Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for office

Sunsets and Video Attempts

January 17, 2025 at 9:03 am by Claudia

Last night’s sunset.

We had a bit of snow yesterday – not much – but it’s still on the ground this morning. Of course, the temperature is very cold, so of course it would stick. I’ve been reading of a potential winter storm headed our way Monday into Tuesday and, as I said before, we are headed for temperatures in the single digits next week.

Oh, what fun. Actually, the storm might be cool, but doing any sort of shoveling or snow blowing might be problematic if the temperatures are dangerously cold. I’m saying a little prayer that whatever happens, everyone stays safe.

My heavens, I spent way too much time yesterday trying to do a video tour of the office/studio. First of all, I talk too much. The videos were too long. In one, I cursed, so I had to toss it. I know you can edit those things out, but I’m new to this, and that kind of thing is above my pay grade. In another, I accidentally showed all the extra crap (Etsy boxes, paper towels) that I had removed from the room. Then I didn’t like way I filmed it. And on and on.

I finally filmed the tour without narrating it. Then I added my own voiceover. It came out better, but I want to do another one in landscape mode (horizontal) because when I use the portrait mode (vertical) on my phone, YouTube cuts off part of the top of the video. So annoying! Other than that, I like the way the video and my voiceover worked, so I think I’ll show that to you today. And later today, I’ll shoot it again, but in landscape mode. If I don’t end up throwing my phone across the room and it works, I’ll include it in tomorrow’s post.

Visit YouTube – my account: claudiathechroniccollector

Tour of the Tiny Studio/Office

Even though I’m complaining, it’s kind of fun. I just had to let the pace of the video edit the length of my narration, which is a far better way to do it, as I’m a talker (see my ‘solitary’ message in the sidebar!)

I figure you’re accompanying me on this new phase, so I can share my growing pains with you.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: office, studio 31 Comments

Rain and More of the Studio

January 10, 2024 at 8:14 am by Claudia

We had lots and lots of rain yesterday and overnight and the sump pump is working overtime. It is very, very windy out there. Generally? It’s a pain in the tush.

I have to watch a filmed run through of Dial M for Murder  this morning and take notes to pass on to the actors.

As for the Christmas tree: I took down all the ornaments on Friday or Saturday (can’t remember now) ahead of the snow storm and stashed the bins in the shed. The tree stayed with just the lights through Monday. Yesterday, we took down the lights and removed the tree. We were ready. We got it on December 7th and it was up over a month. It was very dry toward the end, but it was still going strong. Thank you, lovely Christmas tree.

More pictures of the office/studio.

Lots of instruments are stashed on the left, a perfect plant corner, some of D’s vintage cameras are on the shelf under the blue bench. The stone doves came inside for the winter and they’re on the floor in front of the bench. And my beautiful French cabinet, which stores miniatures.

The project that I’ve ignored for a long while. I’m determined to take this on during these winter months.

My studio partner’s desk.

On the far end of my desk.

This should give you a pretty good sense of the office/studio at this point in time. It’s jam-packed, for sure. When you have two people occupying the same space and they both have lots of STUFF, this is what you get. It works, though I’d love more space in which to move when I’m working. But then again, I’m not up there every day, so it’s just fine!

Okay. Have to get going!

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: office, studio 17 Comments

Cleaning and Organizing

January 3, 2024 at 9:19 am by Claudia

Still going strong! Though I’ve noticed it’s beginning to dry out. The putz ‘village’ has been put away, as have all the little Vintage by Crystal figurines. But the tree is staying – at least for a few days. Which brings me to our weather forecast – we may be getting a lot of snow Saturday night into Sunday. If that’s the case, I’ll probably remove and store all the ornaments and lights and have Don take the tree up into the woods on Saturday. If we get a lot of snow, then Monday will be all about digging out, which would then take us to Tuesday, and that would be pushing it.

As I said to Don yesterday, we desperately wanted snow for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Now? We’re not so crazy about the idea! And as I look ahead on the calendar, it looks like I might be dealing with snow when I have to drive to Rochester. Right now, it looks fairly benign. We’ll see…

We’ve been very committed to our daily walks, so I’m giving us a big old pat on our backs. Yesterday, we were both busy with chores and figured we’d skip it, but later in the day Don decided to go and I joined him. I’m glad I did.

The office/studio was in a bit of chaos yesterday as I decided to tackle the closet. I needed to organize a few things and the closet was full of doll boxes. It was getting ridiculous. When I buy a doll, I tend to want to keep the box (they’re a specific size) in case I eventually want to sell it. And collector dolls, like the Gene Marshall dolls, are worth more when you sell them with the original packaging.

But since the Gene Marshall dolls are inexpensive and I think my little collection is complete, I’m not going to hang on to those boxes. And I don’t need 20 Blythe boxes. So I pulled out lots of them and flattened them for recycling, which involved lots of trips up and down the stairs and then outside to the porch, where we keep the recycling. And I threw out a lot of other stuff, as well. Every inch of space in the closet is being used, but it’s much more organized. I used one of the doll boxes for the Christmas trees that were on the Blythe shelves (I even labeled the box!) And I did the same for the dollhouse trees and Christmas accessories. And the putz houses. Here’s hoping I don’t have dig them out again next year because I inadvertently moved them.  Then I vacuumed every inch of the office and our bedroom.

After that, I sent an Etsy order off in the mail and returned a book to the library – the Michael Connelly, which was excellent. I’ve just barely started Wolf Hall  and will read more of it today.

We had a nice New Year’s Day. We ate our black-eyed peas. My husband was raised by a dad who was from Oklahoma and a mom who was from Texas, so he takes that very seriously. I think it’s a lovely (and healthy) tradition. Black-eyed peas are very good for you. And we watched the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which was absolutely fabulous!

Don has to get a shot in his eye today, which always looms over the entire day, bless his heart.

Okay.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, Christmas, Gene Marshall dolls, office, studio 20 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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