OLFA Expert Art Studio Tour: MarciaBel
Designer: Marcia Izabel Marchiori
YouTube: MarciaBel Vlog
Instagram: @marciabel
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Welcome to My Studio ✨
Hi! I’m so happy you’re here. Today I want to invite you into my creative space, a place in my home that’s very special to me.
This is where I spend most of my time during the week. It’s where I sew, craft, work on creative projects, write letters to pen pals, and sometimes just sit and enjoy a quiet cup of tea.
Over time, this studio has slowly become a reflection of everything I love: cozy corners, old furniture with stories and memories, baskets full of fabric and thread, colorful supplies, and tools that I trust and use every day.
Among them, my OLFA tools are always close by, especially my cutting mats, art knives, rotary cutters, and scissors. I keep them in different corners of the studio so I never have to look far when inspiration strikes. They help me bring ideas to life in a smooth and easy way, whether I’m working on a sewing project, paper crafts and everything in between ☺️
This space wasn’t built overnight, it has changed and grown with me over the last three years I’ve lived in this house. Each corner holds a purpose, a feeling, or a memory. Some are full of energy for making things, while others are slower and more restful.
And I share it sometimes with my husband, which makes it even more special!
I hope this little tour inspires you to make your own space feel more like home, wherever that may be!
Everything begins at the entrance. I wanted this space to feel soft and welcoming, like you’re stepping into a calm, cozy place full of creativity. And even before you come in, the door gives a little hint of what’s inside. With the colorful pennant hanging there, anyone walking up already knows how much I love color. It’s a small detail, but it makes me smile every time I open the door.
This is my main workspace, where I spend most of my time working on my art and creative projects. It’s where I use the computer, plan videos, and make crafts.
I keep a basket of my favorite OLFA tools right on the desk, always within arm’s reach. Whether I’m sewing, cutting paper, or starting something new, having my OLFA rotary cutters and scissors close by makes the process so much smoother.
There’s always an OLFA cutting mat on the desk too. It protects the surface and gives me a ready space to work, without having to stop and rearrange things. I also keep my planner here, the journals I’m currently writing in, and a little acrylic drawer filled with colored pencils and lettering markers – some of my favorite tools for slower, quieter moments.
And if I can, I try to have fresh flowers nearby. It adds a touch of beauty and makes the space feel even more alive.
This cozy corner is new, and one of my favorite spots! I created this space because I need different places in the studio for different moods (hello, ADHD 😅). Sometimes, I just need to move away from the desk to feel more focused or inspired. I love sitting here to read, plan, or do hand sewing. My cat Gema enjoy it too :-)
This heart-shaped LED is from Our Glowing Hearts, and I keep it on all the time. At night, it gives the room a soft, cozy glow. I love how it lights up the space and shines gently through the window. It feels like a quiet little reminder of warmth and love.
By the window, there’s a small table I mainly use for taking photos and working on small crafts and projects – when the cats aren’t napping on it! 😅 The sunlight here is perfect for photoshoots, but over time, the cats have kind of become the co-owners of this space haha!
No-Cat time:
Cat time:
My sewing corner is simple and practical. I keep my OLFA appliqué scissors and pins right next to the machine. It’s close to my main desk, which makes it easy to start or finish a project whenever I feel inspired.
The base of the table belonged to my grandmother, and adding a yellow IKEA door from the as-is section gave it a fresh start. It feels special to sew here, knowing a part of her is still part of my everyday life.
My husband shares this studio with me on some days when he’s working from home. He likes to alternate between sitting and standing, but I didn’t want one of those standard adjustable desks, they’re usually bulky and a bit too plain for this space, haha. So we found a small, handmade, portable height-adjuster on Etsy, and it works perfectly for him on top of this slim, mid-century modern style desk.
Above his desk, I hung a vintage wooden crate to hold some of our favorite little treasures. Thrifted milk or bottle crates make great shelves for small trinkets and decor. They’re charming, practical, and full of character.
Right next to it is a quote by Leonard Cohen that always speaks to me: a reminder that imperfections and flaws aren’t always negative, that true beauty and meaning can emerge from the “cracks in our lives.” 💛
I love this vintage (a curbside find!), refurbished yellow desk. It’s where I like to sit and write letters to my pen pals, a hobby I truly cherish. This quiet corner invites me to slow down and enjoy the moment. It’s such a joyful part of my studio. Above the desk, there’s a vintage folk painting I found at an antique market.
Desk Before:
And after painting it:
I painted the desk using chalk paint, and it made all the difference. Refurbishing old furniture with a coat of paint or new hardware is a simple way to give it a second life and add your favorite color to the room.
Near it, I keep my inks and calligraphy tools. I love having a small collection of writing supplies close by.
These yellow shelves from IKEA are about 15 years old, but I still love them!
They hold books, yarn, notions, felt, fabrics, and little bins of supplies. I like mixing the useful things with knickknacks and tchotchkes—it makes the space feel both practical and full of personality 😊
I also have a white IKEA Alex drawer unit. Inside the drawers, I organize all kinds of supplies like stickers, masking tapes, cello bags, envelopes, and cards. One of the drawers is just for my OLFA medium-size cutting mats. They fit perfectly here!
On top of it sits a beautiful old thread drawer I found at an antique shop in Quebec. It still had some vintage flosses inside when I brought it home! Now I use it to store most of my threads and embroidery floss.
This yellow wardrobe is full of everything I need for my projects! It might look a bit messy when I open the doors, but trust me, I know exactly where everything is.
I like reusing boxes for organization, so you'll find cookie tins and old board game boxes mixed in with plastic and paper containers.
Inside, I store glues, scrapbook paper, spare notebooks, ribbons, threads, extra embroidery floss, and my seal wax kit. I also keep my packaging supplies, markers, crafting tools, and little notions here, along with some string lights, a hot glue gun, and a few dried herbs.
There’s even a spot for specialty paper, templates, and whatever projects I’m currently working on. It's not fancy, but everything is organized and easy to reach whenever I need it.
This is my favorite wall in the whole studio. It’s my gallery wall, filled with art, gifts, memories, and practical storage. Most of my OLFA rulers and a couple of cutting mats, including the one I use most with my art knives, stay right here beside me.
I’m always adding new things to it. It’s full of memories, art, and meaningful findings.
Thank you so much for visiting my studio! This space is more than just where I work; it’s where I create, relax, and savor slow, quiet moments, surrounded by little treasures.
I also filmed a cozy vlog where I take you on a full tour of the studio. Click the link below to watch:
Whether I'm sewing, crafting, writing letters or resting, this studio is my sanctuary and I hope that, as you’ve walked through these spaces with me, you’ve found a bit of comfort and inspiration. Maybe a cozy corner or a favorite tool that encourages you to slow down and create something beautiful too 💛✂️
With love,
Marcia