My Studio

It's time to reveal my studio! I'm still working out the bugs and the decor but all in all I am happy with the end results. This is the corner at the top of the stairs, the only thing unfinished is the door into the knee wall but that won't take long to do. I have ALL my painted on this one stand, a former bookshelf. What it best about it is the easel it leans on, it makes this unit mobile. The above paper towel holder is actually a paper spool, the other shelf holds my flat trim like rick rack and hem lace. Look close, Wooly is trying to figure out the open window. Here is the long shot of the big window, the rails are iron and heavy duty tin that matches all the way down the staircase. It's kinda french shabby chic.

Here is my craft station, you can see the current work on top my table, the white paper pinned to the wall is my notes on "The Village." The top of the bookcase holds my patterns both purchased and handmade. The small upright stand holds my stencils.

I tried to get the puzzle photographed but the room is not wide so it was a little difficult. The empty cubby is the felt that is out because it's being used. The tote is black, red, orange, yellow, gray and white yarn I use for doll hair.

Here is the long shot of the cubby wall, everything is sorted by copper, beading, embroidery, etc. boxes. All of the boxes are marked. I'm not happy with the stuff on the floor but it is overflow from the dressers and it has to be there until I use it. I've promised myself not to buy more items. Ha!

The corner looks very crowded, I have a chair that will be re-upholstered to match the curtains and the boxes on top the bookcase holds buttons, a button box! There is also a roly-poly that has embellishments in it. Those things really do work.

Here is where I stitch. I need to be careful of my chairs because they roll easy on the bare floor!

We have a large shelf with a rod that we felt would come in handy while making dresses or even, when I paint my doll parts and I need a place for them to dry.
The large trunk has remnants in it and the items on top are projects I need to finish, I thought I'd have more but what there is, is enough. Batting is also contained in the blanket bags.

Madames station is not set up yet, the tote on the floor has all wool fabric and the egg crate foam is waiting to be placed on my son's bed. Check out the spool racks, handy little things.

This is my haven, I cherish all my time up here and sometimes I can't believe I actually have a studio.

I also know e-v-e-r-y thing I have for supplies. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

A Side Jaunt

We recently took a 3 day trip to six flags of New England, why? We haven't been anywhere in 10 years so we were well overdue.

Anyway, the start of our journey did not look that great, we got lost within a hour of leaving our home. I really considered investing in a GPS before we left but the extra money may of meant we wouldn't be able to purchase a flash pass. More on that later.

I drove all the way down to Massachusetts and all the way back and the only side track was a wrong route in Buxton, Maine. I zigged when I should of zagged.

Who knew? Maine is a host to these wonderful retro diners? We saw another on the way back, somewhere below Scarborough, but it wasn't operating. Who knew? I mustn't get out that often. But on this day, getting lost afforded me to snap a few photos of this restaurant.

The '72 Chevy was the cherry, what a added bomb, I wished we had the time to eat here. Just passing through though.

Well, one day...maybe. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Red and Blue

I guess maybe I don't have a white. Red, white and blue all go together, I know, it's the saved styrofoam!
Anyone who follows me knows I make my Christmas ornaments in a set of 5, this is number 2 and 3. I finally got smart and decided I would set up pins with their respective beads and sequins. That way it went rather fast and I didn't really have to deal with the messy glue while picking the ornament up and putting it down, duh.

These are cute and they have a nice weight to them.

But the only problem with something like this is a mess you always have when your done. Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!I have a studio, I can leave it for tomorrow when I finish this set! NICCCCE!!

The next two will be slightly different than the three already done. Can you guess the colors?

Look close. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Toy Shoppe

Yeah! It's Raggedy Wednesday and last week I changed my header due to issues with the background sponsor and I did it a week early. I've been waiting to post this particular post as it's something in my studio, a big part of the supplies being held on the floor and not the cubbies.
This is a toy box I purchased at Salvation Army for $2.98. Gosh! I love their bric a brac or hard goods as another name. It was from a little known store which has now become a BIG store. The ladies were talking amongst themselves, betting that I would buy this. Did I mention I was the only customer in the store at the time? It has more of my wooden items, big surprise I had more supplies than the toy box could hold. I have held this item near and dear, it's in good shape and still has the original casters.

It's also in one of my collectors book. The cost is dated to 1997 and as a rule, items increase $10.00 per decade. Notice that in the photo the toy box hasn't any casters? My box rolls rather easy.

Now you know. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

The Village-Hospital

I'm working on my village at a consistent speed, I know what I'm sewing as a basic plan but I'm adding embellishments as I go. I'm having a grand time brainstorming on each structure. I kinda thought since there is a possibility of making a mat and the mat will be without water, only land, blue would be the perfect color for a hospital. The original drawing called for a plain square building but since my roofing mistake, I changed the plan.

I thought about a emergency entrance and came up with another shape, another way to use color.

This is another building that has writing on it. My dilemma was the writing will have to go on the backside due to the entrance taking up so much space.

This is my idea in my mind, see the yellow door entrance? And my helicopter pad? I thought that was in genius. My hubby told me he wants to see them all stuffed, phooey. I'm still going to be pleased with myself. I hope the village all works together but don't tell him that.

In the long run though, it didn't matter where the entrance was place because there are doors on all four sides of the building.

Imagination at play. C&G Design :)

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Some Flower Friends

I have been visiting some blogs that have postings devoted to just lilies, mostly day lilies. I have just a few but I want more and plan on buying a bunch next spring.

Here are some flower friends that made a showing this year. Some of you have seen a few of these but the last two are new. I found a bright sunny spot for the new ones to flower and, believe me, there is a lot more room out there for more. Hybrid lily from a mixed package,

same package. It's a crap shoot when purchasing the mixed packages of bulbs or rhizomes and I thought these were going to be orange. Surprise!

These one comes every year for the last 7 years and it flowers for weeks.

But this one is in the same area and it flowered this year for the first time.

Gasp! A pink one! I could not remember what lily was where after I planted them last year....now I know where the pink one is!

And this one is new, I think it struggled to flower due to a defect on the petals because I don't believe it's supposed to have the spots.

When I think of my day lilies I fondly remember when my son was 9 years old and paying attention to some things, (while talking about the common orange ones) he said "I don't know why you like those so much they only last a day...."

He did not know what kind of flower they are.

It was funny. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Scare scene

I thought since I had my felt fabric out and being sorted, I'd get another felt project done for Etsy. I'd done a post on these before, look here. I also know this is my mother's favorite, it's pretty cute. I started doing these in the early 90's but on a small scale, I switched to the large size when I did the first post.

I'm really pleased with the fact that enlarging it gives the ability for it to stand by itself.

I searched everywhere for the pattern as when I was organizing the studio, I forgot where I put these! I was becoming upset with myself and had to stop looking for a day or two. I could re-write the pattern but that's not the point. I finally found them in the last possible place.

Anyway, all the characters are hot glued together, be careful of your fingers, the felt is not as insulated as you'd think. Add stuffing for dimension.

I use my handy, dandy glow in the dark paint for the fraidy cat.

Gather the pumpkin and weight the bottom of it, I use clean aquarium rocks.

My picket fence is obviously hand constructed, I also leave it pretty rustic looking (unsanded, uneven spray painted).

I can honestly say that when I was cutting the bat I thought "Now I've had enough of these."

Already posted on Etsy. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.