A Creative Challenge!

Stevie Wren of A Little Birdie Told Me So gave her bloggyfriends the following challenge:

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"My challenge to you this week is to take some pictures of the space you use most when you are feeling creative, where you write or simply where you sit and think of your best ideas. What inspires you? Then on Friday post your photos and tell what, when, where, why and how you are inspired to be creative."

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The first picture is the secretary I found in an antique shop. It had shelf space for books and cubbyholes for stamps and stationery and inks.

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I've taken over the front guest bedroom my officette. This is where I keep my laptop, and where I write my posts, poetry and letters. I am occasionally displaced by guests and hurricane evacuees, but happily so.

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A closeup of my workspace shows my favorite reference book: Maidenhood and Motherhood by the good Dr. West. The poor book has been through a lot, being 122 years old. It has suffered some water damage and the binding is disintegrating. Carly the dog, who is no longer with us - but not for this reason - used it for a chew toy one afternoon when she was a puppy. The pages are still intact, and this has been an inspiration for several posts.

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I also have a pie safe next to the sofa bed that I use as a bookcase. Layla the dog wandered in just as I snapped the picture. She's wearing her Valentine's Day scarf. She loves it when I come in to use the computer - her little dog bed is right next to my chair.

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She makes herself comfortable and falls asleep

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And sleeps some more. She thinks this is our personal private room, hers and mine, and she will not let Lucy the dog in here with us.

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When I'm working on craft projects I usually take over the dining room table. My current project is doing our tax return - so the fun stuff has to wait.

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One of my hobbies is making bracelets and necklaces using semi-precious stones and pearls. I have a pretty large inventory here because I make them but I don't sell them. I'm planning to put them up for sale on Etsy.

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Another favorite pastime is caring for my orchid collection. I have about 80 of them and at any given moment anywhere from 10 to 30 of them are in bloom.

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I have this wonderful potting bench on the lanai. A removable panel on the right conceals a tub that I use when I am repotting orchids. Each plant needs to be repotted every 12 to 18 months. I use orchid bark, which allows for good drainage and plenty of air around the roots. When the bark breaks down it needs to be replaced.

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That little orchid at the far right has been blooming non stop since August. It has small bright yellow orchids - two can fit comfortably on a dime.

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I can hang gardening tools and dry herbs on the back of the bench. Plus it has a storage drawer and a bottom shelf for pots and orchid mix. Orchids probably don't require as much care as I give them, but it's relaxing and an excellent excuse for staying outside.

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The rewards are beautiful!