Welcome!
I'm starting the year with something new and different (for me, that is!). I've been invited to join an uber-talented group of artist friends in a fun blog hop. We're touring everybody's studios, how fun is that?! It's a virtual Open-Studio tour!
You get a fun peek inside the creative spaces of 11 (yes count 'em, 11) designing friends of mine (plus me, of course). Just click on the names at the end of this post to tour each of their studios and visit their blogs, or simply use the forward/backward arrows (also after my post) to continue along the hop!
A special thank-you shout-out to our charming (and did I mention talented?) host, The Mr. Aaron Christensen of Aaron Christensen's Embellishments, for organizing this crazy party, and for creating the fabulous graphics you see at the beginning and end of this post. Sooo . . . without further ad0, let the tour commence!
As they say on those celebrity home tours, "and this is where the magic happens."
In this case, the magic happens in a teeny tiny room in my teeny tiny house. It's not glamorous, spacious, airy, or usually even tidy - but it's home. It's where I spend my days, and often my nights. It's where I create.
I paint.
I draw.
I'm at the computer.
Usually with a cat on my lap
(or inside my shirt)
and a dog at my feet.
If she's not on me, Flossie is in one of her many beds or perched on the printer, watching birds in the trees and the rest of the backyard.
One of my favorite quotations is the William Morris golden rule: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." Beauty, of course, is in the eye of the beholder and my other golden rule is my Granddad's credo:
...and like my Granddad and Granny were, I'm happiest when I'm surrounded by my treasures. In a space this tiny, though, storage is at a premium.
If it's not organized, it may as well not exist. As cluttered as it gets (and it does get cluttered) there is always order to this chaos.
Bolts of fabric, handmade items for Etsy, product samples, and a giant flat-file full of large originals and prints all live quietly and out of sight in in an ever so mysterious room at the bottom of the stairs. No one ever goes there but me (well, no one has ever lived to speak of it).
I used to dream of spreading my creative wings in a large, airy studio - the same as I longed for a large, airy kitchen. But I've got to admit, there's something very comforting about having the things I need within my reach
and the things I love within my sight.
Because really, there's no place like home.
Ok, now I'll answer those burning questions I know you're asking yourself:
Q. Why the heck does she have a piece of carpet glued to her Wacom?
A. Because I'm one of those lefties who holds my hand all backwards and the left-side scrolly bars go bezerk when I draw if I don't keep them covered.
Q. Why would someone keep a framed photo of the Next Generation crew front-and-center in her workspace? Is she that huge of a geek?
A. Well, yes I probably am that huge of a geek, but that's actually a favorite photo of my dear old dad posing with cardboard cutouts at an air & space museum. He's the handsome one in the front, pointing and saying, "Make it so."
Thanks for visiting! Be sure to hop on over and visit my talented friends as they welcome in the New Year with their own Studio Tour:
Beth Logan (well, you're already here!)
fabulous!
so many nooks and crannies!
i love the "trash-treasure" plaque!
thanks for sharing!
Posted by: shelly kennedy | January 05, 2012 at 05:07 AM
Beth, you have a delightful place to work... so warm and cozy and so happy! Just like your art!
I'm in love with your cat!
Posted by: Joy Hall | January 05, 2012 at 05:07 AM
Love your stuff (and cat)! Can I borrow your red shoes?
Posted by: Phyllis Dobbs | January 05, 2012 at 09:13 AM
I want to come play at Beths! Not sure if you could get me to leave though.. So many things I love starting of course with Flossie and Molly.. to your plaque.. the picture of the Next Generation with your dad and of course not to mention the ruby red slippers.. Everything is just so Beth! Makes me smile lots :)
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnPcspkEtnFk92lxLF6ISWVnTmF7PbORh0 | January 05, 2012 at 09:57 AM
Oh, you make me miss my own kitty, who used to sleep under the bib of my overalls! What a fun space she shares with you! (But your space is much more organized than mine....)
And when Phyllis is done with the shoes, can I borrow them?
Posted by: Barbara Johansen Newman | January 05, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Beth...love the shoes! I see they are a big hit! I really like how you make use of every space and your organized art supplies. I especially love the colors displayed in your pencils/pens - I LoVE COLOR and Cats!!!
Posted by: Karen Embry | January 05, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Beth, What An Absolute Treat Visiting Your Studio! Love Your Place Especially Your Furry Children..And Not To Forget Those Sparkly Shoes Resting At Your Desk Towards The End Of Your Tour! Your Humor And Work Were A Complete Delight! Thank So Much For Opening Your Heart And Home.
Posted by: Artist Terri Smith | January 05, 2012 at 12:12 PM
LOVE your work space, and the shoe shot is amazing. Love the way you've got such vivid color and I can't resist saying my studio has never been that clean in all its life! WOW!
Posted by: Sharyn | January 05, 2012 at 01:09 PM
Hey Beth!!
This is Casey, Shelly's daughter. LOVE your studio, wizard of oz shoes, awesome art, and especially Flossie. I am still obsessed with her blog and literally laugh out loud every time I read it :) Hope you had an awesome holiday and if you find yourself in Tampa, let me know!!
Posted by: Casey Comiskey | January 05, 2012 at 03:12 PM
Beth, somehow I just knew your space would be exactly as it is because it's very "BETH LOGAN" - fun, irreverent, charming! I think we should all do an actual road trip, from East to West to spend a day in each other's studios! I wonder how our art would be influenced? I would LOVE to spend a day in yours!!!
Posted by: Brenda Pinnick | January 05, 2012 at 03:43 PM
You know what, I think we've been competitive bidders on Ebay, some of your items look awfully familiar.
Ummm, my studio would look more like yours if I was brave enough to unpack all my boxes of goodies and put them on display like you. Thankfully, if I don't display them, then I obviously do not have a problem with my memorabilia addiction....right, RIGHT? See you at the 12 step Antiques Anonymous :)
Thanks for sharing your wonderful space Beth!
Posted by: Aaron Christensen | January 05, 2012 at 04:54 PM
I totally adore your space, I have seen bits and pieces of it before but seeing it like this took my breath away. You are creative genius I love how you collect all this stuff, what a fun post. Thanks so much for letting us see into your world. The photos are just so amazing absolutely great, I am honored I was able to be a part of this exciting event.
Posted by: sue zipkin | January 05, 2012 at 05:37 PM
LOVE it Beth. What a great and creative tour.
p
Posted by: Paula Joerling | January 05, 2012 at 06:05 PM
Beth! So much fun! I've been in a teeny tiny space for so long, so I know how it is. You have to keep it together to make it work. Although...I'm not so good at keeping my space as organized as you. You had me smiling at the cat in your jacket...looks like a fun place! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Samantha Walker | January 05, 2012 at 08:25 PM
love it Beth. I see you're a lefty, but you've got the BIG wacom tab with the buttons on the right. I have a smaller version - with the buttons on the left - and am always inadvertently rolling over the buttons activating some unwanted action. Thanks for sharing a peek inside your creative space.
Posted by: terri conrad | January 05, 2012 at 09:00 PM
Thanks for the studio visit, Beth - it's so you. Especially love the pics of the cat in your lap, the Star Trek pic and those red glitter shoes.
Posted by: Chris | January 06, 2012 at 05:22 PM
LOL! You've squished a lot of GOOD CREATIVE STUFF into your tiny little studio, Beth!! Inspiration is at your fingertips!
It looks like many of us have studio cats! This is an absolute MUST-HAVE! =^..^=
Hugs, Diane
Posted by: Diane Knott | January 07, 2012 at 07:44 AM
You know you can disable the left scroll bar & function keys in your Wacom preferences, right? Not that the extra hand-cushioning isn't still useful....
Posted by: A Fellow Lefty | January 08, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Oh best is the beth! Stop. Reverse that. ;) You ignore the comments about disabling those keys on your Wacom, they're lies! LiEs I say! I want to put a carpet swatch on mine - because, then I could be cool too. LEFT HANDERS FOREVER!
Posted by: Amber | January 22, 2012 at 08:46 PM