Well this doesn't happen often.

I have a clean and organized studio. Well, as long as you don’t open up the Wardrobe it’s all nice and clean and organized. A bit at a time. I’ve got a bit of the wardrobe done, but it won’t be finished until I can move bits of unfinished presents out of there. Finishing them would be a start.

But look at the rest of the room! :)

I’ve been finishing up a few major project and haven’t had any time to clean, so this makes me so happy. I have a desk again. I have an ironing board that isn’t masquerading as a spare table. I have a bed that isn’t masquerading as a table. I have a floor that isn’t masquerading as a table. I’m happy.

I haven’t posted any photos of my studio since I rearranged, so here they are! I like this arrangement soooo much better. You can see the original layout here.

This wall is where the shelf used to be. The day I discovered the wardrobe came apart into two moveable pieces (rather than one non-moveable piece) was the day it found it’s new home. I pretty much keep the same stuff in my wardrobe as I’ve always done but I’ve taken out all the small stuff. I mainly keep fabric, yarn and big stuff in here now.

I also moved my reference books from the top shelf to the top of the wardrobe. I think I’m liking this. I debated moving them onto the bookshelf in the lounge, but decided that I really wanted them in my studio. I don’t like being separated from my books. My alterable books also live here. I don’t use my books that much, so they really didn’t need to be right next to my desk, but I still need them close at hand if they are needed. I think this is a good compromise.

Next to the wardrobe is the desk. I’ve tacked inspirational photos on the side of the wardrobe and moved the pinboard above my desk (the desk used to be under the window, so this never used to be an option). My pen jars and tool caddy is there. I’ve also installed a wooden CD holder to hold CDs full of unmounted stamps. On that I’ve got my favourite ink pads, my clock, light and a few sheep. :)

The shelf is on the back wall, again at a 90 degree angle to my desk. This set up works so well for me. I keep my verticle paper holders there, as well as my foam stamp files, photos, binders for stickers and rub-ons,
ribbon, and other assorted essentials on this shelf. My towers of small embellishments live on the space on the other side of the paper storage that you can’t see. Adhesives, heat guns and a few other items also live here.

I really had to sort out my magazines. The only magazines that now live this shelf are my stamping, fabric and mixed media mags which I could never part with and use constantly for techniques and inspiration.

I’ve been loving the take away containers as storage devices. I use them to store chipboard, flowers, threads, beads, art supplies and all manner of great junk to use in my art. Scrapbooking containers are on the middle shelves, while all the others are on the top shelf sorted into meaningful piles. I’m really liking this. They use to live in the wardrobe, but unless they had a shelf they kinda got lost. I also like have my thread sorted into reasonable groups rather than tossed in 6 random non-thread boxes.

My ironing board now lives permanently set up along the wall next to the shelf. I’ve also set it to a low height so I can just wheel my chair from the desk to the ironing board and back again without having to get up. I hate ironing… I have to make it fun somehow. ;)

Finally the bed area, which actually looks like somebody might be able to comfortably sleep in it. Complete with side table and plant. My current magazines live in the magazine rack on that table. My photo bags live beside it.

I still have the wardrobe to sort out, which actually shouldn’t take too long since most of it was sorted the last time I organized. I also have a rack full of magazines in the corridor to sort through. I really need to flip through them, pull out what I really want and discard the rest. They take up too much space so anything that pre-dates 2006 is going to be taken apart and filed.

Hope you enjoyed the tour. :)