Things are heating up for 3 Snugbugs Studios! Our grand opening and ribbon cutting is next Friday and work starts on production tomorrow — later tonight I’ll finish up the pre-production planning for our first 12 pieces. I thought it would be fun to give all ya’ll online folks a sneak peek into the new digs!

Some of you might remember that last summer we set up a studio. When Jeff and I moved the Mercantile from a stand-alone brick and mortar space to a multi-vendor antique mall we also moved the studio down the street to a larger building full of artist-type spaces. I love the new space, it’s a nice, open workspace with super high ceilings and a creaky green wood floor. 

Let’s start the tour, shall we?

This is the view from the atrium, a wide open space with a skylight in the center of the building. As you can see, it’s funky in a shabby way. The building is 19th century, and I’m on the 2nd floor, where the layout is really interesting… the studios all have glass doors and windows and makes me think of some sort of steampunk shopping mall from the Victorian Era.

Now for a peek through the door…

That awesome brown cabinet full of Ikea boxes was in the studio when we moved in. It’s a wonderful space and perfect to store all the inevitable bits and bobs one finds in a studio.

Off to the left is the worktable, the machines… my basic working area. Last weekend was the first weekend I was able to spend two full days in the studio since I broke my foot in August. It was wonderful to work… but ended up being hard on my poor, not quite rehabilitated foot. Jeff is bringing down some of those thick foam mats from his shop to help ease the pain while I keep healing. 

Here’s a bit better view of my lovely machines. Right now, I’m keeping the line focused at a small batch, artisan level, so decided to go with smaller domestic machines. As the line grows, if I continue production in house, we’ll be on the hunt for some industrial monsters. And more studio space.

Then off in the other direction is the ‘storage’ area… the clothing rack is for in-progress projects, thrifted finds that I’m hoarding… that kind of stuff. There’s a closet behind the burlap curtain that Jeff set up as a teeny kitchen with our mini fridge, microwave and assorted supplies.

A slightly different view, with the ever-helpful Ikea cubby shelf (Expedite?) 

Tucked in between the window and the Expedite is a cozy little sitting area. Long hours in the studio require some roosting space, plus I’m looking forward to hosting craft/knitting nights.

I realized when I downloaded pictures from my camera that I forgot the more public, showrooms space of the studio! That’s in the only corner not pictured and has a (currently empty) clothing rack, a dress form, full length mirror. In general, the studio is oriented so that the working space and storage is in the back of the studio, with more public areas in the front – cozy sofas and racks of clothes. 

Plans are to operate with a general open studio policy while actually in. the studio working. The studio is right on historic Beverley Street and there is foot traffic. We have a sandwich board and walk in traffic is welcome. Even so, the studio is really that – a studio with a showroom, not a retail space.

So… I’ll get photos of the showroom soon!

Help me pick out my ‘photo studio’

Hey… can I get some opinions? I’ll be taking photos of the line to post in our online shop, on social media and all that fun stuff. The light in the studio, while great for working, isn’t so great for photographs. I had a place scouted at our house, but it would be so much easier to take the photos at the studio where the line and all the dress forms are. Here are some options from the atrium at the studio where there’s all that great natural light… what do you think of these as backdrops for the product shots? Do you have a favorite?

Option A 

Option B

Option C

Option D