The Write Start

Nature Table

We've had a nature table on our back porch for a few years now. In its former life, it was actually a shoe bench in an old office of mine. (I got it from IKEA years ago, I don't see it there now, but this bench looks like its cubby-less cousin.) It changes with the season, of course, but this summer it has gotten so much use as a sorting station for all of our beach booty. 

The basket-filled cubbies are perfect for storing other nature finds, such as acorns, pine cones, bird nests, egg shells, and rocks. We also keep important nature-related tools in the baskets, such as binoculars, magnifying glasses, a flashlight, a jar with holes for bug catch-and-release, and little notebooks for recording observations.

Recently I added the little chalkboards for labeling flora and fauna and flotsam and jetsam.

A little nature-lovin' + a little learnin' = so. much. fun.

By the way, I'm in total denial that summer is drawing to a close. You might have to indulge me with my backyard posts until December....

A Closet... Take Two

So I had the idea to mount beautiful, big, custom bulletin boards to the inside of the closet doors to use for organizing, inspiration, and scheduling. But, keeping with my resolution to truly do it myself, on the cheap, without asking my handy hubby for help, I racked my brain for an alternate idea.

It came to me in a flash one day: cup hooks!

All of about $1.99 at the hardware store, cup hooks were my solution. With the help of my tape measure, and a little pre-planning, I used them to "display" my extensive clipboard collection that had previously been scattered about the house. On the other door, I paired the cup hooks with tiny bulldog clips (a splurge at Staples, almost as affordable as the cup hooks) to arrange my daily 3 x 5 index card to-do lists, and date-specific invites and flyers, above our go-to family calender.

The clipboards are an amazing tool for organizing my busy brain. When I have a bunch of things going on at one time, I designate a clipboard for each project. I can scan the big picture all at once, and then pluck a clipboard off of the door when it's time to focus on one thing and get to work. Sometimes I use them to visually break down one project into its component parts. Clipping up the parts and pieces of a project helps me to connect-the-dots and makes the task less overwhelming by dividing into manageable, clipboard-sized bites. Or, like right now, when I clear the decks in between projects, I use the clipboards as inspiration boards. I gaze upon some of my favorite images and wait for the next wave of inspired busy-ness.

And the to-do lists... well, I can't believe it took me this long to figure out that arranging them in plain sight, by day of the week, is totally the way to go for me. It makes so. much. sense. Whew. Again, I can see the big picture all at once or pluck a list off and put it in my pocket on my way out the door.

My favorite thing about this system is that it has the refrigerator door effect. You know when you have that "What should I make for dinner?" moment and you open the fridge door and do a little window shopping for ideas? Well, these doors work the same way. When I have a "What work needs to be done now?" moment, or a "What can I possibly accomplish in ten minutes?" moment I gaze upon my doors until it all becomes clear to me. And, more often than not, it usually does.

Oh, and I even saved a spot for displaying one of my favorite recent drawings that Jack made. In case you didn't recognize us, It's me and Jack holding hands. And he labeled it "BFF" because, apparently, he considers us BFFs. Be still my heart. That boy sure does make me swoon. I love that this big picture fits right beside where I work (thanks to a couple cup hooks and bulldogs, of course). It's a great reminder about why I work and what's most important. And the perfect prompt to nudge me to wrap things up and close these doors for the day.

Which is what I'm about to do right now.... Thanks for coming along on my closet tour! Next post, let's get outside for a bit of fresh air!

A Closet of One's Own

It's taken me quite a while, but I've been working on clearing the decks (and my desk) after finishing a BIG project (more on that very soon).

For me it was no small task. Our shared office was displaced when we converted it into a nursery upon Gracie's arrival (can it be almost two years already?). My husband moved his desk to the basement, but I knew that solution wouldn't work for me. Although our "creative space" is down there (I've been upgrading that too, and I can't wait to share pics soon) I was reluctant to move my desk. I work in tiny pockets of time throughout the day. I need my stuff close to where the kids are so I can make the most of those precious pre-dawn, nap-time, or wee-hour moments.

So I took it upon myself to take over our utility closet, which is conveniently located in what would be called our family room if it was big enough to qualify as a family room. Mere steps away from both of my children's bedrooms, it is a particularly peaceful spot when Jack and Gracie are both asleep (as they are right now... shhh!). A home for the vacuum, toy spillover, various totes and luggage, and outgrown babygear, among other things, it had been left unfinished in the (neverending) construction chaos.

So, instead of launching a campaign to finish it, I followed Voltaire's sage advice: Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Unfinished is a look all its own, right? I emptied the closet, unscrewed the sheetrock that had been started and abandoned at some point, painted the studs (going right over nails and around exposed plumbing), and used scrap lumber to make mini between-the-studs shelves. I spruced up my file drawer by painting it white and "galvanized" the hardware by spray painting it silver, and then sanding off the shine. I made an old stool fit by sawing down the legs a bit. I sorted, purged, organized, and purged some more. I made sure the vacuum still had a home (to the left of my desk) and the toys and totes were still accessible (on the shelf above). The random nails became an ideal spot to hang little notes, a mini red wagon hanging from the wire shelving was instantly transformed into a display for my favorite wedding photo (eleven years this weekend!) with the help of one tiny magnet.

The best part? I can close the doors and make it disappear when work time is over (or when little hands decide that rummaging around in my paperwork is the activity of the moment).

Sparse, utilitarian, functional, and cheap, with a hint of cottage chic, it's a really good spot for me to focus on writing. Dare I say almost perfect, Mr. Voltaire?

Tune in tomorrow, and I'll show you how I tricked-out the inside of the closet doors.

Not-so-lazy Susan

What do you get when you take an old IKEA lazy susan, add some recycled jars, and toss in a bunch of art supplies and writing utensils?

 

a colorful buffet for kids with bright ideas...

                                        a carousel of creativity!

 

I've been putting this dizzying array of art and writing supplies (along with a big pile of paper) in the middle of the kitchen table most evenings lately, usually when I'm cooking dinner. It seems to draw Jack to the table (excuse the pun) and inspire some end-of-the-day self-expression.

 

He likes that he has a big selection of self-serve materials, and I like that everything's tidy and not at all overwhelming.

 

I also love that I can easily slip it into a kitchen cabinet when we're done using it. The lazy susan makes it super-simple to retrieve specific things as needed ("I need a red crayon to color a fire truck!"). And tucking it out of sight when it's not in use is a surefire way to peak a child's attention once it re-emerges. When you keep stuff out in the open all of the time, it becomes like wallpaper, fading into the background. But pull this out of the cupboard and just watch as your kid gives drawing and writing a whirl!

Who could resist?

Writer's Workshop Round-up

I've been getting some wonderful emails from people who have created writing spaces for their children after reading about ours.

And all I can say is: Wow! When you guys get an idea, you sure do amazing things with it. Don't you agree? 

 

Can you believe the sensational little writing center that Katherine Marie created for her kids? I'm swooning over the adorable peek-a-boo chalkboard, the vintage (yes, vintage!) chalkboards, the bow-embellished glass jars, and the clothes-pinned labels. Every detail just blows me away. You can see more of her breathtaking photographs (of this project and so many others) on her blog.

Don't you just love the writing corner that Erika designed for her kids? It features an alphabet garland, over-sized wood letters (note to self: must. have. these), ABC beads, and stamps galore. Visit Erika's blog for more pictures and design ideas.

 

 

And the always-inspiring Mariah from Playful Learning designed an atelier for her girls that looks so sun-drenched and well-stocked that I wouldn't be surprised if it was the most popular room in the house. I know I could spend all day, every day in a room like this! My favorite part of this room? Why the name, of course! Who could help but be creative in a room called an atelier? (Read more about this room and the idea behind it on Mariah's blog).

 

I am just so excited about all of the young writer's workshops happening out there! If you have put a little something like this together, even on a smaller scale, please share. Put a link in the comments, or email me with a picture that I can post, so we can all take a peek.

 

And thanks Katherine Marie, Erika, and Mariah for sharing your pictures and ideas. It's just too cool for me to hear that our space inspired you. The truth is, your interpretations of the young writer's workshop have inspired me so much.

 

What do you guys think?