This is where I like to sit in the evenings and work on my watercolor sketches - its my little corner of the world - my safe spot - where I relax ( Yes, I have a painting studio and it is very nice but this is my nest)
Its in the corner of my bedroom and it is quiet - well as quiet as it can be with two nitro filled boys ;)
It's where I can do this ...
Now if I can only figure out how to get a fireplace in here it would be perfect!
I have had some work done on my little studio and although it is not quite finished ( still in need of some paint and tweeks) it is worth a peek
New French door has replaced the old roll up garage like door
And custom ;) wink wink fold out table on top of paint can risers has been replaced by a new table made out of a solid core door and sturdy wooden legs for wet work outside
So I came home from artfest and unpacked and this it what the studio looked like until yesterday
After a Saturday spent inside it looks like this ....
and I painted the new new steps
A clean studio - that's a relative term isn't it? It's a work in progress as my friend Judi says ... At least I can walk around and work! I decided to break it up into areas so I can leave things out. A place to work on jewelry, journaling, a clean table for special projects and I moved the office into the closet. So for now ... until the saga continues ..
jewelry desk
journaling desk
office
p.s. My dear darling Judi (after much haranguing from me ! poor thing) has started a blog - check it out to be sure!!!
Here:
Speaking of Judi ...
We get to spend the entire day tmr together. I am taking her here for her bday present!
A Parisian Holiday Soiree! at the beautiful Mission Inn in Riverside
This is the painting studio, as a functioning one that is - I wish someone would put a book out on artist studios - AS THEY REALLY LOOK- for me I want a glimpse into the essence of how people work and create - sure I love looking at all the neat and pretty pictures of a cleaned up studio - but come on folks if you are really doing some mad work - it ain't pretty - I want to see the nitty gritty. So here is mine after I have done some mad work in it - as is
And hey I am all for being organized as it leads to being productive thus the ...
Tote-ally Cool! Tote2 - that is actually the name - I know it is a cheeseball name but I didn't do it! However, the tote is actually great - and it has a magnetic spinning plate on the bottom - so it spins - very cool - I have a mini one for my jewelry tools and a large for my journaling tools - I actually saw these at my friend Carol's studio ,as she uses them - bought the mini from her and got the large one at Target.
I realized that I am an OCP - Organized Clutter Person (yes, of course I made this up) and you can't make a leopard change his spots or hers in this case. I am a nester - like lots of stuff but like to know where it is.
I showed you mine now show me yours ....
Functionality is the key I have realized and a bit of Acceptance ;) Rebecca Sower had written about the fact that one of her ungoals for the year was to not work so hard on having a neat studio but to make her art instead - it is a struggle for us all do we organize or create. I told her that a while back someone had said to me "your an artist and artists are messy - your studio looks like a studio" and you know what yes that is me I am a NESTER in home, studio, and life - I like to nest - lots of bits and pieces around me. HOWEVER, there is a balance .... having my lovely knee injury has forced me to organize my studio so that it is functional for me - as I can't get up and down a lot. So this weekend I rearranged my desk area so that I could get to things - 
So here it is - not everything is clean and neat or vintage and wooden or matches in anyway - I have plastic and wood and cardboard and you name it - but it is my little nest and I am comfortable 
I am still working on the rest of the studio to make it more functional - but another realization for me is that I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE! Yes, another lesson learned is to take it in stages - hard one for me but doable 
I am feeling like I want to go in there and create and that is the key
and BTW this didn't happen overnight - first my loving housekeeper felt so bad about me accident that she and her daughter went in and spent the day just clearing a path into the room ;) Stage 2 was my darling Judi spent the day taking stuff out having me sort and throw stuff away - thank god for these dear souls - then I was actually able to sit and sort and move stuff about. Little steps - little steps - No pun intended ;) 
and lastly speaking of function I found this great little stand at Bed,Bath and Beyond that is made for pantry shelves - but holds my laptop up and out of the way while I work but can check email, listen to itunes, watch a movie - etc. So I say to you embrace your inner nester, find some balance in your studio - NESTER UNITE!
Here is my renovated studio space for painting - I know can you believe it it looks so clean and neat - but don't be deceived - it is just new! It is a shed/storage area in the breezeway of our beach house. I have decided to deem it my painting space and am going - yes I am - going to schedule at least one day a week as my work studio time to come and work on my paintings.
This is my son Payton who - god love him - wanted to paint today - a first - must be the new studio - he is cute though!
Here is my little package for my students at the Paper Post class I am teaching tomorrow - a first for me there and looking forward to it - they will either love me or hate me - we shall see.....
