My New Sewing Room!

Well, I did it.  I moved out of my sewing room, which was in one of our bedrooms, and moved the entire contents to the living room!   Do you have both a living room, and a family room?   We really "live" in our family room.  I liked having one room in the house, that always stays clean and pretty.  But honestly, we just don't use it, except for occasionally, we both like to read in there.  The natural light is terrific in that room.  I love the big picture window, and the view of our front yard, and the pretty house and yard of our neighbor.  So, after thinking about it, and talking it over with Greg, we decided that it made really good sense to utilize this space in a better (for us) way.  When I get the notion to do something, I just dive right in.  I will work from sun up to sun down.  Until the job is done.  I can remember in years past, moving for instance.  I would have the house unpacked and looking quite livable in a matter of a couple of days.  Now, being older, I find that I tend to do that anyway, but I suffer for it.  I began this project after Greg and I had already put a full day in outside, with building a new chicken run.  I began to carry all of the stuff from the sewing room, to the new spot, and I just dumped it in piles.  Greg had planned to go fishing on Sunday, so I wanted him to help me get the big farm table moved that night.  He was a good sport.  He removed the table legs, and we carried it in to the living room, and set it back up.  And I was off!!  I worked until 11:30 that night.  Then took a shower and collapsed into bed.  I woke early on Sunday, and got busy once again.  That evening, when Greg got home, with the help of our son in law Jake, they moved the piano out of the living room, and the big armoire I had in my sewing room, out to the new room.  Again, I worked until late last night, and collapsed into bed exhausted.  I woke this morning, and after dropping Noah off at school, I finished.  And now, I have a brand new sewing space, complete with comfortable sofa, chairs, and sewing table, and cutting table.  It houses all of my sewing supplies, as well as all of my yarn and tools.  Amazing how fast you fill up a space.  I will bring you in from the front door, since this new room is the first room you see upon entering our house.
Come on in and have a tour.

I keep forgetting to get my corn stalks up by the front door.  It just might not happen this year.  Walking in the front door, you will now first see the piano.  I moved the carved wood table that was there, and I don't know where I will put it yet.

It wound up fitting nicely in this space, and Drew says the acoustics are good.  To the right is the new sewing room.

The only furniture I left in there was the couch and ottoman, and china cabinet in corner.  The ottoman color fought with the quilt on the wall, and other softer colors of my sewing room, so I tossed this crocheted bobble stitch felted rug over it.   The Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt was made by my own Great Grandmother, Clara Eliza.  Nana's mother.  I remember her well.  She died in her late 90's when I was about 12.  I have several of her quilts, but the one on the wall was the one in the best shape. In fact, this quilt used to hang on the bedroom wall of our first family cabin.  I have washed it several times, and it is in very good shape.

The quilt is entirely  hand done.  Probably sometime in the 30's.

I have always loved this quilt.  And the minty green that separates the hexies.  In changing this room to my sewing room, I wanted it to look like a sewing space. Not a living room, where I set up to sew.  So all of the things came off the walls as well.  The things hung there now, were in my sewing room, although I did not put everything back up.  I love this canvas floral, and the greens really mesh well with the quilt.

 This corner of the room is a bit more crowded than I had hoped, but I had to get it all in.  The cabinet houses the stereo.  A must.  I removed the contents of two shelves, and it now holds yarn.  Lots of yarn.  The tea cart has a mini quilt I made lying atop it, with some of my boutique items, as well as knitting needles, both vintage and the ones I actually use.  Underneath is more yarn.  The sign hanging above it was sent to me by a dear blogging friend Debbie.

In the corner is an old chippy shutter that I dumpster dove for.  I use it to clip patterns to mostly.  
Sitting next to the stereo cabinet is my wicker dress form with my the wedding dress I wore down the aisle 35 years ago. Around the neckline, is a string of Nana's pearls.  I will never tire of looking at this dress.

I thought about taking the couch out of the room, but I want the room to be a place for several to gather, and be comfortable.  I also left my china hutch in the room because it holds many treasures that I want to remain visible.  They bring me comfort to see them.  I added my floral wing chair, which was in my sewing room before.  It is an old chair.  We bought it with a sofa set from Penney's about 20 years ago.

Over the back of the chair is the bobble blanket I made a couple years ago.  I made it with some yummy yarn I ordered from England. The yarn that Lucy of Attic 24 uses.  I finished it during the Queen's Jubilee celebration, and so it is thusly named Jubilee.

Moving around to the other side of the room.  My cutting table is actually a rolling butcher block for the kitchen.  It stands up higher, and is perfect for standing to cut.

It has a big enough surface for the large cutting mat to fit on top.  I like to use a photo easel to hold the pattern or book up, that I am working from.  I keep a Ball jar of rice grains in it to hold my fabric pens, and a small pair of Ginghers.  My rotary cutters and fabric scissors are in the heart cut wooden box.  Above the cutting table is my design wall.  It is simply a tri fold pattern cutting board, wrapped in batting and covered with flannel.  The projects on the design wall are all very old unfinished projects.

My dear friend Kathy recently gifted me with this wonderful oilcloth bag.  I think the name of the company is Thirty One?  Great bag, I love it.   Can you see what is embroidered on the front?  This bag will get a lot of use!!!

On the wall between the cutting and sewing table.

The mailbox I bought in an antique store, and painted it aqua.  I use it to attach notes and cards, and inside are my Joann's flyers and some Cath Kidston catalogues.  The framed antique applique square was from my friend Becky.  The curtains in the living room I made a couple of years ago, and they were the perfect taupe color for my furniture.  I just wanted something sheer and they have been perfect.  But now I think I need to change them since I have different colors in here.

On the side of the cutting table, I hang my acrylic rulers from hooks. I keep a bar stool, with padded seat cushion in front of the table, because I often sit there for a long time to make Bloomie's and things.  The little rattan ottoman behind it, I brought home from the cabin.  It will be handy for many things.  To set my basket of fabrics on, or can be easily moved for a foot stool, or used to set a drink or lunch on when my Knitty Biddies are here.

The farm table was placed right in front of the window.  I have my three most used machines set up there.

I have a lot of task light set up.  Next to the cutting table, I have a light tree with three adjustable lights.  The swing arm lamp on one end of the farm table  And a swing arm Ott light with magnifier on the opposite end of the table.

  From left to right, my  new Singer One, my antique Feather Weight that belonged to my Dad's older sister, my Aunt Connie, and my vintage Viking that I love!   On the little shelf, on the far right, is a little working childrens Singer that belonged to my Nana.  I even have the instruction booklet!

 Some of you reading this post might recognize something on this table.  Several were gifts sent to me from blogging friends.  Like this darling mouse pincushion, from Sinta

This is the best sewing table.  So much space, and it can easily support the weight and bulk of a quilt that I am doing machine quilting on.  If you have the space, this is the way to go.
To the right of the table, where the piano was, is my armoire.  This was once in our family room to hold our telly.  The back has a large piece cut out of it for the back of the TV.  This was before the flatscreens.  I have covered that up with a small quilted table topper that I made a long time ago.

On top of the armoire are some quilts.  The two on the left, I got about 20 years ago on a trip I took to Tennessee with my parents.  These were sold by an old man whose wife had recently passed.  She was a quilter, and these were the last two she had made.  The three on the right side were made by my Great Grandma, Clara Wright.   Two of these are still in pretty good shape.  One of them is very worn.  From another one, I cut a piece out and put it up under the needle on this antique solid iron Commander.
As well as gifts from friends displayed here, are a couple of collectible pieces and lots of  books.  Crochet and knit on the right, quilting on the left.   This trio of singing chickens was a gift from my friend and Knitty Biddy, Vicki.

In the two large cabinets below, is a large portion of my fabric stash.  But his will have to be changed.  I had this in a book case in the closet before, but didn't have a space for it in here.  So I will think about a better way to store it for easier viewing and access.

You quilters out there are saying...."is that all the fabric stash she has?"  No...don't be silly!  Underneath the farm table are several snap lock totes chock full!!!

This was a big project!  I will still be fine tuning the space as I go along.  But I am thrilled to my toes with it!

I have not yet decided if I will hang my bunting in here that I had in my other sewing room.  I am going to think on it for a few days.  See my faithful boy there on the rug?

I turned the dining area of the kitchen into a little sitting room with the two club chairs and ottoman and stifle lamp from the living room.  It's funny how our needs have changed in our home as our kids have grown up.  This set up would have never worked for us 15 years ago.  

Now I have to deal with turning the old sewing room into the new guest room.  And the old guest room, back into the exercise room.  Phew!  But today, I shall rest.  Thank you for coming to see my new Sewing Nest.  I wish that so many of you could come and spend some time here with me.  Whether sewing, knitting, or crochet,  I know that this new repurposed room will suit me just fine!  
Tootle Loo.....
Kris