Saturday, June 19, 2010

Where Bloggers Create: From Storage Building to Studio

Welcome friends, old and new! I'm thrilled to be participating in the second annual "Where Bloggers Create" party put on by the gracious Karen at My Desert Cottage! If you didn't come here from there, do yourself a BIG favor and head over there for a FEAST of inspiration!! Simply click on the many Where Bloggers Create links on Karen's sidebar to see the creative spaces of talented bloggers all over the world...

And now for a tour of my studio space. If you've seen it before, I  hope you'll look again - I have added more photos as well as projects I have made there...and if it is your first time here, I warmly welcome you to Just Bee 'n Me, the art and heart of me, Becky Schultea...

What do you get when you take a storage building full of junk...

...empty it out, and have your fabulous husband work SO hard on it for months...?
...you get a light, airy but cozy space that's ready...
...to make into my colorful cottage studio! Thanks Sweetie! I have SO enjoyed my sweet, creative space!

I hope you'll take a stroll with me through my studio to see the details that make it dear to me...

I put an extra work table to the left as you enter the studio...


See the peg rack? Here's how it looked when I first got it...
It was comprised of a $1.00 garage sale rack with a 80's paint job and a set of $.50 pastel buckets. Now it provides extra storage (should I need it)...

Above the peg rack I hung three of my favorite illustrations framed with flea market frames painted black with whimsical white polka dots...

Onward along the left wall (the white rocker was sitting out along the curb for the trash when I rescued it!)...

...to the desk area - a large pine desk/work table flanked by two bookcases...



I cut up and used a vintage cutter quilt with cute butterflies as valances on all the windows (easy, no sew project)...I also draped a few vintage embroidered linens over the curtain rod for fun...
More desk area details...
Here's another of my favorite illustrations, matted with fabric and ribbon trim...

The back portion of the studio is made up mostly of storage shelves holding flea market and garage sale finds awaiting repurposing...
A couple of my many bunnies on a hand painted chair...

Moving around now to the right side of the studio you'll see one of my favorite thrifted treasures of all time - my $30 couch! I WISH I had taken a before photo...but trust me, the fabric was not the prettiest...but the couch's bones were good and it was solid...
So with a $19.99 king size discount store quilt, and pieces of leftover bargain quilt that I already had (you may recall I used it to make no-sew valances for my livingroom), my Mom and I tucked and tacked and managed to fashion a no-sew slipcover of sorts for it. I used a couple of flower pins that I had on hand to "gather" the slipcover around the arms of the couch...
A thrifted dresser and mirror ($25) provide lots of fabric storage as well as more display area...

This corner shelf rounds out the right side of the studio and is home to larger pieces of fabric yardage and ribbon...

Finally, I thought I'd include a selection of the projects I've made in the studio since it was finished (I sell these in our space at theWhispering Willow Gifts & Antiques)...




And honestly, this is the very last image for this post. Since many of you are visiting for the first time, I thought I would include my very latest digtal illustration - she will be the June design for my 2011 "Between us Bunnies" calendar....


THANK YOU so much for taking time to visit my studio and see some of my work. It means so much to me to be able to share it with you! I hope to see you again soon and I am looking forward to visiting with you too! Have a glorious weekend!!

"He has made everything beautiful in its time..."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

39 comments:

  1. Your art studio is so cute! I'm going to come back and look closer at your ideas after I get moved. I love how you brought the couch and rocker into your studio. Thanks for letting us have a tour!

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  2. Oh Becky, I love your space. What a talented husband you have...I could go shopping in your treasure chest of thrift/garage store finds and future projects. Blessings, Patty

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  3. Simply ADORABLE!!!!!!! Love what you did with that butterfly quilt!!!

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  4. Your workspace is warm and welcomng and so pretty! It makes me want to come and explore all those shelves and drawers:>) And I love the June page for the calendar!

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  5. That is an incredible studio. Kudos to you and your husband for taking that storage area and turning it into a fabulous creative space. I love all the attention to detail that you put into the room and I can just imagine what a wonderful space it is to create or relax.
    Thanks for the tour.
    Jane

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  6. What a wonderful room, It was so fun to see how you transformed it! It truley would be a wonderful place to create in, I have used alot of "Thrown by the curb" items in my space also. It feels good to repurpose item.

    I enjoyed my little stay! You should pop over and see my little space!

    Hugs, Linda

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  7. wow that is amazing. your husband is so sweet to have done that for you! it is wonderful.
    blessings,
    aimee

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  8. Hi Sweet Becky, Oh my goodness your space is by far the best ever. I love it all. What an incredible place to work. There are so many amazing and inspirational ideas here I simply have to be back again several times to dream. You did an amazing job of creating and designing such wonder and hats off to your dear hubby for his hard work in the building process. Just perfect dear one!

    I have so enjoyed my visit and then again, I always do. What a talent!!

    Love to you, Celestina Marie
    Come over to my party when you can!

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  9. Very cozy and filled with wonderful things too.
    Your Sweetie Pie did a good thing.

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  10. Who would have guessed? A storage shed! WOW! Sweet stash of items to repurpose. What a great space. ~Robin~

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  11. Hi Becky,
    I see you are doing well with your eating choices!!!
    Your AWEOME craft studio is a DREAM!!! I always enjoy seeing it and all the goodies in it!
    Warmly,
    Deb :)

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  12. oops..that's AWESOME craft studio...I need spell check on the comment section!
    Deb :)

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  13. What a fantanstic creative space. You really transform it into a great getaway space. So, enjoy my visit with you. Enjoy the rest of the party.
    Hugz,
    Zandra

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  14. Hi
    Such a beautiful post and studio. This is my fist time to visit you and expect to come back many more times.

    Your sweet husband is very talented too... you make a wonderful couple it seems.

    If you ever think you might be interested -- join in our meme on Fridays as we celebrate the beauty in our lives. You would fit in perfectly!

    http://www.dipityroad.com/where-bloggers-create/where-bloggers-create-my-studio

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  15. Hello!

    Absolutely beautiful! Your work space is wonderful.

    Janet
    Janet's Creative Pillows

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  16. What a big, amazing space! Everything is so well organized, and filled with so many pretty things. Beautiful and inspiring!

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  17. wow. I love the transformation from shed to studio! Also loved the idea of how you hung the little buckets. I have something similar and just couldn't figure out how to hang them without the rims bumping into one another, but I think you may have provided a solution.

    Also, can I go shopping in the back section? Amazing pretties there....

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  18. Im in love with your studio and all the gorgeous treasures!!!Love the projects u showed at the end of the post:O)Thank You for sharing and inspiring:O) Isabel

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  19. What a wonderfully creative space!

    I adore your storage solutions. They have inspired me.

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  20. Oh my heavens! How cozy and adorable! Love all the quilts and wonderful ideas!
    Best wishes,
    Chris

    www.curbyscloset.com/blog/

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  21. This is such a clever space. I just love it. I would love to create something like this for my husband. His big hobby is collecting different airplane models and other small figures. A space like this would be just perfect for him.

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  22. Wonderful spce-what a transformation. I also love that slipcover.

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  23. Oh. My. Gosh. That transformation is remarkable and it turned out beautiful I love looking at all your little treasures. Thank you for sharing.

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  24. That is some make over...good thing too looks like you needed that space...it is chocked full of delightful items...I like what you did with the painted pails and the board with the pegs...really sweet. TFS.

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  25. I am sooo impressed! The before and afters are the best! You have a sweet and very special husband, and you can tell him we all said so!! Thank you so much for sharing the transformation with us! I can't believe that sofa has not been reupholstered! Great Job!
    xo,
    Karen
    My Desert Cootage

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  26. Becky, I was telling my grand daughter how much alike we are in the things we collect. It is like taking a tour through my craft room, although mine is not as neat and organized as yours quite yet. Pink roses everywhere.I love pink roses and collect lots of things just because they have roses.

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  27. great place-and how wonderful of your husband! love that couch too~looks inviting.

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  28. I love the transformation! Do you lend that man out? I want a craft cottage like that!
    Seriously though, what fun. I love all the color, cheer, and bunnies!

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  29. Wonderful transformation! So glad you took pictures along the way. You are a lucky lady!

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  30. Oh, Becky, I love the pieces you made! I think the Paris Cafe one is my favorite. This is a fabulous space and you've got so much room here to create wonderful things. I enjoyed seeing your stash awaiting repurposing, too.

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  31. What a charming studio! The before and afters are just amazing and what a precious husband to do this for you! Thank you for sharing your creative haven.

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  32. You are very blessed indeed to have a husband that will do all that work to create such a special space for you. I so much enjoyed peeking in and must admit I would love to visit in person and curl up on that couch and just enjoy the surroundings. Thanks so much for inviting us to visit!

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  33. Hi Becky, what a beautiful and sweet creative space you have shared with us. So fun to see everyones ideas. Thanks for shairng with us.
    debby

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  34. What a wonderful and truly charming space to create in! I love all the quilts and the bunnies too!
    Thanks so much for a fun tour!
    Hugs to you!

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  35. What an amazing transformation! Your studio is adorable, love all the teacups and how you use them in your creations. Thanks for the tour, it was very enjoyable.

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  36. loved your space and your work first vist but will be back thanks for sharing

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  37. Anonymous12:46 AM

    Such a lovely studio you have Becky, and how sweet of your husband to do that for you! It's a lovely space, full of treasures and inspiration. I also loved seeing your illustrations. I'll come back and visit again.

    Happy anniversary...

    Lynette

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  38. You have an incredible husband. This is the most amazing transformation. I am totally impressed with the building part, and after you moved in, it has a real wow factor. I felt so comfortable here, I could sit and enjoy your space and your art all day.

    I wondered what the cups and glasses were for until I saw those lovely assemblages. I was blown away by the designs. Very clever.

    Thanks so much for allowing me the opportunity, albeit late, to tour your lovely and oh so colorful studio.

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  39. I LOVED looking at your pictures of your studio! Makes me ashamed that I haven't worked harder on my Bonus Room above the garage where I like to do my crafty stuff. Your studio is adorable, so wonderful with all of your touches. God has truly blessed you and I will be back to visit more regularly to get inspired! (I used to visit your blog frequently, but I've gotten out of the visiting blogs recently :( I miss it!) Thank you for sharing and inspiring!

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