Sugar Lump Studios

Small Studio Space for Crafting

August 12, 2021

Today, I am sharing a “peek” at one side of my little studio nook.

Over the last month, I have been settling into a different spot in my home for my studio. Before, I had my own room which I could close the door when I wasn’t creating. Now, I have moved into a small dining area and it is working out nicely. The only downfalls are the cat has access to it and my toddler Grandson. My cat is being pretty good about not messing with things. My Grandson, is enjoying my antique dress form “Adelaide” and leaves her toys, offers food, etc. It is pretty funny!

I have found over the past ten years that less is more. I really do not need all the items we hoard as crafters and continue to purge constantly. This also helps my mind (usually) know where items are located. I am still in the process of what works best, and reorganizing or displaying differently as it is in never ending process as to what works best when creating in my opinion. However, I am enjoying being in a smaller place especially with my physical handicaps.

Where Bloggers Create 2013 Studio Tour

July 11, 2013

It is time again for the annual “Where Bloggers Create” hosted by Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage. I would like to thank Karen for hosting this wonderful event online and the hours of work that go into it. I know we will be visiting many gorgeous studios during this event and I am looking forward to it.

I’m excited to share my own “wee studio space” during the event this year. We moved to our home in March 2010, and I had to give up my Old Sunroom Studio

While I do miss having a room to myself, I love the location of our new little house and the beauty that surrounds it.

I had my studio originally set up in our living room area, but I missed my Ikea Expedit for storage. While my basement has daylight windows, it is not finished and I wanted to be in the hub of our home. I also decided to purge quite a few of my supplies so they could fit into a smaller space. I truly believe that less is more now that I have done this. I do have some supplies down in the basement, but 95% are all contained in my studio area.

In October 2012 we painted our bedroom again then moved the majority of my old studio items into a half of the master bedroom.

I call this piece my “Birdhouse Shelf” which is one piece of a coordinating set I have. Some of the jars hold mementos close to my heart…old skeleton keys belonging to my Grandfather and lace, antique buttons that belonged to my Grandmother. Every once in awhile I open them and pilfer through to think of how old they are.

The old sewing machine drawer contains a photo of my Grandfather Orla Ford taken when he was a baby in 1899. It is one of my many cherished family heirlooms. The art deco box was given to me by my Mother-in-law when she found it at a flea market.

An old vintage suitcase, fabric heart, letter “N” and Somerset Magazines……

Since my wee studio area is also part of our bedroom and I also have pets, the majority of my supplies have been stored in boxes. It also helps me keep things more neat and tidy. If I have my own studio room again one day, I can’t wait to display items all over!

I change the vignettes on top and inside my Ikea Expedit quite often. I love this unit! It is the most versatile and practical storage and the best investment for my studio (or a home) I have ever made!

A vignette with things dear to my heart…the Steiff bear in a Christening gown was a gift to my daughter from her Great-Grandmother as a baby, a small china doll my Mom gave to me one Christmas long ago, and loose buttons…you will find button stashes all over my little space because I love them so!

One of my published altered books and a Petoskey stone…they can only be found in a certain area of Michigan and it reminds me of my love for the Great Lakes.

A vintage scale displays an altered album made by an artist friend and a wee fairy jar brings whimsical wishes…

The birdcage was in my parent’s condo and when my Mom moved she gave it to me…I gave it a coat of shabby white paint…

The large case holds larger lace remnants…

Little garden boxes contain supplies for my mixed media art

Old book and music sheets are contained in a galvanized tub with cabinet photos…

This is the back side of the Ikea Expedit shelf. On the bottom you can see the drawers that contain my supplies and in the cubbies there is cardstock.

The altered Fira drawers hold more lace, small collage images, embellishments, and bead supplies. I love these little cubbies and was sad when Ikea stopped manufacturing them…

A photo vignette contains my first date with hubby, a small fabric heart box my daughter gave to me years ago, old books and a few altered bottles…

My Alex drawers keep supplies and messes under control. Nothing pretty here – but one of the most practical pieces of storage I have ever owned…you can find them at Ikea.

Paper cutters, templates, and extra tools all within handy reach…inks, glitters, and various stamping supplies…paper punches and a divider box filled with embellishments…larger collage images to pilfer through and find something to create with…and some of my rubber stamp collection.

A side view of the studio area…the garland over the window displays some of my favorite cabinet cards and hand-made hearts.

A small antique table that belonged to my Great-Grandparent’s holds my sewing machine and a few other odds and ends.

This little cake tier was another family heirloom from my Grandmother’s china cabinet. She knew I loved purple like her and shared special pieces with me before passing away in 1985.

A heart shaped carnival glass bowl holds a collection of vintage rhinestone scatter pins. The bowl was given to me by my Grandmother-in-law who has since passed away.

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit my “wee” studio space. I love spending time here and hope you did too! I can’t wait to visit the other creative spaces during “Where Bloggers Create 2013”!

2012 Tiny Studio Area

October 24, 2012

I’ve been settling into a brand new space to create and settling into that look. Last weekend, hubby and I started painting our bedroom a lighter shade of blue. After much hemming and hawing (over a years worth) I settled on this color from Behr called “Rain Wash”…the color is different in the daylight, evening etc. it has a “green” hue to it.

After the bedroom was painted, we decided to reconfigure how our bedroom was laid out. This also meant that I was going to move my studio area “once again” from the living room to our bedroom, but do away with some of the furniture pieces I had before. We moved to a smaller home in March 2010. But, the benefits of this were amazing views of the two lakes, a LARGE lot with mature trees and a FULL basement. Since the basement it not finished (and pretty much smells like 1953) I want to be upstairs.

So since painting this past week, I have been purging. Furniture, supplies, etc. My beloved Expedit that was living in the basement was slowly moved up to the bedroom piece by piece. I have lived without it for almost 3 years begrudging that it was not upstairs.

This is the first piece in the new little area that I have organized (or as of this post it is) and I wanted to share it. If the rest of the studio area comes together before next October it will be a miracle!

Some of the vignette pieces are dear to my heart. Two of the Ball canning jars contain items from my Grandparent’s. Grandma had a lovely collection on antique lace, mother of pearl buttons and tatting materials. Grandpa had keys and trinkets that were placed in the other. Of course, “Sugar Lump” my company mascot takes center stage on the top shelf.

On the next shelf an old vintage box that was given to me by my Mother in law holds old cabinet cards. The sewing machine drawer holds my Grandfather’s Baby Photo (1899), wooden spools, and vintage bottles. A sweet pair of crocheted vintage gloves hangs over the edge.

Now to get the rest organized in the Ikea Expedit and other pieces, and purge, purge, purge. I have decided to let go of lots of doo-dads and doo-hickies. Thanks for letting me share the little bit of progress so far.

2009 Sunroom Studio

April 27, 2009

Over the past month, I have been slowly moving my current studio area into a smaller space located in our sunroom. For the past 3 years, my studio was located in the spare bedroom located at the opposite end of the house. It was “away from the hub” and was becoming increasingly difficult to watch the dog while she was outside, and focus on tasks in the kitchen. I had to give up many things by relocating the space. Mainly, a huge area of hanging shelves and closet space and also being able to shut the door on the huge messes I create.

We started out by painting the room “Harvest Brown” a good neutral since the room can be seen from the kitchen. The lighting is fantastic since it comes in from the doorwall and two little side windows. The sunroom is fairly small (about 8 feet x 12 feet). We purchased an Ikea Expedit Bookcase in the 4 x 4 style. It is the best purchase I have EVER made. We also selected the fold out desk so I would have more workspace (sewing area). This little nook also houses our dog Hailey’s dog bed underneath.

My biggest issue was storage since I lost my large bookshelves. We also purchased the storage drawers that are accessorie to the Expedit. I have a large collection of Longaberger baskets (from my consultant days) and I purchased many storage boxes for photos, ephemera.

We also purchased this workspace desk from Ikea which has a wonderfully long area to work on. The sides have extra storage for larger items (Cricut) and I was able to store all my stamps in drawers underneath. I really think that a skirt would be nice to hide what is underneath.

I found two memo boards at one of my local department stores and hung them over the sewing space. I will be filling them with various pictures and pieces from friends.
This area also holds a paper rack for some of my papers and the baskets hold a huge collection of family photos and mementos. Eventually I will purchase special boxes for these to go into.

The little birdhouse shelf had been in the sunroom and I love the whimisical look of it. It is my photography area as I always use the top shelf when photographing items.
It also holds my scrap papers (bottom basket), ephemera, ribbons etc. I know this shelf will be constantly changing.

The white wicker chairs were also originally in the sunroom, and are a welcome place for my two kitties to sleep when I am creating. Between the chairs is the little nightstand I bought a few weeks back which is stocked with all sorts of supplies.
To the left is another smaller Ikea Expedit bookcase with drawer inserts (I LOVE those things). It has our wireless printer on top. I plan to hang a 16 x 20 shadowbox of family heirlooms above it. Old family photos and a printers box hang on the wall.

I wanted to fill the area with items that are near and dear to me. The antique typewriter belonged to my Dad. It was a birthday gift to him many years ago as a teen. I displayed a piece featuring Dad that was published awhile back in Somerset Memories.

More items from around the house. The large trunk holds cards that I have completed.

Various special pieces are housed in the cubbies of the Expedit. Most of the boxes, containers, and baskets all have a functional purpose…STORAGE which we all need in our workspaces!

The bottom storage baskets hold magazines and completed projects. Another purchase from Ikea…I want more of them because they are so practical and hold a ton.

While my studio is a small little nook and not a grand space, I am very happy that we made the move into the hub of the house. I can complete so many things around the house while items are drying. I also love the fact that my surroundingsare mementos from my family, past, and from art friends. This gives me so much inspiration.