Judy Levin's Studio

What kind of Art/Crafts do you do?
I am an artist that works in a variety of mediums. Currently I'm re-visiting one of my very favorite mediums, watercolor. I also paint with oil and acrylic. Clay is another medium that gets pulled out often at Lot 5 studio.  I sculpt and create functional pottery, both wheel thrown and hand built.

Where do you do your art/crafts?
My studio is in the basement of my home in Northern Virginia. I feel very fortunate to have my workspace so close as I can go to work in my pajamas if I like and or stay up all night if the creative juices are flowing.

How do you keep all your supplies organised?
Organization is a constant battle. One way I discovered that forces me to put things away is to contain them in an attractive manner. I like to use vintage containers as well as modern plastic containers that wipe clean easily. For some things having a clear container makes all the difference as I can see what's in it and not have to pull it out to find what I'm looking for. In a clay studio having lids helps too, clay dust gets into everything. I love finding the perfect old chest of drawers at a yard sale that will hold my paints, or a metal rolling cart that moves around the studio and be where I need it as I move around. 

How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?
The Perfect thing to motivate is to invite people in to see my space. Who doesn't clean for company ;) Twice a year I participate in open studio tours & also have an open door policy. Not knowing when or if someone may pop over for coffee and an art chat forces me to keep the creative chaos to a minimum.

Any tips for how to keep art spaces tidy or organised?
I learned this one from my mother as a child. I could only have three toys out at once and if I wanted to get out a fourth I had to put one away. It works for art too.  Also the phrase "a place for everything = everything in it's place" is very true. Find a home for whatever materials you bring in immediately, that way things don't pile up. Also there's not such thing as too much shelving and pegboard is a gift from the creative gods that will make anybody's life easier ;)
 

 Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?
Only if I actually can't move around, then I get a little nutty. When I'm in the middle of a project the clutter doesn't bother me, but I can't seem to start anything in a cluttered space. One thing that does get me stressed is if somebody else has been in my space and moved my tools around so I don't know where they are. I'm not going to mention any names ;) 

If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?
Open and white, clean floors and lots of electrical outlets and windows. Actually I would just be happy to have drywall and shelving right now ;)

 
Is there any craft you would love to do but cant due to limitations of your art space?
I think I'm very fortunate that I will try anything that my imagination throws at me. If there is something that proves to be difficult, I'll figure out a way to be able to do it. Isn't that part of being creative :)

 

What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?
I've been coveting the Billy cubby shelving system from IKEA, something about those white shelving cubes stacked to the ceiling just make me drool. I also want to paint the cement floor, then expand my wall/shelve and drywall and more electricity. 

 
Is there a website for people to see or buy your art/crafts? 
Yes, I have an etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/lot5studio?ref=si_shop a web page lot5studio.com and am on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/Lot5studio stop by and say hello :)

Thanks to Trudy for talking the time and effort to answer my questions and take photos of her studio, Thank you!

Diva Gone Domestic's Studio

What kind of Art/Crafts do you do?

I spend most of my time creating various paper crafts and wedding stuff.  I love scrapbooking, card making, etc.  I also love home décor projects.  But lately, I have been designing lots of wedding stationary collections.

Where do you do your art/crafts?

I am so lucky to have my very own studio.  (I say studio because it sounds so much more grand than craft room! J) In the summertime, I tend to take over the back yard with various home décor projects.

How do you keep all your supplies organised?

Recently, I purchased a lot of the storage cubes at a local craft store.  Everything has a place and is labeled.  If I don’t have a specific place for it, then I find one and make sure that I label it accordingly.  The great things with the storage cubes is that they look attractive, can be relabeled when you reorganize and can grow with your arts & crafts!

How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?

When working on a specific project, I don’t worry about how disorganized and messy things get.  I may make a complete mess out of my room but create something wonderful! BUT, one thing I have learned about myself is that in order to start a new project – I need to have a blank slate. So my room is always clean and organized before starting a new project.  It’s kind of like an artist starting with a blank canvas and fresh paints.

Any tips for how to keep art spaces tidy or organised?

Before my craft room re-do, I had a couch/futon with a coffee table and I spend my time crafting on a board.  I did this for about 4 years.  I loved it but then one day I realized that I get a project or two done but spent most of my time surfing the internet and watching tv.  I had all of my supplies tucked in various boxes or in my closet and it made it difficult to find anything.  I rearranged my room A LOT but couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t happy with it.  Then one day I realized that I didn’t have the workspace I needed and I couldn’t find anything.  So my big tip is to play around with different room layouts and organizing methods.  Eventually you will find one that keeps you sane and motivated!

Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?

No. Not if I am able to come up with something spectacular in the process of making it a mess!  Since my reorganization, I have not bought double supplies or lost an important tool like I used to.  I think that being disorganized stressed me out but not making a mess.

If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?

So glad you asked!  I have been BEGGING for a craft cottage when we get a new house (which should be in a year or so).  I would love to have my studio separate from my actual house.  Something like a guest house or a large loft apartment above a detached garage would be perfect. I would like to actually have a printing room/office for my designing and craft room for scrapbook crops.  Of course, a small kitchen so that I can store snacks wouldn’t hurt either!

Is there any craft you would love to do but cant due to limitations of your art space?

My husband is so sweet when it comes to my projects.  If I need space to do something, he generally gives up his wood working area or part of the garage.  I’m pretty lucky.  But I think I would have a lot more tools to make things easier to mass produce a lot of my items if my space was larger.

What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?

Other than my craft cottage itself, I truly can’t think of anything I would need at this time.  My husband bought me an amazing DSLR camera and letterpress machine, his parents got me an professional color laser printer and my parents got a large guillotine cutter for cutting multiple sheets of paper… my wish list was wiped clean for Christmas!

Is there a website for people to see or buy your art/crafts?

Website: www.divagonedomestic.com

My Blog:  www.divagonedomestic.blogspot.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/divagonedomestic

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DivaGoDomestic

Thanks to Tara for taking the time and effort to answer my questions and take her lovely studio photos, Thank you Tara! 

Star Hitched Wagon Studio

What kind of Art/Crafts do you do?

I guess the easy answer is mixed media artist…I am a jewelry designer, a creator of bath and body products, a scrapbooker/paper crafter, and I love playing with clay and paints as well!!!

Where do you do your art/crafts?

What was once designated as a formal living room, connected to our formal dining room, on the main floor of our home. 

How do you keep all your supplies organized?

Lots of different fun pieces!!  I love to mix new with repurposed vintage pieces to store things.  For example: Tart tins to store my beads.  An old metal kitchen cart to hold baskets and tins of messy art supplies, my sewing machine, and my big shot.  Old tool boxes to store even more supplies.  Harlequin tea cups to hold small olds and ends.

How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?   

Well since I am in the space that was once designated as a “formal living room” and because it sits right off our front door – that’s about all the motivation I need.  I want it to look like it’s a part of the house – not just some messy chaotic space.  If I keep it tidy between projects then I won’t have to worry about the mad scramble to organize/clean before company arrives….

Any tips for how to keep art spaces tidy or organized?

For me it’s a place for everything and everything in it’s place…I’ve spent a lot of time over the last couple of years searching for cool storage pieces so that everything is easily found and then can be easily put away.

Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?

No!!!  As long as it’s a creative mess – that doesn’t bother me at all.  Now if I am just being lazy and not picking up between projects then yes I might get a little stressed because there would be no room to create!

If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?

I have to say I really love my space right now – but if the sky was the limit…I would want just a little more space.  I’d have stamped concrete floors.  I would love a sink with stainless steel counters and built in cupboards/storage.  I would have a table for paper crafting, one for jewelry design and another large table for messy projects like painting and working with clay, and then I would have a jeweler’s bench for working with metal.   My dream space would also have a very large closet for storing finished bath and body products while they wait to be shipped or sold at a show.  Lots of fun art work on the walls and antique pieces for storage.  Sounds pretty perfect to me!!!

Is there any craft you would love to do but cant due to limitations of your art space?

I get to do everything I want to do…for messy silver projects I have a small space at our work bench in our garage.  So I am very lucky!!

What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?

A large armoire for storing supplies that don’t need to be out on display!!!

Is there a website for people to see or buy your art/crafts?

Yes!!!  http://www.starhitchedwagon.com

A Big thank you to Stacey for answering my questions and taking the time to photograph her FAB space! Thank You! 

Where People Create are looking for rooms/spaces to feature.

Any one want to show off their studios?

We would love to see where you work, we love messy studios, tidy studios, big studios, little studios, wee corners, sheds you name it, we want to see! 

...so contact me at: amgartstudios@gmail.com

Requirements photos of your workspace, studio or where you work on your art. About 2-6 photos are ideal you can e-mail the photos or just send links to the photos.

Also the following questions must be answered:

• What kind of Art/Crafts do you do?
• Where do you do your art/crafts?
• How do you keep all your supplies organised?
• How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?
• Any tips for how to keep art spaces tidy or organised?
• Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?
• If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?
• Is there any craft you would love to do but cant due to limitations of your art space?
• What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?
• Is there a website for people to see or buy your art/crafts?

A photo of your work can also be included at the end of the interview if you wish.

Thanks for reading and I hope to get an e-mail soon! 

...and in the meantime make sure to check out the studio spaces, desks and other maybe inspiring photos on our Facebook Page:  

http://www.facebook.com/wherepeoplecreate

Ruth Crean - Nice Day Designs Studio

What kind of Art/Crafts do you do?
I make lots of different things. I started out in fine art, over the years I've done illustration graphic design and fashion, but few years ago I started to do much more crafts. I sell a range of women's accessories like brooches, earrings, pocket mirrors and badges at a weekly market, The Limerick Milk Market. I also make up-cycled and customised clothes which I sell in Avaluk Boutique in Inistioge.

Where do you do your art/crafts?
We rent a two bedroom house so that I can use the second bedroom as my studio. I spend my days either at my computer desk, or my craft desk. Since I also sell three days of the week at my stall I do a fair bit of sewing and badge making at the market too, to try to catch up on work. Our house is over 150 years old but it was refurbished to be used as a design office. It has a nice mix of the new and old, and it also has fantastic light which I love.

How do you keep all your supplies organised?
I recently swapped our bedroom to where my studio used to be, it's a bigger room but it was very dark. The move was a great excuse to get all my supplies organised at long last. I'm a ridiculous hoarder, so I find it hard to tame my inner magpie and get things ordered. I took a trip out to Atlantic Homecare and bought these simple pine shelves, they are great for housing all my boxes of trinkets. I then bough lots of plastic and cardboard boxes.

How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?
Because my partner moved to Cork for a year to go to college, last year I was stuck with having my studio in my bedroom. I never want to go through that chaos again, so whenever I feel the studio start to get messy I just think back to the nightmare of that room and I remember that a few minutes tidying is worth the effort for my long-term sanity.

Any tips for how to keep art spaces tidy or organised?
These boxes that I use are great. Since I do so many different crafts it's handy to have the supplies for each of my different projects in their own boxes. Then if I'm having a brooch making day I just lift out my thread box and my felt box. It makes it much easier to keep the different areas separate.


I also have a postal station, it makes sending out etsy orders a lot easier. I have my pre-made thank you notes, with my envelopes, cellotape, business cards and return address labels all in a little unit. It takes up very little space but it has really helped as a time saving method, I'm no longer searching around the whole studio for my tape.

Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?
Yes! I'm not a naturally tidy person, I find I have to fight the urge to create a crafty nest around myself. But it wouldn't be possible to make all the different things that I do if I lived like that all the time. My partner John is good at nagging me to clean more too, which helps! This space is a lot more organised than what I had last year so I have high hopes that it has a better chance of staying neat(well as neat as I'm capable of anyhow!)

If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?
I really love my new room, the light that I have is amazing, my desk faces out onto a wall of glass and there is 5 skylights above me. I would love more space(wouldn't everyone!) but I feel very lucky to work in the room that I have. I also like that my computer is in a separate room, or else I would sit whiling away the hours not getting any work done.

Is there any craft you would love to do but cant due to limitations of your art space?
I already do a lot of different crafts, I think it's time that restricts me more than space. My degree is in printmaking, and I really miss that, but I just don't know where I could find the time to do it, all my energy is focused on my business. I also miss having time to paint and draw, I try to bring some of it into my work, but I miss making art just for the sake of it.

What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?
Over time I want to add more pictures to my wall, it's an organic thing, I hang up pretty cards, postcards, prints and artwork from friends. I also want to get some prettier boxes to replace some of the dingy cardboard ones that I have. I also plan to buy a wall planner from Design Birdie to hang near my desk so I can help to organise my brain a little bitter better!

Is there a website for people to see or buy your art/crafts?

Nice Day Designs: badges, pocket mirrors, and wedding favors

Nice Day Supplies: buttons and crafting supplies

Blog: my daily crafty ramblings

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Thanks to Ruth for taking the time to take photos of her studio and answer my questions, Thank you! 

Cherry Blossom Tattoo's Studio Space

Here is the updated craft room of Cherry Blossom Tattoo's Studio Space. The first feature was back in Feburary! 

 What kind of Art/Crafts do you do?
I'm a fine art photographer, doing what I like to call 'comtemplative photography'. I love to focus on the little details and overlooked places.

Where do you do your art/crafts?
Well I am out and about all over getting those shots in lovely natural light :) Very little is set up in the studio. Though I do crop and slightly tweak my work at home on my trusty laptop.

How do you keep all your supplies organised?
Most of time everything is kept in the big storage boxes that I take to the market every week. I could not live with out my laptop and extra portable harddrive (to keep my images safe).  I only order large poster size prints and frames when I need them to keep clutter down though I do always have a good selection of greetings cards tucked away on my shelves. I recently bought another shelving unit which holds my cameras, their battery packs, all my envelopes, postcards and lots of mount and board.

How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?
I need to be sure I take everything I need to the Market every Sunday so that I don't end up forgetting something, that is motivation enough for me. My studio is also my yoga room so it needs to be quite clear and calming.

Any tips for how to keep art spaces tidy or organised?
I think that if you are regularly at craft fairs of markets, like me, it simply makes sense to keep as much as possible in large portable containers. It's handy for moving about and you always know where everything is. One of my boxes is for products, the other is all the paperwork, wrapping, business cards, props and stands etc I also keep a tight reign on stock levels and never have too much of anything if I don't need it.

Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?
YES - it's impossible to do any Yoga when you can't stretch out, ahaha. Also I am always tired, always, so Sunday mornings have to be easy, everything ready to go or I really do get stressed. Never touch anything in my room!

If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?
As with anyone - it would be bigger, right? I would LOVE it to be a mainly glass outdoor room at the bottom of a garden (in a warmer climate). There would be lots more space to hang my work and thus use it as a gallery, plus I would love to take portraits so one area could be sofas etc.

Is there any craft you would love to do but cant due to limitations of your art space?
I would love to make my own frames. But with my permenant double vision saws and power tools are really very dangerous in my hands!

What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?
It sounds really silly but I want one of those card display stands that spin around. Then I could see all my greeting card stock really easily. I'd get loads of use out of it at the markets too. But mostly I'd just like to be able to go to the shops and buy confidence!!

Is there a website for people to see or buy your art/crafts?

Photography Blog
 Etsy Shop

Thanks a million to Carrie for taking the time (again) to take photos of her studio and answer all of my questions!

Felicia's Scrapzville Studio

What kind of arts / crafts do you do?

I started off as a paper crafter, I was introduced to 12x12 scrapbook pages but that was short lived – now its altered art and mini books. Then I did an online mixed media art course and haven’t looked back.

Where do you do your arts/crafts?

When my family couldn’t eat their dinner because they couldn’t find the kitchen table under all the “stuff” we built a desk and shelving area on the landing. Its tiny but organised.

How do you keep your supplies organised?

I keep most things in boxes or baskets, things that I use often are on open shelves. Occasionally I go through the boxes and find supplies I’d forgotten I had, in that respect baskets are better.

How do you keep yourself motivated to keep your space tidy?

Because the desk area is so small it’s a case of having to – while I’m working a lot of things get left on the floor and the desk is cluttered. In between projects I always tidy everything away.

Any tips on how to keep art spaces tidy and organised?

No, but I’d be happy to hear some!!

Do you get stressed out when your space gets in a mess?

Only when I start to loose things , when tools get lost in the junk, then its time to clean up the mess. 

If you could have your dream space tomorrow what would it look like?

Well, (big dreamy sigh…) it would be a room that is light with a stove to keep it cosy, two desks, one for the computer and printer and a big table for creating. Also a kitchen Island (because sometimes its nice to paint standing up) and loads of shelves for books and cupboards for storage. Oh and a place to keep my sewing machine set up permanently, and an armchair for days when you just want to drink tea and read art books.

Is there any craft you would like to do but can’t due to limitations of your art space?

Yes, bigger paintings! And I’d like to try quilting but that takes a lot of space.

What is the next big thing on your wish list for your art space?

I’m pretty content with what I have, unless we happen to move house any time soon and then the room described above is my wish!

 Is there a website for people to see or buy your art/craft?

Yes, my website is www.scrapzville.com – there you will find a link to my Etsy shop, my blog and the gallery, there is also a contact page there.

Thanks to Felicia for letting me publish her studio photos and for taking the time to answer my questions. Thank you!