Friday, July 11, 2014

Where Bloggers Create Party



This is my second year of participating in Where Bloggers Create at My Desert Cottage.


Last year, my creative space was in the garage, but it was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.


In January, we changed our guest room into a space for me to play and I spent the next few months organizing my supplies.


A lot of fun goes on within these 4 walls.


An old dresser updated with a coat of Miss Mustard Seed, Eulalie's Sky holds supplies and also stands in as a work surface when my main table is messy.


I love the wall above the dresser -


because of all the inspiration - cards from friends, hands, numbers . . .


My worktable, which I hope to paint white soon, holds my sewing machine and Sizzix Big Shot -  both are used multiple times each week.


The wall above the sewing machine holds wire baskets.


The content of the baskets changes depending on what projects are on my plate at the time.


I love this wall too because it holds inspiring bits and pieces


and is full of color.


 The wall opposite my work table has a little rolling cupboard which can be easily moved to access the pull down stairs to the attic.


One of Steve's paintings titled, "Carol's Garden", 4" x 6", takes up nearly the entire wall and it does not matter what time of day I photograph it, I always get a glare.


The vintage Coats and Clark thread box belonged to my grandmother and I debated for years about painting it, but I have never regretted my decision to paint it green.


The wall opposite the dresser has two 6 foot tall bookshelves FILLED with supplies, books and inspiration.


These shelves are the most organized my creative space has ever been and it is so nice to just go right to the spot to find something.


Labeled drawers, baskets, glass jars, etc. hold a myriad of supplies that I didn't remember I had until I organized the space.


I absolutely LOVE my creative space and the fact that I can start a project and leave it out for days if necessary.


Needless to say, my creative space is not usually this clean.


But, joining the Where Bloggers Create party certainly got me more organized.


I organized my fabrics and began cutting out squares for a quilt or two.


A year ago I wrote letters on a Dollar Store plate with a Sharpie - because I was getting organized, I finally did the baking in the oven to set the ink.


I found this wooden frame stretched with netting in a cupboard and used up wooden letters and starfish to make a sign for the bathroom.


I'm so organized now


that I can sneak in a create a project or two while Steve makes dinner.


Since my workroom is clean and organized, I am headed over to My Desert Cottage to check out the creative spaces of the other bloggers at Karen's party.

68 comments:

  1. Carol...what a great place to work and and just get inspired! What I like the most is the "vertical" storage, everything on the walls serves a purpose. The wire baskets are neat and I love Steve's painting. And I know for a fact that you are one woman who really used her creative space! :)

    Jane xx

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  2. Carol, you have a fantastic space in which to create all your projects. It's truly impressive! I love studying all your shelves to discover various inspirational bits and pieces. Kudos to you for being so organized. I need to clean out my storage closet and get organized!

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  3. Love your work space. I agree with you about not putting things away each time. Just walking in your room would make me want to create, too. I love your basket wall.

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  4. Wow! What an awesome space! &&So pretty! Your displays are fabulous - all of the industrial/cottagy (ha-I'm making up words, now) pieces are so neat! wonderful space! I won't have my post ready until tomorrow... I love this party!

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  5. Sigh........drool.......I love your creative space!!! How could you not want to create in there?!! Thanks for sharing!!

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  6. Hello Carol! Just taking a quick break from the reno to place a Home Depot order and thought I would pop in for a visit. I never tire of looking at your creative space. It is just such a fun room! Have a wonderful weekend...:)

    Blessings, Vicky

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  7. Hello Carol, your New Creative space is truly lovely and Yes very organized. Big smile. I really like By The Sea frame for in your bathroom. Happy Summer. How is the weather By The Sea???? Hugs Judy

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  8. Hi Carol, Happy Where Bloggers Create. I loved seeing your new updated space. You are so organized and I enjoy seeing all your special touches. The painting your hubby did is wonderful. Love it!
    I know you can spend hours here creating. I will miss the party this year after 5 years, but going to enjoy visiting just the same.
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs

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  9. I love it! It's neat to me that so much stuff can look so inviting. I bet you do spend many hours there.

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  10. i had to giggle at your comment about not always this clean. but think of all your fun projects. no wonder you are not constantly clean in this room. you are having so much fun!! creating. can't wait to see what you do next??! fun, fun, fun!! happy weekend to you! ( :

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  11. Love seeing your creative space. What a wonderful place to work in. It looks amazing!! Love the painting your hubby did.
    I need to clean up my sewing/crafting room, so that I can join next year.
    Hope you have a great weekend.
    ~Cindy

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  12. You did so well transforming and repurposing your space in this room. And it all looks lively, bright and exudes the energy that you have!

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  13. Oh, so many fun parties going on right now in BLOGLAND! YIPEEE! And "Carol's Garden" is chocked full of light and shadow, California style. Carol, your space is the epitome of organization and beautifully planned out. BRAVO my friend! Anita

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  14. I love your creating space. Those shelves are very nice. Your husband's painting is so sweet. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  15. Carol, I absolutely LOVE your creative space! So much inspiration going on! xoxo Jen

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  16. Oh my so happy to see your lovely space. I am smack in the middle of remodeling my studio so fun to get ideas from others...thanks so much for sharing!

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  17. How fun is that room? I would feel like a kid again crafting something in that room. You're so lucky to have a room of your own to do things like that in. No wonder you can make so many nice things! It really helps to have everything in order and a place to work. Would love to have a room like that. Guess I'd have to start crafting first though. LOL!

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  18. Being in your craft room is like a kid being in a candy shop! I could spend so much time just looking around at all your cool stuff and displays. Love Steve's painting.

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  19. You have many great items. You have used your space well I may need some encouragement when I move. Not sure what I will do with this endless amount of supplies. It's nice that you and your husband are artists. Where does he paint. Love the painting in your room.

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  20. Hi Carol,
    Love your super fun creative space. So organized and so full of color. Love how bright and cheery it is. I see why you create some beautiful things having a space like that.
    Kris

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  21. Carol - you have such a great space now! I have a space, but it's not organized, it's in a frenzy of clutter. I think if I ever cleared it out I could be more creative. Where did you get the wire shelf above the sewing machine. I just got my machine back, it was out for a 'cleaning". Just love your space!

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  22. WOW Carol,
    What a wonderfully fun and colorful creative space. I love your energy (please bottle some up and send it to me in Philadelphia)!!! I always look forward to your posts. Steve's painting "Carol's garden" has captured the beauty and cheerful displays you plant and grow with your loving heart. You are one driven powerhouse of creative energy!
    I soooo-oooo-ooo admire you.
    XO,
    Vera

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  23. Hi Carol,

    You have have a great work space and loved taking a look around. Love the dresser with the pretty blue paint.
    Thanks for the tour.
    Happy weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  24. I love it all, Carol. So much inspiration. I must warn you that I'll probably go through your tour a few more times. Don't you just love Karen's party?

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  25. Carol what an amazing place you've designed to be your inspirational space. Seriously, I'm in awe of this room, it needs to be in the magazine...My eyes were drawn to the wall above the dresser, not only is it well organized but it looks so pretty!

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  26. What a great Creative Space, Thanks for taking me on the Grand Tour and Sharing your newly designed Studio! Isn't this Party such Fun?! I'll probably be up half the Night visiting everyone and overdosing on Eye Candy and Inspiration!

    Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

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  27. I remember when you first set this room up and I think I had to look at the post at least 3x since I loved it so much! :) So colorful, cheery and just plain wonderful! :)

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  28. Oh Carol, your room is wonderful! I love the way you organized without things being cluttered and you can see everything you need. I am especially fond of the wire baskets. I need things where I can see them or I forget I have them and the baskets are perfect for that. Thank you for the tour!

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  29. Hi Carol!! Didn't you love building your room from scratch??? Im so happy you were able to create a new space in the house!!! It looks wonderful and I know you enjoy spending time in there! Thank you for joining the party again!!!
    xo,
    Karen

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  30. I'm just loving seeing everyone's work spaces all tidied up! Yours is full of charm. Right down to the beautiful custom art on the walls! But yours has to be one of the most used spaces on the planet! Lots of magic ongoing in here!

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  31. I love looking at your craft room, so many gorgeous things to create with, and a great space to create in.

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  32. What a fun space, Carol! I need a craft room...now! :)

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  33. Great space. So glad you could get out of the garage. I love the cabinet green. I envy your labeled drawers. I so want a label machine! I loved visiting your wonderful space. Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Congrats on moving from the garage to a new beautiful and organized space! What a treat to visit; those baskets are awesome.

    Steve's painting is incredible! What a great piece to have in your room.

    Thank you for the tour!

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  35. What A beautiful sunny place to create.

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  36. My room is never that clean either! Well once a year! LOL!! Well done it looks great - i love the fabric squares in a glass! Lovely to look at and organized too!

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  37. Love you new larger room with space to see what you have to work with...if the place is clean, you are not creating! Love you site. Hope to come back soon!
    Teresa
    www.foxhollowstudio.com

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  38. Your space inspires me! I have my spare bedroom and while the bed must remain I am going to make space to create and get organized. Maybe by next year I can share where I create!

    Linda

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  39. It's wonderful that you got your own room now and can create, no matter what the temperatures are. Your studio is cheerful and you must have a great time creating there.

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  40. A wonderful studio Carole!! Love your blue dresser and all those metal baskets. Thanks for the tour. Karen.x

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  41. Carol,
    I was so looking forward to seeing your new creative space. Let me tell you girl, it did not disappoint! Love it! The wall above the dresser is full of so much wonderful eye candy. Everything is so well organized. Found stuff I loved in each and every single picture. I have been painting my sewing room today and hope to get it back together to share with Karen's party. For now, I linked up my craft room. Thanks for the great inspiration!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  42. Carol,
    How fantastic that you now have a creative space inside the house, and you get to leave out your projects until they are finished. As always in your house, I love looking at all your creativity, but especially like the framed wire organizer.

    Judith

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  43. So happy for you that you were able to move inside, and that in doing so, you were able to get organized and to finish off some projects. Your space is lovely, enjoy it!

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  44. Your space looks great, Carol! You seem to have moved seamlessly into your guest room. I think it suits you! : ) You've got a lot of room, which I envy. I love your bookshelves. I have two about 1/3 the size of your two, but I'm glad I was able to fit them. They really gave me a lot more room in a tight space to store things. Thanks for the tour!

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  45. I know what you mean about organization. It makes creating and cleaning up so much more fun and easy to have everything at your fingertips and in the right place. I've never seen organization done with so much charm. It's hard to believe this didn't exist one year ago! I'll be visiting over and over again for inspiration. (Also, of course I have the darling trinket you made for me on display because it's one of my favorite things!!)

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  46. Love your creative space! You have so many cool vintage items and places to store and display your treasures. Fabulous!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  47. Steve is such an amazing artist. My favorite thing about your happy studio is his painting, "Carol's Garden." I love it! You are very organized! I also like the cute little inspirational items. Such a cute flower ring!

    I'm sort of embarrassed I linked-up to this party because my space is so bland compared to the other partiers.

    Thanks for sharing your space with us, Carol. You inspire us all!

    xo,
    RJ

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  48. Beautiful creative space! Loved seeing all of your materials and collections. The dresser is gorgeous!
    Cathy
    CraftyCat

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  49. What a cheerful creative space. I like everything, it is so pretty! Thanks for inviting us in. I am Janet from Graceful Rose.

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  50. WoW Carol, congrats on your new creative space!!! Looks like you been busy decorating and organizing, love all your new storage, especially the cute blue dresser!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Diana

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  51. Hi Carol, thanks for sharing your wonderful creative space. I just LOVE that dresser--the color is gorgeous! I'm going to have to come back when I have more time to really look at your pics.

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  52. so much to love--the 2 bookshelves offer loads of storage--something i want to add to one of my walls. and the blue dresser is fabulous, carol! enjoy your colorful, organized space!

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  53. I remember your space from last years party, the surf boards : )

    Now you have a super space, and I love wall colour very much, its nice and bright in there to work and play.
    And I really love the blue dresser.

    Thank you so much for your lovely comment you left while visiting my studio space, so glad you found inspiration!!! I just came back from a very quick mini vacation and I had my little travel studio with me. I will post it soon so you can see, but what I always bring with me is either my water colours or the W C pencils, love adding colour to sketches and drawings as I go. And of course a healthy stack of pens to use and two different books to draw/paint in.

    I hope you have a fantastic trip and get a lot of painting/drawing done and I hope you will post it after you get back!

    Cheers!!!

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  54. Wow, your space is so light and cheery! I love the wood floors and all of your colorful supplies.

    My space is out in my garage now so know just how you feel. It is so hot out there now and just no way I can spend longer than a few minutes. Lots of bringing the things I am working on into the house, but am hoping to convert my daughter's room when she goes off to college.

    Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful space!

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  55. You creating while Steve cooks {or paints} sounds like a pretty sweet set-up! Your space is just wonderful, Carol. I'd love to come hang out and create something with you!- maybe you could give me a little sewing lesson? Or I could just sit on the floor and browse through all of your books while you work on something- haha! Maybe someday... Thanks for sharing your amazing creative space!

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  56. Such an amazing space to create in, Carol! I would have trouble leaving this room.
    And you have a husband that cooks? Pure heaven. :)
    Enjoy creating!!!
    Hugs,
    Lin

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  57. WOW!!! What a change from last year!! I am so thrilled that you were able to repurpose this room for yourself and you have done one amazing job!! So many great organizational tidbits that I will be taking away......

    Love the colors too!!

    Congrats on your new space and thanks for dropping by!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  58. I enjoyed this visit a lot, admiring all the details. Your space is wonderful and I especially love your light blue painted dresser.
    Besos!

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  59. What a wonderful space - and it certainly does look like a lot of fun happens in it. :-)

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  60. Carol, I love your space. You did such a nice job of putting it together. So glad you got to move it to where you are more comfortable now. Wish we lived closer together so we could create together!

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  61. Your room is colourful and so fun looking. I really like the dresser painted Eulalie's Sky. Have fun creating in your lovely space.

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  62. This is a great creative space, Carol. Like all your rooms it's cheerful and welcoming. And it's so well organized. I love the green thread box. Thanks for visiting and leaving the nice comment on my blog. I'm glad I had a chance to see your studio. I love it. ~ Nancy

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  63. What a fun space to craft in! Love your hubby's painting. Thanks so much for stopping

    Hugs from Helena from Petal & Lace Cottage.

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  64. Thanks for sharing your beautiful creative space. Love the large painting. Your space is so cheery and bright. Thanks for popping over and commenting on my space. Wishing you a sweet day.

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  65. That bike wheel - so cool! It makes the room.

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  66. Great space _ I am sure you appreciate it all the more after the doin' time in the garage. Always a pleasure to visit you on the 'other' coast. Angels to you!

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  67. I wish my creative area looked half that good. Walking into your room would be a kid in candy store experience. So many prettys and fun things.
    I keep trying to organize but never quite succeed. One day One day

    Thanks for sharing your awesome space

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