Tag Archives: workshop

Community Fun

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Community Fun

Hello!! Listen, I’ll be the first to admit that there are downsides to living in Ohio. It’s basically just corn lol. However, I love my life here and still wouldn’t change it for a thing. One of the best parts about the greater Akron area is the true sense of community we have and it’s greater amplified by all of the fun events hosted throughout the city. Concerts, food truck festivals, vendor fairs, you name it and chances are we have done something similar in our neck of the woods!

A particularly fantastic community gathering spot is the Quirk Cultural Center in Cuyahoga Falls. At the Quirk, they offer workshops for people of all ages. From tiny tots to seniors, there is something for everyone there. In fact, I used to take pottery classes there for several years in my youth and have enjoyed watercolor painting classes in my adulthood. And, this past weekend, I took my nieces there for a special crafting workshop so they could make Christmas presents for their parents.

All I knew for the craft class was that we were going to paint mugs and the girls were so excited. I was too because any time with them is the best time! Even though it was a simple activity, our hosts at the Quirk did such a phenomenal job of making it special. When we walked into the space, we were greeted by a huge Christmas tree, holiday inflatables, festive music, and a hot chocolate and cookie station. The greatest surprise was how neat the mugs to be painted were. There was a snowman, a reindeer, Santa, and a mug with Santa’s belt going around the middle. They seriously looked like something you could paint at All Fired Up and it only costed ten dollars per person to participate.

The girls and I had SO much fun and my eldest niece did a banner job painting the mug herself and my younger niece, who is two, did the best she could lol. Either way, I knew they both knew that they were making something for their parents and they were so happy to have a gift for them that they made all by themselves! There were so many families at the event and it was a joy to get in the holiday spirit all together. I hope that they will be doing more paint parties soon because it was a hit for both the adults and kiddos!

A wonderful time was had by all at our pseudo All Fired Up workshop and I am definitely feeling merrier and brighter for it!

What kind of events does your community put on? Have you ever taken a crafting workshop before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Build The Ultimate Home Workshop

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Build The Ultimate Home Workshop

So many people aren’t using their garages for any particular purpose, and when it comes to what you should do with all of that space, there are obviously a lot of possibilities. Today, we’re going to look at a suggestion for those who love to build things; we’re going to explore the possibility of turning your garage into a workshop. This can be a great option for both hobbyists and business owners alike. Here are a few tips for going about a conversion in the right way:

Professional renovation? If you don’t fancy taking a DIY route, then you could always hire renovation experts to do it for you. While this can be expensive, it also ensures that the project is being handled by people who have done this sort of thing several times before. The renovation team as well as electricians and plumbers will visit site for a consultation and work with you to help your vision come to life in the safest way possible. The problem with this route is that you might be underestimating yourself. Turning a garage into a workshop is nowhere near as complicated as it may sound. Plus, if you like building things anyways, then surely it would be pretty good to be able to say that you built the workshop with your own bare hands?

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Hopefully yours will be a little neater.

What You Need to Add: Of course, whether or not you should seek expert assistance may depend on how much you need to renovate your garage. A workshop is going to require more electricity than your average garage that’s only used for storage. And if that means that you need to do some rewiring, then you should definitely hire an electrician. To find a professional in your area, you can simply search for “electrician near me“. This is a task that you should not try to do alone, for safety’s sake. There is a lot that can go wrong and it’s best to leave it to the pros.

You may also want to consider the fact that new plumbing may be required, because you’ll want some sort of water flow going into the shop for safety reasons. You can get tips for hiring the right person at http://www.homeadvisor.com/. But when it comes to shelving, storage, the workbench, the flooring – all of these elements are things that you can do yourself.

Equipment: So what kind of work are you going to be doing? It’s best to figure this out now, instead of being vague about what it is that you want. This will allow you to build the most appropriate workshop with the proper tools. (Knowing what tools you’ll need will help you when it comes to planning storage and safety measures.) For example, if you’re going to work with metal, then you may want to look into decent welders; you can read more at https://pickwelder.com/. And if you know that you’ll need a welder, then you’ll know what sort of workbench that you should build, as well as what defensive measures you should be installing to avoid spark risks.

Not only will you need the proper equipment for your workshop but you will need furnishings as well. This can include storage options, a desk, a comfortable chair, a sink or basin, and perhaps a speaker or two so you can rock out while you work. Companies like Dura Ltd (or a similar one in your local area) specialize in workshop specific furnishings. This is a smart thing to look into as it will fit in your workshop seamlessly without modifications.

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If it can fuse metal, you should probably be careful with it. 😉

Safety: There are a few other things to consider when it comes to safety. Assessing the risks of an average workshop is the best way to go about this. You’ll probably want to install something that will help clean your eyes or any wounds or burns. First aid kits are also essential. You’ll also want to give a lot of thought to the floor. Your best bet might be to use epoxy floor paint; you can instruct yourself on this at https://www.familyhandyman.com/. Epoxy floor paint helps protects you from falls and it’s also much easier to clean up spills.

Another excellent flooring option you could consider is aluminum chequer plate sheets for its durability. It provides a great metallic sheen to keep the space feeling fresh and is easy to clean. If this is the route you would like to go, a good place to start is with https://www.chequerplatedirect.co.uk/ (or a similar company in your local area). You will have the best looking workshop on the block!

Whether you’re an expert crafter or just need somewhere to clear your mind, a garage workshop could be an amazing addition to your home!

Lil Red’s Spring Time Obsessions

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Lil Red’s Spring Time Obsessions

Helloooooo everyone and happy Hump Day! I’m just hanging out at Starbucks at the moment. I literally just finished writing a ten page research paper, so I figured why not write some more on the ol’ blog?! I’ve upped my spring wardrobe game and refreshed a few oldie but goodie pieces in my closet, and I must say….I’m obsessed. There’s a few pieces that I’ve been using a lot lately that I just can’t get enough of! Take a look and then we’ll discuss!

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^^^ I’m so aware that I’ve posted some of these pics before, but they’re so fab I just can’t help it! Let’s begin with talking about my featured image pic!

Daisy boob crop top (PacSun, Workshop): Much to my parents displeasure, I absolutely love this shirt. I’ve had it for close to a year now, and I’m still just as in love with it as I was the day I got it. This crop is so cheeky and fun, it really is one of my favorite spring and summer staples. The daisy frame aviators are also from PacSun, and they’ve gotten a lot of use since I purchased them as well. I wear this shirt with anything – maxi skirts, body con skirts (for when I’m feeling super sassy), jeans (only black skinnies, of course), shorts, underneath a flannel or cardigan – I love it all!

Skull tote bag (Target): My mom gifted me with this little baby years ago, and honestly I’m just now starting to use it a lot. This has been my go to spring time bag for school and in general. It’s perfect for lugging around textbooks and edging up a sun dress. As you guys well know, I love Target so very much, and this purse was a total home run. Way to go, mom! 😉

Turquoise purse (TJMaxx, Urban Expressions): I think that this all vegan leather purse is such a fab spring staple. It was only thirty five dolla holla too, hello bargain! The color is so phenomenal and I plan on changing out my skull bag to use this one very soon! My brother got the turquoise necklace seen in the picture in New Mexico, and now I’m sure you guys can guess what one of my favorite spring time colors is!

Floral print heels (Kohl’s, Elle): Ahhhh! My Barbie heels! ❤ I love these pretty babies so so SO much! Floral for spring is so cliche, I know – but these are so cute that I just can’t help it. I pair these heels with everything from my girliest girly outfits to my grungy rocker looks. I like how the colors used are muted and water color-esque, which I think is a more unique take on the usual loud and in your face florals. IE: My daisy boob crop top!

Army green heels (TJMaxx, Guess): I know for a fact that I’ve posted about these bad boys before, but they’re so nice I’ll write about them twice! These have been my go to heels this past month, and I’m so okay with it! The shape is so unique and the color is still neutral enough that it goes with everything. Usually I’m not a fan of a thick wedge heel when the shoe isn’t a full on wedge, but these are the exception. #love

Crochet Vest (PacSun, LA Hearts): This little number is an oldie but goodie and I’m still a fan. I’ve grown very fond of the concept of a vest lately, as you can see by my kimono and flannel vest that are also pictured above. I like how easy these are to just slip on and BOOM your outfit is instantly spruced up. I usually pair my crochet vest over a crop top with a maxi skirt for a cool boho look. It’s also a sweet piece to add on with a pair of shorts!

I know I’ve mentioned the last three pictures recently, but they’re seriously some of my favorite new spring purchases so I felt the need to display them again! I’m actually wearing the flannel vest right now and I feel like the queen of grunge and sassiness. Holla atcha girl. And in case you were wondering, here’s the brands and where I purchased the final three pieces:

  • Kimono vest: Target
  • Flannel vest: TJMaxx, Vanilla Star
  • Maxi shirt: TJMaxx, Gaze USA

So there you have it! Some of my favorite Spring Time obsessions! What are all of you rocking this spring? What’s your favorite new purchase? What’s your favorite oldie but goodie item in your closet? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah