A Rare Day Alone.

In the name of days that can be selfishly taken all for myself, I think there would be a few ways I would choose to spend it.  First and foremost I say set me on a beach, or poolside, with palm trees and a really good book and that's all I really need to declare the day perfect.

Another way would be on an adventure with my family, exploring something or somewhere new and just enjoying a "first time" experience with the people who are mine.

I would also take a day of creating.  I have no end of projects that I want to work on: let me get my hands into a new cake design (here or here), or onto the house that I'm turning into a witch house, or how about a new painting?  I've dabbled with some watercolor recently, but have two ideas for a canvas that I really want to get rolling.  I also have three makeups rolling around in my head and a brand new airbrush that I really want to play with.  I have a couple of sewing projects (tweaks, because let's face it, most of my "sewing" happens with a hot glue gun) that are piled up next to my sewing machine as well.

I found myself with a rare opportunity to be home alone today, and I knew that I did not want to waste it with errands and cleaning like I usually do when I find myself with free time.  Free time is such a relief when you feel you have so much to catch up on, but frankly, today I wanted to catch up on the things that make me happy.

The biggest and most urgent project I have pending is my happy space.  My space where I will make all my creative magic happen.  My space where I can lock the door and all my supplies will be left untouched by children thieving hands.  My space that is all my favorite things and colors and I didn't have to compromise with The Man on the decoration of, and use of space in (though normally we decorate well together so I'm not actually complaining about that, it's just my space).  With all the projects that I want to work on, the one thing I'm missing is a great space to do it in.

Since we moved the three big girls out of the room they shared in the basement (here), and spread them out in the bigger portion of the basement (because teenage girls need room), The Man graciously turned over the now empty room for my use (we'll ignore his pile of stuff taking up a full wall of one side of the room... for now).  The room has been mine for over a year now, but it's just been filling up with clutter.  It's become the catch all of things we don't know where to put.  Not to mention all my different art supplies, and the lack of any type of organization bins or shelves or anything.  Also, kids.  Kids who use said supplies and then leave them lying wherever they feel like... all over the floor and counter.

Plus, the paint in the room is still catered to 9 and 10 year old pre-teen girls.

The room is more of a stress pit for me than a creative, safe haven.

So today, in my rare day off, the only errand I ran was for chick-fil-a lunch and Coke while I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.  I have a very clear vision of one wall that has a counter attached to it.  I'm using the leftover gray paint from when we painted the office (gray being my favorite color) and will paint the wall gray, covering the pre-teen rockstars who loved music so much, and will hang my giant antique mirror on it.  This will become my makeup space.  West gave me an incredible makeup box for christmas so all I need is a stool for my models to sit in and an air compressor and that space will be set up prime for makeups.

But while I'm thinking about it, I feel I also need a shelf along the top of the wall so I can display all our wigs and hats on styrofoam heads.

I plan on creating zones throughout the room for my different projects.  The makeup zone will be the perfect beginning.

Also, I've watched an embarrassingly high amount of Face Off. today.

All in all, my hands are covered in paint and my head is full of makeup daydreams.

I declare today's rare day alone a success.