Sunday, January 30, 2011

Ready. Set. GO! (Warning...this post includes lots of photos.)

 It's finally done!  My studio is ready...and now I can hit the ground running.  I signed up for the February Picture Book Marathon.

This is what you see as you walk in the door of my studio.  I did the painting back in the late 80's or early 90's.  It's called Sugar and Spice.  The top shelf of the bookshelf holds my favorite picture books and my autographed books.  This is my "read" and resource book shelf.  The photo screen hides Ginger's you know what.  (LOL, she's the only one who has free access to my studio.)
 This is the current view from my desk.  I have a assigned tasks to each bulletin board. The first is for notes, thoughts, words I like, etc.  The second one is for the picture book I am currently working on... (You can't but my SNI of course involves cake and something new for me...fairies.) The third one is for my mg, Not A Holiday.  I have an art desk too.  (I used my 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby for that!)  The blank spot above the desk is for a new piece of art...It's for sure going to be a big ole cake painting.  :)
 I have a little bulletin board for special cards and notes to keep me going.... (I've got some special Christmas cards I need to put up there from some of my bloggy friends.) Pura Vida means (loosely) It's all good. 
 This is a special painting!  My Dad and Bonus Mum gave it to me a few years ago.  It's a real painting of a place in England that my Nanny and Grandad took me too.  Dad and Miss Anne know how special Nanny and Grandad are and what a wonderful time I had on this trip with them, so it makes this a really special painting.  (I'm seriously sentimental!)
 A close up.... (LOL)
 Katherine made the fishy mask when she was in Elementary school....I've always loved it.  She made the smarties box in Junior High.  I think it's wicked cool.  The little ox cart is  from Costa Rica...which is like the most gorgeous place on Earth.  I have two of my favorite picture books on the top....One is by Tammi Sauer and one is by my adopted (lol) brother Steve Swinburne.  OH, if you haven't checked out Steve on YouTube, you've got too...He is an absolute RIOT!
 Okay, so maybe I'm a little OCD...(I have a few things left to label.)  I'm loving Post it's new labels!
 This side of my closet has the books I haven't read or haven't read in a long time.  I started keeping a log on the books I've read after I got back from the Highlights Summer Workshop in July of 2008.  (Waves to the WAD.)
 This is a seriously special chair and blanket!  We bought this chair to go in our first house.  I rocked Katherine in this chair when she was a baby.  It is sooo comfortable.  It fits me just right.

The blanket is my writing blanket.  One of my cps (critique partners), Rhonda Roberts made it for me.  We met at the Highlights Summer Workshop.  Rhonda won the Highlights Writing Contest in 2008!!!!  (What's crazy is she knows DL! And my Mum and Bonus Dad lived in the same town for like 20 years!)
 I call this painting Home Sweet Home...I painted it when we lived in Saint Charles, Missouri.  (Waves Susan) I used almost every color of every room in our house there.  Katherine  made the cool little car in shop and Lenny sent me the cupcake (with a cupcake necklace in it) for Christmas.

 I absolutely love composition note books...But these are the coolest ones yet!  They are tiny composition note books.  I keep a lot of them on hand.  I've only seen them at Walgreen's.  Aren't they cute?
 I like little bits.  (I told you I'm sentimental.)  Do you see that airplane?  Eileen Spinelli gave it to me.  I have a story to go with each little bit...
 When I was working on my studio I discovered a baby photo of Stripes.  It made my cry and be happy all at the same time.  I still miss him a lot.   I'm a bit obsessed with squirrels...So I HAD to buy this one! The book mark is something I leave out.  It's a memorial of my friend Natalie Lacey who tragically died.  She was something special. 

 Thanks, Lenny!  Isn't this sweet?  I don't think I could have dreamed up a more wonderful cp!
I have to tell you this has got to be the coolest garbage can in the world!  Guess what it was...a popcorn tin.  I kept looking at trash cans and I couldn't find one that said children's writer....Then I walked past the popcorn display at Kmart....and I saw this.  It is perfect and it was only $6.  That was a whole lot cheaper than the real trash cans and it was full of popcorn.

Thanks for stopping in and sharing in my fun today.  I really am so excited about having my own space.  I know it will inspire me to be more productive.... (not a poser)

If you didn't read my post last Thursday about Katherine I got an email from the editor over the weekend and she said they are currently giving away free copies of all their issues of Berry Blue Haiku.  So hop over and check them out! 


Are you signing up for the picture book marathon????  I hope to see some of you there. 

Have an awesome week!

Happy Writing!!!!!

39 comments:

  1. I know nothing about the picture book marathon... I'll have to check out the link!

    The space looks great, though! I'm itching now to get into my house so that I can prep it to be my writing/drawing haven! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. Absolutely fantabulous!!!! I'm so jealous (as I'm sitting here on my bed writing)! Love your paintings too. I'm a 'little bits' collector too - my hubby thinks I'm nuts but I love them :)

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  3. That is one deluxe, luxury office!

    I am dreadfully jealous.

    My office is a corner. That's it. A corner.

    Enjoy your fab space!

    Shelley

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  4. YaY for your studio. It looks like a happy place. I love your garbage can too! I hope your space provides plenty of inspiration.

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  5. I am so jealous! What a great studio. :) And having sentimental things like that around is the best. Thanks so much for sharing with us!

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  6. Hello Kitty trash can...way cool, yep, looks like you're ready to roll!

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  7. Wow Sharon! That studio set up looks mighty fine and no doubt, will make those inspirational thoughts become even stronger.
    Nice to have all those sentimental attachments around.
    And that sentimental picture of England. How nice is that?
    Take care Sharon. Keep smiling and stay positive.
    In kindness, Gary :-)

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  8. Great looking space! Love the notebook idea. I just started doing that...well, to be honest I bought the notebooks and labeled them, but haven't actually used them.
    I'm doing the PB marathon, too!

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  9. Your studio is so wonderful, Sharon. I love it! You've inspired me to think more about my writing space. It's all mine and yet, it doesn't feel personalized. I have to do something about that. I love your trash can and wish I could have eaten some of that popcorn! :-)

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  10. hi miss sharon! WOWEEEE!!! i love your new office from the very top to the very bottom and every place in it. i love the sugar and spice painting cause it animals and its got just lots of cool colors. wow you got so much neat stuff. for sure you gonna be just so happy for having a new spot and for sure your gonna write the most best books at that neat desk. hooray for your new office!
    ...big happy hugs from lenny

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  11. Absolutely wonderful, Sharon. You must be so thrilled with it.

    Happy writing to you too :)

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  12. Love your new studio - very colourful and organized. If only I could be half that organized. I love blog posts with lots of pics btw.

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  13. I LOVE your studio!! It's such an awesome space! And everyone should have a special chair like yours. Brilliant.

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  14. Can't sign up for this marathon, but it seems so wonderful! And your studio is Gorgeous, I absolutely loved everything about it! Every single detail!

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  15. Oh! I'd best step back. I think I'm drooling all over your 'To Die For' office. I ran from one area to the next, trying to decide which was my favorite. You dun' good. I love it all. Happy writing.

    ~ Yaya

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  16. Oh wow!!! Oh what a transformation and what a gorgeous room!!! Full of good lovely beautiful things steeped with awesome memories and room for new ones!!! How brilliant!!!! I love all your bonus mums and dads too!! Yay!!
    I think that chair is just the BEST!!!

    Lovely, lovely, lovely!! I want to move in so much there asap!! Take care
    x

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  17. Looks like an absolutely FUN place to work or just hang out. I love the organization and that you included all of the things that you love. Great job. Have a terrific week girlfriend. Blessings, Buffy

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  18. Oh My what a wonderful creative space. I envy you the space and the organization! I am sure this space will inspire you to great things! Ooohh and I am off to Walgreens to check out those notebooks. Loved them!

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  19. Gorgeous!! It is light and bright and colorful. Cheery -- just like you :D

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  20. Hi, Sharon. Your office looks awesome! What a wonderful place to write and be inspired.

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  21. Love the space! And SO organized!!!

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  22. I love the pics… I’m so happy for you.

    I didn’t enter, but I’ll check out the links, thx again.

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  23. Very very nice Sharon! Love all your storage units. And of course, a Hello Kitty garbage can... always enjoyable! :)
    xo Catherine

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  24. Seriously and massively jealous of your closet! Well, the whole studio if you want me to be honest.

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  25. Oh, Sharon, what an absolutely wonderful studio! Everything is bright,cheerful and homey. Now you have plenty of space and atmosphere in which to exercise your amazing creativity. Well done!

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  26. It is so beautiful!! I absolutely love it! Definitely a place to inspire creativity :)

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  27. Splendid! Love your 'Home Sweet Home' painting :)

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  28. I love your workspace. It looks spacious and inviting. Good luck with the Picture book challenge!!

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  29. What a special space you've created!! Makes my corner of the livingroom seem barren by comparison! LOL Good luck with all your writing!

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  30. I love the garbage can! (Plus popcorn, who can beat that?)

    What a great work space! Good luck on the picture book marathon!

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  31. What a cool setting, Sharon! Each bit says so much about you, and surrounded by all those memories, you're all set! Good luck with the PB marathon! Can't wait to read the PB that comes out of it!! :-)

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  32. What a fantastic work space you have! Can you see how green I am from here?

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  33. Such a colorful and cozy space to write. Hi Sharon, I want to thank you for your words of comfort during my loss. It's good to be here.

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  34. Awesome! I love seeing other writers offices. What fun. Thanks for sharing.

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  35. My favorite part is that HOme Sweet Home painting! Beautiful. My daughter would fall in love with your OC organized shelves and bins! Your office is SOOOO inviting!

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  36. Look at how organized you are! I love it since I too appreciate the good vibe of being surrounded by a neat and tidy place while writing.

    Hi *waves*, I’m new here! Love your blog and so I added myself as a follower! :-)

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  37. LOVED seeing Mostly Monsterly perched on your shelf. :)

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  38. Hi Sharon .. what a great workspace - such fun .. and you've made it completely yours!! Love Lenny's touches that you've brought in ..

    Now Bosham Harbour is about an hour and a half from here .. so when you come over?! The picture is a delight and obviously brings back lots of memories ..

    You must be loving your space - and I hope it's been warm in this freezing weather? Cheers Hilary

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