Studio Tour

Decorating tip: don't overlook your doors for art-hanging opportunities. 

                           
It was a long, hard road to get to this point, but I can now say that my studio is complete, and lovely, and just the way I want it. Why did it take so long, you ask? Well, when we moved into the house, this room served as the catch-all for all the junk we didn't know what to do with and continued as such for quite some time until I put my foot down and said, "This is MY room...I will only allow things in this room that I love and/or are useful to me." Now, that came with a lot of purging (why I had held onto a mountain of paper scraps and ugly fabric I would never use, I do not know) and thinking and re-thinking furniture layout in a small room.

For a long time I HATED this room--there was something seriously feng-shui wrong with it, combined with the junky clutter that I just couldn't handle. But now it is calming, beautiful and very conducive to creativity. Without further adieu, please enter my studio tour (a-la Apartment Therapy)....

I have my afternoon planned....

These wall-mounted shelves are inexpensive, fairly easy to
install and help utilize space all the way to the ceiling. 

My reading nook.

The Klobo loveseat from IKEA is invaluable in a small space.
 They have been well used and well loved in our apartments over the
last few years. 

 

This shelf is just a cool vintage wire basket I found for a couple bucks
and some wood cut to fit. It holds some of my work and other
 inspirational objects. 

My work table is simply four table legs painted a fantastic orange,
with MDF to top it off. It is the perfect size. 

what art studio is complete without an inspiration board? 

I found these shelves at Target for $20 each--they are the perfect
size for this spot. 

part of my collection of plant books

a few of my favorite pottery pieces

Studio Update & Hanging Planter

I've been gradually settling into my new studio: organizing, re-arranging and adding.

I love having all my supplies at an arm's length. Before I had my own space, I was constantly running back and forth for this and that.

I added a second row of shelves for more storage and display (mostly plants and books)

I found this lovely hanging planter at a thrift store recently. I replaced the old, dirty leather with natural jute twine and added one of my favorite plants.

I'm completely in love with it.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my sweet & wonderful husband!!

I Have a Brand New Studio!

One major big thing I've been looking forward to is the day when I can dedicate an entire room in our home to an art studio and personal space for myself. Currently, we live in a two bedroom apartment (the second bedroom serving solely as the guest room) and I've always assumed there was no room for a studio. Until now!!

Sure, it might get a teensy bit cramped for our guests, mostly Matt's parents and our good friend Joe, but it's a beautiful room with a huge window and I just couldn't let it go virtually unused any longer.

I raided my bedroom closet for the three white shelving units you see supporting the tabletop, as I wanted to complete this project on a strict budget. I paid about $30 for three pieces of MDF at Home Depot, and the white cubes you see on the right I got on Amazon.com also for $30.

I couldn't be happier with my new space. It's exactly what I wanted: lots of room to spread out while I'm working, and tons of space for storage and display.

An art studio wouldn't be complete without a bulletin board to post your ideas and inspirations. I found a ginormous one at the thrift store for $2, covered it in white cotton fabric and went to town.
Currently, I'm obsessed with the Southwest, deserts, warm rich colors and the like.

I've already gotten to work:

I finished this lion soft toy I started last year. He got a brand new fancy mane, a nose, and a sweet little crown.

Isn't he positively wonderful? Keep your eyes peeled at my Etsy shop for one or two coming up soon.

See you later, I'm off to my studio!