Thursday, July 14, 2011

My Studio Tour/ "Where Bloggers Create"


You have arrived at The Mag Rag studio....come on in! I'm so glad to be participating in the "Where Bloggers Create-2011" party!  (Click on the link to visit lots of other artists' studios...there are hundreds on the tour!  See list in her sidebar).  I'd love to show you around all the nooks and crannies where I create.   I'm lucky enough to have a room dedicated solely to the artwork I do both professionally (illustration, graphic design, textile design)  and 'just for fun' (collage, jewelry, mixed media).  I am a hoarder of SO MUCH stuff, this room is pretty packed full.  My stash has also spilled over into my laundry room (broken china/mosaic), guest bedroom (fabric, fabric and FABRIC), and garage (up-cycling furniture and more), but I will spare you the tour of those scary nether regions.  What's inside this door may be hair-raising enough...
I've decided to just start in one corner and sweep around the room, showing details along the way.  Just as you enter, there is a long counter with file cabinets below and shelves above. 
The bulletin board to to the left of the shelving is a hodgepodge of stuff that inspires me, including odd forks and spoons (my husband comes in and just rolls his eyes), old game-boards (I have about 20 Chinese Checkerboards alone) (more eye-rolling), collages, photos, jewelry ...well, you get the idea. 







I frame favorite collages and keep on the counter.  These images were all reduced and made into soldered charms for friends.
Baskets on the shelves hold stamping supplies, soldering equipment, and more.  The vintage white doll case holds glass and cutting tools.  Lots of game pieces end up in clear containers.
I just had to have one of these Bailey's face cups (below) years ago from Red Robin restaurant.  Now, whenever I see one while out thrift-shopping, it comes home with me!
Continuing along the wall, I have closed cupboards plus my photocopier, printer, and computer.  More baskets and boxes are above the wall of cupboards, holding more stuff that I know I don't need but can't seem to get rid of.
Next to my computer monitor, I've hung some of my mixed-media angel paintings.  I scan the originals and from them make wood-mounted prints and cards.  I usually have a few of these paintings in the works.
 
The french doors lead out to a small balcony, so even here in rainy Oregon I get lots of natural light. The pennant banner above the doors is also part of my blog header, and welcomes crafters who come to the studio to attend our collage and soldering workshops.
Usually the worktable has a project or two on it, (angel paintings and soldering, or a big project spread out on every inch for my illustration and design business) and NEVER looks this tidy.  Here, my little dog Barkley can often be found, staying close to 'mom'.  For our "Collage College" workshops, this table is joined by another smaller table, and 8 workshop participants gather 'round to do some creating.  During class, it usually looks like this:
(If any of our workshop people are reading this, we hope to have a new fall schedule out soon.  The one in the sidebar is woefully outdated)
As you look at the next wall,  you see more cupboards and shelves and a HOARD of old musty books that I cannot resist lugging home anytime I find them.
I have so many old dictionaries, it is ridiculous.  But I love them for collage and they make me smile.  I also cannot say no to old sheet music, and maps, and wallpaper.  Not to mention scrapbooking paper.  It keeps stacking up, higher and higher.
The baskets hold textiles, trims and laces.  Then there are my tins full of old postage stamps (hundreds of them!).  And cute wooden boxes filled with old buttons sit below the little window.
SO MUCH STUFF.  When I die, a bulldozer will be brought in, or so I'm told (frequently).  The cupboards hold many supplies, catalogs, and bulky stuff.  Since I'm left-handed, I put small built-in drawers on the left side of my drafting table, so all my pencils and pens are easy to access.
My drafting table is the hardest thing to keep organized.  As I work, I am just MESSY, and end up doing my work on any tiny clean surface I can find.  The built in light box is invaluable, and its glass top is great for xacto-cutting.
doesn't EVERYONE keep a bowl of rusty garters on their desk??
The drafting table is definitely the workhorse area of the studio.  Big bulletin board above, with random stuff piled on. A-a-a-and we're rounding the corner almost to our starting point (phew! I'm exhausted...how about you?).
Next to the desk is a storage closet, and where I hang the apron I wear for classes:
More hoarding lurks behind the door, in a semi-organized state--bins full of this and that:

The inside of the door holds several illustrations done for Simplicity Pattern Company.  I spent years as art director of Daisy Kingdom, Inc., a fabric, craft, and publishing company based here in Portland, until it was bought out by Springs Industries, and they did a great deal of licensing with Simplicity.  I still do freelance illustration and design for them and other clients.
I have a lot of skill sets, but photography is NOT one of them....sorry for the lousy pics.  Definitely not my forte!




So now we are finally done with my studio tour.  And I'll leave you with one last photograph which is all too apropos:
The cut-out hand pointing into my studio aptly once read "DUMP HERE"

Thanks so much for visiting.  I know from touring your work-spaces, that I have many kindred spirits out there, and that I am not alone in my fascination for old and tattered bits and bobs and doo-dads and what-nots and everything in between.  My blogger stats tell me I get lots of visitors to this blog, but not many leave comments.  I would really LOVE to hear from you!  And now, I'm off to go peek inside your studios!

Opening Soon: my etsy shop will be offering my angel paintings and prints, as well as soldered 3-d shadow-box bird charms (seen in the upper left column). If you're interested please check back for link!


60 comments:

  1. Now this here is an awesome STUDIO! Love it!!!! Nice to meet you..please visit my creative space too!

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  2. Hi sweet Maggie!!! I'm so glad you visited me so I could return the visit and find you!....your studio is absolutely AMAZING!!! Just wonderful ~ I love all the storage....you are one talented girl and your studio is just perfect, xxoo, Dawn

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  3. what a wonderful studio you have. indeed you are very lucky to have all this space!

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  4. Hi Mag! I LOVE your studio, and yes we share the same hoarding problem! LOL! You are a talented artist, I would love to draw and paint like that! Your studio puppy is so cute too. Thank you for dropping by my space. I love Oregon and wish I was closer so I could come over and take a collage class!

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  5. Wonderful space! I think I could walk in and start creating! Thanks for the tour! Have a nice weekend! Twyla

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  6. Seems like hoarding is in the artistic nature especially if you are making collages and altered art. Love to take one of your workshops. I live in the mid Willamette Valley and have family in Portland.

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  7. Your studio tour makes me want to run over and start to create. It looks absolutely FABULOUS! I love your studio and all the creative energy within it. Chris

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  8. I adore your work. I adore your work space. Those baileys cups by the way are the bomb! Now I am going to go find a 'follow' button so I can come back your way! *smiles* Norma

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  9. Maggie~
    I love your space and your art is amazing. I am still trying to get the soldering thing down. Yours looks perfect! I will follow your blog and also your Etsy shop. My folks are on the Oregon coast so I will look you up next time I'm in the area. Maybe I can catch one of your workshops.

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  10. I love your studio pictures and all the beautiful things you've created! It looks like you have been busy. I miss taking classes but am excited to see your new etsy shop. You are such an inspiration.

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  11. Your art room is wonderful! I'm always so happy to meet another Portland blogger and thank you for visiting my blog. I am adding you to my list.

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  12. Ohh you have such pretty stuff. Please my I come and join you at 'Collage College' :}

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  13. What amazing talent you have! Wow! Your studio is fabulous. I especially love the various storage containers. I'm a sucker for such things.

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  14. What an amazing studio! There's so much light pouring in and it looks so welcoming.

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  15. What a wonderful bright and light Studio. I love how tidy it is as well..a place for everything and everything in it's place

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  16. I really enjoyed looking at all the pictures of your gorgeous creative space! Looks like a really fun place to be! Your dog is adorable too.
    Have a great day.
    Holly

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  17. Hello Maggie,
    I am glad I found your blog! Your studio tour is amazing and I'm in awe of your organization of all your treasures! I especially love your bulletin board with the spoons! What a great way to have them displayed! I see your furry one enjoys the space too! I will have to come back for a visit and see what you're up to!
    Happy creating in that wonderful space and best of luck with your Etsy endeavor!
    Cathy G

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  18. I really like how you have set up your studio, with little stations for each part of your crafting :) and your angel paintings are beautiful! They seem so cheerful :) Thank you for sharing your space with us!

    ~Alli

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  19. WOW!! what an awesome place to work your art. Love your angels too. thanks for sharing!! Hugs --sandie

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  20. Wow!! What a fantastic creative space you have!!
    I am green with envy at the french doos leading to a little balcony! How cool is that. I think you have everything stored and organized wonderfully!
    Love the shelf with the Bingo cards abd the scraamble game pieces!!
    Also the cups with those cute little faces on caught my eye!!

    Thanks so much for sharing with us!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  21. Although I am scissors-challenged, it's amazing to me how much artists (like yourself) and junkers (like me) have in common. (I'm a fool for those happy faced cups too.) Gotta be 'cause we're women and we're gatherers...right? Couldn't be 'cause we're all a little crazy.
    Love your work space and I can tell it's definitely a space that work actually gets completed in...with a smile or two thrown in for good measure.
    Deb
    P.S. You could make a fortune replicating that dumping sign. I'd be the first in line to buy one!

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  22. I truely enjoyed the tour of your studio.. you do some fantastic art works too.. and love love love your soldering... thanks for visiting my space, it has been so nice to meet you...

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  23. What a space, I love that you have cabinets to hold mountains of stuff behind doors and in drawers.

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  24. Hey!! I love your eye for things, and your work studio makes me want to get all craftsy, too!! Thanks for sharing. :) Love ya, Sarah

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  25. How lovely of you to pop by Maggie.
    Love your space and kindred is right when you speak of the garage and other....areas of stuff,
    Love that you have an outside entrance with a view. All your cups and spoons. I get it with the spoons and forks LOL Wonderful that you can have so many lucky women over to craft with. Keep smiling and creating

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  26. wow..you have an amaaazing space! i see you are fond of wicker hampers as well?? I adore your soldered birds! sigh....

    "merci" for stopping by my own studio and for your very kind compliments! :)

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  27. oh and..bonne chance in your new ETSY shop!!

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  28. Oh my goodness Maggie, can I come over and play? How awesome is your space. One would really be creative with all the thingsssssss you have beautifully organized and displayed.
    I love your work, too! Best wishes on youe etsy shop!
    I'll visit you again soon. I'm not quite done "touring" your space.
    Thanks for visiting my place and for your kind words. I'm emailing you a link for the vinyl decal. Hope you can get one for your daughter. I'm glad (and flattered) you loved the idea!
    xoxo,
    Reina

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  29. Maggie - Oh My your space is wonderful. and your paintings - wow - I would love to take a class of yours. You have so much stuff but is so neatly oraganized.

    thanks for coming by my blog and for the sweet comment.

    have a great week
    xo
    tina
    embellishments by tina

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  30. What a wonderful space..the tea cup collection is one I have never seen before..such cool items and art work..what a talented lady! TFS!!!

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  31. Hello Maggie,
    You have a great studio! Wow ... so bright and cheery! Your art work is wonderful as well! Thank you for visiting my place and leaving a comment. I am now a follower :) and will be back to visit again. You are right - your little Barkley and my Charlie do look a lot alike! Aren't they wonderful company!!!
    Hugs to you,
    Annette

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  32. Oh my gosh your studio and your collections are amazing! I kept taking second and third looks at each picture just to take it all in!!

    xo,

    Abby

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  33. what an amazing space you have so organised and so much storage! I would love to have this much space. thanks for sharing

    have a beautiful day Lisa

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  34. Thank you for visiting!
    Your studio is perfect!
    I don't even know where to begin, it's all amazing.
    And your angels are stunning.
    Had to laugh about the eye rolling husband,
    I have one of those too, lol
    Have a great week :)

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  35. Wow - a girl after my own heart! I love your space, I adore your soldered bird pendant, and Barkley is just too huggable. And your apron! I wish I were close enough for classes, boo hoo.

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  36. I love your studio and your works too. I love also the banner and the posters with birds and butterflies.

    Thanks for your comments.

    Bonjour de France
    Helene aka Hogart

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  37. Oh my gosh, I'm so impressed with your paintings and illustrations! I do hope you come to visit when you are at KU visiting your daughter, I'd love to hear all about them.

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  38. Love your space and your artwork! You are very talented. Thank you so much for sharing your space with us.

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  39. Hi Maggie...wow..super fantastic...such a gorgeous inspiring space...everything looks wonderful!
    Victoria

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  40. Hi Maggie... How lovely to "meet" you! I'm so glad you popped by. I'm working on that list too... I'm still on the B's. It's gonna take forever, but it's so much fun seeing wonderful spaces like yours. I get all excited when I get to see other chickies wonderful supplies. What a nice big space you have filled with so much wonderfulness.... :-)

    Now, about Daisy Kingdom.. I'm still mourning the loss of their store in Portland. It was one of my very favorite places to visit and I actually still hoard some of their fabrics. How cool that you did their illustrations.... they are DEEE.LISH. So, what's going on with them? Can you still buy their things? Will they ever re-open another store? It makes me really sad just to think about them being gone....

    Have a great evening...

    Warm blessings,
    Spencer

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  41. Hi there mom!

    Just sat and looked through all the comments with Aunt Cathy, seems like many of the commenters love your space....and your loads of crap--err, I mean stuff:) And i can't help but notice how many are interested in your up-and-coming etsy shop, SO GET ON THAT WOMAN!!! Give the people what they want so I can get what I want $$$ (haha)

    .....ALL JOKES ASIDE, I really do love your space mamacita and you truly do inspire me. And although you HOARD with the best of 'em, the things you create blow my mind. I think you need your own HGTV show... by the way I have become OBSESSED with that channel and more specifically House Hunters. I've have many long nights here in KS watching the late-night marathons. Speaking of KS, greetings and can't wait to be home with you and dad and mah puppsies...as much as i love it over here the heat is almost unbearable. I believe it got up to 106 today. ugh. BUT ANYWAYS--this is getting long so i better stop. I LOVE YOU MOM, see you in a few days:)

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  42. Wow what a wonderful space! I love your art and the pattern pictures. I used to look at those daisy kingdom illustrations for hours! Love them.
    Glad I stopped by!
    Kim

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  43. I thought your studio was very neat and organize!! I love your spoons, that made me laugh about your husband rolling his eyes.I would love to tell you the story about when my husband did the same thing concerning my craft cottage, but it would take too long. Maybe some day I'll blog about it.
    I would love to take class in your studio!!!

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  44. Hi Maggie,
    What an incredible space you have to create and have classes. I love all your organization and so well put together where you can find all that you need for a project.
    Oh little Barkley looks so cute in your studio. My Miss Beazy loves going to work with me too.
    Best wishes on your etsy shoppe. You will love it.

    Thank you for stopping by my studio and your kind words.
    Hugs from Texas, Celestina Marie

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  45. Hi Maggie,
    I LOVE your studio!! You had me oohing and aahing during the entire tour. I have a husband who rolls his eyes at things I bring home too :)
    I love all of your storage containers, especially the baskets. But my favorite is all of the old game boards....so colorful and so fun!! I can see a new collection in my future.
    Your illustrations are beautiful, you are a very talented artist.
    Jane

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  46. Hi Maggie
    Such a wonderful and create room you have. Filled with great stuff and so well organised.
    Thanks for visiting over at my place too.
    have a wonderful weekend.
    Tina

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  47. Hi Maggie! You have a really wonderful studio!! It looks like a wonderful place to spend with friends creating! Thank you so much for joining the party!
    I really enjoyed myself!
    xo,
    Karen

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  48. Can't wait to see your etsy shop! I love your angel paintings.

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  49. What a beautiful space you have. I love it. Loved looking at all your stuff. Wish I lived closer I would join a class.

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  50. You have an inspiring studio! I used to make Daisy Kingdom patterns for my daughter. I went on and saw the Fairy Cottage - wonderful! I'll be back to visit again. Love, Linda

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  51. Aloha Maggie,
    You have an awesome space to create in! It looks spacious and airy and so well organized.
    You're an absolute talent. It must have been fun working in the fashion/sewing industry. It's fantastic that you're still creating and designing.
    Thank you so much for sharing your studio and for sharing your gorgeous art.

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  52. You have a great space, and I love all the baskets for storage. I remember those Daisy Kingdom patterns and made an Easter dress for my daughter soooo many years ago! Your angels are beautiful too! Thanks for the tour!

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  53. What a beautiful studio. I received your amazing tag in the Birdsong Tag swap. Thank you so much.
    ~Becky

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  54. I LOVE YOUR STUDIO!!!! I would love to come & play!!!! Charlene

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  55. I'm a little late to the scene, but LOVE your studio tour!! Especially the pics of the students in action. I'm trying to subtly kick my husband and his boat out of our enormous beautiful barn that is destine to be my studio/classroom one day. I'm simply running out of room. Again, love seeing your illustrations.

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  56. I'm a little late to the scene, but LOVE your studio tour!! Especially the pics of the students in action. I'm trying to subtly kick my husband and his boat out of our enormous beautiful barn that is destine to be my studio/classroom one day. I'm simply running out of room. Again, love seeing your illustrations.

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  57. And I am WAY late in seeing your blog!!! But I LOVE your studio - I am SOOOO jealous!!! But I laughed and laughed as I read it out loud to my hubby, who also just rolls his eyes!!! And I agree 100 percent about not being able to pass up old books!!! But then I also get attached to them, and can't cut them up - oh dear!!! I was wondering if you might have a tutorial on how to do those soldered necklaces?? I have wanted to learn how to make those for a long time! Anyway - I loved your blog, will have to add it to my list of blogs to follow!!

    Hugs from Michigan - Diane

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