Although my go-to digital art platform is my iPad, I do also have a drawing tablet for my desktop computer. It’s a lovely Huion one that my partner got for me a couple years ago now. I don’t spend as much time at my computer making art as I do on my iPad, but I like to keep my tablet accessible so there isn’t that barrier to creating that can interrupt the flow of inspiration.

Because I don’t do computer art that often, this computer tends to be used more for non-art. Work, email, et cetera. So I wanted to figure out a solution to keeping my tablet accessible while not having it in the way of the standard keyboard and mouse.

As I always do when I’m looking for inspiration, I went onto Pinterest and tried looking for some ideas. Either I haven’t found the right search terms, or no one else is in the situation I am with their drawing tablets – most people seem to have it front and centre, not stored out of the way at all. How frustrating to not find my answers online.

The next thing I did was sit back and just look at my desk space, trying to visualise what I wanted. I decided I wanted the tablet under the desk, so I can just pull it out when I need it. Kind of like a keyboard tray.

Of course, I don’t have the tools to put together a solid sliding tray, so I did some thinking. I already had a simple cloth bag I had sewn for my tablet when I first got it, to keep it safe and clean. I wondered if I could use it as the main storage for the tablet, and add some sort of straps to hold it onto my desk.

Naturally, I couldn’t wait. I cut some nylon strapping down to the right length, sewed it to the bag, and sewed on some wooden buttons. I wasn’t confident I could sew the nylon strap neatly enough to make sewn buttonholes, so I simply cut holes and used a lighter to melt the edges.

And with that, my contraption was complete! I wrapped it around the surface of the desk, looping behind the wires at the back and around to the front where the buttons hold it in place, and then I put it to the test. It works!

It isn’t fancy or particularly high quality, but it serves the purpose it was designed for. My tablet is now much easier to access without being in the way!