Virginia Woolf

As I've been painting these miniature interiors, I keep thinking of Virginia Woolf. Her book titled 'A Room of Her Own' is one that I read often as it inspires me to remember how important it is to have my own space in this world.

The bottom right painting is actually a spot in my studio and, funnily enough, is filled with free furniture...a chair I picked up off the street, cleaned and repaired; a fireplace mantle that a neighbor was going to bring to the dump; an area rug that belonged to my daughter; a stool that a friend passed along before moving. Nothing here was an investment of funds nor did it come quickly, and yet it is one of my favourite spaces.

The painting in the upper left is s spot in my daughter's room - her chair was once a wedding gift that my mother-in-law passed along to us and which I recovered with a remnant piece of fabric from my sister-in-law; the cabinet was given to us by my parents, and much of the fabric inside it was gifted to my daughter by friends and family.

Though the items in the other two images were purchased throughout the years by my husband and I, they still came slowly so that we could choose items with care. Our homes are important places so surrounding ourselves with things that mean something to us is vital. It doesn't have to cost a lot (if anything at all) but it just needs to make us feel comfortable, welcome and safe.