Beadland Recap 2012

Every once in a while I look around me and wonder how I got to where I am. And every once in a while I give you an update on Beadland.

This is how Beadland used to look at our old house.

My first house

Just a hint of the chaos

In prep for showing the house.

It was the third bedroom in an American townhouse (tiny). I had a great view, lots of storage and shelving, and easy access to the lavatory. I had outgrown it by the time we put our house on the market. Seeing the empty picture above makes me sad.

When we shopped for a new house, we had to allow for 2 bedrooms plus office space for my husband. If I wanted a Bead room of my own it meant we were looking for a four bedroom house. That was not within our price range.

We found and purchased a lovely three bedroom house with both a formal living and dining room and a family room with an informal dining area. My husband’s business makes money so he got the third bedroom. My hobby does not make money yet.

I laid awake at night wondering whether to take the formal living room as my Beadland, or to share the spare bedroom with my stepson. Please note, my stepson only visits with us twice a year due to where his mother lives across country. I had just a few moments of thought that this could possibly work before I laughed and thought “who am I kidding?”

So my husband has his man-cave.

His territory

My stepson has his bedroom which also serves as the guest bedroom when he is not with us.

My stepson’s room

I did not want to take over the formal living room as it would mean I must keep it presentable. That was too much pressure.

I took over the Formal Dining Room. I have since bought enough really cool furnishings that I no longer need walls of bookshelves (for now).

We found this white blanket chest on Craigslist and only had to drive ten miles to retrieve it. It holds many of my plastic bead bins.

Blanket cupboard no more

I use Bead Closet for the projects (beading and otherwise) that take up more space than cupboards are able to hide.

I had to crop to make sure next year’s Christmas presents were hidden.

I purchased three of these flower coat hooks at a Monday flea market and they hold necklaces and strings of beads.

So handy and so well crafted!

I found this fun fellow on Clearance at Kirklands for less than a dollar.

I had to screw him to the wall with a three inch screw. No comments as I am sure it hurt.

This handmade cupboard is the newest flea market find and is slowly but surely filling.

Bead Cupboard

My old chair got replaced after withstanding too much weight being used as an ineffective step ladder.

Purchased in an antique shop, she held up well.

It’s replacement I found on clearance at Badcock furniture (yes, they really named it that) and it is SOOOO VERY comfortable. Possibly because it is orange.

So soft for my bum

I hooked up both of my lamps and my CD player to a power strip that I simply step on to turn on and off. I am nothing if not lazy when it comes to lighting a room. The amount of natural light during the day is wonderful.

The view came with the house. Luckily I did not have to purchase it separately.

If only the pool were heated.

I have more views (front and back of the house) than the old house.

I can see the neighborhood kids coming at fifty feet.

At the old house, I had nowhere outside with an unobstructed sunlight view.

Here I use the pool deck (painted concrete) between 11:30 am and 4 pm (fall and winter hours so far). I get excellent sun and my pictures are improving.

Perfect surface for a lot of things

Change can be painful but good. We are very happy we made the move. We just wish we could have brought a few members of the family with us. Ok, honestly, that is my wishful thinking.