Friday, July 11, 2014

Where Blogger Create 2014 Edition

 Welcome friends, new and old, to another edition of Where Bloggers Create!  In years past I have done a 360 degree tour around the place I call my art room but I decided to switch things up this year and just showcase some of the things I love to surround myself with.  If you want to see the previous tours you can click here:  2013, 2012, 2011, 2010.  WOW, I can't believe it has been five years!
 I am a dyed in the wool junker and love to hunt the thrift stores and estate sales.  Nothing pleases me more than a poke sack or a good "digger" sale.  I am especially fond of old buttons, sewing patterns, lace and sewing notions, birdies, paper ephemera, sparkly things, rusty things, vintage vanity boxes, jewelry boxes  and satin bags, oh dear....!  I can't keep it all so I also run an Etsy store called StrangeNotions to hold the clutter at bay. My younger son built this little cabinet to hold my collection of satin vanity boxes.  I use them to hold the vintage notions, trims and flowers I use in the inspiration kits I make for my Etsy.
 I collect vintage bird figurines, feed the birds in my backyard and just adore birdies.  This old birdcage is a recent find and houses my accumulation of faux feathered friends.
 I store most of my buttons in glass jars so I can see and enjoy them.  I consider myself an "accumulator" and not a collector because I don't collect anything specific and I don't mount them on cards.  I just love the way they look all jumbled up together.


 This is Mona.  She was a gift from my mother-in-law, Lisa. Mona has two little girls, Calliope and Harmony, but they weren't properly attired for the party so will have to join us another time.  Oh, wallpaper boxes, now that's another soft spot in my heart.
 The shelf above the closet hold my accumulation of salt and pepper shakers, among other things.  I painted the pictures many years ago when I was in folk art period.
 I don't like dolls.  You may find that surprising because you are going to see a few around my room.  I like their heads, especially if they have "wonky" eyes, and the creepy ones.
 All manner of sewing notions find their way into my room and some evolve in to collections.  There are also cloth tape measures and thimbles, just to name a couple. Don't even get me started on pins and needles.
 Shelves inside the closet hold a lot of my collection of vintage jewelry boxes.  They hold sparkly things that I use in my inspiration kits.  The vintage hamper holds packing material for my Etsy shop.
 This little cabinet holds most of the bits and pieces that are not buttons and not sparkly things.  I bought it at a great little shop in my neighborhood called Division Street Antiques.  I covered the fronts of the drawers with my wallpapers but you could do the same thing with scrapbook paper. This one purchase solved a LOT of the clutter in my room.
 The top of the cabinet holds curiosities.  I like things that a little odd and unique. On the far right is a talisman doll I made a couple of years ago. She definitely qualifies as odd!
 More jars of buttons and some of my vintage satin lingerie bags.
 A huge basket of buttons that don't make the cut for the apothecary jars.  Yes, that little doll in the back has a blindfold on.  I thought it might be humiliating for her to sit in a basket of buttons so I covered her eyes so she wouldn't know.  Don't judge.
 This is my personal collection of my favorite vintage laces, stored in an old suitcase.  Oh yes, suitcases, another one of my soft spots!  I use the large ones to store family keepsakes.
 More creepy dolls.  I'm sorry about the fuzzy picture.  They are sitting in the tray from a vintage trunk that I re-purposed as a shelf and it is hung in a corner where it is really hard to get a good picture.
 This is what is sitting on top of my printer because no flat surface stays empty for long around here!  I made the salt box shrine several years ago and it houses one of my little birdie friends.  Most are displayed in the somewhat-normal part of my house.
 A shelf above my desk.  Things that I need and things I just want to look at....
 More treasures above my desk.I don't know how I got four elephants.  I don't collect elephants,  It was an accident.  At least I know where they are in case I ever need one.
 Buttons and buttons...
 and more buttons.
 Wooden spools.  Yes, you CAN have too many wooden spools.  Trust me on that.
 And more buttons.  I sort them by plastic, colored glass, transparent glass, vegetable ivory, two piece tight-tops, plastic rhinestones, glass rhinestones, shoe buttons, bone buttons, china buttons, mother of pearl buttons, metal buttons, military buttons and yes, even vintage underwear buttons.  It is an addition, I tell you.
 Satin lingerie bags from a more elegant time.
 A beautiful old blouse with light shining through it from the window and a sweet crazy-quilt bag.
 I store ribbon on rods above both the closet and the window and the overflow lands in this hanging basket.
 I am actually TRYING to collect Infant of Prague figurines but they are few and far between around here.
 Vintage needle cards.  I resisted this collection for years and finally gave in.  I adore the graphics on them.
 Oh!  Here is that shelf in the closet again.  I do keep buttons in some of the jewelry boxes but most of them are vintage jewelry bits and pieces.  I am especially fond of the sparkly stuff!  That canister on the left is full of cards of rick-rack.  The jar is where I put trim scraps.  When it gets too full I put together a scrap-pack for Etsy and send them on to inspire someone else.
A jar filled with trinkets waiting to be something.  I love making shadow boxes so I am always on the look-out for interesting little bits and pieces. Everything should get a chance to be something.
Thank you so much for stopping by for the tour today!
Many thanks to Karen at My Desert Cottage for once again hosting this amazing annual event that we all look forward to so much!

37 comments:

Gail said...

"Everything should get a chance to be something"! Oh my goodness, how right you are....what an inspiring space you have in which to create.
Thanks for sharing it with us!

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

I think you need to open up your own shop. Oh my goodness, so many wonderful little treasures and they all make me smile. I love it all, but my favorite pictures is the dolls sitting in a basket full of buttons. Poor little thing doesn't know what she's missing. Thanks so much for sharing your creative space with us.

Doni said...

Loved seeing all your lovelies again this year Kathy! You have so many unique and fun items! I especially love your collection of vanity boxes!
Thanks so much for the great tour.
Doni

Maureen said...

I never tire of seeing my blogging buddies' creative spaces; it's like I am visiting in real life! So many wonderful collections; all the different colours and textures are a feast for the eyes! Thank you so much for allowing us into your inner sanctum again this year - so glad you made the party - you are my very first stop!

CATHY said...

Love the tour! I like what and how you selected to share with us this year - even after reading you for years I felt like I had a different tour : ) and all your buttons! You usually show the ones you have just purchased - fun seeing them displayed all around. I did not participate this year... but will still pop in on a few of my favs...first stop - Kluless : )

rush said...

yum! Some of your collections look like mine...treasures is what they are. Thank you for another look. I love your blog, so thank you for sharing again and again.

Jewels said...

Wow - lots of inspiration K! I am in the middle of remodeling my studio so love seeing creative ideas others have for storing stuff!

Shirlee Fassell said...

Loved the tour Kathy! Ready to shop your inner sanctum!

~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ said...

Love this post Kathy!! You have such wonderful collections, I just love everything and all your pictures! Thanks for such lovely inspiration, love seeing your things!! :) Have a great weekend! xo Holly

Laurie said...

Your room is so organized! It was a joy to see it!

Blessed Serendipity said...

Love love love your studio Kathy and every little thing in it. What a wonderful place to dream, create and keep all your special treasures and curiosities.

Please take the blind fold off that poor little doll - she wants to see!

xo Danielle

Judys Lace Creations said...

Lace, button...heaven!! You must be hard to shift from your room once you get ensconsed!!
New follower.

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Kathy, your studio is fabulous. Such great organization and so many wonderful treasures to create with. It is a designers dream. I can see hours of fun here. You should be showcased in a magazine my friend.
So enjoyed the tour!
Have fun.

boulderdamcottage said...

oh my goodness kathy im still laughing, just fell off the chair! you are one funny lady and omg i thought i had a lot of stuff! phew i think we be sisters lol the elephants! i teared up! hysterical! youve made my day! and i will be back to look more cause i cant see anything now! lol i did pick up some neat ideas, thank you!!!!! we love the birds, the cages, the buttons etc etc oh my........xo kat =^.^=

laurie -magpie ethel said...

Always so interesting to see a fellows crafters space and how they organize and what eye candy they have! Loved the tour.

Art and Sand said...

I always knew you had a lot of stuff because of all the goodies you show us after a day of digging. But, to see it all displayed and so beautifully is wonderful.

I am so glad that you went ahead with the party even though you were away on vacation.

Happy creating my friend!

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Thank you for the lovely tour, Kathy. Your have wonderful vintage treasures. I especially love your curiosity collection, the lace and buttons.
Happy creatiing!
Julia

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh how I love your vintage sewing things! I've never seen so many sewing cards and I love the big glasses and jars you put those buttons in! And some WHOLE dollies! WHEW! When I saw those heads, I got nervous! heehee! Sweet hugs, Diane

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

I swear... we are kin! Separated at birth... I LOVE your "stuff"... I would love to spend the day peeking at your treasures. What a happy, wonderful space you have...

Blessings,
Spencer

GranthamLynn said...

Beautiful space. Very organized collections. I love how you used the vintage items and glass ware to display your treasures.
I am glad you linked and invite us over. My tiny space is filled with treasures! I linked too.
Have a wonderful week,
Sherry

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Lovely to be back visiting your creative space this year, Kathy! I see we both covered storage chests with paper on the drawers! Love all your supplies in glass holders. I try to use glass or clear holders, too. I think they make functional things pretty. And they might as well be if they are going to be on display. Thanks for having us back to visit!

Annette said...

I never get tired of seeing your space Kathy! It is such a reflection of you (or at least my impression of you) and I find it so inspiring. I LOVE the addition of the birdcage!

Unknown said...

You know I love your creative space for I have visited a few times. However, I do not love your doll heads but it sure is ok that you do, lol.
I love to see your choices of glass containers for your large collection of buttons. I also love to have my buttons out in the open to look at,
Thanks for sharing your treasures once again.
Hugs
Michele

Laurel Stephens said...

What wonderful collections and creative space. Thank you for sharing!

Maureen Hayes said...

I have to admit that the doll heads creep me out, but I love everything else! :-). I want your buttons, you have an amazing collection. Thanks for the updated "tour", I always enjoy seeing your space.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Oh my, I could spend hours looking at all of your eye candy! Love, love the curiosities! Things that are fun and unique. I too love birds and pick up vintage bird items when I run across them. I have been painting my sewing room and I have a few sewing needle packs. I too love the graphics. There is so much fun stuff here I could go on and on! Happy to be a new follower.
hugs,
Jann

Unknown said...

I truly enjoyed my tour today! So many wonderful things to take in. I love that you admit that you love to collect things. I did stop by your Tsetse store, so many more wonderful things!

vintage grey said...

I love your creative space and it is always so fun to get a peak inside!! I adore that metal hamper!! Wishing you a wonderful and crafty summers day!! xo Heather

Tammy...ClothandPatina said...

Wow, you have so many wonderful little treasures! I think I could spend hours browsing through all of your goodies. Thanks so much for sharing.

Karen Valentine said...

Hi Kathy!!! Thank you so much for joining again this year!!! I always see new and wonderful things every time I come for a visit!! You little treasures are wonderful. I see many things I would love to add to my personal collection! Take care and I hope to see you next year too!!

Janet's Creations said...

You are so beautifully organized. Love it all. Thanks for sharing!

Annette said...

Where do I even start? OK, the cabinet you got a t division Antiques is wonderful. I love the wallpaper addition to the drawers. I also love all the vanity boxes and jars of stuff and the great little special displays. It is a wonderful space!!!!

Cathy said...

Great creative area! So full of interesting items. I love old stuff too so I really enjoyed my tour!
Cathy
CraftyCat

Jennifer's Vintage Paperie said...

Thanks for taking us on a tour of your lovely things. The buttons are beautiful and my favorite thing is the cabinet with all of the drawers. I would so love to have that!

Kathy said...

great room but my fav is your "about me" - "Sometimes I make stuff. Sometimes I just look at stuff until I get my eyes filled up. XO! Kathy"

so nice to see someone else say what I am always thinking - I just want it there IN CASE I need it, lol.

Kathy

Curtains in My Tree said...

Looking at this wonderful post I can't believe I didn't leave a comment on it previously
Your studio is so fun. I see a lot of great stuff

Janice

Sandi Magle said...

Your space and variety of goodies is heartwarming and just makes me laugh.
LOVE it all!