Mini Blog Make Over

¡HOLA!
Well I am back from a long, much needed, blogging break. I was busy with life and enjoying being unplugged. I have been searching for jobs, and for what I want to be doing. Monday I posted about my upsetting job search, here. After writing that post I've really missed blogging, and y'all! So I'm back!!

Sadly, I don't have a project lined up to share just yet so I'm just gonna share some of the mini makeover I'm working on for the blog.

Basically, I have decided that I'm going to embrace my title as an artist more than I did this past year. I've missed "real" art. I enjoy being crafty and I think it has it's place but I want to go back to my real passion which is using a talent that I was blessed with by the Lord. So, hopefully I will start sharing more on ART! I'm not sure what that looks like just yet, I'm thinking more posts about techniques, mediums, and concepts. Right now I'm going for more posts like these two where I talked all about color and how to use it and how to paint with out black. (If y'all have any ideas PLEASE share them!! I'm hoping I can help y'all answer some questions along the way).

 But part of this make over was inspired by my desire to share more of my studio! I've written about it a couple of times, and how blessed I am to have it just a couple yards away from my house!  (The Blessing of a Studio, Setting Up Shop, Work Bench Tutorial, Studio Storage) So now that I'm (mostly) settled in, I want to invite you guys in more often!

Today I've shared a couple of my new blog photos that I took right before Spring (no green grass or flowers yet) but they incorporate my creative space and that is SUPER important!

So WELCOME to the new Kitchen Table Art, where I am focusing on more than just the everyday crafts of life, but also on the beautiful art world that deserves more recognition in todays life!

Work Bench (Look For Less #2)

It's time for another Look For Less challenge!! If you missed the first challenge head over HERE to check it out. If you are looking for my Wishful Wednesday ETSY list I posted that yesterday (Tuesday) so be sure to head back and check that out! 

Setting up Shop

Thought I would share a few updates on the fabulous studio I received a few weeks ago. (if you missed that post check it out HERE). Here is a little back ground I'm not sure if I have shared yet or not. The studio (shed) was originally built on the property that we are living on now. But when the property was sold to Reeds boss (the people who so graciously provide us with housing for now) they moved the shed to another home they had on a piece of adjoining property. It was used there for storage and then emptied out when that house went vacant. So when we came in to the picture they promised that they would help find me a space to work on my art. It took a while but we decided that it would be best for now to just use the shed and move it back in to our yard. So that is how Reed just "randomly" showed up one day with a little cute shed :)

Now the shed is old. The outside looks pretty bad. I'm planning to paint it all and add some boards across the bottom to cover the corrosion.  And yes all of that stuff strewn across the yard was inside. And yes I plan to fix up that fabulous cabinet on the right of the picture!!

The building is nice and sturdy with electrical hookups and a fabulous work bench across the back wall. But it was rather dark in there with all the wood going on. So I decided to paint the walls grey and to save time and paint I just white washed the joists and floors. I've still got some touching up to do but thought I would share it at this point cause hopefully next time I share it will be filled with goodies :)
I'm planning to replace the white bead board across the back with peg board that covers that entire wall so I can make sure I keep as much visible as possible! 

And we replaced the screens and fixed the broken window (didn't get it in the bottom picture, sorry). I'm also trying to decide what color to repaint the door. Reed says I should leave it the way it is. And yes its very "cottage chic"and "rustic" but that amount of peeling paint and wood is just too much for me. I need a little more of a finished look I think. I'm hoping I can keep the building grey and paint the trim white with a bright yellow door! (or maybe use the blue/green of the kitchen??) What do you think??

So after finishing the touch ups on paint and adding the peg board I get to start bringing stuff in and organizing it all! I have some plans to build a large table on wheels that can split in two and be rolled against the walls when I need floor space. I hope I can make that dream happen once I get in there and see how much space I actually have :)
For now I can use the bins, baskets, and peg board I have and see what kind of storage I need added. But what I am REALLY focusing on is stocking it with the right tools. Reed has a lot and says we can move them all in and I can use them as my own! (Those of you who know Reed know this is a HUGE deal, he doesn't let any one use his stuff. EVER). However, even after that sweet gesture there are still some tools that he doesn't have and are the ones that would really set me up for success.
These tools are some that Reed and I sat down and did a little window shopping for the other day. I think that these would all allow me to do more of my personal work and help build my design dream, rather than just the crafty repurposing I'm able to do now. 

You can tell they are pretty pricey. As much as we would love to just go out and set up shop we can't. Being responsible with money just stinks sometimes. But we have decided that all the income from my ETSY shop will go to setting up my studio! This is gonna help me set up and get started much quicker than if we were relying on gifts, or the little bit of extra money we may or may not have at the end of the month. 

My shop is a little bit all over the place right now. I've been trying out different mediums, and ideas lately so you can find bunches of different gift ideas. I love doing all of these and hope that sales will jump up a little bit now that holidays are approaching! 

I can't wait to get my studio set up!! I've missed being creative. Yes, I know that I may appear to be creative almost daily. But it is a different kind of creative that I crave. I want to design and add concept and purpose behind my pieces. Not just write pretty quotes and paint lovely flowers. Don't get me wrong, I love doing those things and right now it's all over my ETSY store. But my real dream is to build and design furniture.

 I want to be an artist again.
And I really think that setting up this space with some good tools will help me get back there quicker.
So excited to see how this pans out, I know I've been unbelievably blessed thus far and can't believe that just 4 months out of art school I am already set up with my personal studio :)

Blessing poured out!

This isn't the post I had scheduled for today (yes I'm trying to be a good blogger and write posts a head of time ) but I felt like this needed to be addressed sooner than later :) 

So yesterday was a hard day. I don't know what it is other than lack of a schedule but I get really frustrated some days with feeling worthless and very unproductive. It doesn't matter how many projects I have going on it still creeps up on me. It hits me hardest when I am trying with all my might to figure out what I am doing here. This move has been awesome, I have more time for projects than ever, but that time is eating me up! I don't like not bringing in money for our family, Reed can more than support us but I feel guilty with every trip to Lowes. 

So yesterday was hard. It hit me like a 2x4. I looked for jobs, and looked for jobs, and researched how to better my blog and Etsy shop. Then I cried because it all seemed so far away. Reed came in for lunch which made it worse. I was just really struggling with being patient. 

I posted this as my thankful-gram yesterday knowing that the time I have been blessed with should be taken as a BLESSING. When else am I ever going to have this much time to myself to do MY projects?! Then I made myself be productive and had my music blaring. 

At first I listened to Arms Open Wide by Hillsong for like an hour. This line is really what I wanted to sing over and over. 

"Take my moments and my days Let each breath that I take Be ever only for you oh God" 
-Hillsong United 

I needed that reminder that my moments and my days should always be praising to Him. And that includes the unproductive and hard ones. 
Then I stumbled upon Yet Rejoice by Rachel Kelly. First it's beautiful. She has an amazing voice so its just a fun song to sing really loud while working on a project :) But mostly everything she said is exactly what I needed. I'm not gonna try to explain so here is the entire song, I couldn't find a link for you to listen sorry. Yes you should thank Nova (one of my most faithful readers and friends) because she found a link for me to share this amazing song with you!! Click HERE to listen 

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Do not faint within me

Do not grow cold

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Forget not all He's done

Nor what He's told

Yet rejoice, rejoice, rejoice

Remember His goodness

Yet rejoice, rejoice, rejoice

Stand firm on His goodness

And the hope that you lost

Is restored by His promise 

When your joy breathes its last He gives

Live in abundance

And the tears that fell fast

Are soaked up by His kindness

When your courage hangs worn, He grants 

Strength in abundance

Just beautiful. Needless to say  my day got better after that. I became productive, my heart wasn't so worn. And I kid you not just moments after the 5th time i sang through this song I got 2 Etsy orders :) God is the best provider!!

And then as I was sitting here writing the post that was meant to be for today I heard the tractor pull up. I didn't think anything of it because, well its become normal now :) But I realized it was going REALLY slow so I looked out the window and what did I see?? 

A STUDIO!! 

I literally jumped for joy, ran out side and video taped the entire process :) 

It may not look good now but I love it and I can't believe that I have been given a 12x12 space to call my own!

So what I wanted to share was this. God is good. He wants to bless His children and He will bless you when you give Him your life. Your ENTIRE life, that means frustrations with money, and trusting Him with time. I can't explain any other way how a day full of tears and heart ache ended with shouts of joy and praise!

Literally PRAISE THE LORD :)

Think Big Fund

So I'm starting to pursue a dream I've had for a while. If you've been around the blog (or me) for any length if time you know I've got a love for furniture and art. A dream that I've had for a long time has always been to own my own business revolved around my passion for creative style in homes and everyday life. My concept for my art even revolves around the same idea to an extent. 

Now that Reed has been blessed with his dream job and God has continued to pour out his blessings and provide us with all our needs, I've decided to pursue my dreams. Reed and I are working on finding me a shop/shed that we can put in the back yard for me to use as a studio. We have a few good options that we just have to find the time to make happen. The next big step in this entire process is to gather funds to help me set up my new studio. Being a sculptor and having a desire to design and build furniture requires some pretty heavy duty tools. And heavy duty tools cost lots of money! 

So in an attempt to to raise these funds I am pursuing my Etsy shop with a new fervor! I've added multiple new items at reasonable prices in hopes to increase the number of sales. I am already planning a few items for the holidays in hopes to get more of my work in your homes!! 

I am also in the process of professionally updating my blog. I have found a beautiful designer who is helping me tie all if my "sites" (Etsy, blog, and Facebook) together. To kick this off I am planning a big giveaway featuring other small businesses on and off Etsy. So be sure to check back in to stay up to date! 

My dream is that I will have enough funds to set up shop and start selling my own creations instead of relying on pieces that just need refurbishing. 

If you are interested in being a part of this new studio let me know and I can give you more detailed information!! Also if there is a project you would like for me to tackle I am looking for more custom projects. Just leave a comment or message me with what you are looking for and we can start the process of working together! 

And thank you to everyone who has already helped me get this process started!! It has been a long time coming and I am so grateful that God has finally allowed me the ability to pursue my dreams!