{My Creative Space}

I've been spending a lot of time this week in front of the computer - working with my photographs instead of with my hands and, as a result, My Creative Space has managed to stay relatively clean and tidy. There's always a first time for everything!

I've been using Photoshop Elements to learn more about adding texture and grain to my photographs, adding a softer or more vintage feel to my images.

If you have time before heading over to Kootoyoo to check out all of this week's creative spaces, I'd be grateful if you'd tell me what you think of the effects I've used or tell me your own tips and techniques for altering your photographs.

My Cup Runneth Over....With Stash (My Creative Space}

My parents, who are now retired, head off to local thrift stores and car boots sales then generally top off their relaxing afternoons of pootling around town with a cake and a cup of tea. Not that I'm jealous. Well, okay. Just a little bit.

But, that jealousy is tempered by the fact that whenever they come to visit me, they always bring me a huge stash of thrifted 'allsorts' that they think I might like to use in my crafty endeavours. Added to my own thifted stash and my craft room suddenly became a haven for carrier bags, plastic containers and cardboard boxes.

So, My Creative Space, this week has seen me starting to sort through the smaller items - beads, buttons, old watches and broken jewellery. It's amazing. There is so much inspiration in a box full of odds and sods.

And, of course, it all had to be sorted by colour!

I'm off to check out everyone else's creative spaces over at Kootoyoo and then I'm going to get busy making stuff with all of my lucky finds.

{My Creative Space} A Good Tidy!

I know that it might sound a little crazy, but there is nothing which recharges my creativity like giving my little craft room a really good tidy! In the process of beading, sewing and scrapbooking I'll surround myself with all of the things that I need to have at hand. All free space around my working area will be stuffed to the brim and, eventually, I won't be able to move without knocking something over. And so it was earlier this evening.

There wasn't even room on my desk to sort everything so I had to pile everything onto the floor. Okay, I had to pile more onto the floor - that was pretty difficult to navigate as well! Have you noticed that there's always a few things that are leftover at the end of a tidy? Things that don't really belong anywhere?

Well I finally decided to just go with it and found myself a cute baking dish that was getting dusty in a kitchen cupboard. I filled it with all those things that have no real home and a few things that I like to keep on hand. Now I can leave it on my desk to look pretty and inspiring - but it doesn't get in the way.

All clean and tidy. And, since I now feel the urge to get creative, I'm off to check out the creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.

Bead-alicious {My Creative Space}

I've been busily making jewellery this week, so my creative space has been full of beads, buttons and beautiful findings. (Please check out the Bead & Button Bracelet Tutorial I did yesterday!)

There is nothing which makes my heart skip a beat in quite the same way as the completion of a piece of jewellery - and I've finally finished a beaded bracelet that has been on my 'crafty to-do list' since the end of last year. In all fairness, the winter light has made it very difficult to work with such teeny, tiny seed beads but now that the spring sunshine is filling my house with golden sunlight, I have no such excuses!

The bracelet is a beautiful combination of iridescent seed beads and small crystals, worked in a netting stitch, with two 'cord tangling' needles! I honestly don't know where I find the patience. I certainly don't display such fortitude when I'm cleaning the house! However, the bracelet is a pattern chosen by my lovely friend Cheryl and, since she's been quite ill recently, I thought I'd get on with it and make a little something to help cheer her up. We had quite the conversation earlier in the week while she tried to measure her wrist whilst still on the telephone.

As it's a while since Cheryl's seen the pattern, I'm not 'revealing' the finished bracelet. I'm hoping that she's forgotten what it looks like (it has been long enough, after all) and that it will still be a little bit of a surprise when she sees it. Though I do have another little something up my sleeve. No telling!

If you'd like to show off your own creative space, or just have a peek at what everyone else has been creating this week, head on over to Kootoyoo for more My Creative Spaces. I'll be checking them out as soon as I get back from creating (havoc) with my crafty pal Mel :)

Bead & Bokeh {My Creative Space}

Although I've now managed to resolve last week's creative space disaster, I thought it would be best for my sewing machine and I to spend a little time apart. It's still making angry, little noises when I sew at a reasonable speed and it needs some tender, loving care - but I'm just not in the mood.

So, I've been busy in My Creative Space this week, working on some beading projects instead. Strangely, although I don't have the patience to give my little Janome a good overhaul, I have the patience to work with teeny, tiny seed beads. Go figure.

Some of my projects have been works in progress for far too long; some will eventually end up as presents for family and friends over the holidays and a couple are going to make their way here as tutorials - eventually!

To join in with My Creative Space or be generally inspired by more creativity head on over to Kirsty's at Kootoyoo and say hello!

I've Hit A Snag! {My Creative Space}

So, there I was, happily sewing along in My Creative Space - working on my rather large 'crafty to-do list'. Unfortunately, it seems that even after a bit of a clean; a new needle; and a show of genuine affection, my sewing machine decided to have a little sulk. Obviously, it felt it was being overworked after a week or two of relative peace and quiet!

Now, I've hit my fair share of craft related snags, and even unravelled a fair few, but this is one mother of a snarl. It's all bunched up above and below the plate and I am certain this is going to require actually taking apart my machine. I am, literally, terrified.

Tonight, I don't really have the patience - funny how a sulk can rub off like that! - but tomorrow I'll have to dig out the manual, the screwdrivers and possibly a stiff drink.

*sigh*

To join in with My Creative Space, or just have a nose at more creativity head on over to Kirsty's at Kootoyoo and say hello!

Sneak Peek {My Creative Space}

I've been busy in My Creative Space today, rustling up a little, 'something something'. You see some lovely friends are having a little bit of a Hallowe'en (Blog) Party on Saturday and, of course, I just have to have the perfect accompaniment to my outfit.

Here's a little sneak peek -

But, don't feel all left out, you're all invited to the party too! You're a 'cool, crafty, kid after all! There'll be craft projects; tutorials and - maybe, just maybe - there'll be a bit of a giveaway. So, I'll be seeing you all on Saturday. Bring your own bottle x

Head on over to Kirsty's at Kootoyoo and see what everyone else has been doing in their creative spaces this week.

Friendship, Fun & Fimo {My Creative Space}

Today My Creative Space has actually been over at Mel's from I Speak Melsh. Since realising that we're within crafting distance of one another (it's like spitting distance, but for polite crafty types) and meeting for a spot of jumping around in the park like crazy people we decided it would be nice to get together for a bit of cake, crafting and conversation.

We've had a lot of fun today - making little things out of Fimo. We both had some stashed away in our...um...stashes and decided to try our hand at making some cute embellishments, charms and pendants. It's so good to finally make use of something that's been hanging around for a while (and I don't mean you Mel, honest!)

Just as yummy as it looks!

Watch out for more Me & Mel creations. I have a feeling that this is only just the beginning! (Especially if she's going to let me have Fruit Cake and Malteaser Cake!)

For more creative spaces, head on over to Kootoyoo

Jewellery Making Aftermath (My Creative Space)

I have to confess that I am an easily bored crafter. I will happily sew, embroider or scrapbook for a day or two - maybe even a whole week - but then I'll need a bit of a change. In a way, I think that it helps me stay creative. I know a lot of people lose their 'mojo' from time to time, but moving from one craft to another stops me from becoming too comfortable and, thus, bored.

It's some surprise then, that after last week's Wire Wrapped Daisy Chain Bracelet Tutorial that I've spent this week in a jewellery making frenzy - as you'll no doubt be able to tell from one look at My Creative Space. Sometimes, I suppose you just have to go where the spirit takes you!

There are small bits of wire all over (they tend to fly around when I snip them with the wire cutters) and a few minutes ago I had to fish one out from under one of the laptop keys where it had lodged itself and prevented me from pressing down on the 'M'. They get everywhere!

Still, there is an upside to all this upheaval. I've been super productive - necklaces, earrings and bracelets abound - and some more tutorials are also on their way, including one for this little lovely later on today.

It's actually a late night/early morning post for me. A bout of insomnia means I am currently keeping similar hours to my hamster. So, I'm off to try and get some sleep. In the meantime, enjoy your creative spaces - I'll be coming to have a nose around them once I've had some shut eye. Night x

Edited: The Chain Maille Necklace Tutorial is now up!

Please visit kootoyoo and have a quick look at the My Creative Space guidelines if you fancy joining in.

Nothing Lasts Forever (My Creative Space)

Proud as I am of my little creative space I am also extremely grateful for the fact that I can close the door on it at the moment. No matter how hard I try I can't seem to keep it looking beautiful. I've even tried tidying up between projects! *Gasp!*

Oh well, nothing lasts forever!

This week, I've been working on some tutorials - one of which is coming later on today and, just to give you a little bit of a hint, it uses those lovely looking beads you can see in the photograph...

See you later? Please visit kootoyoo and have a quick look at the My Creative Space guidelines if you fancy joining in.)

My (Very Own) Creative Space

It's been a little while since I've been able to blog about My Creative Space. We've been busily re-arranging and re-decorating our little home and all surfaces have been covered with books. (I knew we had a lot of books. I just didn't realise we had a LOT of books, if you know what I mean?) There was just no room for creativity.

Until now, the majority of my crafting materials have lived in our dining room and no matter how tidy they were (and, let's face it, they generally weren't tidy) the dining room just didn't look finished. Our study had long since been lost under all of the things we threw in there when people came to visit (don't pretend that you don't do that) and we needed a change.

I've spent a couple of weeks shifting things; cleaning things; painting things and shifting things again - and the final result of all this upheaval? A home which is starting to look smarter, cleaner and more finished. Oh, and did I mention, my very own creative space?

I'm delighted to be able to give you a tour -

The room is light, bright and airy. Everything that you could want in your own creative space. I was totally surprised when I managed to fit everything in (though I have been making a concerted effort to use my stash before buying any more.) There's even room for larger bookshelves if I need them eventually.

On my desk are the tools that I use most often and all of the little lovelies that I've collected to use in my crafts. (The jars are all old Nutella jars. We eat a LOT of Nutella!)

On the bookshelf, which is actually an Ikea shoerack, I've got my craft books, scrapbook albums, mini-albums and, on the lower shelf (not shown) are my scrapbook alphas and some works in progress.

On the top photograph, you can see that I also keep my sewing machine and my photo frames in this corner - out of the way.

And lastly, in the corner, is a beautiful bureau that I've inherited from my late aunt. (It's so nice to have something that belonged to her and is both beautiful and functional!) Inside, I've hidden away my office equipment, fabric, photographs and scrapbook papers. On top, the two boxes hold my sewing notions and bead stash, nestled into the wool I scored on Freecycle.

I can't wait to get started on some new creative projects, so please come back and visit - I'll be sharing - starting tomorrow with a little mini-book tutorial :)

Colourful Mess (My Creative Space)

My creative space is a little bit of a mess this week - a properly creative and colourful mess though! I've been participating in Kara Haupt's amazing Music + Composition Book = An Art Journalling Adventure Class and I am loving it. I've been so intimidated by art journalling - which is crazy when you think that an art journal is meant to be the place where you can try new techniques; be random and not really care about how it all looks. I think it's helped that music is something I find really easy to journal about because it's such a large part of my life, but Kara's video posts - which are so adorable, by the way - have also helped me to understand that I wasn't the only person to get a bit stressed at the idea of just letting go and experimenting. It's great to know that you don't have to be comfortable with what you're doing and that, actually, stepping out of your comfort zone is pretty much the point of the whole thing.

You can find out more about My Creative Space - and have a bit of a nose around other people's creative spaces - by visiting Kootoyoo.

And just because I'm really proud of what I can accomplish with some time; some encouragement and some pencil crayons, I thought I'd share one of my art journalling pages.

My (Un)Creative Space

Since stumbling over Leonie's lovely blog - Raglan Guld - and discovering her new love of piano playing, I've been a little bit inspired by her participation in My Creative Space every Wednesday. (Edited. It's supposed to be on a Thursday. Um. Just goes to show I have my head up my...um...bum. You can find out more - like when to play along - by visiting Kootoyoo.)

Unfortunately, my space isn't all that creative at the moment. What's worse it that it's all my own fault.

Oh, yes! I've been tidying.

The good thing has been finding all of those long forgotten "Ooh. I could use that for something." items that have been saved with future creative projects in mind. The bad thing is that, in trying to tidy one room in the house, the remaining rooms now look as though a whirlwind has ripped through the house, bringing it with it all manner of rubbish and helpfully depositing many half empty cups of tea in each room.

Once I've finished concentrating on the final week of my photography course (and putting together the dreaded portfolio!!!) I'll be needing several weeks just to get back on track. In the meantime, I thought I would attempt to garner some sympathy by displaying what will, hopefully, become known as the before pictures of My Creative Space.

The dining room is currently full of crap stuff um...lovely things ready for use, re-use and re-fashioning and can't actually be used as a dining room until everything has found a new place to live.

If anyone has any inspiration for craft storage, please let me know.