I can't believe I'm showing you this.
I mean, I really can't believe I'm showing you this!
Photographic evidence as to why I've never shown you this room.
Even though this is "where the magic happens", so to speak, it's usually a mess!
But it's an "I'm working here" mess! Truthfully, it doesn't look like this all the time but it's constant possibility.
When I'm working on a project that requires a lot mixing and matching fabrics, I just can't have everything tucked away all nice and neat.
I have to be able to see it!
So, I suppose you could say this is just part of the creative process!
Okay! Enough laughter from the peanut gallery! You know who you are!
As for being organized, you wouldn't know it by looking at the above photo but I really do like things organized. Honestly, I do.
Have you noticed that organization is one of the most popular boards for pinners on Pinterest? When I originally searched "organization" this is one of the first pics that came up. It had been repinned over 7000 times!
I just checked Pinterest again and how it's up to 8219 repins!
I have NO idea the original source.
Even though I would love to have a clean, neat, organized, color coordinated, everything-in-it's-place work room. That is just NOT my reality.
My reality is there is a constant flow of projects in different stages with things get placed wherever I can find an empty spot.
Over the doors...
On a hanger on the door. ..
Over a frame that happened to be propped up against the wall...
On the floor...
Spilling out of the cabinets...
Even the dining room gets put to work housing overflow.
(Not quite what you have in mind when you consider dual purpose spaces for the home. Also, you can see by the pumpkins on the table how long it took me to get up the nerve to write this post!)
Back in the winter I found a bit of organizational inspiration from an unusual source. A movie. In this particular movie one of the characters displayed quilts by hanging them over curtain rods.
I decided to try my own version of this idea with some no longer needed hardware.
Bamboo rods from Hobby Lobby.
Painted white and hung in the sewing room...
theses rods immediately became a great place to hang everything from finished projects to projects in the works to materials I have ideas for and want to keep handy (and visible).
As a way to stay sane, I like to think of it as my
ever-changing abstract art. It's all in your perspective.
ever-changing abstract art. It's all in your perspective.
Things are still stacked in corners...
and under tables.
On a good day (a company's coming day) my work table (Ikea) looks like this. The plastic zipper bags that originally held bedding but now hold fabric scraps in a semi color coordinated fashion. The saw-horse legs are the perfect distance apart for holding bolts of fabric.
Even though all the shelves I thought would hold lovely accessories now hold supplies, it's a great place to work.
And I still managed a bit of pure cuteness here and there.
I even have a mascot!
Do you see him?
Right at eye level, just above my cutting table I have this little guy.
Random detail, I know, but he makes me smile.
He needs a name. Any suggestions?
Hope you enjoyed this look Behind the Scenes!
Next week!
A new look
and
will be open!
Now Open!
SHARING WITH:
Well gee, I don't see anything wrong. LOL Actually I have a table almost cluttered the same. I think all os us have our messes here and there. Smiles, Susie
ReplyDeleteTook me a while, but I see the pooch. I will be sewing curtains this weekend! I'll be thinking of you and wishing you were next door to run my ideas off. Lori
ReplyDeleteYou have such an imagination (the pooch I mean)...guess that's why you're so creative and artistic! Love your workroom!
ReplyDeleteHey- My work area looks just that bad-lol However, I did spend half the day down there cleaning it up and organizing it this morning. I just need a bit of wall space put up.
ReplyDeleteDog? Hmmm...Izzy>? (Iz he) a real dog? xo Diana
Your workroom is always neat when we visit, and I never noticed that cute detail on your window treatment. :)
ReplyDeleteYou should see my dining room table (and floor, and buffet, and baker's rack) with all of Libby and my school junk. Ted said he couldn't sleep at night if it was in his house. :)
I love the way the improvised rods turned out. Great idea!!! And the fabric on your desk chair is just lovely. See,that is what I noticed - the lovely fabric. Guess I'm just used to seeing some clutter around because it's usually that way at my house.
ReplyDeleteThis is great...reminds me of when I was in business...and I am missing that...this is a true work room...and yes, it always extends past the room.
ReplyDeleteGreat room, Sonya! I could just imagine the creativity and ideas that go on in this room. I love, love the idea of using those plastic bedding bags to hold remnants and scraps. I always feel bad putting them in the recycling because I feel they could be used for something.
ReplyDeleteHow about "Scraps" for your mascot's name?
Your space is the real thing. The Pinterest picture doesn't belong to a working girl! Keep making the magic.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I thought you had taken pictures of my bedroom!
ReplyDeleteCreativity is often messy! You are an artist!
Having spent the last several days sewing some slipcovers, new bedding, and pillows for my city bedroom, I can relate to the mess. I finished today, but I still have strings all over the house that I need to vaccum up. I have been cutting the fabric on the dining room table, sewing in the gameroom, ironing in the family room, and going to my bedroom to make sure it all works. I broke 4 sewing needles, but that's another story.
ReplyDeleteLove the pooch :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Australia♥
~Pernilla
I love your pooch! I too look for things like that to personalize a room. How funny!!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to see someone else's room look like that.
I have been finishing two quilts for our graduating kids and a scrapbook for a little girls first year. You can hardly see the floor and you walk in the room clean and leave with strings and glitter on you.
Love, love the whimsy on the curtains!!
It looks about right to me--I think you need more space--the creative genius should not be reined in!
ReplyDeleteSonya, Well good that you are keeping it real. I have an attic room I use to store all my dishes, teapots and pretties...wish mine looked as nice as yours!! This weekend we are going to purchase bookshelves to organize my "studio". Maybe I will get the nerve to show before and afters!!! Love your mascot!
ReplyDeleteMiss Bloomers
Your creative genius was overflowing. After a flurry of work and creativity there will be messes. It looks like you've been very productive! After some of my most productive creative sessions my work area is always a mess. Then I clean it up and get started on the next creative endeavor.
ReplyDeleteNext I need to tackle my messy garden shed which had nothing to do with creativity it's simply a lack of space. Thanks for showing us your space. I love that table.
Hey, creativity requires comfort and space. You do whatever you need to, after all, it's your space. Thanks for sharing the "realness". :-) You should see my extra room! I'm calling it my garage now with all the turmoil going on. It will get done...I'm just tired of all of the renovations.
ReplyDeleteOh, you might appreciate this...when I lived in a different apt complex one of my "friends" was the type that really had no hobbies or creative outlets. She cleaned, walked the dogs and read. She would stop by and the only space I had to create was my dining table. She would say, "Creative people are always messy." One day I told her that might be true, however, when she started paying my rent she could comment on my space. :-)
xo
Pat
P.S. I use those plastic bags for all sorts of storage too...fabrics, winter or summer pj's, whatever. :-)
ReplyDeletexo
Pat
Maybe "Stitches" or "Scraps" for the dog?
Haha. Thanks Sonya for keeping it real. My studio looks like your first picture too on most days. I like the idea of using those plastic bedding bags for fabric. One of the women in my artisan group works with fabrics and her contributions usually have to do with sewing. I'm going to share your link with her so she can maybe incorporate some of these ideas into her craft space too. Thanks for sharing this week on BeColorful
ReplyDeletepam
What a fantastic work space! I've never thought the words "organzized", "neat", and "creative" go together, anyway. In my house it's impossible to keep things in order while there's a project going on. My poor family has just learned to live with it...
ReplyDeleteWhatever it takes to keep you creative is fine with me!
ReplyDeleteI love to see I'm not the only one who's "creative space" looks like this! As of now, my craft room is my bedroom and dining room! My daughter leaves for college in the fall so I'm hoping too do a little rearranging of furniture to make her room my craft room (I will make sure she still has a bed but I'm sure she will have to move my treasures to get to it)! Love the curtain rod idea, gonna have to steal that one! Keep those creative juices flowing! Happy crafting! Amy
ReplyDeleteI love when someone shows that their craft room is as bad as mine. Great idea on the curtain rods. Thanks for sharing at Restyled Sundays.
ReplyDeleteFound you from At the Picket Fence! Love, love your shop!!! I just did my craft room over and it stayed neat for 2 days I sympathize with you lol. Who cares what it looks like, the things you make that come out of there are gorgeous!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Jeri