I love touring studios, so when Jennifer of Ellison Lane and Heather of the Sewing Loft asked me to join their studio spotlight tour I jumped in. You can follow along too for prizes and other studio spotlights.
I think my fascination with others spaces started when I was little. Driving around town I would daydream that I could go into people’s houses, nose around AND then leave with just one item. Now it would probably be your finest fabric, but then it was some cool lamp, plate or piece of furniture. I liked decorating I guess.
‘Livudio’ is my family’s portmanteau for our living room/studio shared space. Ever watch, Cribs? Where that NBA player that might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, nor decorating genius says, “This is where the magic happens.” The Livudio is that creative place (not in that NBA magic way) and though small I’d take it over that NBA player’s tacky house. Inspiration happens here and on ocassion a game of softie soccer.
Good things can happen in small spaces.
I work in an efficient U-shape. Sewing machine in the middle, a swivel to the left is cutting and to the right ironing.
My design wall is my most important tool and has gone through several reincarnations. You can read about building your own like it in this post.
Since I have a deep appreciation for traditional design and a crush on modern there are generally a few designs happening.
Honestly, though this wall is permanent, it is not an eyesore, but more like a revolving art piece.
But before I had something permanent I needed walls I could roll up and take down. You can read about that system here if it is more fitting for your space, especially if you like to have multiple projects brewing…never right?
I store what’s rotating on the design wall here along with my sit and sew kit.
Our small home keeps us from buying unneeded things, though I can’t say that about fabric.
My stash has to live in closets in other rooms, but this is good because it keeps me from just staring at it and getting nothing done. I’m good at wasting my time without adding that in. I guess I could say that I can stare at it from bed if I want and my overactive brain helps me get up.
(photo by Chara Michele Photography)
Smaller cuts on one side and yardage on this side.
I like to stack fabric under the window until I remember I shouldn’t start another project, so I put it away and then immediately start another pile. It hides the crack in the wall too, maybe I should just patchwork that wall.
I use my stash for sure. I love finding places for the fabric people are afraid to cut into. It’s so much more fun to see it around the house. I make pillows constantly.
I use my invisible zipper pillow tutorial. It’s simple, quick and uses fabric, all good things. These with the red make the red wine stain on the couch look more like a reflection of their color.
My other tutorial is a Value Quilt tutorial. This is a great quilt for using ANYTHING in your stash.
In this wee space I cowrote Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts with Jacquie Gering and I plan and create for teaching quilting workshops so if you think it’s space that’s stopping you, then I think I hear your momma calling.
Here are my Flickr, Pinterest and Instagram, or you can have posts delivered to your email by following that little link in the sidebar up there if you want to follow along.
Thanks for stopping by! Studio continues with links on Jennifer and Heather blogs.
Thanks Heather and Jennifer!
I feel better knowing I’m not the only onecwho stashes fabric in the clothes closet!
I am loving your design wall. I have never thought of making it grey and have only seen white. Thank you for sharing your space with us today!
~Heather
This makes me feel much more confident with my small space sewing!
Love, love, love this post!!!! It’s a reminder to me/us that the “studio”/room size is not what produces creativity…….it’s the “resident” of the room!!!! BTW….love that book!!!!!! Hugs……..
Thanks for letting us stop in! I enjoyed getting a better sense of your space =) We also have a small home, and I appreciate that we must carefully curate our possessions to make it work. Keeps like simple!
Beautiful space!
Loved seeing more of your space, your home and your creative journey! Thanks for sharing it with all of us Katie. Your work is a constant inspiration to me!
Love how you make the most of the space you have to work with, Katie and think that your design wall is the best art there is. Had to chuckle about your stash – when you said it’s probably better to have it where you can’t sit and stare at it… this way you get more done. LOL
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful, creative space and inspiring us all.
I haven’t atepted quilting yet but I’ve been thinking about it and seeing your livudio, my front room is definitely getting that way. You’ve definitely inspired my quilting urge with your design wall alone, I can imagine it behind our sofa which is just blank because I can’t find the right pictures to fill it-design wall here I come, thank you x
What a great post! I, too, love fabric… scraps, colorful towers, stacks of blocks waiting to be sewn together. . . great inspiration for us all! Thanks for sharing
So great to see your creative use of a small space. I currently work in a shared home office–and I like a compact work area. The only thing missing is a design wall. I love the idea of a calling it a rotating art display! I can see how great it must be to play around with blocks in a vertical space instead of on the floor–my current technique. Thanks for sharing!
My work space is the living room/dining room area of my home. And my stash is in 3 spare bedroom closets. I only pull what I need and take it downstairs to my work space. It’s spacious and when I need to look at my blocks before piecing them together I use the carpet between the dining room and living room. Well that’s all changing now, thanks to your design wall tutorial. Thank you for the great idea. I think I know what hubs and I are doing this weekend. Lol
Wow! I love your livudio! I am quickly out growing my stash closet in my sewing room and might need to consider branching out into other closets in the house 🙂 I see a somewhat hostile take over happening in my hubby’s closet. Thank you for the tutorials on the design walls, I’m heading there next as I’m in desperate need of one – the bluetape on the walls just isn’t cutting it anymore!
Great word! – “Livudio”. My space is also shared with the family and I think it’s been good that they have grown up in an open creative space. Shutting the door on the mess has never been an option but shutting them out would have been worse. Love your design wall!
Love seeing some else make use of a cozy space. My sewing area is in the corner or a multi-purposed bedroom. I guess the beauty of sharing this room is that I have to keep it more tidy than I would a dedicated sewing room.
Really loved seeing your space. I know last week I complained about five kids in house and sewing in our dining room until they move out and you said imagine how much space you will have when they do! I hadn’t thought about it that way and the truth is I will miss them and don’t really want them to go. I think having a small space forces you to keep it organised in between projects which is a good thing. Also sewing amongst the family chaos keeps you connected. I made my design wall using your instructions. Best thing ever!
Thanks!
Loved seeing where you live and create! And love it that I am not the only one that must keep my focus narrowed to the project at hand — I could sit and stare and stack/play with fabric then start “another” project! Your value quilt is on my to do list – love it!
Everything about your space is efficient and inspiring…and I am blushing hard knowing that a fellow guild member will have to see my shamble of a sewing space and all its ergonomic disasters today. Glad to be inspired by your art and your space.
You’ve done a great job of making your space do dual duty. What fun it must be to peek inside your closets.
How colorful! You are very talented. http://www.segmation.wordpress.com
Katie, thanks for sharing your space and something about your routine. I have just happened on your blog in the past couple of months and have to admit that I too have a deep appreciation and love for the traditional and a total crush on modern. I have found your blog very inspiring and encouraging. Thank you.
Thanks Robin. I’ll pop over and see your space.
I nominated you for the Liebster Award, check out my blog for more details
http://xostylestalker.wordpress.com
Space dedicated to fabrics lover, Nice effort, i like all the stuff in your space 🙂
Hi Katie! Hope you’ve had a good summer. I’ve been away, mostly playing…recently, family fun in Boston. Yay, summer!
You mention swiveling between work stations. Is your pressing station a seated one? I can’t really imagine doing that sitting down, but I’m starting to hoard materials/plans for a new pressing station (in place of a rickety ironing board) and need to settle on a height. Matching the table height might make the most sense…thanks for any advice!
I adjust my ironing board height depending on where I’m at in a project. Hope that helps.