Did the Craft Cottage Save Their Marriage? :)

 

What a surprise when organized, disciplined Bob with a Marine's spirit walked into this widow woman's unorganized, creative, spontaneous life. Bob was an empty nester with a quiet apartment neatly serving up abstract art in black lacquered frames on its pristine white walls. I still had two children at home (out of five) to raise and sported handpainted red, pink, and yellow cherries on my turquoise walls. (That was just the kitchen.) Bob worked out of neat folders and files in an office away from home, and I worked all over my house out of bins and tins, baskets and boxes that were in constant states of volcanic eruptions of paint, fabric, paper, and "vintage stuff." Bob just didn't understand the "vintage stuff".

 

 

So, after we married and had several exuberant discussions about my "vintage stuff", he so kindly offered me his old storage building. I graciously accepted and immediately thought of it as my Craft Cottage. This is how it made its debut appearance at our newlywed home.

Bob worked really hard getting the Craft Cottage's plain interior up to my cuteness criteria. Many hours of love went into putting in electrical, insulation...and other details that did not pertain to the cuteness factor. It was really what I call yucky on the inside at first.

But, the plan started coming together.  

 

Once Bob completed the inside job, he left me to turn my creative space into my dream Craft Cottage. What a guy!

What do I create and enjoy doing?

• collage with vintage greeting cards, magazines, and materials
• I sew- in a so-so sort of way- especially like using vintage fabrics and patterns
• paint - simple but kitschy is my style
• decopauge- anything that stands still long enough
• love to wear, buy, and sell vintage clothing
• collecting old wallpaper, wrapping paper, fabric for my projects
• buttons! crazy about vintage buttons, oh and trims too...rick rack and such
• love the art on old patterns
• aprons are divine
• reworking, redoing, saving old worn out furniture, frames, boxes,
• things that just catch my fancy!

 

The fun began when I started moving in! Here is a part of my sewing area.

I began sorting through fabric and moving in my new space...this is a teeny tiny portion of my stash. There is more. Lots more.

 

 

I obtained a freebie desk and gave it a makeover.

That became a work area in my Craft Cottage. Drawers are full of cards and all sorts of paper crafting supplies.

Here is one of my favorite spots in my Craft Cottage. I could just stand and look at all the goodness.

My little inspiration board:

My dress form with my handkerchiefs displayed:

My old phone that serves no purpose except to make me happy:

Yummy paints, pom-poms and whimsy...

 Fun storage:

No sew curtains added to the wall with gigantic clothes pins:

My Craft Cottage is still a work in progress (as is our blended family.) So many things  to look forward to accomplishing together. I'm so grateful for my creative space to do my thing. Knowing it was born out of my husband's love makes it very special. Yes, AND and his insatiable need for order and sanity in his life. Who knew sanity could be so cute?

Make sure you visit Where Bloggers Create by clicking on the button at the beginning of this post and then participating in Pink Saturday at Beverly's over at How Sweet the Sound!
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

  
  
 
  
  

 

 

Comments

[Robin Clevenger]

OMgoodness! Amazing! I am lusting after that pattern holder! The pink piece of furniture is so so sweet! We are so blessed to have such wonderful husbands! The picture of your hubby cracked me up. I have 2 of the same floral pots he has in his hand and my husband doesn't like them. Tee Hee! Hugs ~Robin~

[Leslie]

Cute space. You're lucky to have such a great hubby. Love all the vintage touches!

[Isabel Eaton]

O my I love that PINK dresser! Just gorgeous:O) Love your studio and the colrs that you used truly an inspring space:O) Thanx for sharing Isabel

[Michelle]

Your craft cottage is SO cute!!! Love the colors!! So cheerful and fun! So sweet of Bob to give this gift to you with so much hard work involved! What a great guy!
Michelle

[vintagesue]

right...someone separated us at birth...that's for sure!! lol
your husband wins. my husband would never build me a craft cottage. he'd rather see me drag stuff ALL OVER THE HOUSE and live in bins everywhere you can put one!! i aspire to have a spot that charming one day. it's the best. your blog is darling. you seem like a lot of fun!! thanks for sharing.
sue

[Donna @ The House on the Corner]

I forgot to negotiation a craft cottage with my marriage :-(

So cute!! How lucky you are to have a space all your own!!

Thank you for stopping by The House on the Corner!!

[Tobi Britton]

Oh what a beautiful pink and blue cotton candy cottage! How blessed you are- it even has insulation and AC! Thank you for the lovely tour and Thanks for having us over!
Sparkly Hugs,
Tobi and the Pixies!

[Laura Ingalls Gunn]

What a wonderfully creative space!

I adore your storage solutions. They have inspired me.

[Chris Anderson]

Oh my gosh! How amazing and cute is this space? I love too many things to list!
Best wishes,
Chris

www.curbyscloset.com/blog/

[debi]

There is some major swooning going on here! Your studio is just as cute as can be!
Your colors are sugary sweet, and you have so many fun things to look at.
What a great guy your hubby is to help you create such a beautiful place.

[Queen]

What a great space! And, what a terrific hubby! Your space is adorable? Your pink chest of drawers looks very similar to mine. Is it Bodart?
Queen Bee Studio

[Kristin Van Valkenburgh]

Oh, there is so much to love! Let's start with the thought behind your cottage in the first place - what a DH! And the color, the vintage sewing patterns so beautifully displayed, the fabric, the details . . . just wonderful! Thank you for sharing, Kristin xo

[stefanie]

what a super cute cottage...love the whimsy!! the colors are perfect!

[zandra cudney]

What a great guy! Your creative place is fabulous! Love all the pink. ;o) So, enjoyed my visit with you. Enjoy the rest of the party.
hugz,
Zandra

[Le Chateau des Fleurs]

WOW! Incredible!
Frenchy

[Malisa]

Oh, my! That is TRUE love! What a wonderful studio you and your husband have created just for you! Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your work space and your world! If you have time, stop by my blog for a visit!

Malisa

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I soooo love your craft cottage!! I have an old dresser in the garage. I think I am going to borrow your idea and paint it pink too! What a pretty space to create in. And what a sweet man you married!

[Renna]

Fabulous, it'a all fabulous! You, Bob, and your cute-as-a-button cottage, fab-u-loso!

[Claudia@DipityRoad]

What a charming story of how your space came to be! He is darling too!

I will be back (marked you) when I have more time to look around... i am sure I will be inspired.

Stop by if you get a moment... I have a little give away.

Have the best day-- enjoy all your visitors!

Claudia

http://www.dipityroad.com

[Lisa]

What a great guy! You are lucky! And your space is awesome! I have seen bits before but didn't know it was it's own little place! How great and cute!!
Thanks for sharing your story!
Hugs, Lisa

[georgiapeachez]

That is a whole lotta cuteness going on in that cottage! My husband would never see me if I had my own building :->
xo, suzy