Monday, January 23, 2012

Sanctuary


A safe haven.  A port in the storm.  Sanctuaries can be anywhere a person feels safe and at peace with themselves.  Writers need their own form of a sanctuary whenever they sit down to write.

I don't have the luxury of jetting off to some tropical shore for the chance to write my next great novel.  I live a life full of commitments and obligations to others and I find precious little time to indulge in my writing.

Maybe you are the same way?  Do you compete with the children for the dining room table?  Or maybe you stay up late, curled up in a favorite chair and madly typing away at your computer while the rest of the world sleeps?


When my son moved out of the house last year,  I decided to turn his bedroom into my private study.  My own sanctuary where I could indulge in my love of both reading and writing.  It took me a very long weekend to remodel, but in the end I created my own "safe" place where no one judges me.

It started with a nice glider rocker where I could put my feet up and relax.


I then added a place for my cat to curl up if he wanted, and a small bookshelf for reference materials.  If you look closely, you will see a copy of probably one of my all time favorite books...The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.


I knew my writing would be very important to me so I chose carefully where I would do my best work.  I love the old time look of a roll top desk and this one was soon added to my sanctuary.  On my dry erase board is the date of my first submission to a publisher...and the silence that came with it shows me that my first "rejection" wasn't so bad after all.  At least it didn't stop me!


There is a non-working fireplace on one side of the room.  No matter, I just stuck some silk seaweed in the hole and my seal family got comfortable.


I just might like the mantel the best.  I threw sand down and covered it with shells.  The artwork is something I created myself and next to my angel is a copy of my poem "Angel By The Sea".  You can read it in my blog post here ( http://donasdays.blogspot.com/2012/01/angel-by-sea.html ).


Of course I had to have lighting and a place for my laptop.  My credenza and chest has an old world map design to them which fits very nicely into the theme of the room.


And last, but not least, some wall accents.  

I love my studio and actually no one but my cat is allowed in there.  I can sit there, surrounded by the smell of beach and books...knowing that if I close my door, I shut out all the distractions of the outside world and can find peace in my own sanctuary.

And where does my son get to sleep now?

When he comes for a visit, he gets the recliner in the living room...;0)



20 comments:

  1. I love your me-room. I wish my computer had a smell app. so I could take in the aroma. I am also taking a young man's bedroom away from him and making it into a me-room. It will also have books and hopefully inspiration.
    As for the young man,if he wants to spend the night,he may use the air mattress he left here.
    Show us that cat and we will really get to know you. Love this blog.

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  2. Thanks, Janet, for stopping by! I must admit, I do love my new study! Now if I just had more time to spend in it...lol

    Come back any time!

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  3. Your sanctuary is beautiful, Donna! It looks exactly the kind of place to inspire great writing. I am not going to show you my office - so cluttered I can't get in there half the time! - or the kitchen table which is where I work in the winter because it's warmer and sunnier. It would horrify you so much you'd never leave your sanctuary again :)

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    1. Thanks, Susanna! My house is extremely tiny...only 750 square feet...almost a cottaqe, so I really can't afford to have it cluttered...;0)

      I also think your office might not be quite so tidy because you are an established author and have MUCH more important projects lying around than I can only hope to have one day...lol

      Thank you for stopping by and come back any time!

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  4. I love your sanctuary Donna! It's a very creative space that will make you want to be there. Thanks for sharing your photos. I require a lot of quiet and space when I'm working. Fortunately the kids are grown. Loved your post -- inspired me to clean up my writing space. Cluttered again. I don't need to keep all those paper drafts around me.

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    1. Pat, I only have one son, and I must confess that room looked NOTHING like that when he was in it! Typical male child mess...lol...

      Anyone who comes to the house now KNOWS that they are not allowed in my study...nothing personal...I just want a "time-out" room of my very own...I waited 50 years to get one and I think I deserve it!

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  5. I love your sanctuary, and the beach-feel of it. My sanctuary is currently exceedingly messy, with my desk a bit of an oasis in the sea of clutter. (I have good intentions -- does that count?) I find it so helpful to have a dedicated and inspiring spot to work.

    Perhaps I should do some tidying at some point this afternoon!

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    1. Beth, I find it amusing that more than one person had the urge to clean after reading my post. Oh my, that was NOT my intent at all! Lol

      I also do alot of my writing in the living room now that I have the house all to myself...that is except for my cat, Tommy. And THAT room is not so nearly as tidy and pretty as my study. I have two large shelves of books on writing in there and it will be the next room to remodeled due to tree damage so maybe one day soon it will be as restful to be in as the other room! ;0)

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  6. I love your sanctuary, Donna! Beautiful photos that made me want to be there!

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    1. Thank you , Annie...I like it too! ;0)

      I didn't have a decent picture of the hardwood flooring or the rug with the different shades of ocean blue in it to help tie the whole room together.

      Thanks for stopping by...come back any time!

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  7. Donna, your writing space is so uniquely yours, it's wonderful. I hope you get much inspired writing accomplished there.
    My space is not as pulled together. Maybe that is one reason I often find it hard to focus when I do get the chance to write.

    I want to let you know that I have awarded you The Versatile Blogger award. Find details on my blog www.lynnadavidson.wordpress.com in my January 22'12 post.

    I hope you enjoy it! Blessings on your day.

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    1. Thanks, Lynn, for stopping by! I have been at work all day but did catch a glimpse earlier of the award you gave me and I must say I am both honored and pleasantly surprised to receive such a gift! Thank you, thank you!

      I am planning right now to hop over to read your blog details about it. I'm not sure how I made the cut but it touches my heart to be thought of so kindly.

      Thanks again and come back any time!

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  8. Thanks for sharing your sanctuary. I hope it brings you inspiration for your writing! I am a big fan of fireplaces -- l love your seals. I love to sit in front of the fire with my journal.

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    1. Hi, Eric! I, too, am a huge fan of fireplaces. I have another one in my living room that doesn't work either so I have a multi-level stand for candles tucked inside and on the mantel I have wrought iron, two story Halloween houses and a skull and hand tart burner by Yankee Candle decorating it.

      Oh yes, I have an unusual taste for different things...although actually THAT collection belongs to my son...he just doesn't have anywhere to put it right now...lol

      Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  9. What a lovely serene place to spend your time writing Donna. I love it. Mine is the dining room table, and it can get quite messy I can assure you. But I like it with the sun and the view.

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  10. Thank you, Diane! My study faces north east and is quite sunny as well as being the quietest room in the house. There is so much peace and tranquility in that room...I'm so glad I remodeled it after my son moved out.

    Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!

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  11. I'm glad that your sanctuary is an actual physical place. I was ready to read about the sanctuary in your mind. My "sanctuary" is a corner of my dining room. OK, I'm lying, it's not a room, it's more of a dining "area" with a file cabinet, laptop, printer, and a bulletin board covered with inspiring quotes, sayings, and lucky charms. There are always a few dog toys on the floor to trip me, and because my dog can't take no for an answer. At the end of the day, everything we really need IS up there in our heads, anyway. Nice post. I'm a follower!

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    1. Genevieve, I ADORE Cupcake! Is he/she a Jack Russell Terrier? I used to have one but he didn't like being alone when I was at work all day...it was time to find him a new home when I discovered he had EATEN through my hardwood floors and tried to get out my crawl space!

      I'm glad I was able to surprise you with the actual visual of my sanctuary...;0)

      Thanks for stopping by and becoming a follower! Come back any time!

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  12. Replies
    1. Thank you, Hannah, I'm just glad I have a door so I can shut the "craziness" away on the other side! Lol...

      Thanks for stopping by...come back any time!

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