Hi guys,
firstly apologies for anyone that missed TAT this week, due to unforeseen circumstances I wasn't able to post it, and as now it's Thursday I thought I'd leave it to next week and do another post now to make up.
I want to share the place that was my first ever studio...well technically my little plastic red baby table and chair set that my mum brought me for my fourth birthday (that had a lid that lifted up so I could store my goodies inside and everything - man I loved that thing!) would probably be classed as my very first, but you know my first in adult life. I found these photos recently on a scrapbooking site which was the only place I ever posted anything when I started getting arty again - as at the time there was not so many great places out there to find art journaling as easily as there are now & scrapbooking was pretty much the only thing I thought existed that resembled what I was doing... till I learnt better and after a while got the courage to become the person that now posts as Jennibellie.
(Apologies for the awful pictures they are all I have, phone pics from many years ago - if you think phone cameras are bad now you are forgetting where we started!!)
It was just a section of my bedroom - that black thing in the bottom right is my bed. My studio consisted of this section of wall, with the converted computer armoire
and the bookcase, and initially a dining room table that was in my room (usually with all 4 of the accompanying dining chairs), but after a while I prefered the free space on the floor where I could stretch out.
It's hardly an awesome studio but I look back on it so so so so so fondly, and so thankfully. This is where it ALL started, my entire creative resurrection I guess. The YES that I said to myself - and I said it before I meant to say anything. You see I have to be thank you for every little thing that happened during that time - much of it not good at all - but all still happened so perfectly for me to rediscover my creativity (I can look back on it now and see that I was kinda being dragged...but in a nice way, sometimes lol). For instance me inexplicably picking this room in the first place, when it was large but ate nearly all my pay when bills were taken too. There was not a shortage of places to rent, there were even two available in the very same flat - the other one smaller but would leave me money at the end of the month to you know...live.. Not knowing if I was choosing wisely (in fact thinking I was doing the exact opposite) I went for the large space. I connected with it and my instinct just told me I was supposed to & as a response it allowed me room to develop in ways I could not have foreseen at the time. I will leave you with a pic taken of another wall of my room the first night I moved in:
Note all the journals lined up in pride of place on the table & my journal trunks underneath, given a home before anything else had a place (see all the beauty bits/electricals just dumped in a pile on the right - the stuff that was actually used haha) the art had not even begun yet, it's like the journals knew what was coming....
Start where you are.
Use what you have.
Do what you can.
Arthur Ashe
Looks like a lovely place to live. And you have your priorities in order! Is that a lava lamp?? So many wires - not enough outlets!!!
ReplyDeleteLoved this post sooooo much! The journals on your table, foreshadowing what was to come...gives me goosebumps!
ReplyDeleteThat was so sweet to see what you had to begin with--and that cabinet was really cool, actually!! I trust those instinctive strong feelings, too. Even when the logical part of my brain says--are you kidding? LOL! Love your pride in the journals. :)
ReplyDeleteYou were so organized! I think that was a pretty awesome space if I do say so myself!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this peak into the younger you and where it all started. I think it is important for all of us to look back and remember these things, and even more important for those who are starting out and seeing only these incredible room tours, to realize that you don't have to have a perfect room, all the supplies, etc. . . To create, you just have to have the desire! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just think you are so brave. I have never lived on my own. Straight from parent's home to marriage. I never knew who I was, either. Now I do, but it took me too long to find out. I appreciate all your posts so much. I have learned so much from you. Not just learning how to do things, but a stronger way to think about things. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteLove this post, this type of scenario and life changes are happening to me right now too. I can very much relate. The storms are subsiding and something inside is taking off. I love your final quote, it is SO true. That is where I am, starting with what I have, as little as it might be, and what I can do. I am going to hold onto that one, love it! Love this post.
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