Cozy Little Christmas!

My long days in the studio were made much better this season, like many holidays of the past, with the display of Christmas to keep me company. I love to create in a room that inspires and is cozy. This year, I displayed my pink shabby tree in the window of my studio with the easel near by, and the room lightly glowing in the evening. From the outside looking in, the room becomes a warm studio scene. As I finish the season and the holiday decor creating comes to an end, I did a complete cleaning, and with that, I moved a few areas around to perform better on work days. I always love to rearrange rooms if possible. I find it just gives me a lift. Here are a few pics this season.










Thank you for joining me for a little visit today. I hope you are enjoying the season and ready for the holiday. Till next time, Merry Christmas!
Blessings, Celestina Marie

MAKING ROOM FOR CREATIVE STORAGE

For most of us, we can never have too much storage space. In my studio I am always trying to upgrade and find different ways to store all the many supplies it takes to create with. Unique jars, shelves, containers and even an old roasting pan to hold paint bottles. I love to be organized and keep clutter limited. At times, my room looks like a tornado has gone through it with stuff everywhere and glitter covering most surfaces. That's when I stop, regroup and clean up my mess just to start making a new one. I know many artists who create best in a mess. I am not one of those people. I have a need to keep things straight in order to be accomplished. This seems to work for me and I am always looking for new ways to keep my studio organized. So I thought I would share a few ways I use to hold creative supplies.

If you remember past posts of my creative space, you know I have a black toile decor taken from Inspiration in a Spring/Summer issue of Romantic Country 2007. The following year I redesigned mine, inspired from elements in Fifi O'Neil's toile studio. Since then it has changed a few times to meet my daily work load and needs.

Toile fabric skirt I made to hide the clutter under the work table. It is attached with velcro to easy remove when I need to get supplies underneath.

Chest of drawers I purchased from Hobby Lobby for a huge discount because one of the drawers had a crack in it. That's not a problem for me, a little distressed never hurts anything. The drawers hold ribbons, trims and other embellishments. On the top is the vintage lamp from my sweet friend Ann from Ann's Finds. I covered the unique square shade with toile fabric and it just adds a cozy feel to the room.

Recently I added this white wicker chair I found several years ago at a tag sale. Added a cushion and soft toile quilt with pillows for a cozy spot to read or take a break. I realized something about myself when I moved the room around to put this chair by the window. And, that was, I love to position a cozy spot by a window. I have done this in several places throughout my home. In this case, I can see those pretty roses dh planted.

Tall storage cupboards hold product and display a few favorite aprons.

Desk area where I blog and work on the computer.

Side of an old sewing machine where the drawers would fit. Turned on it's side and hung makes the perfect shelf to hold pretty treasures.

Old shadow box house that my dad made, now holds tons of paint bottles.

Pink wood tote to hold, what else, lots of pink paints!

Storage right under the work table to roll out when needed.
Lots of jar storage. Large jars hold trims and baby food jars hold gems, buttons and silk roses. Canisters hold more embellishments in a decorative way. While an old roaster pan painted pink holds more paints.

Victorian boot my mother made years ago holds sponge brushes.

Lazy susan great for brushes, pencils and other items used often.

Drawings of sweet Miss Beazy Lee.

The search for unique ways to store and organize will continue.

Where I paint~~

Where I blog~~

Blessed with La Job~

Do you have ideas for unique and fun storage using items you have in a different way? It is so much fun to give new purpose to old objects or collectible treasures.

Till next time, I'll be in the studio, with brush in hand.

Remember, leaving a comment enters you in my 100th post giveaway. Be an active blogger, be able to supply your address and leave a comment. Drawing will be May 9th and the winner posted on Mother's day.

Blessings and Blue Skies, Celestina Marie

CREATIVE SPACE~STUDIO VIEWS~WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE!

Today Brenda from The Brenda Blog is having a tour of our spaces Where Bloggers Create. I have shared my studio redesign last spring, so these pictures are from then and I hope you enjoy the tour. Be sure to click on the link to visit other great spaces. Welcome to my studio where this blogger creates and thank you Brenda for hosting this fun tour!

Last summer 2007 I was thinking of redecorating my art studio to make it more organized but inspiring at the same time. As I was working out the details, I picked up the Romantic Country Magazine #88 and low and behold on page 82 was my answer. The gorgeous black toile office designed by FiFi O'Neill. As I drooled over the pages over and over again I knew I had the inspiration for my studio's new look.

I have always loved black toile and had lots of accessories already from a kitchen design in toile that I changed to a Tuscan look. And yes, redecorating is something I do every 4-5 years or sooner. Can't help this, the interior decorator in me has to make changes. Anyway, the black toile treasures where boxed away just waiting to be used again. So with ideas in mind and inspiration from the article, I began to design my vision.

My art studio is actually a 3rd car garage that my husband converted for me about 12 years ago to be my studio/office. It has served me well with plenty of room and one wall of windows that gives me plenty of light and a place to look out and day dream between brush strokes. This cozy room is home for my desk, computer, file cabinets and plenty of storage with shelves and cubbies for organizing my paints and supplies.

I can spend late nights in my studio and often do. I had to make it comfortable and stylish since I spend so much time here. Even hubby likes to work at my desk now and then while I paint. My sweet golden retriever, Miss Beazy, also enjoys this room and has her very own cushion under the table all designed for her comfort while I work.

I started with a neutral background and built the room from that point. Since the room is so busy with stuff, it needed the neutral walls and cabinets to anchor the room. I loved the desk toile skirt that Fifi had in her office so I decided that element would work for me as well, to hide the supplies and clutter when needed. I did add a little accent of pink here and there for interest and of course the girly girl in me.


It was fun and very inexpensive since I had most everything except the large amount of fabric for the skirt, which I might add, is attached with Velcro for easy removable when I am busy. Little by little the room came to a finish and I enjoy it so much. Below are pictures of the room and a few accents.

This is a picture of a black toile altered art treasure made by Amy of Bunny Rose Cottage. It is framed in white and graces my desk! I love it Amy, thank you!

My chic canvas painting over the work area that is home to the printer, TV and accessories.



Door eye candy~~I love aprons and these darlings hang on the back of my studio door. The rose and black was made by Connie of Living Beautifully, Rose Porch Designs. I love it Connie and thank you so much!


The shabby pink chair was the last one left from my grandmother's dining room in the 20's. Isn't it a dream? The sweet poodle and toile pillow was made by a very talented sewer that sells on ebay. Contact me for her name if you would like to peek at her goodies. The Blessed pillow was a gift from my hubby.



The picture that tops my cabinets is my hubby and I with Laura Bush at the White House Christmas 2004 when I was invited to hand paint ornaments for the Blue Room Christmas Tree. She was so wonderful to send us one for my office and also my hubbies office with a thank you letter.

Lastly, above the wall of windows I have painted the phrase my Father once said to me, "Find what you love to do and you will never work another day of your life."

It is such a blessing to work from your own home and I am very grateful for this 3rd car garage redesign. Little by little by stuff is taking over. Poor hubby says he only has the shed! LOL!! Thank you for letting me share my creative space with you and thank you to Fifi O'Neill for the inspirational Romantic Country Magazine feature. I would love to see your creative rooms. Till next time, blessings always!
Celestina