My Garden Retreat

My Garden Retreat
photo Gridley Graves for Country Living

Meet Mabel

Hello my friends!

Some people have pin boards...
Others...doodles...sketches....gathered pictures


And then their are those...myself included....that do all of the above!
Sometimes...I even build mini still life vignettes to keep me focused!
Meet Mabel!

She has been very kind and patient lately as she has had to model several new smock designs...
Purses and totes...And the occasional paint tarp!
What a girl!


Currently she is wearing one of the Aprons we wear at events and my latest handbag design!


she has also allowed me to prop a ton of stuff at her feet as I "get a feel"
For my space!

She has inspired me!
So has all of my painting paraphernalia!

How do you stay focused...inspired?
I would love to know!


I am grateful that I still have my cottage studio to plan all of this out this year...It has allowed me to walk away from it and return...picking up where I left off.
My sewing room is stacked now with pillows and such but underneath it all ...
It is still as it was last Summer!



I am excited about my space this year at Horton's
And the products I have gathered or made
I can't wait to share them with you!
Thank you for stopping by!

21 comments

  1. Let's try this again...tee hee.

    I am in love with that handbag Donna! Will you be selling them at the flea?? Where do I get my inspiration?? From YOU and other people in blogland! :)
    Hugs~

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your sewing/craft space...no wonder you have such amazing products. What gives me inspiration? I recently found a dress form mannequin too and named her Hazel, collecting fabrics, and blogging. I'm kind of obsessed now with creating thanks to all of the wonderful people like you on the WWW.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Jenna

    www.sequinedsunsets.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love that daybed...the curtains and all the pillows. Wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW. that cottage studio is a dream!! I would never leave if I had such a spectacular space to "work"....just gorgeous!! Please stop by, doing an amazing giveaway for a beautiful bench!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I could live in your sewing room and be very happy. It is the perfect spot to be inspired. You can sew, craft and snuggle up on the daybed with a laptop all in one space.
    My laptop is my inspiration board. I have so many electronic files and files of photo's I've taken. I colour code things and give them funny little names to remember why I filed them in the first place.
    And of course, there is nothing more inspiring than visiting all of the creative blogs like yours.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm loving that handbag....very cool! How do I stay focused lately you ask. Not very well and if you came into my house right now, you'd see why. Only two more days until school is out and I hope to get my focus back and get inspired to get some things done. Wish me luck!

    xoxo
    Kathleen

    ReplyDelete
  7. Focused?

    qu'est focalise'?

    (elle dit rire....)
    xx
    z

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you so much for the kind introduction to Mable 8) I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't think I am ever focused. Love your space and how you decorate. Mabel is wonderful and I love her beautiful bag. As for inspiration...tons of it comes from the generous wonderful people like you here in blogland. Thank you for sharing your talents...

    ReplyDelete
  10. I go from one project to another. I leave my tea pot on the stove boiling over and a wet mop in the sink running over while I am in the studio doing 3 things at once (really just today I did this)

    I love your studio and would love to have my home office with all the matching material.

    I am a dork I read the post where your friend Rebecca sent you that dreamy white bedspread anyway thought it was a current post and left a remark today. LOL

    Janice

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a wonderfully creative idea! I just adore Mabel, she keeps you organized, hmmmm something I really try to stay focused on. ;) However, my mind never really shuts down when it comes to gardening with my herbs. When it is a true passion such as you have expressed here it just becomes pure pleasure.
    Your cottage studio to me is very romantic looking.
    Have a great week,
    Hugs Rosemary

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh my goodness... I can hardly contain myself! I am so happy to have found your blog and become your newest follower! I live in central Indiana, and have been trying to find places to purchase vintage French items. I REALLY hope I can make it to Tipton on July 8th! :) Yay!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your blog keeps me inspired! I also find pretty photos of things I like on Pinterest. I would love to make things like you do... I have been thinking about getting a new sewing machine but don't know what kind. May I ask what kind of sewing machine you have? It's on my wish list for now... Thank you for all the great inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love Mabel and I love that bag!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wish I could get half of what you get done not being focused!
    Glad you still have your studio... Can't wait to see your space for the Fr. Flea.
    Have a great day
    Blessings
    R

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Donna,
    I have a bread rack often filled with inspiration it is in my latest post...LOve all that you create, inspires the soul.

    xx
    Dore

    ReplyDelete
  17. glad you found me and joined my blog as follower- since now I discovered your lovely blog full of inspiration too. have fun with all the preperations and countdown to your French market.
    greetings Col ~ Afrique du Sud

    ReplyDelete
  18. Cutest, rustic apron I've ever seen.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have stacks of clippins of inspiration that I need to organize and put up! your office/workspace is mosr certainly top of the pile!
    Have a PRETTY day!
    Kristin

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave me a comment!
I love reading them~they truly make my day!
~Donna Reyné