June 19, 2010

Where Bloggers Create II

Welcome to the second annual Where Blogger's Create! I hope you enjoy your visit. Be sure to visit all of the other wonderful Bloggers who have posted today, including our host, the amazing Karen Valentine from My Desert Cottage. Thank you Karen for hosting this event again. I really enjoyed it last year and have really been looking forward to today!



I remember years ago, reading through Jo Packham's Where Women Create, thinking to myself, "How wonderful it would be to have a whole room to myself to create in". And now, here I am with a WHOLE room to myself. I feel so blessed. Actually, I feel like a teenager at times because it seems to be where I am all of the time. In MY room.



So welcome to my space. I love it here, especially now that I have this futon. The girls can come in and watch some T.V. or do their own crafting, and I can lay on it if I am sick and still be in my space. As you can see above, it is also where all my animals seem to come. Having a black carpet and a white dog can be a problem at times. Lucky I love him!



I love that my desk is in front of the windows. I can view the sky during all of the seasons and keep an eye on my girls if they are outside playing. It's fantastic! Best of all, I can see when the mailman has come, yippee!



Look, it's about to storm. I love summer storms.


I sit in this chair WAY too much. But it is comfy and my cats like it as well, as one can see from all of the scratch marks on top. I love it when they sit at my shoulders though.



And of course, a gal who loves Paris HAS to have an Eiffel Tower lamp and other assorted Parisian finds.



This metal lamp is great because it can be used to store magnetic tins. I use every single ounce of space that I can in my studio. Below, an inexpensive basket holds my watercolor pencils, crayons and markers.





Inexpensive organizers that hang over a door are also fabulous. I have one that holds all of my glues, tools, staples, etc. and another one that holds all of my note cards and tissue.


I can never have enough drawers. I used 12x12 papers cut in half to "hide" the contents and make it appear more organized, hahaha! I also love my label maker to help me to remember where I have placed things.



Some of my favorite collections.





The above shelf is fantastic. My husband just got a huge board that I painted, hung it on some cheep brackets and then I thread some tubing through it to hold some of my many ribbons. There is another one on the other side of the room that we used a pipe on. The added shelf is great to display many of my favorite items as well.






This dress form was my mother's and I was thrilled when she passed it my way. The last thing she used if for was to do a fitting for my wedding dress. Now, it displays tags and notes from friends as well as a tribute to Brandon Flowers (the lead singer of my favorite band, The Killers). He wore feathers on the shoulders of his jacket at the last concert I went to (also the one I met them at) so these feathers I had seemed to fall into place.




I asked my husband to put these wooden slats on the wall so that I could use the space for my rubber stamps. The wood was just laying around in our garage, and having my stamps displayed not only makes it easier to see what stamps I have, (Lord knows, I need some more) but also frees up a lot of shelf space.



Some of my British Robins from my BBFF Carolyn. Love you Caz!





I love German doll heads. Can you tell? This wall is covered with cubbies from a local school that was being torn down. Unfortunately, I just deleted the largest picture by accident and, correct me if I am wrong but I don't know how to add a picture to my blog in the MIDDLE of pictures already posted. UGH! You can see it on my post from last year which is linked to below.



Each cubby has ten spots and I have six cubbies stacked on top of one another. That is A LOT of space and I LOVE it! I try to make each spot look unique but functional as well.



This is a photo of my Great Grandmother Adams. Isn't she gorgeous! I've had a collection of her silver for many years. Some of it is engraved with her name, some are places that she traveled to. I don't use them, they are so precious to me and are over 100 years old. But I never knew a way to display them until I saw where someone had placed tags onto a tree branch in a magazine. My light bulb went on!



I found a branch in our backyard, suspended it, very carefully, from my high ceiling, and used vintage seam binding to attach not only my Grandmother's silver, but my collection of silver travel spoons. I love how it turned out!






I love my collection of vintage pennants from Paris, as well as my Cavallini & Co. calenders. Each one displays the birthdate of either myself, husband, or our girls.



Don't let that curtain fool you. It is not a window. It is a disguise to hide my master bathroom, (insert evil cackle here).





I can't seem to stop collecting vintage ledgers. I use them for my art work, sell some pages at my etsy shop and also love to read some of them.



Look for me on an episode of "Horders" in a few years. My family is going to call the show and report me because my Somerset magazines will NEVER be thrown away. I couldn't even imagine parting with one. I still have my first Somerset issue from before my kids were even born.







Some of my vintage souvenirs from Paris.





Above are my ATCs as well as all of the Itty Bitty books ever made. I've been in them all, except one. Luckily, I won the PIF copy.



I know, I know. The strange little shrunken head is creepy. It scared me as a child and belonged to my Grandma Betty. Now, it is special to me.





Above is a paper lanturn that I have had for years. I LOVE toile and decided to add this pretty toile tissue to it. I love how it came out!




Vintage Game Pieces


My Travel Round Robin Books


Cool papers and Hello Kitty items from our trip to Japan.









Again, gotta love my futon. It adjusts in so many different ways. I can slide it all over the room with one hand, and my girls and puppy love to lay on it and keep me company.

Below are some more of my favorite spots and collections in my studio.










What is inside all of those drawers? Well, let me show you.




Above you can see how I cut one piece of 12x12 paper to "disguise" my full drawers. I can also change the paper very easily for a new look.





I even use the space on the side of my cubbies to store items. The more I can see, the more I can remember that I have it and use it, lol. I want to paint the ends one of these days.













Binders hold my single unmounted stamps and containers hold my packages of unmounted stamps.






Above are the old printer's trays that I have. They sit on the counter in my master bathroom and hold my tiny collections.






The oposite wall holds many of the things I have received from swaps and friends of the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group that I belong to and am an administrator for.




I WAS PUBLISHED! Screams of joy! My goal is to have even more work published after my youngest starts Kindergarten in the fall.




I love to display the art my girls have made all over my studio as well. They are very talented and my oldest has even had some chosen for her school's website.

And last, but not least, the ridiculous collection of 12x12 papers I have collected over the years. Luckily, I figured out a great way to store it all and can easily go through it. It is hidden in my master bathroom closet, behind another curtain.



So there you have it. My studio that I love so much. And I can't wait to visit many more of you and see more ideas for my constantly changing studio. I hope I have given some of you an idea or two and that you have enjoyed your visit. Hope you will come back soon and if you would like to see my post from last years "Where Blogger's Create" you can go here, RhondaMum 2009.

Time to go and cuddle with my puppy and visit some other bloggers. Have fun and come back soon! Thank you to Karen for hosting this amazing swap, and to Jo Packham as well for helping us all with our sanctuaries of creation!




42 comments:

Jeanne said...

What a beautiful room Rhonda! I love all the Paris decor. And so many clever ways to store things. Amazing! Thanks for letting us take a peek inside!
xo
jeanne

Geralyn Gray said...

I alway love your space.....I don't think you can ever have too much Paris......your collection has grown!!!! I think your things from the Marie Antionette swap group are my favorites.....well it is a dreamy space and I am so glad you have futon to dream on, now!!!!

debi said...

Geez Rhonda! I'd love to go shopping in your room! I've never seen so much stuff....so much FUN stuff!

What a great space for creating!

Gail said...

Rhonda,
Wow! You do have "oodles" of cool stuff...I better go shopping cuz I thought I had a lot! :)
Thanks for the peek.....

Rochelle said...

WOW! What a room full of much eye candy! You have a great space to work in - so big. I'll go back to my closet now and dream of a bigger space....lol
-Rochelle

Alison Gibbs said...

OMG you have so, so many beautiful supplies. You are so lucky to have such a great room to 'play' in
Alison

GlorV1 said...

Wow your studio is a FUN studio. Great space. Thanks for sharing.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

OMG I would love to spend a day poking around your studio, I never thought of using the space behind the door. And the magnetic lamp made me thing I could use magnetic sheets. I love it and I am your newest follower! I am afraid my studio is boring!!! I would still love for you to drop in if you get a chance!

Thanks Carol

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hi Rhonda,

Your're a woman after my heart..LOL You've got a lot of STUFF....you have stored and organized it in amazing ways. I am loving that tree branch with the silver suspended..I really love that!! Oh, and I saw your old green scale...I've got a black one.

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.

I would love for you to visit with me and stroll through my studio..it's been a labor of love to put together and now after a year in our home putting everything together as it should be I feel like I can "spread my wings" and fly!

Have a wonderful day,
Stephanie ♥

Holly Moore said...

Wow Rhonda, this was an amazing post. I had such a wonderful time looking at all the trinkets and things in your wonderful room.

Terri Gordon said...

Oh Rhonda, I really enjoyed seeing your beautiful room, I love all the great pictures, I love to look at all your beautiful goodies. I see you must have got the piles put away. LOL, maybe I will get mine cleaned up by next year. I love to see all your wonderful collections, so fun. Have a wonderful weekend. I love the pictures of your sweet doggies. Hugs, Terri

zandra said...

Wow, it's awesome! I want to come and play with you, please. I have the same Eiffel tower lamp. ;o) Love what you did with the shade. Love it all! So, enjoyed my visit with you. Enjoy the rest of the party.
Hugz,
Zandra

Queen Bee said...

What a terrific studio! So many goodies! I will have add as a follower and come back to really get a look at anything I may have missed. With over 400 sites to look at ..........the weekend is getting shorter and shorter. Be back soon.
Queen Bee Studio

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.

Debra@CommonGround said...

Hi Rhonda, wow, you have an INCREDIBLE space! Love the hanging silver and the bisque dolls and heads. You have so many wonderful elements packed in there. And I agree a futon or couch is important with kids, they want to come and be part of the action!!
Love your furry helpers. So glad you came by!
xo,
Debra

Marsha @ Tattered Chick said...

Oh la la another doll, Eiffel Tower person!!! I am looking for one of those Paris lamp bases to go with the lampshade I found at a yard sale this past weekend!!!

xxoo

Karen said...

HOLY COW!! I could spend a week in there!
OMG! How did you ever find all of these wonderful treasures? I don't think I've ever seen so many frozen Charlottes! I am GREEN with envy!
You look very organized, I bet you remember every single thing you have, and where it is. I will always remember something I have, but I MIGHT forget where I stashed it! ;)
OH! I came over to tell you you are in the Sorority and I cannot wait to get to know you better in the coming months!
See you on Friday for the Sorority party!
Karen ~ Some days are diamonds

Shirley Hudson - Hudson's Holidays said...

You are one of my favorites on the creative spaces blog party....so cool! You must have hundreds of Eiffel towers! Thanks for sharing with us all!!! Love it!
Shirley
http://hudsonsholidays.blogspot.com

Becky J. said...

sanctuary is right! what a place. i am not sure what i love more-- the porcelien body parts or the tree branches. thanks for sharing your wonderful space!

http://patchworkposse.com/blog

Thespa McLaughlin said...

Awesome Space! I especially love that old blue scale. Thanks so much for sharing!

Rhonda said...

Hi Rhonda, it's me, Rhonda. Thanks for stopping by and I absolutely loved your comment. We do have more in common than our name.

I can never get enough Paris or France, so I am going to have to follow your blog!

Betzie said...

What a great studio Rhonda...loved seeing all your treasures and how you store things. I love the over the door thingy...have to get one!!
Also I too adore Chinas...heads, bodies, arms, legs...LOL
That lantern is sooo neat, great idea!!! Otherwise those things look tacky but yours is wonderful!
Love your printer boxes for your collectibles too.
Now please come visit me and organize my room so i can be in this event next year!!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I love your holder for your atcs and also your unique way to display silverware! Thank you so much for having us over to visit.

Claudia said...

Wow - you have everything in there! And by everything I mean wonderful things! Love your space and I love all your Paris items. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

kluless said...

This is a great studio. I can't imagine how you keep track of it all! I especially like the buttons in the frame and the branches hanging from the ceiling - both great ideas! Thank you so much for sharing.

Malisa said...

Oh, my, I love all the creative things in your studio! So much to look at! I could spend hours in there...just looking! All the Eiffel Tower objects are great! Thanks for the peek into your studio and into your life! When you have time, stop by my blog for a visit!

Malisa

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

And I thought I had a lot of stuff!
what a fabulous place, goodness there a a zillion ideas abounding there.
Thanks for sharing!
(())

Anonymous said...

Beautiful craft room, love all things Paris too and love that the critters and family are welcome in your
little corner of the world.
Keep on crafting.

starrynightimpressions said...

Hello sweet Paris friend! Your studio is amazing!!!! One day I will have my very own space too, but for now it's just the family room table and closet, lol.
I will be thrilled to have even half the organization that you have when my time comes!!!
Merci beaucoup for letting us see your creative space :)
french blessings,
starrydeborah

Terri said...

Love all of the Eiffel towers, the dress form from your mom and i think between you and another blogger that I have seen you have all the doll heads...What an amazing space..thanks so much for sharing all of it with us and there was a lot to share! It's a good thing!

donna joy said...

fabulous space, so much to see! thanks for sharing!

donna joy said...

great space, so much to look at. love the spoons on the branch~and the lights. thanks for sharing!

Karen Valentine said...

Hi Rhonda! What a FABULOUS tour! You really took it to heart when I said post a lot of pictures! LOL! The studio is so wonderful. There are so many things to mention! I love your collection of German doll heads.I have always wanted to have a little collection of those and have been unable to find any here in Az. That is one of the biggest problems about living here. The wonderful vintage goodies are few and far between!
I LOVE how you covered an ordinary paper lantern with toile tissue. It is so cute now!
Thank you so much for joining the party and offering up so many wonderful things to look at! Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
xo,
Karen
My Desert Cottage

Rella said...

My brain is on overload now!! of beauty, that is. I love your room and that huge Eiffel Tower is amazing!!! Where in the world did that come from??? Have you been to Paris? I don't think I ever asked you that. Fab, fab room. Thanks for sharing.

xox Rella

Sandy said...

Wow what a tour! The metal lamp shade/storage is genius! Love all your vintage supplies and collections. Thank you for sharing your creative haven.

Lurena Sheary Williamson said...

WoW!!! Lots of cool stuff and very organized! I love your method of hanging your trim cards. Thanks for the tour and all the eye candy.

Halle said...

What a fantastic space! So did you take over the master suite or ???

Lynnae said...

I'm starting to think you like PARIS or something. Just kidding! I love your creative space and it's so neat that you've been published.
Thanks for sharing your room!
Lynnae

Connie Eyberg Originals said...

Thank you for sharing all your special items and your room. Love the Parisian accents. Connie

Librarians said...

I think your blog is beautiful. How did you get a template like this on blogger - or did you do this on a mac? I'm curious because I'd like to do a blog with an artistic background (the crowns are lovely) and a sliding center.

I can see that you are very busy but if you can reply I'd appreciate it very much.
Warmly,
Lisa Casey

Anonymous said...

Fun to see your creative space and all your goodies! You have so many clever storage tricks--really love the magnetic lamp shade; the cards clipped to the big Eiffel Tower, and especially the branches with the spoons as ornaments. Too cute!

Congrats on being published! And best of luck to you working on your goal of being published more now that school is starting. :D

Leslie said...

I love you