Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Give-A-Way ~ Studio Tour

   
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Welcome to my little studio.
I'm joining the party "Where Bloggers Create", at My Desert Cottage.

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This is my very first Blog Party. 
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I am also having a Give-A-Way on this post.
 Winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
Now if I could narrow down my creative interest to one or two things 
my studio would not seem so small. 
With many interests, come much clutter.

I have to discipline myself to clean up, after myself, all the time. 
Because when I don't, and there are many times when I don't.
This room becomes a war zone of landmines LOL.
Why am I laughing? It isn't a funny thing, when it happens. 
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Moving around the room :)
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This is my new fabric rack.
The cupboard that I was using became too small,
So I converted this baby changing table that I picked up at a thrift store for $7.
It works great, and I love the little spool design. 

This is my new toy.
I have been thinking about buying an embroidery machine now for about 4 or 5 years,
and finally bit the bullet and bought this Brother machine.
I am having a lot of fun playing with it :)  

If you follow a blog that does machine embroidery, please send me their link.
I would love to met a few bloggers who do this.
It is all new to me :)
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This pillowcase and apron are two of my first embroidery projects.


I'm looking forward to learning all about my new machine 
and how to use it as a creative tool.

This is my good old hard worker . . .
I love how it tackles heavy weight denim.  

Here is a rack of half made aprons.
I like to do several at a time. 


Hiding behind the aprons is my gift wrapping stash.
When your room is small you find ways to use every nook and cranny. 

I love, love, love wallpaper sample books, 
and they are usually free :)
This little cupboard was a $3 find at the Goodwill Store.
It was a plain kitchen cupboard, I added the wooden birdhouses, 
legs, hardware, and extra trim.
Painted it white and detailed it from pages in a wallpaper sample book :)


This view shows the full cupboard. 

I love my cricket cutter.  I use it all the time to make stencils.
What the scrapbooker keeps, I throw away,
and what I keep, she throws away . . .
funny how that works. 

See what I mean about wallpaper sample books.

Great, Right?

I store my buttons and beads in here.
Wallpaper books . . . are free.
They are great for so many things, paper crafts, cards, lining boxes and small drawers, it's limitless.
Oh and did I say  . . .FREE :)
This little blue cupboard is where I used to store my fabric. 
Now it is filled with craft paint.

See the clip on light . . . I have a rule for myself.
Every time I plug in my iron I turn that light on.
I can not turn it off without first unplugging the iron.
It's a safety thing.
My iron has an auto turn off, but I like to double check everything.  

Last but not least . . .
If you have a small space that is packed to the gills . . .
label, label, label ! ! !


I want to have fun in my studio, 
not spend all my time looking for stuff.



And finally . . .
my wonderful step stool, made by my girlfriend Anne,
over twenty-five years ago.
Without this handy stool, 
this short gal could not reach half the shelves.

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I hope you liked the tour . . .
and will come again,
my welcome mat is always out.
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Give-A-Way 
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Now if you are still here,
please sign up for my give away.
All you have to do is leave a comment and be a follower.
Winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
This card is good world wide.
I'll be drawing a name on Sunday evening July 21st.
And I'll announce it Monday the 22nd. 
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 Your blogging sister,
Connie

P.S. check out more studios at Where Blogger Create:
http://www.mydesertcottage.com 



  
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229 comments:

  1. You have a great space here, Connie! You think your room is small, wait until you see mine. : ) I love how you have everything organized. I got a Brother sewing/embroidery machine last March {2012} and still haven't used the embroidery portion of it yet! I need a day to sit with the book and play. I'm going to have to do that soon after seeing your samples.

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    1. Hi Kathy, I am excited to learn more about my Brother machine. It is good to know that you have one too, when you get to using it, we can share what we learn. It might help us both learn faster :) Thanks for visiting and good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  2. What an amazing work room Connie. You have SO much! I don't think I've seen so many stamps. Everything is so nicely organized!

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    1. Hi Lisa, thanks for the compliment, I enjoy my space and consider it a blessing.
      Thanks for the sweet visit, and good luck on the give-a-way.

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  3. Love your craft room! Love the bluebird wallpaper idea! I also stamp and love how organized your stamps are. Very cool to have an embroidery sewing machine! Endless creations with it!
    Thank you for having a giveaway for just seeing how nice your craft room is!
    I have a small room too that is my craft room!
    Warmly,
    deb

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    1. Hi Deb, it is so nice to see you. Thanks for visiting my little studio and good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  4. Your craft room looks like so much fun and very cozy. I have a embroidery machine i bought about 6 yrs ago. They are fun but the software updates get a bit costly. I am in the middle of redoing my craft area ..it is in our basement which is very nice bit i do miss having a window and natural light. I don't feel so bad about having so many different craft avenues after your post! Nice to know i'm not alone!

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    1. Hi Donna, it is just to hard to limit creativity to one avenue . . . my imagination travels down any roads, LOL. It's great to know that you also have an embroidery machine. I know that there are many out there that are more sophisticated than mine, but they must have many similarities, too. I don't know anything about the software, but what I would like to try is downloading designs from the web. I haven't tried doing that yet.

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  5. Hi, Connie! I loved looking at your space. You sure do have LOTS of interests - I completely understand. I need to use your tips on labeling - good idea! :-) My blog post will be posting in a couple of hours - I hope you can check it out. :-)

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    1. Hello Carmen, Your space is wonderful, reminds me of mine, in the sense that it's jam packed with everything. I see that you are good at labeling, too :) Thanks for stopping by my blog and touring my studio and good luck on the Give-A-Way!

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  6. Your crafty room is like a giant treasure chest, I also imagine any child would want to LIVE in here, but would also pretty quickly mess it up from the nice order you have it in. I saw that cabinet early on in your pictures and thought how amazing it is, it really needs to be shown off somewhere by itself. This stool, we have the exact same one, my great grandfather made it! Unlike most rooms, this one must have taken years and years and years to get to what it is now!!! Thanks for the giveaway, they are so exciting, and of course I hope I win!

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    1. Hi Ginny, You are always so kind with your comments. I'm still a kid at heart, so that must be why I have so much fun in this room :) Good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  7. I am a big fan of wallpaper samples, too. However, I have not found a place that gives them away in my town. And believe me. I keep asking various places.

    Glad you found me. It was fun to visit and see your space. I am a BIG fan of organization, but I admit, I've never seen so many rubber stamps. And I've not seen that many pens together in one spot, either. You did a fantastic job of showing your space. Love it. Wish I had a sewing machine that did more than straight stitch and zig-zag, but I'm just thrilled I even have a machine at all.

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    1. Hi Elizabeth, up until three weeks ago I only had a machine that straight stitched and zig-zagged, too. I have been thinking about buy one of these for a long time and saving, too. My problem is once I have the money saved it's hard to spend it on a toy for myself . . . my husband was so glad that I did, he says, it's about time I bought myself a present :)

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  8. Connie- What a GREAT and LARGE crafting space. You are a lucky girl. I love, and have always wanted, an embroidery machine. Lucky girl- xo Diana

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    1. Hi Diana, I saved for quite a while and then had trouble parting with the money . . . questions like, how much will I us it? Were running through my brain. Good luck on the give-a-way.

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    1. Hi Ellen and thank you so much, good luck.

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  10. Oh my Connie, what a wonderful craft room and all those stamps...wow! Do you make cards too or were they for scrapbooking? What a stash!!! I like your sewing machines. I have a Bernina, I keep her set up in the bedroom. It has embroidery stuff too, which I never got into much. Maybe in a few years, stamping seems to take all my time, that and gardening.

    My little studio in the basement is completely torn apart at this moment...the roto rooter guy came to clean the pipes and I had to move most of my stuff away from that area........soooo much work has to be done to put it back together again....like humty dumpty (sigh)

    You've got some really good ideas, I must keep them in mind. The changing table is a great idea for fabric. Wall paper books for free. Now I really to do wish I lived close to you, I'd come play with you in your wonderful studio, oh and we can play our guitars too :)

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    1. Hi Louise, it would be a lot of fun having you for a neighbor, there's a house down the street for sale. Are you ready to move? Good luck on the give-a-way and thanks for this lovely visit.

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    2. Oh my Connie.....move? As much as I complain about cold Wisconsin weather....I still like it here. Guess we will just be neighbors on our blogs. Where do you live??? Oh and just in case, what does the house down the street look like(is it a handy man special?)and how much???

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    3. Oh my Connie.....move? As much as I complain about cold Wisconsin weather....I still like it here. Guess we will just be neighbors on our blogs. Where do you live??? Oh and just in case, what does the house down the street look like(is it a handy man special?)and how much???

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  11. Wow! Your craft room is something else! Wonderful and the many things and crafts to do blows my mind! I love the birdhouse doors you fixed up and great idea to use old wallpaper books for things. I don't have an embroidery machine so no help there. My old Kenmore goes backwards and forwards and has about 4 other stitches! Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy, Thanks for stopping by and for all the many times you have put a smile on my face with your lovely comments. Good luck on the give-a-way.

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  12. I love the white changing table, and what you did with it. I use to have one that I did the same thing with until a couple of the shelves went bad on it. So, out it was going, but not till I took it apart first. I used the spindles off the table to hang pictures from with ribbons, or some of the smaller spindles I used to make frames with as well. Love your space!

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    1. I love your ideas. I try to not throw something out without looking at it with new eyes, too. A lot of the time after I toss something, a week later I will see some amazing creation that some blogger made using the same thing that I just tossed :( Murphy's Law, LOL. Good luck on the give-a-way.

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  13. I love your white changing table, and use to have one that I did the same thing with. Couple of the shelves were getting bad so it finally had to go. But, first I took it apart so that I could use the spindles to hang pictures from with with ribbon, and the smaller spindles I used to make frames with as well. So, all was not lost. I love what you did with your space!

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  14. What an amazing room, it is like a treasure chest full of goodies. How I would like to spend some time browsing around properly. I love it xxx

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    1. Hi Fran, Just head that barge our way. You could get as close as Seattle. I can pick you up there and bring you home to play in my crafty room :) We'll go sailing, too! Do you think you can talk Pete into it, LOL.

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  15. Connie, your craft room is wonderful!! I'm trying to figure out what kind of hanger you have the ribbon spools on?

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    1. I got those ribbon holders at a garage sale. The lady having the sale had inherited her grandmother's craft store inventor. She had big cardboard boxes and you could fill one of $35 dollars. Her sale lasted a month and I think I went there three times (each week she had more inventory) and came home with a box each time.
      The ribbon holders have a hook at the top and then at the bottom of the rod there is a screw in base. Load Them up and hang them. They are pretty cool :)

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  16. Fab tour of your studio! Thanks so much for your kind words on my blog and I'm so happy I came to visit!

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    1. Thanks for following and good luck on the drawing. You are in good company, because I have many wonderfully talented followers. I wish everyone could be a winner, but the truth is, I'm the winner to be blessed with so many lovely and creative friends :)

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  18. You have quite a collection of craft supplies. :-) Trust me, I do know the joy/pain of having multiple interests. I loved touring around your craft space. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway!

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    1. Hi Libby, it's great to see you, thanks for the visit. Good luck :)

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  19. Wow Connie, what a wonderful room to create and get new ideas! You are so lucky :). If I was to show you where I create, all you would see is my kitchen table lol! And that embroidery... You are amazingly good at it!
    Have a nice week end and a lovely new day. Maria

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    1. Hi Maria, It is always fun to get a visit from you. Many an amazing piece of art has been made on a kitchen table :)
      Good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  20. I can almost hear the buzz of activity just looking at the photos of your studio. Every detail highlights your talents. I agree, labels, labels, labels. I have a spreadsheet of things in my locker room... Trouble is, I have a hard time updating it! Your studio looks like an art supplies store. I just am intrigued by everything. Have fun with your new embroidery machine. The possibilities...

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    1. Hi Melanie, Girlfriend you need a spreadsheet for all of your clothes. I imagine that you make a lot of people smile and feel light-hearted when they see you walking down the street. Especially those that want to spread their wings and live your creative life, but are bound my traditional hang-ups. Some traditions are good and others can become chains and shackles.

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  21. Your studio is so beautiful, just love it, and how you have arranged it. I create in my kitchen, so chaos is part of the programme! Valerie

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    1. Hi Valerie,
      sometimes my studio flows over into the kitchen. Especially when I'm doing something fun and messy :)

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  22. Connie, what an amazing crafting room you have! Sadly I have nowhere special to do any sewing as such but as you say the kitchen table is always handy! I dont know whether I would qualify for the draw, I am a follower but am in the UK, if I can, please count me in!

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    1. Hello Anne, Amazon gift cards are good anywhere you have the internet, so your name is in with everyone that visits, followers and comments. Good luck and thanks for the sweet words.

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  23. I am continually spending time in my craft room rearranging this, trying to make stuff fit and easily accessible and you really hit a point with me when you said ~ "If I could narrow down my creative interest to one or two things
    my studio would not seem so small." ~ That's my problem too!! You sure have found creative ways to use nearly every inch of space! Thanks for the tour! ~ Judi

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    1. HI Judi, It is so nice to meet you and welcome to my blog. I love making new friends. Thanks for the sweet comment and good luck on the drawing :)

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    2. wow fabulous studio you have...lots of wonderful things to get creative with !!!

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  24. You have an absolutely gorgeous sewing/craft room! Love it!
    Your embroidery projects are just lovely!

    Please enter me in your drawing - I am a follower. :)

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    1. Hello Denise, it is so good to see you and be assured that your name is in the drawing :)
      Have a lovely weekend.

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  25. You have a wonderful space for creativity. Like you, I must force myself to clean up or things get way out of hand.

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    1. I have to make a point of cleaning after every project or I get over whelmed in the mess :)

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  26. Connie, I see that we have some of the same supplies in our craft room. I am forever trying to keep mine neat. Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Hi Debbie, you have a great weekend, too. I am delighted that you came to visit and join the fun :)

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  27. Wow! I'm so envious of your studio!! I sew in the spare bedroom and have to clear everything away whenever we have guests!!

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    1. That's what I did too, when our daughter was young and still living at home. Now her old room is my studio. Thank you for the compliment, I do enjoy my room. I'm happy that you visited and will be in the give-away. I've been wanting to have one for a while and this seemed like a great time to do it :)

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  28. Wow, I'm missing words, your sewing and craft room looks fantastic... would love to spend my creative time there :) So much to see, you're well organized. Thanks for the chance to win this give-a-way :) Wish you a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Hi, it is so nice to get a visit. Tthank you for your sweet words.

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  29. You are a crafter extraordinaire! An amazing room. I'd love to be in on the drawing -- thanks for the chance to win. - Suzanne

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    1. Hi Suzanne . . . thanks for the nice visit.

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  30. Hi Connie ...mmm I feel quite ashamed now at my messy studio .... I think a tidy up is in order for me !! Love love love your embroidery ...your new machine is fab ! mind you it must be quite handy to have a more heavy duty machine too ....hope you are enjoying the summer ! Gail x

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    1. Hi Gail. I love summer, thanks for asking :)

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  31. Oh your craft room is so organized! I wish I could get myself organized. Maybe then I could get creative.
    Thanks for following me and inviting me to join your giveaway. I am following you now.

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    1. Hi Barb, I am delighted to have you stop by. I wish that I could have invited you to stay for lunch or lemonade and had time to sit and visit. Wouldn't that be fun. Your name is going in the drawing. Not everyone that is leaving a comment is a follower, so I will check the name after I draw it. If they are not followers, I'll draw again. Just keeping it on the up and up :)

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  32. fabulous craft space, connie!! you will so much fun with your embroidery machine. i've had mine for 13 yrs, and still love it! i'll check to see if i still have my list of embroidery sites. have a great weekend!

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    1. Hi Lyn, that would be great. I am excited to learn how to download designs from the web, but I'm also nervous about the possibility of messing up my machine. Thanks for visiting and good luck on the drawing.

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  33. What an awesome studio you have and so organized. I wish I could learn to clean up after myself when I'm done in my room. It's always a mess.
    I bought myself an embroidery machine earlier this year as well. I haven't done too much of the embroidery yet but I have tried it out

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    1. Hi Ann, it is great to hear that so many of my blogging friends have these machines. I'm sure that we will all be sharing our progress and learning from one another. It is always fun to learn a new skill. Good luck on the drawing, your name is in the hat :)

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  34. I think you have the most organized studio I have ever come across, Connie! It's a crafters dream come true. You have a place for everything and I can tell by all of your "stock", you have a lot of creative outlets. Your embroidery looks wonderful to me! I never got the hang of sewing and my machine just sits here, so I truly admire anyone who can sew.

    Thank you so much for visiting today and becoming a follower! I am following you, too. Yes, I've been to Michigan City many times. Sometimes we just take the southern tip of Lake Michigan around into Indiana and then up to Michigan. It's beautiful there!

    What a wonderful and generous giveaway you are having. You can always find something at Amazon! ;-)

    XO,
    Jane

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    1. Hi Jane, I feel more comfortable calling you by your name, but I think it is very cute that your husband calls you, Blondie. I am excited to have you following my blog, it's nice just hearing a little bit about my Midwest roots. I have lived in Washington state for 39 years now, but there will always be a part of my heart that lives in Indiana. My husband was born in Seattle and after meeting him and marrying 37 years ago, this has become my home. Not Seattle but middle Washington. Your name is in the hat, good luck on the give-a-way.

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  35. Oh Connie, so many treasures, love the changing table and all of the cabinets. I often think I would like to try jewelery making, but heck I would need a whole room for that, yeps the more we vary our or interests, the more stuff we have!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, it is always great to see you, thanks for this sweet visit. Good luck with the give-a-way.

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  36. A beautiful and organized space to create!! Love all your sweet touches!! Thanks for sharing! Happy weekend to you! xo Heather

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    1. Hi Heather, it is great to see you and always a pleasure. Happy weekend to you, too. :)

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  37. Great space! Your wooden stamp collection is AWESOME! And thanks for the great tip about wallpaper books. I am afraid you might have inspired a new obsession!

    Thanks for sharing your space! Have a great time blog hopping!

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    1. Hi, I was happy to share about the wallpaper books. I have another post that I am working on with more ideas of things that I have made from them. This is the first time that I have ever joined a blogging party and I am have so much fun. I love looking into other creative work spaces. What a great idea this is.

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  38. Greetings Connie and thanks for the recent visit and becoming a follower. Wow, you have quite the set up in your studio. Looks like everything you need organized and right at your fingertips. I'll bet there will be quite a bit of crafting done on that new machine. Enjoy!! I also liked your "French" blog before I realized that you must not blog from there much anymore. Love, love, love the white chairs with the French Bee. Have a wonderful weekend!!! Lisa

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    1. Hi Lisa, I was just about to head to bed, when I saw that I had a new follower, thank you. I am excited to have you join my merry bunch of blogging sisters. You are a sweetie pie. Good luck on the give-a-way. Your encouraging words have made my day :)

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  39. very nice space Connie.. got enough stamps? lol

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    1. When I first got into stamping I went crazy. Joined a stamping club where we were buying stamps at wholesale prices and we would meet once a week, and have a card exchange ..... like I said it was crazy.

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  40. I thought I already left a comment, but I don't see it.

    I LOVE the little red stool. I have a much needed fold up step ladder. Sometimes I feel like I am taking a Step Class with the amount of time I spend going up and down the steps.

    I also love the red heart with wings.

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    1. I don't know what I would do without that little step stool. It gets passed all over the house. Steve likes it for sitting on when he is doing work that is close to the ground, it saves his back.

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  41. Morning Miz Connie! Love all your supplies! Wow! And you are SO Organized!
    Here's someone you might enjoy following...

    http://www.maryjanestearoom.com/

    I hop over there every once in a while just to drool...hahaaaa
    hughugs

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    1. Hi Donna, thank you so much. I'll pop over right now. You're a sweetie :)

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  42. LOVE your craftroom!!... And LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the birdhouse cupboard you've made!!!! LOVE it!... And as for using every nook and cranny? You bet, I do too!... I liked how you used the changing table for your fabrics! Great idea, perfect storage!.. I like to sew as well, when I make the time to. I'm most proud of a denim memory quilt I made some years ago! But the challenge for me next, once I finish my craftroom, is where I might set up my own little sewing corner/space. I would LIKE to keep crafts and sewing in separate areas, IF I can. (I have a quilting friend who thinks I need "STASH"! I don't know WHERE she thinks I'm going to PUT IT! ha! ha!) Well, in time? Where there's a will, there's a way? We'll see!... Thanks for sharing your creative space! I enjoyed my stop here today! ~tina

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    1. Hi Tina, what a sweet comment. It is great talking and getting to know you better. You didn't hit the follow button, don't you want your name in the hat for the give-a-way, it is good all over the world, any place that you can get on the internet. I would love to have you enter :)

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    2. Oops! My screen is too small to fit everything, so I didn't even see the button to follow! I did it through my dashboard, but see my little face on your followers list already! Gonna cross my fingers now! Thanks Connie! ~tina

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  43. Oh, Connie ... that room represents years of getting everything that you want and need. Awesome to have it all in one spot, and I love your clever ideas. I used to have my sewing/crafting in with my blogging stuff, but I have separated things into different areas now.

    You have inspired me to get going on making things again though. I am going to teach our 7-year-olds at school some of the stuff that I know how to do, so maybe that will help me get started too.

    Hope that you and Steve have a wonderful weekend!

    Hugs,

    Kathy

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    1. Hi Kathy, I am happy that I could inspire you to start getting crafty again. You do so much traveling and camping that I'm sure you are having a wonderful summer without many thoughts of craftiness. Steve and I too. We are planning on leaving in about an hour and heading down to the boat. Have a great weekend, and good luck on the Give-A-Way.

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  44. Connie--I love your studio and love all of your "Stuff". You have found wonderful ways to keep it organized.
    Thanks so very much for sharing with us. I have an embroidery sewing machine and have not used it very much.
    Maybe your have encouraged me to start using it more. Best wishes in all of your artistic endeavors.
    Mary

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    1. Hi Mary, I'm excited to get you as my newest follower. Maybe we can inspire each other. Have a lovely weekend and good luck on the give-a-way, your name is in the hat :)

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  45. Your creative space is just wonderful, Connie! I'm the same as you, I have so many different crafty-sewing thing that I love to do in my tiny space, so I have to "try" to keep it cleaned up as I go. Here is a link to a machine embroidery blog: http://dzgns.com/blog/. I don't have one of those machines, but for grins I simply plugged "machine embroidery blogs" into my search engine and that was the first one to pop up -- there were others, and I suspect it will be a snowballing effect with one site leading to several others. Have fun with that! What kind of machine is your work-horse? Mine is a 25 year old Bernina! I love her so much, but she has definitely gotten heavier (she weighs like a ton) as I've gotten older. Thank goodness she has a permanent home and I don't have to move her anymore.....lol! Keep Calm and Create On!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, what a sweet and pleasant visit, I wish I had a plate of warm cookies and a pot of tea to offer you. Thanks for the link, I will go there when I'm through typing this. My work horse is a Viking, but before buying this one I had an old Viking from the 50's. I gave it to my daughter and would trade her back any time she wants. The one I have is wonderful, but I never realized how attached I was to the old old until I gave it away. Oh well, my daughter loves it, too, and it has a good home :) Your name is in the hat, good luck and have a happy weekend :)

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  46. What a lovely tour Connie, thank you so much for stopping by. Machine embroidery is another desire of my heart, but I just can't add to the growing list of mediums I create with......I'm envious!

    Hugs,
    Meri

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    1. Hi Meri, so nice to have you visit and I'm glad you liked the tour, your name is in the hat :)

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  47. Thanks for the grand tour...love that fancy embroidery machine and you have already done some great work with it...the changing table was an inspired storage piece!!!
    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

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  48. Fabulous studio for all your crafty interests. If I could, I'd love to store my stamps on the wall like you've done which is the best way to remember what you have.
    The embroidery machine does look like a fun new toy.
    I'm a new follower.

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    1. Hello, and welcome I am always excited when I get a new follower. I absolutely love that photograph of the hummingbird that you took. Great job. I'm also your newest follower :)

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  49. I love your craft space! I have recently had a summer house built in the garden, but it isn't decorated yet inside - I can see a lot of inspiration in your great room!
    BH x

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    1. Hi, thanks for this sweet comment, and let me tell you how much I enjoyed your photos of Monaco . . . I love tagging along on my sister blogger's adventures.

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  50. Amazing space.. And LOOK at all those STAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!


    :)

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    1. Hi Lola, it is great to met you. The post that you have up right now is so enchanting...beautiful :)

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  51. I, like you, have any crafting interests and not enough space to properly store them all! Thanks for the tour of your lovely space, as well as a sample of some your beautiful work, I love the embroidery.

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    1. Hi Maureen, thank you . . . what a sweetie pie :)

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  52. Connie, I love your studio!! It's so organized and gorgeous! Now I have to get my space in order for sure! Love your blogs and can't wait to follow!!

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    1. Hi Cheryl, thank you for the lovely compliment. I do love my little creative space :)

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  53. Thank you so much for joining the party! I really enjoyed the tour! I especially liked seeing how you have all your stamps on display so they are easy to find. Might have to steal that idea!! Have fun at the party!
    xo,
    Karen

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    1. Hello Karen, I just want to sent you a big "Thank You" for doing this. I am having so much fun peeking into everyone creative space. You are a sweetie pie :)

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  54. Hi Connie! Thanks for your comments on my blog! http://connell-crafts.blogspot.ca/ I love your space too! WE learned the hard way to label everything, didn't we? :) I look forward to your future posts. I have signed up for your posts to come to me by email (Extremely short memory:)) Hugs!

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    1. Hi Cindy, labeling is of the up most importance to me, LOL Without it I would remember where anything was :)

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  55. Hi Connie, what a wonderful creative space! So organized and love how you display your stamps, it's so pretty! Great embroidery, can't wait to see more!!!
    Have a great weekend!
    Diana

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    1. Hello Diana, it is lovely to have you visit and thank you for the sweet words.

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  56. That's one impressive stamp collection you have, wow. Great space to work in.
    You asked if we knew of someone doing embroidery (on machine), I like Three Red Apples a lot and she does some very nice work, here's the link http://threeredapples.blogspot.ca/

    Happy creation!!!

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    1. thanks so much for the link. You are a sweetie!

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  57. Oh your studio is to die for!! I have probably got just as much stuff as you do but less organised. I need more shelving and cabinet space. Oh and to be much more organised!!! Thank you for sharing. This has given me some ideas on getting what space I have more organised.

    Handmade at Warratahstree

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    1. Hi Tracy, I am delighted that I could inspire. That's what blogging is all about . . . sharing ideas and encouraging one another. Thanks you for your sweet words, I great appreciate them. Good luck on the give-a-way.

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  58. Hi Connie...Thank you for the tour of your studio..it's lovely and so well organised too! I hope you have lots of fun with your new embroidery machine and could you pop my name into your hat for the lovely Giveaway please? Thank you too for calling by my blog and for the kind comments...I'm a new follower!
    Happy Sunday,
    Susan x

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    1. Hello and Welcome. Susan, it is great to have you as a mutual follower. I love your blog!!! Be assured that your name is in the hat, along with all my lovely blogging sisters :)

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  59. Welcome to the party! I enjoyed peeking into your studio – love all the stamps and the changing table - how fun! Cheers from Singapore.

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    1. Thank for the lovely comment. Wow you are my first visitor from Singapore.

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  60. You are so organized! How can I go home now and look at my massive disorganization? I will consider it a goal.

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    1. Who cares if you are organized. God has blessed you with an amazing green thumb. Your garden is outstanding!!!

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  61. Great tour!! Love the baby changing table idea and the birdhouses you added to that piece of furniture! I have alot of different things that I like to do and it is harder I think to keep things organized then if I would just stick to one thing. I redid my room last year and Labeling is a must! I didn't get it all done as I wanted to join the party last year but am still trying to find things that I stashed- have label maker and label now!

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    1. Hi Mary Ellen, I love my label maker and use it all the time, but it's fun making artsy ones, too.
      It is fun going through the list and peeking into everyone space, isn't it?
      Have a happy day and thanks so much for visiting :)

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  62. oh wow you do have a lot of crafting stuff..wonderful (:)
    hehe thanks on my photo shots am just having fun playing dress up..I live in E Wenatchee .. we are an hour away (:)
    hugs..p

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    1. I love the Wenatchee area, it is so pretty. We get over there now and then for doctor appointments, but since my husband's brother and his wife sold their home in East Wenatchee and moved here, we don't go as often as before. I do think that it is the prettiest area in the state, other than the ocean :)
      Good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  63. Connie..you have so much stuff and it seems pretty organized to me..You're the only one who has to find it anyway..My stepdaughter has a quilting machine and I'm pretty sure she also has an embroidery machine as well..She only uses them in the wintertime..Aprons and quilts..Don't know if you know the BeeHaven Maven at Beehaven Acres..I'll send you her link..
    http://beehavenacres.blogspot.com/
    Her blog is the best..she writes very well..

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    1. Hi Missy, thank you for the link to your stepdaughter's blog. I'll go visit her now :)

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  64. I loved seeing your totally awesome, neat space!!!

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  65. Hi Connie .. Thanks so much for stopping in at our blog and leaving a comment ..it's such a pleasure to hear from followers !

    You look like a gal after our own hearts with a stash of a lot of things and a love to create !

    We purchased our new sewing machine from a local Janome dealer and it came with 3 free classes so that was a huge selling point for me. I want to know how to use it, to it's full capacity and loved that the dealer was willing to teach me.

    Your studio just looks amazing and full of lots of fun .. endless hours of creating !

    Have a Lovely week and I'm now following .
    Blessings
    Sara

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    1. Hi Sara, thank you for following and be assured that your name is in the hat. Your machine dealer offering free lessons is amazing. That would be a great selling point. I am looking forward to getting to know you better. Have a great day :)

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  66. Hi Connie, happy to meet you... I love your craft room, so spacious and so packed! I love that! Please enter me in your draw. Thanks!

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    1. Hello Jean, thanks for the sweet visit and good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  67. Hi Connie, I loved your tour of your craft room. And really smiled at the end at your little stool. Under my desk is one my Grandma had when I was about 8, I have no idea how long she'd had it before then. It would mean nothing to many and means so much to me. I like your organization and understand totally about not being able to find things. It looks as if you've got things sectioned off in your room in a pretty concise order! And wallpaper books, Oh I love those things, I use them primarily for making envelopes for my cards, super sturdy, super pretty and the price is just right. Thanks for inviting me over to see your blog and enter your drawing. Patti

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    1. Hi Patti, This is such a lovely little visit. I really think that I know you better, now. I love that you have your grandma's little stool and that it is a treasure to you. I have a little Five & Dime Store brochure than my Grandpa saw one day and purchased, because it reminded him of the day he and grandma met. To most people it is cheap junk, to me and to my grandma it was a treasure. Be assured that your name is in the hat for the give-a-way and good luck.

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  68. Hi Connie, so nice to meet you. Thank you for stopping by. I love the wallpaper being used as appliqués. What a good idea.

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    1. Hello Melissa, Wallpaper books are the best crafting bargains, out there. I hope you give them a try :)
      Thank you so much for following my blog. I love making new friends.

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  69. Wow...I am inspired by your organization and awesome space, dear Connie!!! I love the stamping wall! Thank you so much for sharing!!
    And thank you for the tip on wallpaper books....have got to check those out...
    Beautiful!!!
    xoxo,
    - Irina

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    1. Hi Irina, thanks so much for stopping by . . . I love company and read every single comment :)

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  70. Talk about a dream studio! I would have so much trouble concentrating on any one thing in there! I'd be jumping from one chair to the next!

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  71. I am fascinated by your craft room, I could spend hours in there just browsing. The stamp collection caught my eye and I would live to see them all individually. I love the birds on the cupboard. You are so clever and have such talent. I will have my own space on the boat but it will be full of books (and a grandchild a bed). Any ideas how I can combine a library with a Peter Pan Island theme? Xxx

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    1. Hi Fran, Oh, Pete Pan sounds like a great theme for a grandchild's bedroom on a boat. That is going to be very special. Good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  72. Oh my gosh! I love what you have done with your room. There is a baby changing table like that at the thrift right down the street and I keep eyeing it and trying to figure out how I can fit it in and I think I spy a big jar of buttons - my guilty pleasure. Loved the tour and thank you so much for sharing!!

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    1. Hi Kathy, thanks for the lovely visit, it is great seeing you here :)

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  73. Connie, your studio is a crafter's dream! I love the changing table, what a great idea! Thank you for sharing and thank you for visiting my little studio. Please throw my name in the hat for the give-away. I am now a follower!

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    1. I am delighted to have you join my lovely and incredibly sweet group of followers :) your name is in the hat :)

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  74. Hi Connie,

    Your studio is not cluttered! Honey, you haven't seen clutter!!! Which isn't funny either. Someone told me one time that having hobbies makes you an interesting person to talk to. So there's your 'excuse' for needing all of the hobbies! Who wants to be dull?

    Cindy Bee

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    1. Hi Cindy, it is great to see you. Thanks for the sweet and encouraging words :)

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  75. Hi Connie.... kindred spirits? separated at birth? guess we could say that about a lot of our blogging sisters! I love how you've incorporated so much into your space. And yes, as you said on my blog, our rooms are quite a lot alike! I'm going to enjoy following you too. Gotta find out what part of the world you live in!
    So nice to 'meet' you!
    Sweet blessings, Chris

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    1. Hi Chris, I am excited to have you as a follower. I was very surprised when I saw your studio; I even think we have the same counter tops, LOL

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  76. Hi Connie and I've just become a new follower of your blog. I too have a Brother sewing and embroidery machine and just love it. I'm a greenhorn on embroidery though and haven't tried that part out yet. I love what you've done so far and you've inspired me to give it a go once I've completed my current project of pillow covers with inserts for my newlywed youngest son and new daughter in law. I'm making them pillow covers featuring their monogram and images of their wedding. I have the monogram case done but cheated using iron on transfer instead of the embroidery machine. To be honest until this very moment I sort of forgot I have the ability to do monograms now on my new machine. I'm not on the blog party as I've only just stumbled onto this but would love it if you'd stop by my blog sometime for a visit. Have a wonderful blog party :) Cheryl aka Tapestry

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    1. Hi Cheryl, thank you so much for following my blog. I am excited to find some other bloggers out their with embroidery machine, especially Brother machine . . . we can learn our machines together and bounce questions and happy discoveries off each other. When this post is complete, I plan on adding a sidebar with all my blogging sister that embroiderer. It will be a good and easy way to find each other when we want to talk sewing. Be sure to watch for it, because you may want to follow their blogs, too.

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  77. Hi Connie, I'm your newest follower and just want to say you've inspired me to try doing some embroidery on my new Brother sewing and embroidery machine. I've other projects in the works at the present time but definitely will give it a go next. Your projects are lovely! Great studio you have and thanks so much for sharing it with everyone in blogland. I'm not part of this blog party as I've only just found it but feel free to come visit anytime. You'll be welcome :) Thanks so much for the opportunity to get in on your giveaway also. Blessings! Cheryl aka Tapestry

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  78. What a lovely space....so much better organized than mine! LOL Enjoyed meeting you here in blogland. I am a new follower, and I hope you will stop by and see me at the Lilypad, if you don't already visit there. As far as machine embroidery, check out Gene Black, an Alabama Quilter, and also Kelly at IHAN. They both feature embroidery sometimes on their blogs.

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    1. Thanks for the sweet comment and for the blogs that do embroidery. I am delighted to have you as a follower and now I am your newest follower, too :)

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  79. Connie,
    Thanks for stopping over at my blog and leaving such kind words! I adore your craft room! My favorite piece has to be the baby changing table that you repurposed! Oh and your gorgeous new embroidery sewing machine! LOL I'm your new follower as well too! Have a great day!
    Kristi♥

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    1. Hi Kristi, you are so talented. I am going to enjoy following your incredible blog. Welcome to mine and good luck with the give-a-way :)

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  80. Your studio is amazing, Connie, and what a veritable feast of ideas you offer. You are such a talented lady! Thanks for the tour!

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    1. Hi Bev, thanks so much for stopping by and taking my little tour :)

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  81. Wow Connie, you are ONE creative gal!!! I am amazed at your studio....wish mine was that neat and tidy!! I too like different crafts and am inspired by so many different bloggers out there.

    I too would like to see some embroidery bloggers too, I will look through the commenters and see if there are any links. I'm ashamed to say I have 2 embroidery machines and ALL the hoops and stuff and things that go along with them and yet I haven't done a handful of projects on them. My first machine was the Bernina Artista 185 and I now have the Bernina 830. I have a tub full of cute tea towels I was going to embroider for gifts.....sigh.....they are still sitting in that tub. I got into quilting right after and that seems to be what I do everyday.

    I did do some redwork blocks that were snowmen a few years ago, but the lady at the shop told me the wrong stabilizer to use and.....well, not so good. I should have done what the pattern told me and used the wash away and I would have had better results.

    I am mulling over having a separate place for the 830 to be set up and I think I would use it more for the embroidery. My Artista 185 fits into the sewing cabinet I am quilting from and the 830 is sitting over on the floor in the corner. Shame on me!!

    Anyway, you have a great blog amd I will click the 'follow' button and then go and try to get something accomplished today!!!

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    1. Thanks for the wonderful visit. I feel like I am getting to know you well, thank you for following.
      I'm coming right over, expect a visit, LOL.

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  82. Wow-Your studio is a wonderland. Everything is displayed so beautifully and you are so organized. I know what you mean about "narrowing one's interests" - How do you do THAT? Impossible. I love wallpaper sample books too. I have found some at Goodwill and find a million uses for them, but I don't know where to find them for free. Please enter me in your give a way drawing. Thank you. I'm a new follower.

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    1. Thank you so much for following my blog. Your name is in the hat for the give-a-way, good luck. I'm very excited to have you among my lovely and talented followers.

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  83. Hi Connie. You have a great space full of fun and creative opportunities. I really like your little bird cabinet. Thank you for stopping by my blog. I love your lavender hanging in the window suggestion! I have some lavender plants but they are young. I'll either have to wait on them or maybe I'll find some to purchase. Thanks!
    ~Elizabeth

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  84. Wow! What a terrific crafting room! I bet you could get lost in projects there for days. And your wallpaper decorating ideas are great! It's the little details that make our spaces come alive!
    Your new embroidery projects are fabulous!! It looks like you're off to an amazing start!!
    Happy Crafting!

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    1. Hi Diane, thank you for the encouraging words and for this sweet visit :)

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  85. Oh yeah, I forgot. Thanks for the reminder. : )
    ~E

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  86. Good Morning Connie, your really are organised. your have a beautiful space to create in. thank you for sharing.

    have a beautiful day Lisa

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    1. Hello Lisa, thanks so much for stopping by :)

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  87. Hi, there, Connie. I really like the way you organized your art room. And treating yourself to a new sewing machine that does embroidery is fantastic. Lucky for me, I haven't wanted one. I don't even want to get a Cricut machine because I know what all of that means: the "extras" will get me every time. I have this humongous heat press that I just had to have and used once since purchased in 2009. Go figure. I'm still trying to sell it on Craigslist. It will happen one of these days. I wanted to thank you for following my blog. I'm going to be following this blog of yours in BlogLovin. It is the best online blog following tool ever.

    So, Connie, I'll see you in blogland.

    Marrianna

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    1. Hi Marrianna, it is lovely to see you. I think that we all have spent money on things that we ended up not using. I have a massage chair that I bought online, on sale from JC Penney's for $400 (plus shipping and tax). I've used it maybe a half a dozen times. It gives a wonderful body massage including calves (which I liked), but the thing doesn't come straight up, and I have a bad back (another reason for buying it) and I have trouble getting out of the darn thing. I'm not a young thing anymore, LOL. I also put it on Craig's List for $200 and never got one call.
      It originally sold for $500 . . . well you know the story. Thanks for following, I'm looking forward to being great friends.

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  88. Love your space Connie! Repurposing the change table is genius... And I adore your collection and display of wooden stamps. Am a new Follower; and thank you for your visit to my studio!

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    1. Hello Maureen, I am delighted and excited to add you to my lovely list of talented followers. thank you for the kind comments, I love making new friends, welcome!

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  89. Your crafting space is amazing! I can't believe how much stuff you have - wow! It is so wonderfully organized.

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    1. Hi Melanie, it's been a while since I've seen you, thanks so much for visiting. Your smiling face is always welcome around here:) Good luck on the give-a-way :)

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  90. Gosh1 You really pulled in the comments! Love your little red stool! Red lights up my world!

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    1. Hi Marlynne, I'm very happy to have you visit :)

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  91. Wow, you have definitely got every nook and crannie filled to the brim! You have a lovely space. I love how you have used thrift store finds. I do the same--isn't it wonderful to repurpose?! My favorite piece in the room is your cabinet with the birdhouses. Love it! Thanks for sharing your lovely space.

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    1. Hi Lori, I was just at your sight and I am your newest follower, I love your blog and especially all the great tutorials. Your studio is like entering an arts and crafts store :) I do hope you return and follow me back :) I'm adding you to my blog-list I want to see all of your how to videos.

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  92. I noticed the changing table right away and gave a little chuckle -soo cute and creative-, haven't seen that before. I love it when creative people share their ideas. Much success in your ventures!

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    1. Hello, I am so happy to see you here and want to say that I love your jewelry, thanks so much for following, I'm excited to have you join my lovely and talented friends :)

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  93. Love the baskets on top of the shelf and that is one impressive rubber stamp collection! Thanks for sharing your creative space and it's so nice to "meet" you!

    Becky @ Vintage 541

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    1. Hi Becky, it is great to get a visit from you. I am very impressed with your studio, too. This party is so inspiring, don't you think? I'm enjoying the tours. Thanks for following and good luck with the give-a-way :)

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  94. What an awesome space!! I just got an embroidery machine, too (and am having a tough time finding blogs on machine embr.). Thanks so much for sharing your space!!

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    1. Hi, I hope that this reply gets back to you somehow because I couldn't get through. I am starting a list of embroidery machine bloggers. I would love to add your site to the list, but I can't even open it. Maybe if you would have followed me back it would have given me access, I don't know. Anyway if you want on the list come back and we'll figure it out, or at least come back and check out the other blogger that have these machines and maybe we can all learn together :) Stay happy:)

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  95. I know what you mean- I do so many crafts the stuff just adds up! Your room looks filled with creativity!

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    1. Hi Rita, thanks for stopping by. I adore company :)

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  96. WOW! Your room is totally IMPRESSIVE! YOU, my dear Connie, are an AMAZING woman!

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    1. Every time I see that you have visited, I know that I will have a smile on my face by the time I read your comment. You are always up beat and positive, thank you for your friendship, and good luck on the give-a-way, your name is in the hat :)

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  97. Oh j`adore cette studio elle belle mais je ne va pas partissipper car je n`a rien compris qu`est qu`il faut fair ! ;0)

    Bonne journee !!

    xxx Maria xxx

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