Remember my beautiful swap gift from the May Day basket giveaway? It just got even better! Karin http://www.creativechaos.typepad.com/ sent me MORE! I got these two tags in the mail and promptly put them up on a shelf in my office
. Thanks, Karin!
Which made me think about taking photos of the rest of my office instead of finishing the housecleaning that I have been putting off. It takes me days to clean because I get so sidetracked.
My office is a corner of my art studio and the walls of it are made up of old doors hinged together.
Here is a view of the outside, peeking in through a French door. I try not to block the light by hanging anything solid on the doors, so my sparkly K and an embellished frame are a perfect fit.
French doors (from a garage sale for $15) are the best, they keep the room from feeling too closed in. The gazebo thing is something my son and I made out of porch columns from a junk store for $6 each, some corner brackets and 2x4s.
The painting is a watercolor I did of the front of my studio. Did I mention that I adore my studio and spend all the time that I can out here? After years of using the kitchen table, or a card table in the guest room, or the garage- I am thrilled to have this space to work in.
The floors are cement that I have stained to give them some color. The rug is a vinyl floor cover remnant ($5) that I painted like stones, originally for an article I wrote for Romantic Country? Small Room Decorating? Can’t remember which one it was right now.
Having a computer right in the studio is way too convenient for goofing off and surfing blogs too. The room also has all of our home office needs, so I’ve tried to use attractive hiding places for all the necessities. Old suitcases, vintage paper covered boxes, parts of old dressers, etc.
For furnishings,I mosaiced the top of a narrow white cabinet I found at a garage sale for $2, used a $45 walnut drop leaf table for a desk, and the black hutch is another garage sailing find for $50- lots of space in it.
The shelf on the wall is an old chippy paint planter box I bought from Beth http://bethleintz.typepad.com/ and I like it so much, I don’t put much in it, I hate to cover it up. It has photos of Sugar Wings and of my Dad who passed away last year. (If you notice in the photo, I am in it- with ANOTHER hair color- and no paint on my clothes!!) the sign above the box "comfort & joy" is one that I painted, and it used to be the name of my shop.
The file cabinet is a new oak one that I painted white and distressed. As much as I like to use only vintage and used furniture, sometimes I have to be practical and a filing cabinet the right size was just not turning up for me, so I got a new one and made it look old.
One more thing I love about my office- I found this calender at Sentimental Journey (an antique shop full of bargains) with the month and day torn off to my birthday 5-5-58! Had to buy it, and it has a great pocket for stashing things.
An office isn’t that interesting, all the tech stuff and paperwork around, but I just don’t want to go and clean my house for the Boss’s Dinner Party Feast I have coming up tomorrow night. I was bored and avoiding work and I just happened to be in the office and started to take photos. It doesn’t take much to entertain or sidetrack me.
I do run on, don’t I? Well, I’ll keep going, the more I play around with this the less cleaning I have to face. No, wait, it will still be there, won’t it???
Two of my blogger friends asked about the shard jewelry I didn’t sell because of the art show raining out. so here are photos to shop from for them, if you are interested also, let me know. They are usually $28 each, but that is considering show fees, percentages paid to the fair, etc. So, blogging price to you guys? $20, what a steal!! The bails these hang from are sterling silver and the solder is all lead free.
Okay, here is my ROSE A DAY FOR 10 DAYS IN MAY– rose # 7, in honor of Caring Bloggers Rose Day on May 10th sponsored by: http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/
Twinkle in a rose patterned hankie sitting in a rose needle work chair. Happy May 7th!!!
that furry face…I can’t take it! Doesn’t he just melt your heart everyday? I’ve made my choice!!!! I will email you…. Oh, and I love your office!
Karla, I am loving these little peeks into your fabulously lovely home.
Hello! What a lovely blog you have! I love your art studio and your artwork! The broken china jewelry is so pretty! I have lots of broken china (I’m an accident-prone kinda girl) and I would love to make jewelry like this with it, if I can ever figure out how. Your little puppy is too sweet! I will be sure to visit again to see what lovely things you have created! Come and visit my blog sometime!
Michelle
You know how you see pictures of people’s homes and you think…I could move right in…well, I could move right in and the doggie could stay too. LOL
Oh my God – I LOVE Twinkle. She is so sweet! Your studio is beautiful – maybe you can help me put mine together – it is always a work in progress!
Karla
Great work space! The French doors are so fun and unique. I like when you “waste time” and share your photos with us. 🙂
I feel like I just spent some time visiting with an old friend in her lovely retreat. How beautiful it is and put together so well. And what can I say about Twinkle? Adorable is the word. Thanks for the visit.
Cheryl Sims
Love your office ~ I can understand why you love to go there & “goof off”! Love those twinkle lights & tulle, too. You are lucky to have such a talented son to help you build stuff. What a neat idea a gazebo office is! Didn’t he help with the kitchen cabinets, too?
Twinkle is too cute in that hankie ~ I don’t think you’ll be able to post ANY rose picture that can compete with that one! 🙂
Stephanie
What a really inspiring environment to work in. No wonder you get all that lovely painting done!!!
Kathy
Thanks for sharing your studio space with all of us! WOW, you have so much room!! It is the perfect place to be creative, or go “fall into the blogging hole” for a few hours!
Lidy
Karla/Karin what beautiful art you make. And what lovely surroundings you live in. I got God-smacked as I opened your page.
I am so glad you visited me on my blog. Maybe I should start writing my texts in English too…
May I link you on my page?
May I show some of your art, as well?
Hugs Eva Agnes
Ooooeee! I love all of this 🙂
If I had this cute creative space I’d be writing magazine articles too!
Twinkle is a good sport and sooo romantic!
What a lovely surprise to run across your blog this morning! Your studio is so great, I just want to grab my coffee and come and and nose around at all your wonderful things! And your little Twinkle! OH! I could just squeeze the stuffin’ out of her in her cute little hanky. I’ll be back for sure!
Smiles, Karen
Wow Karla, I LOVE your office. Sooo charming. You are very clever. Clarice
Wow Karla, I LOVE your office. Sooo charming. You are very clever. Clarice
What a room! I would love this – it’s coming… but it will still never be like this. Awesome!
Cheryl
Pretty spaces. I’d like to be able to see the whole thing as it is. Charming.
~Jody
Love the lights in the netting…… such a magical look!
🙂
http://bluebirdroses.blogspot.com/
I swear, you’re dang lucky I live so far away from you…I would totally steal that dog! She is SO stinkin’ cute with her little vintage hanky on!
I would love to buy one of your shard pieces from you…email me!
I love your office. And the rest of your house too! 🙂
Susan
scrapsalot1@yahoo.com
Oh my!! That is the cutest dog collar I have ever seen!! What a doll of a dog!