creative studio

inside the

i n s p i r at i o n a n d i d e a s f o r y o u r a rt a n d c r a f t s pa c e

c at e c o u l a c o s p r at o
 A Room of One’s Own

claim your
creative space by mary hettmansperger
peru, in

maryhetts.com
Having been an artist for most of my life, I have learned that one
of the most important aspects of tapping into creativity is hav-
ing an inspiring space to work in. This does not mean that I have
always had the luxury of working in a fabulous studio. I have
worked on my lap, at the kitchen table, in my basement, at many
a tennis match watching kids play, and in a downtown studio loft.

2 inside the creative studio

 48'

shelves shelves
In every case, changing spaces, moving, evolving, and
growing have brought new adventures, challenges, and worktables

shelves
ideas for that ultimate studio space. The benefit to
working in temporary places was that it allowed me to sitting area
sewing
have a constant change of scenery and stimuli, but of table
worktable 48'
course the downfalls were many. desk

kitchen storage shelves

area
When it came time to finally build and create my studio shelves
space, I felt I was sincerely ready and glad I had not
done it any sooner. Having a variety of studio experi- display/sales bathroom
area metal room
ences gave me time to really decide where I was going
to build and what I wanted and needed. Much like
my artwork, my concept of what I wanted in a studio
evolved, and when it came time to build, the require- Mary Hettmansperger’s studio
ments had also changed.

So I began. I started by finding a local contractor who PHotos by steve mann

would work from my drawings. I wanted an all metal
building on a concrete slab. This type of building made
the project very affordable and the building would
be easy to maintain. After having my studio in a loft
downtown for several years, I knew I did not want any
F l e a m ar k e t f l a i r

inspiration: An interview with

elsie flannigan
studio dimensions: 20' x 24'
 abeautifulmess.typepad.com

w h a t I do : Full-time independent artist and boutique owner.

w h y m y s pa c e w o rks for me : I own an online art boutique

PHotos by elise flannigan

and a local store, and a large percentage of my inventory
starts in my home studio, so it’s a very busy place. 

I have a separate studio for painting, so the space you see

here is primarily used for sewing and crafting. I adore 1950s
and 1960s fashion, hand embroidery, instant cameras, and
collecting pretty things. 

My studio is always changing. I move from project to project

often, so I love that the space is big and open. I like to leave
my unfinished projects out while I think about them. 

I have a pegboard for most of my stitching stuff and keep my

vintage fabric collection in wire baskets. I love working with
vintage and recycled materials whenever possible. My yarn
is color coordinated. I store all of my plastic “toy” cameras
together on a shelf in my studio. 

My Favorite Things
My modern comic-style illustrations and handstitched
accessories.
 make it your own

drawn
to design by kristin krause
cincinnati, Oh

In 2000, my husband and I purchased a four-family historic home

in the Gaslight District of Cincinnati, Ohio. We lived in the first floor
unit and rented the other three units. In 2003, the tenant in the
second floor front apartment moved, and we converted that apart-
ment into our master bedroom, a guest room, and a master bath.

6 inside the creative studio

 Get:
1C
 halkboard paint to turn a wall into a changeable
drawing board.

2 Standing file boxes covered with journal and doodling

pages to contain magazines.

3 Recycled kitchen cabinets and dining room hutches.

Just paint them for a uniform look.

In 2008, the second floor rear apartment became

available. We decided it would become my creative
suite—a space for me to create while providing a
glitter-free and threadless first floor for my husband,
Pete, and dog, Viktoria. I am an avid crafter, creator,
designer, and decorator, often working on multiple
creative projects at the same time. I wanted my
works-in-progress to have their own unique space,
free from the interruptions of our daily lives.
With an extensive schedule of restoration and reno-
vation projects, my studio became my personal
renovation project. Since I didn’t know how to hang
crown molding like my husband has done in other
PHotos by kristen krause and hank mclendon
rooms, I chose to draw or paint what I wanted direct-
ly on the walls. I wanted to maintain the character
of the home while giving it my own modern trompe 13’

l’oeil twist.
closet

I chose the former kitchen as my studio because

worktable
of the existing cabinets, sink, built-in shelves, and
closet. It is a small space; therefore, the only addi-
tional furniture I added to the room was a large 10’

(44" × 56") reclaimed table that I covered with vinyl

and a vintage hutch that I painted black. Visual clut-
ter is very inspiring to me, and I quickly realized that sink & storage
hutch
the stark black of the hutch would feel like I was cabinets

being forced to create in a cubicle. I removed one of

the shelves of the hutch and created an inspiration
space that I change regularly to suit the season and/ Kristin Krause’s studio
or the nature of my current projects.

make it your own 7

Embrace your space
contents
The professional organizers and editors of Studios magazine give you
the tools to create your own one-of-a-kind artistic environment. Learn
how to find space in your home, whittle down your stash, and get
tips on maximizing your storage and organization. Experts will also
I. A Room of One’s Own
show you how to repurpose furniture, recyclables, and vintage items
to establish a space with function and personality. Spend less time II . Or ganiz ation and S to rag e
making your studio work and more time actually creating. III. Flea Market Flair
IV. Small Space, Big Style
Inside the Creative Studio offers imaginative and unique solutions
for every lifestyle, regardless of money, time, or space. Artists and V. The Power of Light and Color
crafters of all types—quilters, fiber artists, mixed-media artists,
VI. Make it Your Own –
jewelry makers, sewists, painters, and more—share their stories, tips, Start creating your craft space today
and images of putting together their customized creative spaces.
From spacious oases to cute and compact retreats, each studio offers
countless inspirational ideas.

Cate Coulacos Prato is the editor of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios

magazine, online editor for Quilting Daily, and the author of Mixed-
Media Self-Portraits: Inspiration & Techniques.

Paperback
8½ x 10¼, 160 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59668-398-3
$24.95
Available October 2011