Joyful Abode

The last time I tried to make homemade pizza, it resulted in a sad looking product that had my husband saying, “Well, it’s not totally disgusting.”

This time, emboldened by my bread machine (thanks yayanana) and armed with your advice, my trials were successful!

I used whole milk mozzarella (next time, I’ll probably slice it thinner) for the cheese.

For the sauce, I used a can of tomatoes mixed with a few tablespoons of regular spaghetti sauce and seasoned with garlic salt and Italian herbs.

The crust was this recipe:

Throw in the bread machine:
A little less than a cup of lukewarm water
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons white sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons active dry yeast (my machine has a separate compartment for this)

Set it on the dough cycle and wait till it beeps.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

Take the dough out and stretch it onto a greased pan. Let it stand until the oven is preheated (about 5-10 minutes), then bake about 5 minutes.

Take it out, top it with the sauce, cheese, and other toppings (next time I’ll put the pepperoni on top of the cheese, because I like when it gets crispy). Bake another 10-15 minutes or until everything is melty.

PS. I also brushed the edge of the crust with butter and garlic salt. It was like breadsticks. mmmm.

PPS We enjoyed it with home-brewed beer (by the hands of my brother-in-law) called Christmas Conception (their “brand” is Conception breweries, so all of their beers have a “conception” name). It was a delicious caramely stout.

Tell us about what we see in your photos.  

Most of my work begins in my backyard.  I am lucky enough to have a half acre of land that I can plant flowers on all over!!  And I do!   I also like to jump in my car and find wildflowers growing naturally.  I only pick them if there are a LOT of them around, but I find great variety this way. Once I have my flowers, they are put in presses to dry.   After a couple of weeks, I move them to my storage closet.  You may be able to see a bunch of phone books in the closet, that is where I store my flowers that are already dry.  This way, they stay flat and away from moisture.  The next step for my flowers is out of the books and onto a piece of art!  I had a nice little student desk for years, and it was just *too* small.  One day I realized that we had a door sitting in our garage unused.  That nice large desk you see is actually that door propped up on a pair of filing cabinets.  It has been a lifesaver!  I could never have afforded a desk that large, nor would I like the job of moving a desk that big around.  This “desk” is huge and can be disassembled at any given time if needed.  This is where all my creative work happens.  I create artwork to be framed, cards, candles, soaps, necklace pendants and more.  All right here.  A few pieces of art that turn out really well, I scan into my computer.  So my last workspace picture is all my electronics.  I have a great scanner, computer and 2 printers.  I’m so blessed.    I also have my own website, so I spend a lot of time at the computer updating that as well.

What do you create in your space?

I mentioned some of the items, but lets try to list them:  artwork, cards, bookmarks, candles, pendants, journals, soaps, gift tags, and prints.  I think that sums it up.

What advice do you have for others who are trying to put together their own creative space?

Get creative about your space.  The room I am in is very small.  I got the storage closet to give more storage room because I filled up the closet so quickly.  I have used every inch of wall space in the room!  I have my crafting desk, a book case, my computer desk, my storage closet and my card display.  The other wall is the actual closet.  I’ve added shelving above my desk for more storage and I had to find a specific size computer desk that could fit into the corner.  Using the door for my desk was the greatest help to my space.  I can keep a lot more of my tools close at hand.

How does being in your creative space make you feel?

I love my creative space.  I spend as much time there as any other place in my home.  I love the pictures I have on and near my desk, and always surround myself with inspiration pictures as I am working.  Despite the messes that I create, I am happy to have all my tools close at hand when I am in the middle of a project.

What has your biggest challenge been in creating and maintaining your creative space?

Figuring out how to fit all my tools and supplies in my tiny little room.  I actually had to start by kicking my husband out of the room!  He was using the space for his office, but I am home crafting more than he is home needing an office.  Once I had the room, it was just a matter of figuring out what I needed and wanted.  I wanted a bigger desk, so I found a door.  I needed more storage, so I bought a storage closet.  It has been a work in progress for years, and I anticipate it will always be a work in progress.

What is your favorite quote?

I have 2 favorite quotes, and they are very different from each other.  The first is “kwitchurbelyakin”.  I used to have a beautiful piece of art with this quote hanging in front of my workspace.  When I start to get frustrated or feeling a creative block, I just remember to quit my belly achin’ and take a break. 

The second quote is “In all of living, find much joy and laughter.  Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured”  Gordon B. Hinckley.  I have to admit to enduring some days, but I strive to live by this creed.

What do you do when you’re NOT creating?

I have a LOT of hats I wear.  My very first priority is Mom of my 3 kids.  I have a 7 year old, 5 year old and a 3 year old.  I am also expecting a new baby in May!  So, as all you mom’s know, this means that when I am not creating, I am cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, reading to kids, policing homework and the like.  I also work part time out of my home as a medical assistant in a doctors office.  I am also in charge of providing activities for a group of 12 girls two nights each month.  The real question is how I find time TO create!  I have no explanation for that except that I love it so much I make it a priority, even at the expense of sleep!

What one piece of furniture or organizational equipment could you not live without?

My storage closet has really been a lifesaver.  The tiny closet in this room couldn’t fit one more thing in it, and I just really needed more space to put my flowers, my presses, frames and tools. 

What is your next “move” for your creative space? Do you have plans for its future?

The next step is very likely more shelving over my computer space.  I think that’s about all I can fit in there.  I do need to keep some wall space to hang pictures I have finished. 

If I were to suddenly come into a million dollars, well, ok if I had a million dollars I would move into a bigger house.  Lets try that again. . . if I were suddenly to come into a free makeover of my creative workspace, I would LOVE to have everything built in.  Shelves, cabinets, counters, storage. . . 

 Do you have a website we could visit?

My main website is Designs in Floral.  I have a shop there, as well as a gallery of items I have sold.  I am also a seller on etsy.  It is a very friendly online marketplace for handmade items.  I have a blog I started late last year, which I use for personal items as well as my business.

Those are my main sites though I am also on flickr, myspace, indiepublic and a few others. 

Mention Joyful Abode in the comments at checkout on my website, or etsy, and I’ll send you a free gift!

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