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Come behind the scenes at Magpie Ethel for a #CraftRoomTour and see Laurie's studio in Portland, Oregon.
I love that the space is entirely mine. I can make as much of a mess and craft away at a whim. I can close the door when I am done and don't have to worry about the mess I leave behind. I also have the majority of my supplies stored in my studio so everything is at arms reach.
Tell us about your space
My room is about 12 x 14 and it is all mine. It is exclusively my work space as well as a spot I get to display all the vintage eye candy I find from estate sales. It is chock full of vintage. I craft for just about every holiday using vintage finds. I started out crafting figures with spun heads and now have branched out and do all sorts of holiday items. Spun heads are one of my more popular things that I craft and is basically where it all started for me. I will always love making them.
What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
Well my space is really, really full of vintage eye candy. I love the graphics on old things and also like things collected in multiples. This is the space I can let loose in and have as much color and whimsy as I want. It is my happy space. I love the look when people walk in the door for the first time and the craziness of my world greets them.
How do you keep organized?
I am lucky as I am pretty organized to begin with. Most of my craft supplies are stored in my studio. For the most part they are stored in vintage containers (although I do use those boring plastic bins too). The containers and how things look is just as fun to me as the vintage supplies I craft with. For an example all my pipe cleaners are organized by color and are all held in vintage honey cans...because the graphics on some vintage honey cans are amazing.
Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
That is a loaded question! I keep like with like and try and organize things as soon as I get an item.
Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
I love the collection of vintage storks that live in my studio. I also love the collection of child's shoes boxes. They are all stacked up in one spot and I adore the graphics on them. I don't usually have my creations on display in my workspace..if something is really great that I make it is usually holiday inspired and will live with the appropriate holiday decorations in my house.
How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I am inspired by vintage crafts that I find in estate sale land. I am always on the lookout for vintage finds I can tweak. I don't have a inspiration board or anything like that. My inspiration comes from the items I have on hand to craft with. Often I only have a few of a vintage item, so once something is crafted with, that is the end of it unless I find more.
Where do you look for inspiration?
I find inspiration from vintage items, especially something a long ago person crafted.
If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream space?
1. Make it three times as big. I am outgrowing it and things are stacked from floor to ceiling.
2. Let me visit and old five and dime store so I can stockpile more of the vintage supplies that are often hard to find.
3. I would love a glue gun that never stops working as well as a worktable that ALWAYS has a corner clutter free.
Whose craft room would you love to explore? Send us a message!
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