A peek at my studio office reveal ... Something Old, Old, Old and Something New

We have finally started moving me into the bigger of the two bedrooms

 that used to belong to our girls.

(It seems like just yesterday that these were their childhood rooms.)

There's not too much to show you at this point as we're in the VERY beginning stages of making this my studio/office. Unlike others who move at the 'speed of light,' we move at the 'speed of snail.' In my old office, the computer was on top of this desk but it will now be used for writing and paying bills.

This photo was taken last night, right after we moved the desk in. 

And this photo was taken today with shadows created by the late afternoon sun. The "something old, old, old" in my title refers to this gorgeous old desk, my beautiful chalkware Mary, and the fabulous parakeet lamp on the desk.

The "something new" is the reduced-price chair I picked up at Target a few weeks ago.

I found this old antique desk at a sidewalk sale about ten years ago.

It's one of those rare pieces that you just know if you pass it by, it won't be there the next time you go back, so I grabbed it on the spot that day!

I know the extremely distressed finish would have sent some running for a sander and can of paint. But I'll borrow a quotation from Mark Darcy when he told Bridget Jones how he felt about her..

... because truth be told, those were my precise feelings when I spotted said desk...

"Perhaps, despite appearances, I like you very much.... Just as you are."

Yes, this desk and I were 'meant to be' as much as Mark Darcy and Bridget Jones :)

Now you might have noticed this beautiful lamp sitting atop the desk. 

Isn't it positively the most perfect lamp ever for my old desk? I mean just look at the colors!

I paired it with this old, broken shade I've hung onto for some reason or other. 

Perhaps this was the reason for hanging onto it?

I have to say, it's growing on me!

I have to thank Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage and Jean at Horsefeathers of New Paltz for helping me bring these gorgeous parakeets all the way from New York to my little office!

Thank you both so very much!

And last, but most definitely not least, is this gorgeous old chalkware Mary statue. Since most of my studio office will be decorated with vintage Catholic pieces, she's just perfect.

This photo was taken last night, right after the move...

... and this photo was taken in the late afternoon sun.

So that's a peek at the very beginning stages of my office. I have my computer/transcribing desk set up over by the window and will share that next. I'll also be setting up a painting table/desk in that area eventually, when we really determine what size will work in this room. And, of course, no artwork will be hung until I'm 100% certain of the room arrangement. I'm also going to be on the lookout for some kind of rug for underneath the painting desk. (These new hardwood floors definitely need to be protected from this messy painter!)

Now to figure out how to keep Baby away from that parakeet lamp and Mary statue!

I'm joining Brenda at Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday and
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show & Tell Friday.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Donna

My creative space...

Welcome to my little cottage office/studio!
(click any photos to enlarge)

I learned of this fun "Where Bloggers Create" party through Claudia's blog...

It's being hosted by Karen at My Desert Cottage. She thought it would be fun if we shared our little creative nooks with each other... Thanks, Karen, for a great idea!

Although it's not a very big room (smaller than 8'x10'), I am so fortunate to have a space to call my own! I recently rearranged the room, so it's a bit different from when this photo was taken. But it's still full of all the things that make me smile... artwork and signs painted by my girls, old family photos, chippy windows, and lots of junktique finds like the old green desk, the vintage tablecloth covering an old file cabinet/table, and the pink lamp(s) on top of the bookcase.

I made this bulletin board out of an old chippy window by applying cork squares to the window panes with double-sided tape...

And this is my computer/blogging corner!! (Although since recently rearranging the room, the computer now sits on the green desk, which has been moved into the corner, and the white shelving unit now sits on the other side of the room).

Here's the exact same view of the room in the early 90's! As you can see, I still have the same peachy-pink wallpaper that we put up when it was Courtney's room. Court has since moved into a larger bedroom, which pleases her to no end!

I fell in love with this chippy green desk at a sidewalk sale years ago. It's one of my all-time favorite junktique finds. Some day I'll try to get better photos because the green is much prettier than in shows here...

Photos of the girls are tucked under the glass desk top, as well as some cottagey placemats that match my no-sew window valance. I painted some old black/grey office supplies so I'd have a more cottage-friendly stapler and pencil sharpener. And my best friend (the fan) is never far away!

Okay, if I ever clean/rearrange my bookcase shelves, I promise I'll show you. But trust me when I say you would not be impressed with them in their current state! I can at least show you the top of the bookcase... I got the vintage lamps & shades for a song at a second-hand store that, unfortunately, is no longer in business... Boy, do I miss that place!

There are a lot of handmade things in my office, including this eye pottery that Amanda made in high school. I think it's so unique!

I also have a small "Mary" collection in my office... A thrifted Mary sits on top of a hand-painted cigar box....

...while an old ceramic Mary (that once belonged to my Mom) hangs on the wall. Isn't the swag of crosses sweet? I got them from Lori at Katie's Rose Cottage a couple of years ago (I love her shop! The CREATE sign hanging from the mirror over the bookcase was also from her shop!)...

On the old white shelving unit (that used to house the computer), I now have a special shelf with an old Mary paint-by-number, a vintage chalkware Mary statue, a little plastic shrine (that the girls bought for me many years ago), and my mom's and nana's Mass cards in little white frames. My (black kitty) Mr. B's ashes are in the blue urn (actually a cotton ball dispenser), and little animal figurines are reminders of some of the sweet fur babies we've had. So all in all, my office/studio is filled with special memories and things that make me happy.

And about that valance that conceals the shade ... Since I have no talent in the sewing department (do you give lessons, Claudia?), I just folded 3 placemats, side-by-side, over a curtain rod and then folded crocheted doilies over the areas where the placemats overlapped. Easy breezy (it has to be for me! ha ha)

I'm looking forward to visiting everyone else's creative spaces!

Donna