Before Christmas, I signed up for Mary Ann Moss's newest, on-line class, Remains of the Day which is an extra long class (like a year)...where she demonstrates her totally cool method for using up all your scraps of fabrics and papers and sewing them together to create an awesome art journal. Here's a peak at Mary Ann's newest creation...which she is using to document her trip to Merida, Mexico...lucky girl!
It's just to die for...I'm so envious of all the talented ladies who are taking this class...some that you might know about...like Pam Garrison and Teesha Moore...both wonderful art journalists. Jump on over to all three of their blogs and check out their beautiful creations...you will not be disappointed.
Since I'm caught up in the middle of moving, I have to live creatively through everyone else...but I'm not letting that stop me from enjoying the process of "collecting" my "stuff" and finding inspiration for when I can finally sit down and start sewing all my bits together.
In the above photo you can see where I've created a "folder" to hold the class PDF files with all the wonderful instructions...as well as my collection of "security envelopes"...who knew that they all had different patterns inside them...things we just don't normally think about, I know! Also hanging onto a few glassine bags that came with our Chinese "take-out"...cause I thought they would make a cool pocket for tucking memorabilia in my finished journal. Then the other day I hit "pay dirt" when I dropped some things off at Consignment 1st and found this wonderful American Home magazine from 1937...
Talk about "Law of Attraction" and good "karma"...you see...because while I've been gathering things for my journal and drooling over everyone else's accomplishments...I decided to turn my experience with moving and downsizing into our new "love shack" into...sort of a "pre-material" experience...stick with me and it will all make sense...lol
The articles are so "new-age" for 1937...it's going to be hard to tear this magazine apart...I'm reading everything in it first...it's a hoot...check out these "cigarette" and "automobile" ads...
Yeah right..."My throat decided on Luckies"...now that's a "killer" tag-line!
AND check out this auto..."Now they drive themselves"...right to the gas station...talk about a gas guzzler...who needs a V-12...and color ads! I guess I was not expecting such advancements for 1937...this was around the time my parents were born. Yet all's I heard when I was growing up were stories about "the great depression"...things really advanced in 10 years. The thing I can't figure out is why my parents acted like they "lived through it"...
Okay...so now back on track...above is a photo of my nerdy notebook as a few of those "close to me" have called it...but in reality...it is my "workbook" for our move to the "Love Shack". On the cover is an inspiring photo of a "loft space" that was featured in House Beautiful (if I'm remembering correctly). Love the "old world" European look of this loft and... someday...we'd like to convert the attic to a chic loft space like this...a girl can always dream...
Inside you will find all my important "notes" for the move...like floor-plans and more importantly...all the MEASUREMENTS for every "inch" of wall space and the furniture...so necessary...
Also inside are photos of all the kitchen cabinets (inside and out) and the counters as well as the walls...everywhere...so that I can determine before moving day...WHERE EVERYTHING GOES! Also inside you will find photos of all the wonderful organizers that I'm considering from places like IKEA and Lowe's. So today when I needed to go back to IKEA, my friend, Beth decided to join me. Of course when Beth saw my IKEA shopping list in my workbook...she couldn't stop laughing...
Here you can also see how I make notes right onto my photos so I can remember "what goes/fits where"...and like I asked Beth...when she couldn't stop laughing at me...DOESN'T EVERYONE DO THIS?
Let me explain...to the left is a photo of my kitchen counters...and to the right is a photo of IKEA's great black rod-iron rails for "keeping things handy and off the kitchen counters" system...cool huh! So I've "sketched" right onto my photos where I'm going to use this in my "Love Shack" kitchen.
Next...on the left is a photo of my kitchen sink...see the "notes" on the drawers...where all my stuff is going...yeah! On the right is a photo of a cool pull-out basket that I've bought to install under the sink.
Here, in the top photo, at IKEA, in their showroom, they use a "wire curtain rod" (only $4.99) in a craft/play room area to hang artwork...see it under the white shelf...next to the roll of art paper...sorry the photo is a bit grainy. So being inspired, I decided to use this wire system over my kitchen cabinets to hang a mesh curtain to protect my books from dust/grease. I've also purchased lights to put up on the ceiling...cool beans :}
Final shot here...is of our tiny bathroom...center photo...the medicine chest in the top left photo...is what we've purchased to go over the sink and...the one to the right, with the cute cubbies and baskets...we've actually purchased two of these to go over the counter to the left side of the sink. Now the top photo...is a towel rack from IKEA that I picked up (yesterday with Beth) to actually go over the small bathroom window. I'm going to hang a curtain on the back bar, closest to the window, and then store folded towels on top on the shelf...just like in the hotels...cool don't you think?
Next time you have a home improvement or decorating or (moving) project...seriously think about taking your camera out and taking photos of all the things that you find inspiring (make sure that the store's don't mind...like IKEA and Lowe's). It really helps you make the best decisions and stops you from making spontaneous purchases that don't fit/work...and that you have to drag back to the store.
Basically, right now, I cannot function without my "nerdy notebook" ...it is my piece of mind during this move. So...how does this tie into my Remains of the Day art-class journal...you ask? Well...I will be incorporating all of these lovely photos/sketches/notes...simply inspiring pages in my art journal.
AND...knowing that I'm creating such lovely memories of our move to the "Love Shack" keeps me satisfied (creatively speaking here)...until I can get out my sewing machine :}
I not only like what you and your friends are learning in that Art Class, but how you shared some of the improvements you're want to make in your own home. The kitchen and bathroom improvement ideas are good choices. I would also consider putting in a few mini split air conditioners in lieu of a central air unit. This way you're saving because you're targeting the specific room rather than an entire home regardless of if it is occupied or not.
Posted by: Mini Split Air Conditioner | January 08, 2010 at 12:18 PM