Craft Studio Update 2

Joining us for the first time?  I'm making-over my craft studio space.  Head HERE first, and then HERE to get caught up!

So it is DEFINITELY getting worse before it is getting better!  I mean, it's to the point where it's a little demoralizing at times!  I'm getting a clearer and clearer vision for what I want to space to be and how I want it to function when I'm done, but I'm getting sicker and sicker of the PROCESS to get there!  I'm hoping you all will recognize the progress being made more than I am right now, and can help me stay motivated to get this all done!

So the closet is completely emptied, as you can see.  It's not a bad storage space, and it's nice that it has its own light.

It IS a funny shape though, it kind of goes around a corner.  Do you think I can find some cheap shelving that's tall and skinny to fit in this little nook? (below)  I already have some shelving to use in the main part of the closet.

Both of these shelving units have been cleared completely and moved out of the room.  I won't be using either of them in the "new" studio space, so I've moved them to the storage area of our basement in hopes I can find use for them there!

The hardest part of this process is that there are sooooo many "homeless" items in my craft space that didn't belong there, but just got kind of dumped when we first moved in.  So now I am having to either find new homes for them where they will be used, or get rid of them.

The contents of the craft studio have spilled out into the "man room" area of the basement... well that's an understatement really... they haven't so much "spilled out" more that they've taken over.  Let's be honest here.

What's making these even more complicated is that since I have my Open House for Stampin' Up! this weekend, I need the long table (above) and lots of my stamping supplies and materials upstairs in the living room for make and takes, etc.  After this photo was taken I cleared it off the table and collapsed it, ready for Trav to carry upstairs.

I'm trying to organize and plan out what is going to end up where as I go along, even if that means finding homes for supplies on shelving that isn't yet back in the studio (I will wait until I paint to move it back in).  This is the shelving I'm going to use in the closet.  I like that the shelves are wide enough to fit multiple rubbermaids stacked on top of each other.  Not sure how I feel about all the small containers on the top shelf like this though.  And obviously there are lots more items to be added to this shelf.

This is the only unit I plan on being out of the closet and in the actual studio itself.  What I'm learning is that less is more.  In the old studio I had shelving units, etc. on all four walls of the room... it took up a lot of room and made it feel cramped.  I'm using this unit for all of my stamping supplies and materials since that's what I'll use most.

Back to the table for a sec... as you can see it's a bit of a mess... looks like it's seen better days.

I have NOT been good at covering this surface while working on projects, and consequently it looks like junk.  Anyone have a good idea as to what kind of cleaner will get off some of the paint, etc.?

Here's the half of the room (three quarters really) that has been cleared out.  Obviously there's still all kinds of UFO's hanging out on the floor there... those are a project for tomorrow.

And here is the other end of the room, still waiting to be sorted and purged.  Agh!  I feel like I'm on that show "Hoarders" -- it's embarrassing!  And yes, that is one of my kitties making a guest appearance.  She was "helping" me.

If you remember from before, the wooden table above was a sewing table.  Not only has it always been too high, but I think it's just TOO BIG.  Do I really need a large table for sewing?  Would something like this do???  It's a half-sized version of my long white table.  (It looks really tall in the picture, but it's not...)

Accompanied by a full backed adjustable office chair such as this?  What do you think, sewing friends?  Small table?  Big table?

Phew!  Did you get all that?  That's all I have for now (I know, you're breathing a huge sigh of relief!)  I was thinking earlier in the week then instead of having the room ready to go by the end of February, it would be AMAZING to get it done by January 29th, for a class I'm holding.  That leaves me just about two weeks.  Think I can do it?!