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Friday, July 10, 2015

Where Bloggers Create....2015

Another year, another studio tour!  
WELCOME...
It's nice to have both old and new friends drop by!
 
 
I'm pleased to be participating again in Karen Valentine's 7th Annual Where Bloggers Create Tour (Click on the link to visit lots of other artists' inspiring studios)
I had to miss last year, but am happy to be back and part of the fun. 

I had good intentions of having fresh paint on the walls (a very soft muted robin's egg blue) by the date of this blog party. but it hasn't happened yet (someday!... ). 

My space hasn't changed that much since I had my last tour
 ....except at the moment, it is extremely messy, with lots of projects in progress.  
This year, I decided to include some of the previous, tidied-up photos, 
along with current pics 
showing the REAL DEAL!

Come on in and let me show you around...


This studio is where I do all sorts of creative projects, 
which include both the work I do professionally (illustration, graphic design, textile design),
 and the crafting I do 'just for fun' (jewelry, mixed media, collage). 

 I am a hoarder collector of SO MUCH stuff, this room is pretty packed full. And, like most of you, I love to be surrounded by all my treasures!
Can you tell I like little houses?  I store treasures and supplies inside my vintage doll house.

Old game pieces, my stash of pearls, and other trinkets crowd the shelves.

A tiny guardian angel perched on top, watching over the stash
 Beneath the big house are a couple of smaller wooden houses.  One of them has hooks inside and is just perfect for my etsy jewelry inventory:


The bird hooks below hold samples for the soldering classes I teach.

My Etsy inventory is low right now (understatement!)...but I'm busy making new items! Check back soon.

I store jewelry-making bits and baubles inside these metal boxes.


I've dedicated one shallow shelf to my collection of cute face cups.  I'm always on the lookout for more:

 
Baskets on the shelves hold stamping supplies, soldering equipment, and more.  

I hope by the time the next tour rolls around in 2016, I'll have my walls painted that light aqua, and will use these new aqua storage pieces throughout my space:

Cute little baskets and tins, just waiting for me to get my act together!

Continuing along the wall, I have closed cupboards plus my photocopier, printer, and computer. 

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.


Here is what is currently on my monitor: a collage I'm working on for a tote bag company. This design is called "Retro Beach", and I'm having lots of fun arranging all the images.  Notice that I usually have a bunch of Sudoku puzzles handy for when I need to take a break, ha ha!

 This is what the tote bag 'end product' will look like:

A few days ago, I found this bag (one of my designs) in my local Kroger store (Fred Meyer, here in Portland). I've now done several in a series of this 'retro collage' look.


But I digress.  Back to my studio...


The french doors lead out to a small balcony, ao 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 my studio to attend my collage and soldering workshops.  Nice and neat and clean, right??...

...and here is what it currently looks like!

Yikes!  what a mess! Paper crafting and jewelry making, all in a jumble. I have a new printer, too, now making a home at the end of the table.

Lots of collage supplies fill these shelves: old books, sheet music, maps, wallpaper, etc.

...except at the moment, I can't shut these drawers because the paper is crammed in too tightly.          Time to purge!      

      



The baskets hold textiles, trims and laces.  Then there are my tins full of old postage stamps, and cute wooden boxes filled with old buttons sit below the little window. 

Currently, I have a stash of linens and laces out, trying to come up with some new sewn things for a holiday bazaar my friend and I host every year.  Not sure what I'll make with these...maybe some little zippered pouches? Pillows, maybe?...

 

Here's what the cute little boxes look like.... 

...IF I could see them!  If you look hard enough, you can see a glimpse of their lids in the far back corner....I need to find a home for all of this stuff!!


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.


And now......Keepin' it real:
It looks like this right now!  I had a big illustration project due this week, and chaos ensued!

 I do fashion illustrations for Simplicity Pattern Company, and when a job comes my way, I drop everything to get it done...

This is the fleece poncho art I was working on, here in its ink-line stage of the process
Think I have enough markers?? This is just a portion of them.  I color the inked sketch with either these watercolor markers, or I'll use concentrated inks or regular watercolor paint.

I got the illustrations done by the deadline...whew!! Here's how the girls' version turned out:

This is a little grainy, since it's a scan of a photocopy, not the original...but it gives you an idea of what I do at my little work table.  This art will be in the Simplicity pattern catalog in about 6 months.


The desk when it is "clean"....as you can see, I never really have a completely cleaned-off surface.  There's always STUFF!



Next to the desk is a storage closet.  More hoarding lurks behind the door, in a semi-organized state--bins full of this and that:


The inside of the door holds a a few old illustrations done for Simplicity. 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.

Well, that's the end of my tour. Thanks so much for visiting and seeing where I work and play.  I'm looking forward to peeking inside your creative spaces!  So many kindred spirits out there--and a special thank you to Karen Valentine for hosting this wonderful event where we can all hobnob with each other!  
Again, I'm so glad you stopped by, and 
I'm hoping you'll leave me a comment and let me know you dropped in!  
And I'd love for you to become a follower...a girl can never have too many friends!

 And now, I'm off to go snooping inside your studios!

My Desert Cottage

61 comments:

  1. You definitely have a great space, Maggie! I enjoyed visiting! Happy creating, Cindy

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  2. Hi Maggie, You have such a great studio, so inspirational ! I'm sure you must love your jobs, they sound very interesting ! Thank you so much for sharing.

    Happy WBC Partying,
    Wilma, Shabby Royale.

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  3. What an awesome space for creativity.

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  4. Wow! Thank you for sharing your studio. I love your light box ! It looks so cool on your desk, like you are ready for whatever comes your way. You are very talented with your illustrations. You are very blessed to be able to do what you love for a living.

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    1. Thank you for your comment, Teah. I'm glad you stopped by for a visit!

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  5. A great space and so much room. I like your designs. Di@cottage-wishes

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    1. Thanks, Diane! It was great touring your space, too :-)

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  6. LOVE your FULL space filled with lots of CREATIVENESS... Love your linen pieces and vintage books area.. Thanks for sharing your AWESOME space...

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  7. What a fun place to create! So much inspiration!

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  8. Love your space...I do every year:) I loved seeing the art work I bought from you hanging around your space. I bought one of your angels...you will see her if you come and visit my space. And I bought a bird pendant from you as well. I made the necklace that she hangs on..I wear her often..and get complements all the time. Love it!!! Thanks for sharing:):) Hugs

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  9. I always love your space, Maggie. Your artwork is fantastic. And even in the messy stages, your work stations look very inviting. I've never been to Portland (I've probably mentioned that before) but hope to get there one of these days. The climate here in Flagstaff is so OPPOSITE/DIFFERENT than the climate in Portland. It is dry, dry, dry, except sometimes in the summer when we get our summer monsoons. I'm off to look at some of the other blogs this weekend and leave some comments to let the bloggers know I'm still alive. Take care, Hugs, Marrianna

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  10. Wow! You are so talented - and I remember this space. The houses on the wall definitely are memorable. Just love it, and your creations! It must be so cool to see your work in a store - awesome!

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  11. Wow! How neat that you illustrate for Simplicity. So cool ... I also love the honesty of showing work in progress. I went with that also!

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  12. What a great studio, Maggie! Lots of storage and work space and so much talent.
    Love your beautiful creations!!!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  13. It's fun to see where the magic happens! And I am running to my nearby Krogers to find my own "Maggie Bag"

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  14. I've had so much fun exploring your wonderful studio! So many pretty things to see! I wish there was a Kroger nearby, I need your tote bag! Love your pattern illustrations,so neat to see them in the works.
    I am especially enamored of your mixed media angels. If I lived close by, I would love to take your collage class!

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  15. I enjoyed my visit to your studio! So many pretty creations :-)

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  16. I love your space and esp. that you showed us the "real deal" ...creative chaos is the best!! You are very talented!!
    Halle #58

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  17. Thank you for keeping it real. As lovely as it is to see everyone's studios "at their best", it can be intimidating because we all know when we work it gets messy! I love your style, your illustrations and the great retro tote you are licensing. I wish you much success and hope to see your room next year in the new color. . . lol!

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  18. Hi Maggie, your creative space is wonderful and believe I was on cloud nine to see that there was a little bit of messiness . . . my space is always like that. I picked it up for the photos, but there was know way that I could hide all of my messiness. I cannot get creative and stay tidy . . . paint on my fingers and hopefully not in my hair. I have a "call before you visit policy" . . . or my friends wouldn't find a place to sit when they come over to play. I love your collection of winking cups, they are adorable:)

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  19. I love your style! That little doll house on the wall and the teacup collection have me swooning! Thanks for letting me visit. :)

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  20. Houses! My real estate brain should have thought of that. I love t
    Your ruler box, stealing tht idea...did you make it?

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  21. What a great space. I enjoyed visiting.

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  22. What a wonderful space you have, Maggie! I just have to laugh when brave souls like yourself, share the good, the bad and the messy! I mean, seriously, if you are a sewer or crafter of any kind, you are going to have a mess. It's just so refreshing when lovely people allow you in when things aren't pristine. I haven't reached that threshold of honesty yet. You are kind of in my old stomping grounds. We lived in the Tigard-Tualatin area for ten years before moving to the AZ desert. I took many classes at Daisy Kingdom, and absolutely loved each and every one! I think it's so cool that you illustrate for Simplicity, and you are very talented, too! Thanks for sharing your creative space!

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  23. You have a wonderful space.It appears to spacious. Loved all your jewelery. Broaches are beautiful. Being an illustrator for Simplicity is such a awesome job!

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  24. Like you, I missed last year, but I remember the purse, and looked for them at my local Kroger. Unfortunately, we in Kansas aren't as savvy as you are on the west coast!

    Whether it's a mess or clean, you have a gorgeous, well lit, expansive space. It's still impressive to me!

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  25. I'd love to drive over for one of your collage classes ~ I could stay with my sis in Milwaukie!

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  26. Wow Maggie you certainly have a fabulous place to be creative. I love Barkley...... how cute! Lots of wonderful vintage pieces too, like the round metal tin and all those dominoes. I've enjoyed the tour, thank-you. Karen.x

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  27. I LOVE your studio - filled with so many treasures and inspirations and fabulousness! And your keeping-it-real photos are perfect. In my world creativity and chaos are dancing partners and that's where the best stuff happens.

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  28. The little vintage doll house caught my eye immediately, love that touch! Your illustrations are wonderful. Your space is divine, I think I would love to create in there. I am always intrigued by illustrators and their process. This is one of my favorite art processes, I think it stems from the many wonderful childrens books I read as a child, the pictures brought life to the story. Great space, thank you for sharing.

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  29. Wow! What a great space to create! I love the "realness' as well--My table is just as messy. I also love your vintage doll house. This inspires me to use my daughter's doll house for storing some of my favorite things. So glad I stopped by.

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  30. Love your space, and so many of your things. I had to laugh at the brutal honesty involved in showing the cleaned up view then the work-in-progress state of the desk. I actually hauled a bunch of boxes that I filled with current project stuff into the dining room while I photographed my studio. My husband came in and said that it looked "unnatural" in here being so neat.

    I like so many things in your studio, but I love the shelves with the picnic style baskets. I have been a follower on Pinterest and other media for ahile. Love your art, and your ideas.Thanks for the Tour.

    Best Wishes,
    Gwen from A Glitch in Time

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  31. Maggie, I adore your studio and I thank you for showing the "keeping it real" version! I didn't participate this year because my room is such a pig-pile after launching at the antique mall. I just FINALLY got the trickle-out cleaned up in the other rooms of the house. Thank you for sharing and happy creating!

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  32. Look at all of your storage! I am jealous, lucky you. Sweet studio, I love your drawings.

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  33. Look at all of your storage! I am jealous, lucky you. Sweet studio, I love your drawings.

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  34. Look at all of your storage! I am jealous, lucky you. Sweet studio, I love your drawings.

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  35. Your studio is very "me" -- I can totally relate! It's really fun to see how you do your work. Thank you for sharing with us!

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  36. Oh Maggie I just love your studio! I am a firm believer that when it comes to studios more is more!! And yours is MORE! I love it. I could just sit there and let my eyes rove around the room over and over again. I had no idea you are an illustrator for Simplicity! How cool is that??? It is a wonderful thing when an artist can earn a living doing what they love!!
    xo,
    Karen

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  37. Even though you missed last year, Maggie, I remember visiting your lovely creative space at a prior Where Bloggers Create party. I especially remember that you did the illustrations for patterns because I think that is a pretty cool job to have. Not that I can draw to save my life! : )

    I love the natural light you get into your space. Other than maybe just a little bit more room in my space, natural light is the one thing I would love to have. You have taken advantage of all the space in here for storage beautifully. I love to see that you have gone almost up to the ceiling in some areas! Love that doll house shelf you use to store small jars filled with eye candy. I pinned it although I'm sure I pinned it two years ago as well. ; ) Thanks for sharing your great space!

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  38. Maggie..
    your studio is a dream!!
    Pamela

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  39. Great space and its very interesting to me as a illustrator to see how and where another illustrators works (your art work is lovely and I have seen your work... love the bags).
    I like the long narrow drawers for your paper.
    Great tour, thanks for sharing with us all.

    Cheers,

    Mari

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  40. It was great to see what you make and where you make it. I looked at everything as if it had robin's egg blue walls. It's going to look great! Love the tea cup collection!

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  41. Hey girl, you craft like I do. I am messy, but I try (try) to clean it up after. Unlike you though, mine is just for fun. A lot harder when you are working on a dead line! So fabulous that you do illustrations for Simplicity! I love your face mug collection and such a fun idea to use doll houses for storage. One of my favorite things in your room is your rustic finger pointing hand! I really enjoyed seeing your great space!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  42. You have a beautifully (mainly!) ordered room. I love your drawings for the sewing patterns. It's not occurred to me before that someone must have to draw them!
    My desk can quite often look like yours. I've lost count how many times I only have a square foot empty space to work in because I've got so much stuff on there.
    I'm looking forward to see what you do with the vintage linens. I have quite an extensive collection myself.
    Thanks for sharing your room.

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  43. This is such a great space you have Maggie, I love, love, love those French doors that allow lots of natural lighting in. You do beautiful work. Thank you for sharing.

    Hugs,
    ❤️Ana

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  44. Hi Maggie, what a fantastic creative space. I love every detail to your storage and organization.
    How wonderful to design for Simplicity. Love the creation you did and met the deadline. Beautiful work. Love the French door going outside and bringing in so much light. I can imagine what an inspiration it is to design here and so inviting. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed my visit.
    Happy Creating, cm

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  45. Hi Maggie, what a fantastic creative space. I love every detail to your storage and organization.
    How wonderful to design for Simplicity. Love the creation you did and met the deadline. Beautiful work. Love the French door going outside and bringing in so much light. I can imagine what an inspiration it is to design here and so inviting. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed my visit.
    Happy Creating, cm

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  46. What a wonderful creative space you have. I love the big unit with the door and drawers.
    I love looking at ones creative spaces rather it is well organized and neat or utter chaos.
    Thanks so much for sharing.
    Michele

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  47. You know, it really is more fun to see how studios look when they are "in use" with projects on the work tables! Feeling guilty that I used photos from a time when my room was clean! At any rate, love seeing your designs for Simplicity and all your creative storage ideas. Thank you for the tour!

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  48. It's great to take a tour of your studio once again! Wonderful to see all of your organization ideas and all of the beautiful things on display. Thanks for sharing.
    Cathy
    CraftyCat

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  49. Wonderful place! Thanks for sharing with us!

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  50. Fun Fun Fun ! I see We have a few things in common.....I love little houses and am right now shopping for a house shelf to hold My Lalaloopsy mini dolls.I love Your talent and art and am now Your newest follower. I'm participating in this hop too,Please drop by and visit My tiny space anytime : ) Denise of Coffeeberry Coffee.

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  51. I honestly love to see your creative space and learn more about your processes and style. Thank you so very much for sharing..including your "real deal" messy versions too. Creative Bliss and High on Life July...

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  52. I have really enjoyed looking at your wonderful studio - you are one talented lady! X

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  53. I am a bit late making my rounds but better late than never!!
    WOW!! I am so envious of the size of your space and all your storage areas!! Simply adore your "houses"!! So sweet!! Thanks so much for sharing all this inspiration!! Your illustrations are wonderful and you are truly talented!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  54. I love your little houses and your jewels. Pretty!

    Navy Wifey Peters @ The Submarine Sunday Link Party

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  55. Your space is a feast for my eyes and a delight to my soul. Gorgeous and so full of happy creative genius. Keep smiling and creating. Thanks for sharing. {love those doors}

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  56. Great Space! When I was a girl I dreamed of being an artist for the pattern covers. The Daisy Kingdom pictures on the center of your closet door look so familiar. Maybe Mom made them for my daughters.
    Your space and your work is inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

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  57. Inspiring space Maggie. I am in the process of redoing my studio so it helped to see another's organization. As a matter of fact, I was cleaning out some files and I ran across your business card from way back in the DK days. That's how I found your blog! And I'm glad I did! I'll be watching!

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    1. HI, LAURA!! Oh, I hope you come back and see that I saw your comment here. I'd love to reply to you directly, but you're a "No Reply-Comment", so I can't. Hope you've been doing well, in all the years since the DK days. Hard to believe that was 20 years ago! I always admired your wonderful style and grace, and your charming way of illustrating...whimsical line work, little birds and swirls come to mind :-) Stay in touch if you can. Great to hear from you!

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