Once upon a time there was a girl/woman who had a space of her own to do her art and create whatever her imagination desired. The only problem was that she could never seem to get it the way she wanted it and it would quickly become disorganized and chaotic. Then one day this girl/woman decided it was high time to go through every single nook and cranny of her space and unload the things not used, from dried up paints and markers to all asundry items that just took up space. (not a single thing was overlooked) She emptied the closet and put it all back together again, making space for blank canvases and other things she could now readily find both on the shelves and in the drawers. Although the result still showed a full closet it was now organized. In looking around the rest of the room she realized the furniture needed to be looked at with a new eye and a plan made as to what would best serve her needs. Out went a few things and in came a new large bookcase that more than accomodated her penchant for art AND for sewing all in one open view. She was delighted. This left the other two glass doored book cases open for various other things that weren't used on a daily basis AND she could display a few of her favorite teapots and cups and saucers as well. She felt it important when creating a space of ones own that it reflect that person and to keep momentos or favorite items out in view where they could be rotated over time. Since this girl/woman had many facets to her personaltity and therefore her tastes she made sure to incporporate that by having it all in one room. From old embroidered pillow cases for a valance on the big window to an old lace tablecloth folded on the diagonal for the smaller window valance to a family rocking chair and stool to a gypsy area to a cozy sewing nook....Shabby-gypsy-sentimental-chic if you will. Her work table was an old dining table found at a salvage yard and painted white. The dresser was found at an estate sale and although worn a coat of turquoise (one of her favorite colors) paint brought it to life.
Her sewing table was a desk she'd had since the age of 4 and the chair used was one of the kitchen chairs in the family kitchen as she grew up. The stool in front of the rocker was purchased on a family vacation in the early 60's that was handmade by the Pennsylvania Dutch and purchased in Intercourse, PA. (dated on the bottom) The rocker itself was purchased by her Mom for her Italian Grandmother when she lived with them but the Italian Grandmother didn't like it so it was used by the rest of the family over the course of many years. Seeing it among her late Mother's things in storage she knew it would fit in her new space for a place to just sit and read. Even the small wicker trunk against the Gypsy wall was something her Mom had for years. This gave the girl/woman a sense of sentimental satisfaction to have a few items around her that were around most of her life.
One thing missing when all was in place was somewhere to stand and work. This was remedied by using two banks of drawers she had previously used in an earlier incarnation of her studio and topped with a $21 hollow core door from the DIY store mounted in place with L-brackets. Since there would be a space in the center she used a small tension rod and made a curtain for yet more storage space. When this was done one more thought occured to her....so her BohoHandyMan who had all along been helping her, set to work with her idea. A piece of wood was mounted on either end of the counter and a wire made taut hung between them giving her a place to hang paper or fabric to dry. Little by little over the course of a couple of weeks she worked day and night occasionally standing back to see what worked and what didn't until finally with a sore back but much glee it was complete.
The girl/woman left empty drawers and spaces on shelves for new things that may come her way and she also knew that over time she'd find treasures she'd want to add to the space. It was inevitible. Not to mention when Garagapalooza gets underway the treasures that lurk right there she hasn't seen in years. So yes, items may get rotated around the room......things on shelves moved about but the set up was going to do her fine. Now it was time to get to work on what she loved most.....ART...and she could do it with a full sense of pride and a lot of relief that the space she was using was ready for her. (ok I still need to hang the lantern lights and hang the parasol but that's cosmetic and will show another day)
THE END
Below are photos of my finished studio:
looking in the door to the studio
sewing nook
closet with curtain closed
Interior of closet
Start of the Gypsy wall
Gypsy caravan and Roman and Anton:TheAcrobats
New large double bookcase from Ikea (the doll house on the top left is still waiting for a makeover and the GypsyTheater on the top right is waiting for a new play)
Right side of room as you walk in. I'm on the hunt for a different lamp.
Family rocker and stool - I'm on the hunt for non traditional pads.
back left corner - we decided to leave the large tack board where it was for now.
partial teapot and cup/saucer collection
Work table (clear vinyl goes on top when working) the wee stool is for my feet to rest on
New counter, some of those drawers are actually empty!
Old pillowcases from an estate sale for a valance (I probably should iron them) - the window shade is what you see below them. You can also see the wire line that goes across the counter for drying things)
So there you have it my friends.......I haven't drawn so much as a circle during all this and each night as I'd finally lay my head down it would race with what needed to be done the next day. I'll tell you it takes a lot of time to completely go through EVERY item you own. I haven't been blogging and certainly haven't been to many blogs at all. It's been labor intensive at times and I don't know what I would have done without the assistance of BohoHandyMan evenings and weekends and his ability (and willingness) to do ANYthing to help.
AND in between all this my patient and very knowledgable nephew walked me through setting up the new computer and it's loaded with all I could want (thanks to him)....it's speedy and a bit of a learning curve with all the new upgraded software...but I am VERY grateful to him being on the other end of the phone for hours at a time.
I need to get busy finishing an art project I am very late completing.
Thank you to those who have been patient about the overdue project and the overdue email responses and the overdue phone calls and the overdue visits to your blogs.
But first, this girl/woman needs a nap!!!!
LOVE,
LISA
XOXOX
P.S. I have a stack of fabrics and 2 large zip lock bags of random sewing supplies like zippers, elastic, velcro, snaps etc. If you are interested let me know and they will be yours.
