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My second "studio" was a 500' completely finished basement with fantastic light, a view to die for and I never had to leave as I had all the creature comforts. My studio could handle commercial bakers racks for supplies, two 8' tables and two large easels. Again I had all the room in the world to create with lots of space to walk around.
We are on our third downsize as retirement is getting much closer and I have been relegated to the dining room! Our office is stuffed to the brim with two desks and as much storage as it can handle without bursting so here I am, working on a 6' dining room table (and a card table in the corner).
On days when I have multiple projects going on it's complete chaos. Crafts on one end; photography equipment, with lights and light box, tripod and extension cords; and when I make a sale the center of the table is shipping and receiving. All going on at the same time.
Since we have what is known as a "great room," you can imagine the look from the den when I'm in the middle of everything and can't or won't take everything down.
Recently my husband took a trip to visit family (I had to stay home and babysit 2 cats and a dog). Right before he came home - I hurriedly put all my "stuff" away in their respective plastic bins so as to be able to see the top of the dining table. All neat and tidy I told him what the table had looked like only hours before.
We are big on acronyms at my house and we now refer to the dining room table as CMI; CremeMagnolia International. I've learned to work in my tiny if not inconvenient space; but when I want my house NOT to look like a hurricane whipped through, CMI has to be stored in her plastic "studio."
Now run along and check out my CremeMagnolia Etsy store to see what my little studio has produced.
Everyone uses my studio in the garage, so I prefer to use my dining table as my main work area. There are some things I have to go in there for, but everything I use on a regular basis is right 'here'. Including my laptop! I'm glad I'm not the only one! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, when my shop was up and running, we didn't actually eat at our diningroom table for probably a year! Only when we had guests over. Then, I had to rush around relocating everything to pretend like we had a totally normal diningroom. :) I totally relate!
ReplyDeleteI work in the kitchen, family room, laundry room and garage... little pockets of creative mess everywhere!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know that I'm not the only one! Just putting things away every now and then is such a hassle. The office looks like a mini FEdX depot!
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much what it's been like around here lately. I'm dreaming of a whole room to myself where everything can be neat and organised and at my fingertips.....
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a garden with a shed as a studio, but for now the little spare room will do in our tiny apartment. I can hardly move in there either it has so much stuff! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that our 1000' shop is to small. I don't know how you do it.
ReplyDeleteToday must be the day for featuring studio antics. At our house we call my workspace 'the art room' and when my little 10'x16' room doesn't suffice, I move myself to the dining room ( and sometimes the basement). If we had a garage...it would be mine. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, the dining room table used to be our station as well...(my mom and i both do art and crafts) recently we splurged on a second table for the dining room, one for art and one for eating!
ReplyDeletei have ZERO space to create! my boyfriend and i moved into a tiny apartment and all my lovely crafting supplies are hidden away. it is my goal the next place i live to have space to create!
ReplyDeleteMan, I wish I could have a little cottage just for crafting. That would be amazing. Well, even if you don't have it now, at least you got to experience it :) Sorry about the blues though :(
ReplyDeleteGreat post! My "studio" is my drafting table which is crammed with everything from bottles of paint to piles of wood. And I have the lovely added touch of a busy three year old who gets his fingers into everything. lol Still, it works out well because I can paint and keep an eye on him at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visiting my blog. I'm following you back.
Cheers :-)
- CoconutPalmDesigns
After using the dining room or kitchen table for many many years, I finally have a sewing room. I just don't don't know if I could go back, lol!!
ReplyDeleteLOL I feel your pain. We "upsized a few years ago into a major fixer upper as we had outgrown our 850 sq/ft cottage with four boys in tow. I was THRILLED to find a small"sun" room off the kitchen that really had no use and I decided there and then to take for my own. Of course the "sun" room is unheated and whilst I treid to work in there with an anorak on it is almost impossible in the throes of winter.Hence back to the diningroom table which is also in a "great room". The boys play with my stuff - everyone steps on beads and general disaster ensues. I cracked the door this week and since it's above freezing I'm going in to start the Spring clean up! WISH ME LUCK!!! : )
ReplyDeleteSorry for the spelling - I still need coffee - whew!
ReplyDeleteLife under the bus..at least during spring and summer you can be OFF the dining room table and in your "studio." Best of luck on your spring cleaning!
ReplyDelete