We moved our family of seven into a rambling old home in a quaint small town in 2002. As a homeschooling family, we used every nook and cranny for living and learning. Most rooms have adapted through the years for our changing needs and interests. At one time the largest upstairs bedroom was a sewing room for my daughter and myself, now my sewing room is tucked into a windowed closet. Through the years I dabbled in many types of art and handicrafts, learning skills to pass on to my children or often times learning skills alongside of my children. I have always been a creative, capable with my hands and able to learn many skills. Some I learned to do very well, others just enough to meet my needs or at least to satisfy my curiosity. We always had a space for creating art but it was mostly set up for family use. 

Now that I am a retired homeschool educator and an empty nester, I have been exploring even more ways to create artistically for my own enjoyment. With this big old house I have many options for where to set up my creative space. Only one space feels right. 

We have a wide staircase that wraps around and up from the foyer, with large windows that welcome the bright afternoon sun. At the top of the stairs is a large hall with railing that overlooks the stairway. There is a door to a little upstairs porch, where I hang a bird feeder that can be viewed from inside through a stairway window. I brought our old school table, a vintage solid maple drop-leaf kitchen table, up to that space. Initially to use as a place to cut out sewing patterns. It is now my art table. 

When I am up there nestled among the many art supplies, and the meaningful items I have collected to have around me for inspiration and happy thoughts, I get into the creative flow while occasionally being distracted by birds at the feeding through one window, and our small town landscape through the other, I feel comfortable. It is as if I am snuggled in my little nest, attending to my own interests, yet still able to be a part of and observe my little world from a very good vantage point.