Repurposing to Add Surface Space

Do you find your actual working space closing in on you?  One idea that might work for you is to add an additional space above your work space.  I was running into this problem while working on some jewelry recently and as you can see, adding this bed tray gave me that badly needed added work surface. 

A bed tray worked well in this space because they are fairly short, so your items are still within easy reach and easily visible.  This is on my fabric dresser top.  I also especially liked this bed tray because it has a back and sides that kept the beads and other items from falling off the back to an area difficult to reach without moving the dresser out.  And, image that this one was already green! 

This sewing room of mine is still a work in progress and I am approaching it one "issue" at a time.  I normally work on my jewelry in my studio, but had something else going on back there which I have since completed.  This bed tray was the perfect temporary solution to my lack of surface work space.  It also works great if I decide to pick the work up and take it to another room.  Yes, I still work all over the house.  I follow my muse around ~ lol.  Do any of you do that?  Sometimes I just want to be working around other humans or find the light better in another area for the project I am working on.

I hope you found this a useful idea!  Sorry, no links this post.  But if you have found a similar solution and want to share it with everyone, feel free to add your link.  Does anyone actually use bed trays for their intended purpose?

New Addition in My Studio

I have had a fairly productive day today.  I have had this shelf for years just waiting for the perfect spot.  I am sure you know what I mean *wink*.  I finally had painted it ivory when I painted my two dressers a couple weeks ago.  The more I looked at it the more I thought it really needed a different color.  I decided to go with green, so today I went and picked up the paint and started painting.  I didn't paint the rods and hinges because I was concerned they may leave marks on my items, so I just sealed them with varnish.  I kind of like the brown stain color with the green anyway.  It was a beautiful day outside so it dried quickly.  I brought it in and hung it up.  My rotating spice button jars fit perfectly on top.  There are three pegs on the bottom which I will use for my reference tags and the "dryer rack" will pull out or tuck in as shown and will work perfectly for trims or fabrics.  I am loving the green and think I may even repaint my dressers in green now (not literally right now, but in the near future)!

I have this hanging above my sewing machine where it seems pretty happy.  Don't you just love adding something new to a room?  It always makes me feel like cleaning and organizing for some reason.  Does that happen to you too?  What do you think of the green?  I am so ready for color instead of being so safe with shades of cream, white and ivory.

LINK with LINKS

There is a (linky) party going on here – for offices and with lots of interesting links. Even though this is for offices, there appears to be some really inspiring links for repurposing, constructing functional pieces, etc. that could easily be adapted for your studio.  Time to grab a cuppa and do a little visual sightseeing…


http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2012/09/sns-151-junk-styled-offices.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FKCcu+%28Funky+Junk+Interiors%29

The Most Unusual Ideas

It started off that I had this really sweet doll buggy that I was trying to sell locally.  I wasn't able to sell it and had it sitting in my sewing room while I tried to decide what to do with it.

As I was sitting there with some of my threads on the floor it dawned on me this "basket" could be a good container for the threads.  It seems this little buggy would work well for a number of things including yarn, lace, or even to hold projects I'm working on until I am able to complete them.

I guess you just never know when an idea or solution will come to you.  What do you think?  Am I crazy? 

While I'm here I may as well share a link.  I hope you are having a great week and are doing something fun!

Here is a site offering free printable organizing pages for all types of scheduling.

http://www.designfinch.com/2011/07/31/sunday-planning  

Update on Updated Office/Sewing Room

The second dresser has entered the room.  The drawers are packed and the top is full, but I still have more to bring in!  One entire drawer has velvets destined for a velvet crazy quilt, so I will get started on that soon and free up that space.  This is actually given me the incentive to make more.  As they say, "use it or lose it" and I am rather attached to my fabrics and supplies.  As for the top of the dresser... I finally have a place to set my WIPs (works in progress).  They also say "out of sight, out of mind" and I think we all know about that one.

I don't know if you noticed, but I kept the old drawer pulls (for now).  I hate to discard something that works perfectly fine.  I boiled them in vinegar and water for about 15-20 minutes to give them a good cleaning and then polished them with a cloth.  They don't look so bad do they?



*Before I forget, here are some LINKS for your viewing pleasure.  Do you like seeing these?  I don't get much feedback on them and wonder whether they are actually of interest?

In case you haven’t yet had enough about color, here is some more insight about communication and the language of color.

http://missmustardseed.com/2012/06/the-language-of-color 

Curious Miss Clay has shared various storage tips on her blog, including an idea for packing supplies.

http://thecuriousmissclay.blogspot.com/2012/06/organizing-studio.html 

And here is a link for a pin cushion/caddy to keep by your side. It would be a wonderful aid in keeping things organized as you stitch. I actually found this link through http://magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com/2012/06/pincushions-and-rust.html but the direct link follows. (BTW, both sites are fun to visit). Be sure to check out her comments to see the variety that have been created by others using Penny’s pattern!

http://pennyshands.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/hexie-caddy-tutorial.html 

One of the followers on this blog and a wonderfully talented stitcher commented recently and I visited her blogs…her many blogs. This one really caught my eye and I thought some of you may be interested. She has set up a blog for stitchers to buy, sell and/or exchange stitch supplies. I thought it was a great idea and wanted to share. Faye, I hope you don’t mind.

http://neverenoughstash1.blogspot.com/ 

Here are some great organizing tips from a doll maker

http://www.dollsbymaria.com/2012/06/19/how-to-organize-your-doll-studio-or-craft-space  

On a totally different note, here is a link for those creative souls out there. I just received the most recent Stampington Calls and Challenges for publication if you are interested.

http://www.stampington.com/submissions/callsChallenges.html?utm_source=Stampington+%26+Company&utm_campaign=224b7ab701-Postscript_2012_02_14&utm_medium=email#sew

New Addition to My Studio and More Links

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!

Repurposed Laundry Detergent Bottle

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

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

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.

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!

Feed the Senses When Setting Up Your Creative Space

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

Great Sewing Room Idea!

I have been a saver of inspirational clippings it seems forever. Sometimes it pays off and sometimes it is a waste of time and space. I recently browsed through some clippings, purging those I really no longer had use for. The reason I was looking through my inspiration notebook is that my mom sent home four shoe boxes full of spools of thread and I'm trying to decide how and where to contain them. While browsing I came across this idea from 1980. The photos below are from an article in the March 1980 Decorating & Craft Ideas magazine (page 58 if anyone happens to still have the magazine ~ lol). I think it is an ingenious idea for storage and thought I would share it with all of you.

(Did you notice the great shelf of tagged sewing machine drawers in the reflection?) This cabinet was built to make use of an awkward space when converting an unused attic into a functioning sewing room. Following are views of the inside. But before you get to that, I want to share the credits I did happen to save with the photos: Carpentry by Steve Joseph. As previously stated, the article was in Decorating & Craft Ideas, March 1980. The article says the pattern, Code No. 1008, can be ordered from Decorating and Craft Ideas Pattern Service, P.O. Box 2522, Birmingham, AL 35201. I don't even know for sure this is a valid address or outdated. I unfortunately do not have any other information such as the author, etc.

As I am thinking of all the possibilities for using this cabinet, I am envisioning embroidery floss hanging in one section. It would be great for jars and/or hanks of beads by adding appropriately spaced shelving and hooks. It would even be great just as a jewelry cabinet. Acrylic paints, ribbons, embellishments, jars of buttons, spools of thread and oh so many other items would fit nicely. The cabinet is shallow and would accommodate lots of previously unusable spaces with the added bonus of a 3-way mirror! It could be custom made to suit almost any tight situation or space. How about sharing your ideas here with others. Lets get those wheels in motions. I would love to hear your thoughts. If you have already done something similar, please email pictures to me and I will be happy to post them! In the meantime...

Here are some more LINKS:

Gretchen shares some things from her painting studio which she recently relocated to their basement. You can get to her post through the following link:
http://gretchenbjornsonart.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-studiorelocated.html

Cathe Holden from Just Something I Made has shared an awesome organization piece for the sewing room using vintage patterns. She also shares how they are made! It is so unique. You really should have a peek. Here is the link:
http://justsomethingimade.com/2011/01/vintage-patterns-sewing-room-organizer/

Below at The Frugal Crafter is a link to a video tour of a scrapbooker’s craft room, some photos and some practical advice. This scrapbooker has a LOT of supplies and it appears amazingly organized. I’m certain you will find something useful here, regardless of your medium of choice!
http://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/organizing-ideas-for-crafters-and-a-tour-of-my-craftroom/

I'm planning to see you again next Sunday, so be sure to stop back! Have a great week. Connie

Your Studio has a Temperature!

It has certainly been some time since I posted last! The time has just gone by so quickly. I will try to do better in the future.

In the last post I talked about the different types of lighting and I wanted to expand on that subject just a bit. I mentioned that your studio has a temperature. This is not just true of your studio, but of any room.

The two sample photos shown above are exaggerations (and photography blunders), but they help show you what I mean. Generally windows with a southern exposure tends to cast a yellowish light on everything. Yellow, being a warm color, casts a warm glow in the room. On the other hand, northern facing windows will cast a bluer, cooler light into the room.

You are probably asking why this makes any difference. When you are painting your walls, the temperature from the light can affect how the color appears. You may have experienced picking out a color in the paint department and found that it looked different when you got it home. The reason is the lighting you viewed it under in the store as opposed to the lighting in your studio or home. Cooler lighting can alter the appearance of your paint color by making warm colors weaker and intensifying or enhancing cool colors. Warm lighting will have the opposite effect. A soft butter yellow may be intensified and appear much brighter when you paint your room.

This is the reason for the suggestions often made to paint a sample area on your wall before you paint the entire room. I know this is good advice from my own experience. I had picked out a color for my sewing room that I thought was just perfect. When I painted an area on the wall, what I thought looked like a nice warm taupe ended up looking like the dull color of a grocery bag when it was actually on my wall. Painting a small area can save you not only time and disappointment, but often lots of money since paint is not as inexpensive as it used to be. It really can make a difference.

Your choice in bulbs can also create this variation. Some bulbs are warmer and some are cool bulbs, affecting how you see the colors in your room and even the colors of your materials such as beads, thread, fabrics and others. To help neutralize the lighting in my studio, I use an Ott light (which is a natural balance) to help see the true colors of my beads. In my fluorescent fixtures which have two tubes, I use a cool one and a warm tube.

It is just a good idea to be aware of the temperature of your space when either choosing paint colors or lighting for your studio. As everyone knows, lighting can affect your mood and I want you all to be in a good mood.

Planning Stages For Your Studio and Helpful Links

This week I just wanted to share a couple of ideas with you on planning your studio, whether you are changing your studio around, moving into a new studio, considering buying something new for your studio or thinking about redecorating.

Inspiration Photos: A great way to think about how you want your studio to look is to go through magazines and the Internet and pull photos of rooms you really are drawn to. It may be the color scheme you really like, the overall theme, or just the ambiance, style or details. You don't have to find only photos of art/craft spaces. Whether it's an outdoor space, a kitchen, living room, bedroom or bath, if it is a room you really like for whatever reason, you can draw inspiration from it. Tear out or copy the photos. You can even collect images from catalogs or elsewhere of furniture, light fixtures, window treatments, vignettes or accessories you like.

After you have several photos, look them over collectively. Do you see a common denominator in the grouping? Have you found that all of your pictures are in blues and browns, are they pastels or bright colors, loaded with pattern or monochromatic with lots of textures? Are they all in a similar style? Is the look comfortable and cozy or bright and cheery? Think about what you felt inspired by in each of the photos and in the group as a whole. What attracted you to each photo? Perhaps they are in a style in which you have decorated the rest of your home or maybe it is something totally different from what you normally would choose.

This is a great exercise to help you pinpoint your preferences. It's not that you don't know what you like, but rather it's realizing why you like what you do. I constantly pull pages from magazines of rooms or furniture I just love. When I looked through them I realized I am really drawn to a certain style, color and pattern. When I looked at what I had gathered, an obvious look began to emerge. It gave me an idea of the kind of studio I could be happy in. Simple as that. I don't want you to choose something to copy, but rather something to inspire and to guide you through decisions you make for your own studio. After all, you want this to be YOUR studio and to reflect YOUR personality and taste - not a reflection of someone else. Have fun with this room. You are the one that has to live with it and the only one that really has to like it. Own it!

I kept a select few (favorites of the favorites) of the photos to place on my story board and later into a decorating notebook. I would refer to the image(s) often as I selected such things as paint colors, including accent colors, and fabrics for my studio. (I would love to share the image of my inspiration room with you, but I don't have permission to use the image and I didn't keep a record of where it came from...sorry.) As an example, the photo above may be someone's inspiration photo because of the style or color or even just the chair or dark wood. I can tell you the walls in my inspiration photo were a warm creamy color and the room had a French feel with a bit of glitz and glam, but not over the top. Even though I knew in my mind what I wanted, having a reference helped me stay on track and focussed. It also helped me choose certain elements to achieve the look I was after.

Use the photo as inspiration but make the studio show the uniqueness of who you are, just as your artwork is a reflection of you!

The Floor Plan: Another important step in planning I feel is preparing a floor plan of the space. Below is a very basic example of my floor plan drawn on the computer. Graph paper can also be used to draw out your floor plan. I use a 1" (one inch) scale for my drawing. In other words, one foot is drawn as one inch; so a 8' by 10' room would be drawn as a scaled down version 8" x 10".

Next, using the same scale, draw the basic shapes and proportions of your key furniture pieces and any large equipment that will take significant space such as a quilt machine or kiln - overhead view. Note the name of the piece and measurements on the drawing. It is also a good idea to make a note of what would be the 'front' of the item just as a reminder. After you have them drawn, cut them out. These templates will be used to help you determine the best placement of your furniture in the room rather than moving the furniture itself around.

This may seem very tedious to you and it may not make sense to go to the trouble but I find it well worth the time. First of all, you can make your rendering as simple or as complex as you wish. I have a more detailed version that I use, but for illustrative purposes I chose to share the simpler version. You will want to include the locations of windows and doorways on your drawing along with any permanent elements in the room. You will note I have blocked out an area in the corner where my furnace/air conditioning unit is located because I have to work around it when furnishing my room. I did not show that the door swings into the room, but you may want to do that as a reminder to allow for that space.

You can add such elements as outlets, permanent shelving, and lighting in your drawing as well. Whatever helps you in deciding placement or just to have as a reference.

This floor plan is not only helpful for arranging your studio in the first place, but is also a great reference to keep for future use. You can take it with you when you are picking out paint or flooring. Because it has measurements on it the clerk can use it to figure how much paint or flooring you will need. Take it when shopping for lighting so the experts will have a visual to help you select appropriate lighting for areas of the studio. If you are considering buying a different piece of furniture or having custom cabinets built, this will help you choose what will fit well into the room.

In addition to drawing a top view of the room and furniture, you may also choose to do side views of walls to have even better view point. It will help you take advantage of a nice view or keep you from closing in an area with furniture too tall or wide for an area. It is entirely up to you.

Be sure to let me know if any of this is unclear or if I can help you in any way. Just remember there are no right or wrong ideas. You only need to please yourself with this project.

FOLLOWING ARE SOME LINKS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU:

Alissa at Quiltish has posted an organizing tip for her best selling items on her site. Follow the link.
http://quiltish.blogspot.com/2010/08/organizing-tidbit.html


I just had to share this blog with you all. It is such a fun one. Another reason is that Traci is in the process of redoing her studio and walks you through her steps. Tell her Connie from CEOStudioSolutions says hi.
http://livingthegoodlife5.blogspot.com/


For scrapbookers who use mists, Samantha at More Papers Please found a clever way to create samples for reference to quickly identify which mist she wants to use.
http://morepaperplease.blogspot.com/2010/08/organizing-my-mists.html


For those of you that quilt, I am posting a link below to a site which talks about organizing a quilt room. These are ideas from a serious quilter!
Part 1: http://www.quiltingwithmargaret.com/?p=810
Part 2: http://www.quiltingwithmargaret.com/?p=812
Part 3: http://www.quiltingwithmargaret.com/?p=814


Following is a site many of you may already be aware of. If you don’t want to repurpose items to use for storage, this site carries many storage solution items for ribbons, papers and other items mostly geared toward those of you with a passion for scrapbooking. Even if you don’t scrapbook, check it out. You may find something that will help you control your supplies. You will also find other related blog links there.
http://simplyreneeinc.blogspot.com/


Remember...I love comments and I love hearing from all of you!!! Have a great week. Connie

Repurposed Studio Organizing Ideas and More Links to Share

I am back from vacation and feeling refreshed. We spent a week in Colorado and I spent a few days on Ragbrai (bicycle ride across Iowa). I actually spent a couple days travelling, 3 nights camping and 2 days riding. Great fun! Before I left home I put up this hanging vintage light cover. I will probably use it to hold my beaded fringe, the kind you buy by the yard/foot. I draped some over the edge because I love the look!

This particular glass cover had 3 holes. I ran a heavy wire through large clear glass beads and formed a ring on the underside onto which I hung crystals. The top ring was attached to the chain. So its (in order, top to bottom) chain...ring...clear glass bead...glass cover...clear glass bead...ring...hanging crystal. The chains can be as long or short as you like and can be adjusted to the height most convenient to you. It's both pretty and practical!

I have had these domes for such a long time and decided I needed to use them or get rid of them. I found the post by Jo at Jos2ndact (see link below). She had made a birdbath out of her light cover that I thought you might like to see. I started thinking about my remaining dome with a single hole in the center and what I could do with it since I was now inspired to use it. If I can work out the logistics, I think I have a good idea. I am going to figure out a way to add one of my glass door knobs to the top center to use as a handle and actually use this piece as a food cover. I will let you know what I come up with and post photos.

While in Colorado, we went to an antique shop in Leadville and I found the silver footed dish shown below. It was a great deal at $4.95. The center inside had a damaged finish, but since I will use this to hold supplies, I didn't care. It was a great piece.

My last idea for this post is shown below. I was looking for a place to hang my crystal creations out of the way and also had some glass leaves that I wanted in a place I could see them so I wouldn't forget I had them. As you can see, My shelf support has a couple of openings. I simply run my cafe curtain rods through the openings and instantly had plenty of room for my hanging ornaments. These would work great for spools of ribbon or lace and other things you may want to drape over them such as yarn, doilies, individual ribbons, etc. I would suggest using a clip, cotter pin or something on the outer ends to secure them and keep them from slipping off.

I hope you found these ideas useful. Below are links to other ideas I have found on the Internet that may inspire you. I would love some feedback as to if you found these ideas useful or other ways you have used them. I just love comments...period.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As I was going through the blogs I follow to see what was going on, this post caught my eye. It reminded me of the project I had done before going on vacation but had not yet posted. I thought I would share Jo’s idea with you while I was on the subject. This wouldn’t have to be a birdbath either. It could be a stand used for holding art/craft supplies!

http://jos2ndact.blogspot.com/2010/07/lampshade-birdbath.html

Below is a link to a great video on creating a portable beading studio. I have posted my little portable beading kit that I take with me, but there are some great tips on this. I would think it would work for those of you that work on scrapbook projects or small needlework projects as well.

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-make-portable-lap-sized-beading-studio-for-beading-go-388494/

On this June 21 post at ‘In My Own Style’ Diane shares instructions for a colored pencil holder she uses in her studio. It is made up of multiple sections which are hinged on one end and opens up like a book. I notice she has also cleverly added the color name and a color swatch below each pencil to identify what belongs in each spot. My thoughts as I look at it is that one could hinge the sections so the entire piece would fold up like a fan to be set aside when not in use or spread across in front of you for easy access. It appears to me this holder could be made almost any size (height/length) to accommodate crochet hooks, paintbrushes, thread spools, acrylic paint bottles and other items. If you come up with other ideas, I would love to hear about them.
http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/06/how-to-make-the-almost-perfect-pencil-holder.html
While there, check out some of the other ideas. This is a great idea for ribbon…
http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/06/how-to-make-an-easy-ribbon-organizer.html

This is a link to a studio blog hosted by Patti. She has shared a variety of her unique storage ideas for stamps, ribbons, etc. that I thought you might enjoy popping over to see.
http://peppermint54.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-craft-studio.html


Link to instructions for beaded beads:

http://candiecooper.typepad.com/savvycrafter/2010/01/beaded-beads.html

As always, I appreciate it when you let them know I sent you. Have a great weekend! It's good to be back with you all.

Connie

It's Another Give Away!

Lidy from French Garden is having a give away! The only catch is that you have to read through all the nice things she said about me to find it. LOL.

I am so honored! Lidy from French Garden House has featured me on her blog. I was lucky enough to be her 1000 follower. Please visit her blog. It is loaded with fabulous finds and I'm not saying that just because she featured me. (Thanks Lidy) Below is the link:


http://littlefrenchgardenhouse.blogspot.com/2010/07/special-guest-connie-eyberg-fabulous.html

Your Studio Should be a Reflection of You

I obviously haven't posted since the 'Show off Your Studio' blog party began and I do apologize. I have truly been enjoying everyone's studios. Each space is a reflection of the artist and equipped with special items and other decorative elements that are meaningful to each as individual artist. It is important to hang on to that as you decorate or redo your space. Don't try to duplicate someone else's dream studio, but rather be inspired by it and incorporate bits and pieces that make it appealing to you such as perhaps a color combination, a storage idea, a window treatment or even a shelving unit or other things that you feel would express who you are. Maybe the idea of a crystal chandelier you saw or, to the other extreme, a rusted egg gathering bucket used for studio lighting just made you drool. Find the perfect chandelier or bucket for your studio. I remember one of the studios having lime green painted walls and reading the many positive comments that were posted regarding the color. If its you, go for it! And remember, it doesn't have to be a lime green wall just because that is how the color was used in the inspiration studio. Why not paint your shelves or furniture lime green instead. Find a fabric you love with lime green in it and build off of that. Make it your own! Your studio should reflect who YOU are and should make you feel creative and energized when you are there. Your best friends should be able to look at the room and say "Wow, that's just how I expected your studio to look" or simply "it's totally you". Whether the studio suits their taste or not is beside the point. The point is that the studio you create is all about you and your personal 'brand'. Just as you do with your art/craft, be inspired by others but do your own thing.

OK, I'm getting off the soapbox before one of you pushes me off. I started off to explain that I have been busy. In addition to trying to visit all of the unique studios online, my husband and I went to Atchison, Kansas with friends this last weekend. The purpose of the trip was to participate in the Amelia Earhart Century Bicycle Ride (I rode about 65-67 miles even though they said it was a 62 mile route). For us ladies it was also a chance to visit Nell Hills. I hadn't been there for quite some time and she still has it going on! Her store is an inspiration to go through. Everything is displayed so beautifully that regardless the direction you turn your head there is something to ooh and aah at. Another shop called Garrity's which I am told is run by her son, is just up the street and has many of the same items, but also some that are different, plus you can see different ways to display items. The founder, Mary Carol Garrity is a truly talented person. Although it isn't the same as going there, I thought I would post a link to her business so you could see the types of items she carries. I really encourage you to visit the store if you ever have an opportunity. You can find out more on her Web page at http://www.nellhills.com/. I had many comments on my apothecary jars in my studio and she carries a variety of those as well as domes, boxes, silver items, etc. that you might find helpful storage solutions for your studio. However, it is not just the product that is inspiring, it is the displays and presentation of that product as well. One display that particulary stands out in my mind is a window that was hanging horizontally from the ceiling and had items on top of it...like a shelf. Now that is thinking 'out of the box.' Are any of you familiar with the store or products? If not, I bet there are stores in your vicinity that inspire ideas. Actually, observing how art, bead, craft, fabric and scrapbook supply shops present and 'shelve' their many supplies might give you some ideas on practical ways to store your own. Next time I go I will take my camera and get permission to post some photos. Until then, happy shopping!

Welcome to my Studio Makeover!

Welcome to my Art Studio...

This screen door is the first thing you will see as you enter my studio. It is not only a charming item, it is also functional. I use it to hold my chains for jewelry design.

But it also has another more important function.

It helps hide the ugly furnace in the corner of my studio. The door is hinged on my north wall so it can be 'opened' in order to allow access to the filter or for work on the furnace.

The bookcase shown below also covers part of the furnace. It is hung from the ceiling. It is on the right side of my drafting table. A future project will be to find some baskets or something to hold the supplies.

Below is my drafting table. I use it for painting, jewelry design, stained glass work or whatever project I happen to be working on.

These are my favorite paint brushes and stand. The little ornament hanging on the right side is from a friend and I just love it!

I keep my other various brushes stored upright in crystal, silver and glass.

If you look beyond my drafting table, to the left, you can see the rest of the room.

The first section on the west wall is where I keep my beads. I want them out where I can readily see what I have. I love when the sun shines in and the beads and glass sparkle and light up the room. I also have a mirror for use by customers trying on jewelry or for me to see how a piece hangs as I am designing it.

On the shelves below the mirror I have apothecary jars and other glass containers that hold broken jewelry that I will take apart and incorporate parts into new re-designed and updated jewelry.

I have them separated into various metal finishes, pearls, crystals, watch parts, found items, etc.

My remaining beads are contained in inexpensive baby food jars, spice jars or even jelly jars. My seed beads are to the left and are sorted mostly by color. The beads on the right of the mirror are sorted by crystals, pearls, or bugle beads with the remaining variety sorted by color.

Here is a close-up of some cigar tubes I use to store and separate crystals.

Straight ahead along the south wall I have a counter area I may also at times use to work on projects. It has a couple of projects on it now. I have my stained glass supply to the left of the counter. I just added the skirt recently and I'm really happy with it. It has kind of a French feel to it.

If you look closely you can see my jars of shells in the window catching a little sun.

On the right I have my little teapot lamp. It was pewter and I painted it a soft white. Lamps give such a comforting glow to a room.

My mannequin received a temporary makeover. She is wrapped in some old lace curtains secured with a vintage piece of costume jewelry. Poor thing had a broken leg when I got her, so she has needed some TLC. My gargoyle creation is protecting her now.

On the east side of the room, opposite the bead wall, is where I keep most of my supplies and my jewelry designs.

On the bottom shelf I keep my glitter supply in pretty glass jars on a silver tray.

Aren't these little tubes yummy!

I have to have a place to display my necklace and earring creations and these display pieces work well for me.

Above the jewelry and glitter I have a shallow shelf that holds some spice bottles on little turn tables.

I use these to store some of my jewelry findings, chip beads, and some of my larger beads.

Above the spice jars is a shelf with wire baskets used to hold a variety of supplies not used quite as often as my beads and painting supplies. Each basket is labeled with a tag as to the contents. Above the shelf of wire baskets, up high and out of reach, are plastic storage boxes containing supplies such as wood burning, stencilling supplies, paper making and sculpting supplies that although I only use them on occasion would be too expensive to replace each time. Each is separated according to category.

This young lady hangs to the left of the shelves by the inspiration board and holds my safety glasses. I can also clip a reminder note or shopping list onto the clasp on her clutch.

She is right by one of my favorite items. It's an anvil that has been in my family for years. It is attached to a very large old block of wood. My dad had it in his tool shed and it reminds me of him.

Notice my slippers next to it. All the comforts of home in my little studio world.

I hope you enjoyed the tour. I still have work I want to do, but I love spending time here and that is what matters. Be sure to visit Karen at 'My Desert Cottage' for a link to even more studios! A special thank you to Karen for doing such an amazing job putting together this blog party! I know she has worked very hard and I'm sure has put in a lot of time and effort. Her link can be viewed by clicking the 'Show off Your Studio' button on my side bar or here: http://mydesertcottage.blogspot.com/2010/04/where-bloggers-create-ii.html