Where Bloggers Create 2013!!!!

Welcome Friends!!! Today is the day we've all been waiting and preparing for!!  Nothing like company coming to get our motivation going is there?  Today is the day we get to share our creative spaces with everyone out there in Blogland!

Many, many thanks and accolades go to Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage for hosting this wonderful yearly blog party again this year!!  I know she puts untold hours and effort into this special event every year.  It is truly a gift of love to all of us, Karen and we appreciate it so very much.  To see all the other glorious and beautiful spaces, you can find the links HERE.  Enjoy browsing and seeing the spaces of all the creative and talented women who make this world more beautiful and show us what and how they do it.  It is so much fun to see all the ideas for decorating and organizing our special creating places.  But, I warn you, it will take a few days to get through them all, so pace yourself!!

I have my studio cleaned and spiffed up, although I did not have as much time to revamp and primp as much as I would have liked too!!  But considering that six months ago, I could barely get in here, I have made real progress!!  Last year didn't exactly go according to plan with unexpected family events.  Its not a huge room, but I just love this space and am so very thankful to have it!!  The studio is just down the hall from the kitchen, so it is very convenient and such a refuge for me from the world and its cares and stresses.  My sweet husband encourages me to have it, for which I am so so thankful!!

Entering in........

I'm circling the room first and then I will go back and give you a few closer pics....I just love sitting in front of this window and looking out at the trees, flowers, and wildlife on our property as the seasons come and go...it is a beautiful view anytime of the year.  It is perfect.  I had to take this shot with a flash because of the sun coming in the window, so it is a little bleached out looking. The window faces southwest, so there is always great light in the afternoons.  The window covering is an old lace shawl.

Backing up just a bit......You can see the side of my dollhouse, which is, I'm afraid, still a work in progress...but I tinker with it anyway even though I don't have all the trim done, etc after changing some of the wallpaper.

The front door is missing, ..... I need to repaint it a different color, so it is off at this point.  And I ran out of the black octagon shingles, so I need to find something else for the porch roof.  Isn't there always something that needs doing on our houses, big or small?

Looking back towards the door.

I have made a few changes on this side of the room, namely I took off the closet door, so I could put some cubbyhole units in the closet along that wall.  Also, I used to have my sewing machine where the white cupboard is, but moved it into the other bedroom so I could have more workspace in here.  We moved in the little table that was from my husband's childhood home.  It is the cutest thing and has pull out leaves on each end.  I put a big piece of glass on top and covered the sharp edges with duck tape.  I really like sitting here and working too, and if our granddaughters want to spend time crafting, it makes space for them too.

A shot of my somewhat messy closet, but you get the

 idea.  I really have it crammed in there!

I try to label all my boxes and tubs, otherwise, I can't remember what is in them and that wastes a lot of time when you are hunting for something that you know you have!!

Moving on around the room................

My curio cabinet, where I keep small dolls and miniatures I have made.

Another work space,......IF it is not heaped with piles!! I used two of the cubbyhole units for the ends and a piece of Formica countertop over. The shelf above is a recent addition to hold miniature room boxes I am working on.

The little fairy scene under the mushroom was a class by Karla Nathan at Birdsong last year.  The NEST sign (on the wall in the picture below) is also from Birdsong, another Karla Nathan class.  I didn't get to go this year because of a conflict.......hope maybe next year again....It is so much fun!!!

Miniature dress forms I made, and taught as a class for my local mini club.

A couple of my Santas,........ these were several years ago.  The one in brown is a Kansas Santa with Wizard of Oz characters in his backpack.  Haven't made any Santas for a couple of years, but I want to make some more.......never enough time.  Each Santa carries a small gift box with a tiny nativity inside and a message about the real meaning of Christmas.

A pretty corner, love the purple beaded lamp shade. MOP buttons in the apothecary jar.  My tiny, tiny dolls are in the little glass case.

I just love these little dolls, the smaller they are, the better I like them!  It has taken years to collect them here and there.

This old spool cabinet holds an amazing amount of little stuff to create with.  I have had it for many many years and it used to be my jewelry box, but I only filled up two drawers so I decided this would be a better use for it.

Another corner in the room, need to fill up my candy jars with some chocolate!!

The kitchen in the dollhouse....see what I mean about the lack of trim.....

Livingroom

A miniature hall tree, want to make one of these in "full size" for my big house ;)  I have the doors and other components, but need some help from my guy.  I'm not good with power tools!

Miniature coffee table made from a dollhouse "window" So much fun to design and make, another club project..

Another miniature cabinet.

This is a piece I am currently working on.  The theme is gratitude! This is not a miniature, measures about 12 x 16.  It will be under glass so it won't get dusty.  When doing assemblages, I like to have them under glass if possible so they can be kept  looking nice for a very long time and these days, who wants to dust something like that? So, I am always on the lookout for shadowbox frames in my thrifting adventures.

I am so happy to have each of you in my studio want to say a sincere "thank you" so much for stopping by to visit and letting me show you around.  If you were really here, we could have a glass of lemonade and work on creating something beautiful together! Creating is such a huge gift in my life and I am forever grateful to God for allowing me to pursue these interests.  I believe the desires He places in our hearts are the ones that fit our gifting and calling in this life.  He is the Master Creator.  

~

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, 

and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

~

Psalm 51:10

Be blessed

 always in your creating dear friends,

Linda