Welcome to Where Bloggers Create 2013 – that fabulous event where creative bloggers around the world throw open the doors of their art studios, craft rooms, and creative spaces and invite you on a behind-the-scenes tour of where the inspiration starts and the magic begins! This is my fourth year participating in this event, and the blogging event I most look forward to each year! If you’re as eager as I am to begin the tour – let’s get started!
This year, I’m excited to share that I am crafting in a new space! I have moved from “The Paper Palace” into “The Creative Corner”! Comparatively speaking, The Creative Corner is a smaller space than The Paper Palace. However, I love creating here because The Creative Corner, with its cathedral ceilings, has a lighter, brighter and airier feel to it than the Paper Palace ever did!
I named my new studio The Creative Corner because most of my creativity occurs in the corner of the room where my computer is housed! The reason I set my computer up here is because I love to gaze out of the window when I work! As spacious as The Paper Palace was, it had a terrible view, so my back was to the window in that space. In The Creative Corner, I frequently gaze out of the window both day and night!
My cats also love to hang out in the window! One day Legend and I were looking out of the window and out of the blue, a hummingbird flew right up to Legend and hovered nose to nose with him! We were both so surprised that neither one of us moved a muscle! For one magical moment, time stopped as the hummingbird hovered before us, suspended in time, before flying away! How I wish I had my camera in hand at that moment to capture that unforgettable moment!
Another thing that distinguishes The Creative Corner from The Paper Palace was my approach to designing the space. In The Paper Palace, I used every bit of space that I could find for storage, lining the walls with shelves and cramming as much stuff into the space as I could. In The Creative Corner, I’ve gone with a “less is more” philosophy, choosing a more open feel in my decorating. So – instead of placing shelves all around me – I’ve opted for artwork (My Tea Bear by Lynn Lupetti) and an Inspiration Board!
What this means is that storage space in The Creative Corner is at a premium, and I have to be highly selective about what I place in here. I currently store most of my crafting supplies in a closet. Here’s a peek at what lies behind the sliding doors:
Closet View – Left
Closet View – Right
At the top of the closet is a hanging rod that I use to store my collection of decorative tapes and oversized ribbons and lace.
These shelves also house paper, stamps and embellishments of all types! Many of my items reside in pretty baskets and portable containers so I can easily locate what I need – and transport them from one place to another. Here’s a closer look at one of the shelves!
I store most of my paper in the shelves that reside under the window.
I also keep an assortment of frequently used crafting supplies within arm’s reach!
In addition to crafting, I am an avid reader and book reviewer. I set up a special bookshelf to house all of the books I am scheduled to review, along with a few books from my personal library, and my CTMH ink pads!
On my desk, I keep a special organizer where I house my notebooks and the books I’m currently reading and reviewing.
Here’s a close-up of one of the projects I created this year in The Creative Corner. If you’d like to learn how to create something similar, check out my Altered Box Tutorial!
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me at Create With Joy – and thanks to Karen Valentine at My Desert Cottage for hosting this event! I look forward to visiting you (please leave a comment) and invite you to stay in touch!
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WOW! It just goes to show you that you don’t have to have a lot of space to have a fully functional and organized studio! Thank you for sharing:)
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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You’re welcome Leah! Thanks for being the first to stop by and see The Creative Corner! 🙂
Twitter: IamjpJP
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What a creative corner you’ve made…awesome use of space!…:)JP
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks JP – downsizing is a challenge… but I love my new space! 🙂
When do you sleep? Mom can barely keep up with the blogging much less find time for any of her crafts and reading. She loves to paint pottery but hasn’t had time in months. Please tell her your secret. Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Sleep? What’s that?
This morning I woke up on my side, cramped. I went to roll over, only to find a big lump in my back.
It was that infamous bed hog, Tsunami, lying horizontal smack dab in the middle of the bed!
Of course, I was falling off the edge…
Twitter: KGkundurazieff
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What a fantastic post! Love it!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thank you so much Kiril! 🙂
I love all the space you have in the closet.
I would have loved to have seen the hummingbird hovering by Legend. Truly one of those “Once in a Lifetime” moments.
Thank you so much for sharing your space.
Happy Crafting
Tracie
http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com
You’re creative corner is fabulously organized…A great view (And cat assistant) totally makes it perfect!
Carol
I like the cleanliness and organization of your creative space. Your paper storage is excellent and gives me an idea of what to do with my 2 ft high pile of papers on my floor… I also like how you put your ribbon spools on the closet rod. Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Very nice crafty space! thanks again for sharing on my What Are You Doing? Blog Hop!
Moving to much smaller place does not mean less attractive.
You have very well organised storage units which I like so much.
I’d love to see your work.
I have looked at your stamp collection from last year. It’s gorgeous.
Best wishes.
Oh I love the Creative Corner! So well organized and darling space! I especially love that you have a fur baby to keep you company! They are the most important visitors into our spaces!
Thanks for visiting my space – have an awesome weekend!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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You too Nancy – could not agree more with your fur baby comment – I LOVE your creative space!
Your crafting stuff is so organized! I’m impressed. I like your view from the window as well. Thank you for sharing your creating space with your readers!
Nikki
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Nikki for stopping by!
That is very organized! I’ll not be showing any organizations skill…lol.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks for the smile Lynn – and I appreciate the complement! 🙂
I love that you named your space!
I have two cats also. Your cats are beautiful!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Terry – and congrats on your Liebster Award! 🙂
Thank you for letting us peek in your closet. You are incredibly organized. It is inspirational.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Donna – I’m still working on parts of it, but I like how it’s coming together!
It will be interesting to see how things evolve over the upcoming year! 🙂
Your space is so well organized. I love organized neat spaces! Thanks for sharing yours!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks for stopping by, Michele – I just visited your space and it is gorgeous!
I saw a few ideas I’d love to find a way to incorporate into mine!
Your craft room looks so much more organized than mine. I can get it perfectly organized and as soon as I work in it, it is totally messed up again. I worked on scrapbooks for my son’s graduation and I decided I would leave things out so that I would go ahead and get them all finished up. It’s been over a month and I haven’t gotten back to them. Maybe soon!!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Hi Betty,
I’m like that too. The things that have a home tend to stay in place – but once I start on a project – chaos reigns! 🙂
The only motivators I really have for putting things away are my cats (who LOVE to chew on stuff) and my husband (who has a higher aversion to clutter than I do!)
Good luck with your son’s scrapbook. Would love for you to share the photos at Inspire Me Monday as you create the book! 🙂
Love, Love, Love your creative space and storage ideas! You seem to ADORE gingham much like I do, yes? (Loved your set of gingham-lined baskets, AND the altered box you made!) When lining my sterlite drawers, my paper pack had gingham to choose from, and I was torn between that and the polka-dots. I liked BOTH; but I thought I’d make much more use of the gingham in scrapbooking and cards than the larger pattern of polka-dots, and practicality prevailed…. I got a kick out of the humming bird’s surprise visit with you! I moved from a place where I could feed “my birds” everyday, to a place with no grass, no porch, no trees, so no birds… I really miss my little feathered friends. I’ve seen where crafters take little soup cans, paint them, and fill them with seed/suet, so I am currently thinking I may at least try that one of these days. I don’t know how funny it will look from the outside, hanging from my second story window, OR exactly HOW I will hang them, but I would sure love ANY way to have my birds coming to visit me again!… Where there’s a will there’s a way?? We’ll see!… Thanks for sharing your creative space. I enjoyed stopping here today! ~tina
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Tina for your sweet comment! I hope you find a spot where you can visit the outdoors in your new home. I love your craft room as well! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Enjoy your weekend too! I’m now a follower via email! Hope to join in on “Inspire Me Monday” whenever I can! Sounds like fun!
Oh my goodness! You are so organized!! I won’t be sharing my room any time soon. 🙂 It’s a disaster, hopefully when we finally move I will have a better space that I will want to spend time in. Stopping over from SITS! 🙂
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks for stopping by! You don’t know what it took to get to get my room in shape – lol!
Actually, it’s fairly easy to maintain the stuff that has a home – but keeping my desk clutter free is an ongoing battle!
Have a wonderful weekend!
stopping by from SITS sharefest! I so envy your organization. I have tried for years to STAY this organized!.. It always starts out well but the whirlwind of creativity seems to take over the organization …lol
Why do we all have cats that like our rooms??? Lovely organized space!
I just moved and finally have a space to use as a studio. One my favorite things is the view also. My beautiful fur baby is enjoying having the view of nature as well. So far we have seen several deer, a cute grey bunny,numerous birds and a box turtle! Talk about inspiration. . . It doesn’t get much better than that.
Thanks for sharing your space. We have similar interests, both in crafting and reading!
Very nice place and that humming bird story/moment sounds magical, just have to love moments like that. Your cats are lovely too, I never seen that kind before (what kind are they?)
Thanks for sharing your creative space : )
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thank you Mari – my cats are Maine Coons!
If you’d like to see more of them – and learn more about the breed – join us for Wordless Wednesday –
Legend and Tsunami are featured each week, and I’m currently sharing fun facts about Maine Coons! 🙂
Twitter: ruthcataldo232
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Thank you for visiting I Love My Post! It’s great to connect with you. I look forward to reading more on your blog! Ruth from Captain America & His English Rose This week’s co-host!
Your space is perfect! I aspire to one just like it! Legend is a stunning kittie, please give a cuddle for me! Thanks so much for sharing your space. Hugs!
I’m another Lynn Lupetti fan ~ I used to stay for hours at the gallery in Carmel (CA) that carried her works ~DROOL!!!
I enjoyed seeing your space ~ thanks for the invite in!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Bobbie – isn’t her art gallery awesome?
My husband and I discovered her gallery during our honeymoon and he brought me that piece of art as a Christmas gift that year because I fell in love with it while we were there!
Twitter: goaskkatie
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your creative corer is wonderful, Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things hop.xo
Twitter: Myllls
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I just love your creative space, my son just built me shelves to use in my office for organizing, I need to do this and have been waiting for inspiration to get moving and the energy to get through it. Im not good at doing a project I cant finish in one day so I need a bolt of energy to clean and organize my office. Wishing you a great week!! Thanks for the party!
Ooh – I love a little behind the scenes peek 🙂
Thanks for linking up!
Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity
What a fabulous space! Love the view, the companion and the neat closet full of creative materials.
Great space, thank you for sharing! I adore Legend… Looks like a lion’s face! So beautiful!
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thank you so much Maureen!
Your studio and your cats are pretty amazing too! 🙂
Great space. Legend is just beautiful.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thank you!
How wonderful, so neat and tidy, love it.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks!
OMGoodness you are so neat and tidy, I’ll have to ‘borrow’ you to come and help me tidy up! Happy Crafting!
Happy WOYWW!
((Lyn)) #11
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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You too Lynn – have a fabulous day! 🙂
Your crafting space is so organized. I love that. Happy crafting #13
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Regina! With a little luck, I’ll get to it today! 🙂
Your studio is awesome. I want to come to your house and play. Your cat is beautiful. I think Hummingbirds are beautiful creatures. One got in my house one day, it actually let me hold it to let it outside. They are really tiny. Have a great week.(((HUGS)))
Kim
WOYWW #3
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Wow, how incredible! I can’t imagine holding something as delicate as a hummingbird in my hands!
Kim, you can come play in The Creative Corner any time – I always keep a chair there for my special friends! 🙂
I love it when spaces are Organized you know what you have, where it is and can lay your hands on it whenever you want, nothing better. Then when you mess up the desk you can have fun in putting it all away again. Great post and yes I love looking out my window too I fully understand your reasoning.
Happy WOYWW Eliza 26
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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I LOVE your window view, Eliza! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Oh you are soooo organised and that is one gorjussss kitty 🙂
I don’t have any windows in my basement room – I envy you yours 😀
Happy WOYWW
IKE x # 33
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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I had the option of choosing the basement office (which my husband wanted me to do, as I hate the heat, and that would have been a cooler spot), or the upstairs (which blazes like Hades in the summer, but has lots of light and a view). I hate dark spaces, so I tolerate the heat and that aside, love my new space!
always a joy to have a tour of your craft room! Helen, 19
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thank you so much, Helen – it’s my pleasure to share!
Twitter: woletz1hotmail.co.uk
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Wow! This is a beautiful organized and inviting creative corner! Thank you for sharing. And what a fine feline too! I love the story of the humming bird! I’ve never seen one, but they must be one of nature’s wonders! What a fabulous moment for you and Legend! Julie Ann x#45
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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I’ve only seen a few live hummingbirds in my life and they are amazing – they are tiny, beautiful, and I am astounded by how they have the ability to literally stop and hover in the air! When the hummingbird first flew up to the window and I saw him out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was an over-sized bumblebee – truly, they are one of nature’s wonders!
I agree – God is so creative and we are made in His image, so that we are creative too! Brill hey! Love your work, and how organised! My space is about 15’x5′ and I definitely need shelving to get stuff off my workdesk! Have a good WOYWW. john-w #52
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks for stopping by, John – you really need to be organized based on those dimensions! 🙂
That’s a wonderful workspace.
Happy WOYWW and I wish you a lovely week.
Monique # 70
xx
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks Monique – you too!
Lovely lovely space you have! And so organized! You wouldn’t want to take a field trip and come help me with my room … would you? 🙂 hugs p.s. your ATC arrived safely..it’s fab! And featured today on my WOYWW desk.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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I’m so glad your ATC arrived – thanks for letting me know and for the feature! 🙂
I’m really impressed with your Creative Corner – it’s lovely. And how wonderful to experience that humming bird moment though I do wonder what went through Legend’s mind. I bet it wasn’t, ‘I wish I had the camera to hand’ 🙂 Anyway, it’s all beautifully organised and that window view is worth the sacrifice of space. Hope you’ve had an enjoyable day and have a great week. Elizabeth x #47
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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A few months ago, I read a wonderful book called Pukka’s Promise where the author shared how his dogs loved hiking to beautiful places with him and savoring the view.
Non-pet guardians might not get this, but I truly believe this was as magical a moment for Legend as it was for me. He didn’t once jump up to chase or show any signs of “hunter instinct” as he might have with any other creature that flew by. He was truly as entranced by this wondrous creature as I was. Magical!
Hop you are having a fabulous week too Elizabeth!
I really like your creative space! It is giving me lots of inspiration for mine. I completely get where you are coming from when you said you like to look out the window. I love to look at nature and be outside as well. Thanks for sharing your creative space with us.
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thanks, Allie, for visiting me today! I feel so blessed to see trees, birds, squirrels, and neighbors walking their dogs instead of my old view of a parking lot and a fast food restaurant!
Thank you for sharing your new space have really enjoyed looking. Happy WOYWW Anne x #69
Very organized, love love love organization.
hugs
cindy@stitches
You are so wonderfully organized!! What a great space!!
Hugs,
Deb
Twitter: CreateWithJoy1
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Thank you Deb for visiting my craft room! 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your creative corner, wonderful how you have managed to get what you need in close proximity to your work area. Well done.
Hi, and WOW! I love how organized you have everything! I would love to have a craft room like that. You are lucky to have your own craft room and have fun crafting. I saw it at lamberts lately.
Julie from julieslifestyle.blogspot.com