Hilary Wagstaff

Hilary Wagstaff, Artist, Designer and craftsperson, Penarth, Wales, www.hellomoshi.blogspot.com/ www.ripcurlgirlblues.blogspot.com/ This is some of the stuff that is generally on my desk in my studio at home. I am an absolute magazine fiend, and so there is always some World of Interiors copies in the process of being plundered for interesting pictures of chairs or some nice patterns that I can pinch for a drawing or a collage. I am involved in an artists book project called 1ssue, so quite often, other people's work is on my desk too, waiting to be made into a book. I make clothes for Blythe, which is an outlet for my mad sewing desires, and extreme love of fabric and pattern, so this is Lily, sporting her new top amid my sewing things. As you can see I like to have everything neat and tidy and organised. I cannot work in a mess and have a tendency to become a bit frantic about chaos. My studio is at the back of the house, and has a lovely view over our garden. I have gradually got it more and more organised with these great chests from IKEA replacing an old plan chest that took up half the room. This is the place I think too, and listen to music, and is very much my domain. I get to have everything just how I like it in here and that means I can work and concentrate. I like to have all the elements for my collages and my books in drawers and boxes so that I can find what I need quickly, and also I keep so much stuff, bits of paper, small things for my boxes that I need to have them in some order or else it would just be junk. I make boxes and books, and one of my heroes is Joseph Cornell. The colours in my room are very calming, and I find this to be the most peaceful place for me and the place where I am most at home. It's definitely a place that saves my sanity, and keeps me focused on my creativity, and is a space I can reflect on what I'm doing and scheme up new projects. If there was only enough time... Thanks for letting me share my space with you.

Brenda Raub

Brenda Raub, Illustrator Mountain Home, Idaho www.brendaraub.com www.cre8art2day.blogspot.com This is my dog, Spencer, he likes to stand on my desk and patrol the walking path by our home. He will alert me when someone is walking by which can create interesting marks on my artwork by the startle his barking causes. My studio window is always covered in dog snot. Just looking at my collection of color pencils makes my eyes smile! Magnetic primer paint ROCKS! I put it on my studio walls and when I need a break from drawing, I'll write poetry with my magnetic words. Clutter shuts my creativity off. I can't work until I'm organized. Luckily, I have a lot of shelves and storage in my studio. Color, cool storage for organization, and quirky stuffed animals all get my creative juices going! Thanks for checking out my studio! I hope you'll visit my web site too.