Friday, June 18, 2010

It's A Studio Party!!!

Oh yeah – it’s party time – the Where Bloggers Create II Party - and I can’t wait to click on those hundreds of wonderful, creative spaces other bloggers are showing. So let’s get the party started!!!


I’ve created most of my adult life in one way or another. Name just about any craft and I tried it…although there are still some I’d like to try at some point. I guess I’d better start that Art Bucket List LOL Lots of things have come out of my studio (and my head) and when you ask where I get my ideas it’s really hard to answer. A word, a color, a prayer, a saying, even a billboard or two have given me inspiration. I rarely plan too far ahead – my creations tell me what they want me to do as I go along. And when I was creating folk art dolls – they told me their stories and the ones they told very late at night seemed to be the best for some strange reason. So…you might find this little hanging with lots of different layers and fibers and beads and even a picture of some gals who look like THEY are having a party!

Or maybe this very colorful hooked wool turtle with crazy legs and a real turtle shell underneath. I do believe he thinks he the king of our house!

If it’s a holiday you may find this Santa ready to ho ho ho…wait a minute – his belly had better not shake too much! I believe he ho hoed a little too much and knocked over the tiny soldier – oh no!

Or perhaps a dolly who looks very old and is wearing one of my mother’s baby socks. And oh yes, that IS my mother as a young girl in the picture next to the dolly. The bear is a beautifully made piece by a friend that I treasure (both the bear and her)!

So, please step down into the studio and turn to your right. I’ll take you on the panoramic tour (keep in mind that this was right after I repainted when everything was neat and clean – studios don’t seem to stay that way long – or at least mine doesn’t LOL).

I love using really different pieces to house all of my creative ‘stuff’. This old wringer washer held polyfill for years – looked just like it was full of suds. Now it’s still full of polyfill but also where my wool roving lives. I found a round table top that just fits it.

Here is an herb dryer which has never held an herb in its life. But it sure is handy for hanging beads, necklaces, and anything else that will fit over its handles!

My beautiful sewing table (yes I know you don’t see a sewing machine – it’s in the closet until I need it) was made by a friend’s husband to hold my wool. I’ve used it for many things over the years – every time I have a class it holds water and glasses and name tags and of course a bowl of chocolate candy!

Now don’t drool too much – this is a very old pie safe with the original pieces of tin and was given to me by a hooker friend – how lucky am I??? Here is where a good bit of creative ‘stuff’ lives – a shelf for altered art supplies, one for beads, one for everything else LOL. I LOVE the deep shelves in this beautiful piece. It’s top is the perfect height on which to put a CD player – gotta have that music going when I create! And oh yes, the red box on top is my button box and is about three quarters full.

This piece had an interesting transformation and I wish I knew it’s full history. One day at the flea market I saw this very long skinny wood box laying on the floor. At first I thought it was some kind of trunk but it sure wasn’t very tall for a trunk. I opened it and there were some small shelves and fourteen million hooks, nails, and screws on the bottom. An idea zinged into my head and I just had to have that box. It took three or four good washings with soap and water as well as sanding to get all the gunk off the outside. It then took three or four good hours to remove all those hooks, nails, and screws. I filled the holes, washed and sanded the inside and then painted only the inside. The outside was lovingly waxed to within a inch of its life. New black hardware was put on. Next came padding and cloth trimmed with ribbon on the inside of the door. By now it was no longer a box but a standing cabinet! Perfect for storing paints, dyes, and all sorts of hooking goodies.

Well I hope y’all have enjoyed this trip through one of the rooms I love most in my house. Now go on out to Karen's blog  and take those trips through other bloggers' creative spaces!

Wait, I almost forgot…because this is a party…and you should ALWAYS have a door prize at any gathering – leave me a comment and make sure you have an email or some way for me to contact you if you’d like to win this little giveaway. I’ll even include the easel. And who knows what other goodies could be in the box with them???

Untie a ribbon in your life – you might find an adventure!

32 comments:

  1. I LOVE your happy place, Jill!! It has changed so much since I last saw it and now I soooooo badly want to come play in your sandbox!!!! Big Hugs, Kit

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  2. What a great place to create, thanks for sharing. Isn't this so fun!!! Susan

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  3. OH JILL!

    I love it! I can see myself there creating something with YOU! How fun! I love it all! And most of all,,,I love the spirit in you I've come to know!

    Thanks for the laughs and encouragement to make me "Push On" to get ready for this event in "This Old House."

    Love the idea of a Giveaway! I wish I'd thought of that!

    But I did promote my event in August....stop by and say "hi!"

    Big Hugs and Love you to Pieces Jill!!

    Shell

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  4. Awesome! Love it! I bet you make some great stuff down here. :)

    ~Liz

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  5. Your studio is very interesting. I love that you have used things in different ways...such as the herb drying and the wringer washer. Great creativity. Most of all i love your Santa!

    We are three months old (in blog time) and are a mother/daughter team. I didn't set the space cleaned but stop by sometime, if you wish.

    Susan (Suz) Reaney
    http://katsuijewelry.blogspot.com
    (not just about jewelry)

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  6. Love the way you repurpose ... love your space too.

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  7. Hi Jill!
    Thanks so much for taking me on the tour of your creative space! I do have to say that I love your turtle! How cute is that!
    Hugs!

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  8. Thanks for the visit. I love the pie safe lucky girl to have a friend so sweet as to give such a gift.
    Debbie

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  9. How I love the old wringer washer and the pie safe..just lovely! I love the way you have used unique pieces for storage...just adds that creative flair to everything...and I love that turtle! I have the gripper rug hooking stand and cutter and am hooked on thrifting wool as well as purchasing hand dyed wools.

    It's such a pleasure to be back for the party again this year and visiting all of the wonderful creative souls and their creative space. Thank you for sharing yours with me. It's so lovely and unique with your vintage furniture.

    Thank you for visiting with me and strolling through my studio..it's been a labor of love to put together and now after a year in our home I feel like I can "spread my wings" and fly!

    Have a wonderful day,
    Stephanie ♥

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  10. Very fun studio. I love your whimsical art. Love the way your things tell you stories. Thanks for letting me peek in. Diane

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  11. Love your studio, so bright and cheery and full of whimsical things! Thanks for visiting Baxter's Mom's Studio and saying such nice things...OK I'll share the crown!
    Sylvia

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  12. Your studio is comfy and cozy. I love all your storage pieces and LOVE all the window! Great place to create.
    Love your wallhanging!

    happy day!

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  13. I always love to hear the stories about seeing things for what they CAN and not what they are at the moment. Fab! Thank you for sharing.

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  14. Love your space and your creations! They are wonderful!
    Queen Bee Studio

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  15. That box turned on its side is a really nice piece. I can't imagine the work to get it to the point where it was just like you wanted it, but it is very innovative. It takes someone with an imagination to see possibilities. Good for you! Thanks for the tour!!!

    ~ginger

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  16. What a great creative place, looks so inspiring. What a lovely spacious room with all the nooks and crannies of such treasures.
    So, enjoyed my visit with you.
    Hugz,
    Zandra

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  17. how did you know i was drooling over that pie safe!?
    thanks for sharing your wonderful space and the stories behind your fantastic finds!

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  18. Wow!
    Love that wringer washer- if it worked it would make a great place to put naughty pixies! (They didn't like that so much..)
    We also love the woolens cabinet!
    What a great space, thanks for having us over!
    Sparkly Hugs,
    Tobi and the Pixies!

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  19. You have a sink in your studio - how lucky!! And your turtle has such character. Thanks for inviting us to visit!

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  20. What a perfect standing storage box, my that would be perfect for a lot of our treasures! That was a once in a lifetime find!

    CArol

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  21. thanks for stopping by Blueskies!! I love how you use old furniture for storage...makes me think I might "need" to go out looking!
    xoxo
    lynn

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  22. Ok, so now I MUST find an old washer and make it into a table like you!! Love your space, your decor and all your 'stuff'! Thanks for stopping by my 'workspace-in-progess'--I've gleaned so many ideas!!--just wait till next year!!! Lots of love,
    Pat, A Remade Life
    aremadelife@gmail.com

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  23. Your creative space is just wonderful, love it! :-)

    Hugs,
    Anne

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  24. Lovely lovely ideas. I love it how inventive we artists and crafters are with our storage solutions.

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  25. What a great space!!! I'm sorry, but I am extremely jealous over that pie safe. I would love to have the space for that in my room!

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  26. It's so true about how studios don't stay neat for very long! I personally like a bit of artistic clutter, except when I can't find what I'm looking for.

    Happy creating in your wonderful room! ::Jill

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  27. Love your space Jill, especially all your furniture...so much character! You are so sweet to have a giveaway...ah! This has been so much fun checking out everyones places and how their personalities are reflected in them. Hope you have a great week, fondly, Roberta

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  28. Thanks for the nice comment you left on my blog.
    Debbie

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  29. I like that washer I have one at my daughter was going to use it outside but like your use. Laura Q Come visit.

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  30. I am so loving the SIZE of your room! Sigh. Oh to have that much space. Course who am I kidding . . . I'd fill it up in a heartbeat! I love your Snippets, Strings & Wollens. What wonderful storage that turned out to be.
    And yup - got drool all over the keyboard when I saw your pie safe!
    This was great! Thanks for the tour!
    Karen

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  31. I need to come back to your wonderful studio to sit with you and get my creative juices flowing again! You did a beautiful job in there! Love and miss you!! Toni

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  32. Fab space and really fab cabinets thanks so much for sharing it all with us!

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