Use what you have!

 

This is a clever invention my son installed. I had so many ties to create with and they were in the way. So what did he come up with? Glad you asked. He bought a chandelier from the thrift store for a few bucks. I spray painted it, removed all of the electrical components and he made a pulley system and hung it from the ceiling. Hey, I use ALL the space I have. Thanx Adam!!!

  

Another clever idea to keep all my tools handy was to paint soup cans, add pretty fringe and store them in a desk accessory box. Just happens these match everything. 

Another great find for my studio was this waterbed headboard I found on the side of the street. It had mirrors on the back but it reduced the natural lighting. Plus, I couldn't stand staring at myself when I was creating! I simply attached it to my work table and filled it with the things I need handy most of the time!

So did I mention I am a button freak? I think it might be an illness of sorts! I have tons of buttons and I store them in everything from spice jars to candy jars to mason jars. On the repurposed bookshelves are Home Depot garage organizers. But mine... filled with so many findings it's nuts! Well, not nuts as in nuts and bolts... but you get the picture. Literally and metaphorically!

Studio Shots

So, I had a few people ask for more pictures of my studio. I'll have to do that a little at a time since there is so much to see. As you can tell in this picture, I use up every single bit of space and there still never seems to be enough. This area is for mosaic pieces and the skinny white piece on the left holds jars of buttons. More on the button fetish later!

 

This area is where I sew. I don't always have a rack of clothing sitting there! On the left is where lots of my sewing stuff is. I love the canvas drawers for all my lace. My sewing table is actually the counters that we removed from our bathroom years ago. And the piece that holds the white baskets is a "side of the road" find. It's just a hutch that sits on top. The houses on the shelf above are wooden magazine holders from Michael's that I painted. I have little white and pink lights all over the ceiling. I also have chandeliers hanging all around. They don't work, but they look cool and inspiring. And the best thing - I can hang things from them! I told you, I use ALL of the space in my studio.

So, that's a few more sections. I'll take more pictures and post them next time. Until then create when you can and sleep when you have to!

Time for a Change

Since I've started my Redeemed Rags clothing, I've discovered that I need to reach out through my blog so I'm changing the format a bit as you will see. Since pictures speak much louder than words, I'm gonna be less wordy, and more picturey. Is that a word? If not, I just made it one!
 
 So now I'm in mass production once again. September 7-8 in Germantown, Tennessee is the next big event. Well, it's actually only my third event, but none-the-less, I'm preparing. My daughter, Holly, and I had great success at the Spring craft fairs in Arlington and Collierville so we're teaming up again to do another one. I need to triple the inventory. So here goes.....

 Okay, I usually don't let anyone see my studio in this condition, but I had to prove that I was creating. What a mess! Perhaps I'll clean it up - let's say.... in October! Yeah, October! Until then, it's time to produce!