Karen of My Desert Cottage is hosting her second Where Bloggers Create Party. I thought it would be fun to participate this year, and I needed a little motivation to get my room in order. :)
Everyone is going to show the area where they create, and also show what they create there.
I had no idea what a hard time I would have taking photos of the room where I work. It's a little dark ~ kind of earthy and rustic, but it doesn't make for great flash free photos. Decorating and organizing in here has been a bit of challenge for me. I like the rustic aspect, and it goes with the style of the house, but sometimes I just want to paint everything white!
Most of my stamps are in a drawer, but the ones on the table are the ones I seem to use most frequently. LOVE my birdcage...I have all kinds of things hanging from it...things I've received in swaps, things I've purchased, etc.
Some of my favorite stamps.
The good stuff.
I struggled for the longest time trying to find a good way to store my loose ribbon. I ran across these hangers that have a velvet like finish to them, and it turned out to be the perfect way to keep the ribbon. I can easily see everything I have and they don't slip off. Each hanger is by color...the pink one.
The fireplace mantle where I keep jars of all kinds of vintage millinery and trims, etc. In this photo you can really see how rustic the room is, the whole house is actually, lots of wood and stone...I love it in the winter when it's cold and stormy, but in the summer I want white! Luckily the bedroom is all white and super sunny and feminine...so I spend a lot of time in there in the summer!
And my armoire which I love because it makes me appear WAY more organized than I really am. This is where I keep a lot of my supplies and unfortunately lots of unfinished projects ~ I'm sure you can all relate :)
My dress form that is holding beautiful altered books at the moment.
We are also supposed to show what we create...I am realizing I participate in A LOT of swaps. I am currently in five of them! Unfortunately I can't post photos yet because they haven't been given out, but I thought I would post some photos of a few things I've made for past swaps.
The Kentucky Derby Hat Swap
Mermaid Swap
Magic Wand Swap
Marie Antoinette Canvas Swap
I'm going to try to fix a few more shots of my room and I will add them to this post.
And then I'm off to visit everyone! Be sure to stop by Karen's blog...she has links posted of all the participants.
A huge thank you to Karen for hosting such a great event.
Great organizing tips. I love your swap creations. The ribbon looks awesome hanging like that. Beautiful.
Posted by: Leslie | June 19, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Wow, your creations are just lovely, and your stamps are fabulous! I'll pop back over agin to see more!!
xo,
Karen
My Desert Cottage
Posted by: Karen Valentine | June 19, 2010 at 10:39 AM
What an amazing collection of stamps you have. What beautiful artwork you have created with them. A great idea for storing ribbon in a creative and inspiring way. Magic Wand! Must try one! Thank you for sharing your space with us! Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth | June 19, 2010 at 11:07 AM
I love the ribbons and your work! Very beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Anna | June 19, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Oh my how I love your stamp collection! Your ribbons are awesome too and that hat is the best!
Happy WBC party wishes from Germany sends you Carola
Posted by: Boxwood Cottage | June 19, 2010 at 11:34 AM
Great idea for storing ribbon - your space looks beautiful - that fireplace is gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing your space.
Posted by: Claudia | June 19, 2010 at 12:02 PM
You have such a wonderful supply of craft necessities. Wow! I can relate to the difficulty in taking the pictures. I was so late getting ready I was fighting the light too.
You truly make fabulous art-work. Thanks for showing us your studio.
Posted by: Marianne@Songbird | June 19, 2010 at 01:37 PM
Hi Kathy! My goodness girl, you are so wonderfully organized!! I am so in love with all of ribbons...and the way you store them is beautiful. So much gorgeous artwork too!! The Marie canvases are my favs....don't worry about everything being cream or white ~ I love the rich dark colors too....hugs and love, Dawn
Posted by: Dawn @ The Feathered Nest | June 19, 2010 at 01:48 PM
I wish I had a system to store my rubber stamps. It is such a challenge to dig them out when I want them. Beautiful storage system for your craft supplies, and those Marie canvases are really really awesome! Nice creative space. Take care, Nancy
Posted by: Nancy Van Hoose | June 19, 2010 at 02:13 PM
What a great space - I love the dress form and the armoire. I've got one too, and I, also, am not as organized as it makes me appear. Thanks for sharing!
:-) Molly
Posted by: Molly Alexander | June 19, 2010 at 02:40 PM
I love how organized you are... and admire that fabulous collage!
Sharon :-)
Posted by: sharon | June 19, 2010 at 02:50 PM
Hi! Visiting from the Where Bloggers Create party. Love your stamps {especially the dress form ones I think I spy}. What a great armoire and I love how you have your ribbons stored. Functional and pretty that way! Thanks for sharing your space!
Posted by: Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions | June 19, 2010 at 03:07 PM
So fun..love your work! This party is so fun!
Posted by: Julie | June 19, 2010 at 03:26 PM
kathy,
everything is
so organized
and pretty!
thanks for
the tour - btw
LOVED your
mermaid!
oohlala!
are you returning
to silver bella
this year?
happy day to you!
Posted by: miss lynn | June 19, 2010 at 03:28 PM
Beautiful things! And what a great idea for ribbons. I've seen those hangers, I need to check that out.
Posted by: Bella Dreams | June 19, 2010 at 03:52 PM
Kathy,
I love your birdcage and your dressform and let me know next time to have a swap I would love to join.... and love , love your sliver butterfly on the birdcage. thank you for sharing... if you get time pop over I love visiters and the kettle is always on. tea or coffee??? Hugs ~Wendy at Blissangels
Posted by: Wendy | June 19, 2010 at 03:53 PM
Kathy I love it all......The loose ribbon dilemma. It's the bane of my exsistence! I love that super tall birdcage tower thing in the top picture. Where did you get that?
Posted by: creativechaos | June 19, 2010 at 04:14 PM
Kathy, you have a lovely room ... and aren't armoires fantastic! I love the idea for storing your ribbons.
Posted by: Bernadette | June 19, 2010 at 06:05 PM
I love your Birdcage, what a great idea, your space is wonderful, enjoy the party, I plan on visiting every space as time permits. I would love to find those ribbon hangers, I wind mine around clothes pins and put them on apothecary jars for now. Have fun blog hopping! Hope you come visit. XOXO
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnCbrWifPSE0j8OA6ZyqwjUNBCS0WW_L5M | June 19, 2010 at 06:58 PM
I'm in glitter heaven!!! So beautifully organized as is everything I saw and your creations are fabulous. Thanks for the tour.
Ginger
Posted by: ginger | June 19, 2010 at 06:59 PM
I think your photos turned out great! You'd never know that your studio is a dark area, really! The stonework is beautiful and adds a bit of rustic which I LOVE! Your studio is beautiful - thanks so much for sharing!
Purrs!
Romeo and "her"
Posted by: Romeo and "her" | June 19, 2010 at 07:26 PM
so organized! something i am working on right now~
Posted by: donna joy | June 19, 2010 at 07:56 PM
I really like your idea about using the velvet hanger for the ribbon. I'm always trying to find a good place for it.
Be sure to come visit "Summer Sundays". It's all about what summer means to YOU!
- The Tablescaper
Posted by: The Tablescaper | June 20, 2010 at 05:28 AM
Love looking at all your supplies and goodies! I am in awe of all those pretty ribbons!
-Rochelle
Posted by: Rochelle Gaukel | June 20, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Okay, your work and your space is stunning!!!! I love all of the special little details and the ways in which they represent and house your beautiful (just beautiful!) art. . . . I put together my studio last summer, shortly after I started my blog. This event and your room makes me want to do so much more. Look forward to following you from now on, Kristin xo
Posted by: Kristin Van Valkenburgh | June 20, 2010 at 10:15 AM