A room of my own

Hi lovely ladies (an the occational male vistor)! I hope you had a good day yesterday! I celebrated Women's day at the theatre. Two days in a row I got to see two wonderful plays with a feminist agenda (which was much more inspiring than it sounds). I admire my friends who work as actresses and are trying to give women a voice in theatre, which still seems to be a very masculine and conservative place. I also overheard a group of clever female artists discuss the theme "A room of one's own". So today I feel the urge to jot down some of my own thoughts around the theme.

I feel that I have spent the last few years building my own creative room, some days it has been all about the physical space. The kitchen table doesn't work as a work space in the long run! However most of the time I think it is about finding a symbolical room or mental space where you feel comfortable. I feel that I have found my place in what I do, which I think is the reason why I hold on to this Syko project of mine, despite of the financial challenge. I'm quite happy not to spend any money on myself as long as I can stay in this "creative room" everyday. Looking back I feel proud of myself for daring to think outside the box and the comfort zone (my old work/network/education/status...) to create a room where I could be honest to myself everyday. It is no coincidence that my work is positive and happy, I want to share the joy! It took some courage to move into the happy Syko room from the intellectual chambers at the university. Becoming a mother gave me lots of confidence. In my book I put it like this:

If it weren't for my children, I would probably still be looking for my deep artistic expression. Having children helped me realize that sometimes scratching the surface is enough to find your creative flow, Art can be playful and happy, and what would be more important than finding the simple joys in life?

When I was younger everything felt more complicated, but now at 34 with a family and business to run and an often chaotic schedule I feel much more at peace with life and myself. Because I have found my own room. Do you feel that you have a room of your own?    

Comments

[Carina]

What gorgeous little houses, I am inspired. Best wishes,
Carina

[debra]

Beautifully written. I converted our formal living space into my room for creative endeavours. I only blogged briefly about this last week....Family and friends can still gather there as there is plenty of room, and in the meantime i am using it beautifully.
Your work is stunning!!! Nice to meet you

[Rocío]

I feel so identified by your words Kajsa... I wouldn´t have said it better.
I have a room in a shared artist studio away from home and a little "provisional" corner at home as well. I have two kids (4 and 2 years old) and since the youngest was born I hardly find time or peace enough to go to my studio and work, so I work from home, but I think I must have a huge "personal room" inside me because I can find myself working and creating even on the park or in a plane, with my kids shouting and running around me and that makes me sooo happy! I try to make my best organizing the week in order to be more productive, but if i´m not inspired it won´t work, otherwise, sometimes I´m very caotic and come to an idea or want to work on it when I should be cooking or doing some other important everyday task... I agree as well with you that I´ll try my best to stick to this fun work of us, even if financially it´s absolutely crazy to carry on, but I feel so happy with myself and with what i do.... Since I have kids I havn´t painted a single painting with such a passion as before. They were commissioned, I did them. But I agree with you that it isn´t the same anymore. And I don´t really care what my old colleagues at University think. My world is now full of kids and fun. And I´m enjoying it a big lot.
Hope I can manage to keep on like this for long. I know I still have a lot to learn about promoting myself and selling my stuff.

I love your art. keep on inspiring us like you do, both with images and words.

Ro

[sharon from farm and fru fru]

i have so much enjoyed your book, and i agree with your view....i am lucky to have a small space that will soon be all mine. currently it is my guest room/craft space, but with an addition to our home, the room will be my space. i have big plans, small budget, and great ideas....lots of fun thinking all about it!

[kirsty]

Up until last summer, I worked at the dining room table, which was very impractical as I had to tidy away every mealtime. Now I have my own 'studio' and I feel so lucky everyday! Sometimes I have to force myself out of it! And of course, your Love Machine print (now in a frame) is a focal point!!

[anne from finland]

Mitt syrum är för litet för mig. Jag har ju alla mina tyger, knappsamlingar och garn där, men där finns inte plats för mina träföremål som jag målar. Jag är i alla fall så lycklig, att du har fått ditt rum!!!! Trevligt veckoslut!

[Sarah Vee]

I spent International Women's Day cleaning rooms in a motel. My second day on the job. To say it is a change in location and status is an understatement. But your post rings true for me! I still have my creative room:) I love quilting and designing and will continue to do it, even as I now start making my way up the 'workforce' ladder again after staying home to raise children. I found the irony quite amusing with my university degree in Women's Studies. Personally I made choices to honour my values. I'm hoping to one day be back to cleaning only my own bathroom. Cheers to all women everywhere who bring joy to others!! Here's to keeping your creative room sacred and clean:) A work in progress!

[Amanda]

So lovely.

[Jo Bleaden]

I recently took over our little box room that for years has been my husband's domain. It housed my bits and pieces in boxes and a bulging cupboard. I worked in a corner but always had to tidy away. It wasn't a very inspiring place. But now it is mine. Yippee! I have space and shelves and room to create and come and go from when I please.
So yes I do have a room of my own and it is wonderful.
Jo x

[jil]

Thankfully, praise God, I do have my own corner in which to be creative. This space is vital and gives opportunity to reproduce my set out my thoughts in a productive way. It's good to be able to leave gear set out for working and leave it and come back if interrupted and still be able to hopefully resume providing the inspiration is still present or I am determined enough to perservere until it does!
I really like your "love machine" it captured the essence of what we people who love to sew are about, well put!!!

[krista - Poppyprint]

Yes, yes, I do! My blog and my sewing room share that need for me. And all my blog friends, of course, are daily guests in my room, you included. Happy Women's Day to you, too!

[mar]

only a room?? with all these houses is a village only for you!! they are very nice!!

[Beth Gracie]

what a lovely post! we moved to a new home in decemeber and we have a second baby on the way in july. my studio is currently in the room that will be the new baby girl's room...mostly just to be close to my son's room which is next door. but i'll move the studio downstairs to our basement soon to make room for baby. my point is the my studio is currently a work in progress...but my "room" is still my room, no matter how transitional. it's where my sewing machine is, my fabric, markers, magazines and books. i'm actually looking forward to being downstairs because the space is completely white and very large. perfect for a studio! thanks so much for all of your inspiring work. i ADORE your little houses!

[Kajsa Wikman]

Exactly Jen! Im so happy you feel like I do! I can honestly say that I love what I do everyday, which doesnt mean I do not have bad days like everyone :) x Kajsa 

[Jen Osborn]

You'll be so happy to know that it just keeps getting better and better Kajsa! I agree that it's so important to have a room of one's own whether it's both physical/mental or only a mental state doesn't seem to matter, because if you can get there mentally I've found that the physical seems to be a natural follow up. Once you learn to spend time in your room, the urge to create one becomes overwhelming.

I still love my studio as much today as the first day we started turning it over from a sitting room. When I'm down, all I have to do is walk in there, and I'm instantly infused with joy. I love that you're like me, and want to spread that joy to other sewers, artists, and anyone who will sit still long enough to take a peek at our creations.

My advice is to keep that room sacred, and always remind yourself of how wonderful it makes you feel to be there :)