last weekend we moved my sewing space from the basement up two flights of stairs into an upstairs bedroom and transformed the room into a family art room. it’s huge. it is still soaking in for me. I will be honest, this is a big deal.
now, I have talked a lot about how important it is to make space for creative endeavors. when you make physical space, you make space in your life…making things becomes easy and accessible and it integrates into your everyday. I really believe this and I also believe that making things by hand can be life-changing. so, making space is a big deal. but our house is small and the basement (you can see the old basement studio here) was the only place I could commandeer. and, I was honestly ok with that. in fact, I was thrilled. it was the first time I’d made room for my creativity in a permanent way.
but the fact is I returned from the makerie with a renewed enthusiasm for making things in a beautiful and inspired space. amy butler is particularly to blame for my new yearning; her workshop included a slideshow with some stunning photos of her home and studio. it is so beautiful and she emphasized that the world around her keeps her attuned to inspiration and color ideas and essentially full of life. amy is undoubtedly a passionate and alive person, it is difficult NOT to catch her enthusiasm and be swept up in it. she is a woman living with great joy and passion. it was impossible not to catch some of it. and, I’m so glad I did.
for my part, teaching and sewing is, after parenting, what I spend much of my time focusing on. shouldn’t I treat it like that? the basement just wasn’t cutting it anymore. it was time to move into the sun.
so, I suggested that for mother’s day I might take over the playroom and turn it into a home office for me. this might sound kind of bad. steal the kids playroom? but trust me, it is not bad. it is actually quite beautiful.
{the old playroom}
the backstory is this: the playroom came to being when the boys decided they wanted to share a room. so, the extra bedroom became their playroom. except they never played in it. or they played in it maybe once a week for an hour or so. it was definitely underused. we made it as nice as we could and they still weren’t interested.
frankly, they wanted to play near us and that meant toys carefully arranged in the playroom would come bump, bump, bumping down the stairs and spread out all over the kitchen. it frustrated me so much. “why is this big mess here in the kitchen when you have a whole playroom?” yet, as soon as I considered using the playroom for my sewing space it became so obvious. I LOVE that I have two sons so interested in being around their parents that they neglect a room full of toys. it won’t always be like this. I suppose soon they will be creating greater and greater distances between themselves and us.
now is the time.
besides, I want to start living my values with the boys. I want them to see me take myself seriously and bring what I do and what I am passionate about more into their world. and, then I happened to pick up the book side by side by tsia carson. tsia believes that parents and children can work side by side on art projects even if they are working on different things….art with children doesn’t have to be centered around completing one project but it can branch out and move in a new, different direction for everyone involved. her words resonated with me and suddenly the new room transformed into a family art room. we can make things side by side, of course we can! I am just getting started arranged the room, it is awfully scrappy looking at this point. but I have moved a lot of the standard kid art supplies up…googly eyes, pipe cleaners, markers, sketch paper, assorted buttons are all accessible to them. and guess what they hang out there now! ha! in the last three days they have worked on two different projects in the family art room…both of their own design. yesterday, C brought some legos upstairs and worked on a building a fire truck. the irony is not lost on me that toys are now being brought up the stairs…scoot, scoot, scoot.
{a view of the fabric cabinet with plants (!) and the right hand wall with books and supplies}
it’s funny, I can’t figure out what took me so long! everyone is happier with this arrangement. especially me. I can’t help but wonder if it was my husband working from home, would have taken him as long to establish a sunny spot for himself? I need to keep reminding myself that it’s ok to take up room. why is that? for his part, when I suggested I take over the playroom, he was all over the idea. it seemed so natural to him. of course I should do that! It would be great! my classes are above ground now, it only makes sense that everything else is, too. between him, amy and tsia…I think I am in good hands.
As I settle in, I will be sharing the decorating and arranging of the room and reporting back on successes and failures. I’ll let you know how the well the rules about “things that we don’t touch in the art room” are followed.
in the meantime, I’ll be in the sunshine making things!
Ann says
This is so great. Congratulations on moving into your new space! It makes all kinds of sense, of course. When we move (in two weeks!) my sewing stuff will be in the kitchen: an upstairs area with a window. I’ve never dedicated that kind of space to my personal interests before which is pretty silly. Especially because my spouse does work at home a lot (though not exclusively and he has an office at the college) and we’ve always carved out a space for him wherever we’ve lived.
ahappystitch says
Yes it does! Thanks, you are an official new space comrade! Happy Sewing Ann!
ahappystitch says
Also…good for you! It’s strange how hard it is to take care of ourselves sometimes! But, even if it happens slowly it is still happening! Wonderful to hear about your little carved out space Ann.
kristen powell says
awesome!!! and good for everyone!! love it!
ahappystitch says
Thanks Kristen! We will see how it works out as we go along but I am pretty excited!
Melanie says
I love this post. Thanks for showing how to really embrace creativity and parenting at the same time. You deserve it!
ahappystitch says
Aw, this is such a thoughtful note. Thank you!
Stephinie (gypsyforest) says
GOOD FOR YOU!!!! I am still unpacking, as you know, but I was feeling a bit guilty for taking over a huge bit of space in the new house for my sewing studio. My husband is insisting, but I felt it could be better used. After reading this….. I feel so much better about it. Being in good light and closer to the center of the house will make my creative work so much nicer for me and my family! Your new space is awesome!
ahappystitch says
Thank you, friend! Yes, take up some space in your new place, it is worth it. What you do is worth it!!