G . O : Living Space

Getting On : Kitchen wall art

I moved into this flat and couldn't find anything  to decorate the kitchen, beyond a vase and a recipe tin to decorate the space. I did make some curtains with my fabric stash to match some of our appliances and cupboards  - black and white. So I decided I needed some colour and use up some paint while I was at it.

Since we just moved in it made sense to use up these canvas boards, and paint to free up even a little space - to help me enjoy the space.
We had decided to go with yellow for the kitchen, for a few reasons; I love mustard yellow, my vase, it works nicely with black and white, and lastly its a bright and strong colour since we don't get  alot of direct sun in from this window after 8am. It helps that my partner wanted some bee themed, yellow and cream beige additions to the kitchen and for dining table.

I started a quick sketch of the flowers I wanted - Daisies just like my fabric for the curtains. With sketchy outlines and all white. Then I did the backgrounds for the canvas with layers of yellow, mustard and a few mixed tones - in gouache(the darker mustard - i had more of this than any other yellow) and acrylic. 

While those dried I decided on my composition and whited out an area I decided the flowers and other features would be. Layering the white only where the petals and other bright features would be. It took me a while to be happy with the background - since I don't have much practice with backgrounds - textured or detailed.

I took a full day to do both canvases - alternating as they dried helped. I'm not super happy with the end results just content and they provide the colour I needed for the space. I do have a home for when I finally replace them - my nana wants them both and enjoys them more than I do.

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G . O : Living Space

G . O : Living Space

Getting On : Studio wall 

 I have a small wall where I'd be hard pressed to find a cupboard to fit my odd sized tower for my PC. So, I have decorated this with a cork board and art. Everything here I've made myself or remind me of people.The cork board its self is decorated by me, as I needed something to be practical at a previous home that added some more colour to a bedroom. I wasn't allowed to paint or redecorate the space.

Cat - Mam, and visiting york.
Sign - Emily, an old housemate.
Polaroid - Dad, its of us when i was young, visiting a zoo.*
Mini print - Nana, London trip with two of my sisters.
Embroidery - I made this, with my nana in mind, but I wasn't happy with the result to give it to her.
Carriage - Old Christmases - we've lost a few of these. I think they use to be string lights and maybe used them as toys.
Ticket - Emma, a school friend. We love going to the arcades.
Postcard, lady - Step mam - she brought this for me and wrote the sweetest message.
Larger prints - London trip with two of my sisters and nana - I got to show a few areas I'd visited with friends too.


Bow, Tags, clothes peg - I've made/decorated these for practical reasons to use but wanted more colour.

*Yes I am scared to death, I couldn't put down my hand before they put away the small snake. I tried to be brave with the little one. I wasn't ready for one that was about 4/5 times longer.

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G . O : Living Space

G . O : Workspace

Getting On : 

Workspace - My Desk 

Well, I have my work space more furnished for me now. I moved in January 2019, I starter with building a desk after my first few months - I didn't have a desk to move int with, until my partner. But he also got an upgrade later on too. So it took me entire day to put together this desk from B&M, only because the 'locks' for the interlocking sections are super annoying for me. But when it was done I had a clean white desk with; my oldest sewing machine (its a year older than me), my computer at an angle and my brocade style place-mat. I finally had work space for myself, my art and just general filing of things away. So the next jump was to fill my shelves, just under the desktop - too easy, and to customise my space and the white walls I was sticking with. I didn't feel like I want to hang too much or paint because this is my first place renting, with my partner of 10 years - I simply don't know how long we will stay here. So I got some art up too - If you follow my Instagram you likely found this fell down - scared the life outta me at 12/1am to not realise this happened till the next day. Luckily - I hope I don't jinx this - this hasn't fallen again, yet.

1st black shelves, then white desk

It was always the plan to save up and come back to add more storage that would fit well for both of us. Well the first addition was these tall slim DVD / CD shelving, we got from amazon. This came in about 5 boxes, but the shelving is similar to IKEA and we can adapt the shelving height. This is perfect for my partners dragons, and both of our collects of DVDs, games and books. With space to grow, as well. But we have papers and files and other collections to store.
So, the next thought was deeper shelves and cupboards but they also had to fit in either 2 spaces. By the door or by the window.


I picked out this glass fronted cupboard that was close to the depth of the wall and a deep shelving unit -both are deep enough that they will let me have folded fabric, boxes and best yet, my sewing machines stored sideways. I have two full sized and the cutest mini machine (that is a real pain to use, but it was my first and the only one I've brought myself).  When I got these units, my partner also treated themselves to a new desk - this is a kids desk pulled to full height and is no more than 2 cm shorter than mine. The pull was the shelving attached to the back and the legs have mini shelves between them - ideal for cable management or as he uses them for pencil cases, sweets and cable ties.

I still haven't decorated the glass front cupboards as the doors have to be clipped completely to do it - unlike the descriptions from IKEA.I had two guys and me putting these together and it was still difficult. So I want to display my swatches and art in the doors. But because its a right faff I am holding off until I can find a combination I won't want to change straight away.

In the end I have the shelves and cupboards pretty full already, but there's some areas for aesthetics, and only a little left as a space to grow if any. But I have also freed up space elsewhere, since I had a jumble of stuff in other areas. Now I have things collected together and loosely organised. I have been trying to go through my fabric stash, since I finished this. It's a lot quicker now since I know where my zips are, my ribbons, thread has three bins and patterns are all gathered together as usual. Decorating a these bits and pieces has also been a fun way to use up my art supplies too, as well to enjoy the space.

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G . O : Workspace

Board layout

Work space

TextilesSewingFashionStudio

These are the terms I searched for in Pinterest, for inspiration to development my ideas for my exhibition boards. Which is something I have thought about a lot for the past 2/3 months, I really want to present my work well and show it off . Which I can' t help but think of this as difficult due to the fact my work is white. But I'll share more on that later when I have some final ideas and/or samples to show off on this blog.

I've really focused on the theme of a fashion or textiles work-space and studio area. Though it's only been the last two days that I have put pen to paper to doodle the layout and ideas. Despite having looking at possible materials, supplies and equipment. I can't help it, I love shopping for nearly anything textiles/sewing related.

I've looked at starch, cork-board, chalks, tapes, tape measures, patterns, hangers and  rails. It's fun to plan, but I need to focus on creating the work and the layout that will compliment it best. Not do the shopping first which could limit what I can create for my exhibition.

I hope that I will have a finished idea soon to show you all. But for now here is some of the research for today. I've looked at a lot of patterns illustrations/photo and messy/in-use tables. This has helped create some more creative ideas that yesterdays doodles.
But these ideas may not be good in practice, e.g. using the idea of looking through a railing at a workshop, so more work will stand out against the back drop and hang on the railing nicely.

Or another example is using pattern pieces (or mock ones with patterns or pattern details) to use as a background for my work so to not use anything to bold or contrasting against my work. These ideas are interesting but focus too much on a backing and not enough on my work, so that I am not sure how to present them or what I might choose to present.

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My Pinterest Board for inspiration:

https://www.pinterest.com/lizzone/workshop/

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Board layout