my newly reorganized and redecorated office/scrap room (AKA: my HAPPY room). I am so in LOVE with my space. I can't wait to share it with you.

In between all the reorganizing and purging, I made time to go on a dinner and movie date to Cinebistro with my honey. We watched Marley & Me. What a great movie! It's funny, entertaining and sad all at once. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson have some really great chemistry. A while back, we also saw Australia with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. What an incredible movie! It was long, but trust me, we didn't even realize it. It's a truly beautiful motion picture. Go see it!

Just before the holidays, I picked up this book and I've really enjoyed all the eye candy and creative techniques.



Kelly Rae Roberts is a gifted and highly talented mixed-media artist and I have fallen in love with her inspiring style and soulful artistic approach. I definitely recommend this book. You'll thank me later. It's called "Taking Flight: Inspiration And Techniques To Give Your Creative Spirit Wings." I even bought myself one of her cool 8x8 prints on Etsy. I can't wait till it gets here!

Oh, and guess what? I made my first-ever Designer Digitals purchase -- although I'll probably use it on a traditional paper project :-) I fell in love with Ali's new Valentine's circles and for only $3.99, it was well worth it! I plan to make a little Valentine's mini or tag book and a layout with these...



So, what's inspiring you lately? Please share!

I hope you find your creative wings and take flight, as Kelly would say!

Vanessa

Friday, January 9, 2009

My 2009 word is...

SIMPLIFY.

As in simplify my life. Focus on the little things. Don't dwell on the possibilities. Make it happen. Get rid of excess. Feel the love. Streamline. Unclutter my home and office. Put family first. The simple things in life are the most beautiful.

How did I pick this word? Well, last weekend while I was out and about I kept bumping into this word and it made sense to me. First, I saw a little throw pillow that read, "Simplify." At the next stop, I found a wooden piece with "Simplify" on it. Next, a plate stared at me, "Simplify your life." And so on... OK, I get it!!! Simplify it is.

On a different note, I have been sick this week with laryngitis and I'm coughing like crazy. Not fun.

I have not done anything creative this year! And it's driving me crazy. My scrap room is almost finished, but now I am waiting for my hubby to paint one last spot on the wall and to hang my vintage chandelier that my BFF got me for Christmas.



Next up will be my curtains! Then I will really be done and I can post photos.

For now, I leave you with this beautiful bedding from Pottery Barn Kids. Yes, I know it's very random, but I fell in love with it this week when I received my Pottery Barn catalog in the mail and I just saw a snippet of it on Trish's blog (her darling daughter fell in love with the own pillow). Isn't it beautiful? They have the crib bedding to match and I love the owls with the butterflies and trees (reminds me of a beautiful stamp set). I told Richard that I want it for the baby's room which we haven't yet decorated or even started for the baby that we don't yet have but hope to have one of these days in the very near future. LOL!




Peace and happy scrapping,
Vanessa