Sunday, October 14, 2012

Studio Tour...


A couple of years ago, I moved my studio from a smaller guest room (with one small window facing our neighbour's brick wall) to the front room which has lovely big windows facing the street.  The room is 15' 8" X 11" (12' on the left side with the larger window).  Recently I picked up a great shelf/desk unit from Ikea and I've reorganized my studio, finally achieving a really good working space.  I lack a sink and source of water (which would make it ideal), but there is a bathroom just down the hall and a great utility sink in the basement for messy work.

I have been able to organize several areas, each for specific purposes.  As you enter the room, this is what you see.  Notice the white dresser and night stand to the right.  I'll tell you about those later.



Looking around clockwise, you can see my cutting table in the corner, and the closet doors which double as art display and/or design wall, as needed.  A small peg board, painted to match the walls, holds a variety of tools which I tend to use frequently.




Continuing around clockwise, you come to my fabric storage and ironing/multipurpose work table.  Both this table and the cutting table were made from 'Metro Shelving" with custom made wooden tops (thank to my wonderful husband for those!).  The ironing table is 3/4" ply wood covered with batting and then muslin to give a firm pressing surface.




In the front left corner is the new shelf and desk unit.  Ikea rocks!  It was inexpensive and it works beautifully for my needs.  This area is where I keep my computer and it is also the journaling work area.




I have easy access to all of my tools and supplies and a nice large work surface.  Add to that the large window, giving wonderful natural light in the daytime and it's perfect!  I have used a couple of short tension rods to keep all of my gaffer's tape, coloured masking tape, etc. There is even space on top of the shelf to display some of my work.

This wonderful bookcase was picked up at a quilt store that was going out of business a few years ago.  Great bargain and fit's perfectly into that little nook beside the window!  I have two little office chairs on wheels.  One goes between the desk and this side of the sewing table and the other stays at the other side of the sewing table so that I'm not having to move them around too much and I can also have a friend over for 'play dates'. LOL


On this wall, I've hung a large drapery rod close to the ceiling.  I then got some ribbon and made loops in one end.  These hang from the rod so that I can displace some of my work as well as a few special items like the stained glass dragonfly my friend Sue made, and a blown glass ball that I picked up years ago.  Items can easily be pinned to the ribbon and changed out as desired.  You can see I'm also a fan of those plastic drawer systems you can pick up all over the place (wait for them to go on sale...they do regularly!).  I like that I can see through them and I also put labels on the drawers to help me find things quickly.


Back to the ironing/multipurpose work station, you can see that the Metro shelving provides great storage for plastic bins.  Again see through but also labelled.   On the front of that unit I've hung a long bungie cord that has two hooks on the ends (allowing me to hook it to each end of the table).  Using clothes pegs, I hang small things to dry after painting (that's a piece of painted tyvek and a wipe up cloth you see hanging there).  On top of the end of the ironing surface is a small, inexpensive white bookshelf that I use to house more little bins of 'stuff' for easy reach.  I also keep a large sheet of 6mm plastic handy so if I'm going to be doing any painting I can protect the surface of this table.  



If you look to the bottom left of this photo, you can see the white plastic waste basket.  This is another great perk of the metro shelving.  I was able to drill a couple of holes in the plastic bin so that I could attach hooks to it and hang it from the shelving.  It keeps it off the floor and at a better height for reaching it as I work.  



This corner houses the 12" shelving towers (again inexpensive and available on half price sales frequently).  They're the perfect size for larger pieces of fabric.  The labeled plastic shoe boxes on top hold small scraps of fabric, sorted by colour family.  There's also a space (about 10" wide) between this shelf and the vintage mail sorter (more about that shortly) where I store larger rolls of fabric (donated to me) and bolts (muslin and black) and batting.



Here it is!  My wonderful antique find.  This is a vintage mail sorter and when I saw it out in a field at an antique sale many years ago, I knew it would be perfect for fat quarters and such.  I've since also found some perfect little plastic bins (labelled unless still empty) where I keep wonderful found objects like vintage keys, bird feathers, etc. as well as other small things that I may need (eye droppers, etc.)





Here's a view of the sewing table from the 'correct' side.  The machine is sunken to table level and there are drawers for more storage.  Behind this is the salvaged white dresser and night stand (that my brother-in-law wanted to get rid of).  It's not quality furniture, but it serves it's purpose for storing all of my stabilizers, fusibles (Misty Fuse, Steam a Seam, etc.), dupioni silk, and yarn (all in labeled drawers...yes, I love my labeller and use it almost fanatically [insert crazy laugh here...]).




The 'wrong' side of the sewing table, with the fold out extension up, allows me to keep my second machine out and working all the time too.  As you can see, those plastic storage drawers on casters fit under it perfectly allowing for easy access to various other materials (like organza bits, tulle, etc. and some additional tools that I don't use as frequently.



 This final shot shows you all of the wonderful natural light I get during the day!  Since I've discovered that I am solar powered (Yes, Lucas, you nailed that one!) all of this bright light is really good for keeping me going!




Thanks for coming on a tour with me.  Now, lets see how long I can keep it looking this tidy...


22 comments:

  1. You have wonderful studio space. I do my wet work in the garage and outdoors too. I furnished most of my studio with IKEA stuff. I love that store!

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    1. Ikea certainly has good organizational pieces. That and the inexpensive shelves and bins, bought on sale, from the likes of Wal Mart and Dollarama, and I've got great storage without spending a fortune!

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  2. I love your studio! I am planning to visit the new big Ikea store in Ottawa. I went through their catalog and made a list of storage items to purchase. This list is as long as a grocery list! I just need the courage to spend a day there. Enjoy your studio!

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    1. Thanks Anne-Marie. I'm excited about the changes.

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  3. Linda, This is just fabulous studio space! I love so many of your ideas. In fact, I may steal a few for my own studio set-up which is in progress! I have and treasure one of your ATCs and love having art all around, so I really enjoyed seeing some of your display techniques. Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Thanks Penny. I certainly like what I've come up with. It's working well. Please use any idea you find useful. It's all about sharing ideas and inspiration! Have fun setting up your studio. BTW, I'm curious, which ATC do you have and from which swap?

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    2. And, did you notice the little ATC frame in the last photo? It holds 12 ATCs and I can switch them out occasionally. I have a mix of my own and some that were received in swaps. It's so nice to be able to switch them up and put new one in the frame now and again. I wish I could find a few more of those frames (can't remember where I bought this one). Maybe that would be a good project for my husband since he loves working in his shop!

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  4. Lucky you - that is a fabulous workspace. I'm most envious.

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    1. Thanks Sue. I've been fortunate to be able to get a lot of great furniture for very low prices (or free) which really helps!

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  5. Love your space Linda, reminds me of my Sister's stamp room She has it organized like yours and she also found an antique table that she incorporated into her space. Her blog is; Stampingwiththedogs.blogspot.com. take a peek at her space if you have time. You girls make me ashamed of my messy work room. Well, winter is coming rapidly here, so I will have plenty of in house time to get it in better shape. Have fun in your beautiful studio!!!

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    1. Thanks Char but remember, I'm in charge of the camera, so pictures are taken only when it's all neat and tidy (which may not last too long LOL). I'll check out your sister's space too. Thanks for the link.

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  6. What an impressive working space you've developed! I'll bet you live in this room! I live in my studio. Love the ATC frame! I've started making fabric postcards - do you do those? If so, would you like to trade? I have ATC's I've done too. I've just started with the postcards, and want to try sending one - on its own - through the mail sometime. Or I'd be happy to trade an ATC. :o)

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    1. Thanks Jean. Yes, I have done some postcards too. I'd be happy to trade one with you. Send me a private email with your contact info and we can set it up.

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  7. Thanks for the tour!! It looks like a great area to work in, be inspired in and share space with others too!!

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    1. It certainly is. In fact, two of my friends just left after spending some time here over coffee while doing some stitching...well, at least one did a bit of stitching...LOL

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  8. I really enjoyed viewing your creative space, it has a wonderful feel to it and looks very functional. TFS - I love having a peek into the artists domain, I really thrive on watching others create and the space they do it in. It tells me so much more about the artist. Awesome.

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    1. Thanks Lee. I like seeing other studios so I thought I'd share mine. Glad you enjoyed the tour.

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  9. Thanks for the wonderful tour. Looking up from the street just before the GOE meeting made me think it was a large studio. Very lucky, indeed. I'm stuffed into a small room...that I'm lucky to have...and every now and then it spills out into the hallway for lack of elbow room.

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    1. Glad you liked it Leah. Remind me next time you're here and I'll show you in person.

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  10. Thank you for the tour you have wonderful space to create and it's so neat and tidy!

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    1. Thanks Diane. And I will never post photos of all the times when it's not neat and tidy. LOL

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  11. Hi Linda! Thanks for checking out my Stamping Studio! Of course I had to run right over and take a look at your studio as well! You are the fabric queen :) You are right, our rooms have similar colors, bright and cheery! Loved having you visit my blog. Come back again sometime, and I will visit you too! Take care :)

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Linda

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