Buttons and Butterflies: Climbing

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Climbing

The hunt for the ladder. A hunt, you say? Yes...literally a long, excruciating hunt for the past 3 years. Cyberstalking, catalog searching, mall shopping, furniture stores, design stores, antique stores, and yes...even checking out garbage piles.

When we moved into our new house three years ago, my goal was to complete my Studio first. My Studio? Yes, a high-falutin word for my craft room. But doesn't every good artist call it a studio? Hubby and the boys enjoyed making fun of it, but I have used it and My Room interchangeably for the past three years, it has started to stick.

As I completed it, my goal was to have a place to showcase my quilts. Okay my "future" quilts. Why do I say future? I really must admit, that I have stacks and stacks of want-to-do quilts, but just didn't want to clutter every chair and couch with quilts! So I decided I wanted an old ladder. I love the rustic look, I have a bunch of rustic bird houses, and I just think it is fitting to my personality. Climbing out of the pit I have been in. Not perfect, but rough around the edges like me. A bit paint splattered like my heart...still beating, still strong, but just a little tarnished with grief.

Finally, Pottery Barn had a ladder. But I won't even describe how much it was going to cost me. Especially when I decided I wanted a second one for my family room. I wanted to be able to decorate it with holiday quilts. I was about to cry, until I decided to check a website I found 3 years ago. It made me weary because it wasn't as flashy as many other websites I shop from. But when I saw their prices and the fact that the two ladders with shipping would cost me less than one very small one from PB, I decided to take a leap of faith. Kind of like the one we made to try to have another child.

They arrived today. Better than I ever expected. A little crooked, definitely rustic, and completely perfect for what I wanted! What do you think!

I also thought I would show you my infamous "Studio". Do you think it is worthy of it's name?

My Studio/Craft Room...LOVE my Island. Great for any and all projects

My "sitting" side. I set up my sewing machines (which I store in the closet when not in use), jewelry making, stamping, and the right corner is where my boys have the upper and lower cabinet overflowing with kid craft items! The larger cabinet on the left holds my scrapbooking paper, album page/page protectors, my Sissix die-cut machine...and some quilting rulers...odds and ends!

The WORK side! Computer, printer, office supplies! Gift wrapping, card making, Cricut machine are all hidden in the cabinets. My ribbon and large sized Sissix die-cuts find a home on an old ribbon rack!

The Cozy Corner....My chair and a half that actually folds out to a twin mattress! The blankets/sheets are stored in my ottoman! I love this mini-couch. A lot of crosstitching, needlework, hand sewing done on that cushy seat! And quite a few naps!!!!!!!