My Happy Place

Hey everyone!  I'm so excited to do this post, because I'm joining a bunch of other bloggers who will be sharing their creative spaces.  Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage is the genius behind this super-fun event.  This is the 7th year she has put this together, but this is my first time!  If you've got a creative space you would like to share, come on and join the fun!  The link is below.

 

Karen Valentine @My Desert Cottage

Before I even get started, I need to make a disclaimer for those who haven't visited my blog before.  I tend to use a more subdued color palette in most of the rooms of my home, EXCEPT for my craft room.  When we bought our home four years ago, I was able to choose one of the bedrooms to be 

"My Happy Place" and do exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I've had a love affair with the many shades of turquoise and knew that would be the wall color.  It is called "Surfer" by Behr.  I also knew I wanted white furniture, so IKEA and I became BFF's.  My room is 10'x12', not very big, but I have utilized every square inch.  I'm a very visual person when it comes to creating and like having most of my tools and supplies visible.  I also love doing all kinds of things -- crafting, scrapbooking, card making, sewing, quilting, and just a bit of jewelry-making.  Oh, and the other thing you should know about me, I'm rather new to photography and take tons of photos.  So, now you've been warned!   

I am so excited to welcome you to my craft room, aka "My Happy Place!"

I have this little room divided into zones.  This first collage is my "Sewing Zone."  I've used the Alex drawers & Linnmon table top from IKEA for the base of my sewing table, and have also added two of the Recollections cube storage from Michael's.  The art piece over my table was my first attempt at mixed media.  I mod podged some old pattern pieces to foam core & then added in some button cards & a few other things that I just printed off the internet.

My Computer, Blogging & Inspiration Zone

Okay, this is where some of you might feel a bit dizzy!  As we move to the left of my sewing zone, this is where I have my printer (it's sitting on four of the Recollections cubes), a little rack that holds my paints, some shelves holding all kinds of colorful items, and my computer desk (another IKEA table).  I'm using the Heidi Swapp Memory Planner this year (love this planner), so I have an entire divided tray holding all kinds of stickers & cute stuff for my planner.  My chair is a new purchase from Costco, and I really like it.  This is the only bedroom in our home that has a window facing the street, and I really enjoy being able to see what's going on in my neighborhood.....SNOOPY!

 My "Super-Fun" Zone

This is where I can really make fun-stuff.  My table & drawers are from IKEA, of course.  I like having my pens and colored pencils in jars, and the pens are sorted by color.  I use lots of different brands, so I don't mind having them mixed together.  I like my washi tape in the basket, so I can just rummage through.  My hubby mounted the Expedit on the wall, and it's so handy.

The Raskog cart and two more Recollections cubes sit at the end of my work table.  The Raskog cart holds all of my Project Life kits.  It's not only cute but also very functional....but mostly it's 

just so cute!  I like that I can roll it right up to my chair when I'm scrapbooking.

Some more views of where I do most of my playing working, no it's playing!  Like I said earlier, I like having my things visible, but I also have lots of drawer storage, and I like having it well organized.......much easier to find and use what I have.

A close-up view of the wall-mounted Expedit.

This smaller Expedit is right behind my work table, and is the right height for.......

These handy tools.

I've just recently re-organized this Expedit, adding more of the Recollections cubes on top for scrapbook paper storage.  The white bins, boxes and even the four sets of drawers are IKEA-made.  Out that door, 3-steps on the left is my kitchen & a few more steps to the right is the pot-tay!  This little room is in the perfect location for me.

Ribbon in these clear plastic jars works just fine for me.  I really like storing my paper vertically, & I have it all labeled so it makes sense to me.

 I keep some of my seasonal and specialty paper in cubbies just above drawers that hold the complimentary embellishments.  I have my paper sorted & labeled and have also added manila envelopes (tops cut off) to each section for scraps or die cuts.  The stacks of little plastic drawers (above--lower left) hold my alphas.  My flowers are in clear jars turned upside down in a drawer.

I discovered that these 4x6 Iris photo holders are perfect for containing & sorting a lot of my embellishments within the drawers.   I also use them for photos.

Do you want to see what's behind the closet doors?

This left side holds fabrics, patterns, clothing for altering or repurposing, lots of projects in process & some that haven't even been started yet.  I have my larger pieces of fabric hanging on children's clothes hanger to the side of the closet.

Laces, trims & binding in one set of the 3-drawer units, and quilt fabric that I've already cut into specific strips and squares is in the other unit.  Quilting and sewing books reside here as well.

I have four of these drawers holding fat quarters, which I like to pick up whenever they are on sale.  The rest of the drawers hold quilt backing fabric.

This is the "project" side......things that are already cut & in different stages of being finished.

This Expedit boxes hold patterns, fringe, drop cloth fabric and clothing to be altered.

We have high ceilings throughout our home, so I've used that upper space in the closet to store some of my wreaths.

This right side of the closet is more for crafty things.

I'm a firm believer that you can never have too many drawers!

I use something out of this tool spinner every day......so handy!  The paper roll & cutter are from the IKEA, where else!

Lots of stuff!

Organized stuff!

Above the closet doors......

These frames are made to hold finished scrapbook pages, and I have them filled with all my sweeties. On either end is our daughter and son when they were itty-bitty.  All the cuties in between are our six grandchildren.  Technically, you are supposed to rotate the pages out, but I did these almost four years ago and cannot bear to change them.....I love them so much!

"Simplify" was my one word for last year, and I like it right there!  My hubby, aka: The Man, just rolls his eyes when he looks at that word.  He thinks it should have been "Multiply!"  Oh well, he loves me anyway; plus, he has a shop that "over-floweth" with stuff!

And this is my hot pink wicker chair (newly painted, again) & soft afghan that would be so comfy to settle into once-in-awhile; but the little fur-baby who rules the roost and allows us to live here, has taken it over.  She was just here, but the doorbell rang a few minutes ago & she skidaddled!  Nows my chance, because I'm exhausted after editing all these photos.....whew, how about you?

If you stuck it out with me, I extend a big "Thank You."  I'm so happy you came to visit.

Now, please go visit some of the other bloggers who are sharing their creative spaces! 

I often party with these lovely bloggers:

Sunday

Dee at Meatloaf and Melodrama for Snickerdoodle Sunday

Monday
Julie at Julie's Lifestyle for Cooking & Crafting With J & J

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Karen at Karen's Up on the Hill for Something to Talk About

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Mondays

Tuesday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Leslie at House on the Way for Twirl & Take a Bow

Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline for Project Inspired

Wednesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Karin at The Style Sisters for Centerpiece Wednesday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Before and After Wednesday

Thursday

Kelly at Live Laugh Rowe for Live Laugh Linky Party

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

Pamela at From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

Friday

Kathryn at The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday

Jody & Stan at Rooted in Thyme for Simple and Sweet Fridays 

• 
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
•