Bottles and Lace and Tintypes~ Oh My~

Some of my favorite things combined into one creation..... old bottles, vintage lace, tintypes, buttons, rhinestones and tattered ribbon~!  Now in my Etsy shop~

As Promised..... a Giveaway!

It feels great to sort and clean and organize which I have been doing non-stop for weeks now.  Part of sorting and cleaning and organizing includes throwing away (which I did) and giving away (which I am).... So here goes. I will fill 2 or 3 flat rate Priority Mail boxes chock full of an assortment of old photos, ribbons, vintage ephemera,  antique ledger books,  MORE old photos,  rubber stamps, dried flowers, altered art supplies,  vintage travel books, beads and charms, scrapbooking embellishments and yet even MORE old photos.  (PS  I really do have alot of old photos..... perhaps 200 or more!)  Please leave your name, a brief comment and a way for me to contact you (should you win!) if you do not have a blog. There will be 2 or 3 names randomly drawn on Monday, February 6.  Good Luck!!

Finally! A Studio to Call My Own!

This is reason number one why I have been MIA lately, both from blogging and from the rest of real life.  Now that phase 3 of my art room is finished,  I am jumping back into creating/life with a vengeance!!
     When I managed to get an art corner to myself in our dungeon (basement) it was a huge step up from having to drag boxes and bins out from closets and shelves every time I wanted to create.  But soon the dark, damp, dusty corner in the basement wasn't enough.  Now I can whine no longer, for I have an art room/studio that I have dreamt of for years.  Lately I have found myself walking in there  just look around, in awe of how warm and welcoming it feels!  I hope you like it, too!   *PS  Please stay tuned for a couple of blog giveaways I will be posting next week.  My art corner was becoming so disorganized and crowded, that at times I would rather re-purchase something I KNEW I already had, just to avoid having to search high and low for it in all the clutter!  And now I need to purge and clear out!   

Antique drafting table as my work space. My son painted the bee on the old drafting chair.

           Old light pink armoire has oodles of storage space inside. 

 

           Ribbon holder, courtesy of hubby.  The room has such severe pitched ceilings I had  to figure out a way to utilize the      space.

              Old table/ turned desk. Stamps tucked neat and tidy in a small storage shelf. I need to find a source for old typewriter ribbon!

      New shoe cubbie from Bed Bath & Beyond, covered in old dictionary pages = fabric storage~

               The window seat that hubby built many moons ago,  The only window in the room meant a need for good artificial lighting.  I was able to keep the little garden poem that so many of you convinced me to save.  Hubby needs to build a chippy white frame around it yet.  

                           I already had so many of the pieces/rug/do-dad's that I used in the room.  It was fun pulling it all together.  

                   Old drafting table.  The  wood on this is so pretty. Durable, useful and utilitarian!

                          I use this Victorian sheet music cabinet for all of my 12 x 12 papers.  It has 6 separate shelves inside.   Perfect fit!

     I fell in love with this old dresser.  Nancy Maxwell James made the storage box on top. Inside I store old velvet leaves. 

 Hubby's Grandfather made this old drawer unit perhaps 50 years ago.  

 Some of the tags I have gotten in tag swaps with online art friends

                          Old books I use in collages, etc.

    My vow is to keep my workspace organized and attractive!!

 Old dog doorstop under a cloche.  I've got a large antique  dog collection.... this is just a sampling.

 One of my favorite purchases for this room is a birdcage shaped photo organizer.  It's large and stores lot's of old photos for later use.  

                     Courtesy of Nancy Maxwell James.  My goal is to get a small collection of art work from online art friends.  

 I found this awesome tutorial online here at Shabby Chic Inspired Blog to make a white desk organizer from tin cans!

            My obsession.... old lace.  And old locker baskets.  

           More old lace.  Can never have too much of a good thing!

            Jewelry organizer for some of my new creations.  

          Vintage Buttons, tart tins and tattered ribbon.  Love the colors!

                    Close up of grandfather-in- laws creation.

I was given this little storage shelf and jars by a good friend.  Perfect for paper flowers and leaves.