Hot take - it doesn't take a giant space to build a successful business. 

Here's what you don't need to get started: 

• A big house
• A separate building/shed
• A spare empty room

*granted - all of these things are a blessing!  If you have them, hooray!  Use them!  If you don't....

All you really need is a place to plug in your machine.  Do you have electricity?  Then you're ready to roll, no special square footage required.  

In our first home, we were growing our family and we had a spare bedroom.  Granted, it was a spare bedroom that was also the laundry room and the freezer room and the pantry (when I would have virtual meet-ups with embroidery friends online, they would always laugh to see my giant stash of diapers in the corner of the room!).  It was nothing fancy, but it was space!  

Now, we have more kiddos and less bedrooms - so my entire embroidery space is an old closet.  I say no matter the space you have available, you can make it work.  Here are a few things I've done to make this space as efficient as possible so I can use every square inch!

1. Measure your space carefully and buy furniture accordingly:  I bought a no-frills flat top desk that fits exactly along one wall.  When I say exactly - I have 0.5 inches to spare on either side!  I had to put it together in it's spot, otherwise it wouldn't have fit in the door!  

1. Desk lifts: I purchased these desk lifts to raise my desk about 2 inches.  It's still comfortable to sit at, but now a set of Ikea drawers fits under the desk easily for more storage. I also purchased these drawers from Ikea to raise my computer screens and add more storage underneath!
2. Embroidery machine carts: These were expensive (but I purchased mine used!)  Since these are on wheels, on days when I need extra space, I can roll these girlies out into my kitchen and dining room. Check Facebook marketplace to get these at a better price, or call your local sewing supply store!

1. Pegboard: Make every inch count!  I got my pegboard from Ikea, and it's where I store all of my stabilizer and cutaway rolls, bobbins, sew tites, scissors, clamps, and more.  I found these roll holders that hold all of my stabilizer rolls perfectly! 

1. Wall storage:  I use these wall storage shelves for my big spools of thread, some ribbon storage, and more stabilizer storage.  I just bought these iron holders to hold my irons - I haven't installed them yet but it's on the list!
2. Rolling carts:  I keep my to-stitch pile and my to-photograph pile on this rolling cart so I can move them out of the way when I need to. 
   
3. Creative storage: I bought a small dresser meant for bedrooms to be my fabric storage, and I turned the top into my ironing board/cutting surface.  This ironing mat rolls up when I'm not using it, and this ironing pad fits perfectly on the dresser top for pressing fabric.  I also got a self healing cutting mat to match the size of the dresser top, so it's turned into a great workspace.  I use the hooks on the sides of my rolling carts for all of my photography props, magnetic hoops, and fast frames.  

1. Sometimes you hit the jackpot: I was thrilled to learn that these clear acrylic drawers from Target fit perfectly under my embroidery machine!  So easy to reach for pre-cut stabilizers, foam, and felt here!
2. Think outside of your walls: When I need to, I bust out of this tiny closet.  The door opens up into our eat-in kitchen, so on photography days I spread out and take over the kitchen table.  On days where I'm prepping a bunch of fabric and ironing large cuts of material, I take over the whole kitchen!  Temporarily, it's not too disruptive to move into other parts of the house.  

All in all - you don't need a fancy or large space to make your embroidery goals happen.  Is it nice to have a beautiful space to feel inspired and work?  Absolutely!  Is it required?  Nope, not even a little bit.  Work with what you've got and watch what happens.  Do your best not to measure your success buy how put together or beautiful or large your workspace is - and be proud of the work you're doing wherever you're doing it.  

If no one has told you lately, you're doing amazing!

With love, 
Beth 

PS.  Of course I have two more closets of inventory and fabric, ha.  But don't we all?