This is the first time I’ve ever posted photos of my studio. It’s not a big space, and since we live in a letted flat I don’t have many decorating options… but it is my own space. What I do have is a huge south-facing window which means I get as much light in my studio as one can get in NorthEast England. I love my window. :)
This is the overall view of the room, taken from the furthest corner of the room (while sitting on the bed). I’m slowly getting my studio the way I want it, but unfortunately it does take time, and we only moved into this flat a couple months ago.
You can see my desk, my shelving (which is mostly scrapbooking supplies), and my wardrobe (which is mostly for other stuff). Next to the wardrobe I have a combo White Board/Cork Board where I keep track of upcoming deadlines and other important stuff. I try to keep all my creative stuff in this room, so I’ve made spaces for things like my trombone, camera bags, sewing machine, books and magazines.
A bit better view of my work area. I’ve got a multi drawer rolling cart which holds important stuff like adhesives, some of my rubber stamps, ink pads, embossing powders, chipboard and other embellishments.
Under my desk is my box of cardstock. I use hanging file folders, sorted by colour. This box used to live on the shelf, but it was just too far to reach, so it now lives under the desk next to the bin… which is something I always have to be careful about so that the rubbish goes into the bin and the cardstock goes into the files.
In the corner behind the desk and shelving unit are a couple of large plastic storage bins. This area is mainly for my collection of yarns, knitting and crochet needles and in knitting projects which are in progress. I don’t need access to this stuff much, so it was a good use of space that otherwise would have been wasted.
My bookshelf. I couldn’t live without this next to my desk. The top shelf holds my big ink caddy (I don’t use it that often, but when I need certain colours, it’s brilliant), a few idea notebooks, some magazines and clippings for use in my gluebooks, chipboard remnants, and my collection of A4 paper and card.
Second shelf is mostly rubber stamps, behind which is my backup supply of adhesives, blades and other staples.
Third Shelf contains the two most used items. First, patterned paper which is stored in homemade vertical storage holders divided up by manufacturer. Since writing the article on my paper holders, I’ve started putting each line/manufacturer into grip-lock bags within the boxes. It’s great because now if I want some Chatterbox paper, I simply grab the appropriate folder out of the holder. I love it. The rest of the shelf holds my collection of foam stamps, which I use all the time. On the very end of this shelf I keep all other adhesives, such as PVA, Modge Podge, Spray Mount, Fixative, etc. I don’t use them as often as other adhesives, but they are in easy reach if I need them.
The forth and fifth shelves hold my boxes of photos, and my floss boxes which hold bits and pieces including ribbon, flowers, hardward, etc.
The bottom shelf holds all my books and mags. The big binders on the inside hold my sticker and rub-ons, and then my collection of books and magazines on scrapbooking, textiles, and photography. Most of my books are actually in storage…. I really miss them. My heat gun also lives on this shelf. I’ve found out that if I keep it plugged in and within easy reach I’m more likely to use it.
My desk. It’s just a cheap desk we bought at Ikea, but it’s perfect for me. I have an A2 cutting mat I use as a worksurface, and keep all my necessities on the table. My laptop is now centred on the desk. I used to have it on the end of the table, but it kept causing me neck pains, so I moved it. I have to be careful not to get my supplies on the computer, but since I often read websites while I’m working I’ve found this to be the best place for it. Fortunately it is a laptop, and can be easily moved if I’m doing something extremely messy.
I keep my pens in my a small wicker basket, while my brushes, scissors, knives, pencils and regular ballpoint pens stand in little glass jars. I also keep my double sided tape, current idea notebooks, my dymo, Sakura pens, stapler and post-it note pad within easy reach.
My little embellishments such as brads live in stacking storage containers on the window sill, along with a small herd of sheep.
This is the wardrobe—all the other stuff lives here. On the left-side we have some of Joey’s off-season wardrobe, a shelf of textile-related supplies, and the bottom shelf is mostly art supplies. The right side is mostly for altered art. It’s actually quite a mish-mash of stuff, including art supplies, fabric, clothing that is going to be ripped apart for use in assorted projects, canvases and layouts which are waiting for albums. It really is organized, and it realling does make sense… even if the only person it makes sense to is me. I store all my altered books in-progress on top of the wardrobe, along a few camera bag attachments, as well as a few other pieces of junk which I actually do need to keep. It’s all within easy reach, but this way they are not in my way.
There’s also an A1 project bag tucked between the wardrobe and the wall that stores my watercolour paper, large sheets of cardstock and large sheets of chipboard.
And that’s my studio. Hope you’ve enjoyed the tour.