Are you familiar with the magazine “Where Women Create” ? It’s a gorgeous publication that features the Working studios of creative entrepreneurs. There is art and story and it’s absolutely stunning. The pages of each publication are substantial and inspiring. This is not that kind of post. Ha! This post is about carving out a little hamlet inside what you have and making it feed your creative practice.

I am always fascinated with where people work and what their creative space looks like. How does where we practice creativity inhance the process? There are yarn rooms, and offices, knitting nooks full of books and UFOs. I thought I would share some images of my creative space that a few of you might have gotten a glance of during a Twisted Stitches Episode with Paulette of KnittyGrittyYarnGirl.

Now this is not a grand room with a cozy chair and coordinated decorations. This is the laundry room in my house. Its also serves as a pass through to a lower level living room. I share it with my daughters, so it is not just for knitting and professional pursuits. It’s not glamorous, but there is a counter hight desk area where I can do zoom classes and guest appearances on shows. I also stand and sew on that desk space when I have time to get out my quilting supplies.

Sometimes the dog even ends up on the desk. Hi Poppi! There is paint on the counter that reminds me of my sweet Emaleigh who, like me, always has a project going. There are boxes of Friendly Loom Loops for making pot holders, buckets of pearler beads, baskets of ribbon and zippers. Shoe boxes of buttons and a rainbow of cotton thread. Dig even deeper in the cabinets and there is 100+ skeins of DMC floss and half stitched cross stitch projects. A collection of needlepoint and all of the stationary for every occasion with corresponding festive stamps.

The real fun is on the opposite wall. There are three Billy book cases from IKEA with the glass doors. I love these. They guard and display a rainbow variety of yarns for every type of knitting project, provided you want wool… there is one that is full of quilt cotton and apparel fabric that is woefully not given nearly enough attention.

Down at the end near the closet of doom, stands my croque sporting a favorite finished sweater near a photo copy of my diploma from Mary Baldwin College. Below which is an LLBean Boat-n-Tote of all my Juniper Moon Farms Patagonia leftovers. I use that tote quite a bit. The floors are hand painted and might be my favorite part of the whole room. The checkerboard pattern is playful and bright. It makes my day every time I see it.

I don’t do any actual knitting in this space. I work here. I plan here. I make phone calls and send emails, I grade patterns and check my math. It is a happy place that makes the harder parts of work a little bit easier. I finish projects here, steam block on the ironing board or soaking in the utility sink. I pack up trunk shows or ship sample skeins out from this spot.

What about you? Do you have a dedicated crafty space? I would love to hear all about it.