A chalk board sign on the door welcomes visitors....
to "Where I Create"
My studio is divided into specific areas surrounding a central PRoJeCT TaBLe. As a birthday present, my husband, "Bob the Builder" presented me with cabinets of my choice...(did I score, or what?). So, off to the drawing board I went. After drawing a set of room plans, which included windows, door, closet, electrical outlets, etc., I made a list of what I actually would be doing in this room, such as designing, sewing, crafting, bookkeeping and so on. Then, I made lists of what items would be needing space, like my computer, printer, sewing machines, etc. and included the amount of real estate they would require. I knew that I would need as much wall space for cabinets as was available, for storage. A list of "Must Haves" vs. "Like to Have" emerged. Several weeks later, the cabinets were ordered. Bob the Builder installed laminate flooring, and with help from family we also installed the cabinets and the Formica counter tops which were special ordered, due to the configuration of the cabinets. Beautiful...but the contractor white walls on the new house were boring! A coat of light sage green goes well with the cider shade of the oak cabinets and the Carbon Black (a Kelly Moore color) is perfect for grounding everything. It is the blackest of blacks that I have ever come across. I picked up a gallon of it in an eggshell finish to use on the table legs, frames and shelving. Love it.
MY PRoJeCT TaBLe... is in the center of the room, it's Bob the Builder's kitchen table from his bachelor days. My next goal is to sand the top and stain it to match the cider shade of the cabinets. This table was a "Must Have". On it, I design my needlepoint canvases, cut out sewing projects, make jewelry and do crafts. It is "Where I Create". When my sisters, cousins and friends visit, this is "Where We Create" and of course, solve all of the world's problems!
Behind these doors there is a ton of SToRaGe...
GeNeRaL SToRaGe...Although I am not a huge fan of plastic storage drawers, they work well in this closet. All of the fibers and threads are stored by color. Clear shoe boxes hold a wide variety of things, all labeled to more easily identify the contents within! In them I store things like glue, paints, brushes, tapes, glitter.....less used items in the boxes are stored on the higher shelves.
More GeNeRaL SToRaGe... in the right side of the closet, along with my catalogs. Again, more shoe boxes for storage above and plastic drawers below. Very efficient! I dislike hunting for things, it's time wasted for me. I'd much rather be spending that time creating something. Also, when guests are here, I share.
MY SeRGiNG STaTioN...it's commercial, a real power tool and this big boy stitches about 6,000 stitches per minute. It also gathers. Am I lucky or what? When it's not in use, I display my little collection of dress forms on it. It is across the room from my SeWiNG CoRNeR, but I wasn't willing to give up valuable wall cabinets in order to place it closer. It works fine here.
Moving on, clockwise....PaPeR CeNTRaL
This where I store, cut, punch and copy.
And, where I store all kinds of paper and envelopes, along with stickers!
Specialty Paper is stacked lightest weight at the top, heavier weights on lower shelves.
CoMPuTeR STaTioN!
This is where I fell in love with MAC...my new Snow Leopard.
BooKKeePiNG
Keepin' it simple. Need I say more?
I just added the curtains...shears with cotton embroidery. A bit of girly girl without the fuss.
Clear lucite wall files to the right of my desk area, appropriately labeled, keep me on track!
BeaDS & BauBLeS
Go from here to the PRoJeCT TaBLe in under 2 minutes (really!), and back in just a bit more time. They're home is in the uppermost section of this huge cabinet that is to the left of my BooKKeePiNG area.
Oh, the fun begins! I love using vintage beads & such. Then it's on to their next chapter in life.
Below BeaDS & BauBLeS is where I keep my FaBRiC STaSH. Neatly folded, stacked stair step style and placed in bins by color makes life so much easier when I am looking for just the right piece of fabric to use in a project. If I don't have anything that will work, I know it quickly and can head to my favorite haunts for a bit of fabric shopping. There's a full dozen of these bins in this cabinet! I've tried many different ways to store fabric throughout my life and this way has proven to be the most effective solution for me. HINT: Keep an eye out at Thrift Stores and Estate Sales for clothing made from awesome fabrics or have really wonderful buttons.
SeWiNG CoRNeR
Everything I could possibly want or need to get really creative with this little baby is located in the surrounding cabinets. Bob the Builder built in halogen lighting under the upper cabinets, so I can even sew late at night. (Sometimes I think he regrets installing them!)
Upper Left Cabinet holds electrical cords, sewing machine accessories and threads...labeled with my handy dandy DYMO labeler, which is another of my favorite power tools. Jars hold buttons, straight pins, safety pins, etc.. My sewing machine is about 14 years old, but still works great and it embroiders. I would LOVE to have one of the newer embroidery models, but it's not high enough on my "Must Have" right now.
Upper Right Cabinet in the SeWiNG CoRNeR is filled with notions and my vintage lace collection. I cut cardboard squares to fit these bins...a Target purchase for $1 each, then wound the laces, ribbons, cording, piping, etc. around them. I can see at a glance what I have as I search for just the right piece to add to a project. Again...I used my labeler to identify the contents of each bin.
DeSiGNiNG aT THe PRoJeCT TaBLe
It just takes a minute to spread out my pencils, paper, a vintage Tulip Sundae Glass full of erasers, french curves and other necessities, and I'm ready to embark on another design adventure.
PRoJeCT TRaYS
I have 2 types: plastic (L) $1 at the Dollar Tree and porcelain on metal (R) found at thrift type stores. I have a several of the plastic ones and 3 of the metal ones. These are the greatest non-power tool ever invented. The plastic trays are great for projects-in-progress and can be stacked (sometimes!) to take up less room on the shelf. I have several...creative guests love to use them, too. The high sides keep beads, buttons, etc. corralled. The metal trays are used for small item painting, gluing and when using a glue gun. Paint washes off easily and glue just pops off! Most importantly, the metal is a safety factor when using a hot glue gun...it doesn't burn! They pack well in a suitcase, I've hauled them all over the states.
I fear boring you with all of my storage ideas at one time.
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