so yesterday was too dark and today may have been too bright. but i'm really excited to have a very clean room to create in this week. i don't mind when it gets messy, because that just means i'm busy with lots of projects, but i love that it's so clean for a few minutes at least! the room is long and narrow as you can tell from the first two pics--the first looking in from the front hall, the second looking back. i hesitated about having the shelves built on the door wall, but i'm so glad i did--it helped to get a lot of stuff off the floor!
these three pics are my desk zone. i can open various drawers on the cabinets on each side and below the desk while i work and have most of what i need at my fingertips! these were the majority of the ikea pieces i put together, pictured in the "before" picture. i highly recommend the alex on the left--it's sturdy enough to hold heavy paper punches. and the helmer times four on the right--perfectly sized drawers for all of my small supplies and embellishments, as well as stacks of paper, too. i reviewed them both for craft critique when i first put them together--you can read my article for a more in depth description and pictures of them open. although the drawers have even more stuff in them now!
when our local scrap store closed down, i purchased one of their displays on a whim. it was right after i'd planned the furniture in the room and i wasn't sure how it would work, but it has been a great piece to have--except that it's already overflowing with stamps! i love having so many in full view, especially when i get stuck for an idea. it's not uncommon to find me standing in front of it staring, searching for the perfect stamp! there are more stamps & stampables tucked away in the cube ottomans and canvas baskets tucked underneath the roll top desk. the counter cabinet pictured on the right is the only piece that was in my studio at the old house, serving the same purpose as it did there--lots of storage and great counter space. it's the perfect height for standing and cutting. the pictures above were a fun project from last week--full size prints of the blythe magazine spoofs i make. i have a year's worth of two magazines now, plus a couple of special issues. it's fun to have them on display and not just in two inch minis!
my sewing cabinet is a computer hutch from ikea, one of the more difficult pieces to put together. it basically chose me, because of size, function, and color. yet another piece that i wasn't sure about, but it's been perfect for sewing and the drawers are huge, holding things from envelopes & cards, to bags & wrapping supplies. i think i was worried that it was too plain, but it blends in nicely under the shelves i had built and it's really sturdy. the top is perfect for displaying the doll collection, too. the ottoman (also ikea) is actually a storage piece as well, filled to the brim with fabric scraps from the girls' costumes and other sewing projects. the stamp shelf is across from it, so it's another great place to sit and stare when i'm looking for ideas!
finally, here's one last look at the wall next to my desk. putting up a few of the girls' painted canvases was another of the projects i finished last week. i threw 'em up with sticky tac and they've stayed, so unless they start to fall, i'll leave them that way. plus, it'll be easy to move them around if the girls make more that i just have to add. i love looking at all the bright colors--definitely inspiring when i need it. like now...
back to work!
:) lexi
