Organize Me Monday: Studio Tour

Organizing.  It's my thing!  Well, it's one of my things.  One of my favorite things!  It may sound weird, but taking an unorganized space and making it organized energizes me like few other things do!  Taking an organized space and making it more organized is pretty great too!

Recently we had our kitchen remodeled.  Prior to that happening, I had kitchen appliances stored all over the place.  One cupboard in particular, near the front door, was full of appliances.  Well, now that all of the appliances fit in the kitchen (!!),  I had an empty cupboard which I have been working to make into storage for my art and craft goodies! Today I finished that little endeavor and I thought I'd show you!

I have made two videos to share with you today.  You'll have to excuse the segments where everything goes blurry ... that's my lack-of-videography-know-how making itself known! Clearly, I need some practice! 

The first video is a tour of my "studio".  We don't have room in this house for me to set up a whole room as a studio unless I want that room to be the garage ... and I don't.  Initially, I  set up a section of the family room where I could work and that has sort of oozed around the corner ... which works perfectly now that the bread-maker and mix master are in the kitchen where they belong! 

The second video is showing you the inside of my art and craft cupboard ... how it is organized and looking inside a couple of the boxes. 

I mentioned in the first video that I was doing The Documented Life Project in 2016.  I did the second half of 2014, and a self-modified version in 2015 ... I'm hoping to complete an entire year of actual DLP this year!  Do any of you participate in this fun project?  I'd love to follow along with you!  Let me know where I can! I'll probably post some photos on my TrèsBonn Instagram and Facebook pages but mostly I think I'll share my weekly pages here on the blog ...

Corner View {TrèsBonn} - Home Alone

Oh hello my poor little neglected blog!  How great to see you again.
I thought that a Corner View might be the perfect way to get you going again!
The theme of "What You Do When You Are Home Alone" is perfect for what I have to share!

I've been busy ...

A month ago, I opened an Etsy shop!
I called it TrèsBonn ... a play on my name, Bonnie, and the French words for 'very good'.

It has been a bit of a whirlwind and I'm loving every minute of it.

At the beginning of 2014, I took an online course that dealt with being ok with imperfection. 

The course involved keeping an art journal ... 

something I had never really done but found I really enjoyed. 

Each week, I had an 'assignment' or two that I very quickly finished. I wanted more.

In my art journal, I had begun to experiment with water color paints. 

Having always loved quotes, I decided that I would try 'painting' some of my favorite ones. 

I posted them to my various social media sites and got a very encouraging response.

As family and friends started telling me how one of my little paintings meant 

something to them, I started mailing them to those individuals. 

I loved being able to send a little encouragement in the mail .... 

especially when I was able to do it as a surprise!

Another love of mine is birds.
I could watch birds all day long ... if only they would stay still for me!
One night I discovered that I could paint them. 

Again, I started posting them on social media and got a favorable response.

After a while, people started encouraging me to open an Etsy shop. 

I thought, why not? Might as well give it a go!

So, here we go!

I'm excited to see where this next step in my journey leads ...

Never been to Etsy? 
Well ... if you follow this link and sign up, Etsy will give you $5 towards your first purchase! 

PS ... I can't wait to come visit all of you Corner View friends, old and new!
I've missed you.

Rejuvenation {Corner View} and the Little Things

I got to chose the them for Corner View this week! So fun! I chose rejuvenation because I love to see what people love to do to re-energize, rejuvenate, relax ... you know, those sorts of things.

One of my favorite, most relaxing things that helps me rejuvenate is taking a bath! With bubbles! Lots of sweet smelling bubbles! I take long baths ... I can spend multiple hours in the tub if I have a good book!

And continuing my quote painting series ... I thought today's went along nicely with the theme.  Enjoying the little things ... for me, is rejuvenating!

 

You may notice that this one is different to the other ones ...
I had some bookmark sized watercolor paper laying around so decided
some of these could be bookmarks! 

***

Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new ! 

Corner View {Inspiration}

The theme this week comes with perfect timing. I really wanted to share this with you all! My Dad posted this to facebook the other day and I just love it!! I love that he stepped out of his 'normal' and did this very creative piece!

He wrote this ... Inspired by Bonnie, I decided to try creating something different from my norm. Here is 'thank you" in many languages. Thank you, Bon, for being an inspiration, among so many other things.

 

Isn't it just amazing!?  I love it!  Handwritten and everything!!

I've printed it out and put it on the wall beside my desk
where I see it and can't help but smile about it a gazillion times a day!

***

Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new !

No Act of Kindness {CV} Close By

This little guy is always close by ...

***
Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new !

Possibilities {Corner View} In The Distance

Corner View:

I love this rainbow ... over our house ... in the distance ...

***
Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new !

Little by Little {Corner View}

 

The theme of Corner View this week is travel.  Oh how I love to travel!  If only I had traveled recently and could post a fun photo for you!  Instead, I decided to share another of my little quote paintings.  I love this quote ... I think it is so true.   At 40, I can look back and see the 'little by little' that has gotten me to where I am today.  I look forward to another 40 years of 'little by little' and can't wait to see where that takes me!
 

  ***
Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new !

Wreck This Journal - Chew On This Page

The idea of tearing a page out of a book and chewing on it did not appeal to me in the SLIGHTEST. Gross! Since the instructions are open to interpretation, I decided to get the puppy to help me!  He would LOVE chewing on a piece of paper!  In a matter of seconds, 1/4 of the page had been ingested! (guess he didn't read the warning!) 

Wreck This Journal - Circle Words You Like + CV {Renewal}

 

This was a bit of a shock.

I grabbed a cool looking page from a magazine, glued it in and then went about reading it to complete the rest of the instructions which were to circle words I like.  Great right?  Yeah ... until I started reading and there were a whole bunch of really really really inappropriate subjects and words ...  I was all, um ... my kids love looking at this journal!  I'll have to black those words out!!  ha ha.  And So, I did.

***

The theme of Corner View this week is 'renewal'  ... I looked up the definition to see if I was on track with what I was thinking and I was!  The creative outlet that is art has had a total renewal in my life.  I have 'resumed it after an interruption' .... I am so glad!!  I'm loving it!  Mostly I'm doing my little quote paintings ... and my Wreck This Journal ... but today I actually started another proper painting.  It's exciting.  So exciting.  I love this renewal!

***
Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new !

Wreck This Journal - So High School

 

I loved this page of the journal.

I haven't written on the edges of a book in forever.

Remember doing that in highschool?

This totally took me back!

Although ... this is way better because I'll never need to
use a black crayon to get rid of Rory's name.

I'll love him forever!!  

Wreck This Journal - With Washi Tape

Cover this page in tape? Ok ... will washi tape do?!

Wreck This Journal - With Crayons

Is there anything that can make you feel like a kid again more than a box of crayons? 

The other night I decided it was time to break open a new box.
I have a small stash of Crayola 24 packs that my sister brought me from the States.
Crayola are not cheap here, not like there.
I treasure those suckers.
Clearly ...



The prompt was "color outside the lines."

I only saw one line.  But I colored outside it.
I didn't scribble. 
I kind of wondered if that's what they wanted.
But then I decided it didn't matter.  There are no rules in this book.
I was outside the lines. And it was fun.

Wreck This Journal

On Pinterest the other day, I discovered  "Wreck This Journal".
I had seen it referred to before but wasn't until the other day that I realized it was actually a thing.
I started to investigate and today I went and bought one. 
It wasn't expensive.  Less than $15.

I can tell you already ... it's going to be $14.95 well spent!

I have only had it for 8 hours and already I love it!

 

The whole premise of the book is this ... it's meant to be imperfect.  It is meant to be wrecked.  It's not a "write your feelings in it" journal.  It's not a "draw awesome things that you want to keep forever" journal.  It tells you what to do ... and challenges you to think outside the box, if you will.

Eight weeks ago I couldn't have even considered doing something like this.  In another eight weeks I might just tell you why I can now ...

Instructions #1 ... carry this with you everywhere you go.
Today, I did.
I had it in my purse when I went to the grocery store.
I had it in my pocket when I was doing the gardening.

Well, I had it in my pocket until I pulled it out to RUB DIRT on one of the pages!

I cannot even begin to explain to you how liberating that was! 

I felt so free.

And then I added a flower. 
A real, live, pretty smelling flower.
I decided I would try to press it and let it dry in my journal ...

But the flower didn't like that. 
Not one little bit. 
And so I have a little yellow reminder that on the opposite page but no pressed flower.

And I'm totally ok with it!

**

I can't wait to share some more pages with you! 
The next one will be brought to you by a brand new pack of Crayola 24 Crayons!!

Corner {Experiment} View

 On Feb 7th of this year, I posted my first 'quote painting' as I'm calling them.   They are tiny little things, about the size of my iPhone. I've been painting as I feel inspired and then  posting one a day to my blog, and to facebook and to instagram, and when I remember I throw them on my pinterest page too.
I have  been sending them to friends as  they comment that they like  a particular one or sometimes the quote  just makes me thing of a particular person and so I send it their way.  It has been so fun and a really good  creative outlet for me.  I'm  loving the experimenting that comes  with it too .... I've not worked with watercolours much ...  kind of makes me feel like a kid again!!

  ***
Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new !

Live There {Slow} Corner View

Is there a better way to slow down than to climb inside a book and live there for a while?

 **

Corner View was created by Jane at Spain Daily and is now hosted by Francesca.     It is bloggers from all over the world, posting photos of a specific    weekly theme.  To join, just post to your own blog and then link up  over   at Francesca's Corner View for the week.  Then, visit the other  Corner   Views ... that's my favorite part !  Seeing the interpretations  of the   themes, visiting different cultures, learning something new !