Sunday, November 18, 2012

Creative Space


When KC moved to San Francisco, we turned her bedroom into a workspace for me.

Previously, I created at the workbench in the garage - too hot in summer and too cold in winter.

We bought a computer desk/armoire and everything was set.

We bought an Ikea Ektorp sleeper sofa, an Expedit for holding supplies and creativity became a nightly ritual.

Steve's studio and my work area are connected so we sit working in adjacent rooms, back to back, listening to music and talking over our shoulders to one another.

The downside to my workspace is company, which has been increasingly frequent the last few months.

With the holidays approaching, I want to make cards, books, gifts, etc.

But, with guests in the room, I am limited.

I start something, but can't get back to it.

After much cajoling, Steve has allotted me a little corner of his studio.

Last weekend I painted my little wooden spool box.


Next, I painted my work desk.


The simple enamel topped table might not look like a family treasure to anyone else, but it is one of my favorite pieces.

Thirty-seven years ago, Steve found it in my parents' garage and brought it back to our little apartment in Mission Beach, San Diego.

It started life with us as a changing table for JP.

Over the years it has lived in the kitchen, sewing room, garden ......

When we remodeled out dining room, our custom table took longer than planned so it even did time as a dining room table.

Until last Saturday, it simply sat in Steve's studio holding brushes and other art supplies.

With the paint still wet, I went to work setting it up as a work station.


Steve compares living in a small house to living on a boat - only the essentials get to come on board.

I used that philosophy to decide what I need on hand and what can be left in the armoire or relegated to the garage work bench.

Our attic is home to those non-essentials that don't make it on the boat, but I do not want to toss.

I found an old red shelf that once had little drawers (what did I do with them?), a wire shelf I bought years ago in the bargain area of Anthropologie and an old plate rack.




They have a new life in my little corner holding "essential" supplies.

The lone drawer in the table holds markers.


The spool box hold tools.


A little box of drawers holds embellishments and Ikea spice jars filled with supplies.


Under the desk a crate holds paper cutters and a big box full of lettering supplies.


Steve's studio and my work area are now one in the same.


At the moment, we have no company, but I like the idea of working together, listening to music and being creative.

I am trying to finish these two books I began in August.


A new round of company arrives on Tuesday.

But with my new creative space, no problem!

.......................................

I'm linked up at

Mockingbird Hill Cottage - A Favorite Thing

Under the Table and Dreaming - Sunday Showcase Party

Sunny Simple Life - Sunny Simple Sunday

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

BoogieBoard Cottage - Masterpiece Monday

8 comments:

  1. Very cute. Glad your hubby shared his space with you. Have fun with your company.

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  2. Very colorful! But...I wouldn't expect anything else from you. :)
    I like the clever use of the plate rack. I'm looking for ideas for crafting and creative space...being totally disorganized this decade of my life...I need all the help I can find!
    I'm pinning these ideas. :) ~Pat

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  3. Your work space is so cute! Love all the fun shelves and racks and cubbies for all your essentials. And your enamel top table is wonderful! Love it!!
    Mary Alice

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  4. What a great job turning your little corner into a creative space; compact, attractive, functional. Good job! And thanks for leaving the inspiring note. My exercise generally consists of telephone tag and jumping to conclusions /~"

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  5. Your new workspace looks so well organised and colourful. Hope you will enjoy many hours working together on your separate projects.
    Sarah x

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  6. When I was a child, I shared a room with my sister and in between our beds we had an enamel topped cabinet - I've wished for many years that I had managed to keep it !
    This corner of Steve's studio looks like a great space. It looks and sounds like an idyllic place to work in, and it's also great to have a place where you can leave stuff out, half done, and not have to keep putting things away !

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  7. Love it! What a cute little area. My office is in our guest room and I have the same problem when company comes.

    Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!

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  8. I just found your site and have been reading all your posts, I love the life you have made for yourself in your cottage but I had to comment on this one. I too have a small enamelware table that was my grandmothers. My grandmother used to make and sell jewelry for spending money, she spent countless hours at this little table. When she could no longer make her jewelry it was stored in the basement of their home. My grandfather mentioned cutting it up and tossing it when she passed away and I told him not to do that, that these tables were highly sought after. He must have took that to mean I had an attachment to the table,I did, it was the memories. He purged his home of everything non essential as his health deteriorated so no one would have to deal with it upon is death. When he died, I found only this table in the basement, with a note it was for me. It has been my dining room table for several years and now is my desk. I like letting the grand children craft on it as it's so easy to clean up as well. I love the red you used on yours, I removed the peeling paint but stayed true to it's history and did a white wash on mine.

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