Features
By
Amy S.
Come behind the scenes at nanaCompany for a #CraftRoomTour and see Amy's workroom in her garage in Los Angeles.
The best thing about my space is that it's mine ~ I don't have to clean it up when guests come over or when dinner is ready ;)
Tell us about your space
I have a desk upstairs in my bedroom which I love ~ I use that for administrative tasks like invoicing, filing contracts, receipts, and writing thank you cards. I also have a sewing room in our finished two car garage, which serves double duty as a playroom for the kids. One half is mine and it is, at this point, stuffed to overflowing with sewing and crafting supplies. Besides what I've decided to share (which is my "sewing corner") there are three large tables and two more shelving units packed with supplies and wips. It's funny, but of the four tables I occupy, I work on the smallest one. It's round and there are two chairs on either side. I cut on the one side and sew on the other. My sewing machine is a Janome 7700. Behind that is my ironing station, where I always keep spray starch and a glue stick.
What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
Well, when Cat asked me to share my workspace I was sure I would say no because I've been working non-stop for a few years in my "hot mess" and we are moving in less than a year. Then, I will finally have a dedicated studio (that's NOT in the garage) and I can't wait! But after thinking about it for a few days I decided to 'keep it real' and share my garage, which is definitely a workroom and not a showroom. It's honest, it's chaotic, and it's largely filled with accessories that I'd bought years ago when I was deep into a bright and colorful children's world, but it is what is. It's where I currently work. My hope is that in a year or two I'll have something lovely to share that truly reflects my style.
How do you keep organized?
Organization? Ha! Of course, my "hot mess" makes a whole lot of sense to me, but if you look at my piles of fabric you'll see that sometimes they're organized by color, by collection, by style, by season, by when they were purchased, by manufacturer, etc. There are three bookcases of "organized fabric" behind my work table, and just as much as that in boxes and on my other tables that I work from, too. However, on my desk you will find that I keep only the essentials there ~ my cutting rulers, my rotary cutter, seam ripper, scissors sharpener, needles, pins, glue sticks and tape. On a tiny table next to my chair I keep my fabric scissors and template boards.
Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
If you work in a garage like me, the best way to store things is in glass jars or sealed plastic containers. If you can, keep like things together, always put things back in the same exact place, and develop an organizational flow that makes sense to the way that you work.
Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
I love that both my desk and my work room are filled with things bought for me or made by my friends. Those little touches make a space so special. For instance, my pin cushion is always changing so that I get a chance to use all the lovely ones I've received. Right now it's fall so I've got my "pumpkin" cushion out.
How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I do have an actual pin board for ideas, but I mainly use my phone to store my inspirations. No matter where I am or what it is (a floor tile, a picture in a book, a sign, etc.) I can generally capture it with my camera phone.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I gather inspiration from absolutely everywhere. I think the most important thing is not to look too much in one direction for inspiration. That way you're more likely to be processing all the information you take in, forming it into a style or idea that's completely yours.
If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream space?
If the craft fairy could grant me three wishes, I wouldn't be in the garage but a proper room, I'd have time to destash and shed all that I find unnecessary today, and I'd give it a much more peaceful feeling. The winds are shifting here, and I am so excited about the future! That future includes the dream studio I'll be getting when we move out of L.A.!
Whose craft room would you love to explore? Send us a message!
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