There were a few plain bags left over after Beth and I made up all of the goodie bags for Bird Song. So, I foofed them up with trims and flowers and pretties that I had stashed in the studio, to use for another event I have coming up soon. This rose image is printed on canvas and it is one of those things that has been waiting for the right project.
Now, I'm a BIG believer in "using the good stuff" as I've mentioned before. But also, I believe in not wasting it and using it willy nilly either!
I hang on to things till the right project comes along. Its not hoarding, no way. Its establishing a catelog of supplies so I'll have what I need when I need it.
There is a fine line between accumulating too much and having plenty to chose from when you are ready to work on something, though. I don't think I can define that line…
But when my pal, Kim, asked me to be a sponsor for her Moulin Rouge event in March (which I can't wait to go to!)- I was at a loss for a moment when she said she needed SEVENTY items for the goodie bags.
That sounded like a lot. But once I glanced around the studio, I quickly came up with plenty of pretties that I had plenty of. What I settled on, was a few tidbits in a glam color palette tucked into little pouches that I made with metallic flocked wallpaper.
While I was at it, I made an extra one up too, and over stuffed it with some fun "good stuff". I realized that I had missed out on my 4 year blog-o-versary and needed a gift to draw a name for.
Then, my blog friend, Mrs. Staggs, commented on my previous statement about always using the "good stuff". She said that like many artists, she struggles to actually use her best supplies.
We decided that what we need is a challenge! Want to join us? Everyone should delve into their best supplies and cut, chop, glue, and enjoy them, then show us what you've created.
I'll host a Linky party so you can share your post about your best supplies.
How about in two weeks? That should give us time to make something good. Of course, a week of that might be spent staring at that great paper and getting up the courage to cut into it….
I'll draw a name for my package of good stuff that day.(Leave a comment on any post between now and then, as often as you'd like, to enter)
You can use this button on your blog so that everyone knows you'll be participating.
Make anything you'd like. Just use some of your treasures to make it!
While I had the sewing machine set up to work on goodie bags for Bird Song, I decided to work on a few other little sewing projects. I wanted to make some crepe paper ruffles to have setting out as extra supplies for anyone who wants to use it on their project for my class that weekend.
And guess what? I need some of the ruffles to add to the kits that I am making up for these classes too! I get to teach at Paper Cowgirls!!!!!! Yee Haw! I'm a cowgal!
The classes are June 9th- 11th someplace in Texas. I guess I should be figuring out where.
I'll be teaching these miniature dress forms. I'm busily finding cool stuff to put in the kits for those too. Lots of old papers, millinery, and lace. Each kit will be just a bit different, when you are providing vintage materials, its different than going to the store or ordering a bunch of something online.
There are still a few spots open for Bird Song, if I don't see you there, maybe I will at Paper Cowgirls? Or at Jenn's event in Ashville?Sign ups haven't started yet for Paper Cowgirls or Once Upon a Dream, I'll let you know when they open for registration.
We still have a few spots left for Bird Song. Debbie and Carol have about a billion readers each, so when they mention it on their blogs, those spots will be gone fast. If you want to come, you should sneak in now before the big guns announce it!
PS- Carol has a new site too, have you seen it yet?
Ever notice how one project leads to another? After sewing up the crepe paper ruffles, I decided that the edges of the paper needed to be coffee dyed. So, I dipped it and then thought, why waste the rest of the coffee? Next thing I know, I'm scrounging for ribbons and trims to add to the coffee.
Then, I printed off some old French images that I'd scanned. I had a few extra bags un-embellished from my craft day with Beth and New Karla on Tuesday, so I thought that I would foof them up while the sewing machine was still out.
After printing the images onto the fabric, I dipped it in the coffee too.
I ended up making 10 more bags for another little party that I am having at my house, not the Bird Song event.
Some of the images I used on these bags were from Romantic Gothic Ghosts and Romantic White Christmas workshops that I did with Beth. So much of the ephemera that we scanned for those classes is good for more than just holiday decor.
For these bags, I used the fabric printed images as pockets, then glued on some embellishments and doo dads.
Its been a bit schizophrenic around the studio the last couple of days. Like I said, one thing leads to another and then all of a sudden, I've got a half dozen different things in the works. Like, when I was trimming up wallpaper to scan to print onto the fabric, I thought- why waste the salvage from it???
So, I got out the paper shredder and next thing I know, I"m shredding up all sorts of pieces too little to be good for much else. (they were still laying around from when I made up the kits for Bird Song). So, now, I have packing materials for shipping when I reopen the Boutique.
( I should be working on getting some inventory built up for my grand reopening, huh? Seems more important to have something to sell than shreds of paper to wrap stuff up in, at least it would be if I wasn't a schizo crafter this week! )
Did I mention that I am also writing 3 articles by the 18th, making 70 gifts for Moulin Rouge, and baby sitting my fairy grandbaby all weekend? No wonder you are NOT seeing any pretty Valentines on my posts.
Thanks to these kind friends who offered to be sponsors for Bird Song and help fill the goodie bags! Later on, I'll do a post with photos of what they send in, along with the rest of the goodies from the other sponsors. Its going to be one tasty, stuffed goodie bag, that is for sure!!
While on the trip to Nebraska I was able to get started on gift bag goodies for my Bird Song event in the Spring. The theme is nature and birds, so I thought these nest brooches made from felted sweaters and beads would be ideal to pin onto the gift bags that dearest Beth is helping me make.
Yesterday, she brought some examples of ones she made over here but, silly me, I forgot to get photos of them. We are having another craft day next week to make the bags and do taxes. There is nothing better than a BBF who is an accountant when tax season comes along. I'm not asking her to actually do the taxes themselves, but she is invaluable in helping me sort numbers and get stuff ready.
I didn't get to do much shopping while in Nebraska, but I did make a side trip to 2nd Chance in Omaha and scored a couple of hats covered in blooms. The other is small, white velvet flowers, just what I needed for the kits I am making for my class project for Bird Song. I'm making up overstuffed kits filled with vintage goods, enough so that no one will have to bring anything at all for the project, and they will have plenty of choices to personalize what they are making.
The students will have many options for making my project their own. I'm giving them plenty of ephemera and extra tid bits so that no two people will have the exact same creation.
No, this isn't our project for the weekend. This was my funeral craft project. Doesn't everyone have the family make crafts at funeral gatherings?
For Christmas, I'd made up a bunch of paper clay snowmen heads for all of us to work on while dinner cooks. But the day was hectic and most people were running late, so we never got around to making them. Instead of saving them for next year, I thought we'd make the heads into fairies and pixies.
So, while the house was filled with family staying with us for the funeral, some of us decorated these paper clay guys. For pixies or gnomes, we left the carrot noses as they were originally on the snowmen. For fairies, I snipped off and sanded the noses down smaller.
Most of the heads were sat on boxes that we decorated, some on spools. This one is just a decapitated head so far. I might build a paper clay body for her. Or maybe she'll just get a decorated spool.
Or maybe she'll just sit on my desk like this for a while. As a reminder of all the things I need to get done and can't quite catch up on. Oh, no, that would be depressing. I'd better finish her instead and let her be a good luck charm!
Before going to Florida, I whipped up a couple gifts to take along. I needed a hosting gift for my baby bro and his husband for having us stay with them, plus a Christmas gift for both of the guys.
This year, they lost their darling Tilly, who had been their baby for many years. They've adopted a new Bichon, named Belle, so I made up a Belle fairy box for them.
I covered a wooden box from the craft store in this vintage dictionary paper printed with butterflies (a gift from Mary) since the guys raise butterflies in their garden.
Its topped with a tiny Bichon figurine that I added wings to. She is nestled in moss by a couple of mushrooms I made from paper clay and a mini bottle brush tree.
The arch is a wire, bent over and poked through the top of the box, then twisted under the lid to stay in place. It was then covered in millinery, a sparkled branch cut from a garland, and a vintage bumble bee brooch.
Another box was covered in vintage paper and topped with a snowman head. I'd made a dozen of these heads up for Christmas Dinner Craft Hour at my home, but the night became so chaotic, that no one had a chance to sit and play with me. I guess I'll save the heads for next year.
But for now, I thought my little brother, Randy would enjoy one. His husband, Kevin gets a foofed tree.
Its fun to have gay brothers, they love the things I make more than anyone else!!
I go the idea for this little guy from my buddy, Dawn. She makes the BEST stuff!
I know I'm a bit late with Christmas goodies, but these guys decorate their home big time and will certainly get use out of both of these.
This tree is a gift for my pal, Angie. We didn't meet up before the holiday, but I can see her setting out this pink frothy tree for Valentine's too, can't you?
I'll take her to lunch too. Something to look forward to after getting back from our Grand Adventure to Disney! Planning a day out with a buddy will help with that after Christmas/post holiday let down.
While away on the trip, I'll be meeting up with Suzanne and Jenn. So, I made them a couple of Frozen Charlotte fairy brooches.
I just love these 1" little dolls! They are so dainty and sweet, they just HAVE to become fairies.
And this is not from me, its to me. From the talented Miss Sandy! What a nice surprise when Beth brought it over. Sandy sent one to each of us in a box to Beth. I chose this one because 5 is my lucky number. (my birthday is 5-5-58, and it would be even better if I was born 3 years earlier, but then, I'd be three years achey-er and tired-er)
My good friend, Kim, sent a Fairyopolis book for Sugarwings and me to share. Its got this great pop-up in the back, and we have really enjoyed exploring all the details.
Sugarwings also got a package filled with fairy friends to share with her baby sister and Pixie Pie.
They brought lots of giggles with them. Thanks, Marilou!
PS- to shop at 40% off in my Boutique, you need to use this link:
Sugarwings and I had a pretend tea party this weekend, and we both opened hostess gifts from the Dorothy tag books swap. I'm so touched by all the thoughtfulness! Anyone who knows me, knows that the way to my heart is to spoil that little fairy grand baby of mine.
Or to make something for me, I Iove hand made things! Or to give me ephemera and supplies to use in my own work. Or to to make a thoughtful gesture. I guess there are lots of ways to get to me, I so appreciate an act of kindness!
Before the party started, we opened a gift from Barbara, that she sent, "just because". I swear, don't you meet the nicest people in the blog world?
We called it the Yellow Brick Road Dress. It's a colorful concoction featuring a road, appliqued ruby slippers down the front, and poppies stitched to the shoulder.
Sugarwings has both red glittered slippers from the Oz movie and silver glittered slippers that were in the Oz book. I found them at garage sales, and she loves them so much, that she insists they are on her bed at night when I tuck her in. Not exactly cuddly, but they make her happy. And I know how women can be about their shoes. Personally, I have Fred Flinstone feet and am always happy to find a non-Birkenstock that fits me. So, I can't be a shoe person like she is. Wish I could.
Agnes Rosebud was invited to the party, and I dressed her up in the poppy headband that Barb had made to go with the dress. But the little pup wasn't all that interested in our presents.
Until this one came out of the box! Even the dogs were remembered with a hostess gift of tasty treats.
And oh my! Do you see that flying monkey on the altered blocks?? Sorry its not facing the camera completely, the two blocks spell OZ in green glittered letters and its cuter than a bug! Its from Amy Bauer.
The monkey was all wrapped up as a gift to me, but Sugarwings can't quite believe it is not for her. If we have to arm wrestle for it, I think I can take her.
The ribbon in her hair was part of the wrapping that I saved from the packages filled with tags. I salvage every little bit of tissue, bubble wrap, and ribbon that comes along with the avalanche of artwork. When you order goods from my shop, I try to use as much recycled packaging as I can, and the outside of the envelopes often are covered with black sharpie scribbles marking out the old addresses. But I really take time and care to make the purchases look good when you get the package open.
And so many of the swappers did too. I did some oohing and awing over the way some of the tags were wrapped up. Then, I scooped up the stuff to save and use again! Thanks, swappers!
The Good Witch/Bad Witch buttons that are pinned to her Yellow Brick Road dress were gifts from my Sissy to Sugarwing's Hippie Chick Mommy. This kid gets her love of all things Oz from her mom and her dear departed Nanny, who were both huge Oz fans.
As much as I enjoy the Dorothy story, I don't come close to those girls. They are fanatics.
I've become more of an Oz afficionado since being around them. I can definately quote the movie, act it out, and sing the songs when called for.
Toto is my favorite character, so I really enjoyed this cute zipper pull and will add it to my little fairie's winter coat.
Many of the swappers included extra tags for my own book, or hand made thank you cards that were so cute, I had to add them to my tag book.
This one features little Agnes Rosebud as a tiny baby.
When I host a swap, I'm lucky to get lots of extra tags to fatten my books up. I have them all on display in the studio hanging from this metal shelf. And everyonce in a while I'll take them down to flip through. Its wonderful to have a mini collection of so many artist's work.
To receive hand made, personal gifts from the artists too, is just amazing! Cheryl made this box and book and I was floored when I opened it. Do you ever feel like a dweeb compared to other artists? I was overwhelmed by so many of the really extrordinary art that arrived at my doorstep for this swap. Its impressive to see the talent out there, and even more impressive to see all the tags spread out on my table tops to drool over.
So, if your book is a little curled up on the edges, that is just drool from my admirations.
Okay, now here comes the embarrassing part. I hate to admit this to you, but I might have screwed up. After finishing all the mailing, there is still a book on my desk….
I never said I was good at this. I just said I tried really, really hard to stay organized.
All the names are marked off the list. So, I have no idea who didn't get one.
On the other hand, so many people sent in extra tags, and I made so many myself, and of course, that will really throw off the numbers.
So, if you don't have your book by the end of the week, please let me know. So Sorry. Very Sorry.
Also, someone didn't get a Toto tag in their basket on the cover of the book. If your basket is empty let me know. There is a Toto on my desk waiting to be reunited with his Dorothy. ooops again.
Thank you, to all who were part of the swap and thanks also for all of the thoughtful gifts! Totally unessacary, but greatly enjoyed by us both!
Thanks for all the compliments about my pretty little fairy baby at the Renfest! I have to agree, she's a cutey.
We had her most of the holiday weekend, along with my mother-in-law here for a few days from Green River, WY. Chasing Sugarwings kept me busy most of the time, but after she left, I had a day to spend with my husband's mother. She sat at the dining table and embroidered and at first I was up and down doing little chores here and there, and tidying up the place (after Hurricane Sugarwings has blown through, there is a lot of picking up to do).
But I did spend a bit of time sitting at the table and the more I sat, the more I stared at the buffet and the painting above it. The buffet had been maple finish and I painted it gray with a cream glaze over it last spring. And the picture was one that I have loved for years but always thought about lightening up.
For the last few years, EVERYONE told me not to paint it. And I rarely leave things as is, but I knew that this frame was worth money the way it was.
But honestly, was I ever going to sell it? No, I've had it for a long time and always plan on keeping it. I figure that I deserve to look at it and enjoy it, without debating whether or not it should be painted.
I know, there will be gasps of horror. But I'm glad I did it. And I didn't just slap some white on it, I took my time and made the frame look old. Well, "took my time" is all relative, I guess. I paint fast, I had the buffet, the small mirror frame, and the large, antique frame done in about 3 hours while I chatted with my mother-in-law.
Here is what I did:
Primer, good bonding primer. I just tucked some wax paper behind the frame and painted it on the wall right where it hung. The wax paper protected the wall from my brush.
A coat of ivory/bisque eggshell paint
Thick coat of porcelain crackle finish (I worked on the buffet while this dried)
Next, I brushed on and wiped off coffee with cream colored glaze
After that dried, I lightly sanded all raised areas. I was careful to do this lightly with a sanding sponge, because much of the ornamentation was plaster. I wanted to get down to the gold paint, not the white plaster.
I added another layer of crackle glaze.
As the crackle glaze dried, it had a chemical reaction with the exposed gold paint and turned a greenish tint, like a copper patina. (this is a trick I discovered accidentally a while back and love to use. Its unpredictable but pretty)
Over this, I brushed on and rubbed off an ivory glaze and a sepia glaze, randomly putting them over the frame, some over lapping, some spots one color, some spots no glaze.
After it all dried, it was a little too green, so I dry brushed the ivory/bisque colored base paint over the areas that were too vivid.
Then a little more sanding to bring out the dark wood and more of the gold paint underneath.
This was a lot of steps, but I think they paid off, the frame looks like it was out in someone's shed being stored away for years.
The main trick is to not be too perfect. Nature doesn't age things perfectly. Sometimes the trick to a good faux finish is to be messy.
I did NOT cover this with clear coat. If I had, there might have been another chemical reaction with the newly sanded spots with gold paint showing through. It would have turned more green after the clear coat dried.
The buffet got a very similar treatment, with a creamy white painted streakily over the existing gray, so the gray showed through.
Then, crackle glaze, and sepia brushed on and wiped off over the crackle, after it dried.
I used the sepia very heavy in corners and edges.
When it was all dry, I used an acrylic clear coat over the entire piece.
I love crackle. Its tricky and unpredictable, but wow, when it comes out nice, it is really something. Don't ever use too much, use it selectively in spots. Not on every single inch of the piece. And feel free to add another coat or two if needed, and you're not thrilled with the first. (this only applies to porcelain crackle, weathered crackle is a different product. Read your labels!!)
After repainting, I re-foofed the top of the buffet, using some of the projects that I made in the Romantic Gothic Ghosts class. This cone was done from Beth's images and tutorial. I didn't have a cone handy, so I used an upside down party hat.
I'm so glad that I have the class pretties to display in my "new" dining room for fall! The moody, wistful shades (with NO orange!!) are just what this room needs to look festive and still look like "my" house- not the Halloween party store.
We are adding some little videos, giveaways, and decorating tips to the Gothic Ghost blog. The posts will be left up as long as I have a Typepad account (and I don't see me leaving any time soon), so you can take the classes at your leisure. But if you want to win any of the prizes, those are time sensitive. There are still three to give away.
Often, I see the beautiful posts up for White Wednesday, but I'm never in time to enter. Well, today seems to be a good fit and timely too. So, I'll be linking with Faded Charm.
As much as I love whites, I really should make more of an effort to be a part of it regularly!!
There are so many link parties now a days… Here are more that I joined. I usually don't get around to it, but they are always fun when I do!
I appreciate all your input on my Silver Bella worries about clique-ishness. My reason for bringing it up, is that I LOVE that event and would hate to see it develop any kind of bad rep. I always find such a happy, creative atmosphere when I am there, that I feel sad to think others might not see it that way.
Thanks for joining in on the conversation. I hope that you will consider coming to Omaha in November and see for yourself just how magical the weekend is.
My life is finally getting back to normal from my trip out to CA. I'm listing some new things in the Boutique and getting back to work. The first few days back, I had a horrible time trying to focus on doing anything constructive. I just wanted to water flower beds, play with Sugarwings and Agnes Rosebud, and keep reading. My mind didn't want to switch out of vacation mode!
After a week of having plenty of time to enjoy reading good books, it wasn't easy to put them down. Especially when I was in the middle of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I just had to finish it before I started back up with real life.
Yesterday, I was able to combine playing with Sugarwings and working. She and I got some clay out and made mermaids.
This one is still a bit rough. I used cheapo air clay by Crayola instead of getting the good stuff, the paper clay recommended by teachers at my Mermaid getaway in CA. I found this harder to work with, it gets really goopy and easily messed up. The paper clay is easier to use, is lighter weight and dries faster.
It feels like it will be days before this one is dry enough to paint. Before I do, I'll get out some fine sandpaper and clean up the facial features, since I was simply smearing them around with my fingers dipped in water. I must have wiped her poor little nose clear off her face three times. This clay got so mushy, it just washes away.
Paper Clay works wonderfully with wet finger tips as a smoothing tool. So, I ordered some online from the site that Jenny suggested, Creative Paper Clay Company
The site had kind of high prices, ($11.99) but offered a wholesale price too ($6) . So, I clicked on the wholesale button, and got the packages of clay half price. With no minimum order and no questions about whether you were a business or not. Odd. But I was happy they told me that I could buy it for less if I left their retail site! How nice of them to let us know.
One of the teachers I especially enjoyed in CA was Julie Haymaker
Her class was a crown/headband, but she encouraged mixing it up and trying something different. Knowing I wouldn't be comfortable in a head band (they give me headaches) I decided to use her ideas on a collage instead.
There was an itinerary on the table in front of each of us, conveniently printed on sturdy card stock. So, I flipped it over, covered it in vintage papers and turned it into this. I liked using that, because this piece becomes even more of a souvenir of the event, with the time table on the back.
Charlene gave me the transfer of a mermaid that she made from instructions by Lisa from a class at Paper Cowgirls. It was exactly what I needed.
Julie provided us with star fish made from Paper Clay, and head pins with beads to make the sprays coming out of the shell.
I added a frozen Charlotte mermaid and some rhinestone sparklies.
Our last class of the weekend was this journal/album taught by Melissa Phillips. It has a canvas cover that we embellished with Glimmer Mist and stenciled shapes.
I brought some old wallpaper and paper dolls with a summer time feel, and used those instead of the papers provided. The papers were interesting and I'll save them for a photo album. I use scrap book papers in scrapbooks, but for art projects I prefer old things.
I'm saving space in this little book for some photos of my buddies at the event. Its full of pockets that I've already tucked business cards and mementos into.
And I don't think I've shown you won of my lucky wins, have I? This art doll mermaid is from Jennifer Norman
I was lucky to get Jenn Hayslip as a swap partner in Jessi's art bottle swap. She found sheet music featuring a fairy boat and made the cutest pink bottle with this little baby fairy on it for me. Yep, it was my lucky week!
You still have today and tomorrow to enter the drawing for my mermaid inspired pearl earrings. Where did July go, anyway???
Its been Mermaid Madness around the studio getting ready for my BIG weekend in California.
I'll be in Manhattan Beach for a sea side art escape hostessed by Kim. Who, I've heard, is the world's best hostess. From spending time with her in the past and hearing her stories about preparing for her events, I believe it. She is dedicated and does it all with devotion. I know we are in for a good time.
And from looking at the class descriptions, I can tell that the projects will be just wonderful. I'm sure they come with lots of goodies, but I like to pack extras to give the finished products my own touch.
These two mermaids might end up on the journal or the crown… not sure which, but what project wouldn't be appropriate to add a sparkling little merperson to?
I've made these sprites with vintage cake topper ballerinas. I doubt if this would work with the reproduction ballerinas, the plastic they are made of is too hard and would crack if you tried to cut into it. The older ones are of a softer material and were easy, well not easy, but semi-easy, to cut with jewelry clippers.
I cut off their skirts and legs (remember the movie "Boxing Helena"?) then made a tail from paper clay, let it dry, glued it on and glittered it.
The silver one has a bit of a chunky butt going on, because I didn't trim enough skirt off. But I can't hold it against her, I do too. So, I added an accessory to draw the eye away from her extra wide hips. All those years of watching "What Not to Wear" have taught me a little something.
Besides supplies, and gifts for my swap hostess, (tomorrow's post) I wanted some extra little gifties to pass out here and there. So, I made a mermaid from a girl cut from a Victorian scrap book, and added a wallpaper tail.
Then, I glued her to this pink underwater wallpaper (how cool was that to find in my sample books!?) and made copies on card stock.
After cutting them all out, I embellished each with metallic inks, ribbons, ruffles, and trims.
Each one got a Mother of Pearl button and a little shell.
To the top of each, I tied a small vial filled with teeny shells, crystals, and pearls.
If you'd like to make your own mermaid, here is the original scrap art that I used. If I have done this right, you should be able to click on it to make it bigger. Then, print the larger one to cut out and use in your art. If you print it directly from the post as is, it won't have enough pixels to make it usable.
And here is the girl with her tail on the back ground if you'd like to print it this way to use. I hope I've done it right. If not, let me know and I'll try to redo it when I get back from my trip next week.
Another perk for the upcoming weekend, is the parties. Beyond the event itself, there are bonus parties thrown by some of the attendees. One is a cupcake gathering, that can't be bad.
So, I used a couple of my hand painted cup cake pictures and made up gift tags as thanks for the ladies who are treating us to the frosty goodies.
Another couple of ladies are hosting a welcoming cocktail party. I wanted a little thank you for them too, so made up these vintage test tubes filled with shells and baubles to use during the weekend. I topped them off with these plastic mermaids that hang on the side of a drink.
I think they are fitting for a cocktail party. By the way, I saw new ones like these at World Market, if you need some.
And last but not least, a room mate gift for Beth.
Did you just gasp with awe at its beauty? Or shriek with terror? Yes, its a gag gift, and about as tacky as anything could be.
Its an ucky story behind it. Sugarwings got herself a head full of lice. She says they hop like "Frickets". I think she means crickets. But to me, lice will always be frickets. And she said it in a very upbeat, cheerful way. Frickets!!!!!!
My head itches just thinking about it. No matter how many cleanings the house gets and the heads get, it still freaks me out and I itch. Of course, I already have chigger bites, but not on my head.
Gee, don't you love coming to visit me and hearing about chiggers in my drawers, lice, snakes, and rats? Maybe I should change my blog title to "Karla's Creepy Crawly Cottage".
Its brave of Beth to room with Creepy Crawly Karla, so I wanted to give her a little thank you gift too, a glittered and foofed lice comb of her very own.
Since I'm in CA as this posts, I won't be able to answer emails, comments, or ship packages till I return. But please do leave a comment, I'm giving away some pretty pearl earrings for this month's gift.
This post shows my studio over the years. For my most recent redo in 2024, please look at these posts here and here.
Edit- this post is my studio from June 2010. A 2013 post is Here , 2012 post is here, and the 2011 studio tour can be found here.
Welcome to the Where Bloggers Create party! This is the view from my desk, cluttery as it might look now, this is really an improvement. It was actually cleaned up this week. There is always a lot going on, no matter how organized I think I'll try to be…
The room is almost 1,000 sq ft. And I love every bit of it!! I've made use of dining tables, spare rooms, garages, driveways, sheds, you name it, over the years I've used it as a studio. So when I got this space, it was a dream come true and I will NEVER take it for granted. I give a little sigh of happiness when I come into the space every morning.
Its one big room, divided up with old doors that I have hinged together, and furniture placed back to back to create walls.
This view is from the same seat, at my desk, but looking to the right, at one of my favorite parts of the room, the TV.
During the day, I listen to NPR on the radio, but evenings and weekends that TV gets a work out. My husband travels a lot, so there are nights that I stay out in the studio till 3 or 4 am watching shows that I have recorded and playing with old papers to my heart's content.
Its important to me to have stuff easy to get to, so the work area is a U shape, with lots of shelving. This is behind my desk and holds a lot of the stuff I use daily.
Having attractive displays is important to me too. I cover a lot of old boxes with pretty papers, or use vintage flower pots, cups, and baskets to store things in.
Just about everything in the room came from garage sales, auctions, or thrift stores except this glass topped table that I used to store my jewelry. Its from TJ Maxx and was only $58. It was already white, I just added a vintage wallpaper border to it so it felt like it wasn't so newish.
I kind of like old jewelry.
I kind of like old hats too.
But its really the flowers from the old hats that I crave, not the hats themselves.
Glass jars with lids make a handy storage display too. So many of the things that I use for my artwork are vintagey things that are pretty as is. So I enjoy having them out where I can see them. Plus, if I tuck things away in drawers, I forget where they are.
Here is a video of part of the studio, if you have a couple minutes to watch it. Its a little long and meandering, plus I tend to babble. Sorry.
This large cabinet holds all my fabric and sewing goods. I got it in pieces, for only $15, and had to rebuild it and fix it up.
It has a large drawer in the bottom that I keep watercolor supplies in, even though I don't paint as often as a should, I do get around to it a few times a year. The framed hydrangeas by the prom dresses is one of my paintings.
So, is this one. Its from the Grumpy Fairy book that I made for Sugarwings. I framed my favorite scene and hung it on one of the French doors that I use as a room divider.
On my previous post, I showed hand painted furniture that I use in the studio. I just don't paint as often as I used to, when I do its smaller pieces like this salvage bit over the door.
Or this plank over the window.
All around the room, I've displayed things that make me smile. Little projects that I have done, things that could be projects some day, gifts from friends, or just odds and ends.
I'll leave you with a few scenes from around the room. Make sure you visit Karen for a full list of the bloggers who are showing their workspaces this weekend. There are about a billion of them. I can't wait to work my way through the list, even if it takes a couple of weeks to see them all. Its kind of like peeking into an open house in an exclusive neighborhood. I just love to see how other people decorate!
Oh, and don't forget, that all comments all month are entered to win a Peat Pot Pretty with a frozen Charlotte fairy.
And if you add your name to the list of Followers, I'll enter you in a drawing for another prize. edit- this giveaway is over now, but I do have a new monthly giveaway ongoing. All comments, all month, on all posts count.
(yes- that is a dog pen in my studio, I just raised 6 pups)
The wallhanging is a gorgeous gift from Beth.
And yes, the guardian angel seems to be watching over co-joined twins, one with an ax in her head.
Okay, I'm getting carried away, this is plenty! Have fun browsing the Where Bloggers Create party. Thanks for hosting, Karen.
Edit- Lucky me!! I am one of three winners from all the wonderful studio spaces shown for Karen's party!! Jo Packham is going to feature the three blogs in "Where Women Create"
Thanks again, so much Karen, for giving me this opportunity, and thanks to you too, Jo!
I'm adding more photos of the studio to this post, the room changes a lot, so here are some views of the room over time:
Getting ready for a Creative Cottage Getaway with friends coming to play in the studio
Extra tables set up for company
Set up for a photo shoot for a magazine article a couple years ago
The hand painted floor
My Treat cabinet in Romantic Country Magazine with an article I wrote about how to find your personal Valentine's decorating style.
From the same article. I now use this cabinet for storing my shipping supplies.
Yep, this is actually in the studio! It was set up for an open house and sale that day.
This gazebo type structure is now where I have my computer and desk sitting. The tulle and lights didn't last, spiders and dust seemed to be very attracted to them.After a few months it was starting to look kind of haunted.
Another photo shoot set up. The room is no longer used for this, at one time, I sold hand painted furniture, and used this space for displaying the pieces and having sales.
This was also for a photo shoot. Now, I use the table for my sewing machine. When I have guests for a dinner party, I feed everyone in the studio instead of the house, we can seat over 25 people out there, if I move things around and organize a bit.
The stained glass door, is not really stained glass, its paint. The door was taken from the kitchen of our old farm house before we remodeled.
But usually, I just have a dozen or so guests and push the two dining tables in the front of the studio together.
My fairy grand baby and I love inviting friends over for cupcakes and tea.
Sugarwings loves the room as much as I do.
This is the front door of the studio, since this was taken, I've painted the doors bird egg blue and added hydrangeas to the hand painted shutters (they used to be bi-fold doors, found at a garage sale for a couple dollars).
My husband and I like to have our morning coffee out here on the porch. Its also nice to sip a glass of wine on during a thunderstorm.
I love every inch of my wonderful studio space and know just how lucky I am to have it. Thanks for coming by to visit!
On Tuesday night, I had a little dinner party. It was an iffy day, sometimes too hot, sometimes too wet, so I set up a tent for shade in case the rain stayed away and we could eat outside.
Luckily, no rain, and the shade from the little pop up tent was ideal for dining outside in the evening after the heat of the day had passed.
Which made Twinkle and Agnes Rosebud pretty happy, they'd stay outdoors every minute of the day if I'd let them.
Since the day was unpredictable and I was afraid we wouldn't be able to eat outdoors if a storm came up, I cleaned my studio just in case we had to move indoors with our plates. I have two dining room tables in the front half of my workshop, that are usually piled up so high with crap, I mean, great stuff that you can't even see the tables.
The area usually only gets cleaned up for company, which is kind of sad. I wonder why I can't keep it nice for just me?
Anyway, its clean now and since it won't stay that way long, I thought I'd make the most of it and get some studio pictures.
This is the Treat Cabinet. (Lacking in treats at the moment.) I fill it up with goodies when company comes for dinner, or on craft days. If I'm out in the studio alone, that just is not a safe thing to do. If I had a full treat cabinet, I'd never get any work done.
Recently, I've decided to use the top shelf of the wardrobe as wallpaper storage, quite a bit of my collection fit up there.
This cabinet was meant to be a closet or wardrobe. It has the one shelf at the top and a bar for clothes. I added tables to set the goodies on, and cut a hole in the back to run an extension cord through for lighting.
Picking a vintage wallpaper to cover the back was tough. First of all, I wanted it to be kind of neutral- not a lot of color. Second, I wanted rosy. I chose this toile rose pattern because I think it would look good with lots of different displays when I change things up a bit.
The space under the table cloths makes great storage for cups/napkins/etc.
This is a new addition to the Treat Cabinet. My pal, Suzanne Duda, gave me this foofed up, old suitcase pocket. I thought it was ideal to use for serving pieces. I slipped a couple large cups inside it, one to hold plastic forks, the other to hold napkins, so they wouldn't all just fall into the bottom of the pockets.
Behind the cups, I slid the paper plates.
A few years back, I used to paint furniture and sell it at a Kansas City antique mall. Some days I miss doing that, but not very often. I didn't realize how hard I was working until I quit doing it. Its nice to concentrate on small items that fit into an envelope now instead!!
There are a few pieces of painted stuff still around the house, and even more in the studio. You can probably tell that the room is a bit of a hodge podge of what ever I had.
The two dining tables usually have either recently made items, or stuff for sale, or things I just bought set out on them.
The centers of the tables are filled with things that just kinda make me smile…
By the way, I do have a giveaway chosen for June! And the month is only half way over, too. All comments all month still count.
And here it is-
I'll be giving away a Peat Pot Pretty with a frozen Charlotte fairy.These will be featured in Somerset Life, I'm writing an article about it next week, which is always an honor!!
Leave a comment if you'd like a chance to win one!
I'll leave you with a couple more pics of some hand painted pieces in the studio.
And for more peeks into the room, please come back on June 19th, I'll be a part of the Where Bloggers Create party hosted by Karen Valentine.
While the room was cleaned up I made a little video of the space.
