A Creative Life

THIS WEEK'S THEME IS "A CREATIVE LIFE"

Good morning! How was your weekend? Hope you were able to get refreshed for the week ahead and that you even found a few minutes to be creative.  Are you ready to get started?

I'm really excited about today's lesson! I love talking about interior design and find that, with our move to a new home in August 2011, I'm still needing some inspiration on how to put together a small studio on a budget. In our new home I have a tiny office space connected to our bedroom. It isn't anything huge and impressive, but I'm determined to make it a cozy, inspiring place to create. Before we can feel motivated to be creative, I think it's important that we have a spot in our home that's all ours, even if it's just a small nook or a corner of our bedroom.

I've asked two of my dear friends to share a few ideas with you. The first is Mary Jo Matsumoto from Trust Your Style! Mary Jo is a fashion designer whose luxury products include handbags, fine jewelry, and couture separates, dresses, and gowns. Her designs have been worn by Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright Penn, and Mary Hart and have also appeared on Oprah, Extra, and the Oscars. Many of her designs have also been featured in such well-known magazines as InStyle, Victoria, Weddings, and Modern Bride.

Employing state-of-the-art technology to fuse contemporary art with intricate high fashion, Mary Jo recently used the work of five contemporary artists to create five couture looks for a Steven Cohen gallery exhibit called "Works on Couture". This exhibition beautifully showcases the creative relationship between art and fashion.

Mary Jo is a talented designer with a big heart. Here are a few of her ideas on creating an art studio/workspace on a limited budget!


Tell us a little bit about your studio/craft room.

I'm in the process of moving to a new space in downtown Los Angeles, but currently I use 3 spaces for work and envy anyone who can keep it to one! While most of my home is sparsely furnished, my work area is the one place where I'm a complete maximalist (as you can see from my desk and inspiration board). My office has a closet that was converted to shelving and I keep all of my business paperwork and hardware for my handbags organized in this space. I also have a small work table and another shelving unit for fashion books, notions, and immediate samples. On the other side of the wall I have my father's dark wood and leather covered desk he had shipped home from a trip to Italy. It's so masculine and doesn't go with any of my decor, but he used this as his home office desk, and I have so many memories of him using it that it means the world to me! I always think that when I run my hands over the wood and leather I can still feel his pulse. I do everything from bill-paying to day-dreaming at this desk. I also keep a big inspiration board above the desk and it changes depending on what I'm working on.

My second space is more industrial. with closets full of leather and fabric, and a giant cutting table. I keep all of my couture line that's made from delicate fabrics bagged and hanging on a big clothing rack in the cat-free guest room.


What, in your opinion, is an absolute necessity when designing a studio/craft room?

A nice desk or work table and an inspiration board. If you have these 2 things you have a work space! I also think it's important to surround yourself with things that reflect your personality--your true self, not a magazine concept of an artsy person. It may sound corny, but I think it's less important to worry about whether your work space is a fit for Elle Decor, and just concentrate on making a very personal space that's going to be more creatively productive.

What affordable ideas would you recommend for those of us living on a tight budget?

1) You can make a great inspiration board yourself. Buying a giant bulletin board decorated with a fancy frame can set you back hundreds of dollars. I had an extra white poster frame that I wasn't using and bought a few rolls of cork. I used Liquid Nails to attach the cork to the back piece of the poster frame (thin board from Home Depot will work just as well) and then I covered the cork board with gray ultra suede using a regular stapler. Voila--an easy inspiration board for my gray and white work room.


2) If you're more of a chalk board/idea person and have the room, I love the idea of using a big piece of board or mdf and painting it with black chalk board paint. Lean it up against the wall and with a couple of doodles on it, it doubles as art. Talk about going back to the drawing board--when you're tired of it or have new ideas, all you have to do is wipe it down and start over!


3) Paint is a great equalizer. You can personalize a generic/cheap work table and or work stool by painting it a complimentary color for your work room.


4) The flea market is a haven for great looking but affordable studio finds. Big wire baskets to use for storage, waste bins, etc that are all the rage (and run $100+ in the store) can be picked up for about $25 at the flea. If you really scout around and check out places like Craigslist, etc. you can also find great prices on industrial desks, shelves, and task lighting.


5) If you have the wall space, a long weathered board can be attached to the wall and used as a desk big enough for two, plus it adds so much character to the room!


Thanks for all of the great tips, Mary Jo. I especially love the chalkboard and inspiration board ideas!

Next up is my sweet friend, Jeanette Lunde, from Fryd Design to share a few of her ideas! The photos below are of her newly built studio. Read on to learn more about putting together a studio on a budget.


Tell us a little bit about your studio/craft room

My studio is an open place in top of the stairs with lots of natural light and bright with walls. One wall is all shelves filled with creative books, paper & sweet treasures. Things that I believe in, not sure were to use. But I know that I one day will find them handy. I love my desk; an old dining table from my neighbor and the old school chair from the local fleemarket.

What, in your opinion, is an absolute necessity when designing a studio/craft room?

Shelves and boxes to sort out all your stuff and tools. I find it hard to work if I can not find my stuff when I need it.

What affordable ideas would you recommend for those of us living on a tight budget?

Furniture; go second hand when it comes to furniture. If you find it hard to match; use some paint and play with colors. When I buy art I buy it on Etsy, but I guess everyone knows about that place! If you want inspiration and find buying magazines expensive, check out Issuu.com. I always find inspiration here.

And the last one; be your self and be true to your heart. That way someone will find you special and you will feel rich.

Thanks, Jeanette! Love your thoughts about feeling "rich" by being true to your heart. :)




DISCUSSION PROMPT - What would your ideal craft room look like?