Fall has always been a busy time for me at work and at home. Last year was even worse... but with a great outcome. I sacrificed my couple weeks of relaxing vacation to take on the task of renovating Farmerboy's bedroom into a new studio for myself. Mr. Hollow was extremely skeptical on whether or not I could fit everything in there, but I managed to utilize every inch of wall space to its maximum ability. I still have a ways to go with fine organizing, but I couldn't be more thrilled with the early results. :) Plus, I can begin to create again! Such a fabulous start to the New Year.
My first vacation in September was mainly dedicated to fixing and painting the vintage plaster walls. The last remaining original plaster in the house. :( Then, the second vacation in October was spent painting... and painting... and painting trim. The white trim took FOREVER. I have made a mental note to listen to my daughter in law and buy the one coat coverage paint for the rest of the rooms. ;) Finally, Mr. Hollow and I ripped up and replaced the carpet. I didn't want anything expensive in the room, so I went with a mid range carpet. After all, a studio can be a very messy place at times.
My favorite spot is the huge island in the middle of the room. It is just wonderful! I purchased some inexpensive cube storage for the base. It works perfectly for holding loads of fabric. The top is actually the other half of our kitchen island. I am so happy the gentlemen at our local Spahn and Rose talked us into paying only $20 more to get the wasted half of the island counter top finished. It has been stored under our bed waiting to be used! If you look closely, the island is big enough to house my wool combs and yarn winder. They can be removed easily to transition the space over for painting, writing and cutting fabric for quilts.
Mr. Hollow made a nice wood cabinet to set my floss bins into. It really looks like a more finished and cohesive piece now, and the white really makes the colors pop.
My huge drafting table has been stored for too many years to recall. I was thrilled to finally give it a proper space to live. Under it, I flipped a wood box to utilize as storage for all of my Prismacolor drawing pencils. The wood filing cabinet, on the right, was left at home by Farmerboy. It currently holds all of my DVDs. The sectioned wood soda pop cartons are stacked on top and work great as cubbies for all of my various art supplies. They use to hang in my old studio area, but I just can't see a point of mounting them on my walls.
The box in front of the drafting table is the fuzzie's mobile bed. LOL
Each wall was suppose to have a purpose in the initial layout. The photo above is the fine art station. The photo below is the fleece and fiber station. This is where the carding machines reside for making roving. Due to space constraints, I also have moveable carts parked there for the time being. The first cart is for writing and sewing supplies. The second cart can be rolled over to the drafting table and used as an art supply cart.
Since, I will be doing my Tole painting at the island. I gave one of the walls over to storage. My barnboard storage unit that Farmerboy made me fits neatly in the corner and is flanked by my reclaimed wool material cubbies.
The final wall is the sewing area. I purchased a sewing table on OverStock.com for quilting. It was Mr. Hollow's idea to keep my other small industrial table for a second machine set up. In the far corner, my barnboard pie safe sits filled with fabric. I found a really cool vintage wood filing cabinet to use for patterns and set it on top. To finish the wall off for now, Mr. Hollow mounted a television.
I am sure there are some more changes coming in the future for the layout, but I am thrilled to be up and creating again. Mr. Hollow will be finishing up the window trim, after he finishes the renovations in my old studio. It is going to be a laundry/kitchen storage area.
I am really excited to get that finished too.
Not only will I be creating in my studio, but the kitchen storage area will make it so much easier to cook, bake and create in my kitchen as well! :)
