Try this,
PROJECT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(PROJECT_DIR, 'static')
Look at https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/ref/settings/#std:setting-STATIC_ROOT
Try this,
PROJECT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(PROJECT_DIR, 'static')
Look at https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/ref/settings/#std:setting-STATIC_ROOT