Saturday 3 October 2009

'Virtual' Open Studios

(Ignore the date at the top - I posted this in the early hours of Saturday morning 3rd October, after getting home from Hammersmith, having been to a "Mott the Hoople" gig, but for some reason I can't change the date from the time I first saved it as a draft) ..........

As announced previously, I am joining in with Quilting Arts Virtual Online Open Studios event to coincide with the publication of the latest edition of "Studios" magazine. So you are cordially invited to have a look at my workspace.

My studio is a posh shed, built by my friend's son, at the bottom of my garden. I don't have a video recorder I'm afraid, so no video, just still photos. May I suggest that you pretend that you're walking along, and hum to yourself, as if it's a video accompanied by music. At least that way, you can have the music of your choice rather than mine, which isn't to everybody's taste. Come on, be creative, enter into the spirit of it!

Let's go through the archway (mind you don't get tangled in the rose bush) And here it is - (pause briefly to admire my pots newly planted with winter flowering pansies and cyclamen)... Mind the step ...., oh and could you NOT wipe your muddy feet on my door mat - it cost rather more than a door mat should, but it was chosen for it's decorative qualities. Bit like me.
As you can see, I always keep it very tidy .....
No, of course I didn't make a special effort before I took the photos!
Then, there's the slight less tidy storage. I'm not sure how other people manage with pretty vintage-y storage, for me it's millions of plastic boxes with a couple of Ikea drawer units thrown in for good measure. Not sure what's in the Ikea drawers that are in this picture - the drawers seem to have warped a bit since I put them together and I haven't got the strength to open them now. Oh well, it'll be a nice surprise when I do manage it. Obviously, it wouldn't normally be this cluttered, but all my City and Guilds homework is piled up in the corner.
The Lloyd Loom-type chair is on semi-permanent loan from my friend Jill who has too many chairs. I am going to spray it white and recover it, then if she comes round to reclaim it I can deny all knowledge. And the 'bar stool' is from my friend Betty, who also had too many chairs. (What is it with my mates and their furniture surfeit?)
This is another self-built unit from Ikea, I'm really pleased with this - it's great for storing large sheets of paper and much cheaper than a proper plan drawers chest.And finally the decorative features. My heart shaped card holder, displaying some of the many hand made postcards my lovely sister has sent me over the past two years.
I LOVE my shed/studio and time flies when I'm down there. I never seem to get as much done as I intend to, but then do we ever? I use it for painting occasional watercolours, painting and printing papers or fabric for my course, card making and sometimes stitching - my sewing machine and fabric is kept elsewhere, but I do sometimes take my machine down there to sew - I seem to get far less distracted if I work down there. I've got a little radio (sometimes tuned to Radio 4, but usually NME radio or XFM) and a kettle. Oh and a torch, since the time I had been down there all day until it got dark, and then I had to grope my way in the dark back up the garden.

And to sum it all up, the poem written and embroidered by my Mum, who claims to have set me and my sister off on our creative journeys .....
She made that up herself - and very appropriate! Right, I'm off now to go and have a nose at everyone else's workrooms.

18 comments:

  1. What a fabulous space. I'm impressed at how tidy it is (despite all the C & G clutter!)

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  2. I love that your studio is a little cottage all it's own! And inside, it's the perfect balance of inspiration and organization!! Thanks for sharing pics!!

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  3. Lovely studio tour,how very neat and tidy you are.

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  4. Oooooh -- Your space is so much more than a shed. My imagination took me down the path into an enchanted garden with a lovely cottage! You have a wonderful creative nook. Enjoying being a participant of the Studio Magazine Open Studio Tour. Come visit me and let's have a cup of tea!

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  5. i so loved the tour of your creative space...i always dream of a shed studio in the garden...please come see mine when you have a chance...i am having a giveaway...hugs, rebecca

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  6. What a wonderful creative space. I love the raised work surface; I think I need one of those when I rework my space. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Wow! Love your space. I'll be back to visit to see your C&G stuff.

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  8. Thank you for the tour! I enjoyed your humor!

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  9. How lovely! To have a space like this, away from the rest of the world, is my idea of pure bliss. Thanks for inviting us inside!
    Cheers
    Mary Anne

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  10. How lovely! My dream studio is a separate little cottage... how fun!!

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  11. My dream studio will be in a little cottage one day. I love your studio, it must be nice to have such a private space to create in. Thanks for the tour.

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  12. what a wonderful place to spend your creative time!!!! LOVE the whole "shed" concept. To have a cottage all to yourself, must be pure bliss. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful studio!

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  13. Lovely! I love that big open counter...and I too have utilitarian plastic & Ikea storage...it's gotta be about function, that's why it's storage!

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  14. What a wonderful cottage studio; complete with the arbour entrance! Thanks for inviting us in!

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  15. Oh how fun is this!!! A cute little art studio in the garden! Wonderful! Enjoy spending time in there! Smiles, Anke ;)

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  16. What a lovely studio, I wish I had one to store all my crafty things!
    I think the shop you mean is Otto retro, very easy to find as it's just off the high street don't a big hill (great on the way down but not so good coming back!!!)
    www.ottoretro.co.uk
    It's a lovely shop, the stock changes all the time. The last time I went I saw noting I wanted apart from a very rusty bike with a broken basket. I thought I could do it up but then saw the price tag....£100!!!! I left chuckling, we may like vintage things but we're not stupid!!! :)

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  17. Thank you all for your lovely comments - I know I'm lucky to have it - now all I need is more time to spend there x

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  18. Love your little nook in the woods; it's AAAdorably cute and workable. The outside color blends so well and makes it seem like a fairy house.

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