Enter the Light

In January my husband helped me re-energize my creative mindset.  Below you will see my craft area as it used to exist in the basement of our home.  While this seemed the perfect, out of the way, area to create with total abandon, it lacked natural light.  We added a floor lamp and another light fixture but I still delayed putting myself to work in it.

As the remainder of the room in the basement doubles as an office, my cutting table, etc. was here in the laundry room.  Once again - seemed perfect....wash and dry a fabric and then get right to the cutting to sew.  There was natural light in this room but not much.  Additionally, the overall the general "yellow" of the two rooms was not helping.

Enter into my mind, the Futon Room.  This room is the smallest bedroom in our home and that is why the futon, which serves as a guest bed when necessary, found it's way to this room.  This small room has TWO windows (note the daylight seen in the picture is with the blinds shut) and is on the upper floor of the home.  The windows overlook the beautifully maintained parade field out front and I loved just sitting in this room for peace and quiet no matter what time of day.  The room also boasts a 4 lamp fan fixture which provides PLENTY of light when the natural light disapates.  

I asked my husband if we could flip the two areas.  The futon would create seating in the office area where we also have a TV and could still be available to guests where they would have their own bathroom instead of sharing ours.  After some discussion, my carefully mapping the room and all the furniture that I wanted to put into it on graph paper so we could be SURE that it would fit after we carried it up 2 flights of stairs and my promise that we wouldn't have to move the hutch seen on the back wall, he agreed!  We set to work on a Sunday and had all the major stuff moved by dinner time.  I gathered more odds and ends and moved them Monday morning and immediately got to WORK on a project that I've had on the table for 3 months.  

There is still some more fine-tuning but here is the end results....

It was overcast and rainy when I took these photos but still there is MUCH more light than the previous arrangement.

Photos were taken from one end of the room and then the other.  I have a lot of packed into this room but it all works and is handy.

On the body double you can see my current project, tabbards for our SCA Barony. The tabbard shown is awaiting its applique.

Between the two windows I have hung my thread racks so thread is readily available.

The large hutch remained, although it doesn't appear in these photos.  It's lowest shelf holds projects/fabric.  It's middle shelf holds a few DVD's and the top shelf still has the stereo as well as a DVD player.  I don't know about anyone else but I can't concentrate if it's too quiet.  These entertainment solutions make the perfect solutions for me.

We didn't change these wall hangings at all.  The cutting table fits perfectly under the shelving and the illuminated pieces that have been given to us over the years, provide color and inspiration.

On the back of the door, I have a coat rack for hanging projects upon and I use the lower half of the door as a "bulletin board" utilizing stick-tack in lieu of push pins for a display that does not damage the door (we rent).  This solution helps me with the lack of wall space for a proper bulletin board.

Under my Cutting Table I have quite a bit of storage, as you can see here.  The drawer unit holds smaller projects while the baskets are available for larger ones.


All my pattern boxes stack neatly under the cutting table as well.  This is a much easier and accessible solution than having them all stacked in one big stack in a corner of the basement like previously.

I'm THRILLED with my new space.  I've had to leave it way to often over the past couple of months due to other meetings and obligations but I could easily spend a LOT of time in there and plan to.  My thanks to my husband who made things happen over a weekend on this move and for indulging me.