Sunday, February 20, 2011

Efficiency Studio

You've heard of an efficiency kitchen and an efficiency apartment and now I want to tell you about my efficiency studio. I have long bemoaned my LeClerc stuffed in the guest room dormer. The lightening is poor in the there and I barely have room to get around the loom when I'm weaving. Plus, it's a guest room and I'm loath to initiate a project that I can't finish quickly, because after all, it is a guest room.
I talked to Mim on the phone yesterday for about a half hour and we discussed my quandary. She was convinced there was room in the studio for it and offered to come over and help me figure it out. I dreamed about it last night and this morning was anxious to get to work. I cleaned up, rearranged and got rid of a couple chairs. Then I had Ian help me move in my third loom. Of course, I'll have to pull it out to warp it, but it's doable. My warping board is barely visible behind the utility table which holds my umbrella swift, sewing machine and bobbin and ball winders. I will have to pull out the table to use my drum carder but it's on casters.
This rolling work station is key. I can roll this to whichever loom I'm working on, and I can only work on one at time - lets face it! I've decided that I can also only occupy one weaving bench at a time so will only keep this one in the studio.
I don't have wall space to hang a warping board so it was important that whatever I did, I be able keep that wood crate by the door and still be able to get out the door. Does Charlie look a little annoyed to you?
This is how it works, and it works well, though I have to always remember that it's only balancing on the box. I've thought about nailing in a couple of brads to prevent it from sliding forward, but it's only done that a couple of times and I'm sure I would catch yarn on the brads more often than that.
The LeClerc bench is useful in the guest room. I can't get rid of the giant pillow yet, as when both Alexia and Kiernan spend the night, it protects Kiernan from her thrashing, kicking sleep. And neither one of them wants to give up the stuffed animals, even if Buster did eat one of the rabbit's eyes.

I worked hard to keep Charlie's sunny studio spot. He took his time, sniffing all around the room and then His Charlieness stalked off in indignation.

14 comments:

re'New said...

"his Charlieness" too funny! We have different situations. I have room, but it's a mess of construction materials and Christmas storage and boxes of unpacked dining room/kitchen stuff and my kids boxes of "stuff", it's dark, and it also has no storage. Just today I used old milk crates and some random doors to build some shelves for the rags in waiting! And it's where my chore clothes, water hose and tools are. No walls but the perimeter ones! No electricity either except for drop cords. Good thing is - I don't worry about making a mess :)

Theresa said...

Cat's, can't live with em, can't live without em! You are seriously utilizing all your space that's for sure. Just curious, is the guest room the bigger room? Why not switch if it is? Just a thought....")

LA said...

Looks like you've solved your problem! The studio looks like a great place to work, and Charlie will be right there with you!

Maggie said...

I'm stealing the idea of the rolling work station. That's genius!

Two Guys and a Loom said...

Looks great, I've got to keep an eye out for one of those rolling carts. It is such a sad fact that a person can only weave on one loom at a time!!!! Looks great!!!!

Valerie said...

Timely post. I keep thinking about where the new loom is going to go when it finally arrives.

Unlike you, my "stuff" is scattered all over the house. I was going to list it...but it's just too complicated.

Looks like you are organized for efficient use of space. Now if you have the discipline to work on one thing at a time and put things away until the next session (ahem...a discipline I do not have) you will be fine.

Jody said...

Wish I had so much space in my 'Fibre Room'. I have had to resort to storing my large fleece bins out in the garage. That rolling cart is really a smart little item to have too. It would be great for my various combs and carders :-)

Carolyn Jean Thompson said...

Wow! 3 looms in one room? Like the crate which holds the garbage can and then the warping board! Now, what do you sit on? Do you bring in a chair?

I have the same problem in my guest/bunny room. The bunny has one side of the room, the loom the other side, and the easle for painting in the middle. Chair for sitting at the loom doubles as a table to put my pastel box.

Judy said...

That looks like a great work space, with your weaving tools just where you want them to be!

Benita said...

I sure wish my studio looked so nice and neat. And, just wait a moment, Charlie will "forgive" you and be back in his spot.

bspinner said...

It took me a minute to spot Charlie. He's so funny! You're studio looks great. You can never have enough room and I know I have just about a whole basement for all my stuff and still it looks junky. Hmmm maybe I should put my stuff away. Love your rolling work stations.

Kim said...

What a great studio! Mine is so jammed full of everything it is hard to work in.... I just have 15 pounds of blivets in my 5 pound blivet bag! Yours looks lovely, and Charlie will soon be back to loll in the sun and provide both comic relief and soothing sound effects.

Annie said...

You've been busy! Your room looks very organised to me. I love that too (but haven't got it, most of the time, I'm afraid)

Jenny Bellairs said...

It's so nice to have an organized weaving room. You did a great job. What is your next project? Do you ever get all the looms warped at once. I'm not that organized, so some are always sitting empty. Have fun weaving in your "new" studio.