My Victorian Feminine Writing Room

Welcome to my my little place to create and collect. Not only do I have this wonderful nook of a room on the top floor of my old home, I also have the attic space to store things and to use as a cozy reading area. You know what else I have? A sweet ghost who likes to make their presence known.  

Lucky for me, I've had a lot of experience with ghosts, so it just makes my little nook that much more welcoming. I feel like I have someone watching out for me. Maybe it is visiting, maybe it belongs to one of my antiques, or maybe they used to live here. 

All of the life sized supplies featured came from my mom's desk and my grandmother's. My grandmother always used a fountain pen, and there are some of my mom's powdered pigments and items from her "Suzuri Bako" Japanese brush set. 

The way the sunlight shines through my window brings such an amazing ambiance to my nook.

I have a wonderful collection of paintings and even began to paint some of my own. 

I used two sets of the Freestanding Shallow Stairs and placed one on it's side so that I could have a double staircase, leading up to the top. 

After slicing the bottom piece off of this Single LED Light, I created a lamp shade with the same set of Written Memories 12x12 papers and attached it to the top of the light. Just a flip of the side power switch and I had instant warmth and glow. 

To add more character to the Leafy Swirl Desk, I took some 3-3/4 Inch Wooden Posts and sliced them in half with an exacto blade. It was an easy task and turned out better then I imagined.

Did you notice that the desk matches the Leafy Swirl Ceiling Inserts? 

Above you can see the "ceiling" and how I attached this strand of 6V Warm White Fairy Lights, twisting and turning behind each Leafy Swirl Ceiling Insert. It was easier then I imagined and each section was glued down with a small section of the "wallpaper". Then I attached the battery pack/off/on switch with a piece of Velcro. 

Here are some pics during assembly. I had to get all of the lights that I wanted done first, so that I could then attach it all together. I also built the "attic floor" so that it could hold my mom's old box of Cray-Pas, also lined with Fairy Lights.

 

Next, it was time for the fun part, creating the space into a maximalist dream hideaway. 

Would you like to see the attic? I have some amazing treasures up there and on rainy days I sit on the old rug and create.

Some might be creeped out by my old dolls and doll heads, but I always remember that they were once loved by a child and now are loved by me. Each has it's own little personality, don't cha think?

Funny thing is when I leave the attic, I always turn the fairy lights off and tidy up. But time after time, I come up to toys strewn about, drawers opened up and the lights turned on. But it doesn't scare me in the slightest. 

The light switch is there beside of the cabinet of drawers (actually there to disguise the battery box) and I have had numerous electricians in to check on things, but there never seems to be any problems. 

Window Card Cabinets Collage Sheet

Once I came up to find my roll of brown wrapping paper unrolled with little crayon marks all over. But I didn't get mad and told the ghost they were welcome to enjoy anything up there, as long as they are careful.

The roof of my home has been taken over by some beautiful ivy. My neighbor told me I really should remove it because it could damage the roof, but I just love the coziness it brings to my home and the extra touch of mother nature is always welcome.

 

Mini Traveling Ivy Boarders

My staircase is tiny, but gives me just enough room to store a few things and display favorite ephemera and family photos. There is even a nifty storage area underneath where I keep spare canvases and frames. 

5x4 Window Frame Box - Easily put together, use rice paper for window scenery, place 6V Warm White Fairy Lights behind rice paper to create the sense of sunshine beyond.

Here is that little under stair storage area I told you about. 

When I created the attic area, I glued each item into place and made sure each item fit within the Cray-Pas roof.

Again, I love these Single LED Warm White Lights. Using one is an easy way to get some warm light into different parts of the room, yet disguised as something cool. One is attached to the back of the dresser on it's side, and another one is attached to the back of a dollhouse collage sheet image. I placed some Collage Sheet Images, (top hat doll, dollhouse) onto a board and then added more layers, to make flat collage sheet images stand up on their own. 

This stool has always been my pup's little spot. His name is Brownie and he loves to play with our ghost as well. Sometimes they play fetch with a ball which is always a bit startling, but Brownie enjoys it so much.

I found this chair, lamp and desk in the attic when I first moved in and was so excited to place them in my room. I love the distressed areas and wouldn't change a thing about any of them.

I drool over the amount of area that I have on top of my desk. It's nice to have some of my current favorite collections, like this stereoview, but lots of space for supplies like watercolor pencils and a home for tools, like scissors, magnifying glasses, and more. 

I found these keys in the attic as well, right behind a wooden beam near the back of the house. About a year after, I found a tiny locked box inside of one of the fireplaces that I do not use. There were also some photos inside that I framed and hung. I still have a few keys that I don't know what they go to, but hope I do find out one day. 

This is a painting I am still working on. I don't know who she is, but I see her in my dreams and sometimes I feel like it might be my ghost. I also saw her in one of the photos that I found, which happened way after the dreams and when I painted her.

Alpha Stamps Supply List

I hope you've enjoyed this tour of my tiny, creative space. Everyone should have a place like this to call their own. 

xoxo

Rhonda...