I have finally organized my desk. The bookshelf looks great. The office supplies are organized. Baby-proofing has been done.  I have just two things to do (not counting my husband’s desk or my sewing closet) and the office is DONE!!  Woo-hoo!!

The desk finally got fully reorganized because Robin kept trying to get under the table to play with the cables and power strip for my computer. We ended up putting the computer up on the desk. I wish we had another alternative, but this was the only way it would work for us right now. But, it’s over where it’s hard for me to get to anyway, so the majority of the accessible desk top is clear and ready for projects!

I ended up changing my desktop filing system from the one I showed months ago because the files wouldn’t sit straight and I couldn’t fit my Project Life cards in it very nicely. I switched to a different basket and made a container out of cardboard for the cards. Using a $.99 napkin holder from Goodwill, I coral my files and I keep it all restrained and portable on a fun tray someone gave me.

Another trick I’ve done that deals with photos is the customizable stamp also seen on the tray. I put my, my husband’s and son’s names on it so when I print my monthly batch of pictures I can just stamp them all with our names. I cross out the name of anyone who’s not in the picture and write in anybody else while I add the date.

And, for a taste of the future, the last two things to do before the office is completely considered done are:

1) Clean off the serger (including mending and doing the 3 new projects that have accumulated)

2) Refinish my chair! ICK!!

Before Robin was born, I received a small figure of a woman who had a space in her chest.  While I was pregnant, I kept some paper leaves (for “Sprout”), but once Robin was born, I wanted a little bird to fit in there. I made one out of polymer clay.

Where we were did not have very good ovens for baking it, so I left it ‘raw’ until I got home.  When I did, I burned it up good!  So, while I was experimenting with flour/salt dough, I thought I’d make another one.  … this took a couple tries!

My first idea was that the body was too thick while the little head was too thin, so I decided to use an aluminum foil ball for the center.

Then I added the orange belly:

Rolled it into a tear drop shape and bent the point over a bit for the head:

I like to use ball point pens to make the eyes, but I use a straw that I squish flat to make the faux feathers:

Then I baked it at the lowest setting on my oven (200 f) and still burnt it!

So, I made another one (which I liked better, actually), turned the oven off, and let it sit in the slowly cooling oven for 20 minutes.  This time, it seemed to work! It’s not squishy anywhere and not burnt, either – Yay!

And here is the little bird where it will live:

Since his birthday, Robin has been scooting everywhere and we were frantically baby-proofing the house. One thing that needed special attention (and isn’t really quite done), was the Wii.

The internet cord and flashing light was irresistible to Robin. Oh, and it was on the floor. (Darn, no before. Again.)  While the TV was on a sewing cabinet without the sewing machine in it, there wasn’t much room for the Wii without getting in the way of the tv. And, it would still be visible with lots of other plugs and cords around.

So I took the sewing cabinet apart and added a bottom to create a shelf.  I still need to figure out how to put the one side back on so it’ll open and close, but that will be for another day.

Removing screws from the side with the handle that didn’t really open anything:

Side removed – that was easy! :

“Shelf” put in. I used peg board so there would be good ventilation in the cabinet.  I did not count on the ‘front’s’ decorative edging to leave the shelf visible. Bleck.  On the other hand, now I didn’t have to worry about drilling holes for electrical wires to come out of!  Also, helper babies don’t really help. They chew.

So, I screwed the ‘front’ back on and installed the shelf. It is just resting on the edges of the legs. I may go back and add some strips of wood to the sides and across the middle.

I took the handle off the old front and made it the ‘back.’ Except, now I’m not sure how to attach the new front because the legs gain stability by being screwed to it. I may need to cut some holes after all.

Regardless – it works well holding all the plugs and wires and Wii and Robin has shown no interest in what’s inside!   … for now!