Where Bloggers Create 2013



Hello, and welcome to my post for 2013's Where Bloggers Create! This is my third year participating in what has become one of my favorite blog events: the sharing of so many inspiring creative spaces, sanctuaries, and escapes.  Many thanks to Karen at My Desert Cottage for hosting us, and for sharing ~her~ lovely creative space.  Make sure to leave a comment and link to your blog at the end of this post as I look forward to visiting you all!

My name is Michaele (pronounced "My-kul," like Michael Jordan), and unbeknownst to me, I've been a crafter, a maker, and a dreamer since I was very young.  These descriptors were easy for me to miss as a child, teenager, and young adult, since a lot of what I did looked like play: using my mother's scarves and game boards to create houses, pretending to be a shop owner, decorating a dollhouse, and swimming through picture books about the Royal Family, America's history, and jewelry.  My mother taught me how to knit, crochet, and do cross stitch, and she encouraged me to explore and discover, which perhaps explains why I love to collect and save little treasures: buttons, ribbons, special papers, handkerchiefs, photographs and ornaments.

As an adult, I've always had a basket of yarn and crochet hooks near the couch, with my special baubles and knick knacks tucked away, often unceremoniously in shoe boxes.  It wasn't until I married and began to move regularly (as per Uncle Sam's orders  since my husband was in the Army) that the desire to have my own special space developed.  I wanted a spot, even just a corner where I could touch, use, and enjoy the little things I found interesting and pretty, and I wanted immediate access to them: no more digging for shoeboxes in the closet!  Military housing varied from post to post, so I had a desk's surface in New Mexico, an extension of a kitchen countertop the first time we were stationed here in Kansas, and an entire alcove (what an upgrade!) next to the garage in Texas.  Back to Kansas, I had a crafty nook, a portion of the family room downstairs in a rental home until a flood forced us out, and then an office in our housing on post.  When my husband and I started searching for our forever home, we knew he'd have to have a lot big enough to build a shop, and I'd have to have a craft ~room~, no more nooks and crannies for me!  

Come on in and take a look around:


If you visited last year, you'll notice that my beautiful green chair now has a mate!  Stumbling across the second chair in a local antique mall, I knew the addition to my creative space was meant to be.  


Last Christmas I received my organizing bins, which I had originally planned to paint.  Being a kindergarten teacher during the school year, time got away from me, and the containers were full to the brim.  I believe this translates into "I learned to live with" the colors.



Each canvas drawer is full too.  Photos, adhesives, crafty garlands, holiday bling and vintage papers and ephemera all find their way into my bunting, collage, and altered art projects.  My card catalog houses spools of ribbon, with most other small bits and bobs contained in jars, glass dishes, or other recycled containers.  





My bunting bars are the best way for me to store and display party and holiday pennant decor, but I added a few more hooks to the wall as you enter my craft room.  Bare at the moment, twiggy branches wound with small twinkle lights are used for displays that change for the season, usually a holiday or two ahead for crafty inspiration.  Sometime next week, Halloween ornaments and cards will be hung, ready to inspire some pumpkin-y fun!





I love this room:










Thank you for visiting and for letting me share my space with you today!  Though not my profession, the inclination to create is much more than a hobby.  After teaching kindergartners and working with fellow teachers every week, I look forward to spending weekends, holidays and the summer amongst my treasures, using them to create something new and special.  

If you'd like to see what I create next, follow my blog via Bloglovin'.

Comments

  1. Oh Michaele... what a fabulously cosy craft room you have. I just LOVE it. The red in that carpet just does something and your green chairs are delightful. I can see myself sitting and reading there. Such a lot to see and digest. You have LOADS of stuff girl! Wow! So very nice visiting you today, I'll be back to browse some more. hugs Sharon

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  2. Absolutely beautiful...cozy and awesome!

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  3. OMG..you are so organized..So many fun creative materials...I'm sure I didn't see everything the first time..I'll come back when I have more time..

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  4. I love the matching green chairs! Your pennants you've made are so fun! I also like the desk in the middle of the room. In my last craft room, I had an old kitchen table that was placed with a short end against the wall so the rest of the table was out in the room. I liked the feeling of sitting there to work and facing the door or whoever might be in the room to visit me. Thank you for the tour!

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  5. Thank you so much for stopping by Stringtown Home and taking my tour... looks like we may be kindred spirits (lovin' the color, girl!). AND - oooohh! That card catalog is fabulous! I could spend hours in your studio.. Looking forward to reading more - I'm a new bloglovin' follower! :)
    -Heather
    www.stringtownhome.net

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  6. YOur room is perfect, so rich and organized. Love all of the banners! Amazing that you found a matching chair...What a re the chances of that! Thanks for sharing!

    Carol

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  7. Michaele, it's great that you've found your "forever space." I know what it's like to move around alot and I much prefer to have a cushy, long-term residence. I love your illuminated branch and green chairs and stars on the wall. The red ottomans are a very stunning accent, too. Thanks for the tour. :-)

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  8. Thank you very much for showing me around your lovely studio. I certainly understand how you are so happy to create in such a beautiful and spacious studio after experiencing small nooks and crannies. Gluing and glittering on a white tile kitchen counter top got me into lots of troubles when it never came clean again. Creative Hearts are Happy Hearts...

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  9. Hi Michaele, The canvas drawers are great and I love your card catalog. Your buntings are adorable. I just recently developed a thing for buntings. I never had or made one my whole life but all of sudden I love them and made three within a few weeks and the next one is on my mind already.
    You had asked about my clothes hanger. Yes, I altered it and a couple more myself. I used clear stamps and adhered them in a matching curve to the acrylic block.
    Have a wonderful Sunday!
    Hugs,
    Julia

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  10. Hello Michaele, I have never been on your blog before but I am so glad to have found it through Where Bloggers Create.
    Your room is fantastic. I love all of your storage-it look like you can easily find what you are looking for and you have so
    much "Stuff". It would be so much fun to go through it all. Thanks so very much for sharing.--Mary

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  11. Your studio is just gorgeous! I love how warm and cozy it is, but very very organized. I bet you know right where to look when you need to find something too! I wish I was able to do the same! Marcia

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  12. Not only is your space creative and organized, but it is comfortable and gorgeous, too. i love that you have room for those two beautiful chairs. What a lovely place to sit and read or visit with a creative friend.
    I'm having a Give-A-Way on my blog for a $25 Amazon Gift Card. It is good anywhere in the world. Please come over and put our name in the hat. All you have to do is leave a comment and follow me back. I am excited to have found you, now I going to look at some of your past posts :)
    Have a great day,
    Your newest follower, Connie :)

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  13. You have a great craft studio and so many pretty items. I especially like the card catalog full of ribbons. Thanks for the tour.

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  14. Great space! The chair find was amazing.... to find two that match like that is incredible! Great space. I just painted my office the same color and am adding in black accessories as well. Thanks for sharing yours!

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  15. LOVE your beautiful creative space!!! I particularly admired the card catalogue cabinet for storing things!!.. And then I got a kick out of the cupcake stand! (oh yes! Now why didn't I think of that?!!.. So CUTE!)... Thanks for the tour, and hope you're enjoying your weekend! ~tina

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  16. Your space is wonderful! It must be inspirational for you and give you just the energy and good vibes you need to go teach during the week! Hugs! http://connell-crafts.blogspot.ca/

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  17. A place of your own, and you have made it so inviting and personal. I love that you found a matching chair, that never happens!! You are so organized and not afraid of color. Your library file box has me fair to drooly too. , it is year 3 for me too. Thanks for sharing, keep smiling and creating

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  18. Hi Michaele. Your space is so lovely and I'm happy that you finally have a place to spread out and settle in. I LOVE your sitting area and those beautiful chairs. You have so many creative ideas here. Thank you for sharing.
    Thank you for stopping by my studio and for your suggestions. You asked about the light. It is awful. And I moved from a room with 6 windows and light abounding. I'm adjusting with with lamps and plan to add some more. Thank you for your suggestions. They are good ones that I will try to incorporate.
    ~Elizabeth

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  19. Thanks for letting us visit your amazing space. It is chock full of such wonderful treasures. And I just love your blog banner! Sue

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  20. Hi Michaele! I finally made it to your space..... and it was worth the wait. GORGEOUS! I love your library catalog! And how cool to find your chair mate.... I love the red foot stools (I have a pink paisley one my youngest gave me last year) and I definitely going to follow you because all of your pretties will surely inspire me! Thank you again for the wonderful comments when you visited my space... Cannot wait to become more acquainted in the future! Take care!

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  21. I love the old card catalog for storing ribbons...I am going to make it my mission to find one now! Thank you for sharing your wonderful creative space and for visiting my blog too. I am also your newest follower!

    Becky @ Vintage 541

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  22. I'm so glad you now have a dedicated craft room after all those years of shared tables and nooks. And what a beautiful room it is! The two green chairs mean that you can have someone over. I bet they're comfy to sit in too. You have some good storage too. The ribbon in the card index drawers and the rails for bunting stick out.
    You have some lovely trinkets too, the Russian dolls are my favourite.
    Thank you for the look around your room.
    Happy crafting.

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  23. Hello Michaele! Your room is absolutely beautiful! It's so wonderful to have your own space. I can remember when my "studio" was just a small closet in the spare bedroom. I love what you did with the cup cake holder. I may have to steal that idea.

    Thanks so much for visiting me.
    Chrislyn

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  24. Great space, Michaele! I absolutely love that library card cabinet for storage! What a great piece. Nice idea to have a couple of chairs in here. I know sometimes I just want to look an idea or inspiration from one of my books or magazines and having a chair in the space makes it convenient. Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Your space is warm and inviting, and packed with lovely goodies ~ I enjoyed the tour very much!

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  26. Cozy is the first word that comes to mind, followed by warm, tidy, elegant and altogether lovely. Looks like you've created a creative sanctuary for yourself. I love how organized you are. Thanks for sharing your inviting space.
    Gwen Simmons
    http://aglitchintime.blogspot.com

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  27. What a wonderful room! I am absolutely drooling over that file card cabinet you keep your ribbon in.... amazing! I can easily see why you'd want to spend every waking moment in there - it is awesome! So glad you finally have a dedicated room after all those years of temporary spaces. Thank you for the tour!

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  28. Lots of great storage and display pieces, I like the old card drawer stand. And the room has great windows for light, thats always a great bonus.

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