When you walk in the front door, you have walked into my workspace. It was the only room in the house that I could commandeer. It also serves as a front entry, the place with the woodburning stove, the library, and the dog's favorite sleeping spot. Oh, and the home office. Needless to say, it is not pretty. However, this weekend, it became unbearable. Before I had children, this house seemed big enough for my needs. Now, with the addition of two children, a boyfriend, and a birddog, I feel like we're living in a thimble. But I refuse to move. I bought this house after my divorce and have put too much time, energy and love into the house and yard. I plan to grow old here.
With that in mind and with my miniscule budget, I set about making my area liveable and semi-tidy. This is a corner of the room. There is a picture of Sally Mann's photo "The Last Time Emmett Posed Nude" on the wall. I love her photos and bought the book just so I could cut out the pictures and frame them. Under that is a print I did. The rest of the wall is lined with books and I have a vision of one day shelving a fine, thin tome of poetry and having the whole house collapse from the combined weight of books and junk.
I had been at the Goodwill looking for a dresser for extra storage in my workspace and I stumbled upon these two pieces. I didn't realize they were a set until I got them home and set up together (duh!). My only excuse is that in the jumble of the Goodwill it is quite difficult to figure out what is what. I really, really love them. They create a long surface for cutting or ironing. I toy with the idea of painting them, but for now I'm happy with them the way they are.
This room was originally the living room in my 1950's split level ranch so this is where gthe fireplace is. I had a soapstone stove installed this summer and this was the obvious place to put it. The only drawback is that anything flammable has to be 36 inches away from it. Tell the dog that. She likes to stretch out in front of it and go to sleep. It was very expensive (about $3200 installed), but it really heats up the house nicely.
My children love to pull their beanbags up to it and play their leapsters or do their homework or drink hot chocolate. Of course, Diniyoyo gets a little bitter when they encroach on her territory and will sometimes try to crawl in their beanbags with them.
Details from my new studio. This is the yarn jar, so I can see all the colors, even if I can't think of a name for them that is appropriately romantic.
This is a magazine rack I bought at the beloved Goodwill for $4.
This is the bill basket that hangs near the door over the recycling basket. I'm thinking to make a little tag for it that says "Odious Bills and Accursed Correspondence."
Cheerful and bright toy companions. They make me happy to look at. However, they are constantly being "borrowed" by the children. They suffer from the misguided notion that grownups can't have toy-toys.
This is the sewing machine cover I made and that I am disproportionately proud of. I had to figure out myself how to do it and I am not known for my cleverness in such sewing situations. I am inordinately fond of long straight seams. Curves and Y-seams give me the heebeejeebies.
Part of the fabric stash, enclosed in a metal cabinet from Staples. I have painted the side and front two doors the same color as my entry door. Because it is metal, I use magnets to stick things on it and sometimes use it as a design wall. Other times I just spread things on an available bed or a cleared space on the floor. I'm thinking to get some fuzzy backed vinyl that I can hang in front of the bookcase when I need a design wall.
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