Book Review: Where Women Create by Jo Packham (Sterling Publishing)

Creativity comes from the heart and soul, but where you work can either interfere with or inspire the artistic process. For some, it may mean claiming a little nook in the family room. For others, it's important to set up a studio in order to start a business. Whatever your size limitations, you can carve out a space dedicated to your dreams come true.

Let "Where Women Create" be your starting point and fill you with exciting ideas and plans. In these pages more than 20 of the best-known artists in their field open their remarkable work spaces to you. They answer many questions about setting up a practical, beautiful haven. (from the inside front cover)

This is a visually beautiful book. The photography is fabulous and the subject matter is both awe inspiring and envy producing. It is easy to imagine myself a world acclaimed artist, if only I had a space like these to work in. Then I read the accompanying text and see that these women are no different from me or probably you, they have a creative vision and they have moved forward to make it a reality.

The book shows in both pictures and examples multiple ways to store and organize all types of art and craft supplies and media. From antique cigar boxes containing vintage trims and costume jewelry to an unused dishwasher used to store paints, brushes and cardstock.

What I found most inspiring about this book is the variety of ways the artists have made the mundane and practical beautiful. (That is what artists do after all!) These creative women have transformed the necessities of their craft into objects of beauty, many times in simple and inexpensive ways. By just painting and adding an antique frame to a plain bulletin board or repurposing an antique flower frog into a pencil holder they put their own personal stamp on their space.

Also each featured artist shares a tip and a favorite quote.

Keep your materials organized and in view with decorative glassware. You'll be able to find what you need, and the very items that inspire your work will be visible, inspiring you to work. (Anna Corba)

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" (this quote is also on my personal tea mug that I use here at the store!)