It is with great pleasure I give you: Studio 8
She had a sinewy mind, capable of violent enthusiasms and possessed a driving energy to make and do. Sometimes, it seemed as if the wrong soul had been placed inside that slight body, for she pushed herself to her limits and beyond, and was often ill as a result. There was something in her that could not, or would not, see the distinctions the world wished to make between weak and strong, between women and men, laborer and lord.
sinewy adj. -tough, stringy, strong
If you believe that quote and could know the amount of sheer physical labor that went into transforming this space, I am definitely due to get some kind of illness. But maybe the 27 aphthous ulcers that have terrorized the inside of my mouth ARE my illness. Do you ever do that, work so hard for so long that you make yourself sick? Yeah, me too. And I regret to inform you that I’ve searched high and low for a before picture and can’t find one. It was a guest room with dirty carpet and far to many fake plants. Trust me, this is better.
So, the first thing I undertook was to rip up the old–nasty–ten year old—stained with all manner of dog and human stuff—carpet. It was not a job for the faint of heart. Not to mention the overstuffed sofa and queen bed and other sundry furnishings that had to be removed from the room before that could even take place. I then painted the walls with 2 cans of leftover light colored paint that I mixed together.
When I ran out of paint with one large wall left, I decided to do a chalk wall.
Because who doesn’t love a chalk wall and a little improvisational creativity?
With the carpet slowly being removed (by me, the little girls and my neighbor Leigh Ann) I commenced to painting the subflooring with porch paint. This was my biggest expense, totaling around $62. That process took around 5 days because the paint had to dry thoroughly in between coats. I used Meredith (whom to all our misfortune has quit blogging) for inspiration and ‘how-to’ information, but my sub-flooring was not nearly as nice as hers, so I did 3 coats of porch paint and it’s looks very ‘porch’-like—much more rustic than hers—but perfect for a craft studio. And then for kicks, I brought up every color of paint in my basement (which looks like the paint section at Lowe’s minus the 20 year old paint section worker whose never painted a surface in his life) and began painting everything that didn’t move.
Including this old school table that I bought last year at an antique store close-out for $50. I used stainless steel paint—which I will never use again—and though I liked the way it turned out okay, I hate using oil based paint, which this was. I could have achieved the same result with a silver paint and without all the hassle of mineral spirits.
Then, there were these wooden shelves—with the perfect little scalloped edges— that were in my schoolroom that the girls and I painted. We used the cute scarf as our inspiration and picked from the multidinous colors at our disposal. Those shelves now are home to our yummy yarn collection. We also continued the color-love by adding jars of skittles and bubble gum—-because who wants to spend all day in a craft studio where there’s no sugar? Not me.
Then, we shopped the house for everything fun and colorful and ‘crafty’ we could find. If it didn’t fit our fun and crafty criteria, we painted it!
The icing on the cake was this awesome 1950′s glider which we found this weekend at a yard sale for $20. It gives the spectators of the crafting a place to sit and watch old episodes of Andy Griffith. Something about Aunt Bee just makes me wanna bake and sew.
And last but not least is this cool chair that we bought at a thrift store for $5 and recovered with pink toile. I’ve written a cautionary tale about my upholstering skills here.
The sewing table is constructed from an old 1980′s computer desk (which I painted blue) and an old door from Goodwill which I decoupaged with the black polka-dot wrapping paper. We are always on the hunt for unique items to add to our vintage, colorful studio, but for now, we are enjoying our little woman cave, where we can escape from a whole host of activities including laundry, scrubbing toilets, and watching the fifth college football game on any given Saturday—don’t get me wrong, I love the first four.
This room is a little santuary of sorts—-where we girls can learn from each other—-and where our ‘violent enthusiasms’ and ‘driving energy’ have a productive place to land.
The Nitty Gritty:
It cost roughly $150 and ten days to complete this makeover. For the wall paint, I mixed two Valspar colors in about a 50/50 ratio. They are foxtrot and hemingway. For the porch paint, I used Sherwin Williams porch paint—but tinted to the color Dover. I stayed up way too late a few nights and dealt with a plethora of aphthous ulcers and one nasty cold sore. But I’m a team player so I gladly take one for the home team to get this dreamy little cozy space in which to make memories with my girls. I used a variety of craft room photos for inspiration which you can find at my tumblr site. I thank Soulemama who never ceases to amaze me with her love for the creative life and how to teach that to our children. I am also indebted to the Nester for teaching us all that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
Please visit Kimba‘s sight (it’s DIY day) to see lots of fun DIY projects!
and I like cowboy boots, C.S. Lewis, good food, strong coffee, banjo music and books. I am a deeply flawed momma of 4 and grateful receiver of more good gifts than one heart can hold. I fight for joy and find it in the most unexpected places. I make quirky look normal, relish in my small town Southern way of living, and am learning that it's all grace--every last bit of it. 
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
It looks good…I love the yarn bins. I can't believe I'm the first to comment- and I've been at school all day.
It's gorgeous. Definitely an inspiring space! I now expect to see LOTS more great things being churned out of there …
It turned out fantastic!!!
Wow! This is great! Will you come to my house? I have some things I would like recovered, too! Great to meet you! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
it's beautiful edie! i love all the colors…
can we scrap there??
Love this room! I think every woman needs a space to be creative and crafty!
Wow Edie, you have truly made a space for one's mind to expand into the creative world! Your girls are very blessed..and you too of course! Well done! xxx
Fantastic, you have given me tons of ideas for my craft room, thanks! I still want your glider;)
Very pretty. There is nothing like a craft room to inspire you. Have fun with it.
comin' over from TCB- LOVE this! It looks amazing. I'm very excited to look through some more of your amazing ideas and designs!
What a fantastic Studio! I want to come over and "play".
I'm sure it is such a fun room to spend time in together.
XO*Tricia
Love this room and I love that wall color. Can you share the name??
I can't decide if I am more jealous over your crafty space or that fantastically AWESOME 1950's glider you scored for $20!
When I saw your first post about it, I sounded a bit like a raving lunatic in front of my husband. I am SERIOUSLY sick that I never find anything that good for that price!
I love that you are sharing this skill with your girls. So fun and useful and PRACTICAL!
Can't wait to see all your creations!
What a fun place!
It is perfect!!! I LOVE it! Great job…I would love to do something like that-I really like the floor, and the silver table-so cool!
it's positively beautiful! i love, love the chalkboard wall . . . enjoy!
Looks great, I love all of the color!
What a wonderful place to create. I can just imagine myself in there creating away with my little babes in tow. This room makes me REALLY inspired to create a craft room in my basement.
WAY TO GO!!
But is IS beautiful and perfect….love it! Makes me think I should get busy, re-organize and brighten my studio. Maybe that is why I tend to string my work all over the house instead of in the room intended!
Enjoy you site.
Oh My, I love love love it. I don't have an eye or artistic ability to put together such an eclectic, BEAUTIFUL room. Wow!! Amazing job well done! Totally understand the ulcer/make yourself sick comment!
AND… nothing to do with this post- You inspire me to maybe someday home school my 2 girls. If you asked me 6 months ago, I would have said "NO WAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE THE PATIENCE"! I have a couple more years until my girls are school age to consider it.
What an awesome space you have there! You asked about my crows…I found them at the Everythings a dollar store. I bought some last year and two more this year. They are getting harder and harder to find~ Good luck with your search. I will see if I can find some at my local store here and maybe do a giveaway so just check back with me if you have no luck there~ Have a great day my friend!
looks fabulous! I have a big 'ol jar of M&M's in mine! can't wait to see whacha make…
Oh wow… How fun is that??! I'm jealous:) You have such a cute blog too!
~Whitney
oh, what I'd give for a place for my 'violent enthusiasms' and 'driving energy' to have a productive place like this to land! Nice work, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!!
BTW – if you need a home remedy for those mouth ulcers try this:
Equal parts for whatever adult dosage suggests of Malox/Mylanta to Benadryl
I love it, every corner of it! Love your blog. Thanks for sharing.
Jen
I see you put that fantastic glider in there!! Great job on the room!
blessings
mary
Edie…I LOVE every single thing about this room! It is fun and colorful and beautiful and full of life. It is so YOU! Great job.
~Amanda
I'm in love! I looovooovvvee it! Adorable! Awesome!
Wow, I am absolutely amazed!
i LOVE your craft room! how fun. i love shopping your own house for fun to change up a room. you must have a full basement like i do
your blog is so much fun!!!
What an amazing space!! It inspires me to stop waiting for all the “perfect” pieces and just get going on making a creative space already!!
ps. I like your new header!
I love the craft room!!! I also love that quote from Nester, “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful!”
loving your craft room! i just recently got to have my own art/craft room! My husband has a recording studio and now I get my own room too! I am still in the process of putting it all together so seeing your room was just the inspiration I needed!
I ADORE YOUR CRAFT ROOM.
That room just looks like a really happy place to be creative!
{ 5 trackbacks }