Where Bloggers Create 2013 - The Craftavan

Welcome and bienvenue! For the very first time I am taking part in the Where Bloggers Create event. Had to, lol, I was being told to in no uncertain terms by so many friends.

For those of you who don't know me, I have to explain a little - we have two homes, one in the UK on the lovely Sussex Channel coast, and one in France, in beautiful Burgundy, where we are at the moment. We tend to spend a couple of months at a time here at the cottage, but I don't have a studio as such here. What I do have is my CRAFTAVAN, a little old two person caravan, which stands in our top field. Every time we come to the cottage, I pack one suitcase with craft supplies for the craftavan. Some things stay there permanently, like fabrics and a few bits and pieces, but most of the stuff has to be packed up again and taken back to England, so that I can use it there.

This is the craftavan -

My sewing room is huuuuuuuuuuge, the whole of the top field, lol, but only on sunny days ;-) -

First look through the doorway -

Quick look back at the sewing room and the beautiful views -

And step inside!

Let me take you on 360 degree tour through the craftavan, all you need to do is stand still and slowly turn....... actually, you can't do much more than stay in one place and turn on the spot, lol.

Look to your left as soon as you step in and this is what you'll see -
A beautiful collage made by Sonya and little notes from bloggy friends-

My cutting table/ computer desk with fabric stored in the cupboards above -

A little wooden box from a brocante filled with dyed scrim and lace in one half and completed challenge tags and inchies in the other-

and of course you will see more beautiful gifts from friends -

 On the little shelf, a small collection of wooden cotton reels -

Turn slightly to your right so that you are straight again, and ahead of you is the door to the tiny shower room, which is my store room for the suitcase and various other bits and pieces, like the sewing machine when not in use and the heater for the winter. All sorts of wonderful gifts from bloggy friends are attached to that door -

Next to the shower/storage cubicle is a little wardrobe, which is full of cushions and blankets and socks, lol, yes thick socks for winter creative session. On the side of the shower/storage cubicle you can see ATCs from some of last year's swaps organised by ArtJoyStuff, and on the wardrobe door is the most amazing hanging organiser my dear friend Alexandra made for me, as well as a beautiful angel and collage from my beautiful Dorthe, and the most exquisite heart from my dearest Suzy. It is filled with supplies, little gifts from people and has my two fabric cuffs on it as well -

This gorgeous brooch was sent to me by my dear friend Marie when she heard that I was planning a mermaid journal, 

and this leads very nicely to the next stage of the 360 tour, just turn ever so slightly to your right and you will see my mermaid inspiration corner -

Incredible collages and the most divine fabric book from Suzy to inspire, help and get me past my journal anxiety, some gorgeous silk sari ribbons and of course my big box of all the wonderful things I have collected for the mermaid journal, including such lovely gifts from friends like Marie, Alexandra and Julia -

Thats where the seating area starts, and above that bench are more cupboards and little shelves, one of which holds another little box, this one filled with a selection of seam binding, and a jar of embroidery threads-

Turn a little further and you are looking over the seating area to the back of the caravan, lets call that the middle. The original blue seat cushions are covered with pink blankets and cushions, some crocheted by me -

Behind the far bench, on the window sill, I keep beautiful old French pottery bowls, filled with white trims, coloured trims and braid, and pieces of ribbons -

Gotta have a couple of little knicknacks around as well -

The table in the middle of the benches is used for everything, sewing in the winter or on rainy days, all the cutting and gluing for tags and cards, sorting through fabrics, sorting through books, whatever I am working on at the time. I keep a few of those beautiful old bowls on the table as well, for snippets of lace, jewelry and metal bits etc -

Turn a little further to the right, and you are on the return journey to the front door ;-). Above the bench with the handmade granny square blanket are shelves with my stamps, inks, and a basket full of ready printed images -

 A bit further is the cupboard with all my paper supplies, like old sheet music, dictionaries etc, with little tubs of all sorts underneath on the little shelf -

The granny square blanketed bench butts up to the fridge ( not in use, sigh ) and right next to the fridge on that bench is a big old wooden box filled with buttons and a few other sewing notions. The fridge itself has all my tooly bits on top, scissors, pens, glues etc -

And there you have it, you are back at the entrance again! Thats my little craftavan studio away from home. And I DO have to keep it tidy all the time, lol, otherwise I couldn't work in it!

I am so glad I could squeeze you into the little space, it was wonderful to have you visit! Thank you so much for stopping by.

If you click on this link, it will take you to Karen Valentine's site where you will find a long list of all the other participants. The studios you will see will have you drooling all over the place!

Toodlepip xxx