Joyful Abode

Tell us about what we see in your photos.
The first photo is of my fabric stash cabinet which houses my sewing machine and everything else I need to start a sewing project. There is also my painting table that holds my supplies. Then there’s a picture of my make shift office that I made from an extra table leaf and 2 iron stands. There’s one photo of a large cabinet piece that stocks all my ribbons and art papers and beads. Then there’s a shot of my easel and a center table that I use to paint and make jewelry on. I do just about everything on that table.

What do you create in your space?
Paint, jewelry, sew, paper work, just about everything except my candles which I make in the garage that was converted into my candle factory.

What advice do you have for others who are trying to put together their own creative space?
My advise to others would be to take everything out that doesn’t belong, These rooms need to be super functional with is hard when it’s become a catch all space for the rest of the houses. I used to have an iron bed in here that swallowed up half my room.

How does being in your creative space make you feel?
It feels like it totally reflects who I am. I tell my friends, if your could climb inside my head, it would look like this room. So much color and eye candy it just makes me so happy.

What has your biggest challenge been in creating and maintaining your creative space?
It’s always a challenge. I definitely know how to make a mess, but I force myself to put it all away when I finish something so that it’s easier to start the next project. If I only made one thing I’d be able to leave it out all the time, but that’s just not the case.

What is your favorite quote?
Because we’ve been remodeling our house, my favorite quote has been “I can pay anybody to do a half ass job” (the guys really love this one)

My words I try to live by are, “keep the best, get rid of the rest” and “clutter in the home is clutter in the mind”

What do you do when you’re NOT creating?
I’m either fixing up my (B&M) shop here in San Diego, or having coffee with my sisters and adorable little nephew. Being a full time pet parent, I love walking my dogs along the beach. My husband and I both work from home, so we like to take breaks and hang out with the dogs whenever possible.

What one piece of furniture or organizational equipment could you not live without?
I need them all! They all have very important jobs to do.

What is your next “move” for your creative space? Do you have plans for its future?
No plans right now. I’d like my studio to be bigger, but I can’t complain.

Do you have a website we could visit?
I have my etsy shop, and just opened a flickr account which I’m trying to get the hang of.

The first 25 customers in Karin’s etsy shop will receive a free candle with their order.

If you’d like to keep up with these inspiring features, you can subscribe to Joyful Abode using your favorite subscription application, or add the feed as a friend on Livejournal. If you’re interested in having your creative space featured on Joyful Abode, let me know by commenting here (and be sure to include your email address so I can get in touch).

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