while i was in arizona, i got to hang out in two yummy and inspiring studios - belonging to sisters liz & emily. they used to live next to do each other but since my last trip to az they've both moved houses but still live closeby. i loved seeing how they had both set up their new creative spaces...want to snoop around them with me?
liz makes all kinds of cool stuff, but jewellery (yes i am going to spell it the aussie way!) is her first love. she has her metalsmith station on one side of the studio where she melts, hammers, stamps and does other cool stuff to silver...
on the other side of the studio she has a long workbench with computer, sewing stuff, baby stuff, and just cool stuff to look at. an island in the middle with lots of storage underneath. liz is all about storage, and being organized. i need her to live closer to me!
one end of the studio is for her boys to hang out in, so lots of fun stuff for them to play with and look at. i love this alphabet she made for them :)
liz can make anything. she's clever like that. while i was there i helped her with a massive king size quilt she started - totally her style - grungy and funky and colourful. i can't wait to see it finished!
i'm completely in love with the necklace she made for me....arrrr! i got to rummage through all of her stuff and say "make this bit like this...then do this here...and yep i want that!"...and it turned out exactly how i wanted!
(liz's online catalogue with all her designs is here)
while liz's house is full of metal and bikes and 3 little boys...her sister em is up the road with 3 little girls! emily is also insanely multi-talented and makes heaps of different cool things for her home and family. she has a big open studio off her kitchen, with lots of space to move around in, and handmade-by-her (she is amazing!) workbenches and shelving.
em has a great eye for colour and i'm in love with all her grungy and distressed touches she adds to her work.
emily makes signs and frames. really cool ones. she builds the frames herself, then uses tin, paint, mod podge, paper, cardboard and goodness knows what else to create these funky pieces.
i think she's so clever to takes basic stuff and turn it into this!...so rustic and unique. i brought my favourite of her signs home with me...
can't decide where to put it yet and it has been travelling from my bedroom to the living room to the kitchen to outside!
em & liz are each offering a $30 gift certificate to their shops as a giveaway! leave a comment below, telling us why your life is 'beauty full'...and a winner will be drawn at random on friday!
winners!!! picked by the true and trusted squint-&-point method (this time via mick's hairy finger):
katie, please email me so i can organise your winnings! morgs, birthday weekends must bring good luck hey? mick and his hairy finger finally came through!
My life is beautiful right now as I look forward to becoming a volunteer this weekend with an incredible charity! So excited! Oh...and thanks for this awesome giveaway!
Posted by: Ellen | April 13, 2011 at 02:25 PM
This is amazing!!! I love to watch talented people in their space. AMAZING!!! thank you for sharing!!!
Posted by: Suyai | April 13, 2011 at 02:38 PM
Thank you for sharing these two amazing women. Their studios are beauty full and so are the things they make!! Just discovered your blog and am liking what I see so far!!
cathrynanne1952@aol.com
Posted by: Cathy Graves | April 13, 2011 at 02:56 PM
It's always so much fun to peek into other artists studios! My life is beautiful because I just achieved 1 year and 100 post of Blogging! Come see me at Baxter's Mom...I have a giveaway going on too!
Posted by: Sylvia Drown (Baxter's Mom) | April 13, 2011 at 02:58 PM
i L*O*V*E their work!
...my life is beautiFULL because my 3 kids are healthy & happy...
xoxo...
thanks for the chance to win & for the studio "tour"!
Posted by: patty | April 13, 2011 at 03:07 PM
these ladies are fantastic, i can just imagine how much fun the 3 of you are together! thanks to you all for this give away, pick me, pick me! :) kat
Posted by: kat | April 13, 2011 at 03:12 PM
my life is beautiful because of the family and dreams my husband and i have created.
Posted by: tiffany | April 13, 2011 at 03:18 PM
What a fun post--I loved seeing each space. My life is 'beauty full' because we are content. We have the perfect little cozy house, plenty of space to play and plant in the backyard and a husband who is home by 4 everyday!! We're blessed big time!
Sarah M
Posted by: Sarah M | April 13, 2011 at 03:36 PM
What amazing spaces!
My life is beautiful because we are a happy contented family and I have 3 healthy happy children!
Posted by: beki | April 13, 2011 at 03:39 PM
It's beautiful because it's spring, we're healthy, my first roller derby bout is Sunday, and I might not have to sell my Vespa for some extra money like i thought! Thanks for the giveaway!
Samantha :)
Posted by: Samantha | April 13, 2011 at 03:42 PM
Love seeing these spaces...as I am trying so hard to organize mine! Very inspiring!
My life is beauty FULL because I get to be home with my children and dabble in my creativity.
Posted by: Still Lily | April 13, 2011 at 03:47 PM
big dreams, hands covered in paint, warm spring days bursting with sunshine, and exciting adventures lingering on the horizon make my life beauty full!
Posted by: ingrid {my peacetree} | April 13, 2011 at 03:47 PM
My life is beauty full because it is full of wonderful people and a God who loves.
Posted by: Annie | April 13, 2011 at 04:15 PM
My life is beautiful, despite my health problems, which could get me down. Instead, I concentrate on my love for teaching, my love for making art, and the strength of a healthy relationship--the first in my life!
Posted by: Wendy | April 13, 2011 at 04:22 PM
My life is beauty full because I am the only thing I've known that I wanted to be my entire life, a mom.
Posted by: Donna | April 13, 2011 at 04:25 PM
My life is full of beauty and beautiful because I am still breathing and I am in love with my 2 boys and all that they give to me as a mother and a wife!
Posted by: katherine | April 13, 2011 at 05:25 PM
My life is beauty full because I have three wonderful, crazy, amazing daughters and a burgeoning sense of grace. Thank you so much for sharing these today--I feel so inspired!
Posted by: Katie R | April 13, 2011 at 05:25 PM
i can't decide if i'm more in love with their work or their work space!
Posted by: gitz | April 13, 2011 at 05:47 PM
My life is full of beauty because I have friends and family that I love and that love me in return!
Posted by: Carlee | April 13, 2011 at 05:47 PM
I believe ALL of life is full of beauty and beauty-full - sometimes we simply forget to look for it! It is in the little things, in nature and in those around us all. the. time. Not just when we are expecting it :)
What gorgeous studios, I crave a space like that!
Posted by: Sasha | April 13, 2011 at 06:23 PM
So much creative beauty here! My life is beauty full because I am happy, healthy, and in love with my husband =)
Posted by: Tyrah | April 13, 2011 at 06:31 PM
WOW! Those two ladies are truly talented! My life is beauty full to me because I have the most amazing little family I couldn't ask for a better husband or a more amazing baby girl! Life is good!
Posted by: Christina C | April 13, 2011 at 06:37 PM
My life is beauti-full because I have two adorable little great granddaughters.
Posted by: Jane T in NW Louisiana | April 13, 2011 at 06:39 PM
Love Liz's stuff and I follow her blog and have done for years. My life is Beauty Full because it is filled with my beautyfull son Ryder and Beautyfull friends and i live in Beautyfull Melbourne Australia
Posted by: Jodii | April 13, 2011 at 06:44 PM
Love the giveaway! My life is beauty full because I am the mom to four amazing children:)
Posted by: Tracy | April 13, 2011 at 06:54 PM