Home Business Crafts Studio

Alicia Paulson, owner of Posie, an online crafts shop, likes having her creations and the raw materials that go into them--fabrics, trims, buttons--on view, but she tries to avoid too much clutter. A retro '50s table doubles as a cutting and assembly table as well as a packing and shipping prep area.

Alicia's well-designed crafts studio efficiently fits several work spaces into a small room, including a desk for her computer and sewing machine, storage shelves, a table, and an ironing board.

A bookshelf provides ample storage for Alicia Paulson's finished products and also doubles as a pretty display case.

Alicia Paulson's Pirouette bags -- small purses stitched of douppioni silk and dressed with a flower pouf -- are a Posie specialty and frequently chosen as party-going gear.

Tea and a slice of something sweet are constants in Alicia's life, thanks to her sister the pastry chef and Alicia¿s own passion for baking. "One day I just woke up thinking, we should have this!" and started crocheting. Small pinked-edge circles line the underside edge of the shelf.

"Crochet is a creative medium," Alicia says. She enjoys using it for shaped pieces, such as her bird mobile.

A repurposed wastebasket stores rolls of wallpaper and gift wrap, while a bookshelf keeps folded fabric organized.

Stacking fabric on open shelves helps Alicia find what she needs more quickly than digging through boxes or storage bins. Labels for fabrics help her narrow the search for a suitable material.

Wide-mouth glass jars make tidy storage and display space for rickrack and other notions. Paper the undersides of high shelves, too.

Instant inspiration--a bulletin board holds color and fabric swatches, photographs, and other mementos that get the creative juices flowing.

Alicia's crocheted slippers show up better on the wall than on the floor. A trio of pairs hangs on the studio wall.

Alicia Paulson uses her computer almost as much as her sewing machine. She writes a daily message for shoppers and uploads photos of her one-of-a-kind handbags, accessories, crochet-wear, and original gifts to her online shop, rosylittlethings.com.

Ribbons, felt, yarn, buttons, and silk fabrics are just a few of the materials Alicia Paulson uses to create unusual gifts. These pouf boutonnieres and Button Bobbies, both sold on her web site, adorn the white cafe curtains in her studio. These decorative accessories can also dress up sweaters, hats, jackets, and bags.