Trying to get a bit more organized

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.
                                                ~Eleanor Roosevelt

In addition to trying to clean up my art studio, I've also been busy trying to get other areas cleaned up and organized.  A couple of weeks ago, I went to Hobby Lobby to get some fabric to make storage bins and while I was there, I found a fantastic deal on this chalkboard...

I loved the size of the frame and chalkboard, but not the polka dots, but for what I paid for it, I figured I could easily repaint it.  A few years ago, I made the chalkboard (shown below) and used it in my studio.  Unfortunately, it's much too wide to put it where I really wanted it to go...

I went into Michaels to get more paint and found some chalk paint that's part of the Martha Stewart line.  I randomly painted her Charcoal paint on the frame and then painted the Linen color over everything.  After it dried slightly, I took a damp wash cloth and rubbed it in a few areas to bring out the charcoal.  Don't wait to do this after it dries and cures, or you'll have to sand it.  I didn't want to overdue it.  Then I took some gray Folk Art craft paint and watered it down...

I decided to paint loose, thin coated stripes on this frame.  So I didn't use tape and I didn't cover everything fully with this gray.  Actually the hardest part of all this was to evenly space out the stripes...

After everything dried, I went back with the Linen chalk paint and straightened up a few of the stripes and then put a protective coating over everything.  I didn't use her wax...

It's currently hanging on the wood panel next to our refrigerator...

I'm in the process of putting together a command center in our kitchen.  I'll show you more of this center later in the week.