My finished studio as of March 1, 2008.
Here are pictures of my finished studio. The studio is approximately 400 square feet. It is almost three times the area that I had before the renovation. The sewing and computer work areas was made by my husband using furniture grade plywood and cutting it to the specifications that I wanted. I studied several work areas that are made by companies before designing the work area. My husband covered the entire work area and the shelves with Plexiglas to keep everything clean and splinter free. I have plenty of room on each side of my computer for the printer and various areas of storage. All of my thread is stored under the desk area in wheeled plastic drawers. The sewing area is made in a "L" shape so I have enough room to stitch a large quilt. My husband built a raised area around my sewing machine so the machine bed is flat with the sewing area--so nice for machine quilting. I have two chairs one for the computer and one for the sewing area. Although my Jack Russell is usually taking a nap in one of them. The wall in front of the sewing area is a half wall, because we have a windowed solarium on that side of the house and the natural light enters the studio. An air cleaner sits on the floor near the bookcase; it helps to cut down on the dust from the fabric. Although threads from studio can be found anywhere in the house including in the oil filter of my husband's motorcycle. The frames hanging above the computer area are shadow boxes containing the series of small beaded quilts that I have made in the past several years. I have an electronic air cleaner to capture some of the dust created by the fabrics and threads. The room has numerous electrical outlets on each wall-never too many of those. Plus all my trashcans are large and have wheels--so easy to move around.
The wall opposite my work area wall is lined with bookshelves for my extensive library. The Christmas gift from my husband was a huge metal craftsman tool box on wheels. It sits at the end of the bookshelves. The workmen who were finishing the renovation were sad that the beautiful tool box was being using for lace and buttons and not manly greasy tools. So I added tassels to the keys on the drawers just to leave my mark. I store all my trims, interfacing, fusibles, Velcro, elastic, and other items in the drawers.
The cutting area is a cutting table that has drop sides that I purchased it several years ago from Hancock's Fabrics. The table was not very sturdy and wobbled; my husband created guide wires across the legs with turnbuckles from Home Depot to make the table solid and sturdy. I purchased an ironing cover specially made for the table and removed the foam pad. A large cutting mat on one end; the rest of the table with a 3 foot by 4 foot piece of Plexiglas. It is useful because I also make wearable art and use the area to pin patterns to fabric. I also surrounded the cutting area and sink area with anti fatigue mats to cushion the floor when I am standing at the work areas.
On the wall opposite the cutting table is a sink area with a 10 inch deep sink and a high curved faucet. The dark counter top was chosen so any fabric dye stains will not show. The cabinets contain fabric dyes, paints, screen printing, stamping supplies. A hot water canister was installed under the sink for water used for dyeing or a cup of tea. My thermo fax machines sits on the counter near the wall with a basket for the electronics like cell phone charger, etc on top. A microwave sits at the other end of the counter for speeding along the fabric dyeing.
The wall next to the counter is my design wall complete with mannequin. It is made of Dow super-tuff-r .5 inch insulation sheathing purchased at Home depot and covered with white fleece. It is attached to the wall with hollow wall anchors just in case I want to hang a 80 pound quilt. My husband installed a set of track lights on a dimmer attached to the ceiling near the design wall, so I can also use the area for photography ofeco my garments and quilts. The ceiling of the studio house 14 high hat recessed lights. All the light bulbs are GE Reveal bulbs full spectrum natural light). The bulbs give the studio the same lighting as sunlight.
Across from the sink area are two closets. Each closet contains 6 shelves that are the height of the canvas bags that I use to store my fabric. I purchased the bags at Bed Bath and Beyond in the closet storage area. They are 3 in a package and used for sweater storage. Each bag contains fabric of one color; some colors have several bags to store all of the fabric. All of the bags are label according to contents. This type of storage keeps the fabric from fading and dirt. I also have several wooden boxes with wheels added by my husband) that sit on the floor of the closet. Each closet holds at least 30 of the storage bags. Each bag contains as much as 18 yards of fabric--both small and large pieces.
I also have two closets in the remaining rec room and hallway that are floor to ceiling and have sliding doors that house any items on bolts and PFD fabrics, velvet, and black Kuna cotton to mention a few. The batting, and containers of found objects, leftovers of started projects and additional camera equipment and quilt poles. There is finally enough storage room and I am very satisfied with the design.
i designed the ironing area and my husband buit it for me. The top is made of plywood with hundreds of holes drilled into it; the plywood is cover with a special steam wicking batting for an ironing board. The cover on the ironing area is muslin that has been taped and pinned to the top--for ease of changing when needed. The storage below gives me room for my extra iron, my Rowenta steam generating iron that I used when constructing garments, the garment ham, sleeve roll and pants board, pressing cloths and iron cleaner.
The extension of the counter was build by my husband to my specifications to house the die cutting machine and the dies. I purchased it from Accucut and am very pleased with it. The machine weighs about 60 pounds and needs a sturdy storage unit. The dies fit in baskets and some commercially made storage boxes. There is also enough room for the ironing press. That is a picture of me smiling sitting at the sewing machine. My husband added a TV with a DVD player and a telephone caller ID that I can see from across the room. This studio is beyond my dreams. The house renovation took six months, since we also did a few other things in the house at the same time. It was a long wait, but worth it.
My studio on October 2007--2 months into house renovation:
The wall has been taken out between the rec room area and my old studio. The sink and cabinets will be moved inside the studio on the upper end. New lighting has been added--lots of lighting. The studio space will be almost triple of what I had previously.
My Studio- June 1, 2007
The following photos are ones of my Studio at the moment. I am in the midst of reconfiguring it
with an architect when we start some renovation on our home. As with every project, it always takes
longer than expected. So we are waiting on the final plans so we can send them out on bid. I hope it before the first of the year, because I am anxious to have it finished.
Behind these doors lie a fabric stash and lots of embellishments, and ideas.
These are detail pictures of some of the things in the closets. All my fabric stash is contained in the canvas bags and there are a lot of them. All my fabrics are divided into colors, garment fabrics, landscape fabrics, sheer fabrics such as tulle, organza, chiffon, etc. I also have canvas bags of trim, yarn, buttons, labels, zippers, ribbon, interfacing, fusibles, thread, bobbin thread that can be used for bobbin stitching, I have wicker baskets of garment patterns and a turn table of scissors, crystals, marking pencils and other goodies. I have containers of beads, sequins, eyelets, charms, etc.
These are overall pictures of my studio. The sewing area, computer area, some books and the design wall. Below the design wall is a cutting and design table.
These cabinets are in the rec room outside my studio. When the renovation is finished they will be inside my studio and I will have a sink area for dyeing and painting. But for now this is storage.
The area used for my
library is in the rec room, but this area will become part of my studio and all
the books will be at my fingertips. Plus I am adding lots of high hat
lights to illuminate everything in the studio.
These two area are a closet near the laundry room in a hall way outside my
studio and a large shelving unit in the furnace room. This storage will
remain the same, but will be neater. The shelves holds the extra batting, pfd fabric both cotton and
silk and the wonderful collection of old wooden stamps and leather scraps and
the huge container of my daughters t-shirts that some day will become a quilt
for her.