Craft Shed Update

I hate to call it a shed. And when I do, people look at me funny. Perhaps the craft cottage? Or the inspiration zone? Invariably when people stop looking at me like I'm crazy quizzically, they asked rather hesitantly, "what crafts do you do?" They don't really want to know. They are terrified to know really. Well, to be honest with you, I haven't done this for years so I'm not really sure. I used to quilt and would love to try it again. I used to cross-stitch but I don't need a craft room for that. I don't scrapbook. My son and I often do crazy paper collages for school which would be cool to do in a non-school setting. I also write and while I don't need a shed to do that it might be nice to have a private thoughtful spot.

Here are the fantastic updates to the shed renovation!

The framing of the window was tricky. We didn't have the same type of siding as the original siding. So lines would not match and all sorts of cosmetic madness would happen. I was only slightly concerned about this because I am repainting the exterior a pale ivory to match our house. The light color would mask the lines around the window and the trim is covering most of the newly filled area. The trim to the left of the window on the edge of the shed would also match the house - a divine deep latte color. And the trim immediately around the window is yet undecided. I'd like it to be a bit quirkier than the residence which I've left very conservative. In addition, my husband's shed is next door and will have all the same paint but the latte color is very masculine so I'm going with it on all parts of his shed. And ideas about cute window trim? I've thought a Martha Stewart green (jadeite) might be cute. Let me know!

My husband sawing. Beside him, you see my shelf that will hang on the wall inside by the door. All sides are now up on the shed. I'm looking at paint colors for the inside. My husband also put up lighting fixtures and electrical outlets. I bought a track light at a garage sale for $3 (yes, really!). It is now lighting up the soon to be shelf area and my work space. I still have a space over the sink that is dark and dingy. Perhaps a chandelier? Crazy? Or just AWESOME!

The entire inside is a mishmash of unpainted and exterior paint from our changes and the previous owner's need to paint everything brick red - EVERYTHING. So I am lightening up with cottage white on the interior. However, I'm stumped. Somewhere I read on a blog within the past few weeks about the perfect interior white! I can't find that blog post! A trip to Home Depot was futile. I brought home four whites and they are all the same and quite boring. I'm also on the fence about introducing another color into the mix. There are 2x4's in places that could break up the monotony of white but I don't want it to be glaring.

The boring whites. And you can see I still need more lighting.

Craft Shed Update

It has been so exciting to watch the conversion of my ugly garden shed into a useful crafting shed. While it is still not finished, we have been working hard on it. My awesome Hubby has been doing most of the hard stuff like nailing things and adding electrical outlets. He even put in the window that I bought at a garage sale years ago!I have a landscaper who will be leaving me soon for better things (I hope but will miss him!). He agreed to do this last job for me and add a retain wall and beautiful patio around the shed. Not only will I be able to craft but with a chair and table, it will be a great place to have a cup of coffee. I even have a folding wicker lawn chair that can easily be tucked away during the rain.

The weekend was spent going around to garage sales and doing various chores. Not much time or money for the shed. However, amazingly the neighborhood sale at my parents' community produced some great things for the shed, including a pair of Pottery Barn cafe curtains for $5. They looked like a sad pile when I came across them. The lady who laundered them didn't iron them. But they were clean and intact so I took them home and a simple ironing made them look as smart as new! I also picked up a task light that will clip on to my shelves. It is industrial looking, probably found at any hardware store but I paid 50 cents for it!

I was also on the hunt for cabinets, shelves, and drawers. I had little faith that I would find something in my price range (next to nothing!). I was pleasantly surprised then to find a Martha Stewart Spice shelve from when there was the fantastic Martha by Mail catalog. I wanted this spice rack then but had no money at the time. It was worth the 12 year wait (lol) because I paid $5 for it. It came with all the spice tins and they were nearly full. Unfortunately, the spices are probably as old as the shelves. However, it didn't buy it for a spice rack. I bought it for the shelves and tins. I will probably clean up the tins and use them for buttons, pin, and bee bobs! I did not take that beautiful picture of the spice rack below. But I did find it on a beautiful and delicious blog called Good Things by David.

Last but certainly not least, while I was out at the flea market, doing some afternoon browsing, on the way home, I decided to chase down a garage sale in my own development. The afternoon isn't the best time to garage sale and this one was tucked way back in the winding roads near my home. Knowing how difficult it is to find some of the farther reaches of this housing area, I hoped there might be a few goodies for me. On the way to the sale, I passed by a house on the corner with beautiful cabinets out front and a sale sign that said, "FREE!". Yes, you read that right! Free. Two cabinets that had formerly been part of a built in desk and a small set of overhead drawers were free. They are a bit scarred here and there because the owners had disassembled the desk and kept only the credenza part. They had barely put them out when I innocently came along and promptly left with them! How exciting!

Step by step, this thing is coming together! I have a list of things still left. Electrical, plumping for my sink, a table, wall shelves, and plenty of white bright paint. And that's not all! But in the meantime, doesn't it took great?