Give us the grand tour of your creative space.
This photo was taken in the afternoon, which is my favorite time of day to be in here. We hung the curtains a bit lower than normal so that we would get sort of a “skylight” effect without sacrificing privacy. The sheer white curtains allow plenty of good natural light to come in as well.
The worktable is an old porcelain-topped kitchen table that we found at an antique store. It is the perfect size for the room and very sturdy - it doesn’t jiggle at all! The white cabinet was given to me by my sister, who was about to throw it out. We removed the broken mirrors in the doors and put in shelves, and now we have storage that is not only functional but very pleasing to look at. The old desk was a gift from another sister. (There are lots of sisters - two of us live here at Wren’s Nest Cottage). It dates back to the Civil War, and has a couple of secret compartments which I always forget about if I’m trying to hide a small Christmas gift! One of our favorite things about the room is the chair rail. We bought a ton of old picture frames at thrift stores and took them apart (not as easy as it sounds), gave them a lick of whitewash, and just started nailing them up! It was fun, and very liberating to not have to worry about mitering corners and making scarf joints. It’s very unexpected and we love the different patterns on the frames.
I have a passion for anything sort of plain and functional - paper, boxes, twine, glass jars…so these were bound to find their way in as storage. Most of these boxes were given to me with gifts inside, though I did buy the house-shaped one at the craft store on clearance for .40! I use the canning jars to store anything and everything. The small tagged jars hold dye for my handmade paper and the larger jars behind hold dried pulp waiting to be made into paper. I use shipping tags on the boxes so I don’t have to try to remember what’s inside, plus I love the way they look…plain…brown…
These are small treasures collected over the years from many different places - stones from favorite trips we’ve taken, buttons that have taken years to accumulate. The little odd-looking fellow came from an estate sale and we’re not sure what he is, but we love him. The map on the board is of land that our grandfather purchased after WWII and deeded out to his children, and that is where we grew up.
What do you create?
Right now my favorite craft is making handmade paper and then using it to create collages, cards, and whatever else I can think of to do with it. This is also where all the decorating projects and sewing for the house take place. I also love photography and it’s wonderful to have the computer right here. We do all of our framing in here as well.
How does being in your space make you feel?
This room is a dream come true. I used to fantasize about having a space like this like other people fantasize about going to Hawaii. This was, as I told someone, the fondest wish of my heart. And now I have it! How often are we blessed enough to be able to say that? Especially in a house as small as Wren’s Nest Cottage! Not only is it a creative space, it’s my sanctuary at the end of the day, where I can come with a cup of coffee and sit at my table in the soft light and be quiet. Here are the things I love, the things that fire my imagination, my music, the things that bring me peace. This is where we write, do our Christmas cards, spend time together creating things for the cottage, listen to our music. This room is a calm spot in the universe.
What has your biggest challenge been in creating and maintaining your creative space?
The biggest challenge was keeping it tidy and not letting it become a dumping ground for anything in the house that we couldn’t find a home for! We knew we had to get things under control when we could no longer see the floor. We eliminated alot of things that were proving to be more of a hindrance than a help, and my Christmas present this year was SHELVING! I was so happy! It got alot of things up off the floor and into order. Now, it’s so easy to find what we need and easy to put it away when we’re done. It has stayed tidy for some time now!
What is your favorite quote?
“It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance, and I know no substitute for the force and beauty of its process.”
Henry James
What one piece of furniture or organizational equipment could you not live without?
My worktable. It really is the heart of the room. So much takes place there, and it’s like a reliable old friend. The new pendant light we installed (an industrial fixture that is probably meant for a garage) directs the light down onto the table beautifully. And as I said before, it never wobbles. Nothing worse than working on a wobbly table.
What is your next “move” for your creative space? Do you have plans for its future?
We actually just finished redoing the room and we’re so satisfied with it now. I’m sure we’ll think of something someday, but for now…it feels pretty darn perfect. :~)
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