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Come behind the scenes at What Delilah Did for a #CraftRoomTour and see Sophie's Studio in Norfolk, England.
I love that everything has its own place and can be put away. I am a neat-freak so I can only feel inspired when my surroundings are in order - the complete opposite of most creatives!
Tell us about your space
I work from home as a needlework designer and craft author, so craft is my work and this is where I do it. My official studio is my second bedroom, though things generally get spread around the house, including a wool cabinet in the living room (it is too long to fit anywhere else), an office/study in the smallest bedroom, baskets of yarn dotted all over the place and a separate stock room in an outbuilding. Having started and grown my business from an open-plan one bedroom apartment, the ability to have all of these dedicated spaces just for my work is the ultimate luxury and something I have worked really hard for. That said, I can't deny I would love a large, light-filled space away from the house so that I could separate work and life a bit better.
What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
I try to hide all of the ugly things away and have just the attractive bits on display, which really helps me focus. To that end, I sourced a heavy antique cupboard which I hide all of my printers/scanners/papers in; made curtains to cover the lower shelves of my shelving units and found a beautiful iron chest of drawers for all my tools and equipment. I also steer well clear of standard office furniture, and always try to source or make lovely, slightly unusual pieces of furniture to form the bones of the space.
How do you keep organized?
I was pretty much born organised so I don't know how to be any other way. It's actually fairly irritating and I sometimes think it might be nice to chill out a bit, but that's just not me! I always put everything away at the end of each day as hate waking up to a mess.
Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
Wicker baskets! I am addicted to the things and have them in all shapes and sizes to keep things tidy. I did a basket-making course last year, so I even have some that I made myself. I love the things.
Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
My favourite possession is hands down my wool cabinet. It isn't technically a wool cabinet but I use it for all of my yarn and knitting things. I'm not sure what it was originally - maybe part of a shop fitting or a fancy kitchen in a town house? I think it is Victorian and it was in an absolute state when I got it (it came from a house clearance and had been rotting in a shed for years), but we cleaned it up and I wallpapered the inside, and now I just love it so much. It is too big to photograph in its entirety in its current position above the dining table, but I have shown a bit of it. It is the one thing I couldn't leave behind if I moved and it has made me want to switch all of my light wood to dark!
The things I make are all over the house, in my wardrobe and on the walls. Much of my crafting stems from the fact that the things I want don't exist, so I have to make them myself.
How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I do have a notice board in my studio, but I only really use it to pin up my works in progress for upcoming projects (which is why I haven't been able to photograph it). As far as inspiration goes, Pinterest was a game changer for me. I use it extensively and find it invaluable for keeping all of my inspiration for each project in one place.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Much of my inspiration comes from history, so period dramas and old houses are massive muses for me.
If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream space?
Make it ten times bigger, glaze the roof entirely to let in all the natural light, and add a woodburning stove to crackle in the background.
Whose craft room would you love to explore? Send us a message!
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