I am lucky to live on an island full of creative people. One of those people, who’s work I’d seen around before but only recently met, is Dimitra Skandali. Dimitra is a gorgeous, inspirational woman who grew up on Paros and who creates the most fantastic works of art.

I visited her studio last week and she allowed me to take some photos of this wonderful space while we had a coffee and chatted.

Like all artists, her space is full of stuff… stuff in the process of being created, finished stuff, bits of stuff, stuff to make things with, stuff which might come in handy one day, collected stuff, found stuff, wonderful stuff, fun stuff, pretty stuff, old stuff, broken stuff, small stuff, big stuff… just STUFF in all its forms.

I could have spent happy hours exploring her studio!

Her workbench in the middle of the space has tools and materials laid out in preparation for her current projects, laid out neatly, everything within reach…

Crates and bags of dried organic matter, flowers, thread, the ubiquitous stuff she finds which might work in this or an upcoming project.

I just love these hanging baskets dotted with dried flowers. I can’t wait to have my own studio full of things like that… and the space to leave things out and not have to pack one project away to begin another, have visitors or cook…

A weaving project she’s working on laid out over an antique chair. Made from old fishing nets, seaweed and other materials she’s weaved together. Beautiful, haunting and oh so intricately worked.

One day I’ll have a mannequin set up with my tea bag dress in the corner of my studio and pretty stuff everywhere!

Look at all those gorgeous hanging bits and woven art on the walls!

One of the first pieces of Dimitra’s work I’d ever seen was a collection of framed work she’d made using seaweed, like this below.

The little office nook. How cute is that!

I could really relate to her studio – like many artists, myself included! – there are surprises everywhere you look. Part of an old lamp is now the home of a large rusty moth… and it just works!

Dimitra runs the Cycladic Arts Center, a place that has artists in residence from around the world through the year, has shows on a regular basis and hosts events.

I encourage you to visit her website to see her work and explore the Cycladic Arts Centre site.

I came home inspired… then looked at the mess I call a home/studio and despaired. I am nowhere near her league of professionalism.

It’s time to start working again! It’s been too long.

z