Tuesday, February 09, 2016

~ Creating a Creative Space ~

Good Morning Friends & Folk ~
and Happy Tuesday to you!

the sun can't decide if it wants to visit or sleep in this morning, 
it keeps showing up in little slices on my sewing room floor in between icy-raindrops!

Speaking of sewing rooms ~
{nice segue, huh?}

I wanted to share with you my newly-cleaned & some-what rearranged sewing room…
but first ~

see this photo below?
see how large the safety pin is next to my thread skeins?
see the slice of my hand-dyed 30ct Ironstone Linen?
good!
everything in this photo will become something cool
~ that I think you will enjoy watching me create :)

so follow along in the next few days, won't you?




ok, moving on to my sewing room ~ 
lots of you have already seen in here on my blog,
some of you have seen it in person, and some of you I wished had not seen it in person 
on those frequent occasions when it was…um…less-than-tidy!

but, now that it is neat & organized,
I will share it again.
I love my sewing room.
it's here I dream & do….create & conquer.

it's in this bright & happy place that I visit with you each day via the internet ~
allowing me the opportunity to feel as though we are 
~ Good Neighbors ~


my stitching chair ~ complete with overstuffed pillow, throw to warm my shoulders
and stool to put my feet upon.


Having a room of one's own to retreat to is a blessing.
… having a place to create is a must {for me anyway}.



numerous tables help me create work-stations that I use for different parts of my creating...


the helm of my sewing room is my desk, of course…
surrounded by numerous bits of collected-things and practical what-nots.
{ok...mostly impractical, but needed for my inspiration daily!}



my desk and stuff


although not huge, but not small ~
my sewing room is a perfect size for me and what I do ~
I have mastered stuffing organizing things into smallih-spaces, nooks & crannies.
although I do sometimes forget what I put where…



one corner of my room holds baskets & bins
of  cotton fabrics, mohair, wool and velvet scraps...

the organizing thing is supposed to be easy ~ 
just put back whatever it is, wherever it came from, right?
sure……
not so easy when I'm in the throes of creating for a new update, release or show :)
but, at least having a space to create in is awesome.




industrial shelving holds bins of anything/everything I need & then some.
I like to hang fabric to soften the look a bit ~


I am a mixer of styles.
I decorate with & collect what my heart loves only.
so you will find 
contemporary alongside antique
primitive married to whimsical
drab complementing colorful...

and everything in-betwixt & between


antique ribbon display case holds new seam-binding next to a wire spinning rack that holds threads ~

wire baskets, wooden boxes, tins & woven baskets 
play a huge part in my organizing…


old lace in wire basket


I also use my shelves to keep my works-in-progress in cheque ~
since the fabric hiding the shelves is held on with old clothespins, why not use the clothespins to hold other things too?


a collection of red tin PA German sewing boxes & woven sewing baskets in graduating sizes hold buttons, thread, jewelry parts & other sundries handy.
{{There's that safety pin again that I mentioned earlier!}}


it's the little things in my room that make it what is is though ~
the tiny memories and thoughts that are in my collected treasures that keep me company while I work…



a small cabinet holds many things from antique sewing items to newly made miniature teddy bears!



scraps overflowing with inspiration are never put 'away'…
instead they stand at-the-ready…waiting for my creative muse to visit yet again ~



antique store display/spool holder sits on a Victorian wicker sewing stand near my treadle sewing machine


when I am finished with a project and have 'leftovers'
they are added to my scraps ...
~ nothing is ever wasted.

even thread snippets go outside to my feathered-friends to cozy up their nests!



wire dress-form, a dressmaking sign I painted, a Victorian child's lawn dress and paper ephemera decorate this corner…
behind the dress form on the shelf sits a doll from Christine Crocker & a spotted hare from Lori Ann Corelis


I am never lonely here!
tiny faces greet me at every turn :)
always ready to answer a question or make a suggestion….




my little Calico Magpie, and Owl & Red Squirrel tape measures are sitting
in the window next to my treadle machine ~


more of my 'friends' hang out on this shelf below~


a few rats & shrews from Stacey Mead co-habitate nicely
with my needle-punched & felted Owl
and Opossum


since I collect dress forms as well, 
I like to either leave them naked {oh my!}
or dress them in lots of bling….


beautiful necklaces made by Kathy Barrick, and a few of my very own ;)

even if you don't have a room of your own,
you can still create a space of your own to create in…
a large closet, a garage, basement or attic ~
even an outdoor shed or corner of your living room
can become your happy place.
a needed place.
a place to call your own.




I would LOVE to see where you create…
if you'd like to, you can post about your creative space on your blog 
& link it back to me here!

{{{{{I'll be back here tomorrow with more info about that big safety pin}}}}}
;)

Hoping you all have a beautiful day my friends!

~ Blessings from the Farm ~
 Lori

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing!So interesting to see these wonderful places, Lori!So much creativity!!

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your wonderful "work" space! I've just moved to a new home, have a smaller room for my "work" space and am in the process of figuring out how to put it all together-to suit me- my 2 daughters in law put unpacked many boxes of 'stuff' and 'put things away', but not necesisarily(sp?)in the best 'order' for me! It will take a little while to get it all figured out, because I still have to stitch, hook, and sew!
Bee Blessed--

NMK said...

Oh Boy your workroom looks like So much Fun !!! I love all the pretty containers you have things tucked away in . I just re-did my workroom , I have put things away too neatly & now I can't find them ! I tried to make my room less cluttered & took my samples off the walls & put them away. After seeing your room ,they may just come out of hiding ! Your room looks so inspiring & has so many special little treasures to inspire you . Thank you for the visit ! I will have to post my room for you to see !

Krissy B. said...

I could spend days in this room! Love everything about it. But one thing is missing in these photos. Iggy. Hope the sun come out full force for you today. Thanks for sharing.

Silent Stitches said...

Good Afternoon Lori,
Your sewing room looks pretty & perfect in every way! Enjoy the day! ~Best wishes,
~C

Fran said...

Love everything about your room, it is so cozy. Your entire home is just amazing. I do have a room myself that at the moment would more than likely scare you into running as far away as you could. After seeing yours it has given me inspiration to get mine organized once again. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Home is where the heart is…and the heart is where you create. It shows! I love my little workspace/spinning room…a quiet place to delve inward as I "work."

Charlene ♥ NC said...

I'd love to come sit with a cup of tea and look to my heart's content! Love it!!

TheCrankyCrow said...

If you let me in that room Miss Lori, I would never come out. (Well, ok...maybe to use the restroom....) What a wonderful world you've created! Truly a reflection of your artful soul. I have never had any place I could call "my place"...things were jammed in a closet in the office/study, much to my husband's disliking. When we remodeled, a space was created in the basement that I am claiming as mine. Currently, it is filled with boxes that need to be sorted through one by one (we had a major flood mid-construction)...but you've given me inspiration and I thank you for that. Can't wait to see what the safety pin becomes! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

Unknown said...

I'm in the process of creating my space. It still need its walls patched and painted. I have a comfy little chair with an antimacassar my grandma crocheted and pillows cross stitched by my late mother. Two of grandma's darning eggs, mom's sewing machine, the ladies are with me whenever I sit and stitch. Blessings to you.

Lori Ann Corelis said...

What a lovely , lovely space . . . easy to see why you are always inspired!
L


elaine allerton said...

Great room lori,, thanks for the tour,,, what a cozy spot,,,, would be very happy there,,,, love my space,,,, we are lucky,,, to have all we do! Elaine allerton

Jackie said...

I enjoy seeing how others decorate their studios/craft areas. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous space!

Julie - My Primitive Heart said...

Hi Lori,
Thank you for always being such an inspiration!! I just love your beautiful room and was inspired to share my own small sewing room!
We ALL need that special place to work, create, and dream!! Mine isn't large, but is filled with all the things that make me happy!!
Hope you have a lovely week!
Warm Hugs to you~
Julie