Living with my daughter, her husband and my ex-husband has been interesting. I am fortunate to have a bedroom that I consider my sanctuary. I can go in there, close the door and not be bothered by the rest of the crew. I wouldn’t be able to tolerate this situation if I didn’t have a room that I loved so much.
I thought I would show you some pictures of my room. My wasband has been a computer hog for the last few days and I have had very little time on the computer. I can’t complain because it is his computer and I am lucky to be able to use it when I can.
Everything that I love is in this room. I went from a four room house with a full cellar to this one room. I had to get rid of a lot of my stuff to make room for the rest of the family but everything in this room I couldn’t part with.
Everything that I have been given or collected or just couldn’t part with is in this room. Sometimes I just sit and stare at all the stuff I love. Most of it has been given to me by friends and family so it has an important meaning to me and I just can’t part with it. I love my sanctuary.
Whatever I think 
Feb 15, 2008 @ 07:49:10
I love it! The eclecticness, the color, the Wizard Sign (not no how!), the bookcase is awesome. I can see why you love it. My hub fights my clutter tendency but I’m gaining ground – I want art work on ALL walls! slowly but surely, I’ll have my sanctuary. I don’t know it will quite be a sanctuary but I do want more things on the wall. I tend to ‘pile’ so I have to clean up and sort and etc. Thanks for sharing. (sort of like the refrigerator meme, wasn’t it?)
Feb 15, 2008 @ 09:01:03
I love your sanctuary too. But, I feel like I am trespassing into your soul when I look at your room.
Feb 15, 2008 @ 12:43:10
Great room!!!!! This seems like such a great expression of who you are. The books, the fans, the knickknacks and gargoyles. And how many people have a suit of armor in their bedrooms? This is fantastic!
Feb 15, 2008 @ 19:06:42
See all that crap in Joan’s room? Well I washed every single thing in that room, every knick-knack, every candle, every doo-dad, when Joan was in the hospital last year. It took me four hours. Except I don’t remember the fans. Where did you get the fans? I really like them.
Santa B.
Feb 15, 2008 @ 20:32:10
What betme says … what a collection and what a room! Love the wizard sign too! But I feel so like a voyeur as I read these photos. Thanks for posting them Joan, and for cleaning Barbara!
I expected to see more houseplants …
Feb 15, 2008 @ 20:42:53
@CuriousC
The wizard sign actually has some meaning. When I was in the eighth grade, we were introduced to algebra and I excelled at it. My brother started calling me Wizzie, short for Wizard because of my algebraic skills. Soon the whole family was calling me either Wizzie or the Wiz. My brother still calls me the Wiz. In high school algebra was my passion. I would sit out in the evening on the porch and do algebra problems because I thought they were fun. I loved geometry too.
My wasband gave me that sign a few years ago. He just couldn’t resist. Now I need a calculator and all that algebra and geometry I’ve forgotten.
@Betme
Actually, you probably are getting a peek into my soul but that’s a good thing. I like sharing what I have and what I know (not that I know or have all that much). I’m interested in so many different things. I just need to get off my ass (which has mostly healed, by the way) and start doing the things that I am interested in.
@Moonbeam
I love my Knight. His name is George. My daughter got him for me for my birthday a few years ago. He’s only about 5 feet tall. I saw one at a local store, Home Goods that is seven feet tall and I want him in silver in the worst way. He’s about $150.00, so I am hoping they will still have one in June when my birthday comes around. George is my protector.
@ Santa Barbara
Yes, my dearest sister and best friend dusted like a mad woman so that when I came home from the hospital my room would be sparkling. By the way Sister B., it will be a year on the 17th that I went in the hospital and nothing has been dusted since. What are you doing this weekend? Ha! Ha!
Feb 15, 2008 @ 20:49:04
@ David
I have a few plants in there but not many. I have more in the living room, but still not like what I used to have when I was younger. I had many, many more plants then. What I want now (and it always seems like I want something) is a grow lite. I always use fresh herbs for cooking and I buy them which is so expensive. I want to grow my own. Just the favorites- basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage etc. Just another prize one of the kids can get me for my birthday or Mother’s Day, that comes up sooner. I suppose I won’t have one in my Easter basket which my daughter gets me every year.
Feb 16, 2008 @ 11:37:24
Lighted plant tables are nice to have. I built a very funky A-shaped one that’s managed to last over 15 years. It has a bunch of 4-foot shoplights hanging in it. Cheap but servicable. She starts many garden plants and flowers there. It’s got some onions going on it now, in our basement. Maybe something like this would make a nice “prize” from your kin. It’s a bit big for an Easter basket …
Feb 17, 2008 @ 15:20:44
@David
I love that table and light and I want it. They can all chip in and give it to me for Mother’s day if they ever want me to cook for them again. No light, no supper.
Feb 17, 2008 @ 17:20:51
There are so many things in this room that I want to touch and go through. And you have a photo of Big Pussy on the wall behind the witch! I love him. I think I have that same rug you’ve got under your chair. The butterflies are beautiful, and the Waterhouse “The Lady of Shalott” print is a favorite of mine too. I’ve always wanted a boat exactly like hers. I want to recreate that painting in real life, casting myself as The Lady. Me and her already have the same expression all the time; I always look like a snapping turtle has a hold of my big toe, and so does she.
@ Barbara – You should go get that knight right now today, before it’s gone, and then go over and dust Joan’s room and water her plants. 🙂
@ David – That plant table is awesome.
Feb 18, 2008 @ 12:44:54
That sanctuary looks so cozy and inviting! I can see why you love it so…oh and also I am totally loving the bust by the bookshelf (so European!), and the encased butterflies, and the string of lights, and the plants on the dresser…cozy, cozy, COZY!! 🙂
Feb 18, 2008 @ 21:55:34
@Romi
It is a cozy room, somewhat cluttered but I love it. It also has big skylights so I can see the stars at night.
May 09, 2008 @ 23:26:09
Hi joan
My name is Liam and I am one of Design Toscano’s sculptors. The dragon table that you show in your picture is one of my creations.
http://www.designtoscano.com/product/dragon+and+gargoyle/dragon+%26+gargoyle+furniture/dragon+of+itchen+stoke+manor+glass-topped+sculptural+table+-+ng30622.do
I rarely get to speak with a customer personally. I would like to say thank-you so much and I hope you enjoy it for years to come. The Dragon of Itchen Stoke Manor concept comes from a story my grandfather told me when I was a little lad about a dastardly scary dragon who in the end befriends a town and becomes quite a friendly chap. Design Toscano gives me a free reign to let my imagination flow and bring to life many mystical beings that inhabit my mind. Here is my favorite piece in my Design Toscano collection.
http://www.designtoscano.com/product/dragon+and+gargoyle/gargoyle+garden+statues/gaston%2C+the+gothic+climber+sculpture+-+medium+-+ng832115.do
I am working on a new sculpt for Toscano as we speak. Its a giant black raven on a ball plinth, my take on paying homage to Edgar Allen Poe. Watch Toscano for it. I hope you like it. Best wishes to you dear.
Cheers!
Liam