New Chicken Coop

We have had chickens for about 4 years this time around.

We started with 6 chicks.

After a series of unfortunate mishaps, we ended up with 3- 2 hens and a rooster.

Twice we have allowed them to hatch out sets of eggs in the last 4 years.  

Each time, all 10 eggs hatched.  

Each time we kept 2-3 hens and found homes for all the rest.

Our little flock had 7 banty hens and a rooster.

This year we added 2 Araucana chicks.

To accommodate the bigger flock, we added an additional chicken coop. 

We started with an 8 x 10 shed.

Half was dedicated to the birds.

Half was dedicated to storage.

This shelf started as a greenhouse years ago and has been used for chicken supplies for the last several years.

I cut the sides off a burlap sisal sack and used it to drape over the shelves and hide supplies.

The bottom shelf has a tub of straw.

The next shelf up has buckets, dustpans and such.

An old wagon holds galvanized trash cans with chicken food.

Every chicken coop needs a stool to sit on while watching the birds...

If you have your own flock, you know some feeders are better received than others.

This red feeder is a spare because it is not their favorite.

The top shelf is mostly decorative items.

The green basket and galvanized pail hold feathers from the chickens. 

 When find a good one, it gets saved here.

  I use them for projects later.

The blue enamelware pan holds eggs while I refill feeders and such.

There are 2 nesting boxes.

The plastic bins make it very easy to take them out to clean them.

We have added another board for them to fly up on before getting into the boxes since I took the picture.

I love my chicken coop...

We were hoping for two hens...

We think one is a rooster.

Uh-oh.

Here they are at about 2 months old.

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.

Vintage Storage Ideas

I am lucky enough to have a studio.

It is my garage.

It is my space and I love it.

I love utilizing vintage finds for studio storage.

I thought I would share some of my favorite vintage storage from my work spaces.

Each works hard in its own way.

I store most little items for mixed media, jewelry and such in vintage mason jars.

I collect them whenever possible along with zinc lids for on them.

My cupboards are filled with them.

My husband found, bought, loaded and helped me clean this vintage card catalog.

It holds a ton of essentials. 

I love that I can change the contents and the tags in a minute.

  I can send my daughter to the studio to find something and she can quickly locate it.

Yay!

You have to love a piece that hard working.

I have been thinking maybe some day I will paint it...

I have always love little divided shadow boxes.

This one had some splits in some of the dividers so I did not want to use it for shows.

It makes the perfect home for my hand crafted polymer clay beads.

As I use them and make more, it looks different all the time.

Just seeing the beads inspires me to use them.

These fun little tins were thrifted finds.

I use and buy some tins to use in jewelry designs but these are perfect as is.

They are such a pretty way to store things.

Printer's trays are my kryptonite.

I have to buy them if they are reasonable and in good shape.

My daughter has pointed out more than once that I do not NEED any more.

She is right, of course.

They are so handy though.

I usually use them for booth displays but now I use them in the studio.

Bits and baubles are right there...

This little green drawer unit was last spring's splurge from Lucketts.

It also holds tons of essentials.

It helps me find things.

And it looks cool.

Old luggage makes great storage.

I love that these suitcases hold my yarn supply out of the way and keep it dust free.

These cases are also full of yarns and fibers.

They are missing their handles so this is the perfect use for them.

Last summer my daughter spray painted a vintage ceiling tile to use as a memo board.

This fun color really makes it pop.

My neighbor dropped off this rusty cart one day.

I transformed it into a great little storage piece.

I use this ceiling tin in my green house as a magnetic memo board.

This vintage box is the perfect booth display for bangle bracelets.

Wooden crates are both storage and booth display.

Is your studio space sleek and sophisticated or full of vintage storage pieces?

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

Mason Jar Monday #4 Sweet Treats in a Rosette Snowman Jar

It's that time again....

Today's Mason Jar Monday is simple and sweet.

I used a vintage jar and zinc lid.

I made 3 white muslin rosettes.

My muslin is from thrift store sheets. 

 I buy the ones they call "drop cloths" because of a stain or two....

There are tutorials all over the place for making the rosettes.

Essentially start with a strip of muslin.

  I like torn edges.

Tie a knot on one end.

Start to wrap around the knot and turn it every so often.

For these, I actually stitched them every couple of wraps but you could glue them.

I made them three different sizes: 1 for the head, and 2 for the body.

I stitched all three together.

I added a little strip of stained cheesecloth for the scarf.

I like the ratty bit of primitive it adds...

Then I glued mine on to  the side of the jar.

I only used a couple dots of glue so I can take it off later.

I filled mine with peppermint marshmallows but you can use anything you want.

It would make a great gift or just look great on your counter to hold goodies....

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs....

2014 Summer Studio Tour for Artistic Endeavors 101

Well, here we are.

If you have been following me, you know this has been a long journey to get to the point of the tour....

Lots of reorganizing which you can see here and also here.

I worked long and hard and celebrated little victories and clean work surfaces.

You might have been here along the way.

If so, some of this will look familiar.

My main studio space is my garage.

Not very romantic.

But it is dry and heated.

It is not far to carry things is I want to work on..

It has a lot of storage....

which is good....

because I have a lot of stuff.

Here is my main work area...

My husband bought the cupboards from an ad in the newspaper and we painted them...twice....

Because the first coat just peeled off.

So we did the necessary prep and painted them again.  

They were in my studio at the previous house.

We moved them with us when we moved.

Inside the cupboards, most things are stored in vintage mason jars...

I can easily see what is inside.

Some cupboards just contain supplies.

Resin stuff, chemicals, molds...

But I actually know what is in these cupboards....

I have a couple magnetic boards that I keep things on.  

Also, a tie rack is screwed to the wall for jewelry.

That area changes frequently. 

 Sometimes the rack is full of supplies, sometimes finished pieces waiting to be priced.

This summer I reorganized above the cupboards....

A prettier way to house yarn and fibers...

My fair ribbons are on the cupboard doors.

I already sent this year's application in...

Under the cupboard I have lights which are invaluable.

You can see the difference with them off.

Beyond the counter is a sort of alcove area.

I have to keep it clear so we can get to the fuse box.

It's a rule.

My husband helped create this awesome ribbon storage.

The wooden vertical pieces have hooks.

  We slid clear dowels through the hooks and then all the ribbon spools are on there as well.

It looks so pretty, sometimes I don;t want to use the ribbon.

Across from the ribbon wall is an old dining room buffet set from my husband's grandparents. 

 I painted it white.  

It moved with us as well.

It houses books, ribbon, paint, and lots of those divided storage boxes full of what-nots....

Here is an area I showed you before.

The curtain I made covers the chaos...

Fabric, Sizzix stuff, tools, soldering stuff, old LPs.

The printer's trays get fuller and fuller every day.  

I love having these goodies where I can see them.

The awesome industrial storage piece from Lucketts...

 As you can see from this angle, it really is a garage...

In the summer, the door is open most days.

I love that.

My other main work are is this table.

It is very seldom clean like this.

You can read more about it here.

Love this new little cupboard for often used goodies...

My newly created tiered storage is here.

You can make your own by following my tutorial.

And next to her is my transformed candlestick.

If you spin around, you can see some more ribbon stored on spring curtain rods.

One of my all time favorite pieces in my studio is my card catalog drawers.

This is actually 3 units.  

Two on top were given to me by my husband's uncle.

I love them.

The big one on the bottom was in the Bargain Sheet.

Turns out it was only about 2 miles down the road in a guy's barn.

My husband bought it for me and loaded it in the truck by himself.

Have I mentioned how awesome he is?

I love him like crazy.

They hold a TON of stuff....

Stampers, stamp pads, felting supplies, markers, magnets, beads, glitter, etc...

They are all full...

 Next to the card catalog is another of my favorite features. 

 It is dirty.

It is grungy.

But I love it.

My utility sink.

It gets a work out every day.

Washing hands and brushes.

Cleaning pond filters.

Getting water for the dogs and the plants....

My studio at the old house did not have one so I really appreciate it.

At the end of the work table is a bookcase for paper supplies.

My husband helped with the stacking of other shelves on top to maximize the space.

He always says to go UP to gain extra storage.

The POOH curtains were from the thrift store and veil the supplies within.

On the sides, my husband added long aluminum bars for hanging things.

I use them for jewelry on this side.

The other side is ties, belts, and wire.

Each hook on this side holds specific jewelry.

One hook is to be submitted to magazine.  

One hook is back from magazines.  

Two hooks are to be priced.

The back wall of the garage has more shelves. 

Like my helium tank?

Everyone needs one....

I love my enamelware saucepans.

They just make me smile.

Your studio should have some things that just make your heart happy.

Aren't they fun?

These two posters are on my door. 

 Daily reminders.

On the other side of the door is more shelves...

 Lots of reminders that this is a garage..

extension cords, potatoes, onions, coolers....

I bet my studio has something that almost no other studio has....

Sure, some people may have a fridge...

But how about a full-size popcorn machine...?

I always wanted one.

Have I mentioned how awesome my husband is?

We got it for parties...

 and then we are back up to the front corner....

You can see more of it here.

So much stuff...

So many projects...

So little time....

Thank you for visiting my creative space...

It may not be a dream studio for everyone but it is a place where MY dreams are realized.

Linked up with Where Bloggers Create 2104...

Be sure to head over to visit all the other great creative spaces....

Thanks for stopping by....