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My Dream Art & Craft Studio

October 28, 2013 By Colleen Jorgenson 10 Comments

Arts and Craft Room

My workroom/studio/office/creative zone has finally reached that place.

The place where every time I come in here, it happens.

The Happy Dance.

It’s been quite a while since a room where I lived prompted The Happy Dance.

Years, in fact.

Art-Craft-Room-A

I once had an entire house all to myself. No husband. No kids. No roommates . . . except for kitties.

No mother-in-law.

One room was my office. One was my sewing room. (Back when I was still sewing, before I started painting.)

Art-Craft-Room-B

30” x 80” Worktable – two bookcases with old door on top. Cost: $44

It.Was.Glorious.

Everything was organized.

I mean everything.

Art-Craft-Room-C

Paint bins from dollar store, David Tutera labels. Cost: $12

Then I met him.

My life became a rollercoaster ride, full of thrills, spills, laughs and, yes, fear.

Fear that is felt by a 34 year old woman who all of a sudden has three small boys living with her.

And one big one.

Art-Craft-Room-D

Duck Tape edging on worktable. Cost: $4

Life changed.

Dogs replaced kitties. His brown velour patchwork bedspread replaced my handsewn Samsutta wedgewood blue duvet.

My peach and aqua décor was accessorized with kids shoes.

Art-Craft-Room-K

And dirty tube socks.

Art-Craft-Room-L

One bookcase holds paint, the other has specialty paints, markers and glitters.

All rides come to an end, eventually.

The kids grew up and moved out.

Art-Craft-Room-M

Then moved back in.

Art-Craft-Room-E

Rolling cart for papers – $22.

When they finally were grown(ish) and found their own homes the rollercoaster took an unexpected turn.

Art-Craft-Room-F

Those turns where your stomach lurches and is left somewhere behind you on the tracks.

Art-Craft-Room-G

Rolling cart from thrift store – $4

Enter Mother-in-Law, stage right.

Enter mother-in-law who had just had a stroke and needed constant 24 hour care.

Art-Craft-Room-H

sigh.

Art-Craft-Room-O

Old dresser that was my dad’s.

Four years later, mother-in-law was well enough to move into her own place.

Art-Craft-Room-P

“Photography Studio” using roller blind from thrift store – $4

Let The Happy Dance commence!

Art-Craft-Room-R

Dresser top drawer hold photography supplies and floral arranging tools.

Less than a year after MIL moved out, my mother was diagnosed with non-Hodkin’s Lymphoma.

Art-Craft-Room-S

Lower dresser drawers hold current seasonal & holiday supplies.

The Happy Dance was then confined to weekends when I’d go home, kiss my husband hello, and dash to the back of the house . . .

Art-Craft-Room-T

Worktable is large enough to hold multiple ongoing projects at once!

to the room that used to be mother-in-law’s . . .

Art-Craft-Room-U

Full spectrum light – $20 at Big Lots

and became MY art studio when she left.

Art-Craft-Room-W

Daily “Board” – Thrift store frame & scrapbook paper – $2

 

That rollercoaster ride stopped completely on May 14, 2012.

I had to find another ride.

Something to fill my days.

Something to inspire creativity.

So my Life could begin again.

Art-Craft-Room-V

The new house helped. A lot.

But this room here?

Two words . . .

Happy Dance!

Hey, you don’t need a ton of money to have the room of your dreams. Just get creative with your creative space.

You’ll be so happy you did.

Colleen

about Colleen

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Filed Under: More Stuff, Organizing

Comments

  1. Sokru says

    October 28, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Oh Wow, that’s just Awesome! I almost happy danced just for seeing these pictures

    Sokru
    sokerimursu.blogspot.fi

    Reply
  2. Lisa Nelsen-Woods says

    October 28, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Colleen I love your giant worktable! I am glad you are able to do the happy dance again

    Reply
  3. brenda o says

    October 29, 2013 at 4:27 am

    I am so happy for you and the beautiful creative spirit you have that allowed you to create that wonderful room. looks like paradise on earth. and I am so happy you are able to push forward after the loss of your beloved. God bless you

    Reply
  4. Laura Strack says

    October 29, 2013 at 4:59 am

    Look at all that space! You can do the happy dance right on top of the table…no wait, better not. Protect those valuable painting hands! That light was on $20! I need one. Glad to see each room coming together.
    One question. Do you dance while you paint? Just wondering So very happy for you.

    Reply
  5. Jaime Haney at www.jaimehaney.com says

    October 29, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    Hi Colleen, don’t our lives fly by in a hurry? Ups and downs, people come and people go and not always because we want them to. I am so happy for you in your happy dance room. The roller shade is genius, I’ve got to set one up right away and I never thought of using a dresser like that in my art room but wow what storage that is! I am with Laura, I need to find that $20 Big Lots light! Your creative space is wonderful.

    Reply
  6. doodlebuddies says

    October 29, 2013 at 10:17 pm

    Colleen, Your a very compassionate woman to care for your MIL and mum for that long. God blessed you with a wonderful husband too. I love the color of your joyous baskets ! And I love more, whats in them !!!
    Naush
    Doodle Buddies

    Reply
  7. Maureen Hayes says

    October 30, 2013 at 3:09 am

    I am beyond happy for you that you even feel like doing a happy dance again! Wonderful, Marlon is looking down and smiling at you, happy to see you happy and creating! Love your space, you did a wonderful job with it.

    Reply
  8. DesignedByBH says

    November 5, 2013 at 3:21 am

    Yay for an organized, functional creative space! You deserve it!!!
    Thanks for sharing it with us at Twirl & Take a Bow! Hope to see you again this week!
    ~ Brooke ~

    Reply
  9. Connie says

    November 28, 2013 at 6:58 pm

    What a wonderful space for art and I really enjoyed reading your story, how touching!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Eight Painted Desk Ideas - Just Paint It Blog says:
    June 23, 2014 at 6:51 am

    […] when I ‘made’ my big worktable, the honeymoon continued […]

    Reply

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    About Me

    Hi there! I'm Colleen, a self-taught artist, writer and blogger, among other things. You don't get to be old enough to order off the Denny's senior menu without accomplishing a few things in life. Read More…

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