Fall Highlights...now that it's winter

Here are some highlights from Autumn 2011:

Henry made several fall-themed watercolor paintings. See the cornucopia on the left?

I tried out an idea I read about on this blog...you tape contact paper to the window and let the kids attach pieces of tissue paper to create a "stained glass" effect.

I found this Radio Flyer wheelbarrow at Salvation Army for $5. They love it, of course.

Lots of creative setups with the Playmobil toys.

I got Henry a set of "real" Legos (i.e. not Duplos). Big milestone, in my opinion.

Jude, of course, followed suit and began building with the Duplos.

We saw Elizabeth Mitchell in concert on November 5, something I've been hoping to do for years.

This trio of mine plays together more and more each day.

Jude is in the stage where he likes to arrange things in creative ways. More recently, he's started leaving presents for me - like pom poms in the fingers of my dishwashing gloves, googly eyes in my potholders, and blocks in my shoes.

The Band. They LOVE playing music together.

Where do city kids go to play in the leaves? By the curb where the leaves are waiting for the leaf-sucking trucks, of course!

Goodbye, Fall! See you next year!

corners of my home: a desk for Dan

Remember the desk I found awhile back at Salvation Army? I found one for Dan there too! I've always wanted to have a secretary desk in my house. Plus, now if Dan leaves his books and things laying around on the dining room table, I can say, "you have a desk, you know."

found: an old rocking chair

I found the sweetest little rocking chair at a yard sale just around the corner from me last weekend. I seem to have a special place in my heart for vintage rocking chairs because we now have three. My sweet husband was so gracious about it, with a minimum of eye-rolling and only one "Are you sure you want another rocking chair?" Yes, please!

corners of my home : the armoire

I got this armoire off Craigslist after reading in The Creative Family that it's a good idea to have all your arts and crafts supplies organized and close at hand when creativity strikes. A couple of weeks ago, I said to Henry, "Why don't you make something?" He replied, "But Mommy, I can't reach any of my stuff! It's too high." I opened the doors of the armoire, looked inside, and said, "You're right. I'll fix this tonight!"

Before (you can see that Henry's things were on the middle upper shelf, indeed to high for him to reach):
After:
On the top shelf are all of our tablecloths, napkins, and placemats (oh, and the doggie treats because I learned the hard way what happens when I leave them on the bottom shelf and someone forgets to close the doors...)
The next shelf down houses "my" craft supplies and the things we work on together, like the wool felt and such.
The main, most accessible shelf holds all of Henry's art supplies. He can see and access everything easily: paper, play-doh, glue, scissors, markers, crayons, coloring pencils, paint, paintbrushes, watercolors, notepad, stamps, etc.
The bottom part of the armoire holds all of our games, and because I can't think of a better place for it, all the pet food, brushes, and medicine.
When I showed Henry what I had done the next day (this, like almost all of my projects, was accomplished between the hours of about 10 pm - midnight), he said, "Now I can reach everything! Thanks Mommy!" I truly feel he has spent more time working on creative projects since I did this since he can get to everything himself so easily. Hooray!

corners of my home : a new desk

Welcome to my new favorite spot!

To give you an idea of what an amazing transformation this is, here is the space before:

I know, big change, right? What made this all possible was my other incredible find at the thrift store last Wednesday (is it possible that I found something more wonderful than that dollhouse?! Yes, it is). I spied this white desk with my little eyes and fell in love. Seriously, if I were to design my "dream desk," this is exactly what it would look like. It's so cute and compact but has tons of storage space in the drawers for all my bills, work stuff, and stationery, and just enough space on the desktop for computing and crafting to my heart's content. Plus, the fact that it's vintage, solid wood, and has claw feet doesn't hurt either.

The silver pitcher and the blue glass vase both belonged to my Grams, and I love thinking of her when I look at them.

I've been trying to find a new location for this blue chair for months and it's finally found its home! It fit perfectly in between the desk and bookcase as though it was always meant to be there. It's great for nursing (this room doubles as my studio and the playroom - all the toys are in a bookcase on the opposite wall, so it's nice to have a comfy nursing spot near where the big boys are playing, as well as for friends when they come over - hint, hint!) or lounging next to someone as they're working at the desk, as Dan is doing now.

I love the handles on the drawers:

And of course, the claw feet (now if I can only get that claw foot bathtub someday...)

Henry helped me take down the old desk and once I set up the new one was eager to try it out. Here he is writing a letter to his friend L.


Even Felix was excited about it!

The space still needs some more art on the wall and a good lamp, but it's getting there! I'm so excited about all the dreaming, wishing, planning, making, finding, exploring, learning, and growing I'm going to do in this space. (Yes, I've been using Nikki McClure's Things to Make and Do a lot already!)


I would love to hear from you - what is your current favorite spot in your home?


(corners of my home is inspired by SouleMama)