Where this blogger creates (without her companion)

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Once again Bleubeard and I are joining Karen Valentine at My Dessert Cottage

for her annual blog party where we share our creative spaces.  But where is my companion, and the one who some believe is the most important half of this blog?

WAKE UP, Bleubeard.  It's time to host this party again.

Wow, I'm still not quite awake, but I'll try to make an impression.  After all, Elizabeth just learned she was participating about three hours ago, and that's not really long enough for a good cat nap, or enough time to take photos, edit them, and guide you through Elizabeth's craft spaces.  After all, she believes her entire house (and yard, too) are craft spaces.

Although I'm still sleepy, I know there won't be any muddy paws today, because Elizabeth told me there was a drought and lots of grass fires in the area.

So, as the heat soars in our area, let's get inside where it's cool, and have a look around.

Some of you were here last year, and saw what Elizabeth promised would be a new sign for her main floor craft room door.

True to her word, Elizabeth created this sign for both of us, when she wrote a  button tutorial.  All those signs show where she or I might be found working or playing at any given time of the day.

Inside her craft room, you won't see much change.  In fact, you probably won't see any change.  What's On Your Workdesk Wendy, the photo hog, is still hanging out around her sewing machine,

or watching her throw paint while standing at her work table.

Elizabeth is a master at organization.  One of her tips that went over so well last year is to store your embossing powder upside down so it's easy to see.  The same is similar for paint.

One of the things people seem to like is when I show Elizabeth's handmade paper.  It's always colorful and she's always adding to it.

Since there was no time to get lots of photos of her craft room, Elizabeth decided to concentrate on her basement studio.  She was anxious to try out her new camera she got from a fellow blogger.  So I'm going back to napping, and you can join Elizabeth in the basement.  The only time I'm allowed there is when there is a severe storm warning.

Oh goodness.  Elizabeth here.  I thought I had a bit more time, or I would not have been climbing on that step stool to reach some clay.  I'm glad I heard the door open, or you might have caught me on that stool (grin).

Oh my gosh.  I don't have time to take new photos, and the color is way off in the basement.  I can't even seem to correct it in PhotoShop.  I'm really disappointed, but that's what I get for waiting till the last minute to sign up for this blog event.

As a mixed media artist, I seem to collect lots of supplies, many from dumpster diving.  I'm also a BIG fan of tools.  Love them, use them.  Not much has changed from last year, except the horrible color, of course.  I still have ZONES for each of my artistic endeavors.  For example, the top shelf holds glass paint and spray art.  It also holds my glue gun.

Maybe you can see it all better from last year's photo.  Not much has changed, except I've used glue and added more glass paint after this photo was taken.

The second shelf holds all my polymer clay and supplies, including my pasta machine and dedicated toaster oven. 

The third shelf has changed a bit, in that I have moved my CitraSolv, and replaced it with my mini-vise.  It still holds all my soldering supplies, though, as well as my nippers for cutting tiles.

You can barely see the third shelf in the top photo, where I keep my beeswax, encaustics, and crayons.  That's also where I keep my tools for making these, including my dedicated crock pot and my two melting pots.  I also keep my UTEE, which I use in one of the melting pots, while the other is dedicated to wax.  I keep the stainless steel pot there, too, but only because it's where it fits.  I use it for dyeing fabric I don't dye in my microwave, or cooking plants to make handmade paper.

As an aside, I realize this is a garish photo, but I was trying to show something I just soldered recently.

Maybe you can see things better in this shot, although my gray and white  shelving looks very yellow.  Had I been given more time, I would have straightened these shelves a bit.  But obviously, what you see is what you get.

This area really needs to be cleaned, since I've been working with wallpaper and joint compound recently.

I really should get rid of those stackable plastic in/out baskets that are designed to sit on office desks.  For me, these are nothing more than dust collectors and minutia magnets.

One of the things that is new, is my iron.  Since I do a lot of sewing, and dye fabrics, the fabric often gets bunched and wrinkled in the process.  I like having an iron handy.  And although you can't see them very well in the photo, I have two sets of those Crayola Crayons that you use to iron on fabric.

 

I know people often wonder about my microwave oven.  I use it for low-imersion dyeing of fabric, as well as drying flowers.  It could also be used to heat my coffee, but I don't.  I prefer to keep it dedicated to crafts.

I didn't have time to make another sign, so I brought this photo out from last year.  I hope it makes you feel at home and welcome.

Here is a cut off portion of my desk, which is merely an old computer station sitting over two metal file cabinets.

Metal file cabinets are great for holding magnets, whether you make them, or buy them.  I have also started a pen collection and someday hope to do a bit of jouraling.

This is the one area that has no plastic.  Instead, I've used wood and bricks for the shelving, and metal file cabinets for the base.

The roll around cabinet that is now behind the very full trash can (I don't ever remember to empty it when I go upstairs) is what I call my cutting station.  It holds all my cutting tools, including those for cutting fabric.  On top is a paper cutter, but I prefer the guillotine cutter Bleubeard showed you upstairs.  The mouse pad sitting on top of the cutter is used as a cushion for stamping.

On the corner cabinet you'll find a collection of rocking horses, including the clock.  Under that is my collection of old car keys, tiles, and a pair of shoes I found in my neighbor's dumpster that I intend to alter.  Below that are my two rock tumblers I use to tumble glass, as well as a jar of glass, and my vinegar I use for rusting my fabric and paper.

The bottom shelf holds paint and supplies for making soap I didn't have room for on the shelves I have yet to show.

 

So what, you ask, is different this year?  Other than the color of the photos, my roll-around table, for one.

On this table, you now see my fabric block stamping setup.  It's an old sheet I've folded, under which

 is a nice cushion of natural felt.  It all sits on top of a cute little ironing board I bought on clearance.

So much hodge-podge here, but you might be able to see the lye and soap molds on the third shelf.  There are also candle molds and candle colorant, too.  And yes, I keep these separate from my beeswax and encaustics.

Beads and more beads lighten up this dark space in the corner, while one of several over-the-door shoe-holders holds tools and supplies.

And although the camera didn't capture it, the bottom and top shelves hold my flower arranging and flower drying supplies.

When I was able to remodel the basement, I had the carpenter add the cubby.  I love that there is now storage where before there was a "walk through" between the closet and the post.

I'm big on roll around cabinets, but once I put the very heavy tackle box on top of this four drawer cabinet, it started to roll.  I had to remover the rollers, because this was the perfect spot to store this piece.

We are now at the end of the tour.  Sorry it's so short, and you can't really see the white walls and such, but you CAN see that whatever I can put on wheels, I will.  Although the main rooms in my house have antiques, you won't find any here or in my upstairs craft space.  These are working rooms.  Things get messy when I paint or dye.  That's why plastic is my furniture of choice for this room.

Bleubeard here!  I'm finally awake, and hope to see you again.  After all, Elizabeth has participated in this event for three of the five years, but this time, she didn't have time to clean properly.  Next time you come, we'll figure out her "nearly new, slightly used" camera and get better shots.  She might even find time clean up bit.  Of course, I'm always clean.  Thanks so much for dropping by.  And we both hope to see you at your crafty space soon, too.