The craft studio and how mine is set up

I can’t believe the New Year is almost here. I really think that Reclaimed Wreckage is going to have an eventful, stressful, busy 2010.


For Christmas this year Chris got me an entire wall shelving unit to organize the studio that has slowly taken over the entire house. Right now the kitchen is where I cut and create patterns, the living room is where I sprawl out and fuse plastic, the office is where I sew, and the garage, kitchen, office, and hallway store supplies. I really am naturally an organized person (the Capricorn in me) but somehow I’ve lost track of it and find myself hating being in the office and so expand further into the rest of the house to work. Before to long my entire house will be unlivable and scattered with supplies. No good. So, to prevent that, we’ve spent the entire day organizing the office.

I’ve learned the hard way that the first thing that’s so important in being a creatively self-employed is to have a designated workspace that you LOVE to be in. I’m thinking live plants, family photos, and inspirational pieces and pictures surrounding me. But already, and I’m not even half-way done, I feel like I’m excited to get in there and start creating some new pieces- something truly fantastic.

But through my house-hell to organized bliss adventure, here are some things I’ve learned that might help future entrepreneurs:



1: try and keep all your craft supplies in one space

2: make it somewhere you enjoy being

a) This might mean plants, paintings, pictures, and a new coat of paint, whatever it takes to make it somewhere you can escape to

3: keep a filing cabinet for receipts, monthly spending sheets, and other business expenses

4: have plenty of natural light and a space for taking photography

5: keep a calendar up with dates for business meetings with your stores, deadlines, and I always include my monthly bills so I don’t forget

6: I find helpful quotes, inspirational sayings, etc. to be especially helpful when I feel stuck

7: shelving, shelving, drawers, and shelving! Right now I have an entire wall of shaving to hold supplies and extra space for when I need to expand. You can never have too much space for supplies

8: If you have a little one like me, chances are he’s going to spend a lot of time in your studio as well so include a space for his toys and be sure your important things are out of kids-reach.

9: have a designated space for a vacuum because trust me; you’ll want to vacuum in there more than anywhere else in the house