Saturday, June 19, 2010

Inside the Doily Factory for Where Bloggers Create II

I am not much of a 'joiner' as joining usually requires some sort of pajama-less participation, often at a specific place and time which usually ends up being a conflict with my hectic thrifting and sewing schedule. The pajama-less part being particularly iffy.

But look at me grow!

I'm joining in on Where Bloggers Create II, hosted by Karen Valentine of ***My Desert Cottage. Less than a year ago I didn't 'blog' or ' join' and now I'm doing both in the same day. And yes! In my pajamas!

Welcome to the Doily Factory.

As a longtime watcher of HGTV, I have learned by now that open spaces need to be divided in 'zones' and I have two of them: The Sit-and-Think-About-It-While-Online Zone (on your left) and The-Stand-&-Make-Things-While-Occasionally-Sitting-at-the-Sewing-Machine Zone (to your right). 

This is the side where many deep thoughts occur. They usually involve doilies or vintage tablecloths but are very deep nonetheless.

Please take note of the living, breathing paperweight on the vintage desk.

On the rare occasion no deep thoughts are available, I can stare into my vintage  fabric cabinet until one comes along. 

Many vintage fabrics have moved into this area, also known as Stash Heights. It's an older,  close-knit community filled with lots of colorful flowers. And a few yo-yos.

I think this is the only time this chair has ever had its picture taken without a handmade pillow on it. 
Please step over to the Making Things area of the Doily Factory where white walls and natural light work best for me. White walls keep color from reflecting onto the fabrics I'm working with -- I find natural light is the best stain detector for vintage fabric. 

I like to keep little bits of vintage inspiration all around including a reminder of one of my favorite places on the planet, San Francisco.

This dusty little gizmo, made from an eraser and old electrical parts, is one of my most prized possessions. That's a vintage photo of my parents, B.C. (before children).

More inspiration whenever I look up. 
 In the middle of this board, there's a tiny, long ago photo of my mother and me. In party hats. 


Click to enlarge this mosaic
And just some bits and pieces from around the place where I make things.


There are over 450 bloggers sharing the spaces where they create and you can see the complete list of Where Bloggers Create II participants on the right sidebar at ***My Desert Cottage.

And a huge *THANK YOU* to Karen Valentine for organizing this event -- I can't wait to check out everyone's creative spaces!
 
Hope you have an inspiring weekend!



44 comments:

  1. Good morning to Miss Amy!!! I really enjoyed my visit this morning and just loved to see where you create. The Doily Factory is a wonderful place - even with the living and breathing paper weight. Such joy to have our little furry loved ones at our side or feet when we work.

    And I spy an Amy, too! Love the behind the scenes glimpses! I wish we lived close by as I would love to sit in your room and marvel over all of your vintage fabrics.

    Have a super day, my friend!!

    Oh,and one more thing, your collections are fabulous. Your parents' picture is just beautiful.

    ((hugs))
    Becky

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  2. Great space - great ideas - love the gizmo and your fabric is folded so neatly. Mine is a mess! LOL! You make lots of pretty things - just eye candy to me! But then I am a hopeless vintage textile junkie too! Thanks for sharing - come on over and take a gander at my space.

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  3. We finally get a peek into the Doily Factory! Love seeing where you create - the mosaic is beautiful, by the way. And your living paperweight is adorable.
    Thanks for sharing your space with us.

    xo
    Claudia

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  4. what a thoroughly enjoyable post -- at once hysterically humorous and pretty! so much to swoon over here in your pj-friendly zones!

    so fun to see where you create!

    xo
    elyse

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  5. The doily Factory is great!! Love the living, breathing paper weight. I have one too. Your little old bamboo shelf is so cute. Love the picture of your parents. Isn't it fun to have so much room to put all the things you love around you? Whatever you are making on the sewing machine looks yummy! Annette

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  6. Hello..where were the PJ's...lol

    If you are going to keep it real..come on...

    just kidding..I too like to put everything in zones..and I stand a lot when crafting..because I tend to pace while deep thinking..lol

    Hugs..Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham

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  7. OOOH, I love your lovely big light filled studio! I love the cuckoo clock, stash heights, the scissors hanging on pegs, all the bits and pieces pinned to inspiration boards and the pottery mugs for storage.

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  8. What a great creative space! Looks like it is very productive. So, enjoyed my visit with you. enjoy the rest of the party.
    Hugz,
    Zandra

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  9. Love the gizmo too! I could never part with him? either!

    Enjoy the party!

    Suzan

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  10. Love your collections! Your space is great!
    Queen Bee Studio

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  11. What in heaven's name IS that eraser thingy???? And if it's your most prized possession, than can I have your sewing machine?? It's awesome!! Seriously, what is THAT eraser thingy?? Love seeing your "space" and your fabric stash. Very cool to see where you ponder deep and meaningful thoughts. Say! Did I ask you already what that eraser thingy is?

    This was great. Thanks for sharing. - Kathy

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  12. Thanks for sharing! Love you paper weight. :)

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  13. LOL...I have one of those living, breathing paper weights too and shame on me, I forgot to take his photo. He is such an integral part of my work space. Yours is fabulous and I loved the visit. ~ Lynn @thevintagenest

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  14. Enjoyed the tour. Love Stash heights and the fact you have a photo of you and your mom in party hats! Now what exactly does that cute little gizzmo do?

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  15. Just beautiful! Loved the tour. Have a great Sunday!

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  16. oh bliss! This is one of the bestest post ever!!! Now, going back to do a close up look at those party hats....

    love love love

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  17. What a wonderfully creative space!

    I adore your storage solutions. They have inspired me.

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  18. Just found you!!!! I love all your vintage fabric over here..your studio is fun! Off to visit your etsy..have a great new week, xo.

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  19. I. Love. Everything. (and I have a paperweight that looks just like yours).

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  20. I'm so happy to find someone else who admits that they have trouble getting out of their jammies and being somewhere at a specific time! I personally don't consider that a character flaw, but so many in this world do. It works great for me...evidently for you too! High five!!

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  21. Glad you joined! Love the vintage touches-I have that little cuckoo clock, too. Your fabric stash is awesome!

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  22. Well, I'm impressed by the uber fabulous doily factory and the fact that I see real clothes in your reflection picture. Seriously though, the factory looks like the perfect, comfortable combination of function and inspiration. I love seeing the birthplace of all the Into Vintage creations.

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  23. Cute room! It's got great windows, it;s so bright and light and airy looking. I love the cuckoo clock!

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  24. Love your zones and your commentary. Here's wishing you some deep thoughts - LOL! Thank you for sharing.

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  25. youve got a lovely big space, i love the photo of your parents! fliss xx

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  26. Oh, that light - is that why you moved? I think it's reason enough. I'm intrigued by what you're working on (a quilt? On the sewing machine?) I have a paperweight very similar to yours, with just a little more white on it. It's one of my favorite features of my workspace.

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  27. What a wonderful room...full of beauty! I'm off to read about the pencil gizmo! ♥

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  28. The studio is fantastic. I love a peek into places others create. Thanks for that.

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  29. Hi Amy, Thank you so much for joining the party!!! I couldn't help laughing about the pajama thing! Since I started working from home, I rarely get out of jammies or comfy cloths! In fact when I get home from being out, the first thing I do is change back into my jammies!!! LOL!
    Thanks for the tour sweetie. I really enjoyed my stay.
    xo,
    Karen
    My Desert Cottage

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  30. I love your space and your blog. I thought I had already written here but I think that was because have been enjoying it so much. The pieces you make out of recycled vintage tablecloths and hankies are oh-so-charming. Love your sense of humor, the "doily factory" and your whimsical dishcloths with lace vases. Checked out both your Etsy stores. Great fun.

    My daughter and I have had a blog for three months and have been doing jewelry together for fifteen years (doing a lot of repurposed jewelry for that last few years...so you won't croak, hopefully, that we are taking apart jewelry) Come and stop by, if you would like. We also love to work with lot of other things, among them, vintage paper craft (me), vintage fashion (her) and both of us love estate sales and life.

    Thanks for the nice peek! Your work is beautiful and impeccable.

    Suz
    http://katsuijewelry.blogpost.com

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  31. lovely space-eraser guy is cool and what a great story/memento for you!

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  32. Love the clock and all the beautiful fabric your have waiting to be used. Thanks for sharing your space.

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  33. What a great space to hangout in wearing jammies!

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  34. I just want to come over in my PJ's and stare at your vintage fabric.....No, I have decided fI want your vintage fabric! ha!

    Carol

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  35. You have a woderful space.

    Aren't we supposed to stay in our jammies most of the day.

    Love all that fabric.

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  36. I really enjoyed visiting your space! Love your storage for the fabric and how you have your spaces separated. This looks like a great room to create in {and/or to just contemplate the next creation}!

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  37. Be still my heart, what a cabinet full of vintage fabric! Love all your "zones" and that paper weight is just the best! Thank you for sharing.

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  38. Oh what a fun post!!! I am so loving your paper weight - we could be great friends since we both love to do the meatloaf on the desk thing! Yes, you guessed it correctly - I am of the same handsome design as your paperweight! None the less, don't sell me short of great taste and the ability to judge a great thing when I see one - such as your great studio and this fun post! Loving too your fabric flag banner - what a great idea!!! I think "she" should create one of those for my studio...I mean "her" studio....I just let "her" believe it is "her" studio....that way it gets cleaned ;)

    Thanks so much for the tour - I had a great time!!

    Purrs!

    Romeo and "her"

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  39. Hi Amy, WOW and WOW!!!!! I adore your creative space and everything in it. Thanks so much for sharing. I have finally hits the "I's" on my WBC journey. So much fun seeing everyones space.
    Debby

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  40. I could happily come and play in your studio! I have a paperweight in my studio too. Thanks so much for inviting us to visit.

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  41. Your vintage fabrics are very inspiring in and of themselves. I just love old fabrics. You have wonderful light coming in your studio. I so appreciate you letting me into your 'zones'. Connie

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  42. Your studio is very charming. Thanks for the tour, it was very enjoyable.

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  43. I was really excited to see that someone else partitions their craft areas into zones. I not only do that, I also do my storage in zones. But yours is far more attractive and less industrial than mine. You actually make your zones artsy and beautiful.

    I was impressed by the eraser gizmo, and was delighted to learn the backstory, although I'm sorry to read about your brother. Thanks for the really inspirational tour in your studio and that really incredible looking sewing machine!

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  44. Thanks for sharing your space! At this point there is no way I'll make it to anyone else's. Good idea, though.

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