Where the Magic Happens

I am so happy to report that I actually have a real live studio in my new home. Let me take you on a little tour and show you where things happen.

This is the area where the actual creation happens. This table is usually filled with spilled beads, bits of wire, a mishmash of tools and various projects on the go. There are in fact several projects on the go at this point, I just tidied them a bit for company.

This is the left side of the brain. This is where the etsy listings are created, packing slips are prepared, packages addressed and various other boring businessy bits occur.

This is my far too large collection of beads and supplies. A photo speaks volumes. There might be a little bit of addiction and hoarding.

This is my shelf of additional art and craft supplies. In this jumble you will find various types of paints and brushes, a rock tumbler, a soldering set and various girl-sized hand tools, wool and wool roving, camera equipment, papers, stamps, inks, etc, etc.

This is my trusty laptop. What ever would I do without her? We had a scare in the summer just as I was hopping from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. Old Lappy, as she is known, suffered some sort of internal failure. We thought it was the end. But after a brief linger in a computer coma, and following a successful surgery by my skilled husband, Lappy rejoined my world good as new.
Notice behind Old Lappy, the profusion of markers, pens, and Sharpies. I love Sharpies. And I have no clue what I will ever do with that many highlighters. I also have a day book that I have been meaning to update since 2008. A couple notebooks stand by, since I also have to scribble something. And a calculator must always be at hand because, truth be told, I suck at math, and it makes me cry.
Peeking out from behind Lappy on the other side are a couple of my handcrafted treasures from fellow etsy-ians. There are plenty of those scattered around the room.

Now back across the room, to where my work space resides. Here you can see where I do in fact have several projects on the go. I guess I must lack focus because I just never have one thing sitting waiting for me. When inspiration hits, I pull out the necessary bits and bobs for several ideas and they wait patiently for me to complete them.

This is my lovely bucket of tools. These will be needed when I actually decide to focus on those little piles of beads.

Lucky me, this is my view. This is out the front of our house. You can see why some days it can be difficult to remain focused. It is very pretty out there.

This is my plant. We have been together now for 3 weeks and she continues to live. For me, that is pretty darned impressive. Isn't she pretty.

This is a daydream prop. The propellers spin when I flick them. I drift over to the 1950's, pretend I am wasp-waisted and wearing a lovely frock, and then I buckle into a luxury flight to Paris. Again with the lack of focus. Maybe I would get more work done if I planted myself in an austere white room.

I do find my creative spark sparked when I glance around me at some of the wonderful things that have come to me from other creative souls.

Nestled under the every present coffee cup is a fun, spotty coaster from PaisleyBaby. Its mate sits on the other table under my always present water glass. A lovely fabric card case protects my business cards.

Some of the projects-in-waiting are tucked safely into this little heart shaped dish from AdornYourself.

And two happy little villages reside in my studio. Plus, a ninja guards my large monitor! These all came from the happy studio of thelittleredoor.

And finally, no space is habitable unless there are books at hand. Sadly, this represents only the tiniest fraction of my vast collection. It seems that more than addiction came to light today in this brief tour.

Oh yes, and two lovely photos of Paris from kellydbrown have a spot on top of the bookcase for when I need a hint of romantic inspiration.

I have a few plans to further make this space seem truly mine. I have chosen a new paint colour, and I have plenty of art waiting to be framed and hung, and some fabulous crepe paper poms to liven the upper space. But, for now I love it.

I hope you enjoyed the tour.

A New Year

A new year and a new admission of guilt. Truth is, I have been very delinquent over the past few months about keeping my blog fresh and exciting. There is good reason as it turns out.

At the start of the summer I shared the news that we were packing up and moving from Moncton to Halifax. The first couple months were a whirlwind of unpacking, settling in to a temporary home, settling in at work, and then settling in to my new promotion at work, all while exploring this wonderful new city in which we are now lucky enough to call home.

And then... we started looking for a place to truly call home. We started shopping for a house. We looked, and nitpicked, and discarded house after house. After a couple months we were in despair that we would never find a place to call our very own. Then one night we went to peek at a house. Somehow, we knew immediately this was THE ONE!

We moved in mid-December and spent the holidays furiously unpacking, pawing through boxes that in some cases have remained packed since I put university life on hold 12 years ago to move temporarily to the UK. Unpacking these boxes was a trip down memory lane. It was also truly cathartic. To not live surrounded by boxes is a true joy.

This house immediately felt like home. It had nothing to do with being surrounded by our stuff. There simply is a feel, a sense, a strange connection. Being inside these walls is like being embraced in a warm familiar hug.

Now that life has re-commenced at a more tolerable pace, I aim to devote more time once again to this poor neglected blog. Stay tuned. I hope to someday soon be an interesting person.