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Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts

Friday, January 1, 2016

#MichaelsMakers - Make a Tiny Closet a Functional Closet


2016 is a year of new beginnings for me.  The #MichaelsMakers Challenge this month is to get organized, and I can't tell you how desperately I needed this.  I use to have my own craft room, a big space just for me and my art... and then life happened.

Divorce brought me to living temporarily with my parents (at the age 34, I know...), but it's been a blessing and is allowing me to get back on my feet and find myself.  As a result, though, I've lost a lot of space and have had to minimize my crafting supplies.  I went from a huge room to a tiny little closet.  And honestly, it's been SO GOOD.  I'm much more considerate when creating.  I don't hoard anymore.  It's less stressful when going through my things trying to find what I want.  However, this little closet had no shelves, so everything was just organized stacks of chaos.


When Michaels told us about their new line of organizational products, Cre8ted Spaces, and challenged us to get organized, I was so stoked!  ESPECIALLY when I saw this awesome little cart!  It fits PERFECTLY in my itty bitty closet.  It's also on wheels so I can just pull it out when I'm working on a project.

Check out the before photo and then the transformation!  I'm in love with my new tiny little creative space.  It definitely inspires me to create a little bit more!

I was able to make my yarn winder accessible, set up a little calligraphy station, store all my paints and painting supplies, sketchbooks, markers, scrapbooking supplies and leather.  All my favorite mediums so easily accessible!

Unfortunately, this line is not available on-line, so get your butt to a store.  Click here for a 40% off coupon!











For those of you that have been with ESM since the beginning, you know that sharing aspects of my personal life is not something that I do here.

The reality is, I want to share, but so many times I’ve started writing what I want to say and then I think, “nobody will care”.  So I delete it.  And then I post something completely impersonal that tells you nothing about who I am except what style of décor I like.

2016 is the year that sh!t gets real here.  I’ve been through some crap in my life.  And I know every single one of you has, too.  We already have something huge in common, something that unites us and has created a bond and that is our creativity.  So why not get real and raw about  all the things in life that inspire our creativity?   The joy, the trials, the down-hills and the up-hills. 

Maybe, once you see what’s behind the things I create, the ideas I foster, it will inspire you a little bit more.  Once you see that I’m a survivor of domestic violence, that I’ve been divorced, that I’ve lost a baby, that I have multiple health issues… you’ll realize that even though you see these organized and gloriously styled projects and photos on here, life is not, in face, perfect for me, but I am perfectly happy and incredibly grateful for every single thing in my imperfect life. 

This year, 2016, I want to be about connecting with all of you, because, quite honestly, if it wasn’t for all of you, for this community, some days I’m not sure how I’d go on.  So thank you. 

Happy New Year, friends!  Here's to a year filled with laughter, crying, growing and learning.





Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy 2013!!


We want to start this new year off right.  Since this is our first new year as eat.sleep.MAKE., we want to share our resolutions with you all so you can hold us accountable!  There's some personal goals and some goals we have together.




Shannon
Plan 1st international trip
I've been all over the United States, but I've never been off our continent.  I have no excuses, so I'm going to change that.

Do more random nice things
I get too wrapped up in my own life sometimes, so I want to be more mindful that the smallest gestures can make or break someone else's day.  Buying a stranger's coffee behind me at Starbucks or leaving some yummy baked goods on a neighbor's porch for no reason at all...

Play my piano more
I used to play all the time, but I just get too busy... I want to make time for my music again, which leads me to my last personal resolution...

Write a song
I haven't lyrics scribbled here and there, but have never taken the time to put music and words together.  I'd like to actually accomplish that this year.

Jen
Touch my toes
I know, weird goal, but I have really tight hamstrings and am trying to stretch more after working out.

Take a photography class

Learn how to pose better for photos.

ESM
Run our first 5k
Open our own Etsy shops
Do our first craft show as ESM
Learn a new, fun craft!

What kind of resolutions have you all made for this new year?  We would love to hear them!  We can always add more to our lists if you all inspire us!  We hope you all had a fun and safe new year's eve.  Here's to a wonderful year to come!  Cheers!


Friday, December 28, 2012

Top 10 Posts of 2012

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Shannon hosted an amazing Christmas Eve party with so much good food at her house (hopefully she'll share some pics :) and then we all opened presents and ate even more on Christmas Day. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we're still recovering from the big day!

This has been a whirlwind year for us, even though we just started Eat. Sleep. MAKE. in August! Shannon and I have had a great time sharing our creative ideas (and even more fun hearing what you think of them.) With 2013 almost here, we're both planning even more projects, but we thought it'd be fun to look back on 2012 and see what our top 10 most popular projects were according to you!

According to our stats, our top 10 most popular projects in 2012 were:

10. Yarn Wrapped Bangles

These simple bracelets were made with hot glue, bangles, and thread. The color combinations are endless, depending on your thread choice!



9. Celebrate the Light Canvas

This chalkboard canvas dotted with white lights makes a great statement piece and reminds us why we celebrate during the holiday season.


8. Leather Leaves Necklace

You can make this surprisingly simple leather and suede necklace with just a handful of supplies.


7. DIY Rosette Tree

While it was a little time consuming to make all of the rosettes, this pretty tree was a beautiful addition to our holiday decor!


6. No-Sew Coffee Cozy

Every coffee cup needs a little bling. And they're no-sew!


5. Needle Felted Acorns

These little felted acorns make great ornaments or home decorations.


4. Chevron Stamped Tee

This shirt was made by making a stamp from a household sponge, and then stamping it onto a shirt with some fabric paint in a chevron pattern. Easy!


3. DIY Wood Matting

If you're looking for a unique way to display your art, this wood matting tutorial is a great way to do it!


2. Plywood Inspire Boards

Clip some of your favorite pictures, reminders, or images that inspire you to these pretty painted boards.



And our #1 post of 2012 is......

1. Snow Globe Necklace

You might want to hit up the after-Christmas sales and stock up on bristle brush trees to make one of these pretty winter necklaces.


We hope you've enjoyed our projects this past year! In the past 4 months since we started ESM, Shannon and I have stepped out of our comfort zones and pushed each other to try new and different things - and it's been so much fun! We hope you've been challenged to try a new craft or make something new as well. Here's to the new year and all the excitement it brings!
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