Drum roll please...

Yay! I finished!! Here you can see the wall with my contest pieces. In the corner is the Cricut cutting station. The shelving will be used to hold class tools.

Here is a close-up of my framed contest pieces.

This is the wall I am most proud of. (and my cat, Sunny, who is ready for his first class) The shelving on this wall will be used for magazines and catalogs.

This is some wonderful artwork I got from two of my Etsy friends. See more at http://www.robynsart.etsy.com/ and http://www.ameliakayphotography.etsy.com/.

Finally, a close-up of some inspiring words by Julia Cameron.

The painting is finished!!

Whoot Whoot! I've put the brushes and rollers away! I picked up more paint over the weekend and finished the main color last night. I was disappointed to find that the new paint is a shade darker than the first gallon I purchased. I don't understand how that could be, but I'm trying not to let it bother me too much. I'm sure not many will notice unless they are staring at the corners and tops of the walls where I trimmed with the first gallon and rolled with the second.

I also added a little feather painting in pink and light teal. I still can't decide if I like it or not, but this is how it's going to stay. I think it looks a little like the paneling you would find in a trailer home, but even so, it is SOOO much better than the goopy blood stained walls that used to grace themselves in my classroom.

Now all I have to do is somehow cover the floor, change a lightbulb, assemble shelving, move in furniture, set up the Cricut, frame and hang pictures, and add a few finishing touches. }:-P

Poo for running out of paint!

So close... yet so far away. This classroom thing is turning into a typical 'Rebecca Project'. I have grand ideas that shift and change with execution usually resulting in something completely different than I first intended. The finished product looks spectacular in my head, but no one will ever see, because that is the only place the finished product resides.

I ran out of paint last night. I'd like to get more tonight, but I should be doing so many other things. I have a craft show tomorrow and just about nothing prepared for it. It is in town here, so I will send Mike to the show and I'll have the store open. The store REALLY needs to be re-arranged and cleaned to accomdate Christmas and other seasonal items. Plus, I've been sitting on custom orders for about two weeks. So, we'll just have to wait until tonight to see if my desire to get paint over-rides my need to be responsible.

The trimming has begun...

I got up early this morning and started trimming. All the trimming is done and two of the poles have one coat. If I get enough of my other work done during the day today, I'll do the other two poles and the rolling tonight.

When I picked out this color I didn't want my mother to see. She nosed her way in anyhow and said, "Too dark." Not, "Oh, that's a nice color.", or "I like it, but it's a shade dark for my taste.". Simply and bluntly, "Too dark." I tried not to let it bother me as I know that is her way of communicating tactful opinion, but now I'm second guessing my choice.

Never fear though, I have already devised a plan to lighten it up if I still think it's too dark once it's all painted. I'm not giving away my secret though... you'll just have to wait and see!

Priming - Check!

Yay! Step one complete! I finished priming the walls yesterday. (I forgot to do the door, that will have to wait.) I painted and painted yesterday. All the while thinking about other things I could be doing. My beads and yarn were practically screaming at me the entire day, "Come play with me!".

Mike took down the brackets I couldn't remove. I'm glad I didn't have him silicone the cracks and holes though. The primer I'm using is supposed to stick to plastic, vinyl, metal, and a whole array of other things. Apparently though, it doesn't stick to silicone. I hope the regular latex paint does... It was interesting working with this special primer. It was VERY smelly, and I was getting a little loopy toward the end of the day. I'm glad that part is done. I'm hoping to get to work on the color tonight. Yay!

Classroom - Phase 1 complete!

The walls are washed and much of the conduit and wires are down. That was a yucky, gross job and I'm glad it's done! My intent was to do the ceiling and the walls, but I just can't bring myself to do the ceiling. I'm going to use the excuse, "Time will not allow it." However, I really just don't want to paint around all the conduit and light fixtures. Plus, I'd have to take a bunch of brackets down and then figure out a way to re-hang the track lighting... blah blah blah. So, call it lazy or call it a wise use of my time, I'm still not doing it.

I have a couple of snags to work around... First, I can't get these dumb metal things off the wall. There are four of them and they just won't budge. Second, the holes where the refridgeration unit wires and tubing came in from outside need to be filled somehow before I can paint them (funny how you can't paint holes). Third, the tack strips need to be siliconed to the wall as they are coming loose and the silcone king (Mike) is currently unavailable. And lastly (for now), what am I going to do with all the wiring garbage above the cooler doors?

The Classroom

I've been in this new store location for well over a year now and STILL don't have my classroom put together. It's really starting to disgust me. I have put this off so long the people don't even ask for classes anymore. Well, I've finally decided... This weekend is going to be the magical weekend. I am at least going to begin this project! This will be my last available opportunity before widow's weekend to make progress. Since I'm planning on having a free earring making workshop over widow's weekend, I'm thinking I should probably at least wash the walls and doors... yuck!

For those of you who don't know, my store is in an old meat locker plant. My classroom space is in the small cooler. It used to have a large wooden beam system for hanging meat. We took the beams down a couple months ago (when I bought the paint), but the metal poles are cemented into the floor. This will create an interesting challange for me... I don't have any plans as to what I will do with them yet, but I'm sure it will come to me. (feel free to make suggestions)

I have lots of fun ideas dancing around in my head to create an inspirational atmosphere. I don't expect to finish this weekend, but I am hoping for a fantabulous beginning!