New Work Space

Yesterday I was reading a blog that I follow,  and they posted pictures of the progress of their new studio they are building. (If you do not already,  you should totally follow Edi's Blog) clicking that link will take you to the post of her studio progress.

Reading it though,  I thought about how I recently revamped my workspace,  although on a much smaller scale . and realized,  it is an interesting topic for a blog post.  We often get to see the product,  but not the space it was created in.  For me it was all about moving inside.  I work in a detached garage for most of my projects,  but with the Maine Winter,  it is nearly impossible.  Paint just doesn't seem to dry at -5 degrees.

I have a basement which has been used mostly for storage the last 3 years.  I always noticed this box on the ceiling that I assumed contained an air duct of some sort,  when I checked recently though,  I found that it was just a box,  and held nothing.

So I ripped it out.  It took up a ton of head room,  and I can now actually stand in that sections of the basement.  While ripping it out I realized that the wood it was made of was beautiful wide rough cut wood,  and I couldn't possibly just get rid of it in the name of space.

I Glued the broken edges back on,  and I had beautiful good as new wood.

For Christmas this year my parents got me a home depot gift card.  I used it to buy all the 1x2 lumber I was going to need to turn the old box into my new work bench.  Making room under the box did mean moving the stuff that was stored there,  so now the basement looks like a tornado hit it.  I will be tackling that soon too.

I only had to cut the planks from the box a little to fit them into my design perfectly.  They make up the actual work space.

Upcycled wood makes a great work bench,  and I now have functional indoor space to work through the winter months until I can get back into the garage in the spring.

Winter Farmer's Market

Chances are,  when you think of Maine and winter you do not think Farmers  Market.  I know I certainly dont,  so when I heard there was one going on Saturday,  we had to check it out.   It was hosted at the Urban Farm Fermentory in Portland.

 There were plenty of local farms represented,  and root veggies up the wazoo.   Keep in mind we have nearly 3 feet of snow covering the ground right now,  so these farmers are working extra hard to produce crops,  AND they look amazing!

 We even bought 2 pounds of tomatoes.  Since we are in the middle of a Whole30,  fresh veggies are sooooo appreciated.

 Aside from Frank Barone giving me the stink eye,  I think everyone was having an amazing time.

 Afterall,  when you live in Maine,  and can get a farm fresh spread like this,   whats not to love?

Do you have a Winter Farmer's Market in your area?

Resolving not to resolve

I dont know that I have ever actually formally made a new year's resolution,  but personally I think it is a terrible time to take on new things.   I get it,  there is a calendar reset, everything is starting over again.  But,  if you are anything like most people, you are coming off an insane holiday season, work just got crazy to close out the year, and for you stay at home parents out there,  you have had the kids in the house for almost 2 weeks with no school.

I think if anything January 1st is a perfect time to resolve not to resolve to do anything,  but to rather recover, and reset your "normal" life and schedule.

I mean, really, thursday you are heading straight to the gym, firing up that home business, throw out all the junk food, or reading the book of Genesis?  No wonder so many people feel so discouraged by February.

So as not to be too negative,  I do have an alternative idea.   Instead of resolving to do something that requires an immediate start, and full attention,  why not use the calendar year as an opportunity to set your real goals for the whole year?   If it is about what you want to do in 2014,  then you can still take the first week, be real with yourself, put a real plan together, and go get it in week 2 rather than giving up on it.

So here you are, tonight you get to make that commitment you have been thinking about for the past few weeks,  or at least since eating 6 too many Christmas cookies.  Be real with yourself, and make 2014 the year you want it to be, rather than letting it tell you that you can't.

As for me, I have this horrible habit in my etsy shop.  I have been running it since 2007,  it is a hobby for me,  but I always wait to make somethting new until I sell out of everything.  Not really a great strategy.  So for 2014,  my goal is to not let it get empty.  I dont need to make a certain amount each month, or sell so many items,  just not let it get empty.  What do you think,  will I make it?

What is your resolution?  Or are you resolving not to make a resolution?  Or do you have a completely different take on this than I do?  Whatever your plans hold,  I hope you stay safe tonight,  and have a fantastic 2014!!

How to find a Christmas Tree

When it comes to picking out that perfect tree,  it can get a little tricky.  Especially if your wife is 9 months pregnant and sends you out on your own to get it.  That is exactly the situation I found myself in last year.

I dont make those kind of decorating decisions without her,  but she had no interest in walking around outside for hours tree shopping.

Ultimately,  I got one,  after returning to the house 2 times saying I didnt think that I could do it.

This year with a 1 year old,  we decided to go with the small table tree that he cant pull on or try to eat.

The thoughts of that fateful shopping trip still run through my head though,  and that is where this video stems from.

How to Decorate with Poinsettias

So here they are in the van.  I was pretty excited about getting them home and seeing how my wife integrated them into her holiday decor that she had been working on.  There is one key problem with Poinsettias though (aside from pronouncing them)  They almost always come in this hideous foil wrapping around the pot!

While in the lobby of a corporate building,  or in a business window display this may work ok,  it is not really part of our style.  I mean I am all for shiny gold,  but in a different format entirely.

So I love the plants, but hate how they look,  and dont really want to just remove the foil and leave the plain plastic pot either.  The good news is that all hope is not lost.  We grabbed a roll of wrapping paper that has an old print pattern on it to look like a book or newspaper.

 Cut it to size, pull the sides up over the pot,  and wrap with a string.  You could use a rubbber band here as well.  Given that we have 2 elementary age boys in the house,  rubber bands are never hard to comeby here.  I will say though,  you will need a bigger one than the kind everyone is making jewelry out of.  but a piece of string will do just fine too.

And there you have it.  a piece that fits the decor,  without breaking the budget!