Spacing Out

Remember how, this last winter, Eric tore down one of the walls in my office/studio space, and put flooring over a staircase leading down to his Man Cave, pretty much doubling the size of my workspace? But remember how it was the middle of the semester, and I didn't have time to paint or think about flooring or anything?

Well, despite a deadline list a mile long (you know, because we teachers have summers OFF) I did take a wee bit of time this week to finish this remodel. These pictures are pretty premature--E still has to get the remainder of the wood floor in. But I couldn't wait. I had to share. Cuz I'm very, very excited.

This is what you see when you walk in and look left. This used to be the entire space, AND it had a queen-sized spare bed in it, plus my desk and all my sewing gear. Wow. And it still seems really full.



I don't have a hoarding problem, do I? DO I?

Continuing around, here is the West wall. I thought about putting the "office" part over here, but the light is so much better for sewing on this side, and my little old eyes are getting sad and tired. So crafty crap goes on this side.



A close-up of my favorite crafty books and things:



Moving on, we've done this project pretty low-budget, but one of the splurges is this folding banquet table from Home Depot, because you can rotary cut on it and spread stuff out. I worked on a project last night and got it: ahhhh...space. At the end is my little oooooold sewing table that I love. On the drawer is the scratch mark from a bear that tried to get into the drawer, way back when, because it had food in it. Don't want to sew on anything else.



And now, for the right side of the room, the office part. Cluttered but cozy, yeah?



And yes, hanging on the left are THREE racks of clothing donations waiting to be cut up, remade, and refashioned into other things (this includes two family wedding dresses. Lord help me. I don't think I have the fortitude).

And, the view (dark here--sorry!) from my desk, looking into sewing land, because one should always have hope of time off, free time, time to play:



I know how lucky I am to have this space, especially when sewing is just my hobby. I've been feeling a little guilty claiming this amazing space as my own instead of turning into some tranquil spa-like guest room or something. But, you know what? It's where I spend most of my time when I'm not asleep or at work. The girls love being in here, playing dress up out of the rag bin, or doing embroidery, or drawing. And I do a lot of dreaming in here.

What do you think? Am I a spoiled beeyooootchly? Or should I just be grateful and love it? Or both?