School At Home
This year has been a wild one, that’s for sure. It’s been so different from the norm for many of us. But, one things remains the same. We want our kids to learn, and we want them to have the best opportunities possible. So, no matter what type of schooling you are doing, these ideas can be for you!
We are doing online schooling this year. Classes are via computer, but mom facilitates. Optimal? No. But we are making the best of it. My best tip so far? Find a space and make it for learning. Boundaries and expectations help learning go well!
You don’t need a whole room, maybe a corner, or a table, or even a certain table cloth, and when it comes out, its time to learn. I had always worked from home a lot and happen to have space in my office that I was able to convert to a learning space. Don’t worry, even if your space is much smaller, these ideas can help you too!
I have several tips for routine, but this will just be about supplies for today.
My second?! Keep it fun!! Third tip?! Get a map!
Look at how we combined both with this animal map canvas from Photo Wall! How cute is this thing?!
Photo Wall is amazing for any Wall decor really. They make wall decals, framed prints, posters, and canvases. You choose the art, the size, the material, and can even customize it! These would be amazing in kids’ rooms and nurseries, or even as an awesome accent wall!
Its details like this that really make your learning space fun and keep kids engaged. We knew Brantley needed a map for a lot of his Social Studies work, and looking things up on the computer really wasn’t cutting it. This map not only shows what he needs, but keeps his interest with the animals and details. He’s taken such an interest now! I plan to add a few more maps like this now too! And of course, you can fit them to your space.
Human anatomy? Plants or leaves? Turn them into a fun canvas or poster to make the learning fun!
Tip 4 & 5- Have your supplies accessible, and keep them organized. Again, your space doesn’t need to be huge, but if you can find your supplies and access them easily, you will be more likely to do so. Hands on activities teach concepts so much better. Like using the scissors, ruler, markers, paints… engages and sinks in. It could even be a tote of supplies that comes out with the table cloth when learning time is happening!
I’m no pro yet, but I can tell you that I’m learning right along with the kids. You can do it, and even better with some simple tweaks!
And back to my gushing about this map canvas, because it really is my pride of decorating the classroom. 😉 Here is my map link. And use code makemineeclectic25 on your purchase from Photo Wall too! Your walls will truly thank you, in a classroom or not!
What tips would you add for schooling at home?!
XX,
Jess
Vintage Kids Desk Redo
Over the summer we found an old kids desk for $2 at a garage sale. Jeremy might have thought I was crazy, but I knew this baby had potential.
Before:
I sanded her down, and painted a few coats of this lovely grey. Then roughed it up with some distressing. The finishing touch was the adorable new yellow knobs! Here is how she turned out:
Adorable, no?
I’m pretty proud of this little baby and hope that someone else loves it and wants to give it a new home too! 🙂
Chair Love
I have been wrapped up in work lately. Being couped up in an office is not very fun, especially when the winter weather makes things even more dreary. I am itching for spring! But, here is a beautiful office for inspiration. If I were sitting in this office while doing my work maybe I would be feeling a bit more motivated. Maybe. I will also have some WEDDING photos coming soon! 🙂
Is that not an awesome chair?! Hope that helps your winter blues, and that spring is on the way!
Home Offices
I have been pining away at lots of beautiful home offices lately. There’s a reason… I finally got a job in Iowa! Not only am I completely stoked to be officially living in Iowa full-time, but also, this job allows me to do a lot of my work from home! 😀
This is the perfect set up for me. It will allow me more spare time to get projects done, and we also have the office space set up for me to do it! But, currently our bright red and semi-cramped office space is needing a major spruce. So, enter blogland inspiration.Â
Some photos of offices out there are gorgeous. However, social work doesn’t allow me to be glamorous or clutter my work space with pretties. That leaves me fewer options. I need a functional space that I also feel comfortable and like myself in. Plus, we are hoping to leave the futon on the other side of the room and use the space someday for a partial play-room as well. Oh, and did I mention that I can’t change much as far as items because I am working with a non-existent budged!? Let’s see if I can pull this off…
Here are some faves for you all!
I love the bookcases in this photo. It utilizes the space well, which is what I really need to do!
This office also has great shelving for storage, while also remaining a bit feminine and glam. I need an office that can work for me from everything from my personal business, to kids and family projects, to social work moments.
I also like having my desk in the middle of the room or at least facing outwards instead of towards a wall. It helps if I need to meet with clients. Here is another one like that.
I’m not a huge fan of green walls, but I love the black frames in this office.
This office has been my dream office for years now and was the inspiration for the office in my last house being light blue. This one might end up light blue as well, with the addition of the red items. Again with the black frames!
Another blue office. Reminds me of mine with the couch. Something so sweet about this one!
I adore this desk. Enough said.
This one is so sweet and has that touch of glam I’d love.
I love the outward facing desk in this one too.
Well? What do you all think? I’d love suggestions for my new home office!
Desk Chair Redo
I was in an office chair conundrum at the new house. The office is large enough to hold the futon, DVD rack, desk, book shelf, and even file cabinet. But, its just not very comfortable. I loved using the comfy and gorgeous blue wingback chair in my last home office, but in this office there just isn’t enough space for a nice layout with the chair. So, the blue wingback moved to our bedroom. More pictures of that to come. Then there was no office chair. What to do?
During a recent (and quick) trip down to the creepy basement to store a few boxes I noticed a computer chair with wheels! It was ugly. No other way to put it. But, it was sturdy and heavy duty, and in good shape other than the abused crudiness of it.
The before:
First step? Remove the ugly arms. Then it was some paint and fabric…
Not too bad, eh?
So, what do you think? I think for being a completely free project it turned out super cute and will work for us for a while, while we have zero money. Oh, and don’t worry about the BRIGHT red walls. Come winter they will no longer be so obnoxious. It is especially strong paired with a big red filing cabinet and on the other wall is a red futon and ottoman! lol.
Typewriter Table Detailed
Sorry, I forgot to upload new pictures yesterday. But, today you get to see a lot of progress from the weekend! Here is the typewriter table that I showed you before. It is now finished and detailed!Â
Once I finished the second coat of white spray paint I arranged cardboard scrap-booking stencils in the placement I liked. I traced and filled the stencils with a paint pen. These little guys work great! I have used it on a couple of projects now and it always does the trick. I think it is super cute and ready to be used!
Chair Love This Week
A little late this week, but here is my new chair fling:
This is a mid-century modern chrome and velvet armchair that is for sale on Craigslist here: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/fuo/1003947247.html
I just think it is so cute. It would make an odorable desk or vanity chair.
Name That Chair
I know I have posted pictures of this chair before, but I am still wondering. I saw this lonely little chair on the side of the road just waiting for the garbage man about a month ago (yes, the side of the road). I went straight home and begged Tony to go nab it for me. I mean the poor thing is adorable and in desperate need of saving. So, being the amazing and understanding guy Tony is, he drove his truck over to the house where I spied the chair and scooped it up.
When we got it home, we realized there wasn’t a thing wrong with it. It wasn’t broken, stained, or even scratched. It looked as though some one had owned it since it’s original day and finally used it in a garage or shop, as it was a bit dirty. They must have thought it wasn’t new enough looking to clean up. Well, I have news for these people. This chair is amazing. I scrubbed it with my handy dandy Magic Eraser (amazing also by the way!). And, the thing was soon good as new.
We now have the perfect addition to our pocket office. But, we were still wondering what kind of chair this is exactly. It is unmarked, but looks mid-cenury to me. I am no expert, but was guessing 50’s or 60’s. If any of you out there have seen another one of these, or have any info, please let us know!
Even if we never solve the mystery, we now have this truly cute chair all for our own!
Our Office/Den
One of the extra bedrooms in the house has been turned into a den. We added a projector and a futon from my appartment. Its cozy, but still a work in progress. We do like going in there to watch movies, but it needs some work. We plan on mounting shelving along the walls right under the ceiling. We have a sort of music/art theme going, so we would like to set some of our memorabilia on the shelves as a border around the room.Â
The closet in the den has become a mini office. We are both still in school and it comes in handy to have a place to sit at the computer. Tony built a wall mounted desk and we painted it black.Â
From the doorway looking into the den. You can see the futon and the projection shelf. I have a plan for some art to hang along the empty wall.
This is the wall that the futon faces. The bookshelf holds all of our school books. Above that is empty because it is for the projection screen. We have a large frame for the area, but it has yet to be hung. The file cabinet is an old Shaw-Walker that I painted bright red.
A close up of the bookshelves and our fish Van Halen.
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This is the closet office. Tony made this desk for me. I used wire to hang pictures. I'm not sure, but even after editing, it still feels a little cluttered to me. Any suggestions?
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The chair that we are using right now as the desk chair was found in the garbage. I hate to admit that, but it was perfect and I couldn't pass it up! All it needed was a good scrubbing (thank you Magic Eraser!). I thought it was so vintage cute, so I made Tony go swipe it. Gorgeous.
Make Mine Eclectic 
