Blue and Silver Tray

I've started picking up inexpensive wood trays at Goodwill, painting them, and stenciling them. I figure, as long as I keep them small and cheap, it won't matter that I don't have an exact plan for where and how I'm going to use them, right? 

I sure hope so!

A Home for A Bell

Q: What is it? 

Me: I don't know, I just like it. 

I took a corner piece for some very fancy crown molding, painted it black, stenciled on some gold, and added a hook. 

It turned out to be the perfect "home" for a bell that a family member brought back from their travels. It's in our back hallway now, and you can even ring it as you walk by, if you wish. 

When Degloss Becomes De-Paint

I took the doors off of a weird counter-thing that the movers brought from the old house. (We didn't really want it, but it wasn't nailed down, and before we knew what was happening, it was already on the truck.)

It's perfectly serviceable as extra storage in the garage, so we're using it that way. But, I ran out of things to paint and mess with, so I decided to use it for a little practice.

The doors are different colors. No, I don't know why. I took all of the hardware off and hit them with some deglosser. 

A lot of the paint simply came off! I guess someone must have added those darker colors in an attempt to improve the piece at some point. I actually kind of like the color underneath! I might try to just remove all of the top layer of paint, then leave it alone. (Or I might decide to practice stenciling on it, who knows?)

Creative Options Medium Rack System

It's a funny name, but a very useful product! Creative Options sent me one to try, in a new color (I found one online, but it's a different color.)

I had to admit, I really couldn't think of a way to store knitting stuff in this. Maybe a knitter who had a truly massive button collection could use this, but really, I think its true calling is in holding hardware and paintbrushes (and, maybe, also stamps and sewing supplies.) The storage on top is nice without being too large. The drawers inside the system come out and can be customized, which is great. I'm using mine for: 

Hardware storage, when I take hardware off of things. 

Brushes!

And my smaller bottles of paint and little things like cup hooks.

I love it!

Stencil + Paint = Happy Lara

It isn't fine art, but it's my art, and I like it. I bought a prepped canvas and stenciled a little flower on it. :)

I always told my photo students - anything that feeds your creativity is good for you and ALL of your work. As long as you can pay your electric bill and make all of your other deadlines, feel free to follow your fancy and try new things. 

It's about time I took my own advice, no? I don't have great hand skills for drawing or painting, but I can learn new techniques (and intend to) all the live-long day.