Our Made on 23rd studio is currently getting a makeover! We have been very busy with “behind the scenes” projects this year in the studio and want to share our progress with you.

It is hard to believe that the idea for Made on 23rd started 10 years ago! I graduated in May of 2014 with a Textile Design degree and the ideas started percolating. I am excited to celebrate this milestone with you!

Milestones are a time for celebration and also a time for reflection! As 2024 arrived I felt the need to step back and plan the direction of “future Made on 23rd!”

Change requires time to listen to our hearts and create space in our minds and our environments to cultivate new ideas.

The first thing I wanted to do for Made on 23rd was refresh the studio! The space was feeling a bit “heavy” and it was time to clear out the old and make room for something new! I started in “the corner” and worked around the whole space.

The Corner

This corner has been used for merchandise storage and as a small retail area. I wanted to take back the space so I cleared everything out!

I created a space that was comfortable and inviting where I can sit and have coffee, visit with customers, sew, and dream! And…work of course!

I feel like Cinderella when I sit here…”in my own little corner in my own little chair I can be whatever I want to be. On the wing of my fancy I can fly anywhere and the world will open its arms to me!” Isn’t that a great song?

Adding Storage

The next project we tackled was storage. We lifted the shelving unit up and added a new shelf to store large fabric tubs that were stacking up on the floor.

I love how tidy this is now and how easy it is to access all the bins! It also freed up a lot of floor space.

Reducing the Size of our Printing Table

Our large printing table was designed to print multiple yards of fabric at a time.

But…large runs of fabric is not something that I enjoy any more. So….I put the print table on a diet and we reduced the size by 36” in length and 9” in width!

Luckily we did not lose any storage space under the print table and we gained a lot of floor space.

Table with a view!

Stairs to Studio

We created a warmer and more inviting feel to the stairway by adding new bamboo risers and giving the treads a really good scrub!

My husband bought the risers years ago on Facebook Marketplace. We used some of them in our barn and the “extras” have been waiting around for another project! So…they were basically zero cost materials and we freed up storage space in the wood shop. A double win!

Kitchen Area

I sanded the counter top to remove years of paint and ink splatters. I admit it was a little sad to give up all that “artsy patina” but the result was very satisfying.

A fresh coat of mineral oil was applied to hydrate the butcher block. Wow! What a difference!

After the oil was dry, the shelves were organized with new lavender containers and a few pieces of art were hung on the wall.

The Loft

A small group of appliances were removed from the loft ladder area. The bathroom is located under the loft and it got a new toilet! Painting the walls in that room is still on the to-do project list.

The area was also reorganized and the ironing board got a facelift in the way of a new cover. Sometimes it’s the simple details that make your heart happy!

New Chairs and Sewing Machine Covers

Several of our studio chairs needed to be replaced and Tim found these red leather beauties on Marketplace. I absolutely love them in the space and they add a much needed pop of color!

One of my favorite parts of these chairs are the wood casters!

They are also very comfortable!

To add more color to this space I made new sewing machine covers to compliment the chairs.

Cutting Tables

I love these work tables and they are just a functional as the day we put them in the studio! They are on casters so they can be moved around the studio and can be used individually or configured in a square or a long rectangle. They are also very sturdy and have built-in storage shelves. Note to self…not everything has to change!

Desk Area

My desk area is still a work in progress and you are seeing it here in a moment of tidiness that really does not exist except for fleeting seconds when I clear the work surface.

Behind the desk are filing cabinets and a watercolor paint area. This area got a good dusting because it has not been used much lately. Too many projects…not enough time!

I’m hunting for a new-to-me desk and a credenza…possibly in a mid Century style. I will be very selective and I’m willing to wait for the right pieces! Wow…listen to my “slow and steady” new-self. lol

Change is fun…and exhausting…and exciting… and often pushes us out of our comfort zone! Making changes through a slow and thoughtful process entails consideration of your current situation, time to dream and create, and an action plan toward your new goals.

As they say…it’s about the journey not the destination! But I can honestly tell you…I’m loving my new destination!

Thanks for following along!