Inspiring Women

If you are visiting to see my workspace as part of Where Bloggers Create 2013 please read here.

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Inspiring Women

I have many reasons for blogging.

It inspires me to be creative and to FINISH what I start. 

I get so many ideas for decorating our little cottage and projects for my itchy fingers.

But, what I love most is the inspiration I get from other bloggers.

Three different bloggers inspire me in different ways and I played in my totally organized creative space with these women in mind.

Anita of Castles, Crowns and Cottages makes me smile even before I read each post.

Her use of words, images and music is magical.

When she writes a comment on my blog, it is worded as beautifully as her posts.

My first creation last week was a book for Anita to write her wonderful words.

Leslie of the blog Gwen Moss writes about a variety of topics such as how to turn a pile of old wood into a beautiful rustic table, decorating tips for parties, how to accessorize your bookshelves and favorite reads.

But, my favorites are the posts that make me THINK.

I always take my time writing comments on her posts because I want to sound as knowledgeable as Leslie.

Yesterday's project was a book especially for Leslie to write her thoughts.

Brenda of Cozy Little House is one of the sweetest people in the world of blogging.

Every week she hunts for new bloggers to feature in her Welcome Wagon Friday post.

She featured my blog last summer and that simple sweet gesture introduced me to many new people.

I had Brenda and her love of color in mind as I finished up this little alphabet book yesterday.

After organizing my creative space, I hesitated making a mess so I am proud of myself that this is what my workspace looks like after several days of creating.

The reason I have been making books is because I just approached a friend who owns Red Brick Gallery about teaching a book making class in the fall.

When I was out in the garage yesterday, 3 different neighbors stopped by to chat and I roped them into being my guinea pigs.

Next week I am going to teach a little bookmaking class in my creative space (without the car) in order to get my timing down for the organized class at Red Brick.

I can't wait.

Hey, if you live near my area of southern California, I'd love to have more guinea pigs..

I almost forgot, - Anita, Leslie and Brenda, I need your addresses to send you the books.

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I am partying at

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

Little Red House - Mosaic Monday

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

I'm out in the garage . . .

Joining in the party at My Desert Cottage is probably a bit presumptuous of me.

I know that I will see amazing studios and workspaces from all over the world.

I decided to join the party for two reasons.

First, by joining the party, I was forced to get my creative space clean and organized.

I moved things into the garage in April, but things were stored willy nilly all over the place,

Second, I am sure there are a lot of other bloggers like me who do not have fantastic, dedicated places for their creativity.

I thought by showing my humble workspace, others might say, "well, I could do that!"

I create in the garage - a little 1 car garage.

And, I share the garage with:

1 car

1 motorcycle

3 bicycles

4 surfboards

a washer and dryer . . .

Don't pity me.

I knew what I was getting into when we downsized to our little beach cottage.

I left behind a dedicated sewing/craft room, but I gained morning walks and neighborly sunsets on the beach.

I spent all week getting this space neat and organized.

The workbench was there when we moved in although it did not look like it had been used in years and I changed the knobs to make it more fun.

I would like to paint the workbench white, actually the entire garage white, but there are far more pressing projects so it won't be happening soon.

The long divided piece hanging horizontally is an old CD cabinet turned sideways - remember when we had CDs instead of music on the cloud and our iPods?

I hung it - all by myself - and have it filled with miscellaneous supplies.

The lower portion of the workbench had doors which Steve accidentally knocked off when he was putting his car in the garage.

I like that I can see the baskets so I left the doors off, but I kept them to maybe use to paint some fun signs.

I hung chain across the top of the space and have a variety of supplies hanging in view - I sent Steve to the hardware store to buy S hooks - 3 different times this week.

I must have 300 tags - I would buy tags because I couldn't remember where I put them. 

Now it is easy to see what I have and just climb my little step ladder to grab what I need.

I stand at the workbench to sew because it is easier on my back.

When we moved the washer and dryer to the garage, we had to remove the doors to one of the cabinets so I made the white curtains to hide paint and cleaning supplies.

To gain workspace, all I have to do is open 2 of the drawers and set a piece of masonite on top to create a desk.

If the car is inside the garage, I work on top of the dryer.

This week I took the time to get all like items together - I must have had 5 different containers of brads - and label them correctly.

The area above the washer and dryer is UGLY because of pipes and wires.

There is really no place to attach a curtain to cover things up because the garage is built of cinderblock.

 I stretched chicken wire across the shelf and hung odd bits on it.

To cover up the pipes I have an old plate rack hung with all sorts of supplies - ribbon, decorative tape, metal bits and pieces . . .

The other side of the garage has wooden bookcases and metal shelving which are shared with laundry detergent, bleach, beach chairs, coolers, you name it . . .

I spent much of yesterday labeling almost every container on this side of the garage - if it is there, I should be able to find it easily.

I love color and I like to see what I have on hand.

Although the space looks "busy" it stimulates my creativity.

And, it is fun when the garage door is open - neighbors stop in as they walk to and from the beach to check my progress on projects.

I will leave you with one last photo showing 2 of the surfboards overhead.

The striped rug in front of the washer and dryer might not look special, but it is to me.

One weekend, I was staying with my mother while my sister took my niece away to college.

My mother and I went shopping early in the day on Saturday and I bought the rug and matching place mats - odd combination!

Little did I know that it would be the last thing I ever did with my mother.

She passed away that week and although the rug is now too ratty for the house, it is perfect in my creative space.

I inherited my creativity from my grandmother and my mother.

 In her later years, my mother's hands would not cooperate when she tried to do crafts, but she loved to watch me create.

I know she is there with me in my space when I make books or sew or paint.

Now that my space is organized, I can finish up 2 books I started last week and work on the some wire projects for the Christmas in July party.

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In addition to My Desert Cottage, you can find me at

I Heart Organizing - Monthly Challenge Link Up

Jennifer Rizzo - Fabulously Creative Friday

Common Ground - Be Inspired

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

Sunny Simple Life - From the Farm Blog Hop

French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

Work . . . Work . . . Work

After the first 30 days of retirement spent being creative, I spent the last several days cleaning and organizing.

It all needs to be done, but creating is much more fun.

This morning I opted for a little creativity before I got to work.

Yesterday I found this white fabric with red stripes when I was at Jo Ann's looking for white eyelet - didn't find the eyelet fabric.

And, on Monday the red and white polka dot flatware arrived.

One of the things I love most about blogging is the wonderful people you meet.

Manuela of A Cultivated Nest and Vicky of Life on Willie Mae Lane both sent me links to flatware when I mentioned I was looking for something with a fun pattern.

It literally took about 5 minutes to hem the ends of the table runner (the edges were already finished) and put it on the table.

I didn't want too much red so I chose blue and white dishes.

I added white napkins with ruffles that I made last summer and daisies from the garden.

The table is all ready for whatever beautiful and tasty concoction Steve serves up tonight.

I love the polka dots and want to see them out so I put all of my colorful flatware into pitchers.

They are in the entryway cabinet- which I still have not decided what color to paint - and make me smile.

Now, I have to get to work.

Steve is hanging an art show tomorrow morning and I need to make labels for 15 paintings.

I can't really complain because the main space I have been cleaning and organizing is my creative space and it is almost ready for the Where Bloggers Create party tomorrow at My Desert Cottage.

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I should be working, but you can find me at these fun parties

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Made in a Day - Made U Look Linky

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

Done and Dusted

These last few days have been a race toward the finish line of my 30 Days Pinterest challenge.

This project was supposed to be a baby quilt, but when I opened the package of batting, I saw the words "microwaveable" and "not safe around children"- I didn't even think to read the label at the store.

Instead of a quilt, I hand quilted placemats from left over fabric using painter's drop cloth as backing.

We have used the placemats 3 times already and they get softer each time I wash them.

The window seat cushion was a case not of "saving the best for last", but saving the hardest for last.

The plan was to use the left over white fabric from making slipcovers last summer- I am big on using what I have.

There was not enough for an 8 foot cushion so off to the store I went.

I could not believe my luck finding a 5 yard piece of red with blue and white stripes - the entire cost was less than the cost of 1 yard of the only other fabric I liked.

I made red checked pillows and made one of the red and blue stripe fabric, but it is just too much red.

I would love to say that the lobster and crab pillows are mine, but I borrowed them from my next door neighbor to see if I want white pillows.

I am heading to Home Goods tomorrow in the off chance that they still have the pillows.

One of the projects was  a cute little metal chair which I hoped to find in my parents' garage - no luck there.

 I decided that I could put quilts on the one metal chair I own.

3 quilts were too many so the extras went in a basket beneath the chair.

At the end, there were 2 projects left that I no longer wanted to do.

When I pinned the film reels, I was hoping to find some in my parents' garage - not in the cards.

And, when it came to painting my copper tub, I just couldn't do it.

To make it 30 projects in 30 days, I looked back at other projects I had done in the last 30 days and realized that both the the little flag table I painted and the Button Checkers tablecloth were things I had pinned.

Reflecting on my challenge, more than half of the projects were things I created,

quite a few were simply vignettes,

 only a few involved buying anything.

By far the most time consuming was the window seat cushion.

And now, as the saying goes, my personal challenge is "Done and Dusted".

A Busy Day

Today was a busy day - 5 projects finished up.

No, I did not do all of these projects today - some just needed the finishing touches.

I am really happy about how each of these projects turned out.

They were inspired by a book Nicole of My Garden Diaries mentioned here.

The title of the book by Amanda Thomsen is Kiss My Aster: A Graphic Guide to Creating a Fantastic Yard Totally Tailored to You.

I loved the thought "tailored to you" and so, although I am "copying" ideas from Pinterest, they are tailored to me.

I started the globe project several days ago in an attempt to alter a globe like this one I pinned from My Blessings Unlimited.

I bought a cheap, damaged globe and tried to mimic the altered globe.

I had it mostly finished when I thought back to those words, "tailored to me" and I immediately took everything off to start fresh.

I cut out words from a magazine to create a "found poem" - my students loved making found poems.

Embellishments were added in the form of a travel quote and a metal tag from Tim Holtz.

My globe . . . my way.

I love the dresser I pinned several years ago from Tiny White Daisies. 

Yesterday I was working in the garden and I saw that Steve had put an old easel on the wood pile to be chopped up and burned in the fire pit.

And, it hit me - I didn't need to find a dresser - I needed to create a piece that was "tailored" to my garden.

Once I got the idea, I gathered things from the garden and garage to create my display -

the old easel has a new life

a wire basket stolen from the patio got some new flowers this morning

a red heart was borrowed from another display and now holds a yellow sap bucket

3 blue boxes I found in the the garage were screwed onto the easel and planted with flowers

an old wooden goose sits on the bottom of the easel.

And, the best part - one more old easel waiting for a new life.

I thought I might paint my bench to look like this gorgeous bench, but my bench is old and broken down.

Instead, I moved it under the bird of paradise tree, put rocks beneath it and created a bit of a trail to the bench.

I planted Birch's Bellflower between the stones because the sign read "great ground cover for pavers and crevices" - can't wait to see how it fills in.

The photo with the mason jar full of tea and a book is totally staged - if I had taken the time to sit and read, I would not have finished the last two projects of the day.

I love the blue door I pinned from Tiny White Daisies and the white door that Kris, of Junk Chic Cottage, has in her entry.

The only problem is, I live in a working art gallery and there is absolutely no space for me to put a door.

Instead of buying a door, I bought a window at American Home & Garden and created a vignette in our "garden room". 

I love that I finally have a window to decorate and since we use our outdoor room about 10 months of the year, it will be fun to decorate for different seasons.

I had given up finding the floral dishes on my list because they are discontinued - a good reason to buy things when you see them and not wait.

But, serendipity led me to my new plates.

Another antique shop recently opened right next door to American Home & Garden.

I was in the car ready to drive away when I saw it was open and I decided there was no time like the present to check it out.

There were my plates . . . a simple floral design . . . vintage English china . . . much BETTER than the melamine floral plates I had pinned.

I was feeling pretty pleased with myself - 5 projects off my list.

The zipper for my window seat cushion and materials for the baby quilt were just waiting for me when I heard Steve yell for me.

My window had fallen in the wind, the glass table top had broken and pieces were all over the place.

I realized that the tall window was not going to work on the table unless I wired it some how so the window was moved to the ground.

Without the window on the table, the height of the vignette seemed off.

Fortunately, when I was at American Home & Garden, I had also purchased an old screen.

The screen and a bucket of flowers add some height and the table top was turned so the broken corner doesn't show.

I need to find a weathered piece of wood for a new top now that the sewing machine base is on the patio.

All's well that ends well.

 Enough projects for the day - the window seat cushion can wait.

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I am partying at 

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

No Minimalist Here - Open House Party

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Time is running out . . .

The days are flying by, but I still hope to finish my 30 Days of Pinterest project by July 7.

Finding a yellow and white striped pitcher (that wasn't a ridiculous price) proved to be harder than I imagined.

When I was visiting my sister, we went into a favorite shop in Claremont, Barbara Cheatley, and there it was - not a pitcher, but a canister - and it was a great price.

Yellow . . . stripes - how can you go wrong!

I imagine it will do duty in vignettes all over the house and might even be drafted into use as a vase on occasion.

I have mentioned before that I love all the linens that Jacqueline at Cabin & Cottage uses to set the loveliest tables and create perfect vignettes.

I found crisp white cocktail napkins at Bumblebee Linens, but I don't really need a dozen small napkins.  

Searching vintage shops did not provide anything I felt like spending money on, so I created my own "lovely linens".

In April I was looking for white placemats and couldn't find anything I liked so I made my own with quilted fabric and a quick crocheted edge.

For napkins, I bought a yard of white fabric, cut out squares, curved the corners and started crocheting - none of the placemats or the napkins have the same edging.

I create my pattern as I go along which I am sure would shock all the wonderful crocheters out there, but they are my pieces and I can do what I want with them.

It has been HOT at the beach - not the norm - so I set the table for al fresco dining.

I profess to being a "color" girl, but I am loving this soft white look.

The stripes and checks and polka dots are the look I was going for - red, or yellow or blue - I'm not picky, but I love the patterns.

I pinned the red bistro cutlery from Posh Chicago, over 2 years ago and obviously should have purchased them at the time.

Today when you click Bistro cutlery on the Posh Chicago website, red and blue are the only choices.

I already had the red utensils purchased from a local store and found the green there last week.

My mix and match - green and red bistro cutlery, blue handles from Home Goods and polka dot Sabre flatware- is not quite as cute as the red patterns.

The Sabre flatware come in a variety of colors and patterns, but the cost is prohibitive.

The bistro cutlery is $14.95 a place setting - the Sabre is $79.50 a place setting.

I will be content with the few colors I own until I win the lottery and I can buy the Sabre in dots, stripes, checks, flowers . . . 

My next task is to find white duck fabric in the attic to make a new cushion cover for my window seat . . . .  . and finish 7 other projects!

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You can find me partying at

Mod Vintage Life - Mod Mix Monday

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty Monday

Boogieboard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday