The space I am in.
A sweet person sent me an email yesterday with a reminder request to show some photos of the place in which I spend the most amount of time. My studio space in this place is off the kitchen - a nice open area where I can go back and forth between the kitchen, the laundry room, and my art. What could be better?
Sometimes my dream is to have a little building right off the side of our house where I walk through a great little garden to get to my studio...coffee in hand...tons of windows...a big comfy chair...and lots and lots of room to create. And then, I remember that one of the things I love about my space here (and in my last house) is that even when I am in my space I am still a part of the inner-workings of our home. I am in the middle of the action, I can see and hear Simon playing, Chris working, etc. I like being not too far away from them.
Right now I am in into open storage, meaning I can see what I have and things are contained within a home. Hence, tons of baskets. Remember this post? That was back when I wanted everything to be hidden away. That is one of the things about living...it is ok to change our minds. And evolve. And go back and forth. I still love the look of all those chests lined up along the wall, but for now, for me, it just doesn't work.
One of the recent additions to my space is a big blue wood table I found at Goodwill. Every day when I go to pick up Simon I have to drive by this store. And every day I take a driving risk by staring over there to see what they have lined up outside. There is always some piece of furniture tempting me to come on over. Last week the temptation was just too much. Paid the $40. Brought it home and it immediately became home to piles.
This space has a nice little corner closet that is working great for storing class stuff. We took the door off and that made a big difference in being able to easily get in and out of that corner. My big tall paper storage is from Display Dynamics. I love that paper holder. And see that cool framed piece there above the paper holder? That is my first original art purchase. And I love it. Created by Melanie Komisarski at Navylane Studio .
My computer desk. My Mac. My kleenex. My coffee.
And the top of my scrap table right now. Always something brewing. Today I am percolating on Studio A for August.
So there you have it for now. If you have questions about stuff you see in the photos feel free to post them in the comments and I will do a follow up post with answers.
Back to work.
Your studio is so welcoming. I feel like I could just plop myself in your room and work-away. Oh how I love it. And I love how you've re-styled your blog. Very nice.
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Oh my dear lord... what eye candy... yummmmmmmmmmm :)
Natalie T.
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Hey one more thing... I got my "Capture Life Create Art" raglan T on today... So cool!! Keep em comin.... :)
Natalie T.
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Ali- Thanks for sharing! I read everyday (sometimes more than once). Love the pictures of your space and the ones Simon took of you. And I so *love* your Studio A column in CK. I always save it until last to read.
TFS!!!!
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If only my DH would move his big honking comuter desk so I could have more space, I am so inspired by yours Ali. NEED MORE SPACE!
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Love the lived in, comfy look :) I saw a framed "Danny-O" airplane at target today and thought of you LOL.
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hey ali,
great space. it's so REAL. love it.
just wondering how you work out what to use on your projects with so much to choose from. do you kind of walk around the room choosing things at random? how do you remember what you have?!
love sharon (perth, west australia)
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Dear Ali -
Thank you so much for letting us peak at your studio. I am always inspired by seeing how other artists create their work spaces.
I apologize if you have mentioned this before, but I am a new reader to the site: what exactly do you do? I know you travel a lot and work in scrapbooking. But I was just curious. How did you get into the field?
Thanks again,
Chris
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Me also I often wondered where you creates your beautiful pages. Thank you very much to divide that with us.
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Ali!
Love your space! Thanks for letting us get a view into your everyday world! Your the best!
hugs
jenn
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Hey ali,
I too would like to know where you got all those cool baskets???
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What happened to the its all good sign??
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I was wondering how you store your scraps so they're easy to find? I have been putting mine in a big 12x12 plastic bin, but its so full already and hard to dig through. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Erica
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SOOOOO happy that you talked about a scrap space that still makes you a part of the "goings on" of the family....I have been longing for, dreaming of a little detached studio.....but can now see the positives in my spare bedroom-come-studio!!!!
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Awwwhhh. Thanks. Love the peek into your world. Eye candy and inspiration. All those goodies to play with.
Where did you get that adorable yellow shelf with the stamps and paints on it - I think you mentioned where in one of your old posts??
You have so much stuff! Do you ever think that new product releases every 6 months is a little much. I know the new stuff that comes out is just so cool and I can't resist but I do think it is getting a little overwhelming. I (and I'm sure you do too) have tons of older product and mine just doesn't get used. Do you have a system or thought on keeping old products in the mix?
Thanks again for sharing.
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THAT is a beautiful space Ali, thanks for sharing. And thank you too for linking to your old blog entry. Your sketch is SO kewl. I love old and new too. Plus the wall poetry...gorgeous.
I have not been following your blog for THAT long...and it was great to read some of those entries from this time a year ago.
Especially about your cutting up your cards. I have just recently handed mine to my guy. He is not just a saver, an accountant saver :-) I am definately a spender. I found the more I spent, the more STUFF I had...the more overwhelmed I felt. I could not scrap. On my way to living simplier.
Anyways...thank YOU so MUCH for sharing your journey, your life, your thoughts. You are very inspiring and you have such a way with your words. With who you ARE.
Cant wait to meet you - see you in Sydney. BTW...part of my spending...THREE {no less of course} of your great tops!!!
Bx
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always love getting to share a part of your world, girl. And I hear ya on that cottage studio - complete with wildflower and herb garden - right?! I agree though, it's good to be accessible and around. Perhaps a solarium studio one of these days! :)
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I was wondering about the Scrapworks album that you use for one of your classes (is it CKU?). I have more photos out of albums than in, and I am not interested in scrapbooking the majority of them. I also don't want to throw them away... hmmm. So, i was thinking the scrapworks album would be a good compromise if that's the right word. Care to share any thoughts you have on the pro's and con's of such an album ie which inner pages, if it's sturdy etc.
thankyou, as always, for the wonderful insights into daily life. My daughter loves looking at your pics, especially if there are some of Simon :-) She is still going on about how 'those people in the computer have the same strawberries as us'!
Arlie
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wow. I love your space! I think you should also take pictures of you scrapping!!
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Love this space!
How often do you purge?
I see some foam stamps in a box, how do you store all the stamps?
When you put your LOs in albums do you just throw them in randomly or do you have a system?
Thanks for sharing, I'm always trying to figure out ways to make my space more user friendly.
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Hi Ali, looking at your supplies, I have a question -- I am constantly overwhelmed by all my unused stuff - I need help making good choices when shopping. How do you go about selecting products? I tend to pick things that catch my eye but then have trouble pulling them all together. There must be a more design driven and cost-effective way to shop. Any advice? Thanks.
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Ali,
I adore your space. I love that yellow spice rack (?) on the wall. Did you have it special made, or is it an antique. Your space is wonderful. I, like you, thought I wanted a space to myself, away from everything, but found out I didn't go there as much as I do now that my space is close to everything that is going on in the house. It is so much better. You can stay a part of everything going on.
Thanks for sharing.
Louise
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Loving seeing your space... very inspiring. But I'm also finding your banner inspiring as well. I'm really excited to see what you have going on with this new scrapbooking direction. Such a great lifestyle to be a part of.
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Wonderful space, Ali. I've done only a handful of layouts and my current "studio" can be found within the confines of a rather shallow Rubbermaid bin (and the kitchen table doubles as my work space). It's no wonder I don't have more layouts. I dream of space like this. I'm tempted to turn our formal dining room into a studio, but we'll be moving in just a few months' time, so I think I'll look ahead to see where I can find space in our new (log cabin) digs.
Love all of the As, too.
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you're a BIG mess..clean up, girl...soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sam
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