Welcome to the Studio!

Welcome to Wadsworth-Noll Studio! The gracious and talented Karen Valentine, over at My Desert Cottage, is hosting today's event- and has given us this great opportunity to take our noses off the glass, open the doors and invite everyone in to our creative spaces! So, please, do come in, we don't stand on ceremony around here- please make your self comfortable, take a look around, please touch everything - there are interesting (and some odd) things in every corner. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to yell them out- okay? I am going to go about my business here- but I will check back with you guys and see how you are doing. The photographs are unlocked- so if you want to get a better look at things- click away!

As many of you know, my studio gets its name from the women in my family. Their strength and fire are inspiration to me in so many ways. Independent, loyal teachers of integrity and honesty and the passers of wisdom. May I follow in their footsteps. Their influence is everywhere in my studio. I am the collector of their history, of my history- and this is what inspires me to create. Warm remembrances of their presence in every corner.

My sewing corner: My great aunt's sewing machine. I used to dread sewing. hated it in fact. Seriously- if there was sewing to be done- it would come last... way last. Then this lovely little machine came into my life- whirring smoothly as the day it was first used. I think of all the things that were made on this machine, all of the little baby clothes; the trousers that were mended; the shirts repaired- and now I don't hate sewing sew much. I still would rather not sew- but at least now I feel connected when I must.

I have a serious thing about mason jars. All of my collections of tesserae are in mason jars- they are not only functional (you can see the contents at a glance) but they also make quite a colorful display adding texture and light to my space.

This was one of the first things in my studio. The inspiration board a/k/a the collection point of all sorts of clap-trap that inspires me, reminds me and just makes me happy. The board is 8 feet long and 4 feet high- and I am proud to say that I made it myself! Now that may not seem like such a large feat but, alas, I do not measure...anything! It's all eyeball for this girl! So when things worked out, all the frames fit, I cut enough fabric and batting and ribbon- well- It was a major accomplishment for me!

Great googly moogly bins of paint! I used to have them in all kinds of containers and such- but I found that I could access them better if they were in open bins; grab what I needed and throw them back! It has had quite an impact on the cleanliness of the studio! No more piles of paint tubes everywhere!

Do not forget the pile of art magazines: instantaneous gratification when a surge of inspiration is needed! A must for those days when you just need a little push to get moving!

I think the trick to a creative space, is not the size of it or how "pretty" it is- I think it is what you put in the space that you have. How you surround yourself with the things that inspire you most and how you feel in your creative space. Do you feel comfortable where YOU are. Looking through your own eyes and not someone elses. Creative space really isn't about impressing anyone but yourself and the Muses of your life.

A huge part of my creativity is inspired by books... loads and bushels of books. Shelves upon shelves of inspiration:

And, so- okay- when the shelves get overloaded they move to the floor- I guess you could say I have books to the ceiling!

Even if the only space you have to create in is a table in the kitchen, or a closet in the hall; the important thing is that it is YOUR space and that you are creating. Fill that space with things you love, things that are important to you and things that make you laugh.

I didn't always have this great creative space (believe me- I know exactly how blessed I am at this point in my life!) Circumstances change through your life- my last creative space was my bedroom floor! The space before that was a converted (I hung cheap muslin on the walls) 5x5 garden shed. To this day when I think of when I moved out of that little shed studio- I am amazed at the amount of stuff I hauled out... It was as though it was enchanted (remember the tent in Harry Potter....)

I also keep reminders around... This was my first newspaper publication. Out of the blue- there were my little creations front of the "Our Favorites" section of the local newspaper.

Things will ebb and flow- as with everything in life- and these little reminders show me that I never know when something great is going to come along and surprise you!

A color copy of my first full color two page spread in a magazine (Art Doll Quarterly)- I cried.

It is always good to set firm studio policies:
These are mine: There will be a 5.oo charge for whining and a 10.00 charge for just being a really big pain in the butt. I think that is fair- don't you?

Did I mention that it is good to have a supply of paint brushes? A Large supply of paint brushes, in fact is better.

Having back-ups to that large supply is perfection!

And Affirmations. Lots of affirmations. Little words and phrases that remind you on a daily basis of all of the great things that can be accomplished; reminders of the things that are important. So often with the day to day of things that we "have to do"- it is easy to get lost; distracted from the good and pulled to the mundane. Affirmations are a great way to keep focus.

My grandmother needle-pointed this for my grandfather in 1942. I think it pretty much sums things up.

Remember I mentioned about things that just make you laugh?

This little guy is a candle- I just set him inside of that antique juicer cause he fit- but guess what he does!

He glows! Now who in their right mind could burn that?

This angel was made by my great aunt (she is still alive- 98! WOO HOO) I am showing this to you because she made this 40+ years ago! It is made out of a Styrofoam ball and a bed sheet. with a bit if brickabrack for embellishment. Best that I can figure out- that is 35 years prior to Paverpol! At the time- it cost her 47 cents to make (today= approximately 5.00) Want to know how she did it? well- OK- but it will have to wait for a future post! check back for the secrets of the angel!

OK- back to the studio:

Thorton here is guarding the oven. (Thorton will be available on Artfire in August!) GREAT oven! No need to spend hundreds on an oven to bake your polymer clay- but you do need something other than a regular toaster oven (they tend to not regulate their heat- and things burn- a lot; that and they are just too small!) can everyone say... Target? Not only was this glorious piece of fine element engineering cost under 75.00 but it also has a rotisserie adaption.. why would you need that you ask? because it is "built-in" hanger bar! just pop the bar in- and Poof- instant hanger for your larger pieces, arms, ect- that you don't want to have a flat spot on! Cool- huh!

Those baby tubes of water colors kept getting lost in the googly moogly bins of paint- Since I only use them as a layer on mixed media paintings; and have a few favorite colors- this old wine carafe seemed to be the perfect fit for them- and I always know where they are!

The MOST important piece of equipment in MY studio! LOL

Late nights, early mornings, constantly testing and playing and pushing the envelope with products- I have had the, eh-hem, pleasure of using these babies twice so far in my studio!

Believe me- there is NO bigger wake-up then the realization that something has gone amiss and you have just set the back of your studio on fire! Whew! luckily- there are five of these bad boys in the studio- always in reach- so no actual damage has ever been done- just a bit of a heart flutter on my part! (sheesh)

sounds good to me!

Well, I hope you have enjoyed your little tour of the studio! Make sure you check back for tips, tours and travels! Soon to be on my 100th post! I will be having a special give away and I am putting together my show/gallery schedule as well as a grand opening special for Artfire! Be sure to check out Etsy, as well- lots of new things being posted there as well! As for me- I am off on another sailing excursion! There is a limited opportunity to feel the water on your face and the wind at your back~ take advantage of it any chance you can!

Make sure you stop over at My Desert Cottage and visit Karen; say hello, check out all of the other great studio tours and give her the kuddos she deserves for putting this all together for us!

Live a Blessed Creative life- anywhere you can!

Merry part and Merry Meet again!