My studio, it has to be said, is full of many things - it is my creative nest, where I can surround myself with the treasures I have found and been given. Although I may not use many of them from day to day, they inspire and console me. Many tokens from blog and non-bloggy friends...spot the Lily Moon card from my friend Maya -
The old year ended with the little people in 'Cat's Cradle' journeying far away to their first job. It is always a wrench to know I will probably never see most of my paintings again, but good to know that they are watching over someone, somewhere.
The new year started with one of Rima's beautiful calendars. I cannot think of a nicer way of getting through the year - she still has one or two left I think, so if you hurry...
Entering January with some gorgeous letter blocks, with huge thanks to fellow illustrator Paula for her thoughtful gift...
...and my triple good luck charm, to keep bad things away from me this year, especially timewasters, as I had enough of them in 2007. White china heart from Tara, rosehip heart from Higgledy Piggledy, textile/embroidery heart from Border Tart - thank you my dears - I defy anything truly bad to happen with the combined love of these three friends.
A big red hand to point the way bravely forward to 2008 - there is something very commanding about this stern indicator. It arrived unexpectedly in the post this week, mysteriously unsigned...for a few minutes I felt like my all time hero, Tintin, receiving an anonymous signal summoning him to a new, exotic adventure. But then I remembered kind Alan Brignull of the Hedgehog Press, and his lovely picture on Flickr which I had fav'd. Thank you so much!
I am under the weather and feeling like this at the moment -
So I am going to retire for a few days, and bury myself in my sketchbook, as I seem to have got my drawing mojo back at last. Have a good weekend everyone!
Well. That was - interesting. If I had known just how long or how chaotic THAT was going to be I might not have bothered. Or maybe I would. I am now the satisfied (if somewhat frazzled) tenant of a nice, spacious studio. Albeit a little rammed with books and general bumph. Moving everything from one room to another was a labour of Hercules. Actually, I think even Hercules would have been daunted...
I also changed computers and went broadband. In the end it all worked well, but there was an initial shock at discovering that new PCs don't have a dial up plug...loathe to change to BB, I trekked to PC World and picked up an external modem. I have only one word to sum up my recent computer experiences - Vista. If you don't know what I mean, let's just say that the new Windows operating system is like an ultra-smart kid who doesn't know how to fix a nice cup of tea. The modem didn't work. I gave in. I got BB. It worked at once. I was amazed. Now I know what the fuss is about; blogs which usually take ten minutes to download flash up like magic. Video clips actually appear. Sites don't crash. I can listen to the radio online.
So, I got a few bits of cheap furniture, which only added to the muddle. The futon base had to be stored in the bath, while we slept downstairs...oh what fun.
Shifting heavy furniture about in a few inches of space - and then realising they didn't work - and moving them back again. Trapping myself in the room with piles of books. Just a couple of the happy moments from the last three weeks.
But at last I have a dedicated sewing area, with all my craft and needlework books in one place - and my dear old jalopy of a machine ready for use. I haven't used the poor thing in seven years. I found an unfinished sock, with lovely wool which Stuntmother sent me two years ago. I discovered the blocks from a patchwork quilt I had pieced but never joined. Story of my life.
Some of my best books and toys on a lovely oak bookcase I picked up for next to nothing. Fairy stories, toy reference books, nursery rhymes, 'Brewster's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable' - everything inspirational on hand and not in a pile.
We even got to sleep upstairs again, and some lovely people rebuilt this six foot square bookcase for us. For the first time in my life I can reach my books without having to negotiate them out from the middle of a heap. (Although I still have piles of books in odd corners - who hasn't?) I love going to sleep in a cocoon of books. 
So now what was a bedroom...
...is now a lovely, light studio. My portfolios are tidy(ish) and art materials organised. Best of all, my creative doldrums disappeared amid all the carnage; I'm ready to work again, and come back to the real world. I owe people emails, presents and general thanks for support. I have blogs to catch up with...what have you all been doing? I'm going to find out.
Being a bit of an anal type I kept a record of the whole process. If you are busy procrastinating, have nothing better to do - or even just enjoy watching someone else dig a hole, you can find the set on Flickr, here.
Hem. (Clears throat self consciously). Feeling a bit silly for letting off like that - being a secretive Cancerian I like to be in tight control of things...memo to self, don't blog when having a hissy fit. Thank you so much - everyone - who took the time to post supportive comments and e-mail me privately - you have no idea how much it helped - I spend so much time on my own that it's easy to forget just how many people are out there. Prima donna moment over; we soldier on. I decided to put into action a couple of things I've been avoiding. The first being to invest in a new computer and go broadband. I hope to be speeded up next week and will be adding a studio web cam to this blog. Which brings me on to the next thing - moving rooms. I've been putting it off for months now, but recently I almost wrecked a job because I had barely enough room to paint. So we decided to Do Something. Because as it is now...
I can barely squeeze myself past all my resources....
...to jam myself into the few inches of space...
...and sit for long hours creating...
...with half my materials buried in boxes.
If it was just my little part time hobby I'd put up with it, and thank my lucky stars I had any space at all. But I do earn a modest income from it, and now I'm expanding into type and print, there is no way on this good Earth that I can work in there. So we are having a major upheaval and I will be in here instead...
(and from where I usually blog)
My big painting table will go in front of the window where I will get lots of lovely light, instead of the shadowy, sideways dinge I'm working in now. Most of my waking moments recently have been dedicated to working out how it's all going to be rearranged. To this end I've been scabbing lifts off my friends, trawling house clearance shops and have found a few sticks of cheap second hand furniture which are now clogging up the downstairs room. (Yes, we only have one). I am going, literally up the wall - because that is where the spare space is. Most of my books are piled everywhere, as tall shelves are so expensive. But I should be getting a six foot square bookcase soon, donated by a friend and languishing at present in bits, in an old barn. In the meantime we are going to have great fun manoeuvring everything around in a small awkward upper space. But when it's ready I can move my little 'type room' from the coffee table downstairs and get started.
Next stop world - domination!
I found your blog a few months ago, and your Etsy store, =) and have been reading ever since. I love your artwork and am sure I will have to buy some very soon. But today I went right over to Rima's store at your suggestion and bought myself a calander! Thank you for the hint.=)
My favorite picture of yours, by the way, is the header to your blog!
Sorry your feeling poorly and hope that you soon feel better.
Carolyn
Willow House
Gretel, as you can see you have been wafting custom through my shop doors :) Thanks so much for telling all about my humble little calendars!
As always it is lovely to see the nooks and crannies of your inspiring studio and lovely that you've got the oompf to get drawing :) I hope the weather climbs right back underneath you soon! Sending you virtual picturesque snow from up here today :) Lots of love and thanks again x
Thanks, Gretel!
I didn't think a signature was necessary, but I'm pleased to have provided a few moments mystery at least.
When visiting a friend's house I cannot resist looking along their bookshelves … you have some wonderful old volumes there. Surely it cannot be pure chance that the pointing finger card finishes up directed at "The Caxtons"?
Alan
What a lot of lovely things have come to you! Hope you recharge a bit and come out of your retreat feeling better. Your tags were very well received by the way! thank you.
Lovely drawing, I hope 2008 is agreat year for you.
Thanks for the link to Rimas blog. Her esty shop is wonderful. Yes take a rest with your sketchbook in front of your woodburner, and show us your sketchbook delights when you come out of hibernation ! ~ love Julia x
Gretel it has been wonderful to catch up on your last few posts (I am so behind on blog reading but actually it is nice sometimes to read a few favourite bloggers posts in a row). I just wanted to wish you a wonderful year for 2008 - it has been lovely to discover your art and your world via your blog and I look forward to seeing more!
Have fun relaxing and sketching in your beautiful wee home - xxx
lovely books (and other stuff)
poor poorly heffalump, and you
hope you feel better soon
and that 2008 is GREAT for you
I would so love to have a rummage through your studio, as a fellow accumulator! Hope you feel better soon and at least get some drawing done.
Hope you make a speedy recovery Gretel. I've just read about your tumble.
I'm sure you will be grabbing 2008 by the balls and make it a successful year.
I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well - hope you are better soon.
I don't know if it's just your artistic eye or whether a lot of thought went into each one, but I love the way your items are framed against the backdrop of the books. I so want to come and rummage through your tomes - I see some old friends tucked in there:)
I hope you are feeling well again very soon, Gretel, and looking forward to seeing your drawings. This is such an iformative post - thanks for the links to Rima's etsy shop, too.
Clare
xx
PS - I love your blog header, too!
Hope you feel better soon.
Lovely drawing, look forward to seeing more.
Other peoples studios are fascinating. I love the items on display
Your gorgeous cards arrived this morning...stunning art work. I don't think that I can bare to part with them!
Hope you feel well very soon.
Take care,
Alison x
Happy New Year Gretel
Sorry it has taken me so long to reach you with this greeting.. I was a bit blogged out at Christmas!
Hope your weather isn't under any more and you are feeling better..
Your creative cogs are turning out some lovely works..
May 2008 be full of success and inspiration..
Michelex
P.s Ha... another Tintin fan... I teethed on Tintin books.. my Belgian aunt sent new publications regularly..signed too!
Everything is lovely. I'm afraid the goop is going around--all over the world it seems. Feel better soon.
Hope you are soon 100% dear girl.
Thanks for the peek into your studio...its fabulous.
(())
Francie
I think we all feel a bit like the poor collapsed elephant at this time of year.
I'm really loving your blog and illustrations!
all best wishes from Marrakech
I loved walking through your studio. Some of those books made me go all weak because I love old books. The covers and binding on them are a work of art in itself and I can disappear into the world of illustraions quite easily. How marvellous it would be if I could draw my own world to emmerse myself in. You are so lucky to have such talent. Hope you are feeling better and look forward to seeing what you are working on next.
I adore interesting studios, like yours. Gawd help us from the designer minimalist places some people seem to prefer.
Get well soon!
I just found your blog. It is wonderful.I love your swet, beautiful illustrations. They speak to my heart.
Love,
Linda
www.lindablondheimartnotes.blogspot.com
Oh my lovely, I am sorry you are feeling under the weather at the moment; I hope that you're feeling a little better. Much love xx
I just discovered your blog - I love the Cat's Cradle cards. And those books with the printer blogs.
Hope you're feeling better!