How important is work space?

[Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo]

This question is particularly directed to those of us who consider our stitching work, our textile art, to be our profession (whether or not we have another job to pay the bills), but those of you who consider your textile work to be a hobby or pastime are welcome to answer too.

I have been frustrated by a lack of dedicated space in which to do my artwork and to store and organize my materials, a space where I can leave work in progress, where I can get to work immediately without having to set up equipment, and a space which physically honors what I do. Am I just being selfish and unrealistic in the face of family, financial, and physical constraints? Or is space to do one's art an essential ingredient in the creative process?

Please share your opinions and let us know where you do your work. Do you have a separate studio space, either in or outside the home? Do you have a dedicated area of a room in the house? Do you live alone and your whole home is your studio? Or do you do you work in the midst of all the other household activities? How does your particular arrangement work for you and how does it affect your art?

Very curious to hear from you all!

Leslie

[Margaret Ramsay]

This sounds so familiar. My husband and I joke about having bought a one bedroom house as the other 2 bedrooms are our studies/studio/computer rooms! The 'real' bedroom is the smallest of the 3. After a week of sharing a computer when one was in the repair shop we decided that not only did we need one each but they needed to be in separate rooms. And I have a dedicated printer for my fabric - Ian won't let me put any through his 'all in one' . Having said that he's very understanding.

[Guzzisue]

I recognise this, we have a computer each, One in my room and one downstairs - sometimes easier to use googlechat than go up and down the stairs! I have an old printer that I always use for fabric, dread the day when it gives up.

[Liz in Kansas]

I'll have to remember googlechat. Hubby and I have been sharing one computer and it does cause the occasional tiff (that may be a real understatment!). We've talked about getting a laptop for me to use downstairs in my studio. But then we may NEVER see each other! I know it would be harder to get me out of the studio - and it's not that easy now.

Let's see, all I would need is a small fridge, a porta-potty, and a pillow. There's plenty of quilts for the odd nap. I could create 24/7!

[Mary Corbet]

Whether you're into textiles for business or purely for pleasure, I think dedicated space is pretty important if you want to keep your life organized. I know a lot of people don't have the luxury of a whole dedicated room, but if even a closet can be managed somehow, it's pretty helpful when it comes to keeping yourself organized!

All that being said, I do have dedicated space - a whole garage, actually, remade into a project room, which we call "The Studio." I do my classes for kids in there, and our guild meets there. I have a lot of cabinet space - although most of the household storage is in there, too - and enough room space to accommodate 2 6-ft tables, 1 8-ft table, a drafting table, and up to 13 adults (with 13 chairs). I was surprised, actually, that so much could fit in there. We rarely have 13 people in there at a time, though. It's somewhat tight when there are!

The room was just finished this past spring, and although I've done some little things out there, I haven't had time to actually launch into a big project and take advantage of the table space. Eventually, I'll get rid of the 8-ft table (it's there for summer classes only), and I'll set up a sewing table and machine at the end opposite my drafting table.

If you're lucky enough to be able to plan a space, think hard in advance about what you want. There are some definite points of my room that I like - the storage space, especially - but there are also points that should've been more carefully thought through. It's somewhat disappointing to sink the money into refurbishing or building a space and then feeling like kicking yourself for missing a major detail or two!

[Sita Shankar]

I have always wanted some space for myself.I hope to get it when we move into our own space,shortly.But I dont want to shut myself away from the rest of the family as I work.I like listening to their chatter/squabbles.I really miss it [or rather fear,they would be upto some mischief,]if I shut myself up in our spare room.We have room,but still no space for myself as we dont have the required cupboards/shelves to store my stash all together in one place.Now ,I manage them by keeping them where there is some space,in our existing cupboards.Thanks to this discussion ,I now have an idea of what I need to have to for a workable area for myself.Thanks,Vicky,Leslie,and all others who have shared their ideas for storage here.

[Cynthia]

For me, having a DEDICATED but FLEXIBLE work space is as important to me as breathing. I have dedicated a cozy space in my apartment (moved in to a new apartment 5 months ago) where I have access to my stash, a window, my CD Player, a straight-back chair (preferably a 90 degree one), some times my laptop and various jazz, multicultural, and gospel music. I graciously inform my peeps (husband, a teen, a tween and a growing little girl) that I WOULD NOT LIKED TO BE DISTURBED for at least 2-4 hours. I usually get compliance (smile).

Cynthia

[Heidi]

"Work Space" to me means anywhere I can do my stitching work comfortably and properly. Since I mostly cross stitch and quilt, my work space can be in different places in the house. I love light in the house, and the large windows and good lighting in the dining and living room allow me to work at any time of the day. We recently moved and now for the past two years I finally have my own little sewing room. It's not huge, but it's enough to store fabrics and books, sew and cut.

I don't think it's selfish to want to have a space of your own. Like vicky said - my husband too has his space for tools and such, our daughter has her room, her space, even the pets have their space that's theirs alone. Although it is nice to have one's own room, it's more important to have a space which is respected by other family members as yours. Whether it's that chair, that corner of the couch or that part of the bedroom. Whatever the size, use that space well and make the best of it. For me good light, natural or artificial is the most important, and good seating. If I'm not comfortable or can't see well, it absolutely affects my work, and mood..lol! I'm still not used to having my own room, but am enjoying decorating it and making it completely my own.

[Sue Bleiweiss]

I have my own dedicated room in the house for my studio space. It used to be the spare bedroom but I decided that it was more important to have my own space than to have a place for guests to stay (hey that's what hotels and bed&breakfast places are for right!?). I think having my own space that's always set up and ready to go definitely helps me to be more creative on a consistent basis because all I have to do is walk into the room and it's all there ready to work with. I don't fret about keeping it neat or worrying about threads and pieces of fabric on the floor. In between projects I do a big cleanup but other than that a general straightening up here and there and a quick vacuum is all I do. I don't worry about keeping it neat for when we have visitors because I figure it's my workroom and it's what I do so I just don't worry about it.

I have a laptop and a wireless network so that I can keep my laptop in the room with me which is crucial for me to have because of my online teaching responsibilities but also because as I develop projects and things I type my notes right into the pc rather than writing on scratch paper that I have to decipher later.

[pat winter]

I create mainly for pleasure although I do sell finished items locally and online. Crazy Quilting is my hobby and I really don't care if I sell a thing or not,I will always produce items because I am addicted to embellishments, fabrics and threads.A few years ago I kept my supplies in a closet and took out what I could find,forgetting what I had to work with. Now, I do have a spare bedroom across from my bedroom upstairs which I turned into a creative place, a studio.Although I take my work outside much of the time,I do find having a separate room for creating a" must have". It allows me the freedom to display my supplies so I am inspired to make something every time I walk through the door. I do keep it in order so it is ok to leave the door open. Actually it is inviting and guests heading to the restroom usually end up in there browsing which I find amusing. I can leave projects in the works and return to them just as I left them. Since it is upstairs, it isolates me from the TV and any commotion going on downstairs. My husband is used to me spending hours up there and knows where to find me so it really works well. I know I am more productive because of my studio.It is my happy place!
Pat

[Liz in Kansas]

Pat, your bead storage system is great! Is that a custom setup or can one buy those slots/holders somewhere? What a lovely display.

[MichelleMermaid]

Pat, what an awesome table you have! That is just what I would wish for!
And your bead system is not only practical it is also very appealing to the eye...of course you knew this already.
I really like your fabric tubs, too. I've been thinking of getting some of those.
Nice room!

[Judy B]

When we first married I had a spare bedroom to use for a very limited amount of 'stuff' and another for visitors. There wasn't a lot of furniture to clutter up the spaces either.
Then we had two children, a boy and a girl, and four and a half years apart, so no chance of them sharing a room. By then I was making rag dolls for sale and my studio became the kitchen table, and our bedroom was storage area, with just enough room to get around the bed. We have moved quite a few times, and at one point the main bedroom was large enough to use for sewing as well as storage. The space required was much larger by this time because I was making quilts as well as the dolls.
Class notes and magazine articles were done by hand on the kitchen table until we found room for a large desk in the front hallway. One day I announced that I thought I could turn my class notes into a book, and when I was sitting at that desk I was not to be disturbed. Much to my surprise my family believed me, and so I had to produce something, and was lucky enough to get a publisher.
When the babies became teenagers the house shrunk in another move, 'stuff' was stored in the linen cupboard, and though I know we still had the same kitchen table I am sure it got smaller to fit in the house. My design wall was 2 feet 6 inches x 3 feet, and eating at the table happened only on special occasions.
The baby boy was 6ft 2in by this time, and could step over a queen size quilt in a single bound, and got so used to it he did it even after I had picked it up! He also rolled under the full sized quilt frame which was across the archway between kitchen and lounge room, until the day he did the roll, landed on his feet and looked back at the empty space! The baby girl hugged every doll I made until she became a tween so that the labels could say that they were finished with a hug.
Now the babies have left the nest, the biggest bedroom is mine, the kitchen table still gets its fair share of work, and the quilt hoop is part of the lounge room furniture. In 'my' room a large wall unit holds books, and boxes, there is a cutting table and a sewing table with two machines, 2 filing cabinets, an old kitchen cabinet, shelves etc. and everything is full. The computer is in the lounge, so that is the 'publishing house'
The most productive years were probably the most crowded, but I am lucky enough to have a family who respect what I do and managed to live with it all. Even when I was away teaching!
The most creative times have been when I have had a bit of a room (or a hallway), which was 'mine' to play in.
The most important requirement is time, and a chance to concentrate. With time and concentration I find I can work on one thing, and plan the next ten! Find the time, concentrate, and it doesn't really matter what space you have, you can make it your own.