BLOG PARTY - Welcome to my studio in Brussels!

 
Bonjour and welcome to my art room, my studio, the place I love to create

and welcome to my blog

ma vie trouvee.......my found life

 

My name is Cathy and I am an American living in Brussels, Belgium.  I gave up a large guest room studio in a house for half (my husband will say 3/4) of a room in an apartment in the city.........BUT I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER!  I love my apartment, I love my studio, I love my life.  The sign above is on my studio door.  Welcome to my room:

 

We fall under embassy housing and were very fortunate to get a three bedroom apartment which allowed me to have room for my art.  I painted it a bright color as everyone told us Belgium was always gray and rainy.  But I don't think this is true.  The weather is very mild, and it does not get the amount of rain it was rumored to get.  I tell people this is my happy room.

The view from my window is an office building, but if you pop your head out - you get a good street view.  Some people don't like the noise of the city, but I do.  I find it very soothing.  So whenever I can, I open the windows and listen to the city chatter.

Between two windows is an old typeset drawer that I painted bright pink and now use it to display my rubber stamps.  But I really need three more to display all of them!

This is the main area I work in.  That is when I am not on the floor!  I love the floor and that is were I spend most of my time.  Although I am trying very hard to stay at the table as the body is starting to resent the floor.

I work best when my tools are in sight and within reach.  So I am trying to get organized this way.

I have two inspiration boards.  I use them to display objects I collect from our travels, family photos, artist I like, anything I find inspiring.

 

Doesn't everyone find ice cream inspiring?

My husband hung these up for me because in our home I just pinned everything straight into the wall.  It would be difficult here as the walls are cement.

 

When my husband and I made the decision to move to Belgium two and a half years ago, we discussed me taking all of my art supplies.  Well that ended up being the bulk of our move!  I am super organized.  Probably to a fault, as I spend too much time sorting and organizing.  I have bins everywhere.  These are for my beads.

 

I organize my beads, paper, and ribbons by color, except.....

anything new coming in gets a special bin for a few months.  The ones below were purchased at the Flea market in Rome.  A great place for beads!

Here is a shot of the new ribbon coming in.....I was just in the US where I stock up on paper, ribbons, and rubber stamps.  These items are hard to find in Europe and if can find them, they are very pricey. 

My suitcase was over the 50 pound limit so I had to mail a 12 pound box home!  I keep clothes at my mom's house in Virginia so the weight was basically 50 pounds of new boots and art supplies - a girls dream.   Don't tell my husband :  )

I like to store things in glass jars.  They look pretty and you can see what is in them. like yummy buttons......

 

I just picked up this new decorative tape, I can't wait to use it.

Continuing on, these are drawers of "treasures".  Things I have been collecting since I was 6 years old.

 

If you noticed, they are each labeled.  As I mentioned I am super organized.  What I haven't mentioned is that I am super messy.  I've tried very hard to make my room look picture perfect.  But I think it is impossible, so the next best thing is to take photos that make it look neat - at least I think I accomplished this....... but please don't look too close  :  )

Here is a peak into a few of the drawers:

Labeled - antiques

 

Labeled - crests:

 

Labeled - flowers:

Labeled - keys:

Just for fun I counted the drawers....175!  But don't worry, I did not photograph them all.

A quick glance in the closet which is quite large for a European apartment.

and this is the part that teeters into my husband's space and why he claims to only have a very small section of the room for his office.

More bins for organizing...nice big bins!!! 

So what exactly do I create?  I love to work with vintage postcards, old paper, flea market junk.  I create collages and jewelry.  I have been published many times in the Stampington family of magazines and recently wrote two articles for them. 

I also take lots of photos as I get to travel around the world with my husband and his job.  You can visit our travel blog at  donald and cathy's european adventures.

What am I working on:

I always seem to work with images of women and children so I pulled out all my "men" postcards and am working a project using them.

New finds that I want to work with:

Red leather scraps purchased at a great jewelry and leather shop here in Brussels.  It is owned by a husband and wife and it is their studio and shop.  They bag their scraps and sell them.

 

This little guy I bought at the daily flea market just down the street from me.  Yep...DAILY flea market!

 And a small sample of my US purchases:

I could go on for ever.......but I will end it here as I know there are hundreds of fabulous Blogs and Studios to visit during this Blog Party.  I hope you enjoyed visiting me here in Brussels, I enjoyed giving you the tour.  and a big thanks to Karen for hosting this fun event!

Me in my "outdoor" studio. 

Cheers - Cathy

Comments

[Angie Chamorro]

Oh, I love all the colors! Your post brought a smile to my face. I bet you feel super cheerie when you are there. Really, thanks for sharing your space!

[Jane]

Hi Cathy,
I really enjoyed touring your space. I love the bright, cheery colors!! Your organization puts me to shame. I loved the idea of using the typeset drawer for rubber stamps.
Thanks for sharing your space.
Jane

[Karen Burns]

Oh, you have so much space!! And so bright and cheerful!! When we email, I can always tell that you are smiling and now I know why :-) I can imagine you in your space, happy as can be, and then just skipping down the street to the DAILY flea market.

I also loved the photo of your mom at the tea :-)

hugs,
Karen

[Le Chateau des Fleurs]

WOW! WOW! Amazing space!
Frenchy

[Zuzu]

Hi Cathy,
Your studio is beautifully organized and you have so many great things to work with. And having a daily flea market nearby must be awesome! Very cool that your stuido could move with you!!! :)
Zuzu

[zandra cudney]

Wow, how exciting is that to be in Europe! ;o)
I love to vacation there. And a flea market everyday. Awesome. So, enjoyed my visit with you. Enjoy the rest of the party.
Hugz,
Zandra

[Connie]

I can't imagine moving my studio across the street, let alone to another country! You would have to be organized to carry that off. You do have your items super organized. I think I could even tell you where things are. tee hee. I share your love of beads and I see you have some fabulous ones to choose from! I enjoyed my tour of your studio. Connie

[Queen]

I LOVE your space! So bright with color. Love what you did with the printer box to hold your stamps and that color pink is terrific! Thanks for sharing!
Queen Bee Studio

[Malisa]

As wonderful as your studio is...and it is...the view out your studio window is absolutely stunning! What an inspiration! Thanks for the wonderful glimpse into your beautiful studio and into your world! When you have time, stop by my blog for a visit!

Malisa

[debi]

Your studio is wonderful, colorful, and cheerful! You couldn't be anything but happy in a room like that!

[Chris Anderson]

Wow! Talk about bright, fun and adorable!
Best wishes,
Chris

www.curbyscloset.com/blog/

[Laura Ingalls Gunn]

What a wonderfully creative space!

I adore your storage solutions. They have inspired me.

[Alison]

Wow! I thought I brought a bunch of stuff with me to Brussels! I'll have to show this to my husband and maybe I won't be in so much trouble any more :) What a beautiful space you have. We should get together sometime and see what we can create!

[Claudia]

Lucky you, living in Brussels! It sounds fabulous. Your space is bright, cheery and fun. Thanks for sharing it!

[Leslie]

Love your space. It's bright and cheerful. Great organization, I love the flowers hanging by the window.

[Liz]

I love the picture of you taking a picture of the tulips. That is sooo classic! :) Your studio is awesome! :)

~Liz

[Sue@MyArtsDesire]

Cathy, What a FUN adventure you are on! "Beads you picked up in Rome at a flea market"...! Can I walk in your shoes for a spell?! Your room and the playful colors just shout "happy"...very inspiring and I love your organizing skills. Adore that little fella you picked up at the daily flea market. Such a fun life you are living! Enjoyed my visit. Xo, Sue

[Kathy]

You have created such a happy, colorful and organized studio it must be a joy to create in there! Those flowers hanging in the window are extra special. You have inspired me to try something in a window of my own that has a less than attractive view. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Marcy Antle]

Oh Cathy, your room is so COLORFUL! Love it and of course the organization since I am a freak about that as well! Keep in touch.
QueenMarcy

[Karen Valentine]

Oh Cathy, It IS a happy place! How wonderful it is. You sound so happy there and I'm sure being in your studio brings you much joy! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I really enjoyed reading all about it!
xo,
Karen
My Desert Cotttage

[Anna Matthews]

I love your happy place, it certainly is cheerful and fun and packed with treasures. What a lucky woman to do so much traveling, of course, mostly I'm thinking of the flea markets. I was lucky to visit Belgium many years ago to visit family stationed at the SHAPE base. Thank you so much for sharing your space.

[Terri G.]

Wonderfully bright and vibrant art space And so well organized...a reflection of your personality too I'm guessing..thanks so much for sharing it all with us.

[donna joy]

I agree, a happy place-and in Europe-and a daily flea mrkt nearby-wonderful!

[Mary Anne]

Okay - how much would you charge to come here and organize my studio? You have a DAILY flea market? Lucky you! We have a teeny little junkie one here that is only open on Saturdays and the stuff in it rarely is worth even looking at. Their idea of a flea market is new stuff that is terrible quality. Thanks for the lovely visit to see your studio!

[diane cook]

Cathy~
NOW I do remember! It has been awhile....
I loved your tour. You are VERY organized =) I need an old typeset drawer, as this is my favorite part of your studio. I have all my stamps in a tall rubber bin, and you know it just isn't tall enough! Imagine that~LOL....and where did you get the decorative tape??? That is great.
A daily flea market~sounds wonderful to me. I would be in trouble! You should see what I brought home yesterday from an antique show I went to...I guess I better take some pics and share =)