life — Page 294

Where Bloggers Create 2

June 18, 2010 at 5:05 pm by Claudia

Welcome to my teeny, tiny studio! I took part in the first party a year ago and am thrilled to be taking part again. I am creating this post far from my home as I work in San Diego for 10 weeks, so I will be visiting my studio right along with you. Since I’ve been far from home since April, I can’t take updated photos. I will do my best to explain what has changed along the way.

My jaw drops in awe when I see some of the gorgeous, big spaces many bloggers have. And I would be telling a lie if I said I was perfectly happy with my space and had no need for a larger one. I will have one someday. (Just letting the Universe know.) In the meantime, I love my little space.

We live in a tiny two bedroom cottage. With two big dogs. The second bedroom became our guest room/office/music studio. Where in the world would I be able to create? One day, my husband and I had a light bulb moment: the upstairs hallway. Yep, that’s my studio. Let’s start the tour.

As far as I’m concerned, the studio starts with this window at the top of the stairs. I used a vintage dresser scarf to create the valance and clipped it onto a curtain rod.

The window sill has little jars full of buttons.

At the top of the stairs, there is a little niche. I used to have an old trunk here. The day I realized that my sewing table would fit perfectly in this niche was the day the studio was born. I made the skirt from a Simply Shabby Chic shower curtain I had used when I was staying in San Diego last year. It’s attached with velcro – easy! That pretty fabric hides a lot of stuff.

See the skylight above my workspace? Love the natural light that fills this space.

Lambchop is my muse. I love her.

Here is a more up-to-date photo. I bought this lovely slip cover for my plain old office chair. It definitely pretties up the space. The shelf is an old mantel I had for a long time – it was propped up in a corner of our bedroom. Since it is narrow, it turned out to be the perfect shelf for this space. A coat of paint and I have the perfect splash of color in the studio.

A closer look at everything that surrounds my sewing table:

I took an old, plain bulletin board and transformed it with sheet music, paint, antiquing gel and some appliques.

Many of these little touches come from fellow bloggers. I love this blogging community!

As you face the sewing table, there is a little wall to the right. Photos are of my wedding day and of my brother and I visiting Santa Claus when we were kids, along with Mom and Dad.

Now you turn a corner and on the right is a bookcase I found at The Christmas Tree Shop. I wrote a post about my adventures trying to get that thing to fit together when I discovered it had come with two left sides!

It’s full of craft and decorating books as well as lots of theater books (that’s my profession.) The photo is of my sister and me.

Pincushions made by my blogging friend, Betty.

Since you see the cardboard backing of the bookcase as you go up the stairs, I prettied it up.

On the left is my design wall. I covered insulation boards with batting and nailed them to the wall. That’s my craft/cutting table which, thankfully, takes up very little space. I’ve made some changes to this part of the studio recently. I took down the quilt and added these:

Photos of family and friends

I made a chalkboard for the kitchen last year. Since I had an extra board and left over paint, I thought I would make one for the studio. I drilled two holes in the top and hung it with twine. I write words that inspire my creativity.

Trims, lace, crochet, one of the hearts I make

Tools in a vintage McCoy Vase

I have been drifting away from quilting and moving in new creative directions. So I have some new plans for this space. I’ll take down part of the design wall and look for a hutch or china cabinet that I can paint white. It will hold some of my supplies (the rest are on shelves in the guest bedroom closet) and will give me a whole lot of new decorating options!

My studio extends to the kitchen, where I work on my dollhouse. There just isn’t enough room in the studio. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Here is where I blog with my blogging partner, Scout.

So you see, you can take a tiny little alcove or a hallway or a closet and make it your creative space. You really can. I call this “My Happy Place.” Now, if it only had an air conditioner…

Thanks for stopping by! I can’t wait to see all the other wonderful creative spaces out there. Visit Karen’s blog My Desert Cottage to see more. Thanks, Karen!

I’m also linking to Pink Saturday.

Pink Saturday

May 29, 2010 at 12:03 am by Claudia

Happy 2nd Anniversary, Pink Saturday!

These peonies are for you, Beverly. Thank you for all the time and care you put into this celebration every week. You are a gem.

I am posting this while I am working far away from my home. I’m currently in San Diego and my temporary digs leave much to be desired decor-wise. However, I do have some pink.

This is the view as I sit on the couch and blog. My pink pajamas, a vintage pink tea towel, my pink rose mug and one of my California finds – a pink glove box.

I found this at an antique store and debated whether to buy it. I fell in love with it right away (I’ve started a collection of glove boxes) but the price was a bit high. I went away and when I returned a week later, it was still there – calling to me. I gave in.

Isn’t this fabric beautiful? So old fashioned and flowery. I’m used to seeing solid color glove boxes. This is the first time I’ve seen one in a flower print.

I’m storing all my embroidery supplies inside. I really, really love this piece.

Please celebrate with us and stop by Beverly’s blog to see a list of everyone participating in Pink Saturday’s 2nd Anniversary.

Lives Well Lived

April 4, 2010 at 9:13 am by Claudia

Happy Easter to everyone. We are experiencing more sadness in this cottage as we learned of the passing of two of our friends yesterday. Both men were part of the The Old Globe Theater, the place where Don and I met, and where we both spent so many years of our working life.

Raul was a stage manager who I adored and worked with many times. He was a true gentleman, kind, funny and gracious – a man of great integrity. He fought chronic illness for years with grace and dignity. He traveled the world. He was recovering at home from heart surgery – well on his way, we thought, to a full recovery when he died quietly in his sleep.

As I was trying to cope with the news of Raul’s passing, my husband broke the news to me that Craig Noel, founder of the Old Globe, also passed away yesterday at the age of 94. Craig was the most wonderful of men – I was so lucky to have known and worked with him. He was also a mentor to my husband. Craig discovered Don when he was a teenager and helped guide him into the world of professional theater – he gave him his Equity card, as well.

Craig had a wicked sense of humor, a true passion for theater, a generous spirit and oh, the stories he could tell. When our lives took us from the west to the east, we would call Craig on holidays. Last summer when I was working in San Diego, Don and I spent an afternoon with Craig. At 93, he was very frail but we caught him on a good day. We reminisced together about productions, people, places and we laughed and laughed. I am so grateful we had that time together.

I worked on many shows that were stage managed by Raul and directed by Craig. How strange that they left us on the same day.

Too much loss lately…too much loss.

Where Bloggers Create 2

Pink Saturday

Lives Well Lived

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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