The first thing you might notice about my studio is that I have way too much stuff, a circumstance shared by many artists and crafters, I'm sure... but my collections and supplies comfort and inspire me on a daily basis.
With everything visible and within reach, my creative spirit bounds to life as soon as I walk into this overstuffed room.
Favourite artists' works are always close at hand. On my door is a poster titled, "One World, One Hope", designed by Joe Average for an AIDS Conference held in Vancouver some years ago.
Its plea for united brotherhood never fails to move me.
While it's true that I have a lot crammed into this tiny space, it is organized and tidy...at least, most of the time!
Drawers, shelves and containers of all sorts are pressed into service in an effort to keep the chaos at bay. I particularly like clear jars that let me find what I need at a glance, be it scrabble letters, buttons or beads.
I continue to believe there's a little magic to be found in my storybook tins.
Unfortunately, time restraints
have often kept me from
pursuing my artistic efforts
to the extent I might have wished,
but as I have just hit the magical
retirement age, I will finally be
able to chase a few of the
dreams I have kept on hold
for years.
What a glorious feeling of
freedom and
possibility that is!
This picture was taken
as a scrapbook
project was ongoing.
I could have tidied it up, but desks are made to work on after all, not be show pieces.
The carpet has long since come
out and I've been waiting, (a while!), for my dear husband to finish putting in the hardwood floor.
Growing weary of
drab plywood
underfoot, I painted
on this cheery rug.
I will miss when
it finally gets
covered up, though I don't think I need worry about that just yet!
Inspiration boards spill over with
opera programs, postcards
and assorted bits that
have captured my
imagination.
My Artful Dodger poster always
makes me smile...Nick Bantock's
artwork simply
amazes me.
This is my muse. Isn't she beautiful?
We rarely see figurines of this sort
here in Canada...I was delighted to
find her while on a visit to the States.
Her grace and quiet beauty embody
all the qualities of a sincere
and giving heart that I work on
emulating every day.
Always the dilletante, I am easily pulled from one project to the next.
While happily prepping journal pages, I'll spy my colourful stack of wool and decide it's time to knit another scarf. The fact that it may be summer does not discourage me from rooting through baskets of woolly balls to begin a new project.
I am hooked on all Stampington &
Company publications. In neat and
orderly rows, I store every issue
of Somerset Studio, Artful Blogger
and Where Women Create.
My goal is to be published in
Somerset Studio. Of course,
that means I need
to control my procrastination
habit and actually submit
something!
It goes without saying that books are
an important part of every room.
I have always been a bibliophile, and
own a sizeable collection of
art and crafting books that I pore
over lovingly.
If I could only control that
evil doppleganger,
Penny Procrastination,
I have all the tools I need
to produce great art!
Photography being my
first love,
I'm fond of setting up
vignettes
of vintage sewing goods
and
stationery supplies.
I love the little
medicine cabinet
below and am always on the lookout for
antique jars to
fill it up.
A collection of tiny chairs line up on the window ledge, ever-ready should very small visitors come to call...I'm sure there are faeries at the bottom of my garden.
As convenient as computers unarguably are, doesn't everyone love the look of old typewriters?
By now you will have guessed
my secret...that I spend
more time talking about making
art than actually doing so.
While photography and writing
are my passions, and I do
pursue them avidly, I am aching
to expand my creative
boundaries.
I am making progress. It certainly helps to have my own space with its bounty of supplies and endless inspiration. Wonderful things are bound to happen here!
I know how fortunate I am to have my own space and never take it for granted.
I am also doubly blessed....my studio adjoins our personal library which is stuffed to the brim with books. How lucky can one lady be?
For more inspirational studios, do stop by Karen Valentine's blog and check out her party. It promises to be spectacular...
