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    Home » Sewing

    My Create Space; A Tour of My First Craft Room

    Updated: Sep 19, 2020 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 26 Comments

    I’ve been getting a lot of questions about my craft room. I posted photos about a year ago when I first got it set up but it has changed a lot since then. When we finished our basement, I got a room! Yeah! It was small..so I had to plan it out right- I even went as far as to draw it out on graph paper to make sure all the stuff would fit first..

    My husband put in the floors, cabinets and built all the IKEA stuff (seriously..  LOVE LOVE IKEA, but it comes in like a million pieces!) I’m so lucky to have him help me out with everything.  He along with a great contractor who came over one night when I decided last minute that I HAD to have a closet, made this an awesome room for me to work in.

    I keep waiting for it to be “clean” before I post photos, but I realized today, It’s not EVER going to be clean.. this is about as good as it gets! I kept 2nd guessing myself today for posting the photos, it looks sooo messy on film.. but hey, that’s the way it is! and this is clean 🙂

    So here are some photos, with a little bit of info… and yes, I know I have A LOT of stuff. The way I work, I work best when my stuff is out and I can see it … So I have a tendency to keep stuff in open baskets, glass jars and piled up on counters. It gives the room a bit of a “messy” feel but it really helps me when I’m creating.

     
    This is my IKEA bookshelf that I LOVE.. I wish I had room for a 2nd one. On it I keep my fabric, books magazines, canvas… Above it I like to display little “treasures”.
     
    Things people make for me. I love hand made gifts, and I keep them forever.  I painted the painting above it just for this room. (it wasn’t my idea, I got the idea from an artist I admire)
     
     
    pin cushion made for me by my Mom, antique sewing machine models given to me as gifts.
     
    A doll that Traci at Amazing Mae, made for me.
     
     
    (yes, that is a barbie doll up there… She just looked so “chic”.. she had to go home with me 🙂
     
     
    This is the view looking right in the room. That is my scrapbook table. It is built from 3 IKEA upper cabinets and 1 kitchen countertop (also from IKEA, come pre-built).  The 2 shelves on the side are also IKEA…
     
    Here is a better shot of the cabinets that make up the “base” of the island.  Love the doors. HIDE the mess!
     
    Behind the IKEA island, (that you can’t see well here) are cabinets.. they are from Lowes, we bought them unfinished and painted them GREEN!  My hubby thought I was a little nutso.. but I LOVE the green/blue combo in there.
    In the center, I painted chalkboard paint (okay I confess, my husband did the painting, I directed)… I just need to write on them now.. The lower cabinets have another IKEA countertop (butcher-block) that we TOTALLY lucked out and fit the space perfectly.. On top of that is my printer/scanner etc…
     
     
    As for lighting. I went with track with 2 pendants.. they hang over my workspace (and the little closet I had my contractor throw-in at the last minute)
     
     
     
    Here is a shot from the other side looking out… this is my “work” area. Like I said. I like to have things out so I can see them… this is really as clean as it gets.
     
     
     
    This is my cutting table… I LOVE it also!  You can see I have a hodgepodge of stuff on it right now… bags, quilts, and Moda projects in the works.
     
     
    Above my cutting table, I have a magnet board. These are metal sheets that I had leftover from my old house. I just covered them in fabric and hung them up. I have 2 in my room.. the other one is above my scrapbook table.
     
     
     
    (banner by Traci, at Amazing Mae)– ledge is from IKEA.. I put whatever punches are “in season” on there.
     
     
     
    My cutting table underneath.. I just have a bunch of baskets, they hold extra batting, wonder-under, and works in process. In the one basket is a quilt for my daughter’s room.. can’t wait to get that one done.
     
     
     
    For Christmas, my hubby researched and got me a dress form.. I LOVE him for it! I have made quite a few things for my teenage daughter on it.. when you are making stuff up from scratch it helps to have something to pin it on (yeah teenagers don’t like making you try stuff on them 100 times PLUS for obvious reasons you can’t pin stuff on a person)
     
    Her little “sister” joined me this summer via eBay… I think they need names… when they are not being used, they are decorated with whatever I have laying around…hence the black/gold flower pins.
     
     
    Not a good shot, but this is my sewing table, a few mending projects off to the side.
     
     
    above it a thread holder and a cute magnet board my sister got me with cute magnets that my Mom made for me. I use it to hold pattern instructions when I’m sewing.
     
     
    oh- last but for sure not least… THE Polkadot chair… and it’s friend The Striped Ottoman… It sits by the window, if you could see it up close you would see it’s covered in a thread from many an unpicking… It sits in front of a wall of cubes that hold my scrapbook paper.
     

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nat says

      October 02, 2009 at 2:17 am

      WOW! I want this room. I am still pretty young….21…and don’t have much in way of crafting supplies yet, but I hope to one day have a room like this. I mean really this is my dream! I don’t think it looks messy at all, I think it looks exciting. All the things that can be done with all the stuff….I LOVE IT!

      Reply
    2. Katrina Chambers says

      October 02, 2009 at 2:19 am

      Oh. my. goodness!! That room looks amazing and so much fun. I would be in heaven..even if I don’t craft, I would love all those shelves and folders and bits!!!

      Reply
    3. Karin says

      October 02, 2009 at 3:16 am

      What a lovely craft room you have there. I can imagine it must be very inspiring working there. And that chair looks great. Very comfy!

      Reply
    4. Powers Fam says

      October 02, 2009 at 4:00 am

      I have those same IKEA bookcases in my craft room. I got my husband to drive me three hours to pick it all up. Your room looks so similar to mine-sewing, scrapbooking, etc. I think a clean craft room is one that isn’t being used. 🙂 Yours looks great!!!! Love the colors.

      Reply
    5. Cara says

      October 02, 2009 at 8:20 am

      That is an AMAZING craft room! Such an inspiring space! I’ve got that same IKEA bookcase in our playroom, and I want more of them for other areas of our house too…so versatile. Your polka dot chair looks so comfy, too! Happy crafting!

      Reply
    6. Heidi@TheCraftMonkey says

      October 02, 2009 at 8:23 am

      Great room! I’m so glad you left it “messy”, I always feel so bad about my space when people post their craft spaces and they are so neat and orderly and every countertop is cleaned off…I can NEVER see countertop in my space…LOL

      Reply
    7. Becky says

      October 02, 2009 at 10:44 am

      Love it! What a fun room to create in! Thank for sharing!

      Reply
    8. Sherri says

      October 02, 2009 at 11:10 am

      Oh…I love your room…I’m going to come back to this post again and again for inspiration! One day I’ll stop sewing long enough to really have fun decorating my space…and then I want it to be like this one!

      Reply
    9. Ashlee says

      October 02, 2009 at 11:23 am

      Awesome! Seriously! I love, love, love everything about it. And glad you showed off the elusive polka dot chair.

      Reply
    10. traci says

      October 02, 2009 at 11:52 am

      This room is heaven on earth. I know that I gravitate to it whenever I am there. I think of it as my home away from hom.

      Reply
    11. Kelly L. says

      October 02, 2009 at 12:59 pm

      Your room is an inspiration for me! I’ve been planning a re-design of my sewing room for over a year now in my head but your photos gave me some more great ideas. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    12. Deana says

      October 02, 2009 at 8:33 pm

      That is the craft room that I dream of! Can I come and live in that chair?!? LOVE!

      Reply
    13. Mique (as in Mickey) says

      October 03, 2009 at 11:48 am

      Melissa- I LOVE your room. I want it!
      Got your comment- and since I actually played field hockey in high school (!!) I am on the hunt for a silo for you. I tried to make one yesterday but spent a lot of time and just wasn’t happy with it. Can I email you when I get it done?
      Oh and I will for sure be linking to your Thanksgiving advent. Can’t wait to make mine!
      Thanks, Mique (30 days)

      Reply
    14. Tasha says

      October 04, 2009 at 2:37 pm

      I think I just drooled a little! That is seriously my dream room! My hubby is always giving me grief because I can’t pick just ONE hobby I have to do every thing that falls under the crafting title. This room is perfect for having a plethera of projects going at any one time. You are seriously SO lucky!

      Reply
    15. Cheryl says

      October 04, 2009 at 4:46 pm

      I love your room! The colors, chair and the big window make it perfect.

      And I too think a clean craft room just means you aren’t using it!

      Love the doll Traci made you and fun items on top. How fun to have happy bits and memories there to see everyday.

      Reply
    16. Rebecca D. says

      October 05, 2009 at 12:15 pm

      Can I move into your craft room please! I’ll set up shop behind that adorable chair and just gaze at your fabric! Please!!! I won’t be in the way! I promise!

      Reply
    17. Megan @ Megity's Handmade says

      October 06, 2009 at 12:33 am

      Now that’s a pretty and inspiring room. Love the use of color! My room is sooooo sad. So, so sad. It’s needs some love. Will you do it for me?? 🙂

      Reply
    18. Rachel@oneprettything.com says

      October 07, 2009 at 6:06 pm

      I love it! The big, cozy chair is such a nice touch. I wish I had room for one in my craft room. I’ll be linking to this post if you don’t mind.

      Reply
    19. do it yourselfer says

      October 08, 2009 at 6:07 pm

      love your studio! it’s fabulous!!

      Reply
    20. Jennifer Paganelli says

      October 09, 2009 at 8:45 am

      Love you!! love your blog love your style love your stash!!

      Reply
    21. kristinorth says

      October 10, 2009 at 4:51 pm

      I love your room, especially since it’s scrapbooking and sewing in one! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Reply
    22. Suzie Button says

      October 10, 2009 at 5:38 pm

      I’m in LOVE with your craft room! So perfect! Suzie

      Reply
    23. amy smart says

      October 12, 2009 at 11:57 pm

      Oh I am so inspired! We just moved and my craft room is a pile of boxes and fabric right now. But I so want it to be a pretty (and organized!) place. Thank you for the motivation. And now, I need to find an awesome chair too! 🙂

      Reply
    24. Sam says

      October 22, 2009 at 10:43 am

      Where did you get that WONDERFUL chair????? I love it!!!!!

      Reply
    25. Nancy W says

      February 05, 2010 at 1:41 pm

      Awesome!

      Reply
    26. Renee•Candy Stick Lane says

      July 16, 2010 at 11:33 am

      LOVE the painting! Do/would you sell one – could/would you make more?! my email is candysticklane@gmail.com
      id love to have one in my bedroom!
      XO

      Reply

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