Over the past few months, I've been working really hard on my studio. It had become really cluttered and pretty much unfuctional. When I walked in, I felt frustrated and overwhelmed. It was time for a change.
Up until the new year, this room was still set up as it had been in my days of making jewelry. The room was crammed with all of my jewelry supplies and tools, and my growing collection of fabric and linens were scattered about, piled in bins, and without a proper home. As I was putting this post together, I couldn't find a before photo, but I will add it when I do - so you can see just how unsightly it was.
The progress was slow going, and it often felt like I would never finish. But now it is pretty much complete - or at least close enough to share. I love this space so much. It has been amazing to feel my creative energy flowing again, just by creating order in this space. When I walk in, I feel peaceful and settled, yet inspired. Everything has a home. I've been working really hard to keep it nice and neat, and to put things away when I am finished working with them (this is really hard for me!).
I am so incredibly grateful to have this space. This room used to be the garage, but when our house was renovated in 2002 (before we bought it), this room was made part of the house's living space. I think it was designed to be the master bedroom - it has a full bath and two great closets, along with a window seat and cedar chest - but we couldn't make that work with our furniture and how we were using the rest of the space in the house. It has been an office, my jewelry studio, and now it is my sewing studio and fabric shop.
So, let me show you around. I'll give you the quick tour and then share some details.
This is the view when you walk into the room. Straight ahead is my sewing table with my regular sewing machine and serger. To the left is the printer, sitting on a set of drawers that holds paper and other office type supplies. And you can see a little bit of the corner where all of my thread, ribbons, rulers, and a set of drawers with most of my sewing tools. That big basket holds all of my vintage linen scraps.
This view shows my cutting table and the bathroom.
This dresser sits on the wall opposite my sewing table, and holds all of my packaging supplies and non-sewing craft and art supplies.
This metal bookcase is right between the dresser and the bathroom door. It holds my sewing books, my vintage pillowcases, and a few more packaging supplies.
Opposite my cutting table are the closets and window seat, which looks out into our front yard.
And a quick peek into the bathroom.
And now I'll share some of the details.
Above my sewing table are embroidery hoops with some of my favorite vintage fabrics.
This is one of my favorites.
Behind my sewing machine sit large jars of fabric scraps, sorted by color.
Next to the window, I hung little metal bins, which hold my ribbon. I picked up these little bins from Target's dollar section.
I punched two holes in the bins and used little "L" hooks to hang them on the walls.
This is another view of the wall beside the cutting table. I'm not crazy about the lamp, but I haven't found another affordable one that provides enough light.
Lots and lots of thread.
This is another view of the cutting table. It is from Ikea, and it is just the right height. Inside, the shelves hold more fabric - thrifted sheets, burlap, batting, as well as my patterns and other larger items.
The shelves above the cutting table hold jars of buttons and vintage tins with vintage sewing notions. The bar is from Ikea, and is home to my scissors and rotary cutters.
Buttons, sorted by color.
This frame is above the three-drawer dresser. I thrifted the frame for a couple of dollars, painted it white, and then sanded it to create a distressed look. I used colored twine to create a place for hanging bits of inspiration and other pretty things I want to have in sight.
A closer look at the frame.
I took some sweet little flower cabachons and glued them to mini-clothespins for hanging my bits of inspiration.
Another shot of the flower clips.
This is the closet on the right, which is home to most of my vintage linens. As part of the studio makeover, I built and painted these shelves in the closets.
To keep the fabric nice and tidy, I cut foam boards sized to fit my shelves and then organized the sheets by color.
This is the closet on the left, which is home to all of my other fabric.
To organize this fabric, I wrapped the fabric around comic book boards and sorted it by color. I had several of these metal bins on hand, and they were the perfect fit for the size of the fabric "bolts" and for my closet space. Once I realized how perfect they were, I went back to Target to look for a few more, and snagged them on clearance. Lucky me!
This paper star was a gift from a dear friend several years ago. I love it so much. It hangs from the ceiling above the window seat.
This window seat is one part of the room that I haven't finished yet. I am planning to make a cushion - I just can't decide on a fabric. Thea doesn't mind though - it's one of her favorite spots in the house.
So there you have it - a peek into my creative space.
Have a lovely weekend, friends!
One word AWESOME can you come to my house and help me with my "studio"? It's a long trip to Canada but I would so appreciate it! Well done it's a very soothing spot.
Posted by: Lizzie | 04/08/2011 at 02:25 PM
Beautiful Nikole!
Posted by: Dawn Anderson | 04/08/2011 at 02:42 PM
OMG I want to go sit in that room and play with the jars of buttons. can I can I huh???!
its fantastic Nikole!!!
come to my house!?!? pleeeeease!!!
Posted by: Kelly | 04/08/2011 at 02:45 PM
Wow, it looks amazing. I love all of the colors that your various crafting supplies bring to the room.
Posted by: Kat | 04/08/2011 at 03:08 PM
I'm swooning! :-) Your studio is lovely.
Posted by: Nicole Lee | 04/08/2011 at 03:28 PM
WOW! I had no idea you where so into vintage fabric. What a wonderful surprise. Your studio is truly inspiring!
Posted by: modernjune | 04/08/2011 at 03:55 PM
It's like I've died and gone to my dream sewing/craft room. Amazing! Also, I'm totally borrowing that metal bin ribbon storage idea. I have tried several different ways to store all of mine and none have seemed to work.
Thank you so much for sharing your space!!
Posted by: Nicole | 04/08/2011 at 03:58 PM
this is absolutely beautiful and amazing ~ you are so talented!
Posted by: kendra verbeek | 04/08/2011 at 05:19 PM
this is excellent! i have major studio envy now, but also a lot of good storage ideas. thank you for sharing!
Posted by: molly | 04/08/2011 at 06:10 PM
wow!!! STUNNING! i love it! and am amazed by your organization and creativity...you have really designed a beautifully functional and warm, inspiring space....LOVE IT! i totally have that same lamp you do and have similar sentiments....and thankful for the good light ;) im so impressed by your 'bolts' and cant get over how adorable that raccoon and fox fabric is. lovely touch with the flowers on the clothespins, too. i love you sooo much and thank you for the constant inspiration!!! xoxoxo
Posted by: molly | 04/08/2011 at 07:30 PM
Gorgeous! I can't wait to compliment you IN PERSON!!! Xo
Posted by: joriel | 04/09/2011 at 01:08 PM
WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I come over? You are SO lucky to have this amazing space and to have made it uniquely all your own and it is stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOOOOOO jealous! xox
Posted by: Mad | 04/09/2011 at 03:34 PM
Everything is so beautiful!!! :) I'm sure I'm like number 13 here in the line of people who want to come craft & play in your pretty studio :)
Posted by: Cindy | 04/09/2011 at 09:06 PM
I just stumbled upon your blog- where did you get all the beautiful vintage fabric? Its lovely!!!
Posted by: lisa | 04/11/2011 at 05:24 PM
Lisa -
Most of the sheets were thrifted. A few were found on etsy and ebay. :)
Posted by: Nikole | 04/11/2011 at 08:37 PM
So beautiful and inspiring!
Posted by: Tara | 04/18/2011 at 09:29 AM
I have never seen such an extensive vintage sheet collection before! Amazing!
Posted by: Liz | 04/18/2011 at 09:29 PM
your space is so lovely- it looks so inspiring and relaxing at the same time, which is perfect! i'm curious what color/brand paint you used on the walls? that green is so serene. thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Robin | 04/23/2011 at 10:47 AM
i think i will just sit and stare at this for the next 30 minutes. i LOVE your space. completely. and your vintage sheet collection? WOW. that closet is heaven on earth <3
Posted by: kim rakes | 05/07/2011 at 10:11 AM
The paint color is one that I got from Lowe's a few years ago - it's valspar signature colors - martha stewart colors - in araucana sage. I hope that helps!
Posted by: Nikole Sarvay | 05/10/2011 at 08:24 AM
Lovely! You've got there a clean well organized working area and I love it!
Posted by: Sevenoaks Furniture | 05/13/2011 at 01:07 AM
I always coming up to the point that if a house is well organized, it reflects also the attitude of a people who are living on it. Then they are living in a home not in a house anymore.
Posted by: jewelry making | 05/13/2011 at 07:42 AM
It's wonderful. I like this studio place. I like all pictures of different things of studio. Specially I like most is that the white cup board with different cloths. Thanks for sharing your studio with us.
Posted by: כורסת המתנה | 01/19/2012 at 09:04 AM
What attractive house. I like it. I like to decor my house every time. I have big space in my house, I like specially in yours is the star. It's really very beautiful studio place.
Posted by: טיולים מאורגנים לחו"ל | 01/19/2012 at 09:48 AM
Nice studio place. I never see before such beautiful place. I like your smart way to arrange all the things so it's looking very nice. Thanks for sharing this one.
Posted by: דלתות כניסה לבית | 02/02/2012 at 06:03 AM