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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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March 11, 2014

Kids Art Center and a Little Redemption

The older I get the more I’m realizing that I just have to come to terms with the things that I will never be good at.

Walking through a room without bumping into something

Monopoly

 Cartwheels

And drawing

I’m pretty much permanently stuck at a 1st grade level when it comes to my artistic abilities. Actually, that might be stretching it a bit.

Let’s just say that I’m typically the last person chosen when it comes to picking teams for Pictionary.

galvanized buckets on art desk

Fortunately, though, we always have the hope that our kids might redeem our short-comings, right? And when I realized that my daughter was showing considerable artistic talent I was not only beyond impressed at her ability but also relieved at this chance for redemption.

Kids Art Desk Center from atthepicketfence.com


Our playroom recently hit ‘puberty’ and is going through some changes. Gone are the wooden train table and little red play kitchen and in their place are a Foos ball table, dart board and media center.

And now there’s one more addition. A space for my little artist to call all her own complete with a desk, display space and this fun lamp she helped to create.

celebrating art lamp from atthepicketfence.com

I picked up this white desk at a garage sale for $20 and an inexpensive upholstered cube is the perfect seat. It tucks right under the desk which helps maximize space in this room.

When D. Lawless Hardware  asked if they could send me some of their hardware I knew exactly where I wanted them to go.

cube stool ottoman as art desk chair

These beautiful antique milk green glass knobs were the perfect way to add a pop of color and vintage detail to the desk.

milk glass knobs on desk atthepicketfence.com

Above the desk, a framed bulletin board gives my artist plenty of room to display her creations.

bulletin board for art center atthepicketfence.com

And numbered galvanized buckets provide storage for all of her artists tools.

numbered galvanized buckets holding art supplies

Blank sheets of paper are at the ready in a wire basket. A ream of printer paper wrapped up under the tree might have been her favorite Christmas gift last year!

wire basket with paper on art desk

The addition of a piece of laminate (cut to size for free at Lowes) protects the top of the desk…

laminate on top of desk atthepicketfence.com

…and also provides even MORE display space.

displaying art under laminate on desk

This one is my favorite.

bird drawing

My sweet girl absolutely loves her art center.

And as her mom, I want to encourage her talent and create opportunities for her to develop it.

kids art center from atthepicketfence.com

And, I’ll admit, I’m also hoping that someday when we are all playing Pictionary together and it comes time to choose teams and she hesitates for a moment over whether or not to select her mother, I can say “But remember when I created that amazing art center for you?”

I’m not above a little guilt. Isn’t that what mothers are for? 😉

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18 Comments Filed Under: Decorating, Family, Kids Tagged With: kids, kids rooms

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Comments

  1. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    March 11, 2014 at 4:20 PM

    Oh I am the last one to be picked at Pictionary too!…Love your art center and that lamp is the best…I must do that too for my little sweetie…and fantastic hardware…D.Lawless Hardware is the best…and hey, the legos, monopoly, and such never go away…they are just played by the next wonderful generation….I am gazing at toys on the floor as we speak…I am getting to know all of the names of My Little Pony!

    Reply
  2. Jill Flory says

    March 11, 2014 at 6:10 PM

    Wonderful little art center! I can see why she loves it – I’d take one too 🙂

    Reply
  3. chelsea says

    March 12, 2014 at 4:25 AM

    Such a cute little center!

    Reply
  4. Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger says

    March 12, 2014 at 7:12 AM

    What a perfect space!!! Open, uncluttered, organized…

    AND I’m there with you in my artistic abilities!

    ~Cheryl
    https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 12, 2014 at 9:13 AM

      Glad to know I’m not the only one Cheryl! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  5. debbiedoos says

    March 12, 2014 at 7:25 AM

    Well sounds like we are not good at the same exact things. The drawing always frustrated me. Love the new space and how cute is that lampshade. Love the buckets too!

    Reply
  6. Laura @ Housewife Hellraiser says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:02 AM

    Really cute. I want to sit there and draw! I love the lamp too; so creative!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      March 12, 2014 at 9:12 AM

      Thank you Laura! Every once in awhile she lets me sit there. LOL!

      Reply
  7. Kim Byers @ The Celebration Shoppe says

    March 12, 2014 at 9:20 AM

    What a lovely way to declutter your daughter’s craft space! Now if only we could do that for ourselves {smirk}

    Reply
  8. Tania says

    March 12, 2014 at 11:43 AM

    Can you provide a bit more detail about the laminate for the top of the desk. What dept. in Lowes would I find this product. I just finished painting a desk for my daughter and would love to protect the top as you did. It looks almost like glass! Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      March 12, 2014 at 4:37 PM

      Hi Tania! The plexi glass at my Lowes was over near the cabinet knobs/etc. but I’m sure if you asked at the service desk they will point you in the right direction. 🙂 I love that it protects the top of the desk but isn’t overly noticeable you know? Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  9. Wajiha says

    March 13, 2014 at 7:17 AM

    Hey! I am in the process of decluttering my daughters’ crafts unit and i am finding it SUCH a ordeal, i tell you. So refreshing to see some of the ways you’ve mentioned. I feel inspired now. Thanks a bunch for that!

    Reply
    • Vanessa says

      March 13, 2014 at 8:30 PM

      Thanks so much for coming by Wajiha! And believe me when I say that I had to do a LOT of cleaning up before I could snap those photos of my daughter’s desk. LOL!

      Reply
  10. Midwest Basement Tech says

    March 14, 2014 at 7:16 AM

    This is such a cool idea! Love it.

    Reply
  11. Michelle@WeeFolkArt says

    May 6, 2014 at 9:11 AM

    What a beautiful space. I am in the process of updating my kids’ bedrooms and they all need that special spot, just for them, in which they can create. I love the whimsical touch of the crayons inside the lamp.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Using Jade & Jadiete In and Around the House says:
    September 16, 2014 at 11:03 AM

    […] Even the simplest of details can make a difference. Replace some knobs in a unsuspecting area with those made of jadeite for a pop of color and fresh appeal.{found on atthepicketfence}. […]

    Reply
  2. Using Jade & Jadeite In and Around the House | Club Oferteproprietari.ro says:
    September 16, 2014 at 11:50 AM

    […] Even the simplest of details can make a difference. Replace some knobs in a unsuspecting area with those made of jadeite for a pop of color and fresh appeal.{found on atthepicketfence}. […]

    Reply
  3. Using Jade & Jadeite In and Around the House says:
    September 16, 2014 at 12:55 PM

    […] Even the simplest of details can make a difference. Replace some knobs in a unsuspecting area with those made of jadeite for a pop of color and fresh appeal.{found on atthepicketfence}. […]

    Reply

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“Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season “Ah, Lovely October, as you usher in the season that awakens my soul, your awesome beauty compels my spirit to soar like a leaf caught in an autumn breeze and my heart to sing like a heavenly choir.” Peggy Toney Horton.

Happy October dear friends! 🍂
On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the po On Monday my heart just felt so heavy. Yes, the pouring rain outside contributed to my feelings. But the primary cause was this overwhelming flood of thoughts about how much in our world and in our culture is going off the rails. I’d planned to make pumpkin bread that day but I was tempted to just curl up in a ball on my bed, pull the covers over my head and pretend that this would actually solve something. I didn’t give into that temptation though. Instead, I got out my favorite pumpkin bread recipe and found that, as I worked and prayed and hummed worship songs, my spirit began to settle. When the world feels very loud, the demands of family and home can actually help to quiet our souls. As each family member walked through the door later in the day, they commented on how wonderful the house smelled. It’s better than any fall candle in my opinion! And I knew that the extra loaf that I get from the recipe would be a welcome treat for my widower neighbor. So, if your heart is feeling a bit unsettled this week too, maybe this recipe will come in handy!

Pumpkin Bread:

Ingredients:
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7×3 inch loaf pans.
In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 🍂
Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧡

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.”

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. 🍂

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! 🍎

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. 🍂

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
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