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 because I'm finally enjoying the present rather than day dreaming of things to come.
Posted by: Lindsay Sledge | April 14, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Life is beauty full becaue the snow has finally melted!
Posted by: Jen | April 14, 2011 at 06:22 PM
my life is beauty-full because I have Jesus ... He has provided many blessing, but those I cherish most are a wonderful husband and four adorable children. my life is beauty-full because God has given me so much and continues to show me I'm capable of more than I think I am. our fourth child, Zoey, was born with a heart defect, a common issue for little ones with down syndrome - which she has. every time I look at her smiling face (or even grumpy face - lol) I am reminded how beauty-full my life is! and I thank God for it!
Posted by: Sasha | April 14, 2011 at 06:32 PM
love those frames and signs! my life is full of beauty and am thankful every day for it.
Posted by: Melissa | April 14, 2011 at 09:02 PM
while both studios look fantastic... i love the open space of emilys! thanks for sharing!
Posted by: shelleymay | April 14, 2011 at 09:32 PM
My life is beautiful because my job is cuddling, reading, crafting, teaching, running, playing and nurturing 3 boys.
Liz and Emily have AMAZING studios!
Posted by: Nancy-Portland | April 14, 2011 at 09:36 PM
oh i just LOVE signs that are a play on words. so clever. i just screen printed a t-shirt that says "make smart choices in your life" but when you look at it closely it really says "make art your life". i wish it had been my original idea, but you know what - it doesn't matter because 'life is beauty full' no matter where all the creative ideas come from :)
Posted by: petrina | April 15, 2011 at 07:19 AM
My life is "beauty full" because I have been blessed with the ability to homeschool my children and be able to spend more free time with them and become their friend.The time with my children is very precious to me and so I value all the time we get together.
Visit our letter project:
http://2011letters.blogspot.com
Posted by: Renee Alam | April 15, 2011 at 08:12 AM
my life is beauty full because i have a sweet little two year old, a husband, and a little one growing inside of me.
Posted by: jana | April 15, 2011 at 09:26 AM
My life is beauty-full because the snow is gone and the spring colors are coming back. It is wonderful to be able to walk outside and see actual colors - not just snow and grey. :)
Posted by: Angie | April 15, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Thanks Emily for this tour into 2 awesome studios ! I love the sign you brought home and your necklace is so cute.
My life is beautiful because, i have a job i adore, a great family and awesome friends to spend time with.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Posted by: Alice | April 15, 2011 at 10:58 AM
LOVE those frames. They're gorgeous! and of course, Beauty-full
Posted by: Alyssa | April 15, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Amazing, beautiful studios!
My life is beautiful at this moment because I've had a productive morning of studying and a friend just invited me over for tea!
Posted by: Sarah | April 15, 2011 at 01:26 PM
My life is beautifl because it's an unknown adventure. Every day there is swist and turns with two little kids I am so lucky to have and a loving supportive husband whom I don't always get along but admire and can't live without. There is absolute beauty in this chaotic little household full of fun and no dull moment!
Posted by: Yuko | April 15, 2011 at 02:43 PM
Love! So creative!
My life is beautiful because of my 2 sweet little boys and my wonderful husband, we just celebrated our 9th anniversary!!
Posted by: Amy P. | April 15, 2011 at 03:10 PM
My life is beauty full because I get to help people everyday when they can't help themselves!
Posted by: Sarah | April 15, 2011 at 05:43 PM
My life is beauty full because tomorrow I am going to spend half the day running on trails up and down mountains and overlooking the ocean.
Posted by: Karen | April 15, 2011 at 05:53 PM
Those are some amazing items they make! My life is "beauty full" because I have a husband who loves me and our three super talented, wonderful, funny, best ever children!
Posted by: Kristina | April 15, 2011 at 06:43 PM
My life is Beauty Full because I am loved and I love and love makes life oh so full of beauty.
Peace & Love,
~Barb~
Posted by: Barb | April 16, 2011 at 09:32 AM
My life is beauty full because I watched my daughter swim across the pool today.
Posted by: Hilary | April 16, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Life is beauty full because of all the creative ideas I get every day from other people. Thanks for showing me those awesome studios and talented ladies. I can't wait to visit their shops!
Posted by: Lisa | April 16, 2011 at 09:25 PM
My life is Beauty Full because I have been blessed with seven AMAZING, fabulous children and one perfect husband that keep me smiling and laughing each and every day!! I could never have asked for anything more!!
Blessings!!
Posted by: Penny | April 19, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Life is beauty full because I have two awesome sons, a good job, hobbies I love, and I survived the Joplin tornado! Life is good!!
Posted by: Monica | June 28, 2011 at 07:56 AM