14 July 2011

Where this blogger creates...

Just inside our front door and to the left is my favorite room in the house. I call it my "office" and I do in fact "work" in here from time to time (I teach some online courses a few times a year), but mostly I'm on the computer blogging, shopping, googling and emailing. I also love to scrapbook (though I do so in spurts and not on a regular basis) and have all my supplies and photos fairly organized in this space. Overall, this room is filled with lots of little bits and bobbles that make me happy and inspire me and give you a glimpse into who I am and what I like.

My desk was a taller, primitive sofa table purchased several years ago from my friend Colleene's shop. I cut the legs down and made a black ticking skirt to hide the computer and other storage pieces. I always have little notepads and articles clipped from magazines next to the keyboard, either under the cute kitty paperweight or corralled in the little Hobby Lobby crate. Ryan ordered the bunny tape dispenser for me as a surprise after noticing me admiring it in a little shop in Memphis where we went to buy a wedding gift for a friend there a few years ago.



I looked at this Table Talk Pastry Co. crate several times at the flea market and finally bought it when it went on sale for half off. I keep clips and pins and photo corners in the rusty muffin tins and photos and papers in the drawers. I like the metal and wood combo of the spools and the big roll of black thread on the ironstone pedestal is from Ella Elaine's booth in McKinney.







I have a collection of several vintage cameras, but this toy version might be my favorite of all. This chippy white chest of drawers is from The Seedbox. I recently organized some of my office supplies, paints and sewing notions in the drawers, which I lined with book pages.



This room was originally a dark paneled "study" with tobacco stained wood and red walls. Very nice, really, but not my style. I had all the whole thing painted out white, with the walls my latest favorite shade, Benjamin Moore's Gray Ghost (which incidentally is the name of the novel Dill Harris says he'll give Jem Finch if he is brave enough to run up and touch the Radley house in To Kill a Mockingbird, another favorite). Wainscoting runs neck-high around the space, and I've filled the ledges with lots of my little treasures, taking creative license with the cluttered, collage look of it all. I bought the glittered LOVE garland in Stillwater, Minnesota on a visit with my friend Shannon. My mom had the printer's tray hanging in our house growing up and let me have it. I guess I like minis, as I've got lots of them in this space. Most are little bobbles I've found at flea markets but a few have sentimental connections to family and travel. Like many people I love typography and numbers. My lucky #3 is everywhere in this room. I also have lots of little dogs and cats and other animals.











Ryan and I bought this table for the dining room in our first house 12 years ago. It makes a great work table, and even though it probably looks better centered in the room under the big chandelier, I've found I prefer it pushed over in front of the windows leaving the rest of the room open. I'm short and just skim under the large hanging fixture but poor Ryan forgets and bumps it all the time. It provides major lighting when I need it, but I like the soft glow of just lamps better. Macauley was just asking me a couple of days ago if I would help him buy furniture and things for his house when he moves out someday (of course I will!) and I told him that my dad let me pick out the floor lamp (near the window with the H) from the JC Penney home store when Ryan and I had our first apartment. It might be the only piece from my college years that made the cut in my "grown up" houses. The tall windows look out onto the front porch. I found the bird collage at Winnie & Tallulah's in Athens, Texas the day Macauley and I met Debbie and Cat Daddy.


I thought I could use this big basket to hold scrapbook pages in progress, but right now I've got my flea market binder (with all the pages of sold tags from the 3 years I've had my little booth) and some other odds and ends. I can't resist little drawers when I see them out shopping. These are 2 of my favorites and I've got them filled with stacks of photos I want to scrapbook.


Cats have always been equated with "home" for me, and I love having my old Allie or my pretty black Maya hang out with me when I'm on the computer or working at the table.



I've got all sorts of stuff stashed in this wall of built in cabinets, some of it functional and some of it just for pretty.







I backed 4 of the taller shelves with these French memo boards (from Gordman's, a gift from my parents a couple of Christmases back). I've got ticket stubs and old postcards and flea market finds tucked in the ribbons, even a picture of my Grandpa Jude taken in Paris when he was a soldier during World War 2.






I've got craft supplies in the baskets and drawers and magazines gathered here and there. I love reading magazines but have been making a concerted effort to pare down which ones I keep the last few years. I keep some in this upright drawer, which my Nanny treated me to several years back on a trip to a now defunct shop called Pat's in Bentonville, Arkansas.

I organized the built-ins during the Blizzard of 2011, which looks much better but it seems like when my projects are "out of sight and out of mind" I forget what I have or need to do. I've got a small TV in one of the lower cabinets. I like to watch E! and Bravo and One Tree Hill and 90210 reruns on Soap Net while I work on the computer or do projects. I also just like the background noise.













Some words to live by and my Papaw's folding ruler...

I backed the French doors with burlap. If the room's a big mess, I can just close it off and not greet guests in the foyer with a view of papers and projects everywhere. My friend Amy gave me the book page wreath for Christmas this year.



I feel lucky to have the "room of one's own" Virginia Woolf stressed the importance of, a place to think and create and write and fill with treasures that make me happy, and I spend a lot of time in this room. I'm excited to have a peek at other bloggers' creative spaces via Karen's blog party, and I'm also linking with Debra.

33 comments:

Stephanie said...

Wow - you are a lucky girl - this is a wonderful space to "work"! Love the way you backed the doors with fabric - how did you attach it? Great collections too!

trash talk said...

So many great ideas to steal...so little time!
I love your room and all that wonderful storage space. It's hard to believe there is any "stuff" left out there to buy when I see how much we all have accumulated. We should form a support group...'cause girl...we got it bad!
Deb
P.S. How funny to read your reference to Dill. I'm sitting here looking at my ragged copy of To Kill A Mockingbird...my favorite novel.

Aunt Karen said...

Hayley, I love your room. I just created a special space of my own and I'm already loving it. I'll have to send you some pictures.

Big Six Stables said...

Hey lady, this room is so you. I just love it; you have such a talent for creating and decorating. Seeing your room since it is such a true representation makes me miss you even more!! Let's try and get together sometime soon. We have a lot of good flea markets up this way. :)

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Such a beautiful space to create and work in! Stopping by from Debra's today- stop by and say hello and share at my party too if you would like! :)

Marina Capano said...

OMG! Wowwww what a cute space!

just beautiful and lovely!

great details, congrats



visit me anytime...

xoxo

Marina Capano said...

I'm following your blog!
you have cute blog

xoxo from so far away

Pretty Things said...

You and I are kindred spirits with the cameras -- I have about a dozen right now, including a really old portrait style that stands on an upright stand. LOVE them.

I hope you have time to visit my creative spaces!

Anonymous said...

I love all of the chipped paint furniture and boxes and such that you have in your studio! So pretty! :D Thank you for sharing!

~Alli

kluless said...

I loved seeing all your little treasures - thank you for sharing!

Unknown said...

stunningly gorgeous! oh my...i am speechless! you and I are kindred spirits for sure! I am your newest follower. can't wait to follow your lovely..lovely blog!! sigh....

bertie said...

Loving this space with all of the kitties, scotty dogs and wonderful vintage treasures! Thanks for sharing your ideas and inspiration. Hope you will stop by my studio and say hello! bertie
www.queenbartistry.blogspot.com

Jo said...

Such beautiful treasures! Thanks for the tour.

Debbie Burkey said...

I love absolutely everything. Your color palette is wonderful. All the old vintage things are great. You did a fabulous job. Love the window treatments! well done!

Debbie

Claudia said...

I simply love your space! Any anyone who loves To Kill A Mockingbird is a pal, indeed. My blog is named after my home : Mockingbird Hill Cottage. My dog is named Scout. Need I say more?

Truly I love all the wonderful vintage details in your space and that wall of cabinets is gorgeous! I'm a wee bit jealous. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

Unknown said...

First off, look at that chandelier! Eye grabbing! I love all of the textures and worn colors in this studio space. It must be dreamy to work in such a lovely spot. *smiles* Norma

Karen Valentine said...

I LOVE your room! I love the black and white theme, and all the fabulous vintage pieces you have used to decorate it!! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us! Have a great week and enjoy the hop!
xo,
Karen

Debra@CommonGround said...

What an amazing space, Hayley. It's totally in sync with the rest of your beautiful home. Love it all. I could spend hours in there!
xoxo Debra

Terri said...

Wow! what a great collection of vintage items so artfully displayed. What a great creative space! This will be added to my list of favorite studios for sure! Thanks for the lovely tour!

Donna said...

I love the little Scotty dogs!!! You have lots of room and a very nice space!!!

April said...

You simply amaze me. 'Nuff said. :)

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Just stopping back by to say it again~what a beautiful creative space!! I adore your room - so many wonderful inspiring pieces and treasures!! Thanks so much for linking this up at Feathered Nest Friday-now following you~ hope to see you again soon! :)

Boxwood Cottage said...

Hi Haley,
so nice to "meet" you!
It's my first visit to your blog, coming through "Where bloggers create" and I must tell you how much I love your studio! In fact it is my fave so far from all I seen this year!
First there is the color scheme of mostly white and black which I like very much and then there are all your pretty vintage treasures *sigh*. The french doors with the architectural piece over it and the shabby old mirror door and that beautiful old bird cage it all looks just so great together! And I love your pc desk with the big LOVE Glitter banner above and of course all your cubbies and drawers and that huge pair of scissors on the wall (I want one too for ages, but never found a huge pair of scissors) and last bot not least the kitties! :)
I'll sure come by again and will add you to my reader.
Best wishes from Germany sends you
Carola

maryboys said...

this is a real treat,hayley:)i could study the photos for hours and see new little details and treasures each time.i can only dream of being this organized!

mary

Valery Klassen said...

Your studio space is amazing. Love all your vintage things especially that beautiful old light fixture! You must really enjoy working in this area, it's simply fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

Love your office/space. I love all of your old storage pieces.
Thanks for the tour.

Rita Barakat said...

I loe lOve this space - so many wonderful treasures in one place! I love the vinatge feel to your room it feels so relaxing!

Char said...

I am beginning a love affair with the color black. I think the window treatments in your lovely diningroom are beautiful.
There is so much inspiration in your creative space and so many wonderful and shared ideas.
Thank you for letting us in, Char

marie said...

Wonderful space!! Love that chandelier!!
You have so many beautiful storage pieces. The Pastry Co. crate is awesome and I love the little shelf display with the Scottie dog on it...so sweet!

Creative Grammie said...

Wow, what an amazing space! Thanks for the tour and thanks for sharing all your wonderful treasures.

Something Special said...

Wow Wow, this is a fabulous studio. I am a fan. In some ways it reminds me of mine. Yours is just wonderful. I would never leave. I do admit I spend an awful lot of time in my studio! I think I might borrow some of your ideas. Thanks for the tour.

EVERYTHING ANASTACIA said...

What a beautiful space you have! I love your chandelier! Such gorgeous collections, beautifully organized/displayed.
Thanks for sharing! It's taking me a while to go from blog to blog, bit I'm really enjoying this party.
Regards,
Reina
http://everythinganastacia.blogspot.com

Lynnae said...

I love the Black, White, and neutral color scheme. So pretty. And they name 'Gray Ghost!
Your room is lovely, thanks for sharing.

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