The Big Reveal: my basement studio

Although I still have large machines in my basement, I decided today was the perfect time to reveal the completed basement craft and studio area. Since I need to set up for the monthly We 3 Art Play Day at the end of the week, I decided to move the machines out of the basement and take photos of the finished project, even though it's been ready to show for over a month.

If you have followed this blog for awhile, you may remember my progress. If you need a refresher, you should start here. Next came boxing the stuff up and putting it in every nook and cranny in the house so the framers could come in. Next came the electrical, then the drywall. Next came priming and the trim. Finally, the walls and floor were painted and I laid out my floor plans on paper. Now, although it's not really considered a "finished" basement in real estate jargon, it's a wonderful studio for me, with all of it devoted to my art. Thankfully, I have no problem sharing space because Bleubeard requires so little room.

Go down the stairs and here's the first thing you see. Yes, the hall floor took a huge beating with the stuff getting moved around and the machines getting pushed in and out of any place they could sit, but I can always paint the floor. As you can see, I still haven't returned some of the paintings to the walls.

As you travel through the basement hallway, you pass a full bath I actually built myself after I signed papers on the house and before I moved in. It's a free standing room with both a shower and tub that theoretically I could take with me if I leave.

Here is what you see as you enter the studio. The shelves are new and interlock.

As I turn to the right from the door, I see my wonderful clock gifted me by Kate for my birthday last year that I finally can hang in its proper place. On the right is my glue tower, I call "Sticky Central." But it's no time to get distracted. Back to the other side of the room, then around the room from left to right.

Here are the first of the three shelving units. As you can see, each of the tools are kept together, such as all the polyclay tools and supplies are on one shelf, all the wax stuff on another, all the UTEE on another, and the soldering equipment is together. On the wall is the pumpkin I won in a Halloween drawing from Sarah Whitmire.

This shows the middle shelf unit best. One of the canvas baskets has nothing in it, so I have it upside down waiting for the right thing to go in it. To its right are all my napkins. On the next lower shelf are all my wallpaper samples. The bottom shelf of all three units hold assemblage materials.

Hanging proudly is a cabinet card I received from Christine when I won a bingo game. I placed it there so I could see it when I work at the workbench. On the top shelf of the right shelving unit, mostly hidden from view in the photo, are all my plastic molds. Below that are more dress patterns than I will use in a lifetime. Various projects and ideas are held in the stackable plastic in/out baskets.

You can see Christine's cabinet card here and the cubby that hides my paper scraps that I will use for paper making, as well as my new folding table to be used when Kathy and Dana come to play at my house.

This is the left side of my work bench. As promised in my diagrams, I placed all my charms, beads, and doo-dads on these shelves. My Ott light will be put to good use, too.

The rest of the workbench is shown in this photo. To the right of the workbench is my cutting station, where I have my paper cutter on top and all my other cutting supplies in the top drawer. I have some of my favorite art gifts on the top shelf of the corner cabinet, along with my glass tumbling equipment, rusting materials, and materials to make bath salts.

The left side of the workbench

and the right side taken from in front of the closet door.

Another view of the cutting station and the corner unit.

The shelves that line the north wall are the same as before.

This side holds my dyes, soap making equipment, and old computer parts to be used in assemblages.

The right unit holds essential and fragrance oils, windchime parts, and wood, among other things. The lower shelf also holds the overflow of bottles to be used for herbal oils and vinegars and bath salts. They had been on a shelf like the bottom gray one on the right, but it rusted so badly, I was unable to use it.

Due to losing a shelving unit, I had to break up the floral making equipment and supplies. They are now on the top and bottom shelves of this two shelving unit combo. The rest of the shelves hold jars filled with beads, buttons, bottle corks, and various other items. You can also see the inside of the closet from this angle.

Another, closer view of the bottles and jars filled with colorful baubles.

Here is a head on shot of the closet door with the overhead pocket organizer. It holds pens and tools.

Inside the closet, I have another organizer. I love these because they are clear and you can see everything in each of the pockets. The metal table is on wheels and holds all my paper making equipment, including my blender and hot plate for cooking plant leaves.

You can see where the water got in after I had everything back in the room. The floor suffered because it was dry enough to walk on, but not to withstand water and a wet vac.

I love my bonus shelves. They give me the extra storage I need for books and assemblage items.

We're back to the desk, Kate's clock, and the Sticky Tower. You can also see my cork board has been updated with new items sent by some of my favorite artists.

That brown "thing" in the photos is a roll around TV cart. Like many things in this room, it is on wheels and can be located anywhere.

Here is a view of the hallway from the room. Yes, the shelves hold items I hope to use in assemblages.

And finally, behind the door I've tucked my broom and dustpan, as well as my easel. The "wreath" on the floor is actually made of pegboard and I plan to hang it once I place some spacers behind it so I can use the peg holes.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my new room as much as I've enjoyed showing it to you. I have plenty of room, everything is organized, and I know where it is. It's going to be so much fun to play down there, especially when the weather gets hot.

Happy Memorial Day to all, especially those of you who fought for my freedom and ability to have the studio. You are my heros and I am so grateful to you and your dedication to the cause of freedom, no matter what war you served in.