Welcome To My Studio

Were Blogger's Create Event

It's time again for the "Where Bloggers Create" annual event hosted by Karen Valentine at My Desert Cottage.  The event officially starts on July 14th.  Karen generously puts together this blog party so that bloggers can share their creative spaces.  I hope you enjoy touring my studio and seeing some of the art I've created over the past year.  And when you are done, you can hop over to Karen's site where there is a list of other bloggers participating in the event.  Last year I checked out most of the spaces and it was very inspirational.

Here on my blog you'll find a variety of art by me and other artists whose work I enjoy.  There are also free tutorials and images as well as regular giveaways of my art.

I've always wanted a space that was tailored to my creating my art.  I’ve worked in the garage, a walk-in closet, guest bedroom, and on the dining room table.  A few years ago we remodeled our house and that gave me the opportunity to create the space I’ve always wanted.  Now I’m happy to sit in my studio and play all day!

Work Tables

I decided to go with bistro height work tables as I like to stand when I work.  There are four tables with leaves (they are actually dining tables) which makes it easy to reconfigure them.  I cover them with cutting mats for protection.  I chose black because it would not compete with the color of the art and I thought it would be the easiest to repaint once I totally trash the surface.

Tigger of course supervises all of my work.  I keep a basket on my work tables sprinkled with a little catnip to him to lay in the basket instead of on my projects.

There is lots of storage space under the tables where I have hanging racks and storage cabinets on wheels.

For seating around the tables I use stools.  This works well when teaching classes.

Altered Bottle

Photo Studio

My husband gave me this portable Photo Studio for Christmas.  It comes with the lamps and box of diffuser screens.

Art Deco Brooch

Antique Display Cabinet

Several years ago when we lived in Pennsylvania, I bought this Victorian cabinet.  I now use it to display some of my treasures and art.

Collage Piece on Chipboard Shoe Stand

ATC – The Dance

Marie Antoinette Diorama

Beaded Trim Storage and Display

Altoid's Tin Book

Storage and Display Cabinet

I sold many of my collections on eBay to purchase this piece.  It has lots of space for storage and display.

Altered Hinged Painter's Canvases

I use lots of flowers in my art so I use apothecary jars to storage and display.

Miniature Mermaid Shrine

I use a carousel to display my supply of lace and larger art pieces.

Altered Jeweler's Tins

This rack stores chipboard and foam core board.  Karol Taylor’s (Creative Team Member) husband Paul built these for us.

This is a bin for screws, nails etc. that has been re-purposed to store ephemera.

Voyages Extraordinaires

I purchased the cabinets below from StorageandDisplay.com.  They come finished or unfinished.  Each cabinet had 10 drawers and can be stacked.  I have two stacked towers of these plus two on wheels that fit under my work tables.  I purchased the unfinished version so I could paint them black to match my other furniture.

Witches Mask

Witches Apothecary

I hope you’ll join me in September as I'm hosting a special event where I'll be showing you how to build a witches apothecary through a series of video tutorials.  Stay tuned for more details.

My husband built this cabinet for me so where I store bins of patterned paper and ephemera.  I have another storage project for him this year if I can talk him into it.

Art Deco Fan

I use a basket to store my large sheets of paper.

Accordion Folded Book

I used ScrapNCube cubes storage units for my cardstock and tools.  I purchased the paint carousels at Michaels Craft Store.

Matchbox Chests

Click here for the video tutorial on how to make a matchbox chest.

I keep fabric in this basket.

These bins were purchased on-line from Target.  I bought these last Christmas as they had a free shipping offer.

Mermaid Sandcastle - Diorama

Equipment

A girls gotta have her technology.

I use a TV stand for my scanner and Wishblade Die Cutting Machine.

My printer is on a ScrapNCube storage bin.   I added wheels to the bottom and the drawers hold my printer paper, transparencies, vellum and Rub-Onz paper.

I used a picture frame, chipboard, batting, fabric and ribbon to create this notice board.  I have fabric and trim to make a matching skirt for the table below.  It's one of those projects I just haven't gotten to.

Here is a matching chalk board.  The background structure is the same as the note board except in the center I mounted a piece of chipboard that I sprayed with chalkboard paint. You can find the paint in most hardware stores. 

Some of my petit point work.

Display Cabinet for Art

Ethereal - Dress Form

Victorian Christmas Toy Shop Diorama

This is one of the pieces I designed for Alpha Stamps.

A Place for Visitors

Carnival

After a tour of my studio I don’t want you to get the wrong impression and think that I am neat and tidy.  Usually it looks like a bomb went off in the room.  Every surface is stacked high with projects and supplies.  Nothing is where it belongs and it’s hard to walk around the room with all the stuff on the floor.  I don’t seem to be able to create without making a huge mess.  Every once in a while I break down and spend a day cleaning it up.

 Sandy - "Excuse me mom, could you stop working on your art and play with me?  I brought enough toys for both of us!"

Click Here to Visit Other Participating Blogs