"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."
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Friday, July 15, 2011

Where all the art happens....

Actually, that's a total & complete lie. My studio is only clean enough to create in about half the time...the other half, I pull everything downstairs (translation...dig through piles & bags of stuff looking for what I need) & use our dining room table. *blushes* But I wanted something catchy for the title of this post.... it is after all the blogging event of the season...the 2011 Where Bloggers Create party hosted by Karen Valentine @ My Desert Cottage!



click on any picture & then click again to enlarge for details


Welcome to my studio! Not many major changes since the last year... I had sure hoped to have more of my goals accomplished. But I'm very fortunate to have the wonderful space that I do so I won't complain. I'm gonna swing you around the room & try to provide as much of a panaromic view as I can, then I'll move on to the more detailed close-ups.

The first thing you see when you enter the room is my worktable....all 8 ft of it! And as you can see....I don't leave much workspace left. I love the printer's trays I keep on each end though...they're so easy to dig through to find jewels & trinkets & I can still stack stuff on top as I'm working. Please overlook the junk underneath the table...I utilize every inch of this place for storage. I should probably try to skirt the table somehow.

I'm fixing to clean out my junk room & move the computer into there. I love the arrangement of my studio for just me, but it's definitely a one-person studio. I'd like to move the computer desk & printer into another room & move my work table out away from the wall so that both sides could be sat at. That way, I could have crafting days w/ my friends!

This craft armoire is a major workhorse! We once lived in a house and our bedroom had no closets. It was a huge room & I just filled it up w/ old armoires. I converted this one into a craft closet. I'll show you the inside later in the post...but brace yourself, I didn't clean it. ;)



The dresser holds my stamps & crepe papers etc. By the way, everything in this room was bought cheap, cheap, cheap & then painted by me. I got the dresser for $20 (half off day @ GW) & then painted it white. Still need to paint the little $5 end table at the end of it. The shelf above the dresser I paid $5 for.


I found the frame to my inspiration board in someone's trash. It was rickety & wobbly but once it was backed w/ a sheet of sheet music-covered plywood & then covered in chicken wire, it's not only sturdy but beautiful!


You can't see it in this picture but hubby installed a roll of brown craft paper under the lip of the table. I just pull it up & cover the table; glitter, glue, whatever & then tear it off. (you can see it in the above picture of my worktable). I've had this old table for almost 15 years. It has 3 leaves in it & is also a drop-leaf so it breaks down into a table about 2 feet wide by 3 feet long. It's been all over the house, including the front porch, before finding it's true home in my studio. I bought it at the cattle barns flea for $50 & is the only piece I haven't painted or don't have plans to paint.


One of the sets of printers trays at one end.


Wonderful bling!


You'll notice that I have a thing for dolls. I always have. I played w/ Barbies until I was 14 years old!


The vintage stamp in this picture was hubby's grandfather's. The baby boy on the right is my father.








Glass box of goodies on my worktable, within easy reach.


Ballerinas dancing in fairy dust!


The Tickled Pink sign was painted by Karla Nathan. I bought it while @ BirdSong. I bought 2 of her paintings actually...I'll share the other one soon.


This rose painting was a Paper Cowgirl project.


More printers trays full of wonderful bling! The top one is actually an old drawer out of something.







Love this Hendryx birdcage!





Like I said, every inch of space must be utilized for storage.... so I use my unused frames as a window valance. I hung lace curtains w/ upholstery nails & then hung an asstortment of coat hooks to hang the frames from.







Most everything has to have storage capacity as well as being beautiful but I do allow a few "just for shows".

One of the projects I did manage to finish since the last party was to convert this mosaic topped wine shelf into a bookshelf. Although anybody who knows me, knows that when I say that, I mean that I got hubby to do it. Although I did the painting....the painting is always my job.


You might have noticed all the wedding veils I have draped across things. I buy them cheap, may or may not cut them up & Caralyn often plays dress-up in them. Just noticed my Monster energy drink...it's not beer!


These shelves are stashed full of old dominoes, jars of buttons & seam bindings that I hand dyed as well as hand dyed tags. I haven't had a chance to blog about it yet though. But I did them all with vegetables or fruits. It's also home to my collection of vintage, porcelain ballerinas.



This little table & bench was bought when Connor was just a baby. He's 13 now!!!! *sniff sniff*
It also has a pair of chairs to go with but the grands use them as stepstools around the house. Doherty's Antiques was an antique store in Fort Worth in the 50's.


Love me some lace! And this large 2-tiered stand holds a lot!


Doesn't it just make you wanna riffle your fingers through it it?


Another workhorse in my studio is this bench...it was another $20 GW find, that I painted white of course.


Inside the bench is all my sheet music.


I didn't get a full-on shot of the armoire. It was really dark wood but I painted it white & then covered the doors w/ a couple panels of vintagey wallpaper.


OK...are you ready for what that beautiful armoire looks like on the inside? I hope you'll still respect me after this. ;)

EEEKS! It'll look better after I move it to where the puter desk is...I promise! I've already bought more turntables & some clear plastic shoe boxes. When I empty it to move it, I'll put it all back right. I can't promise pretty....I need it to hide all my uglies. But I do promose that it will be neat.

For a while. *grins*

Another change to my studio since last year is this bow-front cabinet. It used to be in my dining room but I replaced it w/ a hutch. I painted it white (of course I did!) & backed it w/ sheet music. It looks just as pretty empty as it does full! I do keep all my pretties in here....buttons, millinery, glitters, laces, etc. The sash on my wire mannequin was made by Ann Denise Andersen & the skirt is a vintage bridal petticoat I wore to the Paper Cowgirl prom. The mannequin is also wearing wedding veil.











Candy dish full of charlottes & porcelain doll parts. And the glass jar is full of wonderful old doorknobs & doorplates.


I got this big wire basket @ a garage sale for $10. It's old & I'm pretty sure it was used to store basketballs & so forth...I seem to recall them from school, way back in the day. It now houses my rolls of wallpaper...some vintage, most not.


I painted my studio this wonder shade of ballet slipper pink not just because I think it's beautiful but because I want to nurture, encourage & inspire the little girl in me. Because after all, grandmothers are just antique little girls. ;)

I hope you all enjoyed your tour of my studio! I had really hoped to have the puter moved & the armoire in it's place & the worktable pulled out into the center of the room prior to today's party but I just couldn't manage it. So for those of you who saw my studio last year, I apologize for it being much the same. But hey...the bow-front cabinet was worth a peek wasn't it?

Be sure & stop by Karen's to see the list of all the participants. Holy shih tzu! There's a lot!!!


37 comments:

~CC Catherine said...

Hi Cami, Wow - You are a busy lady! And...so creative! You are FRAME lady like Moi, and I love how you put them as your Valance... Very creative! I thought I had quite a button collection; you've got me beaten hands down. ;) I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the place where you create today! :) Keep up the fabulous creativity!

Cindy said...

Absolutely fabulous! So fun to see your Studio and it fits you. You have alot of wonderful things there! And of course, love your Rose canvas from PC. Thanks for showing me around!

-c

Leanne said...

the bowfront cabinet was definitely worth it. It reminded me of one my Nanna had!

bertie said...

I love the ballerina dancing in the glitter...that and everything else is so imaginative..like a little fairy wonderland. Thanks for sharing and I hope you will stop by my studio and say hello.
www.queenbartistry.blogspot.com

Laurie said...

I love how you started off by saying your studio is normally not this neat -- I think we can all say that! Although, I'm beginning to do much better because I *so* enjoy using the space instead of my dining room table! I really love your space -- all the printer drawers full of beautiful things, especially!! Thanks for showing us!

kluless said...

Your room is just GORGEOUS! I could dive in there and not come up for air for days I think. I simply must find a way to store my things out where I can see them better because it is so inspiring. Bravo!

Claudia said...

I bet I could spend hours looking through all your creative treasures. I love the space and the armoire is wonderful. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Karen Valentine said...

Absolutely Stunning! I see we have the same fondness for empty picture frames!! LOL!! I love all your re-purposed finds. Isn't Goodwill the best?? Thank you so much for sharing it all with us. Have a great weekend Cami!!
xo,
Karen

Unknown said...

gorgeous!

Unknown said...

I am so enjoying my little visits to everyone's creative spaces. So fun and inspiring...

And, I love that amazing wire basket holding your gift wrap or is it vintage wallpaper rolls?

Rebecca Nelson said...

I'm smiling over the ballerina dancing in the slitter... :) :) :)

You have an AMAZING SPACE my friend. I truly could just move it on over to my place. It would fit my style to a T!

Thank you so much for sharing. LOVE YOUR WORK!

xo~Rebecca

Twyla and Lindsey said...

I enjoyed this tour so much! My favorite thing was the frames hanging over your windows and I also loved all your printer trays full of bits and bobs! Thanks for the tour! Twyla

Debbie Kay said...

Oh Cami, I would be in sheer heaven to visit your amazing studio. You like all the things I love and I think your room is BEAUTIFUL!!

Thank you for sharing that slice of heaven you create in.

Lots of love,

Debbie Kay

Cheryl ~ ZanyMayd said...

What a Beautiful Studio, so much to look at & Admire.... I think one of the 1st things to catch my eye are the Frames over the window ~ Fabulous...
Thanks for Sharing, Hope you get a chance to stop on by.
Cheryl

Lily's Lace said...

Cami, it's just magical, I mean really. I bookmarked you so I can come back to see it again. You have all the colors and feel that I want. I went a little crazy with the teal blur in my room, seeing yours makes me want to tone it down! Come see me, I'm at Lilly's Lace, come visit!!! xo-cindy

marie said...

Love all the treasures and your inspiration board is amazing. I think it's my favorite one! What a great idea to hang all those frames ~ wonderful look.
The wire basket is a super space for those paper rolls and what and great buy!

Unknown said...

Love, love your creative space. So many pretties to look at. I specially love the use of the picture frames, looks like they are valances??
Thanks for sharing.
Michele

Scrap for Joy said...

What a beautiful space you have for creating. It would be impossible not to be inspired here! Love your inspiration board....what is it about chicken wire that's so appealing? Thanks for letting us look around.
Joyce

Sara said...

I am srooling over your bling. wow, I could spend hours in your studio. Hugs Sara

Terri said...

Super sweet space! Treasures galore!!
Digging the frames! Thanks so much for sharing it all with us!

Tina said...

gaw----I am so envious of your jewelry collection...amazing! Love the armoire - looks alot like my stuff.

Cool - I am glad I could inspire you to use something - the punch holders save so much space and really do get used more...

thanks so much for stopping by and the great comment.

have a great week.
tina
embellishments by tina

Something Special said...

Okay, seriously you remind me of me. I think your space is fabulous, and has plenty of room for creating yourself. I am so glad I cou ld see your space and hope you will visit mine. Looks like we like the same things, you just have more of it! I love your vintage printing boxes (don't know what they are called) for all your beads, findings etc. You are amazing!

Creative Grammie said...

You have a gorgeous studio! I love shopping at GW when they have their half-off days. You certainly have some great bargains from them.
I'm a great fan of printer trays too. You're right, it is easy to see everything in it.
You have fantastic storage ideas and I don't think inside your armoire is bad at all.
I love your studio, thanks for the tour, it was definitely fun for me.

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

I had so much fun on your tour.... so many lovely things....I could have lots of fun in this room.

Warm blessings,
Spencer

Hope said...

Your studio is awesome......we are so similar it is weird. You book page for Karla is wonderful. Thanks for visiting!

Lisa said...

Cami,
I love your studio! Why didn't I get to see it when I was over? I'd love to come play sometime so get that computer moved! My favorite pic...the messy inside of the cabinet. Now that's the sign of a true artist. I zoomed in & studied all of your supplies. Very cool.
Lisa
PS Are you up for a trip to the Cattle Barns very soon? Maybe Sat.

Elizabeth Johnson said...

I love the frames draped over the windows. And I respect you even more after seeing the inside of the armoire. It looks like home.

Thespoena McLaughlin said...

Lovely space, I so enjoyed my visit! Thanks for sharing with all of us. Hugs!

Jan E O said...

I am new this years so it was all amazing to me. Love the way you have used the space and the trays make me want to dig for treasures.

Anonymous said...

Cami, I stopped by to "learn a bit" about you and wow! I hit the jackpot! I love, love your studio... every square inch has something wonderful! What you've done with the picture frames along your window... love it! And all that bling!!! I could spend hours just digging thru those... :)

Diana said...

I love your studio and your lace collection stops my heart. What a beautiful room you have. Thanks for sharing.

Linda said...

Vinty, your studio is a true work of art - I love it! What an inspiration you are. I know what you mean about only being able to create in it half the time. My work bench is covered in "finds" right now and I have to take things to my kitchen table to work on them. :)

I was in your neck of the woods recently - Azle - and thought about you! We love the DFW area and hope to retire down there somewhere. My daughter lives in Frisco now!

Nice to see you are still creating.

Terry said...

You have a beautiful space! I love the picture frames above the window. Such a creative idea! I love your inspiration board! Another wonderfully creative idea. I agree with you that your wire bin once held basketballs. I share that memory. Thank you for sharing your beautiful space.
Terry

Cheryl said...

I am re-visiting all the spaces starting with A. I was in such a hurry last time round to see more, I must have missed some blogs or didn't give the Post Comments procedure time to complete itself because I know I commented on your space as I too have a vision 'book' that I use continuosly. Loved your space last time round too!

Cheryl said...

Meant to tell you that I had exactly the same header picture as you and called myself 'Creating Chezabee' in the begining, then I found a bunch of other backgrounds and pictures and changed mine - still love your header tho

Donna said...

Oh I love your create space!!!! So how far are you from Waller, TX LOL
I may drop in sometime!!! You are welcome to stop in at my little craft cottage!!!

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

I want to live in your creative space!! WOW WOW WOW!!!

xxoo
Marsha