I have spent the last week trying to figure out the best way to utilize my work space. I have a 10' x 14' bedroom-turned-studio that also houses 3 huge bookshelves (filled with books), my grandmother's ancient refridgerator (filled with magazines), my great-grandmother's trunk that was brought from Russia (filled with quilts), a closet filled with art supplies, and 2 tables - one for paperwork (and the computer) and one for beadwork. Throw in a couple of bulletin boards, some stacking storage containers, an antique tea table and boxes full of all of my belongings I brought home from my office when I was laid off....You get the picture. It's a little crowded in here.
I drool at the magazine photos of perfectly appointed studios with their high-efficiency layout. I yearn for a full cabinet of wide architect drawers for storing my finished beadwork. Geez, I'd be happy with a small desk to put my office supplies in.
Instead I store my finished beadwork in a small antique suitcase. My office supplies are in a plastic box under the table, and my idea of high efficiency is if I can find what I'm looking for before I forget what it was.
How do I cope with such a set-up? Humor....and a bit of denial. If I keep my mind on my beading table, all the clutter is behind me and I don't have to look at it. I can bead happily, dreaming of the day that my kids move out and I can have their rooms to spread out in.
What is your work space like? Is it cozy chaos or efficient ergonomics? Do you work out of a closet or do you have elbow room? How do you utilize your space to get the best use from it?
Go ahead - give me your opinions. I welcome them all. I may even print them out and file them for future use....if I can remember where I put them.....
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Ha, ha, oh yes how I would love an actual studio! I have a small desk built into corner of the dining room behind the chimney breast. There's a very small old glass doored cabinet on the wall above filled with sketchbooks, brushes, pencils etc... (so I can lock my precious sables away from little hands!)
ReplyDeleteThe rest of my materials are crammed around the sides of the desk, with a daylight angled lamp. There's no foot room - underneath are folders, larger sketchbooks, drawing boards and the kids' stack of craft materials.
At the moment the desk top hasn't got much of my stuff on it - its all children's paintings and drawings, their pots of pencil crayons, some lego and farm animals!
Hi Cenya, Thanks so much for your comment on my blog :) It's so lovely to be back home, I don't ever want to leave the family again, or leave the country for that matter!
ReplyDeleteTalking of storage in studios, I have a lot of my arty stuff in plastic boxes stored under my work table. yes, my 'studio' is in my bedroom too!xx
An actual studio would be nice. My space is 6'x 8' and it houses book shelves, my computer desk, yarn, crochet and embroidery threads, beads, shells, wire, etc. We do what we can with what we have. My desk top is a slab of colorful granite on top of two sets of plastic drawer bins that you can get just about anywhere these days. I did have leg room underneath, but now have a collection of crewel threads in drawers, plus yarn in bags, and some other stuff as well. I now have a magnifying glass with light, that was DH's father's. It swings out on an arm and that is going to help a lot with my needlework.
ReplyDeleteI think you do stunning beadwork. Glad to see you back and hope you have wonderful, healthful, creative days ahead of you.
Hugs ~ FlowerLady
Thanks for commenting, Ladies. It seems that most artists work out of little cramped quarters. I wonder...If we had all the space we needed, would we be better artists or worse?
ReplyDeleteCenya