apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

"this glimpse at the real crafting space..."

Real? ha! A workspace in use, whether its sewing, crafting, painting, woodworking, etc, shows actual signs of use. Incomplete projects, idea boards, finished projects, etc. This is about as real as "Carrie's Closet." At least that space was staged to looked lived in.

What about that partially completed napkin in the sewing machine?

I agree, Martha probably doesn't have time for crafting.

It strikes me as amazingly bland--perhaps because it is too organized, too clean, neat and organized.

Not to mention the fact that someone is paid to make sure it looks like this at all times..........

wow.
Impressive but this place scares me a bit. Looks like more time is spent making sure it stays clean and orderly than actually using the space...

Huh, my comment got eaten. :P It feels very staged--too neat, too organized, too matchy matchy. Lovely layout, but creepy in implementation because it feels like we are really looking at a presentation, not the real deal.

Like all things "Martha", this is out of control!

Where's the sink? I'd think running water would be something you'd want in a craft room. Maybe Martha doesn't need stuff like that.

Wow! Look at how the all that paper is neatly stacked without one out of place. It looks like it's even organized according to complementary colors. And the way the scissors don't touch! I'm a neat person but when I'm doing an art project, everything is scattered around me.

Scissors and rotary cutters in perfect alignment, PERFECTLY parallel to the sides of the drawers..... ummmm, yeah, Martha works in that space all right.

o.c.d...

I know where to open my coke bottles from this point on. Talk about anal.

Beautiful colors, great use of space putting the desks into the eaves. Is it just me though or are the ceilings really low... looking at this picture makes me feel panicky and closed in, i think something must have been done to alter the long shot and make the perspective wonky. I feel the walls closing in!

I really love the idea of multiple workspaces so i can leave out some jewlery, and some paper craft, and some fabric depending on what i'm doing.

It may be sterile, but I'd sell my soul for a space like that... and then make it a lot less sterile.

Is anyone else hearing Faye Dunaway roar "No! More! Wire! HANGAAARRRS!"?

Doesn't AT run articles about how to photograph your space, including the need to clean, pare down and organize? Isn't this a good example of doing just that?

If this is in Martha's attic - Where are her holiday decorations and family heirlooms?

Oh wait - She has a warehouse in Brooklyn for that...

Overlooking the extreme staging, I agree with katiejane, a sink would be good, especially a utility sink.

I think my ideal crafting room would also have some comfy chairs too. I don't think I've ever crafted at a desk, excluding using a sewing machine.

I think the objection is that this doesn't look like a hobbyist space. But crafts aren't hobbies for Martha -- they're business. This is like having a tidy desk at work.

First think that came to my mind was "Neat freak".
Of course you have to clean and tidy up before taking pictures of your spaces! And it's Martha, so, it's gotta look good, neat and clean.

BTW, I hate that green in all the furniture!

awful! depressing.

I wanna mess it up.

I guess most of you are overlooking the fact that this is obviously staged for the purpose of taking these photos.

But, you know...whatever.

I think these shots were in Martha Stewart's magazine, and if you ever look at that you will know that every picture shows everything as perfectly arranged as is humanly possible. So it doesn't necessarily reflect the room in use. (I saw the original article and I think it was written right after the room was furnished, too -- no chance to mess anything up, yet. And I think it might have been when she released her line of craft supplies at Michael's Crafts -- which includes most of the stuff in the room.)

That said, Martha Stewart sets standards nobody can routinely live with, and probably even she doesn't really do it either. All illusion.

I craft and would love the space (with a sink) but not in the attic and not that bilious green. (I'd take the free craft supplies, too!)

My mom would agree that this couldn't possibly be an efficient space with labels.

Martha's whole aesthetic, to me, is similar to the hyper-photoshopped images of women (and men) we are seeing now; wholly, freakishly unrealistic, but, still, something fools will aspire to and spend money on. As some commenters have mentioned, this is her business, not a hobby. She can't afford to have things looking messy or even lived in. Messiness implies a laissez-faire attitude that, if adopted by the masses, isn't very conducive to getting them to buy more of her shit. If you don't care about having your papers lined up, merciful heavens, maybe next Christmas you'll stop caring about having the best decorated house on the block :P
The thing I most enjoyed about this was the photo with the little jars and lined-up paper - the way the exacto knife and piece of craft paper, etc. is all arranged "chaotically" to look like something was actually being worked on.

I find it really inspiring, even though I can't work like that. I have worked side by side with artists that really can keep things tidy while they are working. It is more about DNA perhaps. I do find a lot of useful ideas in how Martha arranges her spaces. I covet her basement.