Excuses, it’s the end of the road!

My sewing has been going sooo slowly. I’ve made a few garments (and got in some good practice time and a little skill learning) and have created a plan to make nine garments this year. Of those nine, I’ve finished one top, and really like it! Have a pair of pants and a few more little projects already started, but not worthy of posting as yet. (I do, however, have about a gazillion ideas for fabrics, patterns, etc needing to be ordered from absolutely everywhere! I’ll need to find a job … and a place to store everything …)

But you may wonder what I mean by the end of the road for excuses. I’ll explain. If you’ve followed me for the nearly two years of my blog (amazing!) you’ll recall that my sewing machine initially resided on the little-used dining room table. The table height wasn’t perfect for my back, and I had to run upstairs to the laundry room every time pressing was needed, but it sufficed well. But when my mother moved here with us, we converted hubby’s office to her suite, moving his office furniture into the dining room. Stella the sewing machine was banished to the laundry room, convenient now to the ironing station, but squeezed into a tiny corner. We purchased 2 utility tables, strapped them together, and the resultant 48″ square table is perfect for cutting fabric and folding laundry (and storing everything left over from remodeling) in this tiny room. To further complicate the situation, after my recent knee surgery, the dining room is now the dining room/office/infirmary. So, no more room at all for sewing (although I have been printing and cutting out some pdf patterns in there.)

You also know that our old house always has projects; the latest were the master bedroom and an emergency bathroom repair. With those completed, the sewing room arrived at the top of the list! And now it’s up to me to make all requests for my perfect sewing space. Soon. Like today or sooner.

And as is my wont, I’m turning to my knowledgeable sewing friends for some advice.

Here’s a little description for you. We are working with a 14′ x 10′ 6″ space with 3 doors and 2 windows and one overhead light/fan fixture. The little closet in the second picture will be for hubby’s clothes storage (after all, I have both tiny closets in the MBR).

Mr LTSB is crafty and has offered to build shelves, tables, storage, update electrical – you name it. (Yes, I’m the lucky one, that is for certain.) What I’ve come up with so far is a 48′ x 60″ cutting table with storage underneath. It would probably be in or near the center of the room. The sewing machine will go just to the left the window on the longer wall. The ironing board will stay in the laundry room, which is just steps away.

My general questions to you – what storage is best for what purpose? open shelves? closed shelves? drawers? what size cutting table works best? should it be against a wall or in the open? TV? lighting? I’ve seen lovely pics of sewing rooms (so many pictures my head spins) with threads, scissors, etc on display – very pretty, but don’t they get dusty? Think I’d like mine enclosed. Fancy sewing machine cabinet or just a table? This will be a simple, functional space.

And the most basic question – what is your number one must-have in an efficient sewing workspace?

I’d appreciate any advice. And when this is all finished, I solemnly promise a flurry of fabulously finished sewing projects!!

Stitch on, everyone!

Sunday Sevens – 8.28.16

Hi all, and welcome to today’s installation of Sunday Sevens, created by the lovely Natalie over at Threads and Bobbins. It’s a loosely-ruled challenge: just choose 7 (or so) pictures from your week, and post them on Sunday (or any other day). Check out her site, and think about joining in.

In no order whatsoever, here are a few snippets of my week.

New toy

Some people are easily excited by the most mundane things. I must be among that group of people, because I’m unnaturally thrilled with my new salad spinner.

Painting continues

My contribution will be the window facings and baseboards, when all the “messy” stuff is finished and cleaned up. I got off easy, wouldn’t you say?

So pretty

Haven’t had a cloud shot in some time, so here is dandy one for you.

Needles

So, why would anyone be lining up their needles and photographing them? Perhaps because one’s glasses prescription is outdated and one cannot read the fine print on the needles, thereby being unable to determine which is the proper choice for a particularly fine fabric without enlarging the picture. I’ve heard that can happen to someone….

A new hamburger joint in town

We tried a new place, and we were quite pleased. These three stooges gentlemen were apparently happy customers, too. (We did not eat any one-pounders.)

Curses

One of my nearly new tires was slashed. I don’t know where, or when, or how, but it went nearly to the cord. Spent an afternoon getting a new one. Grrrrrrr.

Cutting out

Oh look, progress! The muslin is finished, and the real fabric is now cut out and ready for stitching up.

More to come

And look, some new cloth bits.

That’s it for now, everyone. Hope your upcoming week is outstanding!

 

 

 

 

Sunday Sevens – Aug 7 2016

Good morning all, and welcome to today’s Sunday Sevens. Sunday Sevens is a round-up of sorts, little bits of your week that don’t really need a full post. Pop over to the creator Natalie’s site, Threads and Bobbins, to see if you’d like to join in. It’s fun, easy, and has no real rules. What follows are bits of my last couple of weeks, in no particular order.

No more blue room

Bedroom is now primed, and finish coats go on today. The color will be richer, a nice soft cream – this is just the primer – 50% saturation. Trim is glossy white. Hmmmm, what colors now to use for linens and such? I’m leaning toward a darkish shade of turquoise perhaps with printed curtains over white sheers? Maybe some coral? Any ideas?

Curvy corner closet

This will be my closet. Since it is so tiny and shallow, we will opt for shelving with some hooks for scarves, belts, bags, etc instead of a hanging rack (that will to go in another room). The tiny corner shelf already in place will hold my hat boxes. That is, if I had hat boxes, they would stack there. I’ll surely find a good use for it.

Sewing

This might explain why sewing has been so SLOW to get going. Until my sewing room is finished, I’m squeezed into a very warm (yes, it’s really hot) and crowded laundry/storage/”where-will-I-put-all-this-stuff-from-the-blue-room” room! Can you spot the sewing center in this embarrassing shambles?

In spite of the mess, I have started a new project…

My new blouse! Pattern printed, assembled, and cut from muslin. Gotta love finally seeing some progress.

Transformations

My oak leaf hydrangea outside the kitchen has transformed. Now that the bees have had their fill, the once vivid white flowers are now green, deepening to pink. So lovely!

Off to the races

We went to the local racetrack. Our friend’s son was in the main event, and although he didn’t finish well, he did finish. And in a crash-filled race, surviving with body and machine intact was a huge accomplishment.

Scary seats

The racetrack and the bleachers have been around for decades. It might be better not to watch your step when clambering around these seats; if you don’t see all the holes it feels less precarious. Pay no attention to the wobbly steps. Ack!

Relaxing weekend visit

After a sunny, Friday afternoon followed by evening at the fire pit, I awoke to a wonderful, misty morning.

Bridging the gap

We nearly drove past this jewel of a spot, but quickly turned around to see what it was…

Was this originally a railroad bridge? A foot bridge? What is it now? Next trip, we’ll make time to investigate the surroundings and story of this old bridge.

Fun fest

We made our first visit to the Park Avenue Summer Art Fest. The weather was ideal, there were arts and crafts, home services, and food choices a’plenty! We opted for poutine, a delicious mess of French fried potato strips covered in gravy. I chose the vegetarian version, and pretended it was calorie-free and absolutely healthy. The residents along the avenue were out in force, playing music, even offering cheap lemonade from front porches. Businesses also were open for business and they were packed! We found a coffee purveyor, serendipitous as we just finished our last bag. Timing is everything.

Well, I guess that just about covers the last couple of weeks. Hope your last weeks were lovely, and the next one even better!