Where Bloggers Create lV

 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...

http://www.mydesertcottage.com/

Where Women Create III

 

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Computer problems caused

me to miss the July 15^th deadline for, ‘Where Bloggers Create III’, an absolutely amazing event hosted annually by the wonderful Karen Valentine of ‘My Desert Cottage’. 
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I participated last year and was thrilled at the chance to peek into the brilliant spaces of so many wonderful artist/bloggers. You should definitely check out the link at the end of this post…I can assure you, you’ll be amazed at what you see once you venture into the rooms where women explore creativity, and share their joy!

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Though too late to participate in the event, I thought to share a few shots of my own tiny corner of inspiration for friends who
stop by.

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In this room, I surround myself with things I love. Settled at my desk under the Tibetan prayer flags sent by my dear friend Sherry Blue Sky, it is impossible not to feel inspiration bubbling up to the surface.
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Mine is a space stuffed to

the ceiling with treasures,

and though tightly

packed, I can put my

hand on whatever

 I need at a moments

notice,

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Colourful boxes help keep me organized, and are cherished as
much for their beauty as for the many items they can hold.

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Pens and pencils line up in neat rows...
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and rubber stamps

stand to attention

against an

art-bedecked wall.
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It's telling that my husband never worries I'll drag him into jewelry stores, but does wince visibly when I suggest a quick look into every stationery department we pass!

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Order is good, but any decent studio
 should contain its fair share of whimsy…

It seems only fitting to me that rulers
reside in boots, and cigar boxes
overflow with jewel-toned buttons.
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While I call this my studio, there is  very little art made there, I’m afraid.
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I do tackle the odd project like this shadowbox

honouring my mother and father...

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an assemblage built around how dearly my mother loved her father...
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and a collage that says how strongly I feel about the need for art in our lives.

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But when pressed, I’m forced
to admit that my studio is
 mainly the repository of
 my many collections!
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Things old and worn call out to me….

Cameras long out of use...

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 typewriters for which one can no longer find ribbons...
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and vintage sewing notions stuffed into clear jars.

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Some pieces are loved more dearly than others. I truly believe there is magic to be found in my little storybook tins.
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 I adore this old
pen-nib box,
quickly salvaged
when it was

discarded at work...
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 and I've been collecting
wheeled tins
for so long that
they’re old friends
to me now.

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Discarded film reels,
vintage school primers,
and bright balls of wool
have an intrinsic

beauty that I’m unable
to resist!
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Clearly, I am an incorrigible

magpie!

  

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I share my studio with Miss Prue. 

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A quiet and easy companion, Prudence tends to wear all her jewelry at once and simply pulls on more layers when she can’t decide which outfit to wear...
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As I've been known
 to take the same
carefree approach
to life, we've come to

consider ourselves

'artistic' rather

than 'eccentric'!

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The very best thing about my studio is that it adjoins my library with it's floor-to-ceiling shelves and scores of books.
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A daily wander from one room to the other is the best way to remind myself how blessed I truly am...
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Hopefully, you enjoyed the tour of my little world. I also hope you drop by "Where Bloggers Create III "- it is a true celebration of the friendship, inspiration and inclusivity that makes blogging the true joy it is in our lives.
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http://mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/
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Mad Tea Party....Where Bloggers Create... .and The Bloggerette Society

I am lucky enough, (or foolhardy enough) to be taking part in several events at the same time! If you've come for the Mad Tea Party, please check out the two posts below. The Bloggerettes Rush is next after that and if you'd like to see my WBC studio shots, just scroll down a little further.

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In any case, I'm so glad you've stopped by. Do settle in for a cozy visit. I would love to hear how you're enjoying the parties. It might take a wee while, but if you leave me a message I will get back to each and every one of you. You are the ladies who are my inspiration, after all...

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A Studio Picture A Day In May (The End)

May 30th:

Every woman should have

her own tools, preferably

newer than these ones!

May 31st:

And of course, no studio is

complete without its

resident teddy bears...