This post is sponsored by Sprout furniture for kids. This flat-pack, eco-friendly furniture is easy to assemble and transport. The friction fit makes for a sturdy piece that will last for hours and hours of imagination and creativity. Connect with Sprout on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. For Penelope's birthday in 2013, we converted a utility closet into a studio just for her. Her own little space. Needless to say that it's been a huge hit. Neighbor friends of all ages (and genders!) have flocked to this space to make many a creative masterpiece. It's heavenly to hear the quiet whispers of creative plans among friends. However, the space hasn't been perfect. We've found a few issues with the space that we've had to remedy.

1. The narrow space was really only inviting for 1 person. Maybe a friend, but not more than one.
2. The closed off, one directional seating made Penelope feel separated from everything so she would often spend time crafting on the floor in the hallway. Tiny shreds of paper in the carpet drives me nuts.
3. While the little pink boxes were cute, Penelope rarely put things in their own boxes to keep them organized.
4. The pink boxes would roam the house (as would the loose supplies).
5. Her completed artwork would typically pile up until I would recycle it or put it in a storage box. Rarely on display.

Thanks to Sprout Kids, we replaced the two tables and chairs with one table and three stools. We got rid of the filing cabinet so it opened up room on the sides for friends to come sit. The sturdy stools make it easier for older kids (and adults) to join in the fun, too. Tangent: Assembly was a breeze. Even Felix and Penelope helped. I had to bust out our trusty rubber mallet to get the pieces to squeeze together, but they're fabulously sturdy. Especially the stools. I want grown-up sized stools like this for having company over! I was nervous about the exposed MDF with Penelope's watercolors, but so far it hasn't been an issue. I plan to seal the exposed edges with beeswax, but I haven't had the time yet.  Now that the filing cabinet is gone (it's now in Chris's office closet), Penelope can sit with her back facing the wall so she feels less secluded and more involved in family happenings. Those tip-prone pink boxes had to go. I cleared out her unused supplies as well and fit all her good supplies in a little plastic caddy she can take with her anywhere. All of her supplies go and everything has a place. Since the compartments are clear, it's easier for her to keep track of where things are supposed to go. No more stray supplies. They stay contained! I found some cork drawer liner with an adhesive backing. I plastered that onto the wall so now Penelope instantly has a place to display her gorgeous drawings and sculptures. She's really gotten into sculptures lately. And the tooth fairy (that's a whole different blog post, though). The updates are very subtle, but have made such a huge difference to keep the hallway clear of debris. It's so great to walk to my room without stepping on scissors and shards of paper! It's been a thrill to see Penelope's artistic side flourish, particularly in these last few months. She has such a wild imagination, I hope she keeps going in this awesome direction!

This post is sponsored by Sprout Kids, but all opinions and thoughts are my own.