My fairy grand baby has loved meeting her Wyoming cousins, and we are all looking forward to the rest of the week together up at Lake Okoboji in Iowa. I probably won’t be posting for a few days, I’ll check in if I can, but most likely won’t have access. You can still enter my drawing if you want to leave a comment, you can enter to win a Cottage Collage Kit, with vintage papers and other pretties.
People have been asking me what I do with all my stuff in the studio when I set up the room for a family reunion.
I hide it all!
This little silver metallic colored wash stand that I painted is full of doll making supplies and trims, the cosmetic case is more lace and doiles, and the wicker basket holds all my original greeting cards.
(this piece was free, Beth, http://bethleintz.typepad.com/ gave it to me and I fixed it up.)
And of course, all these baskets are full of supplies too.
I have all my jewelry making goods in the (free from my niece) wardrobe drawers, with mosaic materials in the side door of it.
Drawing and collage supplies are on the shelves ($15 at a garage sale, then I repainted)- and you really don’t want to see behind that screen! ($3 at at garage sale) That area is where the avalanche of junk is hiding.
My sewing machine is in this cute little $5 cabinet that I painted and added a ceiling tin top and a wooden wreath to, and the candy dish is full of seed packets. (and that is my typewriter sitting on the shelf, not sure what I am going to do with it yet)
Two sets of Home Depot basic cabinets ($50 each) are stacked up and placed back to back then filled with more and more junk. 
This is all scrap booking goods packed away into these drawers. The dresser was $20 at an auction, it didn’t have a bottom drawer, but I like it this way. I used to keep a tv on top and the video equipment on the open space.
I have stuffed this french vanilla painted wardrobe (that I paid $15 for and rebuilt) full of vintage fabrics and water color supplies. There are more fabrics in the German trunk above it. I don’t really sew, but I sure am a sucker for gorgeous old fabric. Someday….
This glass doored hutch holds some inventory that I am eventually going to sell. I thought I’d set it out and enjoy it until I found new homes for it, instead of storing it in boxes.
(This hutch was only $50 at an auction!)
You probably won’t believe this, but this narrow chimney cabinet is empty! 
Not a thing in it, but I did cover the shelves in old paper, then glaze them in umber, and edge them in vintage lace.
I paid $5 for it at a garage sale, but don’t really need it. I just have a soft spot for storage pieces and cabinets!
This buffet sits near the head of the table, but has nothing to do with food service. It is full of fairies and fairy houses that I made, and vintage jewelry. (it was $75, but needed work too)
So, this room isn’t perfectly set up as a dining room, it still has a studio feel to it, but I really can seat a lot of people at tables in the center of the room, and it is nice to be able to all sit together even if we are surrounded by inventory and supplies!
I’m off to start the dishwasher again. I didn’t have to cook tonight, my brother-in-law made chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes and black bean salad! I had 2nds.
I contributed a carrot cake from a mix, that I dumped a can of mandarin oranges, red grape raisins, flax seed, sunflower seeds, extra brown sugar, cream cheese, yogurt and an extra egg into. I kind of cook like I craft, off the top of my head and what ever sounds good at the moment.
Love all your storage pieces you clever girl! And what cutie kids! Have fun with your family!
Karla, seriously, is there anything you can’t do?! I’m impressed with your relaxed shabby chic dining room. My, how well you do hide a mess. LOL Such an elegant mixture of items. I am in awe. Can I come and visit? LOL
Your studio looks HUGE. How big is it?
~elaine~
Oh my…I think I just got a glimpse of heaven!!
Karla, you have a great collection of wonderful furnitures! And the way you restored it… fabulous! Have a nice time!
Monika
The studio is really big, and I love every foot of it and use it all! It is about 1000 sq ft and has a sink and storage area hidden behind the stained glass door and the cabinets and the screen. Then there is another walk in closet that I keep all my shipping supplies in. I use part of the room as an office too, maybe 100 sq ft.
I know how lucky I am to have it, and don’t take it for granted at all!
Hi Karla, I LOve, Love ,Love your Blog. Thank you for visiting. Such Talent you have. I am coming back for more Visits. Your Grandkids are Beautiful and look so Happy too. Jamie
Oh Karla, What a beautiful way to store all your art supplies. It is an inspiring place to spark your creativity. What fun.
Your guests may have been surrounded by inventory, but oh such elegant inventory.
Enjoy the time with your family at the lake. It should be fun.
Karen
Bluemuf
Hi Karla, will you please enter me in your drawing? Thanks so much! Have fun with your family!~xo Natalea
Oh my goodness – imagine if you every moved – packing would be fun! LOL. You really find some great, great furniture pieces and no – I can’t believe you have nothing in that tall cabinet!
Karla
Oh my! You paid so litlle for the vanilla painted wardrobe???? Lucky you! That’s a bargain you will never find here!
Oh and I love the glass doored hutch … and just about everything IN it!Hope you don’t mind but I’m thinking of ‘stealing’ your great idea for decorating shelves with some old paper!
Hope you’ll have some great family time!
Love your hiding places! Enjoy your family 🙂
I love your studio. I don’t think I could concentrate on dinner if I was a guest. I would just wander around looking at everything.
Your home is amazing–and not only do you do some amazing things with your home and your crafting—it looks like you are a bit of a HOUDINI too! LOL Now you see it…now you don’t! Have fun on your jaunt.
Smiles, Karen
Glad you’ve got a place for all that fun stuff and don’t have to worry about it with little hands all around.
Have a fun weekend!
jody
Okay, so even your *messes* look pretty. Amazing.
🙂
I just LOVE looking at all your goodies!!
Wow! I get tired just reading all you can do in a day!!! Care to share some of your secrets with me??? What are ya on? No, really, I enjoy your pretty pics. You do awesome things with your furniture. Great storage pieces!
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Wow lots of hiding places. Is it the photography or is your studio that big? How wonderful. The room looks wonderful!! Enjoy your time away.
I could get lost in FUN in that space! I love all the creative things you’ve done with the furniture bought for a song too 🙂
Hi, I’m new here, (new to typing, anyway, not new to looking – can’t resist the giveaway). THANK YOU for taking so many pictures for this post. Storage packed with goodies – THAT’s what I call eye candy.
I love spending time here, thanks again and enjoy your family.
Kathryn
I love all of your storage ideas! You are just so creative and clever and a real DO-ER, no procrastinating with you!!!! I have lots of bits and pieces but I need to work on them and I wish I could just DO IT, but it’s cold outside where they are and who wants to paint big wardrobes in the cold when the heater is on inside??? Certainly not me!!!!
Hi Karla,
I received my AWESOME cottage pack yesterday. I am so blown away by all the contents! I’m going to be blogging about it in my next entry. Thanks so much!
Karla
Oh my gooshyness! All that storage, it’s storage heaven!
So I have a big question about painting (repainting) pieces. My youngest wants her bedroom pieces painted (remind me to take a picture) and I’m not sure how to go about it. Is there something I need to use UNDER the paint first?
Oh bother. I just need to take pictures so I can explain it better. Nebbermind! Lol!
You’re going on a trip? you can’t! You can NOT leave us again. No. It’s not allowed.
I love all the painted and restored furniture.
Karla,
Oh, my! I just love all of your salvaged pieces. You have made them all so beautiful! I always buy the pieces & have really good intentions, but never seem to be able to fix them up like I want to. Your studio is gorgeous. Of course!
Hi Karla:
Please enter me; I do not think I can add anything as everyone (Smooch said it best : ) has said everything adequately
It is like going into a palace and never going home again : )
carole
Have fun Karla! I love that one dresser with the floral boxes in the last drawer… so pretty. Everything else is gorgeous too and since i am looking for some storage ideas I loved this post especially.
Heather