Saturday, June 19, 2010

WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE II

Karen at My Desert Cottage has invited us to share our personal creative spaces. She has all the participants listed on her side bar, and there are a lot. So grab your favorite beverage, put your feet up, and enjoy.
When I first became interested in collecting and creating, I carried all my stuff around with me.
I was five. My Mother (who was trying to clean her closet) decided that if she was ever to finish her project, she must create one for me, as well. She pulled a purse from the to donate pile, and handed it to me. MAGIC HAPPENED! Every treasure I found went right into that purse.
My best friend (and next door neighbor) was given a purse, as well. We'd run to our special corner of my backyard garden, and pour out everything our purses held. Then we would spend the rest of the day making something wonderful from the bits and bobs.
Many different creative space scenarios followed, but my present situation is by far the best.


I chose this room for it's close proximity to my garden. The view from my desk is lovely. I'm constantly amazed by how the garden informs my creative endeavors.


My room is small, but very cozy. I've surrounded myself with things I love.
Some are vintage, some are from my travels ( I found the screen with cranes in China), some are personal items, and some are frivolous, but they all make me smile.


I enjoy sewing on anything that will accept a needle, but my passion is re-purposing old textiles.





Aren't old linens beautiful?








I keep supplies tucked in boxes on the bookcase. Out of sight, but close
at hand.


Some things are too pretty to tuck away in boxes, like bone buttons, glitter, pearls, and cabinet cards.







I gave this pretty old frame a new life, as a notice board. I replaced the dingy oil painting with a sheet of cork that I padded and covered with a pretty fabric.
Yeah, I still love an old purse.



This old mannequin head reminds me of the nursery rhyme......

the maid was in the garden, hanging out clothes,
along came a blackbird, and snipped off her nose.

She's obviously had a (not too attractive) nose job.
I brought her home and made her a QUEEN.




I'M MAD FOR LACE!




And silver baby cups



This purse is made from a tapestry fragment, found at the
Paris Flea Market.






Treasures tucked into drawers.







I love cheerful faces.


Shabby, but beautiful.



I'm older now. My collected treasures won't fit into a purse anymore, but my routine is much the same. I gather, I re-purpose, I create. I no longer sit on the grass in the garden to work, but the french doors at the end of my desk bring the garden inside, so it's still very much a part of the process. Then I switch on my computer and visit my friends, who are eager to share.


Thank you Karen, for arranging today's event.
KAY

36 comments:

Claudia said...

Hi Kay, it is so good to hear from you! I love your creative space - it is warm, wonderful and full of treasures. And that garden! I would be inspired if I looked out on that beautiful place every day!

xo
Claudia

Unknown said...

Hello, I have never seen such beautiful pieces of furniture in a workspace. Your room is just gorgeous. Coco Channel also had prized oriental screens in her NY apt. :)

Your in good company! :)

~Liz

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Kay, So nice to meet you and visit your Creative Space. It is simply gorgeous and so very inspiring with that wonderful garden to view. Every vignette of treasures are so special to gaze upon. I bet you spend hours here. What a dream room.
Thank you for sharing I so enjoyed my visit. Hope you can visit my party too.

Hugs,Celestina Marie

kayellen said...

ahhhh Just beautiful Kay!!
Hope you are having a wonderful summer:))

Excitied to see a new post!!Yeah!!

Blessing to you,
Kay

Kateyed said...

You have a simple elegant place to create. I could spend hours just looking at the pictures again and again. I love old lace and linens and all sorts of material and love how you have used them in your creative space. The dress form is gorgeous and I love the old wedding gown.

My daughter, Kat and I are are three months old (in blog time) and are a mother/daughter jewelry- making team. We have done this for fifteen years but now we are generally repurposing old jewelry. I didn't get the space cleaned but stop by sometime, if you wish.

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

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Hi Kay! Such a beautiful and inspiring place you have! Thanks so much for the tour!Your garden is incredible!
Hugs!

Jan M said...

Such lovely and inspiring surroundings! With that view, I might find myself mostly daydreaming, instead of creating! Thank you for sharing your space with us.

Deb said...

Hi Kay
What a gorgeous creative space you have - your collections are just fantastic.

Outstanding Stranger said...

I have missed you my friend....your work space is so elegant and lovely. And your photography is always amazing..Glad to see you again, Hugs, Diane

Sue@MyArtsDesire said...

Kay,
What a beautiful room! Your garden area....gorgeous! I love the dress you have displayed and the creative way you displayed your porcelain dolls in that frame. Adorable! Love the banner on your blog too! Xo, sue

Theresa Plas said...

Divine! Such beautiful things and your garden is absolutely breathtaking! Thanks so much for sharing your creative space!

Such a Wondrous Place this Faery Space said...

Soooo inspiring and gorgeous!!!! Thanks dear! Blessings.

Queen Bee said...

Oh, my gosh! What a beautiful space you have! Love the way in which you have displayed everything! Those bookcases are fabulous, the embroidery is fantastic, love the silver baby cups! Well...if I were a magazine I would publish you! Thanks for allowing me to visit!
Queen Bee Studio

white o'morn cottage said...

Hi Kay, I am in heaven looking at your goodies! I too love old linens. Just recently I was given an old wedding dress from 1948 and have it on my mannaquin just like you have. Also I keep my "treasures" in pretty boxes. I'll be posting photos of them soon. Thanks so much for sharing...love Pam

Deborah said...

I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your space. I will be back.

zandra said...

What a beautiful vintage creative space. What lovely cherish treasures you have. So, enjoyed my visit with you. Have a great week.
Hugz,
Zandra

Julia said...

Oh my , what a beautiful space!

Tobi Britton*pinkpixieforest.blogspot.com said...

What a lovely space and garden... and we Love those bookshelves!
Thanks for having us over!
Sparkly Hugs,
Tobi and the Pixies!

Decor To Adore said...

What a wonderful creative space!

I adore your storage solutions. You have inspired me to work on my own crafting paradise.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Oh how elegant! I think maybe I drooled a little bit while I visited...oops. Thank you so much for allowing us to visit (and drool).

The Polka Dot Closet said...

What a beautiful room, I too love old linen, I love cleaning and starching it!

Carol

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

What a most remarkable room and I love hearing the story of your beginning. Can I come live with you?

Big Hugs
cindy@stitches

Peg said...

So glad you're back, Kay! I have missed you terribly! Even though I've been to your home, I have never gotten to peruse your lovely, lovely workspace. I see those pretty shakers you bought for glitter and that pretty little pink bonnet. No wonder you are so creative with such a pretty space in which to design.

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Kay,
All I can say at the moment is this is pure elegance in every way, shape or form of the word.
IF I had a choice of a creative space, yours would be IT! I love the ambiance, the decor...everything.
It's just simply elegant girl, I'd so love to come play :)
Thank you for having me over...it's always a pleasure to come here :)

Diane said...

You have such a beautiful creative space. Besides, of course, all the beautiful clutter stuff I love the mood. Thanks for letting me peek in. Diane

Michele Seraphim said...

This room is so warm and comforting and I love that your view is of your beautiful gardens... what better to inspire! It is unique and a place I can see day dreaming of new projects and creations would come easy. It's a lovely space! Thanks so much for sharing.

Mrs. Wright said...

This space is so beautiful I don't want to leave! Isn't it fun to collect treasures and all the more since you were a wee little girl. All your goodies were delightful and I can only imagine the stories that go with them! Hope your enjoying the hot weather.

kluless said...

You have everything you need to create and you make it all look so beautiful, as well. Love it and love the story about your creative beginnings! Thank you for sharing.

Terri said...

Fantastic...classy...well organized and full of amazing treasures...a delight for the eyes. TFS!

Anonymous said...

It's nice to meet you, Kay. May I say that your studio is simply one of the nicest I've seen! Love the rug, and the mannequin, and your drawers full of treasures..and how very clever your framed bulletin board is! I like purses, too. If you get a chance you might like to stop by and see my purse collection...

Thank you for having me in...

Lynette

kaniki's said...

What an absolutely gorgeous studio!! So warm and inviting- and I'm sure the garden is just fab as well!!

Thanks for sharing with all of us!!

Many Blessings
Niki
Kaniki's Prims & Whims....

Sandy said...

The words rich and regal come to mind while viewing your studio. I love the antique feel of your space yet there are light hearted playful touches too, a perfect mix. Loved the tour, thank you for sharing.

Karen said...

Kay - what a beautiful post. And what a beautiful space. I love that you look outside to the garden. PERFECT! And you rlarge bookcase is TO DIE FOR! You have everything arranged just beautifully. ANd thanks for the peek into the drawers too! :)
This is too fun snooping thru other people's houses! thanks for joining in!
HAGD! Karen ~ Some days are diamonds

Scroll Design said...

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Very interesting post! Thanks for this!!!

METALWORK IN BLACKPOOL

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