I only began exploring jewelry last year so I've never had a jewelry studio before. I wanted to separate the two working spaces both to see how that impacted my work and to test having separate studios. The yard came with an cottage-like 12' x 16' shed that I would like to turn into a jewelry studio that could be open to the public. It'd be a huge shift in how I work so this is a test both to see if I like separate and to see if I actually work.
There's a support post in the middle of the room so I divided the space in two at that point by placing storage cabinets facing each other with the work island in the middle. The sewing side is roughly 10' x 16' which will give me a good idea of the outside studio's potential. From my machine, I can see through the window to the foliage outside. The jewelry (window) side is a huge mess rthat I'm still working on. In the above left photo, you can just see behind the white cabinets into the space where it will be. As part of our...
... landscaping design, we want to replace the window with French doors that open to an outside deck. The photo above is taken further down the yard however, this is the view I'd have from either studio. It's the city's pond and just happens to be behind my back yard. They look after it; I enjoy it. We are intending to retire here so as I develop the studio, I am both keeping in mind the fact that I'm aging and the aspects of other studios that I enjoyed to create a studio design that will work for a long time.
Having a creative space has always been a priority and has positively impacted my abilities because what I need is always ready and available so I can create for a short time or a long time depending on how the day is going. I started out with a folding table in the corner of my bedroom and I've had spaces both big and small over the years since. They've all been wonderful in different ways but most specifically because they existed. Making space for our creativity is part of how we nurture ourselves, fill our own gas tank, become energized and that positive energy then extends toward others. I hope if you don't already have a space, that you will create one. If you already have a space, what do you love most about it?
Talk soon - Myrna
Grateful - the sewing side is organized
When my daughter left home we converted her room to a jewelry studio/guest room (it has a single bed size pull out couch - not great for a guest, but it will do in a pinch). I do my sewing at the dining room table. I would love to have a large enough space in which to house both of my passions and maybe have enough space to dabble in other creative interests without having to share. Your space looks pretty nice with great storage and at least some natural light which I find important. The cottage/shed looks like it has a lot of potential, but how would you make it work year round in your climate?
ReplyDeleteI am only so lucky to have this space because all my children are adults living in their own homes. It's a mixed blessing - VBG. We would insulate the walls and put a heating/air conditioning unit in the shed-studio like you'd find in a hotel room to make the space usable year round. It already has electricity as a previous owner used it as a woodworking shop.
DeleteI am only so lucky to have this space because all my children are adults living in their own homes. It's a mixed blessing - VBG. We would insulate the walls and put a heating/air conditioning unit in the shed-studio like you'd find in a hotel room to make the space usable year round. It already has electricity as a previous owner used it as a woodworking shop.
DeleteMy sewing room is one of the calming influences in my life. It is small and holds a lot of stuff but it is all mine. A couple of months ago, I tossed stuff out and re-organized some areas. I immediately felt calmer and my sewing mojo returned. I've learned that I can't tolerate a lot of clutter. If I can't clean the room in 15 minutes then I'm out of sorts. Everything except fabric is within reach. I store fabric in a separate space. I only keep fabric for upcoming projects in the room. I do have a box of fabric that arrived that needs a storage space. I've been teaching myself to return tools to their storage place after I use them.
ReplyDeleteI have an old armoire that I use for my jewelry making supplies. It is not in a good location so I haven't made any jewelry in a long minute. It needs to be moved to a different area but I haven't figured out where it will fit in that makes me feel productive.
I'm reading a book called Listening To Design and the author talks about one of his students who was not doing well and upon further investigation wasn't making time for jogging, massage, or wood working all of which nurtured him. When he added those back, he did well again. I find a similar truth in my own life.
DeleteYour studio habits are fabulous. They allow you to function without thinking about those details and instead focus on creativity. YES YES. Finding the right space can be tricky. I started out doing jewelry upstairs and while I like the light much better, I couldn't handle the mess. I hope you find a place that works soon.
My sewing room is one of the calming influences in my life. It is small and holds a lot of stuff but it is all mine. A couple of months ago, I tossed stuff out and re-organized some areas. I immediately felt calmer and my sewing mojo returned. I've learned that I can't tolerate a lot of clutter. If I can't clean the room in 15 minutes then I'm out of sorts. Everything except fabric is within reach. I store fabric in a separate space. I only keep fabric for upcoming projects in the room. I do have a box of fabric that arrived that needs a storage space. I've been teaching myself to return tools to their storage place after I use them.
ReplyDeleteI have an old armoire that I use for my jewelry making supplies. It is not in a good location so I haven't made any jewelry in a long minute. It needs to be moved to a different area but I haven't figured out where it will fit in that makes me feel productive.
I'm reading a book called Listening To Design and the author talks about one of his students who was not doing well and upon further investigation wasn't making time for jogging, massage, or wood working all of which nurtured him. When he added those back, he did well again. I find a similar truth in my own life.
DeleteYour studio habits are fabulous. They allow you to function without thinking about those details and instead focus on creativity. YES YES. Finding the right space can be tricky. I started out doing jewelry upstairs and while I like the light much better, I couldn't handle the mess. I hope you find a place that works soon.
What I love about my current space is its smallness, and how that has made me explore things in new ways, even though I have just begun using it again, and haven't started blogging that again (yet). What I dislike is the light, which is poor. I'm moving in less than a month though, to transitional space while I do some major construction on my house, and that space will be smaller. I think however, that the move to a smaller space has helped my creativity. The last two spaces were very large, almost too large simply because it was a difficult time in my life, my husband's decline and then the period of mourning his loss. For me, I yearned to be enveloped and those spaces were not enveloping, I felt exposed rather than nourished. I might have a large space again, but I am not ready for it now.
ReplyDeleteI can see how smaller would create a different form of exploration. It's always intrigued me how much my environment impacts my creativity. I used to think I could work anywhere and it's not true which makes this divided space an interesting experiment. In a similar, and not at all identical way, to your smaller space, I carefully limit how much stash I have because if there's too much, it's overwhelming and when there is some open spaces as opposed to jam packed, I am more able to work. There is better flow. I also prefer closed storage for the same reason. Everything out in the open is too much visual stimulation. I like to focus on the thing I'm on. Good luck with the construction on your house. I hope it goes smoothly and you end up with exactly what you'd hoped for.
DeleteI can see how smaller would create a different form of exploration. It's always intrigued me how much my environment impacts my creativity. I used to think I could work anywhere and it's not true which makes this divided space an interesting experiment. In a similar, and not at all identical way, to your smaller space, I carefully limit how much stash I have because if there's too much, it's overwhelming and when there is some open spaces as opposed to jam packed, I am more able to work. There is better flow. I also prefer closed storage for the same reason. Everything out in the open is too much visual stimulation. I like to focus on the thing I'm on. Good luck with the construction on your house. I hope it goes smoothly and you end up with exactly what you'd hoped for.
DeleteWhen we moved to our retirement condo last year we made the decision to use the living room as our studio - my sewing/creative space and hubby's computer area. We've almost always shared a space and we like the easy access to each other. It took a bit to convince hubby that the living room was the appropriate place for our studio. But, this is how we spend our time and we should do that in the room with the most gorgeous view of the ocean. We did a significant amount of downsizing and culling to fit into this condo, but it has been worth it. I've done more sewing here because I have less stuff to ponder and sort through. Everything has its place and with less room I make the effort to put things away as I work. And the view is magnificent. Exactly what we wanted. Lois K
ReplyDeleteThe space sounds like it's working out fabulously for you. I totally agree with utilizing rooms in a way that works for you as well as less stuff so often equals more creativity. At least it does for me. YES YES - I'm so happy for you.
DeleteThe space sounds like it's working out fabulously for you. I totally agree with utilizing rooms in a way that works for you as well as less stuff so often equals more creativity. At least it does for me. YES YES - I'm so happy for you.
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