Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday Snapshot: Small Space Studio Tour
I've been promising you guys a peek at my crafting studio for a while now, and I'm finally ready to give you the tour!
Now, I know what you're thinking—Holy cats, that's small!—and you're absolutely right. My full studio space measures a whopping 5' x 6'. (City living is definitely not for the claustrophobic.)
But, before you panic, let me give you some context: My husband and I live in a small railroad apartment in a Brooklyn brownstone, which also happens to double as my workspace. Because of the size constraints that come along with living in NYC, building any kind of studio requires both creative storage options and using as much wall space/height as possible. So, when we were coming up with the design, having an open layout with my regularly used tools within easy reach was top priority, so we came up with a combination of pegboards and open shelving to help me stay organized while moving quickly between projects.
The basic setup:
- • Shelving with pegboards to keep tools and supplies organized and within reach.
- • Small hardware-style drawers for organizing sewing machine feet and small supplies.
- • A vertical storage tree for holding cords/threads/yarn while I'm working.
- • Shelves dedicated to craft machines.
- • A work table that doubles as a cutting table, which is also large enough to hold both a sewing machine and serger at the same time.
- • A large square cube shelving unit that holds books on the top shelves and labeled boxes of supplies—organized by category—on the lower shelves (accessed from the other side of the work table).
Credit where it's due: Most of the design work and building was done by my husband, who is a genius at maximizing-small-spaces.
To give you a better idea of the layout and the space that we were working with, here's a photo of our office area right before we built the studio, then another one of the empty studio right after the build. Quite the transformation, eh?
Do you work out of a small space too? What're your favorite organizing tips?
Saturday, February 25, 2012
TZoM Top 5: Must-Have Sewing Tools
I may go a little "My prescioussssss!" in a notions aisle, but, when it comes right down to it, there are only a few items that legitimately fall into the category of daily sewing necessities. Here are my top five must-have sewing tools. If any one of them disappeared from my studio, I would be utterly, hopelessly lost. (And very grumpy.)
What's on your list?
1. Olfa Rotary Cutter
At first, I didn't believe all the hype about Olfa. I figured that, as long as you kept a sharp blade installed, all rotary cutters were created more or less equal. But, when it comes to the smoothness of the cut, the movement of the blade, and the sturdiness of the handle, there's simply no comparison. Take a deep breath, then spend a little extra money and go with Olfa—you won't be sorry. (I use the 45mm size, which is perfect for just about anything that I need to cut.)
2. Tracing Wheel with Serrated Edge
Though it may look like a Medieval torture device (or maybe something a bit more kinky), when it comes to transferring patterns and marking fabric, a tracing wheel with a serrated edge will quickly become your new sewing BFF. Unlike rotary cutters, I've found that the brand and shape is more a matter of a personal preference—as long as the wheel is sturdy and the handle feels comfortable, you're good to go. (Mine is from Perfect Pattern Aids, but I also like the look of this bamboo version from Clover.)
3. Clover Seams Right
The tiny Seams Right includes all of the most common sewing measurements in one place, and I use it for everything from adding seam allowances to patterns to marking evenly spaced hems and button holes. It's as small as a credit card and easier to wrangle than a standard measuring tape, so it's perfect for making quick adjustments as you work. The best part: it's metal, so you can use it with an iron to make hem creases or press corners on the fly, no marks needed!
When it comes to measuring tools, the Clover 5-in-1 Sliding Gauge comes in a close second. I reviewed both on Craft Test Dummies.
4. Omnigrid Rulers
My sewing skills would decrease dramatically without my Omnigrid rulers. I have two sizes, 8" x 4" and 24" x 6", and I use at least one of them on every single project. The rulers are clear with dual-color markings, so they're visible on both light and dark fabrics. The bottom is textured, which keeps them in place on the fabric as you mark or cut, and the acrylic is thick enough to make rotary cutting quick and safe.
5. Clover Chaco Liner
As long as I've been crafting, I've been on a constant search for the best, most universal marking tool. I wanted something that would make clean, crisp lines on all types of fabric and felt, and standard chalk pencils and fabric markers were definitely not cutting it. So, when I came across chaco liners at one of my local fabric stores, I could almost hear the birds chirping and fairies singing. I bought a couple of colors on the spot, and now I won't use anything else. The refillable pens come loaded with a fine chalk powder, which is distributed with minimal pressure through a roller in the tip, creating perfect lines with no stretching or snagging on felt, stretch fabrics, or delicate materials. (That's right, perfect marks on FELT!) It's a sewing miracle!
Did I miss something? Add your favorites below!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Big Geeky Announcement: I'm Writing a Geek Crafts Column for FaveCrafts!
It's no secret that, when it comes to crafting, I'm a spectacularly geeky gal. (Try to name a material that I haven't turned into a TARDIS—I dare you!) So, when the fine folks at FaveCrafts offered me the opportunity to write a weekly geek crafts column, I jumped at the chance. Starting in March, I'll be delivering a weekly dose of geeky goodness to FaveCrafts readers, including exclusive tutorials, roundups from around the crafty internet, themed posts, and more!
Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Downton Abbey are currently topping my geek love list, but I want to know what's on yours! Unfurl your geek flag and let it fly, my friends: leave a comment below with your Mario cross-stitch patterns, Warhammer painting tips, links to your favorite geek crafts sites, and marriage proposals to Mulder and Skully!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tutorial: Doctor Who TARDIS Phone Charging Station for Craftzine.com
Today is my birthday! (Hurrah!) And, in honor of turning the big two-nine, I'm sharing a gift with all of you! (For those of you who've seen me in person, my age may come as a shock. Rest assured that I'm well aware that I still look like a teenager.) To get your very own birthday treat, check out my Project: TARDIS Phone Charging Station over on CRAFT, and download a free copy of the printable pattern!
Project: TARDIS Phone Charging Station
Do you ever sit back in your cube, listening to the hum of fluorescent lights and the low rumble of keyboards clacking away in the distance, wondering how you can take your geek cred to the next level? Well, I'm pretty sure that a handmade TARDIS phone charging station would do the trick!
Step 1: Print out the pattern PDF and cut out each piece. Then, use the following key to cut your felt and plastic canvas. (Each pattern piece is lettered.)
Step 2: Select one of the navy blue felt pieces cut from pattern piece A. Begin adding details to the body of your TARDIS by attaching piece B to the top of piece A using 2-ply navy blue embroidery floss. Use a whipstitch around the outside edges and a straight stitch on the inside...
Want to see more? Head over to CRAFT to download and see the full tutorial!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
