CEOriginal Art and Craft Studio Organizing and Storage Solutions

Color Your World

2012-03-23T09:43:00.005-05:00

I thought I would quickly share a visual on color. These are just three basic terms used when discussing color. The first "Hue" of course is your basic color. The bottom two wheels show you how simply adding more white for a "Tint" or black for a "Shade" can change the hue.

Two additional terms you may see or hear are "Transparent" and "Opaque". Transparent color is color you can see through to the layers beneath. Often a glaze medium, water or other thinner is added to paint to make it transparent. Opaque paint is a solid paint that you cannot see through. Rather than mixing your paints with white or black, you can use a transparent glaze. Adding a white or black glaze over an opaque layer will affect the hue as will adding a colored glaze over top of an opaque white or black layer. This is something fun to experiment with whether painting a wall, painting an image on paper or canvas or painting on glass, fusing glass or even layering glass.

There are some links below referencing color that I hope you will check out.

I really must apologize for being so lax on my posts. I have taken on several projects this year and I'm finding myself spread a little thin (yes, glazed over~lol). I do have several great links added below and I hope you find these interesting? I would appreciate some feedback from you such as a quick comment or even checking one of the choices at the bottom of each post so I can add content that helps you and that you find useful. I do enjoy reading your comments and value what you have to say.

Enjoy your weekend and I hope to hear from you!

LINKS:

OK, this is one gorgeous studio you HAVE to see!!! This is just beautifully done and shows how a studio can be oozing with personality…romance. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. There are also some older posts on her blog well worth looking through.
http://cupidscharm.blogspot.com/2012/03/studio-makeover-workspace.html

Can’t decide a color and want to find out your color personality? There is a quiz and some other info here:
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-colortopia-paint-color-selection.html

More color info, the Pantone 2012 fashion and home palette is here.
http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=20910&ca=4

Color inspiration is all around you as is obvious on Beadaholique’s Pinterest page.
http://pinterest.com/beadaholique/color-inspirations

Looking for ideas on how to store patterns? One idea that might work for you is shared here…
http://pixiepatternandsewing.blogspot.com/2012/02/studio-organizing-pdf-sewing-patterns.html

Wonderful ideas (and lots of them) for a quilting studio shared on this site!
http://quiltinggallery.com/2012/02/16/more-studio-organization-tips
Pat Sloan shared a photo of her own studio here…
http://quiltinggallery.com/2012/02/23/please-vote-for-my-love-ly-garden-and-my-creative-space
And if you follow the ‘Studio Organization Series’ link you will find more, as well as some resource books for quilters.

Here is a studio I could spend some serious time in!
http://thevintagewren.blogspot.com/2012/02/studio-organization.html

Looking for color inspiration, check out these sites:
http://pinterest.com/everythingetsy/colors
http://design-seeds.com/index.php/search

Art Bead Scene also had a post sharing some color palettes that are gorgeous!
http://artbeadscene.blogspot.com/2012/02/art-bead-color-palette-2.html

This is a post by Legacy with a guide to storing all those photographs and slides (and who doesn’t have a bunch of old photos sitting around!):
http://www.legacyvideostudio.com/blog/611

Here is a post on organizing a fiber studio
http://thehoneyfromthebee.blogspot.com/2012/02/organizing-my-fiber-studio.html

Storing metal and sandpaper? Who would have thought of this?
http://metalstudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/organize-your-sandpaper-and-metal.html

Just a few suggestions to think about:
http://www.tishamorris.com/2012/02/clutter-clearing-for-creatives

And here are a few more tips:
http://www.craftleftovers.com/redress/getting-organized-again

Color In Your World

2012-02-07T17:27:00.011-06:00

Let's talk color! This seems pretty logical since color is such a huge part of our lives. Color is everywhere! I think I can safely say most everyone has a favorite color. Most of us also like certain combinations whether in our creations, our homes or our clothing. What's your favorite?

Most of us are familiar with the color wheel but may not always think about what a great tool it can be! This may be information many of you aren't aware of, never consider when creating art or decorating, or already rely on the color wheel as a tool. Which one are you? Do you use the color wheel? If so, how do you use it? Below is the basic color wheel many of us are familiar with.

There are of course three basic true colors called primary colors. By using these three colors all other colors can be created.

Next and shown above are the Secondary colors. These are created by mixing equal parts of the primary colors on either side. red and blue create purple; blue and yellow create green; and red and yellow give you orange.

Complimentary colors are the colors directly across from each other on the color wheel. Why does this matter? It is helpful in a couple of ways: (1) by mixing the colors, depending on the portion of each used, you can tone down one or the other of the two. I find it much better than using black which tends to dull the hue/color; and (2) by using the compliments as a color scheme, side-by-side, creates vibrancy. If your rooms color scheme is a form of purple such as lavender or eggplant, yellow can be used to bring attention to a focal point in the room or as an accent. When painting yellow flowers, experiment with purple shades in the background rather than white or green. The colors compliment each other. Think of images such as red berries on a green leaf or a red cardinal in a pine tree. The green adds richness and vibrancy to the red image.

Have some fun playing with color using this theory. If you are having trouble trying to get an image in your stitching or painting to become more noticeable, try adding a touch of the complimentary color around it and see what happens. I would enjoy hearing how this works for you. Try it in your decorating. I can just see a soft lavender room with a bouquet of yellow roses! What about a room with blue walls and a couple of orange, maybe terra cotta pillows, either solid terra cotta or just a terra cotta stripe or flower in the pattern? Do you have a color scheme in your home using complimentary colors? Do you use it in your artwork already or have you just tried it?

Do complimentary colors come into play in your studio? Are there other ways you have used complimentary colors?

LINKS: I have found some great links to share with you. I hope you enjoy them!

Since we are talking about color, you might find this link interesting as it discusses color in relation to fashion:

http://fridaystyle.blogspot.com/2007/04/color-coded.html

This is a great site to visit if you are looking to either deplete your inventory a bit or are looking for something you need to buy. It is an on-line Saturday Yard Sale linky party. January 4, 2012 was the first party, but there will be more to come. If Bonnie creates a button for it I will post it on my sidebar.
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/02/yard-sale-saturday.html?showComment=1328367940124#c7025392141814062678

Talk about flavor and recycling, here is a great idea over at flavor designs that puts good use to those cans we normally toss:
http://www.flavordesigns.com/2012/02/studio-organizing-ideas

Here are 22 tips to organize your craft room. I failed to list this particular one on the last post. There is a link to part 1 at the bottom of the page.
http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/01/22-tips-to-organize-your-craft-room-part-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Everythingetsycom+%28EverythingEtsy.com%29

I’m always a little hesitant when there is a tab or box to click to learn how to navigate a blog, but here is the link to a blog that offers more organizing ideas…
http://www.bonitarose.com/2012/02/studio-organizing.html#!/2012/02/studio-organizing.html

I’ve talked about this before, but Creative Carmelina reminds us to use that wall space, especially if floor space is limited. Here is a link to her blog…
http://creativecarmelina.blogspot.com/2012/01/organizing-in-small-spaces.html
In fact, she has other posts on organizing that you might enjoy as well. Either click on the following link or choose her organization option under creative categories on her sidebar.
http://creativecarmelina.blogspot.com/search/label/home%20organization

Under the Table is sharing some great images for organizing a linen closet, but my mind is going to studio storage! Stamps, beads, fabrics, etc. could all be stored in these spaces. Seriously, I am drooling.
http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2012/01/ideas-inspiration-for-organizing-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UnderTheTableAndDreaming+%28Under+The+Table+and+Dreaming%29

Also some good organizing tips on this post at Within A Quarter Inch:
http://withinaquarterinch.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/studio-organizing-categories

January 2012 Comes To A Close

2012-01-26T15:10:00.004-06:00

January 2012 is nearly leading us into February already. Have you gotten the itch to organize or started any big projects yet this year? Did you make any resolutions to put things in order in your studio and just haven't gotten around to it yet? I've added some links below that will take you to some blogs with lots of inspiration to help get you started! Remember you don't have to take on the entire room at once. Just choose a drawer or shelf or box or something and go through it. Maybe even declare you will do one spot a week or even a month. Take that first step...baby steps. Don't think of cleaning and sorting the entire room, you will wear yourself out before you even get started! Tell a friend or get a friend to help. Send your friend home with some of the goodies you are getting rid of (giggle). Let me know what you are up to and how this works for you.

After a dry spell of organizing posts over the holidays it is always fun when they start popping up again on various blog posts throughout the Internet. It seems the New Year brings out the urge to begin fresh, and what better way than with a clean and organized studio! I wish I could say mine was clean right now, or that I even had time to give it a thorough cleaning, but I do know where things are and as soon as I find a couple of chests for my fabrics and embellishments things will come together. I took my advice from the last paragraph and cleaned a spot on my floor. I can't believe how much of it was outdated and ended up in the trash! In my defense however I will say this room is in pretty good shape considering the small size of about 10 feet by 10 feet (I'm definitely not complaining!), the number of projects I have ongoing right now, and the multiple functions this office/studio serves. Lets face it, sometimes (hopefully often!) a studio is going to get messy! It is when it is both messy and unorganized that it gets frustrating.

I happened on this site which has a little about how Jane organizes in her studio…
http://merelyasuggestion.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/organizing-whatever-needs-it-2012/
and her post had a link to this site in which Julie offers an ‘Organization Week’ of posts…
http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/organization-week.html

Here are a couple of cute ideas from Lucy. One is a way to keep track of fabric on a current project.
http://lucyslampshade.blogspot.com/2012/01/organizing-in-my-craft-studio.html

Shelley offers a look into her studio via video on her blog post at this link…
http://singlestonestudios.blogspot.com/2012/01/organizing-my-art-studio.html

Here is Everything Etsy’s most popular organizing post for the past year and I can see why! There are some wonderful and practical ideas for storage here (and lots of other great stuff on this blog – look around while you are there)…
http://www.everythingetsy.com/2010/06/organize-your-craft-supplies

About.com gives help on starting up your arts and crafts Office here…
http://artsandcrafts.about.com/od/startingyourbusiness/a/Setting-Up-Your-Home-Based-Arts-And-Crafts-Office.htm and also directed us to this site offering 10 ways to fashionably stash your arts and crafts supplies:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/1083872/list/Fresh-Start--Organizing-Your-Craft-Room

I’ve talked about portability when it is necessary to transfer art/craft supplies. Here is an idea you might like…
http://dirtandboogers.blogspot.com/2012/01/getting-organized-monday-portable-art.html

A nice area for an artist here…
http://stilllifeeveryday.blogspot.com/2012/01/art-studio.html#!/2012/01/art-studio.html

There is some great info and inspiration here…
http://www.everythingetsy.com/2012/01/the-fancy-farmgirl-studio

January for a Fresh Start

2012-01-07T07:03:00.004-06:00

It's that time of year when many people get into the 'fresh start' mode and start organizing and purging items no longer needed or wanted. There hasn't been a lot of organizing going on through November and December, even on my part.

If you saw my sewing studio now you would gasp! I have been preparing for some upcoming 2012 challenges by pulling threads, fabrics, beads, supplies, photos and you name it! I am doing CQJP 2012 (crazy quilt journal project), BJP (bead journal project) TAST (take a stitch on Tuesday), and trying to do a painting a month along with a Yahoo group. You can follow along with my journey or just learn more about these on my other blog if you like. It is hard for me to work in this chaos unless I close my eyes and when I close my eyes it is hard to paint, stitch and bead. I have discovered I don't have any tabletop or other flat surfaces in my sewing studio to put supplies I'm currently working with or to keep my works in progress (WIP). I have also discovered that since bringing my recycled rocking chair into the room it is difficult to access my supplies in the closet in the corner. Suffice it to say I have 'stuff' laying on the floor everywhere! I am on the lookout for a dresser or two as a solution to this disaster. Wish me luck!

I only have three links for you this time, but they are good ones!

LINKS:

If you are like me, I love to see the spaces/studios where others go to create. Several artists who license their artwork have shared their fabulous studios through a blog hop. You can start here where Karen shares some great ideas:
http://karenembrydesigns-artblog.blogspot.com

Many of you are familiar with Tim Holtz through his great line of products. He has now also designed some travel and storage cases inspired by vintage luggage. There is a short clip on this link where he demonstrates how his products fit into the cases. Of course these cases could be used for any number of other products as well.
http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/01/idea-ology-storage.html

Pam Corwin offers some thoughts, inspiration and ideas for studio organizing on the following post:
http://businessofcrafts.blogspot.com/2011/11/artful-organizing.html

I hope your new year is off to a great start! I would love to hear from you!!! Have you got new plans for your studio? How do you maintain your WIP? Have you found any great organizing pieces?

A Fun Find and a Do It Yourself Mini Ironing Board!

2011-11-20T14:39:00.010-06:00

It's just a little thing...a lot of little things!

I just had to share these handy little containers I found at Office Max. They are normally $.99 each and I was able to get them on sale for $.59 each. They come in different sizes, from about .07 litre up to shoe box size and larger. Honest, I am not putting in a plug for the office supply store. I just want to share that you never know where you will find the perfect solution for some of your craft needs! These little boxes are going to be perfect for my crazy quilt bits and pieces and some of my other stash. I'm also using the for my supply of snaps that had been contained in a whipping cream container (after it was empty and cleaned out of course).

Since they seem to close securely I think they will be great for projects on the go and can be easily thrown into a bag or box to take with me. They do come in clear pink and purple and maybe blue, but I like the clear so I can readily see what is inside. The name 'Really Useful Box' is molded into the side. It says they are made in UK.

LINKS:

To start off, I absolutely love this idea Diane Knott shared of a mini ironing board! Talk about space saving ideas! Be sure to visit her blog (either through the link here or by clicking on the photo). She is such a talented artist in any medium she works with and shares some of her very inspiring creations. Thanks so much Diane for letting me share this photo.

http://dianeknottsmusings.blogspot.com/2011/11/mini-ironing-board-for-craft-room-small.html

Below are some more sites to visit to get you motivated!

http://www.gailclaesstudio.com/blog/specialty-closets-meant-for-organizing-items-hobbies-plus-projects

http://woolyblissfeltmaking.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/organizing-the-studio/

Find seven no-fail organizing tips for crafters here…
http://www.mixed-media-artist.com/2011/11/seven-no-fail-organizing-tips-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MixedMediaArtist+%28Mixed+Media+Artist%29

Talk about a makeover! See the inspiring craft room shared on this link!
http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2011/11/reader-space-amandas-organized-craft.html

Remember To Balance!

2011-11-02T09:13:00.009-05:00

I know, that is a silly title. I have made a fundamental discovery through trial and error (which in my opinion is the best way to learn). As you know, I recently did some more organizing in my office/new sewing room. These are photos of the office 'before' I moved most of the items to my other studio and 'before' I got so heavy into different types of stitching.

This is a 'before' photo of things piled on the floor because I thought I didn't have enough storage...which I didn't. However, what I am realizing I also was lacking is work surface! The photo above is a look that is quickly returning to my new sewing/office space. Things are getting piled on the floor! Why? Because I have not added work surface space along with my storage.

I currently have two options with my space now: (1) work on the floor, or (2) work at the dining room table. Neither is a great solution. I am looking for a unit or components for my storage wall and when I have found that I will share new photos. Basically, my computer and office equipment/supplies are going to be moved into the closet area and a wall in my room is going to contain supplies and have an actual surface to work on. How could I have overlooked such an obvious requirement?

This is definitely something to consider and think about if you happen to be wondering why everything is accumulating into stacks on your studio floor. Are you lacking enough storage space for your supplies and equipment or is it actually insufficient display or work surface areas? I guess I should add another possibility to this that it might be a matter of storage space that is not easily accessed or convenient to use. It is a balancing act!

LINK and a QUOTE:

Donna shares a little re-organizing experience with you on her blog:
http://www.donnadidit.net/2011/10/organizing-studio.html

Quote in Cloth-Paper-Scissors newsletter by William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Try replacing the word ‘house’ with the word ‘studio’.

New Addition to My Studio and More Links

2011-10-16T13:29:00.019-05:00

If you do a lot of handwork such as knitting, crochet, embroidery, tatting, etc. or reading or even just visiting with guests in your studio it is nice to have a comfy seat in which to work. And don't forget to have good lighting so you don't strain your eyes. This is a rocking chair I recently reupholstered and oddly has found its way into my studio. I could sit in it for hours just a rockin' and stitchin'. Have you included a favorite spot in your studio?

You can see the 'before' photos and a little about the process on my other blog: http://ceoriginals.blogspot.com/2011/10/rocker-redo.html

LINKS: If I did everything right, you should be able to click on any of the images below to be taken to the home page of each respective blog where the images originated. Each of the three featured blog owners has generously given their consent to use the images and for that I want to give them a special thanks! We all love pictures! Enjoy.

(1) Talk about eye candy! Rebecca has posted lots of fabulous images from her before and after studio redo. She was featured in Where Women Create so you know this will be a wonderful site to visit and be inspired! I love how she has added so much personality and warmth to her studio.
http://www.rebeccaersfeld.com/2011/10/studio-redo-finally-finishedelloe.html?showComment=1318776393307#c1670473152493515095

(2) Jane (a self-proclaimed junker) author of Mamie Jane’s Blog has a true gift for repurposing thrift store, flea market, garage sale and other bargain finds. I absolutely love her blog and have been a follower of hers for almost as long as I have been blogging. Her vision is so creative. It is a great blog to visit for inspiration. I am sharing the following link showing (among other things) how she has repurposed a little wooden cabinet and some loaf pans to create a great storage piece that you could use in your studio (see photo below). Another example of what you can expect on her blog are these creative magnets! Jane's imagination is amazing.
http://mamiejanes.blogspot.com/2011/09/black-and-white.html

(3) Marian at Mustard Seed Interiors had a wonderful post about getting rid of clutter. It is a very inspirational post and has reminders and suggestions we all need to hear over and over. I just happened onto her blog and had to share. Be sure to check out the rest of her blog as well as some of the links on her sidebar. Aren't the pitchers a pretty way to contain your brushes! Is there anyone who doesn't have at least a brush or two in their studio?
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/2011/09/getting-craftoffice-space-organized.html?showComment=1317213185391#c5259347697069141282

(4) Although I wasn't able to make contact in order to get permission to use her image, the following is a link to check out for yourself:

Stamp storage in the laundry room? No way! Check it out on this link:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/gallery/member/312011-mm786/1741452-stamp-storage-in-laundry-room/

If you have photos you want to share, please contact me and I will be happy to post them along with a link to your blog!

Personalize Your Studio

2011-09-25T11:14:00.015-05:00

What happens now? You have your studio all organized and things arranged the way you like them, but something is missing. It could be missing your personality! Be sure to make room for a few of your favorites in your studio - things that inspire you. It may be that old teddy bear, or photos of your family, something that was once your grandmothers, artwork of someone you admire or even your own artwork. It is the personality of a room that makes it come alive! Be sure to incorporate your favorite color into the room in some way also. This doesn't have to be walls of purple (my personal favorite~lol) but may be pillows, mats around your photos, jars, or anything to just add splashes of that color that makes you feel good.

These two photos are generously shared by Dawn at The Feathered Nest. Her studio is full of personality and warmth. Be sure to visit her blog and see all the wonderful creations that come out of this studio as well. On this particular post she talks about fall cleaning her studio at the Feathered Nest, but if you go clear to the bottom you will find a 'my studio' link where you will find even more photos and information about her studio.
http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/2011/09/little-fall-cleaning.html

Ali is another talented artist for you to visit. If you click on the following photo you will be taken to her blog where you will find a wealth of information (and some giveaways from time to time)

Ali Edwards shares some great ideas for storing all those various stamps at:
http://aliedwards.com/2011/09/organizing-studio-aetechnique-tuesday-stamps.html

and here she shows progress she has made in cleaning up her office and talks about how she has organized her papers:
http://aliedwards.com/2011/09/making-progress-clean-up-this-office.html

I hope you have enjoyed visiting these two artists and found some great ideas for your own studio! Below are a few more sites you might want to check out:

Cloth Paper Scissors had a post about organizing your art studio supplies ‘organically’. There are also some comments following the article with some more ideas!
http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/blogs/clothpaperscissorstoday/archive/2011/09/14/organize-your-art-studio-supplies-organically.aspx

Martha Stewart always has great tips for practically everything. Here is a link to some great organizing/storage tips. As you go through them, think in terms of how the solution might be used in your studio rather than for example the kitchen…(the plastic bag organizer could be used to hold fabric scraps, a pot rack could be used for holding your fabric dyeing pan or any number of items, the envelope funnel would be great for beads, etc.)
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/25-kitchen-organizers#slide_1

Whenever I find something on time management as it relates to crafting I am interested because I’m not always good at managing my time wisely. I’ve gone to workshops devoted to time management but they have been more geared toward office or work time. Here is a link I thought I would share from Beading Daily that is directed toward beading but I feel it would be relative to any crafter:
http://www.beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2011/09/13/finding-the-time-to-bead-5-tips-for-time-management.aspx?a=br110924

This is just interesting: scheduling time to be in your studio. It relates to music, but why not change a few words and discipline yourself as it relates to your studio time?
http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Board=MRT&Number=938681

I hope you have enjoyed this post and found it useful. I love feedback, so your comments are most welcome! If you have been doing some organizing yourself and would like to be featured on this blog, please email me with the details.

Until next time...

Warm regards,

Connie

Don't Have Studio Space (yet)?

2011-09-17T13:24:00.012-05:00

I know many of you craft at your kitchen or dining room table without a real home for all of your goodies. I thought this week I would simply offer up some suggestions for storage or even a work area that maybe you hadn't thought of. First of all let me tell you many of us have been in the same position at one time or another. I haven't always had a studio. Sometimes I think I got more done before I had my own space~lol. My first craft, if you can actually call it that, was sewing. Because I was a stay-at-home mom and not working to save money I sewed most of my babies' clothes up until they started school and I started working part-time. I had a sewing machine in the basement and would put everything away when company was expected. I kept my fabrics in a box that would sit under the sewing machine. It actually worked out fine. I did a little oil painting and would keep those supplies tucked away in a closet. My supplies amounted to a couple canvases, a portable easel and a wooden box containing my paints, brushes and solvents. I really didn't paint much. In fear of boring you too much I will move forward with my suggestions. I just wanted to make a point that it can be done and many of us started with no true studio.

Here are some thoughts on spaces you might take another look at for possible areas to lay claim to:

An outside or detached shed - This could be made into a really private and rather cute studio. You may have to take it over and move any contents such as tools and lawn equipment into the garage. If you live where the climate gets cold during the winter, you may want to insulate it and/or add a space heater. Used windows can be found at salvage places if you want to add natural light. If the sidewalls are too short for most windows, put the windows in horizontally! Think outside the box and think of it in terms of a space with no rules. Add shelving and/or a worktable. Personalize it to make it feel like a creative space...your play house!

A linen closet or any other closet - There are often already shelves in linen closets that would be perfect to hold your supplies. Find a fold out table that you can pull out to use as needed. If you use a different close-by table such as a dining room or kitchen table, keep your supplies in baskets or on trays as shown in some of my previous posts so that they can easily be carried to where you will be using them and returned when project is completed or between sessions. Group the supplies by category. Keep your stamps and inks together; scissors, glue and glitter; various papers and ephemera; needles, threads and scissors. You get the idea. Each of us works with different materials and in different ways, so you will need to determine what makes sense for you. The key is portability and grouping. Also, search online for ideas for an office in a closet and think about how that can be tweaked to suit your needs.

A dresser or armoire - This is a great place to stash items out of sight, especially fabrics and papers.

A kitchen built-in desk area - Many people use this area to pay bills, but a better use for the space may be as an art center. You have a ready made work surface and normally cabinets above the desk. The sink is also close for easy cleanup as needed. Find a drawer or bin for your bills and write them out at the table.

Kitchen cabinet(s) - Can you consolidate or even eliminate some of your kitchen gadgets to free up space to store your bins of supplies or toolboxes containing supplies?

Garage area - I there a corner or wall in your garage that you can dedicate to your art? Perhaps incorporate a fold-down table or built-in cabinets to make the area more 'craft friendly'.

Guest room - Many studios are a combination office or studio and guest room. All most guests need is a place for some clothes and something to sleep on. Do you need that full size or queen size bed in that room? It depends how often you have company and how long they stay I suppose. Consider making more room for your art by replacing that bed with a fold-out sofa or even an air mattress that can be set up when needed. Again you can install built-ins so your area can be closed off while company is there. Better yet, what about a beautiful armoire positioned in the corner of that room that can serve your needs.

Office or other shared room - Many of the previous ideas can be used if you need to share your studio space for other purposes. My sewing room is shared with our office space. My plans are to set up the computer and office supplies in the closet. First I need to get some sort of furniture or shelving (or both) to hold my fabrics and trims. I have it in my mind and I'm currently on the lookout for the right pieces. If you share space with your bedroom, consider a divider such as a screen, bookcase or curtains to partition off your area. Maybe even just a vanity that fits in with the other furniture in the room could be used. The drawers could store your supplies and the dresser top could be your workspace. When your things are put away no one would know!

Sunroom or porch - This would be a nice area for working because there is normally great light shining through the windows. As with the shed you may have to make some provisions for heating the area and if it is to be a shared room you may want to use some of the aforementioned ideas.

Laundry room - Personally, I have never had a laundry area large enough to contain more than the washer and dryer, but some homes do have room for cabinets and/or even a table.

Other areas often forgotten - Don't forget spaces such as attics, basements or niches. Also there is normally space behind those walls or under the stairs that can accommodate shallow shelving or cabinets. We live in a tri-level and the office has attic space on the back side of one of the walls. I haven't totally ruled out incorporating some of that attic space into the room for storage. Oops, did I say that out loud?

These are just some thoughts to ponder for those of you desiring a space of your own to work. I wanted to point out that even if you don't have a 'room' you can turn into a studio there may be other possibilities. Open your mind and just look around!

Links

2011-08-30T12:24:00.007-05:00

I may be able to organize a studio space, but I am not very good at organizing my time I'm afraid. I will make more of an effort once the outdoor projects are taken care of and I am stuck inside during the cold winter months. In the meantime, here are a few more links to share...

Here are a couple of photos from Mary Anne’s new studio where she shares some great ideas!
http://magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com/2011/08/button-button-whos-got.html

On her blog, Mary Green shares how she handles all of her vintage books and papers and it appears she has a lot of them!:
http://greenpaper.typepad.com/green/2011/08/storing-your-vintage-books-and-paper.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greenpaperpackages+%28Green+Paper%29

The following link will take you to a post where Lori shares ‘small’ fine art studios for those painters in the group. It is always so much fun to see where others do their creating! My friend Pat sent me the link. Thanks Pat!
http://www.finearttips.com/2011/05/creating-art-in-small-studios/

I apologize if I have already shared this link. I couldn’t find it on my list. It is a link to how one blogger organized her closet full of wonderful fabrics:
http://www.greencavedesigns.com/mymotherspearls/?p=2674

As usual, Cloth Paper Scissors has put out another wonderful “Studios” magazine full of ideas. Here is the link to a teaser and useful information:
http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/blogs/clothpaperscissorstoday/archive/2011/08/22/organize-your-art-studio-once-and-for-all.aspx

Even if the links aren't specifically relative to your type of craft, you may still find ideas or be inspired by how others handle their stash. Visit with an open mind! Also, if you have blogged about your own studio or storage ideas, let me know and I will gladly share a link on my blog!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you each have a great week! I love receiving comments, so please consider dropping me a note!
Connie

Life Just Happens

2011-08-21T14:46:00.006-05:00

This is another of my watercolor paintings. I thought it was appropriate for a Sunday...

So, it is Sunday morning and I am scheduled to help set up for communion before church and then clean-up afterwards. My husband works Sundays so I attend by myself. I looked at the clock and thought I had better leave so I have plenty of time to fill all the little wine glasses and set things out. I pull into the church lot and there are already several cars there and more coming! Apparently when our power went out during the storm Thursday night I didn't reset the clocks right and I was late. I jump out of my car to make a beeline to the area I need to be and get stopped along the way to help with something else. I went into panic mode after that just visualizing myself running in and out setting up for communion and trying not to run into the minister while she is having the service. Yikes! Of course, all the little plastic cups want to stick together and I fumbled with them. I couldn't find the grape juice for those younger or those not wanting wine. There had been a power outage at the church as well and I could not find the communion wine. I finally found the communion wine - again, as the church is filling up - but there wasn't much in the bottle. I have ET (essential tremors) in my hands and they shake pretty much all of the time, but when I get stressed they are almost uncontrollable. A couple of the ladies from church must have sensed my anxiety...probably due to there being nothing set out yet, the church full of people and me running around like a nut. They came to help out and one of them took over pouring the liquids since my hands were shaking so bad that I was spilling half of it and talking to myself. I was actually telling myself to run! and then to calm down, it will be fine as long as you don't trip and drop the entire tray full of small cups of wine in front of everyone and at the front of the church. I'm not very reassuring ~ lol. It did all come off without a hitch, but I tell you my heart got a workout. I don't think I actually relaxed until the formality of the communion service was all over. Am I the only one that gets in these situations?

The battery in my watch died about Wednesday or Thursday too. After church today I went to the store and had a new battery put in it. Had it been working I would have been aware of the discrepancy in the time. Does God do these things for entertainment? I believe he does have a sense of humor.

I guess it could be that I am just having another one of those days similar to last winter when I dropped my eye glasses in a large snow bank and had to wait until almost spring to find them. Speaking of eyes... I went to the eye doctor this last Friday for my annual eye exam. I was told to wear my contacts and have them tested first thing. I would then have my regular check-up. First they had me read the charts with my contacts in and afterwards had me look through their whatchamacallit as they had me tell them which power was most clear. Well, as is bound to happen to me, when I attempted to remove my contacts, I lost one. I swore it was still in my eye but she couldn't see it even with her fancy equipment nor could we find it on the floor or anywhere. I then was convinced it was lost somewhere in never, never land and went on to the next part of my exam with two more professionals checking my eyes. Everything looked good and my prescription had only changed slightly so I wouldn't need to buy new glasses because the change was minimal. They gave me a new set of contacts to replace the one that was lost. Yesterday I woke up with a headache and my eye was still bothering me. I took something for the headache and later my eyes seemed fine. I thought it was probably the result of all the probing and the drops they give to dilate the eyes. When I went to bed last night my eye was bothering me again. I woke up this morning and could see absolutely nothing with the eye that had been bothering me. I put in some drops and kind of messed with my eye a little and out comes this stupid little thin contact.

I would ask "what next", but I will just wait and see. Please don't tell me. Hope you are all doing well. Have a great week! Connie

Hello, Just Dropping Off Some Links!

2011-08-19T09:49:00.005-05:00

Hope you are all doing well. Thank you for sticking around in my absence! It has been a busy summer and it is hard to believe it is quickly passing by. I haven't forgotten you and have been pulling related posts when I see them. I thought I would quickly post some of them for you all to enjoy and to be inspired by...

Wonderful studio flooring idea at Repurposed Life…
http://www.rebeccaersfeld.com/2011/08/studio-redo-great-solution.html

Here is an article that may have useful information for any type of crafter but the article specifically addresses scrapbookers:
http://articlesstudio.com/articlesstudio.com/?p=318579&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=scrapbooking-organization-keeping-it-all-together

http://heartvintagedesign.blogspot.com/2011/07/organizing-studio.html

http://lostcoastpost.blogspot.com/2011/07/lost-coast-studio-saturday-organizing.html

Elizabeth Michelle Remy shares some photos of her studio and some great tips:
http://lostcoastpost.blogspot.com/2011/06/lost-coast-studio-saturday-organizing.html

Here is Kim’s quilting studio organizing progress, Part 1 and 2:
http://chatterboxquilts.blogspot.com/2011/06/organizing-my-quilt-studio-part-1.html
http://chatterboxquilts.blogspot.com/2011/06/organizing-my-quilt-studio-part-2.html

Deborah Read’s Lampworking, PMC, and Fusing studio has high demands. See how she organizes her studio here:
http://deborahreadcom.blogspot.com/2011/06/organizing-my-studio-left-corner.html
http://deborahreadcom.blogspot.com/2011/06/enamelling-center.html

Portable Carrier and Studio

2011-07-07T13:50:00.007-05:00

I guess I can't stay away for long. I just wanted to pop in and share a couple of things.

First off, my portable carrier worked so well on our trip this past week. It is simply an inexpensive travel bag for toiletries and such. I had posted about this previously and wanted to share how I was able to use it on vacation - and at home for that matter. I am currently working on two different CQ blocks and was able to use this clear travel bag to keep my two blocks separated along with the floss and embellishments for each in separate compartments.

Everything was easily accessible when opened up and it was easy to tote when closed. My inspirational materials were stored in the middle and I could also readily pull it out to look through while in the car.

The other thing I wanted to share is how my flowers looked outside my studio. The first posting I did on this blog was of the outside of my studio with no flowers. It looks so much nicer with color surrounding it.

I have Hollyhocks, Beebaum (sp?), Iris, Clematis, Purple Salvia, Roses and Tiger Lillys growing there.

Here are some of the Hollyhocks next to the sunroom. These are so white and lacy.

These are the Beebaum at the entry to the house with some daylillys beside them. It was so nice to come home to such a welcome mat. We take off again a week from Saturday, so I better enjoy them while I can.

Time for Intermission...

2011-06-28T08:36:00.003-05:00

I will not be around much in July, so there may not be much activity or posting going on here. I hope you understand. I will be checking in occasionally to see what's going on in blogland though. Have a great month! Connie

What's Behind Your Door?

2011-06-18T11:19:00.004-05:00

Are you using all of your space? One area often neglected as possible storage is behind the door. If it is a shallow spot, all the better!

What are some of your ideas for using this space? If you use it, what do you store there? Some ideas that come to mind are storage for stamp pads/punches/inks, beads, an inspiration board, ribbon racks, glues/sealers/sprays etc., paints, and other jars, bottles, or cans that can get lost on a regular sized shelf but are easily accessible on a shallow shelf or rack behind your door. As you can see, I currently use my behind-the-door space for my ladder, easel and drawing board.
Attach your storage shelves etc. directly to the wall behind the door or hang something directly on the back of the door to contain your supplies. You can use peg board, cork board, hooks, dowels, spice racks, towel bars, or shallow shelves just to name a few. There are also a variety of organizing pieces that simply hook over the door and are easily removed without any damage to the surface. Those would work great especially for someone renting the space. How about painting the door (or a board to attach) with the ever popular chalk paint for use in jotting down notes, ideas or a shopping list. Also, any behind-the-door space will work whether it is the entry door, closet door or even inside a cabinet door.

This can be a functional space that is often overlooked.

Have a great weekend and...happy creating!
Connie

Repurposed Laundry Detergent Bottle

2011-06-03T18:00:00.001-05:00

My detached studio is located in the back yard, several feet behind our home. I use this studio for painting, some jewelry design and for stained glass, as well as general crafting. The problem has been the lack of running water. We were on a tight budget when we put up the studio so we didn't install any plumbing. I now use a large laundry detergent bottle, the kind with the spigot (see photo below). I rinsed it out as good as possible and use it as my water supply, especially when I am painting with my watercolors. Warning: This is not a food safe container so please don't put water in it to drink! Here is my Detergent Bottle Makeover...

I didn't like the looks of the bottle particularly, but it was certainly functional. My bottle was bright orange. I decided to decoupage over the bottle with some brown patterned paper I had on hand. This helped, but I wanted to give it a bit more interest, so I painted over the paper after it dried with acrylic paints. After this dried I added another generous coat of decoupage over the entire piece to make it more water tight.

It still looks somewhat like a laundry detergent bottle, but doesn't look so much like a big bright blob of color.

I painted a little different design on each side just for fun. It works great and saves me hauling several small containers of water to my studio. It doesn't spill. I have a ready supply of water when the water I've been using to clean my paint brush gets mucky. Best of all, it is one less piece of plastic in the landfill.

Studios are Like Snowflakes

2011-05-28T10:45:00.005-05:00

They say no two snowflakes are alike. I say no two studios are alike! How can they be? No two artists work the same.

That is why you are the one to decide what your studio needs to look like, sound like, smell like, and feel like as well as its function and how it flows. It should be a reflection of who you are as an artist. You should enjoy spending time in your studio. It doesn't need to 'match' the rest of the house unless of course you are sharing a corner of the living room. Even then you can add little knick knacks or artwork you love and that inspire you. That is a subject on which I can go into more depth and I will reserve that for a future post.

For this post I just want you to take a long, hard look at your studio and think about whether it truly tells your story. Could a customer or friend walk into your studio and know by what they see what your artwork is likely to be? Do you love color but settled on a neutral shade for the walls to be safe? Some artists keep white walls so the colors of their materials are the focal point. Are you a minimalist who wants your supplies all behind doors? Do whimsical things make you happy? Do roses make you comfortable, or do they make you want to gag? Each artist is unique and that is OK! It is better than OK! How boring it would be if we were cookie cutter artists.

As you are analyzing your studio, think about the types of projects you work on and the steps you go through as you work. Are your work stations set up so they are conducive to a convenient flow as you go through the process? If you are tripping over cords or having to walk around a piece of furniture or equipment every time you do a certain part of your creating, try to determine if there is a better way to arrange things in your studio so what you need is at hand as you need it. Keep items you use most often the closest to where you use them. It might even help to write down the steps you go through as you work. Is your sewing machine at one end of the room and the iron on the other side of the cutting table? This is a pretty obvious problem, but I'm simply pointing it out as an example.

I'm just saying you can ask for advice and opinions, but go with what works for you and what pleases you.

The photo of the tote on this post is a re-do I created. (Most of you know I love roses). You can find more about it here. I was intending to use the tote for storage in my studio, but it had other ideas, so I gave in. A tote like this would work well for containing tools, buttons, glues, tags, etc. you use often. You could customize something like this tote to suit your own taste by leaving it rustic, painting it with bright colors, country colors, embellishing it with rhinestones or decoupage it with vintage images. It is just an example of how you can add items to your studio to personalize the space. Be on the lookout at garage sales, flea markets or thrift stores for other items you could customize for your studio.

Have a memorable weekend.

The Message from Your Creative Space

2011-05-21T22:00:00.003-05:00

What does your studio tell the world about you as an artist? It doesn't really matter if anyone else ever sees it. Forget about 'the world' for now or anyone else for that matter. This is an important question to think about because if isn't a reflection of who you are and your personality, it may not be the kind of place in which you like to spend your time. Like clothing, if it doesn't suit your taste, you are never really comfortable in it. What kind of 'personality' does it have? Does it reflect who you are as an artist? If not, how can you transform the space into one that you are excited about and can't wait to enter?

Your studio is a very personal space. It should be all about you. A good way to get started is to gather photos from magazines, catalogs and the like. Don't just focus on studio or office photos. Any room can serve as inspiration. After you have a collection of them, scatter them out in front of you. Do you see a common theme or color in the group of images? Did you find you pulled almost all images of light airy and flowery rooms with white woodwork? ...earth tones and heavy furniture pieces with black accessories? ...fresh seaside blue, green, aqua coloration with shells and wicker furniture? This is a great way to pinpoint what attracts you to a particular look. Designers will sometimes have you do this to get a feel for what your tastes are.

Something else that you may consider is planning your studio around your favorite art piece. I don't mean matching the sofa to a painting type of thing, but rather determine in your own art if you tend to design in a particular color palette or style. For instance, are your designs romantic and soft, bright and bold, or rich and earthy, humorous, ethnic, textural?
Look in your closet. Is there a color scheme there that stands out?

Most people know what their favorite color is, but you may not have really given much thought to it in terms of decorating your studio, now is a great time to apply it to your decor. Don't try to decorate your studio according to the taste of someone else. You will be the one spending time there and you are the only one you need to please in this room. Unlike the rest of your house which may be shared with others, your art studio can be a total reflection of you.

Other than color and style, another great way to add your personality to your studio is to display some of your own artwork and artwork from other artists that you admire or that inspire you in your own work. I worked in a room full of artists/designers and even though we had standard cubicles, it was easy to tell who sat at each desk by the accessories they added! The desks and room itself certainly did not inspire us, but the pieces we displayed in our cubes and the things we gathered around us that were expressions of our personalities did.

Be true to who you are. Don't try to duplicate what someone else has done. Be inspired by the work of others, but then go your own way. You know you have succeeded when friends walk into your studio and express that the studio looks just as they expected it would...that it is so you. If you have clients visit or host gallery openings, clients will want and expect the studio to be an extension of the type of artist you are. After all, admiration for your creative endeavors are likely why they are there.

LINKS: Just a few sites that might interest or inspire you.

Over at Riotgeer Design Erick mentions organizing his blog as well as organizing his studio. He has a pretty good idea for a room separator in his studio to separate the dirtier area from the other area of his studio.
http://riotgeer.blogspot.com/2011/04/organizing-studio-organizing-blog.html

http://fuzzyslippersdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/spring-organizing-over-at-ttt.html
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/

Here are some organizing tips you might find useful:
http://meganvangroll.blogspot.com/2009/07/5-tips-for-organizing-messy-studio.html

More from melstampz…
http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2011/04/craft-room-pictures-organizing-distress.html

Let's Talk Color.

2011-05-15T02:30:00.001-05:00

What is your favorite color? ...and why is it your favorite?

We are surrounded by color and it has a huge impact on our emotions whether we are conscience of it or not. In your studio you can use color to your best advantage. What do you want from your space? What kind of feeling do you want it to convey? How do you want to feel when you enter (or are in) your studio? Drama, comfort, classic simplicity, relaxation, child friendly, or excitement can all be encouraged through the use of color and the purity or strength of color.

In general...

Red generates excitement, warmth and high energy. It is an active color that you will find used often in kitchens and/or dining rooms as it can stimulate the appetite. Red is also inviting, intimate and can be romantic. Think of Christmas, Valentine's day, 4th of July, or hot fire or coals, apples, hearts.

Pink, although it is a lighter value of red, has been found to be more relaxing and has been used to control violent behavior. Think of roses and other soft pink flowers or Easter.

Green is considered a more relaxing color. It coordinates well with just about any other color. Some form of it is a popular color used in hospitals because of this very reaction to the color. Nowadays it is also associated with cleaner living and healthy living. Think of lush lawns, green trees, and shade, St. Patrick's Day.

Blue especially in the lighter form, is also a relaxing and calming color. Although it is a favorite color of the majority of people, it has been found to be the least appetizing color and is rarely seen in restaurants. Think of calm waters or clear blue skies.

Yellow is a happy color that conveys optimism. It can also cause anxiety and a rise in the heart rate. Most other colors can also be used with yellow. Think of lemons, sunflowers, daffodils or yellow finch.

Brown is often thought to be more of a comfortable color and is also more masculine than the other colors. Think of earthy, warm colors of fall, rich soil, or stained furniture.

Purple is associated with nobility and luxury. Think of lilacs or pansies. Think of royal robes in deep rich purples, plums, blueberries.

Orange includes anything from bright orange to more Terra Cotta. It is a warm, comfortable color and is said to stimulate conversation and appetite even more than red. It is a good color to use as an accent color, keeping it in smaller spots. Think of pumpkins, Thanksgiving, the Southwest.

Black, especially when used as an accent, helps ground a room. It is great for accessories and can add a classy, more contemporary feel to a room. I remember learning in one of my classes that you should have something black in every room. Think black patent leather shoes, black purse, black coat, night, black suit and tie, black coffee.

White is clean, crisp and pure and can make a room look more spacious. Of course there are many versions of white that can set different moods. A room done in nothing but white will often have slight variations in the whites used and also incorporate lots of texture to give an otherwise dull room some interest. Think white crisp sheets blowing in the breeze, white lilacs, white paper, white puffy clouds.

Gray falls somewhere between black and white. The use of gray is more trendy and tends to go in cycles. Think gray skies and wind.

Keep in mind that although red, yellow and orange are considered to be the warm colors on the color wheel and purple, blue and green are the cool colors, there can be warmer and cooler versions of them. Purple is a good example. The temperature of purple can be altered by adding either more red to make it a warmer purple or adding more blue to cool it down even more. Red may have a warmer tendency but can also be cooled with more of a blue cast to it. Pick up several strips of one color at the paint store and hold them side-by-side. I think you will find some variations very obvious. As a watercolor artist, I often use a warmer red on the part of a flower I want to appear in the light and a cooler version of red in the shadows. I guess that was my ah hah moment when I discovered that little trick.

The hue is considered the basic color on the color wheel. The tone is the color density. Paint cards at the paint supply stores have different tones of a color on each strip. If you want to use different tones of a color for a monochromatic color scheme, stick to the colors on the strip. Value is the amount of white or black added to a color to change its appearance, light to dark. To change the tone of a color, add a bit of its compliment (red/green, yellow/purple, blue/orange). To change the value, add black or white.

For good flow, a room should have basically three colors: (1) the primary or dominant color such as walls and/or floors; (2) secondary which should be the second color you notice in the room and not in equal proportion to the dominant color; and (3) the accent color such as that used on a pillows, lamps, artwork etc.

I have mentioned this before, but don't forget to consider your light source when choosing a color. It is a good idea to try a swatch on your walls prior to painting the entire room or buying all your paint. To reiterate: North facing windows receive less direct sun and you may want to choose brighter colors; West facing windows have a strong light in the evening and casts an orange tint; East facing windows give strong light in the morning causing a white glow to your room; and South facing windows get the least amount of sun.

Having armed you with all of this information, however, it still boils down to the fact that the studio is yours and the only one who has to be happy with it is you. All rules go out the window if you so choose. This is a room that states who you are and reflects your artistic taste. Have fun with it!

Organizing Computer Data and Winner Announcement!

2011-04-27T18:02:00.010-05:00

I love organizing my studio, but I don't enjoy organizing my computer files and documents. I really do need to go through and delete a lot of old emails, move images on the computer more to where they make sense (because some of them I spend too much time looking for), and I need to update my favorites as well as blogs I follow. It eats so much time! I start to go through these things and often get interrupted or just run out of time. By the time I get back to it I may as well start over because I'm lost!

Following Blogs: I follow so many blogs and I really do love all of them that I follow but am finding that I just can't keep up with them all. I have lost control. I have decided to really downsize. When I tried to do it through my Dashboard 'manage' key, I just got bounced around, back and forth. Finally it dawned on me to copy the entire table and paste it into Word. Now, as I go through blogs as I have time, I can note on my list whether to stop following and make notes about each. Also, I will still have a copy of the link so I can go back and check the blog periodically or as time allows to see what is happening there. After I have made my way through the list, I can then go back to my 'manage' section and 'stop following'. There will be some tough decisions to be sure and I definitely want to keep those who correspond or comment regularly and have become friends. Another nice thing about this is that if by chance my list does ever 'vanish' (as I have heard others state), I will have my contacts in solid form!

Favorites: Next I will have to figure out how to do something similar with my favorites. Some of my favorites are sites that no longer exist! I'm not sure how to simplify this task without ...or am I the only one that lets these things get out of control? visiting each and every site. I would love to hear from anyone out there who knows a shortcut!

...or am I the only one that lets these things get out of control?

Emails: I have actually 3 email accounts. May Yahoo account is pretty much inactive. May Cox account is more of a personal account my DH and I use. We have a few friends that consistently forward jokes and other heartfelt emails. Some of these are worth reading and/or interesting, but I just don't have time or energy to read all of them, so every once in awhile I just go through and 'delete' without even opening them. My Google account is more for my blog and business. I was taking a look at it the other day though and found I have signed up for several business related newsletters...all very informative and helpful. However, they are overloading my email account. I decided to choose only a couple of these to keep and 'unsubscribed' to the rest. It is amazing how these can pile up on a person! It's worse than ads in the mail. I save the ones I want to read later when I have time but then forget them.

I like the option of placing a 'star' or 'red flag' by the ones that need further action on my part and being able to place emails into categories with headings of my choice.

I did mention I would announce a winner for one of the bracelets today! The lucky winner is...

Well, there are three bracelets and three entries that are all very good ideas. I just couldn't choose, so I will send them each a bracelet! If you will each send me your snail mail addresses I will get these off to you. You can add your preference for color from 1-3. If it works out you will get your choice, but if you all want the same one I will randomly place them in envelopes before I address them, then add the addresses without know which box contains which.

Until next week, if anyone has come up with a storage solution or other idea they want to share, please convo me and I will feature it on my blog along with a link to your blog! Enjoy the rest of your day!

Easter Blessings

2011-04-24T03:40:00.002-05:00

In lieu of the holiday, I decided to just post my holiday wishes to you this week. I hope you are all having a wonderful Easter with God, family and friends. May your Easter be filled with an abundance of blessings and good memories.

(I will add a little reminder of the giveaway next week on May 1. All you need to do to enter is share a solution. There have been some great ideas shared so far. Enter by leaving a comment on my previous post.)

Happy Easter,
Connie

A Giveaway!

2011-04-16T13:17:00.012-05:00

For this weekend post I am having another giveaway! The prize is your choice of one (aqua, green/black, or smoke) of the following bracelets in the photo...

Here is the deal. To be entered in this giveaway all you have to do is leave a tip to solve a common problem in the studio whether it be a solution for cleaning up something (without chemicals), keeping cords out of the way, or unsticking a paint tube, or other ideas relate to the content of this post. You can leave up to 3 of these comments - each must be a different idea/solution (please don't post the same thing three times). After you have left a comment sharing your tip, leave a separate comment to let me know you are following this blog for one additional chance. I will have a friend draw a name and will announce a winner May 1. Good luck!

Let me start off by saying this is not your typical organizing or storage solutions blog post. It does, however, relate to the studio and little mishaps or problems that we sometimes face in our studio such as spilling ink, wax or paint, minor burns, and even glue or stickers where they don't belong. I did a little Internet research for some solutions to share with you on this topic. I have also included links for those of you who wish to delve deeper. I hope you find it useful. Sorry it is a bit lengthy. I tried to stick with green solutions, avoiding the use of chemicals.

Here are some of the things I've found...

Removing Paint: Soy gel and citrus-based paint removers are a biodegradable product now available that can replace harsh chemical strippers. However, though the products used may be biodegradable, you still need to dispose of paint removed according to recommendations by your local waste management company or other authority. To remove paint from metal hardware, place the hardware in a pot of boiling water and baking soda. Boil for twenty minutes. Lightly scrub afterwards with a toothbrush. (Do not use a container that will later be used for food). Sandblasting is an alternative way to remove paint, but is best left to professionals. The above tips for removing paint were taken from the following site:

http://homebuilding.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/06/green_ways_how_to_remove_paint.php A friend of mine used meat tenderizer disolved in water to clean up her cabinet hardware. I have also heard that lemon works for this, but haven’t tried it and don’t know this first hand.

Staining concrete: According to another friend great look is achieved by staining your concrete floor with recycled oil. I would love to hear if any of you have tried this and how it worked!

Ink stains on fabric: According to eHow Style at

http://www.ehow.com/how_5738458_remove-stains-chemicals.html the best way to remove ink stains (before they dry) from clothing is to first rinse the still wet ink out with cold water. If the stain does not go away with that, rinse it in milk. If your clothing is still stained, soak it in sour milk for a day or two.

Crayolas on drywall: I used to use toothpaste to clean my children’s crayola creations from the drywall. Just dab a small amount on a cloth and gently scrub.

Gum: Hairspray or ice is good for removing gum. I believe peanut butter also removes gum from hair (should you fall asleep in your studio with gum in your hair~lol, it could happen).

Sticky Label/Tape Residue:

http://www.greencleansolution.co.uk/blog/cleaning-tips/remove-sticky-label-residue-without-chemicals/

has several ‘green’ solutions on their Eco Blog. To remove sticky label residue, Adam suggests a strong damp cloth and elbow grease. He states a microfiber cloth is preferable. I have used hairspray to remove that annoying residue left by stickers. Whatever you use, be sure to test it first in an inconspicuous area. I have never used masking tape as a cleaner, but on the following link the author found it worked for removing residue left on surfaces from kids’ stickers. Who knew?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2538079/how_to_remove_adhesive_sticker_residue.html

Speaking of masking tape, Ambrosia offers tips on how to remove the masking tape residue using simply warm water or applied heat from a hair dryer. Check it out on the following link:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1529059/tips_tricks_for_removing_masking_tape.html?cat=30

Treating minor burns: This is not cleaning, but I keep an Aloe Vera plant in my house. I had read where the goo it produces is good for burns. Since we crafters use irons, heat guns, soldering guns and other sources of heat, this might be worth including. I simply pinch off one of the sections and squeeze the liquid of the plant onto the burn. Obviously, if you have a severe burn you will want to seek immediate medical attention from a trained professional, but for minor burns this has worked great for me. Plants are good to include in any setting as they produce CO2 and help purify the air and look great!

Miscellaneous: Coke might be a product worth trying if you have oil stains. I haven’t tried it on anything else, but do know it works to cleanup auto battery terminals. It also works to unclog drains and to remove other stains from vitreous china. Google 'using coke to remove stains' and you will be surprised at all the uses of coke! Lemon and salt make a good gentle abrasive if you need something with a little grit.

Hard Water Stains on Glassware: Try a couple of denture cleaning tablets for this.

Removing silvering from backs of mirrors: I have used liquid toilet bowl cleaner for this and it works great! Wear gloves and other protective gear though such as eyewear.

Cleaning Glass/Windows: You can also get tips on making your own glass cleaner by mixing the following ingredients in a sterile spray bottle: lemon essential oil (1 drop) white vinegar (1/4) eco-friendly washing up liquid (1 teaspoon) and warm water (3/4) The glass cleaner information was found on the green clean solution link here:

http://www.greencleansolution.co.uk/blog/home-made/homemade-window-cleaner-with-vinegar-lemon/

Removing spilled wax: This remedy was found at http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-remove-wax-from-carpet.htm “If you want to remove wax from carpet, there are easy ways to go about it, and the process doesn't take as long as it may seem. The first thing you need to do is remove as much of the hardened wax as you can. A butter or putty knife works well for this but you can use anything with a dull blade. Scrape up what you can and vacuum the debris. Next place a clean cloth, paper bag or paper towel over the wax. Run a warm iron over the cloth until the wax melts. A hot hair dryer can also be used. Once the wax is melted, it should adhere to the cloth. Lift the cloth and the wax should lift with it.” Pretty much the same info is offered at the following sites as well as numerous other sites, so I’m guessing it is a great solution. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/tips/how-to-clean-up-spilled-wax-036151 http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-up-Melted-Plastic-and-Wax

Fabric Glue removal: The following solutions for removing fabric glue and stains is offered at: http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=215399 “you can place the glue spot on top of a paper towel or piece of cloth (Side note: I think it should read that you place the paper towl or cloth over the glue spot) and run an iron over the garment until the glue melts. The towel/cloth will absorb some of the melted glue; you'll just need to repeat the process until all the glue is gone (remember to move the glue spot over a clean part of the towel/cloth each time).I've also read something about making a solution of 1 quart warm water, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 1 tsp laundry/kitchen detergent and soaking the garment in it for 15 mins, then blotting at the glue spot and throw it into the washing machine. (Obviously, this method doesn't work if your costume can't be machine washed or drowned in a solution)I've never tried this but you can also freeze your costume in the freezer and then quickly scrape off the frozen glue with a dull knife.”

Removing photos from old albums: A problem many of us have had is safely removing photos from old photo albums and scrapbooks. There are some great tips on this through the following about.com link:

http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/gettingstarted/a/removingphotos.htm

Super Glue: The following is a link with tips on how to un-stick Super Glue…

http://www.supergluecorp.com/removingsuperglue.html

Use Elmer’s Glue? Here is a tip from their site… “How can I un-clog my glue cap—what’s the proper way to clean? The glue caps can actually be taken apart to help remove any blockage. Simply open the cap as far as it will go and then pull the orange part straight up and it should "pop" off. This should allow you to easily access any blockage. The blockage can be cleared with something like a toothpick or paper clip. You can also soak these separated parts in room temperature water which should help to more easily free up any blockage. Once clear, the orange part can simply be pressed/snapped back into position.” And here is a link to their site: http://www.elmers.com/about/faqs

Removing Burned Fabric on bottom of iron: Several ideas on this site. I used their solution of warming the iron to soften the fabric (in my case it was a piece of ribbon, pretty ribbon ~oops) and then scraping it off with a wooden spatula.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_clean_melted_fabric_off_the_bottom_of_your_iron

Disclaimer: Some of the above I have tried while others I have not. If you have tried any of them I would love to get feedback from you. I do suggest trying any ideas in an small inconspicuous area just to be certain the surface isn't damaged in the process. I think we all want to do our share to take care of the planet so I wanted to share ideas that are green, earth-friendly solutions.

I linked up with Tuesday Tutorials. Click on the link on my sidebar to see all the other tutorials being shared!

Link to a Giveaway and Notice of Winner for Fabric Storage.

2011-04-14T17:17:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to drop in a couple days early to let you know about a site I just found with a very timely offer. It's a giveaway for software for organizing patterns. Here is the link:

http://sewing.craftgossip.com/giveaway/review-giveaway-patternfile-sewing-pattern-organization-software/

It looks like nice software for storing patterns you have along with all pertinent information. Check it out if you are interested!

ALSO...I wanted to let you know I have chosen a winner for the fabric storage photos submitted. That winner is Mary Anne at Magpie Mumblings! I have finally caught up somewhat and have Marsha's (Sassy Mini Dolls blog) giveaway ready to send. Mary Anne's will be ready as soon as I get her snail mail address. I am still waiting for Cheryl's snail mail address at Zany Made who submitted some great glitter photos.

Hope your week is going well. I'm off to make dinner.

Feed the Senses When Setting Up Your Creative Space

2011-04-06T09:44:00.024-05:00

Do you have a favorite restaurant? Is it the food that makes it your favorite place to have an enjoyable evening out? ...the service? ...the aroma? ...fresh flowers on the tables? ...lighting such as candlelight? ...or the overall ambiance (a combination of the aforementioned)? I would venture to guess it may be a combination all of these things. I suggest you relate your studio to this same theory. For you to want to spend hours in your studio, it helps to address all the senses or aspects and not just the visual decor.

Sight is the sense we normally consider most often when we design/decorate our studios. We choose colors we like as well as the decor such as accessories, cabinets and seating. We arrange things in what we feel is pleasing to the eye whether it is a clean and uncluttered look, displaying our supplies and equipment all out in the open where we can see them, or utter chaos.

What about our other senses? Shouldn't they be equally as important?

Hearing. Quiet, peace, soft music, loud or crazy music, kids playing, cat's purring, dog's barking, the sound of bird's singing, our inner voice, or the television noise in the background - these are the sounds that affect our sense of hearing. What do you hear in your studio? Don't forget to address the sound as it can have either a positive or negative effect as you work in your studio. If you have unpleasant sounds, out of your control, consider having music to cover those sounds or possibly even soundproofing your studio.

Touch. What does your space feel like? Is there a lot of interesting textures either in the fabrics or on the hard surfaces? Perhaps it is all smooth, satin-like surfaces. Everything has texture of some sort, whether it be wood, textiles, metal, concrete etc. If you have a monochromatic room, lots of texture can add interest to an otherwise uninteresting room. Decorators will often tell you it is good to have a balance of soft (curtains, pillows, rugs and upholstered furniture for example) and hard (walls, metal or wood furniture, etc.) in the room. This is not always practical or preferred in a arts and craft studio. A wood shop might seem a bit silly and not too practical if fitted with pillows and curtains. A sewing room or other such studio can easily be overrun by softness. It is up to you to evaluate your space to determine if you feel there is an appropriate balance.

Smell. I may be just one of a few, but certain scents inspire me. Do you feel that way? My college thesis was based on this theory. I did a series of watercolor paintings of homes from my past surrounded by portals of flowers that I would naturally associate with the homes. The sight and smell of Lilacs always remind me of my grandparents' home as they always had a row of huge lilac bushes along the entire length of the driveway when I was a child. Peonies remind me of the home I grew up in. There were several varieties and shades of peonies in our yard that had been planted there by my great grandparents. So many various floral scents bring back good memories for me and a good feeling overall of comfort and warmth. A simple scented candle, potpourri, fresh flowers or other source of smell might add what is missing in your studio.

Taste. This is probably the least relative sense when it comes to the studio unless you are a cake decorator or something. Although I will throw in here that there is nothing like the morning sunshine and sipping on a fresh brewed cup of coffee or tea to get your day going in the right direction. Keep in mind if you work around certain materials or chemicals, this sense should probably not even be a part of your studio. A good example would be that a glass artist should not be working with lead based materials while eating a sandwich. It is simply a safety issue.

'The Sixth Sense'. Is there a sixth sense? This subject has been discussed and debated. It has been described in a myriad of ways. To me it is a feeling that comes from within you. A sense of comfort, inspiration, freedom, control, accomplishment, total chaos, despair, or happiness all somewhat controlled by the other five senses. Feng Shui is based on this. It is difficult to describe. It is psychological. It is the uncomfortable feeling you get when your back is toward the door type of feeling. Observe where people tend to sit when they enter a restaurant, church, a classroom or a board room. Does the area you work at the most feel comfortable to you? When you go through images of other studios, your imagination tells you what it must be like to be there through association to your experience. You can't see the sounds or smells.

Although the image I'm sharing isn't glamorous, it is an image to look at as you think about these things. Imagine music playing in the background the smell of homemade treats on the table and the scent of the vanilla scented candles and all your supplies in a logical order where you can readily find them, just waiting for your magic touch. This is the sort of room that invites you in to be creative. OK, now would you feel the same about this room if you knew there was a lot of construction noise going on or a constant odor that overpowered any temptation to snack, the supplies and materials were not in their intended or a logical spot, there is a draft from the vent above causing your supplies to blow off onto the floor, the room is hot or too cold, the chair you are sitting in isn't comfy or blocks any good lighting or leaves you facing the corner? Even though nothing in the space has changed, doesn't it appear less inviting? Another question - just going by this image, which chair would you navigate toward as you entered the area? I hope this post has given you new information to think about and to consider addressing in your space. Make your studio as inviting and comfortable as you can...pleasing all the senses!

LINK: I didn’t have time to research bloggers in the process of organizing this week, but I did happen to find this following blog with a great tutorial (among other numerous tutorials) on making a great ‘popcorn box’. Think shape, not design of the box. They look great as storage containers!

http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-popcorn-box-template-set-pretty.html

Fabric Storage Inspiration

2011-04-03T06:26:00.022-05:00

Lots of fabric storage inspiration to share this week!

Deb Geyer at Contemporary Traditions shared these great ideas for storage and functionality.

Her link: http://contemporarytraditions.blogspot.com/2009/07/quilt-studio-workshop-storage.html

The first is two pieces of plywood, one padded for ironing, mounted to the top of a bookcase. Bonus! There is space between the two sheets of plywood for her cutting mat. Great idea Deb.

The other idea Deb shares would be great especially for those of you with lots of fabric!

She stores her fabric in clear acrylic sweater drawers. What makes this idea ever more clever is how she adds color cards, clearly visible, to indicate the color family stored in each drawer.

Not only a great tip that could be incorporated into other storage, but very pretty to look at!

The next photos are from Marsha at Sassy Mini Dolls. As you may have seen, Marsha also shared her wonderful glitter storage ideas on the last entry.

Her link: http://www.sassyminidolls.blogspot.com/

Marsha does a lot of minis, so she has ideas for mini fabric storage (known as scraps to some of us). "Making miniature dolls I do not have large pieces of fabric so this is how I store them. My hubby built me a worktable that has cubby holes on the side and I purchased these containers to store my fabric They are stored by color. "

"I store the trims in the smaller containers on top of my worktable." (I love the mini 'Boutique' room box!)

And you have to love this! "My laces I store in a train case that I embellished :)" Such a beautiful place to keep all those beautiful trims.

The following are from one of my fellow Crazy Quilters, Mary Anne, from Magpie Mumblings.

Her link: http://magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com/

I really like the idea that this is something that can be customized to your own space and according to the size of your stash! One could also easily personalize a piece like this.

"I use a six drawer chest to hold my fabric 'bits' for crazy quilting. Each drawer is sorted by colour so it's fairly easy to find what I want. Right now the drawers are relatively neat, but once I start on a project I can pretty much guarantee they won't look like this!!"

Mary Anne, I think we all create messes as we work~lol. If there is anyone out there that doesn't, I really want to hear from you. What I love about this idea is how easy it is to access the fabric - messy or not. Thanks for sharing Mary Anne.

I used to work in a design department with several designers. I enjoyed organizing supplies whenever I got the opportunity, even though nothing stayed in place for long with there being so many of us always having projects in the works. I thought the following two storage ideas were worth sharing.

The one above is using open wire baskets. On the outside/front we hung tags, each with a small snippet of the fabric on one side and the back would have information such as fabric content, where purchased and cost as we needed to have this for our records. Below, the fabrics were also kept in large plastic containers on open shelves, sorted by color.

Keep going. There are more ideas shared by others...

Missy/Melisa over at The Little Green Bean Shop generously shared a tutorial you will want to be certain to check out.

Her link: http://maluukkonen.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-addiction.html

Don't her fabrics look awesome!

While her husband worked with the shelving, Melisa worked on some foam core mini bolts for her fabrics! These are wonderful and it is so sweet of her to share a tutorial on creating them. If you have a need for larger boards, you might check with your local fabric store. I asked at the local Hancock Fabrics, and they give their boards away when empty. ChaChing!

Finally, Mandy at Whimsie Dots has her wool sweaters on open shelving.

She keeps bins below with wool scraps sorted by color. These look delicious! All you would have to worry about with this idea is getting the right color into the right bin. Great idea!

She also attached clothespins to hold some of her creations. You have to love that! This would even be a great idea for hanging ribbons or trims near your fabrics!

These last two aren't as wonderfully illustrated as the others, but might still inspire an idea that would work for you. I have posted them before and hope to maybe elaborate on them as I proceed with my room. Sorry for the repetition.

Hang larger quantities of fabric on the old wooden pants hangers or make use of your closet space for shelving that can be closed off when you need to hide it or left open for inspiration on your next project.

I also wanted to point out one of my very favorite publications, Studios, by Cloth-Paper-Scissors, often has great storage ideas for fabrics and other materials. The Spring 2011 issue (with Ty Pennington on the cover) has a section on Apps for your iPad etc. I had no idea these existed since I get by but by no means am I 'tech savy'. There is even an App called Fabric Stash that allows you to carry your inventory of fabric with you in your iPad, iPhone and iPad Touch! Who knew!?! I love, love, love this magazine for inspiration and ideas! If you haven't seen one and/or can't find it in your area, email me and I will get you the contact info so you can drool too.

Another place to look for great ideas for storing any of your supplies is by observing how shops display their inventory. You never know where your next great idea may come from.

Link: I have one other blog link to share with you - actually two to the same blog. Although not specific to fabric storage, I think you might enjoy the images, tutorials and business tips offered there. Check them out by clicking on the following links.

http://studio11charms.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-organizing-ideas-for-your-craft.html http://studio11charms.blogspot.com/2011/03/cute-ways-to-keep-organized.html

I want to thank each of you that were so sweet to share your ideas with the rest of us! Have a wonderful week! I will choose another storage item on a later post. Thank you all for checking in and for sharing your images and ideas! I love hearing from you.