Saturday, June 19, 2010

My New Studio

Karen from My Desert Cottage is hosting the second annual "Where Bloggers Create" blog party.  A big thank you to Karen for all her hard work and time she put into hosting this fun event! 


This is my first time participating and it's finally time for me to share my new completed studio!  I'm so excited that it is finally finished and everything is in it's place.  I actually had to clean it all back up because I have been working in it for a couple of months now since it's been finished. For those of  you that don't know, over the winter we finished off a bonus area above our garage and built a studio for me and a bathroom and bedroom for our boys.  This is my absolute dream come true to have a dedicated art space to work in.  (YAY ME!)  Here is the first class tour of my new space, enjoy!  (Click on the individual photos to enlarge them.)


             
This is the view when you come up the stairs to my studio.  The curtain covers a little closet built into the roof rafters.  I chose to do a curtain rather than a door to save on space and because I wanted the cottage feel.  I store extra tubs and rolls of fabric in there, tools and other supplies.

                    
This is my little computer desk.  I do computer graphic work here, bookwork, etc.  Look at the cute skin I have on my Macbook.  The little lamp on the desk was bought as a set of two at an antique store and I found the desk at Wal Mart.  

                         
Here is my sitting area.  My love seat and ottoman are from Ikea, the vintage mirror from an antique shop, and I found the chandelier at a tag sale about ten years ago and never had a use for it until now.  The curtains are actually shower curtains I found years ago as well and never used until now.  Below is a close up of the light, it was the perfect color, I didn't even have to paint it!

                            
Notice the painted wood plank ceiling.  I wanted that cottage/porch look.  I also have an exhaust fan in the ceiling so I can burn, solder and use resin/chemicals and not drop dead from the fumes!  :)

                   

                             
This is my dresser from Ikea, tons of storage!  I keep tissue paper, containers of beads, small tools, pens, pencils, paper, small odds and ends in here.  On top I have a cube divider from Target with more storage.  vintage containers with paint brushes, ribbon organizers, vintage books, vintage canning jars with holding buttons, brown cloth boxes hold fabric, crinkle ribbon and silk ribbon, magazines, artwork made by my kids and other favorite things.

                             
Antique letter press printer's blocks.  Notice I arranged them with my birthday in the middle, 3-4-67  :)

                              
My favorite vintage book,  The Banner Anthem Book.  I love the tone on tone colors and the tattered spine.  I photograph a lot of my jewelry on it.  Next to the book is a little silver plate leaf dish, I found at a flea market, filled with rhinestone findings I use in my jewelry.  The "Live, Laugh, Love" frame was made for me by my daughter.  

                             
Fabric cuff bracelets were made by me.  

                            

                          
My main work table where I do my jewelry and sewing.  I made a skirt for the table that matches the closet curtain to cover up all the tubs of fabric underneath the table.  I couldn't find a reasonably priced vintage dress form so I bought a new one and stained it with coffee and tea.  The fabric and canvas mixed media collages on the wall beside the dress form are made by me.  

                            

                  

                      
My shelves with all my containers and tubs filled with stamp pads, acrylic paints, mixed media collage bits and bobs, tools, papers, fibers, etc. etc. etc........

                              
My beadboard cabinets and sink.  Yay-I have a sink!  Now my husband doesn't have jars with paintbrushes soaking in his bathroom anymore!!!

                             
Last, but not least, one of my favorite things is my "J" from, you guessed it, Anthropologie.  I LOVE that store, the closest one is 4 hours away from me so for now I will have to rely on the internet, although I did pick this guy up at Christmas time while I was in Minneapolis Christmas shopping.  Hanging from my J are two of my necklaces that I made.

Thank you so much for looking!  I can't wait to see everyone else's creative spaces!  :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Jen



41 comments:

Isabel said...

HI!!! I love the layout of ur studio and the way you display:O) Thanx for sharing:O)

Carla said...

This is fantastic!!! What a great space to work and dream and create!!

Melanie said...

Great space! Love the chandelier!

Robin said...

bracelets,buttons and silver! Oh my! Love your space! ~Robin~

Claudia said...

Hi there!

Your blog is stunning -- certainly wont be my last visit here. I am so excited to see all these talented women!

I am not a seamstress and I am in such awe of all you talented ones. I am very needle thread challenged :)

If you get a chance I would love for you to stop by... have a lil give away going on.

Enjoy your visits -- they certainly will be tickled they stopped by your spot!

Claudia

oldgreymare said...

Well, you did a great job!

Will you be upset if I tell you I have an Anthro just 2 blocks from my house?

Which is a good thing and a BAD thing, ya know : }

Suzan

Queen Bee said...

Your space is fabulous, your jewelry is gorgeous and I love your "J"!
Queen Bee Studio

zandra said...

Wow, just love your creative space. I wish I could have a chandelier in my place but, my ceilings are much to low. :o( So, enjoyed my visit with you. Enjoy the rest of the party.
Hugz,
Zandra

debi said...

Wow! What a great space! So nice and organized!

Tammy said...

I really like your space. I know how you feel about having your own space. It is freeing isn't it?
thanks for sharing - and love those cuffs.
tammy

Decor To Adore said...

What a wonderfully creative space!

I adore your storage solutions. They have inspired me.

Chris said...

What a lovely studio! All your special touches make it warm and cozy. The chandelier is my fav.
Best wishes,
Chris

www.curbyscloset.com/blog/

Claudia said...

Oh, goodness! I love it. Love the chandelier, all the great storage, everything. Where did you get your cute skin for the MacBook? I have a MacBook that could use something like that!

Thanks,
Claudia

craftyles said...

You have a very peaceful and beautiful space. And a sink! Lucky you!

Malisa said...

Absolutely amazing studio! Congratulations on getting your own space...yippee! Thanks so much for the peek into your work area and into your world. When you have time, please stop by my blog for a visit!

Malisa

kluless said...

The dreamy creamy white palet is perfect for letting the art be the star of the show. Very well done! Thank you for sharing.

Anna said...

Your studio is a dream. I love that Ikea dresser. Your work is beautiful and you certainly have a great style.

Terri said...

I like the black and tan that you went with for your art room, so organized and the brightness of the natural light coming into the room is wonderful ( Since I am in the basement this is a feature I would like to have) Beautiful space for you to create anything your heart desires. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.

Karen Valentine said...

Hi Jen! That long wait was totally worth it! Your room is wonderful! What would we all do IKEA??? LOL! I love all the wonderful little details you put into it. (Especially the exhaust fan! That was a GREAT idea!)
Thank you so much for sharing the beauty!
xo,
Karen
My Desert Cottage

Lynnae said...

Very nice. How great to have an awesome new space.

the old white house said...

You have a beautiful space! I love that you stained your dress form to look old, way to get around paying way too much! The loveseat area is a wonderful addition to relax in a cozy spot (with a great chandi)and think up more beautiful designs. Your cuff bracelets are very pretty, I need to go through some older posts for more inspiration! Thank you for stopping by, I'm so glad you did so I could meet you and visit your fab blog, Theresa

donna joy said...

your room loos so crisp~what a lovely place to create in!

Susan Houseman said...

Love the cuffs and the chandelier. Thanks for sharing your space, hope you stop by and see mine.

Halle said...

Beautiful space..thanks for sharing.

A Gilded Life said...

Absolutely lovely! Isn't it such a gift to have a space of your own for creating?


Congratulations on yours!

Jill said...

What an inviting space. Your sitting area with the natural light is just wonderful. I also really love your style of creations--I can relate!

Jillayne said...

Your fabric cuff bracelets are gorgeous as is that lampshade! I love your room; it's light, airy, and very pretty fabrics. And what great storage - I am nowhere near that organized!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

You must be in heaven! I keep looking for the basement, I am in Orlando, no such luck! It is gorgeous and huge and beautiful. Your a lucky girl!

Carol

Renee said...

What a great space. I love your little sitting corner and the chandelier. Great storage areas, too.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

What a great studio! You have every right to be proud and pleased with it! I love how bright it is. Never would have thought the desk came from Walmart - nice. Love your storage area, too. It seems so many times that supplies become decorative accessories, too!

Romeo said...

Wow! You really planned your new studio space very well!!!! A sink! An exhaust fan to let out the fumes?! And lots of storage and surface space! Oh yes, and the sofa and ottoman? Yep, noticed them right away! That's where you'll find me....as this is a purrfectly wonderful studio that I want to appreciate for a few more minutes!

Thanks for the tour!

Purrs!

Romeo and "her"

Sandy said...

Your new studio is just beautiful and so cozy cottage looking! What a great idea the exhaust fan is! Thank you for sharing your creative haven.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Lovely space and that chandelier is gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Debby said...

Hi Jen, WOW!! I love your beautiful studio, how fun to create in here. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Debby

Anonymous said...

Oh jeez how'd I miss your studio during my blog hopping! Thanks so much for stopping by mine because now I get to take a wonderful peek at your creative space! I love so many things about your studio but especially the sitting area and the lace used around the jars...a beautiful way to add charm to something so simple. Have wonderful 4th!

Connie Eyberg Originals said...

Thank you for the tour of your wonderful studio. Connie

kimberly shaw said...

Your studio is absolutely charming! A perfect place for being creative. Thanks for the tour, it was very enjoyable.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

You have an incredible studio. Congrats and thanks for unveiling it for this blog hop. Lots to look at and appreciate, including the IKEA storage, and nary a store within a thousand miles of me. Your desk is gorgeous, too, as is the chandelier. Thanks so much for allowing me the opportunity, albeit late, to tour your lovely and inspiring studio.

Julie Johnson said...

Beautiful space! I love how calm and soothing it is...the chandi is terrific!

Ms Bingles Vintage Christmas said...

Oh I just love it!
Thank you for sharing!
Please visit me at my new blog:
www.msbinglesvintagechristmas.com
Have a good night~
Leticia

Mari Brown and Colourblob said...

Love it, love it... You have made a wonderful space for your self. The wall colour is fantastic, I love that shade of grey (is it grey or blue... what ever it is, its very nice) and then all the white on white furniture. Your seating area is lovely. I got so inspired now, this is what I have been looking for. Thank you so much, lovely space.