My Work Space!

Before I begin the revealing of my various creations (and perhaps before I make some more to be more accurate), I thought I should show you what I've been up to for the last week. I am currently writing this on a laptop, the only computer I have, and have been writing this blog on this laptop for my whole blogging life. And frankly, the novelty of the portable computer has worn off. It's great sometimes, like when you are busy and want to be on the computer at the same time as watching television or doing crafty things, or when you go on holidays, but as the only option it loses its appeal for me.

The main reason I haven't had a PC despite having a computer man for a husband is because I haven't had a desk to put it on, and the room this theoretical desk would be in was stacked high with boxes of STUFF. Stuff to give away, stuff to throw away, and stuff to actually go in the room once it had furniture. Here it is as it was last Monday (try to stifle your screams in horror)-

Before:


Yes, what a dump. This was the room we hid by closing the door pretty much all of the time. It severely let down the rest of the house and was the project I had been avoiding for months. But, last weekend after a tantrum thanks to the slowness of this laptop, I decided I was going to get a desk and a bookcase and sort that room out and then my computer tech man could build me a great pc and I wouldn't have to deal with the aching neck/back and slow laptop anymore. After searching and searching and checking prices and searching some more, we found the right pair and bought them:

Ah, flat packed furniture. What a joy; furniture and a puzzle all in one. So last monday and tuesday I emptied the room of all the junk, and then opened the boxes and built the bookcase and desk ALL BY MYSELF, using the terribly unhelpful instructions, wood glue and my intuition. Wednesday was spent putting things into the room and taking old clothes and other unwanted stuff to lifeline, and filling the bin with rubbish. It was therapeutic and tiring. I could not be prouder of the finished project:

After:

TA DA! Isn't it great? Look at the bookcase:

There's just two or three things left to be done in here that taking the photos made obvious to me - the trim, the lack of curtains, and a second chair. The chair is low priority, seeing as it's just to put on the other side of the desk so that should my freelance editing career take off I can have the client come in and chat with me about the work to be edited across my desk. The curtains aren't so much to keep out light or for privacy (there are blinds already as you can see), it is a purely decorative thing. I'm thinking something sheer and either teal or purple. But before I go doing that, the trim is the first issue to attack.

As I took photos I was reminded of the bewildering colour scheme of my house (done by the previous owner). Beige. Beige walls, beige trim, just beige. Bleeeeuuuch. See:

Now why they though it was a good idea to camoflage the doors and trim into the wall is beyond me. It looks horrid. This picture doesn't quite depict how bad it is, but just trust me on it. So, I have bought some nice white paint to repaint the trim and doors with, and while I'm at it I'll be replacing the brassy old lady door handles too.

So get ready for more before/after photos once I've painted.

xnata

So Far so good...

Well, how's the new look working?

I like it. I will post my first bunch of pics of my tiny little creations when I have the time.

but for now I have to tell you that the lovely Rosey has given me an award!

Rosey tells me that this award was created by Bella and Ces in honour of their friend Renee. In Bella's own words "this is a brand new award and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds it's way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns..."

Thank you for thinking of me Rosey, and thank you for my first award!

xnata

Changes To Come

Well I've redefined this page a few times now, and as yet none have brought in any more readers. I was chatting with the lovely and talented Rosey yesterday about this issue, and she confirmed what had occured to me many times in the past. These days everyone makes jewellery and so who would buy it when they can do it themselves?

Some people are very successful with the jewellery making, but I think you have to have a unique style that people realise they can't replicate for that to actually work. So looking over all of my jewellery, I see it is rather simple and could be done by pretty much anyone once they find themselves a bead shop.

But all is not lost, there is still hope for me and this blog and my sad and unused etsy shop. I do create some stuff that is quite unique and cute that people do show interest in that might be the right way to go. It isn't jewellery perse, but it does involve beads...

I like to make little things. little tiny things. that are cute. Animals, objects, food, little people, all sorts of stuff. Out of wire and beads, out of that coloured moulding clay, all sorts of stuff.

And so my tiny band of dedicated readers, take a good look at this site while you can, because soon it will look very different...

xnata

ps- I realise you may be reading this after the changes have already taken place. Oh well. If so, please let me know what you think of the new look.