• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

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? 😉

Vanessa signature

Sharing at:
Wow Us Wednesday 

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

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Am I Going to Get in Trouble for This?
Next Post: Key Lime Pie Dessert Shots and a Party! »

Reader Interactions

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

Leave a Reply to Using Jade & Jadiete In and Around the House Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

The month of June is coming to a close and it has The month of June is coming to a close and it has been JAM packed! The highlight by far though was my son's graduation from high school. When I started blogging, he was only 6 years old and some of you have been apart of my community here for that entire time. Now, he's 19 and there is a reason parents are told not to blink because the years truly do go faster than I ever could have imagined. He has become such an incredible young man we are so excited to see how God is going to unfold the next chapter of his life. We celebrated with parties galore (SO many open houses to attend!) and made memories we'll forever cherish. My mama heart was filled to bursting with the joy of it all! Now we're taking some time to just enjoy these warm, summer days making even more memories because, when you’re at this stage of parenting, you know all too well how much you need to grasp every opportunity to spend time together.

I hope your summer is off to a great start too dear friends! 🪴
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts o “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Happy first day of summer dear friends!! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I posted something new here but life has been crazy. I’ll have some new photos of house projects and life events to share with you soon but, got now, I’m just going to enjoy this gorgeous first day of summer after our ridiculously long, wet spring. ☀️
“It was June, and the world smelled of roses. Th “It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” (Maud Hart Lovelace) 

Welcome June!
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka. Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence