Sunday, January 22, 2012

Rhythm In Our Home : Creative Spaces (mine)







Since I shared one of the girls' creative spaces for Rhythm In Our Home before, I thought I would continue on with my creative space. Everyone needs their own special place in their home to get away, wouldn't you agree? Well, this is mine - In it's full unorganized and messy glory. It's nothing pretty, but it serves it's purpose. Knitting, sewing and creating are a huge outlet of mine and help me hang on to my sanity. A space dedicated to these things seemed only proper.



My corner is located in the bottom level/basement of our split level home. It's dark and dingy down here and the 70's wood walls don't help much. If we had more time and/or money I would do something about all of that but that's just not a possibility. Even so, I am grateful and rather content with it. My sewing machine (Betty) sits out in her space on my desk all year round which is a blessing to me. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I had sewing projects I wanted to work on but never got to, due to having to dig out my sewing machine and set up at the kitchen table. I didn't have any kind of crafting space back in our Virginia home. Kevin, however, did have an office space (for the record label he was running at the time),and the dogs had their own bedroom - Hmmmm.... Anyways, this is where I spend my nights, right next to the warm cozy fire with the baby monitor humming, my husband in the chair next to me (if I am lucky and he's home at a decent hour), and a dog sleeping at my feet.

Because this space is basically in a cave, it is really hard to photograph it. I apologize for the lack of pictures and the pictures that I did post. I had a rough time just getting these ones.

I have a long thin Ikea desk that is just perfect for holding my sewing machine at one end and Kevin's computer at the other. Above it are some shelves Kevin installed for me. The top shelf holds secret surprise projects, my yarn swift and winder, things that need mending and a couple of other random things. (the fact that I am unsure of those things means that I need to clean that shelf!)The shelf below that holds all of my fabric, sewing notions and wool felting supplies. The next shelf holds my yarn stash and my drop spindle and then finally, the bottom shelf holds my knitting needles, embroidery supplies, current WIPs and my craft books.(most of which can be seen here)



One of my favorite pieces of K art hangs by my sewing machine. She drew this in school last year the day after her 5th birthday celebration. Things made by my children really inspire me.


I have an old, beat up filing cabinet we found on craigslist to hold all of my knitting and sewing patterns, wool felt, tissue paper and other things of that nature. On top of the cabinet sits my knitting WIP basket.



Kevin's cup from childhood holds some regularly used notions, and it just plain old makes me smile!

Well, there you go. I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. I am by no means an expert of any kind. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

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Comments (27)

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Dear Nicole,
I think your creative space is beautiful! The tins on the shelves, the yarn, the basket full of projects being made. I love that your sewing machine is called Betty.
Have a wonderful week dear friend,
xo Linda
it looks like such a warm and inviting space to create. the rainbow picture is quite sweet!
Beautiful space. I long for the day I have my own creative space (no room for one at the moment!)

I love your yarn shelf, it looks so pretty :)
Wow, I wouldn't call that messy or unorganized compared to my making space, it looks wonderful and I so agree with needing to have things out and available or else they don't get worked on. I am the same, I ahve a small corner of our bedroom for my sewing and if it wasn't set up that way I would do no sewing at all I'm sure. It's the reason I gave up painting really. I'd love one day to have a full room with lots of shelves adn such ut right now it'll do. Your stash's look wonderful and very inspiring :-) hugs x
I love this! Envious of all that great yarn!
I love your little space...it may be darker than mine, but it is also cozier. I was lucky enough to design mine from the existing carport on this house (half is my workroom, the other half the school room, separated by a line of cabinets and a child-safety gate. I have great lighting (loads of windows and florescent fixtures), but in the winter it is just cold and unpleasant!

I love seeing where you do your sewing!

Have a great week!
I love the your shelves, the colours are so pretty!
I am green and purple and pink with envy! What a huge amazing space. No wonder you get such lovely projects made! Very inspiring I must say.
Thanks for sharing! Those shelves look great; it must be inspiring having all that color and texture out in plain view.
A fireplace in your work space??? swoon! Since I was relegated from my studio to the garage, the winter is not my favorite time to go in there and work burrrrr. Love your stash, so pretty!
I can hardly believe it--my sewing machine is also named Betty! I love the little cover you made for her :) What a lovely space you have... it looks beautiful to me! I hope to someday have a designated craft space (right now I have to sew on the coffee table, which is not at all ideal). Thanks for your blog, I find so much inspiration here!
1 reply · active 688 weeks ago
Your space looks so inspiring and neatly organized! Those shelves are wonderful to look at with so many beautiful colours of yarn and fabric. Your cups of little notions make me want to just sit down and work! Thank you so much for sharing a glimpse of your creative space. It is interesting to see where others work and how they have set up their space. It is so important to make room in our lives and homes for creativity.
Wow, you have quite the yarn stash! Loved the post.
Nicole, I wouldn't call this unorganized at all! What a lovely, functional space, love all the yarn. So inspiring!
Oh yes, I did enjoy seeing your creative space. Very pretty! And that wonderful blue apron hanging on the wall?!!!
Ava kitty is messing with my creative space. She has been stealing balls of yarn! I have been rearranging...
You know that I will of course join in with your crafting on posts, sometimes, I will have to try to be organized enough to remember...
Hope you are all very well. Happy cozy crafting to you! Lots of love... <3
1 reply · active 688 weeks ago
I love your creative space! I love sewing and crafting, and usually do my work in the dining room or bedroom, I am working on creating a space to work more permanently. What an inspiring fun room! Love all of your fabric and yarns! :)
I´d love to have a space for all my fabrics, wool, sewing machine, felt... There´s just not enough space in this house for a nook or room of my own for creative usage. I store all my stuff and get them out when I want to use them.. but I think it would be used more when better available.

What beautiful yarn and fabric have you got lying there! I love all those colors.
Nicole!!!! I think it is wonderful! Not a dark and dingy cave, but super sweet. I actually reall really like it!!! You should be proud you can actually keep fabric around organized, yarn together and all things in their homes with three littles running around!

My craft studio.... sigh. Constant work in progress ;) I had HUGE hopes of getting everything perfect b4 this baby arrives, but not gonna happen- and that's okay!

I know what you mean by the knitting/sewing/crafting as in outlet for sanity! You could be more right. Sometime I feel guilty on all the time I spend making dolls, or knitting things, but then I remind myself that this is how I cope with three little ones under five with another due in a few weeks. If no sewing/knitting or dollmaking gets done, I feel like an empty shell.

We must nuture ourselves.

Your studio is beautiful and I'm glad you can share it with us ;P

Blessings,
Samantha (Woodland Woolens)
Melissa Nichols's avatar

Melissa Nichols · 688 weeks ago

I had to move out of my sewing room a while back because we needed the space. I had always had my sewing room since we moved here in 1997, so it was a big sacrifice. I've been down in the basement for the past year too, no natural lighting at all, and not a lot of room to work. But I am in the middle of reclaiming my sewing room! I just finished painting it yesterday, and tomorrow it's getting new carpet. Then I can move back in. It will also be Rayah's room, but she doesn't need it yet, she's in my bedroom. I can't wait to show you when it's done ;o)
1 reply · active 688 weeks ago
Looks like a lovely place to create to me.
Hi! I adore your creative space. So colorful and inspiring. Creative, indeed!
Hi!
I read this great post on your creative space and put it into my brand new linky list on my blog post. I know my readers will be delighted to discover your blog and I hope you'll come by and meet me on mine. If you want to post your recent posts on it, Seasonal Celebration Sunday opens every Sunday afternoon and remains open for 4 days. http://naturalmothersnetwork.com/seasonal-celebra... Rebecca x
I definitely covet your yarn shelf! It just looks so beautiful up there, I want to reach out and stroke it! Mine is all in little stashes all over the house, wherever there is a corner.
I looked on your craft book list. Boy, I think there was only one or two books on there that I don not have as well! Ny new favourite is Natural Wooden Toys by Erin Freuchtel-Dearing. I need me a scroll saw!

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