Behind the Scenes: Shop Studio

I’ve wanted to do a post about my Etsy shop studio for a long time now.  After finally taking photos of the space, here it is!  My studio is always a work in progress because I am continually adding stock to my Etsy shop and need to move things around to get the best fit.

Here is a tour of my studio…


One of my favorite things about my studio is the space gets lots of natural light.  Working in natural light makes it enjoyable and easier to work.  My office in the old house was in the basement and I’m so thankful that in this house we had space available above ground for my studio area.




My studio functions as my home office, sewing room, paint studio, shop stock room, inspiration and creating area.


I use my grandmother’s old china cabinet to hold essential oils.


On top of the cabinet, I keep my lavender in sealed glass jars to preserve the freshness.  I use lavender in sachets and I sell it by the pound in my shop.


Hanging above the china cabinet, I have my paper pom pom vines.  Sarah from Paperwhite Designs created them for me, and I LOVE them!  I originally got the vines to help decorate my table for my next craft show, so until then I have hung them above the cabinet until they are needed.  I love the colors she suggested, thanks Sarah!


I used gift wrap to line the back of the cabinet to brighten it up a bit.  I used the same process I used in the kitchen.


My inspiration board is in between the storage/filing cabinet and the desk.  I recovered the tack board on the desk with drop cloth earlier this year.


Here is my light box and I use it photo shoots for my shop and blog.  To make your own light box, check out my tutorial here.




I use my DIY serving tray tower to hold my thread and other sewing items.


Don’t get me wrong.  My studio is not always this neat and tidy.  I admit I picked up and dusted to take these photos.  But I do find that I work better in a clean and organized environment and this photo shoot gave me a push to take a look at my space in a new light.

I find it easier to snap some pics and then take a look and see what is looking “off” in a space.  Photos don’t lie and if you are looking to restyle a room I always find that taking a few pics and then analyzing them helps to find out what is working for a room visually and what is not.  Don’t be afraid to move things around in a room.  If the item is not working in its new home, you can always move it back.

Here is what the studio looked like shortly after we moved in:




After a year of living with our new office furniture, I love how the space turned out.


Sandra

Inspiration Corkboard

We’ve had this plain cork board for years, and I always wanted to update it somehow.  A couple years ago, I bought some fabric which I originally wanted to use to cover the cork but I just couldn’t work out how to make it look polished and put together in my head, so I just avoided the project.  I ended up using the fabric to update our china cabinet instead.

Our cork board looked very plain and was covered in holes from push pins before I started.  I knew I wanted to paint the outside wood trim, so I covered the cork with white letter size paper.  Where I could, I tried to tuck the paper under the wood trim so the paint wouldn’t get on the cork in case I wanted to reuse this cork board in the future.


I used some leftover white paint and painted the wood trim with a brush.


After I finished painting and let it dry, the paint had sealed the white paper to the edges of the trim.  Not my intent, but this ended up being a good thing.  I left the white paper covering the cork board and then I used double stick tape on the white paper to adhere some patterned white gift wrap.


The white paper underneath the gift wrap worked perfectly to hide any gaps the gift wrap had to the edge of the trim.


To save the gift wrap from being covered in holes from the push pins, I stuck some clear push pins near the edges of the trim and used some light colored cord strung in between the push pins.  I had some left over IKEA curtain clips from another project that I hung on the cord.  This way I could hang items on the board and rearrange them without having to create new holes in the gift wrap.


My new inspiration cork board now hangs in my studio so I can hang up some fabric and other items for my inspiration.  I now just need to hunt for some quotes and find some other things to complete the board.

As Always,
Sandra

Linked to: Satori Design for Living, A Bowl Full of Lemons,

DIY Light Box

I have wanted to make my own light box or light tent for a while now.  Since they are so expensive to buy, I wanted to try to make my own inexpensive version of a light tent.

I finally found a light box tutorial that would work for me.  Be sure to check out Cara’s blog to find out how she made hers.  I used Cara’s light box for inspiration and also used the instructions she linked to in her light box post.


Here is what I used:


-1 Cardboard box, I used an unused wardrobe box I had left over from the move.  it is 24” x 24” x 34”.

-Scissors and exacto knife

-Tape (masking tape and I also used white duck tape)

-Glue stick

-White Bristol board or poster board, I used 3 sheets to cover the inside of the box and one sheet to place as the backdrop.


-Fabric, I used a bed sheet from Wal-Mart, on sale for about $8.00




-Lights, definitely the most expensive part of the light box.  I had trouble finding the lights I wanted.  I originally wanted 3 smaller reflector lights, similar to the large reflector light I ended up purchasing.  But unfortunately, Home Depot was sold out.  They only had one large clamp light (300 watt max) left, which I snagged.  Then, I also purchased 2 small clip lights (60 watt max).




-Light bulbs, also can be expensive.  I used two 60 watt, daylight (6500K) compact florescent light bulbs in the clip lights.  I used one 150 watt, daylight (6500K) compact florescent bulb in the large clamp light.


Here is how I made my light box:

I measured 2” from all edges, marked with a pencil and cut large holes in the four sides of the box, leaving the 2 inches along the edges of the box intact.  I didn’t cut anything on the bottom and I cut off the flaps of cardboard that make the top.


Next, I lined the inside with 2” strips of white Bristol board, gluing them to the inside of the cardboard box.


After I finished lining with the Bristol board, I started to attach the fabric.  I ironed the bed sheet to get most of the wrinkles out.  I tacked the fabric to the box using masking tape then I used white duck tape to fully secure it.


I left the top until last.  I attached the fabric the same way as on the sides.


The duck tape worked really well to attach the fabric.  Plus the white duck tape covered up the cardboard box so no writing was showing and the whole box was white.




Next, I needed to install the lighting.  Tricky.  I used a coffee table we had stashed downstairs to place my light box on to make it easier to take pictures.  I’d like to have something more permanent, but for now my steamer is holding up 2 lights and the kids’ chair is holding up the other light on the opposite side.

Since the large clamp light doesn’t have an on/off switch, I plugged all the lights into a power bar.  This way, I only need to turn on the power bar and all 3 lights come on.







I used the metal piece that came with the wardrobe box to place across the top of the box so the large clamp light could lean on it and not touch the fabric.



So far the light box is working GREAT, last night I was able to take some photos for my shop.  I never would have been able to do that before!  I was always waiting for the perfect sunlight during the day, which really limited when I could take photos.  Now I have a lot more freedom!


UPDATE:

Here is how my light box looks currently.

I clipped both the bottom lights to the table below the light box, and they are working well there.  I added a 4th light, which has also helped to decrease shadows.


As Always,
Sandra

I shared this post at A Bowl Full of Lemons, Clean and Scentsible, Morganize with Me, Satori Design for Living

DIY Drop Cloth Tack Board

When we got our new office furniture a while ago, I wasn’t happy with the tack board that came with it.  The tack board was to be installed underneath the upper shelving, but I hated the pattern on the fabric covering the tack board.  I decided I needed to do something about it.





I cut a piece of canvas drop cloth to cover the tack board with a couple inches extra on the sides to fold over.







Using my hot glue gun I folded over the fabric and glued it on the back of the tack board.





I found it easier to make relief cuts in the corner because the canvas cloth is so bulky to work with.



Then I continued until all the sides were glued down.



Next, I stuck on strips of Velcro which would secure it to the office furniture.  And with Velcro, I would be able to take the tack board down in case I ever want to recover it again.









Much better than that crazy patterned fabric.  Since the office furniture is a dark black/brown color, the light colored drop cloth brightens it up a little.  Check out another project I completed using drop cloth.

As Always,
Sandra

I shared this post at A Bowl Full of Lemons, Clean and Scentsible, Morganize with Me, Satori Design for Living