Before & After Studio

In my last post, I was beginning to sort through and re-arrange the studio. I'm pleased to say that the job is now complete.

Let's take a before and after tour.

BEFORE
The Sewing Corner

The two layers of tubs atop the left shelves are mostly full of yarn with the exception of a few. They need to be moved. All that fabric on the four shelves on the right will be moved as well. I'll show you where they end up later.

A closer look at the sewing corner

 

AFTER

Sewing Corner

All the shelves were sorted through, and some 

items were relocated, others were tossed.

With the yarn relocated, this shelf 

mostly houses ribbon and fat quarters--mostly!

My wonderful hubby made this peg board so I could hang all of those embroidery hoops (and more). They have been begging for a home ever since I got my embroidery machine and now they have one. I heard them whisper a happy sigh when they were gently placed on their designated pegs!

BEFORE

Drawing and journaling corner.

Hubby extended the bottom two shelves 

so that the electronics could be moved

and for more space in general.

AFTER

The electronics are directly under the TV now
and out of the way. There's a lot more space.

BEFORE

The painting area next to the door.

And the messy worktable!

AFTER
The worktable was moved out from in front 

of the window, turned, and moved to the corner.

It's much cleaner too.

Take a good gander because it 

may not stay that way for long!

We moved these white shelves to the right to 

make room for the table on that corner wall. 

It made the entire area more spacious.

Oh, and that's sweet Chewy passing through!

The tubs of yarn I mentioned earlier 

are on top the white cabinets.

BEFORE

Inside the cabinets.

The paint & collage cabinet.

 That paint caddy on the 

second shelf has got to go!

The sewing cabinet.

The containers on the top shelves are out of 

there and so is everything on the second shelf!

BEFORE

Both cabinets.

AFTER

I love the change!

The paint caddy (left) is gone and everything 

has been rearranged and pared down. 

The fabric I showed you earlier in the sewing area was moved to the top two shelves in the sewing cabinet (right). Those fabrics are all bigger than fat quarters. The containers that were on those shelves are now on top next to the yarn.

Finally, the desk.

There's no before and after 

because they look similar!

When I finished with getting the room together, 

I was still faced with this mess!

 This pile consists of unfinished projects, new projects and some completed projects. It all amounts to sewing, mending, sanding, painting, collaging, a little of everything.

Here's a broader view.

Some of the items in those plastic 

drawers should be in that pile!

I did get all that stuff sorted.

Here's the evidence--a clean sewing table!

 When I said the room was completed, I lied! 

Can you ever forgive me?

I do have to work on projects 
from the sewing table pile.
In addition, see the file cabinets 
below the sewing table?

They need to be cleaned out.
 So do these top two drawers below!

I'm in no rush to do the file cabinets and 
these drawers but I won't put it off too long.

These plastic drawers are going away too!

As you might imagine, I'm a happy woman! 

May Your Day Be Blessed with Creativity,

D~~~~

Mixed Media Monday #2

This is a bit of a non-traditional Mixed Media Monday because on a whim (sort of), I decided to tear apart my studio yesterday. The goal is to clean, re-arrange, and go through every single item! And let me tell you, my friend, there is one big, fat MIX of all kinds of STUFF in there so in my book, it qualifies for Mixed Media Monday. 

I will share some pics in a minute but first, I must tell you that it all started because my friend Suzette gave me a delightful sun catcher for Christmas. She made it and I love it!  In fact, she gave sun catchers to two of our other friends too and here's a pic of us with them.  

Cindi, Me, Faye and pretty sun catchers.

I wanted to hang the sun catcher but I didn't have an S hook to fit over the curtain rod that I want to put it on, nor would it fit through the jewelry clasp. I liked the idea of braiding some yarn and hanging the sun catcher off the end. 

Sounds easy enough, right?

Not exactly.

The problem was that I could not get to the yarn! It's all stored in little, plastic tubs, high up on a shelf. I would have to climb on top of the sewing table and embroidery machine to access it. A contortionist, I am not. I also have breakable body parts.

So really, what's a woman to do?

Tear the entire room apart

and start over, right?

See the little shelves on the left 

with the tub on the very top? 

That's where yarn can be found too. 

 You can see it here, top right.

Below it are spools of 

ribbon and fat quarters.

I don't have to go through all the fabric and ribbon because I did that about a year ago but I think that's about the only thing I don't need to go through. 

See the sewing machine 

table in the foreground? 

It's pulled out from the wall in this pic

but, of course, it was pushed up against it.

These bigger shelves house mostly 

larger cuts of fabric and the like.

Now bear in mind as you look at these pics, 

I've already started tearing the room 

apart so everything is in disarray.

Here's another corner.

 Lots of pencils, pens, markers, 

papers, and the like. Every marker 

and pen will be given a written test.

To pass the test, they must write.  

Some will go, some will stay!

Below is stuff to go through, 

stuff to finish, 

and some stuff that needs fixin'.

There are shelves above 

every window and the door. 

That stuff will be sorted through as well.

A look at the main worktable.

Lots of paintbrushes and 

other stuff to go through.

Aha!

The doors look innocent enough but...

They're not!

Paint & collage stuff, stamps, 

stencils and so much more.

The paint holder on the second shelf rotates 

and the other side is full of paint too.

Some will go, some will stay.

I might even get rid of that paint holder!

 Sewing stuff.

A Dallas Cowboys flag?

Why is that in there?

 Oh yes, lots of stuff to sort here too.

Those little plastic cases on the top shelf have lots of little compartments in them which are full of stuff like buttons, jewelry, baubles, etc. I see Mitsuhiki and Angelina fibers. Yikes, lots of stuff!

Do I really need to go through them?

Probably not.

Also, a brown basket full of computer boards and other metal stuff for assemblage or steam punk pieces which I have never ever done in my life but would really like to do someday. 

Oh, someday--heavy sigh!

The big cabinet picture.

Then, last but not least, the desk.

Plenty of stuff to go through there, and in 

those two matching file cabinets, front right.

Whew!

So what do you think?

It's a mixed up, mixed around, 

mixed media mess, right?

And here's Suzette, 

the troublemaker that started it all!

And boy am I thankful that she did.

Well... I will be when the job is done.

Thank you Suzette!

Love you dear friend!

May Your Day Be Creative and Bright, 

My Blogland Friends!

D~~~~

Mixed Media Monday #1

For me, today is Mixed Media Monday! Please know that I am not vowing to post a mixed media piece every Monday in 2016. Instead, I thought I'd take a more light-hearted approach and see how many Mondays this year, I can post. 

What's the difference you ask? (I heard you!) Seeing how many Mondays I can post, keeps it fun because it removes any pressure that can be created by vowing to definitely do it. Does that make sense?  

I love snowmen and it's January 

so this is a fitting subject.

(liquid and pan watercolors, acrylic paint, 

dimensional paint, paper, glitter, Sharpies, 

Sakura pen, stamping, fabric and stitching)

 Snow can be quite peaceful, don't you think?

I just thought of a couple more 
things to add to this piece.

Here it is.

I like it!

May Your Day Be Colorful and Bright,

D~~~~

Handmade Gift Exchange

Two of my friends (Suzette & Faye), and I decided to exchange handmade gifts this year. I knew what I was going to make until Suzette posted a video of a casserole carrier on my FB page along with a note that read: "I want one of these!" Immediately, Faye chimed in "Me too." Okay, plan changed! I looked on YouTube and found this video with instructions and that was that.

I forgot to take pics before we exchanged gifts but Suzette and Faye were kind enough to take photos and text them to me. Thank you ladies!

This is the inside of Suzette's casserole carrier.

You can't tell but the fabric has 

a tad bit of sparkle in it.

The inside sparkle matches the outside fabric 

because the rims of the pretty glasses
are lined with a touch of silvery bling. 

A closer look at Suzette's two fabrics.

It's a colorful and appropriate design for her.

Suzette holding her casserole carrier.

It's not hooked up but you get the idea. 

The inside of Faye's carrier.

Similar color but no bling.

The outside--lots of cool 

tea bags cover the fabric.

A closer look at Faye's two fabrics.

Happy colors and a fitting design for her too.

Faye with her casserole carrier.

They were very happy with their casserole carriers which made me very happy too!

The day before we all got together, we learned that another friend, Cindi, would be able to join us. YAY!

Faye and Cindi were able to spend two nights here. Suzette was only able to stay the first night though.  :(  

Nevertheless, we all had a Holly Jolly time!

Thank you for the festive fun time, my friends!

May Your Day Be Colorful and Bright,
D~~~~