Over at Sugar Sugar, there is a button challenge. I’ve enjoyed looking at the linked site’s bountiful displays of beautiful buttons, but the best is Beth’s. (now we need to see Susie’s seashells or hear Hilda’s horn, I do tend to over do the alliteration, huh?)
All the buttons on the challenge tour are so nicely displayed and there are even tips on washing the collections.
Washing? I dump mine into containers, dig out a handful here and there to use in projects or to send in packages. Hmmm, they are supposed to be washed?
I am hugely ignorant of button value. I was floored when Beth sold a set of 3 buttons for $150 on Ebay!!!
I just use mine, gluing them onto pretty pieces I make. I wonder how many valuable ones I have glued onto a collage and sold the whole thing for $5-10? Story of my life. If you ever buy something from me, examine the button, it might be worth a lot more than the piece itself!!
Thank you for all the kind comments about my studio.
I am CRAZY about my studio and know just how lucky I am to have it. I’ve had to store supplies under a bed, and set up card tables in crowded corners in the past. It is pure joy to have all this space to spread out into now.
Heck, at near 1,000 sq ft this studio is larger than the 90 year old house was when we bought it, and started adding on to the building.
There are benefits to living in Kansas where land is cheap and prices are low!
I thought I’d show you some more of the room and how I use the space.
Of course, there is a spot for Sugarwings and her best pal, Twinkle. Or as she calls her "Yeenkle".
The space is one large open room, that I have divided up with old doors hinged together, and with large pieces of furniture. The desk sits under a gazebo I made from 4 porch columns ($6 each at a junk shop) and a miss matched bunch of 8 white wrougth iron corner brackets.
Right next to Sugarwing’s area is my office. (I’d like to recover the chair, but don’t know if I am up to the task)
This old hutch in the office area holds all of my mailing supplies and collage kits listed on Etsy and waiting to go to their new homes.
That office hutch sits back to back with this giant piece (known as the crying cabinet because it about caused a nervous breakdown at the auction Beth and I found it at- that is a long and whiny story you don’t want to hear).
I have two large closets in the room. One is full of shipping boxes and bubble wrap, the other is for utilities. The door with the iris was an original kitchen door in the farm house. I added the flowers with stained glass paint.
Here the door is from the other side, with the sunlight shining through the glass.
This storage room is in the back corner of the room and is where I keep my paints, tools, seasonal storage and just JUNK.
At the other end of the storage area, I keep completed projects I am sick of looking at and jewelry I have made and the displays I sell it from. 
This odd assortment of furniture and a screen is what I have lined up to make the wall that forms the storage area behind it.
The more I look at this the more the black cabinet bothers me. I really think I need to paint that…
And what do I watch on TV while I work? Dragon Tales, what else? Although prefer the Hoobs and Tiddlypeeps.
My studio will never look totally pulled together, because I have so much stuff in it. I love all the little details, like ballerina fairies on the candelabras. What is a studio without fairy candelabras???
There are sentimental things too, like this "wishes" tag that my Sissy sent to me.
And a lot of my labels are made from gifts other artists have given me. This fabric covered piece is from Beth, as part of a birthday card she made a few years back. I saved the cover and turned it into a box label.
The birdie adorned box was a gift from my first swap partner, Karin.
It holds Valentine ephemera.
Of course, there is a picture of Sugarwings. This is her Easter picture, instead of putting it in the scrapbook, I decided to stick it into the corner of this De Longpre print that I found at a garage sale for $10. 
My Sweet Treats and Roses recipe book sits near my desk too.
The cabinet it sits on holds my sewing machine (which rarely gets used) and its top is a ceiling tin that my son added for me. That sure changed the look of this piece that I found in the trash and fixed up.
As a matter of fact, most of this furniture was free or dirt cheap. Trades, trash, or cast offs from family that all got fixed up. My main splurges in this whole studio are the 3 folding tables that I actually use for work space. I’d say that $58.00, 6 foot table is the most expensive thing in the room.
That is, if you don’t count my collection of wallpaper. I’ve probably spent more on that than I have furniture.
Well, I seem to be organized now, I hope I can make it last. I love my new storage pieces, the trick will be using them instead of making piles everywhere.
Wish me luck!!
ps- birdhouse decorators are still adding their links to our party post on March 27th, if you want to see more, check out the lastest comments.
ppss- I will draw a name for the winner of March’s giveaway tomorrow, you still have time to enter!
Thanks for the peak into your studio. Now, I want to come over and rummage through all of your cabinets. Sometime I’ll have to tell you the story of my big 100+ year old school cabinet.
Hi, Karla,
I recently purchased the new Somerset Life – your kits are just beautiful! I, too, love to collect vintage items. Isn’t this fun – crafting and collecting?! Thanks for the inside tour of your studio – very nice.
Joan
PS – Sugarwings looks adorable in her Easter picture!
I thoroughly enjoy a look around your studio 🙂
Thank you for sharing your studio with us! I’m green with envy… so many wonderful things to look at!
Victoria x
Once again beautiful I want to come and work in your studio, all your paint rose pieces are beautiful love that screen, how cute is Sugarwings on her Easter bunny ride.
thanks for sharing.
Hugs
Kirstie.
Karla, thanks for the peek into your studio, it must be a wonderful place to create with lovely bits of inspiration all around…and sweet little fairy angel babies and puppies to keep you company:)
Fantastic work area! You are one lucky girl!
~Lolly
your studio looks F*A*N*T*A*S*T*I*C!!! i am a lampaholic so of course i always notice lamps in photos. by any chance is the lamp with the hat on it for sale? thanks! debbie =)
oh shoot! i apologize if this is a double comment. your studio looks F*A*N*T*A*S*T*I*C! i am a lampaholic so i ALWAYS notice lamps in photos. i was wondering if the lamp with the hat on it is for sale? thanks bunches, debbie =)
as usual I am breathless after one of your posts that show your space—Ahh!
Love, your buttons and your studio is beautiful!
Buttons. Nope, I didn’t wash mine until SugarSugar showed hers soaking and it looked charming. Mine – the dirt and debris that floated up at me was down right scary. The girls got bored with soapy mess (sans bleach of course) They’re still laying on a towel in a heap (the buttons, not the girls!). And if there are any priceless ones in my lot, I’ll glue it to a card or sew it to a laundry tote!
You studio is a happy, lovely place. Thanks for the tour!
What a lovely place, it is wonderful. I love how you decorated it.
Bristol
Thanks for the tour! I love your studio. I always love it when people post pics of their studios, because for one, I am nosy and two, I love getting ideas for mine. LOL
I had to giggle when I saw Sugarwing’s and Twinkle’s spot. I had that same enclosure for my little ones. I would even haul it to the beach and put it in the yard. Looks like you have two put together. Love it!
Keep enjoying that wonderful space, and I will try not to be jealous!
Rhonda…
Thanks for coming to see my buttons … I’m glad I found your blog! I feel like I’m brushing with fame – I’ve been reading about Karla and Beth’s Bling Your Birdhouse EVERYWHERE!
Karla it is just amazing! And you know I think Sugar wings is going to have such great memories of that fascinating place!
I love the tour of your studio! I can appreciate it! I work out of my diningroom and haul everything in and out! I lighed when I saw the baby jail and I read what you watch.. I actually prefer Hi-5 myself…;)
Jen R
If it makes you feel any better, you’ve never sold a $50 button on any of your collages that I’ve seen- I would have told you!
LOL! I noticed that the TV was on right away-that’s the only way orange would get into your studio!
oh I love the studio karla!! its so pretty!
come check out my new swap!!
It is called Enchanted!
toodles-
Sarah
Wonderful studio Karla! I am loving all of these pretty storage photos!
xoxo
I have an old country church building that I use for a studio/shop. I am always having a hard time dividing up the large space. This gave me lots of ideas (thanks tons). Only problem, I don’t have a sugarwings to make the place sweeter! I better have a talk with those boy of mine! ha! It is a fantastic space.
Karla what a fabulous studio. Love the pic of Sugarwings and Twinkle
Alison
it would be great to have a large studio!
I love your studio! What I wouldnt give for a space like that. As it is, I am planning on transforming the basement (dungeoun) this spring into something I can spread out in. I agree with you, I didnt know buttons were supposed to be washed! Doesn’t that destroy the (ahem!) patina?
I love your studio! Everytime I see it, I just want to sit and stare at everything! And I adore the Easter picture of sugarwings in carriage being pulled by the bunny… it should be on the wall and not stuck in a book!
Karla, Oh my, your button collection is amazing. And as always I love all the eye candy. Your craft room is to die for, I would love one just like it.
You really did a great re=organize in the previous post.
Hugs Karen
Thanks for showing more of your creative area!! I love looking around at all the things you’ve collected… and that picture of Sugarwings is perfect!! You’re so lucky to have a little one running around. Mine are always gone and it’s kind of lonely around here… Ellie isn’t good at conversation! Hope you’re having a good week!! (Is Sugarwings’ mom home yet?)
You have a great studio!
I love your studio Karla. I know how difficult it is to keep things tidy. That’s what I liked about the button challenge. I just sorted out my buttons and that is the only tidy cormer (when I put a few pieces away for the picture) in my very little studio. But I haven’t washed my buttons either.
Well Karla we both now how to do that now 😉
Love seeing your button collection and also seeing your studio…..everything looks so pretty…
I posted my blinged out birdhouse on my blog, I hope you find time to check it out…
Brenda
Ugh – to have all of that space – divine!
O.K. We really DO need to know the Crying Cabinet story!!
Joy
What a terrific space — how wonderful to have so much space to work in — and to be able to work near where all the stuff is stored. A great set-up and inspiring for this one, who is trying woefully to make sense of an overcrowded room that doesn’t even have an art table — yet!
Three cheers!
Hi Karla, I’m so sorry, I meant to say Studio, creative space andthing but what I said.
Karen
OK I was just a bit envious after the post below, no I confess being a lot envious! Such an inspiring space to work in!!! Love what you did with Sugarwings Easter photo!
I’m incredibly jealous. How cute!
By the way, any of your blog entries would be absolutely perfect to share for Vintage Thingies Thursdays over at my place. I’d love to have you participate.
Come on by! Confessions of an Apron Queen: http://anapronaday.blogspot.com
What an awesome studio. You are so lucky to have such space. I love how you have decorated it. So creative. What a pleasure to work in a space such as that! Amy
Karla,
Your studio is wonderful . So much space! And closets too? I did mine (only about 400 sq ft.) about a year and a half ago, and already feel like I am crowding myself out. But, a girl can never have too many tools!
~Shari
Hi Karla! I’m dreaming of having space to create in like yours someday. Hubby got his 4 car shop/garage, I think it’s my turn to get a studio. :o) Aah someday… Thanks for sharing all the pictures!
-Karoline
Love love love it Karla – so lovely and organized! Hope you have lovely creative moments in your amazing studio!
xo
mary
Your studio looks wonderful, and with all the creativity you have, you would need a large space like this to house all your projects. I love how you make everything in your life pretty, and this is no exception. Karen
Oh Karla… it’s absolutly EVERYTHING a studio should be. All beautiful inspiring things… to make you want to just create. I’m a firm beliver in surrounding myself in my studio.. with pretty, nostaglic, and sentimental things.. that may only mean something to me…but none the less… INSPIRES ME! The one thing “I” do with I had , that “YOU” have…is…. SPACE!!! I have some…but nothing like yours! LOVE IT!