I know you’re going to judge me when you see these pictures, but I don’t care.  Right now, my craft room is a big giant mess.  It’s always a mess.  Mostly, it’s a mess because I’m usually doing stuff in there and I have a lot of little projects going on, and I’m really not good at putting everything away.  Part of it is I don’t really have a place for everything to go.  So I just bit the bullet and took pictures, to show you my whole room devoted to craftiness because otherwise you’ll never see it.  It’s one of those projects that is never really finished, and this is honestly about as clean as it’s been in the last year.

So here we go, a little tour of my craft room studio.

View into craft room

The craft room is upstairs in a room that we also call “The Loft”.  It has a giant opening to the great room below, and as such I’ve never felt completely comfortable calling it a guest room, or having it set up like one.  Instead, I can close this door to all my crafty messes when company comes, except for what they can peek in as they walk upstairs.

Craft Room

I guess this post is one they would consider “keeping it real.”  This is so real, I didn’t even bother to pick up anything before taking these pics.  I still have temporary blinds on the windows (which really are great for filtering light), and there’s nothing but primer on the wall.  To the left, under the table, are several paintings, frames, and other various pieces of canvas and cardboard.  Behind the table, not visible are more frames and mats.  I felt like I didn’t need to show you every corner of the room, or else you might try calling me in to be on the show Hoarders.  I also have my childhood furniture in this room– an Ikea series from the mid-to-late 80s.  A desk, bookshelf, and dresser with storage on top.  Other than a few chips and dings from moving, these pieces are all still functional and sturdy.  Now the dresser primarily acts as my sewing station.

Painting of Florence by The Lucky Lass

A detail of the painting hanging over the sewing machine.  I did this for a landscape painting class a few years back.

Crafting Table

With this view of the table, you can also see the opening to below.  The large star is a light that I’m going to put up in the twin bed room.  Using a coupon, I got a green cutting board from Michaels.  This surface is great for cutting fabric or paper on.

Craft Room ikea storage

On the other side of the room, you can see the other two pieces of Ikea furniture.  And ugh, more stuff.  Books, and most of my jewelry making supplies, paints, brushes, framing materials, and other odds and ends are stored here.   Also, extra fabric, sewing notions, buttons, and decorating rocks live here.  The “dress form” I made myself from an online tutorial years ago.  It was kind of fun, and really easy.  Basically, I put on an expendable white t-shirt, and then had someone wrap me in duct tape.  You then cut the shirt and duct tape off (carefully!) in one long cut up the back, and tape it shut after filling it with stuffing.  For the base, so that it would also sit at the same height, I added a very thick and sturdy tube cut to the right size, resting on a music stand base.  It’s not as fun or as sturdy as an actual dress form, but it works for simple stuff.

Craft Room Closet

And finally, the closet.  Also completely stuffed.  I added extra standing shelves in here to help sort everything.  I’ve got a couple of easels, lots of ornaments (ready to be painted), and storage of other photos, papers, and other random stuff.  I didn’t want to get to close up on anything because frankly, I think it’s a bit overwhelming in terms of the amount of stuff.  This is not a sanctuary, this is my room to create and be messy.  I love that I can dedicate an entire room to this, and that it’s big enough to hold all of this stuff.  I’m very lucky indeed ;)

Thanks Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick for sponsoring the Office/Craft Room party!  You spurred me to get off my butt and write something finally!