Skip to content
abi partridge
  • Home
  • iola magazine
  • Creativity
    • Creative Business
    • Creative social media
    • How to find the time to write or be creative
    • simple creativity
    • Creativity for wellbeing
    • Relaxing activities by season
    • Free Creative Resources
  • About Abi
  • Work with me
  • Tools
  • Shop
Site Search

Creative spaces

  • October 10, 2017October 15, 2017

It’s tempting to think, (especially when fed other creative’s beautiful images on social media) that in order to be creative we need a special place. Not only do we need our own office/study/studio/tower/spare bedroom/garden room/attic but we need a perfectly inspiring space full of art and practical yet beautiful storage. Oh and don’t forget a beautiful view, preferably of mountains or the sea. This space must have its own desk and chair and we need all the best equipment and storage that is perfectly designed for each individual tool. And of course it’s always perfectly tidy and clean with tools at your fingertips! I’ve had this dream, and I actually have a space that could be used for this, but I don’t use it because it’s cold and it’s often a mess, it’s become storage for bits that I need to get rid of.

simple creative spaces
dream creative space, but no window featuring the sea, scratch that then!

I’ve been too busy actually doing the work to focus on the space.

See I can use the excuse of I need to tidy my space before getting any creativity done, and sometimes that’s true. But what if we stop being creative because the space is too untidy or because we don’t have a space or it doesn’t look like it’s ‘supposed’ to?

Wouldn’t that be disappointing? I know I would feel frustrated that I hadn’t found the time to do something that I love to do, that is a form of self-care and helps me to feel that I’m contributing something.

Like most things it’s a balance. A balance between having a space but not letting our creativity get stuck in having the perfect space. A balance between starting anyway but having the space to do so. The space is meant to serve you, not you to serve the space.

So how to deal with this conundrum? Here’s my thoughts.

Simple creative space tips

Always have one table and chair where you can be creative, if you only have a few minutes. It could be a multitask space if necessary, desk/dressing table in your bedroom, a side table, or having a bookshelf in the kitchen to transfer equipment to when you need the table for meals.

If you only have 30 minutes for creativity but your space is a mess, use 15 minutes for some tidying and 15 minutes for being creative. Similarly you could schedule time to be creative in your week and make it a priority, no matter what else needs doing. There will always be cleaning to do.

Tidy as you go, I suggest having a table top bin, so that if you are making something you have a bin to put scraps in as you go.

The best storage is what you already have – recycle, move stuff from other rooms, don’t shop unless you have too. I’ve used golden syrup tins as pen pots, cake stands for storage, bookshelves with baskets for crafty bits.

Creative spaces

Be determined to be creative despite your circumstances, because they will never be perfect, and if you wait until then you might find that your inspiration has up and left!

Pin-able image

creative spaces

Christmas Wreath workshops 2017 in Oxfordshire & surrounding counties

  • October 9, 2017October 9, 2017

Simple creativity – means going somewhere else to learn and leave the mess behind! Wreath workshops are a popular way to do that.

This is the third year that I have published a round up of local (to Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds) wreath making workshops. At the time of publishing these all still had places, but please do check as I haven’t included workshops that I know are fully booked, so places may fill up fast on these dates. This is a list of wreath workshops for greenery/floral wreaths only.
As ever if you have a course/workshop that you would like included then please email me details and links to abi@abipartridge.com. I will be updating the list in the next few weeks.

Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash

Wreath workshops in Oxfordshire

Fabulous Flowers – Abingdon, Crown and Thistle Hotel

29th November 10am – 12noon
30th November 2017 6pm – 8pm
£75

Ardington School of Crafts, Ardington

Saturday 2nd December 2017 9.45am – 4.30pm
£80

Millets Farm, Frillford

29th November 10.30 am
6th December 10.30 am
£45

Foxgloves and Roses, Letcombe Bassett, Wantage

2nd December 10am-1pm
£45

Wreath workshops further afield

Willow and Thyme, Rectory farm, Tingewick, Bucks

2nd December 2-5pm
3rd December 10-1pm
£45

Old Wardour Castle, Nr Tisbury, Salisbury, Wiltshire

3rd December 9am
3rd December 1pm
£46

Upton House, Warwickshire

8th December 10 – 12
£15

Daylesford Farm, Kingham, Gloucestershire

6th December 10am-12.30pm
£165

Sonning Flowers – Reading

28th November 2-4pm
29th November 10-1pm
21st December 2-4pm
2nd December 10-12pm
7th December 6-8pm
8th December 2-4pm
From £60

Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust

The Barn at College Lake, Tring, Bucks,
Sunday 3rd December 1:00pm – 3:00pm
£10

Aesme Shepherds Bush, London

9th December 2017
16  December 2017
10am – 1pm.
£95

Bluebell Wood Florist – Tewkesbury
​

Tuesday 29 November 7-9pm
Wednesday 30 November 1-3pm
Tuesday 5 December 7-9pm
​Wednesday 6 December 1-3pm
£35

Botanic Gardens with Sue Amesbury – University of Bristol

9 December 1.30 pm
10 December  1.30 pm
£40

Bristol Flower School

2nd December 10am and 2pm
3rd December 10 am and 2pm
Price: £50

Hedgerose florist, Marlborough Wiltshire

6th December 10-1pm
6th December 6.30pm – 9pm
£50

 

paint fabric cushion

Paint fabric using ordinary watercolours

  • October 8, 2017October 10, 2017

Ever wanted a design on a cushion but not sure how to get it there? Today I’m going to share how to paint fabric, which I did on a cushion cover, it could as easily be a pillowcase or other item of clothing even. You can do this simply with normal watercolour paints and fabric medium:

(affiliate link)

This cushion cover is from the Re: create book and to create the design, all you need is some watercolour paints, fabric medium, water, brush, a plastic bag and a tumble dryer or iron.

Re: create book

Place a plastic carrier inside your cushion cover to prevent paint colour bleeding onto the back of the cover.

paint palette

Mix your fabric medium with water. Have another water pot for washing your brushes.

Mix a few shades of lavender colour. Wet your brush with the fabric medium mix and then use to wet your watercolour paints.

Paint the lavender sprigs by painting green stems. You may wish to lightly mark in pencil first. Paint the petals using different tones of lilac and purple.

paint fabric

Paint some green leaves on the bottom of the stems.

If you wish to paint the words also on the cushion, write it in pencil first. You can thicken up the down stems of the letters, the words and letters don’t need to be painted in one stroke, even if they give the impression they were.

be still

When the cover is dry, heat set the paint in the dryer or with a hairdryer.

Fill your cover with a cushion pad, and you have a bespoke cushion design!

watercolour cushion

Here’s another design I painted on a cushion:

paint fabric

Posts navigation

1 2 3 4 5 6

Meet Abi

Meet Abi

iola magazine: bloom BUY NOW!

Free bloom lock screen

Creative devotional guide

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

privacy policy 

copyright: abipartridge.com
Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
Before you go, I'd love to send you pretty phone screens.
You'll also get instant access to resources to encourage you in your creativity.
your email is really precious so we promise never to spam or sell it. Signing up to this email list means you opt-in to regular newsletters and offers.
NEW! iola magazine: 'even in the deep' out NOW!
click to see