Greetings lovely friends & readers
I see I have a couple of new followers - the warmest Welcome to you all 💗
Despite the dry here, the roses have decided to have a second flush ... I picked some buds yesterday & even managed a small vase of Seafoam roses as well.
My sewing room is finished dear friends & I thought I would share it with you. I only have a few things left to hang up but the rest is all done & the large mess in the lounge room is all sorted now - lots went to the Op-shop & I still have another load to go.
As with most projects I undertake, I seriously underestimated what was involved. But that's okay - I can tick it off my list & hopefully enjoy it now it's all clean & tidy & less cluttered.
I emptied every single thing out of the room apart from this heavy chest of drawers which I went through & purged. The Mr painted the ceiling for me but I did all the rest. It is not a large sized room, it used to be my eldest sons room ... but sometimes we just have to be thankful for what we have & indeed remind myself that I used to sew in a VeRy tiny corner of our bedroom.
I started putting things back in a week ago, sorting through every single item that went back in & cleaning along the way.
Because this room is just off the dining area - which is where our fire is, I find it gets incredibly dusty.
I don't have any before pics unfortunately. Standing in the doorway, here is the new layout of the room - it doesn't look a lot different to the before but it is more spacious & I have changed my sewing machine table to the other side as I was concerned about it getting too much sun on the left hand side. (the room gets lots of late afternoon sun)
My main intention with the room was to remove the cat sleeping shelf 😉 fabric shelf that I had on one wall - an old shelf that I upcycled in * this post * way back in 2013. I don't use so much fabric now that I sew less so I went through ruthlessly & managed to get the 3 shelves (7 baskets) down to just 2 large draws full instead. The cat sleeping shelf teddy bear shelf is going to the op-shop when they bring their truck out to collect it.
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Thrifted mini quilts covering my sewing machine & overlocker
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I have my sewing desk in the room, along with a large trestle table that I upcycled in * this post*. This had become cluttered up with baskets & boxes & there was no space for cutting out etc so I was ending up doing this on the dining room table. I now have a nice clear space for my cutting mat etc that I Promise Myself Not to clutter up again (!!) I still have pictures & my clock to hang up yet. I made sure I hung the gorgeous vintage Holly Hobbie Prints, a gift from my dear friend Sally & one of my favorite things 💗
As the room is not large I am lucky to have wardrobe organisers along 3/4's of one wall. These are wonderful for holding boxes & baskets of things.
I long ago chose to have my patterns in boxes as I find they get too dusty sitting in baskets, even though baskets are aesthetically more pleasing to the eye. I bought new boxes from Paper Plus & made some bright cheery Cath Kidston labels for them. I also condensed 14 boxes down to 10.
The room does have a large double wardrobe with shelves & a hanging rail. I painted the doors & also the door into the room & hung my project bags from this hook which I already had in my stash.
I've had my scissors & paint brushes in these tin containers for years now but I repainted them as they were black & white with large bees on them. I've stuck with a soft duck egg colour in the room as I already had this paint in my stash (leftover decor transfers applied)
all sorts of things so that when I write "I already had this in my stash" ....... you know I am not lying!!
I created this beaded lightshade for my sewing room way back in 2018 in * this post * & I don't think it had been cleaned since (!!) 😑 I took it down & gently washed all those teeny tiny beads & it sparkled again.
In the last school holidays Sid & I popped into the Salvation Army Op-shop (Sid adores op shopping just like his Granny does). While he came out with a $1 soft toy, I spotted this mini ironing board. I had been meaning to make an ironing station for my sewing room & this came home & promptly got tossed in the sleepout. As you can see it was $5 & in very good condition.
Two days ago I removed the cover & drew around it to make a pattern, I had this lovely piece of vintage curtain fabric in my stash so I used it for this as it was the perfect size. I also padded the underneath with 2 extra layers as I like my ironing board to be well padded. It fits on top of these drawers just perfectly & the hot point is just below for my iron.
My sewing room has only one big window but good light comes in & looks out on to the garden which is pleasant. I sent my Roman Blind away to be professionally cleaned & it arrived back just yesterday. The Mr & I hung it at lunchtime today & I am thrilled with it. Now all I need to do dear friends, is find some time to actually sew in there!
Thank you all so very much if you've stayed through this lengthy post. We are having many computer issues again & have a new one on the way. My son who is organising it for us tells me "2 weeks". He has been saying this since New Year 😉so we wait patiently. Today, oddly enough, it decided to work, so I grabbed the chance to do a blog post. I am not sure when I will get to post again.
Wishing you a Happy Tuesday & a wonderful rest-of-the-week dear friends,
With much love & friendship to you all,
Julie, I love the new look sewing room. The small ironing board will be so handy for those small projects.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sandy - I am looking forward to trying out the new mini ironing station. xx
DeleteBeautiful post Julie great sorting of your sewing sewing room and treasures. As always the cats give me a smile 😃
ReplyDeleteOohhhh sorry, the last comme t was me- Sue aka kiwikid 😂 blogger will not let me log in today
ReplyDeleteHello Julie, your sewing room make over looks beautiful, mind you everything you lay your creative hands on does! Cute little ironing board, handy I bet. That's cute your grandson likes opshopping too. Now please tell me how are the 3 cats holding up after this traumatic event in their lives???
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely inviting sewing space you have made Julie, just perfect. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat? Who? Where? Why? zzzzzzzzzZ! HeHe! Where am l....! :).
ReplyDeleteNo! No! Julie! You can make your posts as long as you like...Bless!
There's always one thing l love to do at home...and that is clear out
a room..or even a draw...it's great fun, and all sorts of things turn up,
and the usual thoughts are..'I'd forgotten about that' 'Oh! l never knew l
had one of those' and so on....as a matter of fact, when l got home from
town yesterday, l cleared out and tidied up both draws in my Welsh dresser!
Being a typical Virgo...I hate untidiness...l don't mind things about the place,
but they have to be neat and tidy, and especially folded....
You'll be surprised, what l have been referred to over the years...! :O).
And, it looks like the furry two, love the changes, and finding the best places
to rest their wery bodies, HaHa! Bless!xx
Best get on then, some washing to see to, think l'll put it out on the line, put
some out yesterday, and it was dry by lunchtime...save the old spinner...!
Great post Julie, loved it as usual, more photos the merrier....God Bless...! :O).
🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀🌸🌷😺💙🍀
Your updated sewing space looks lovely, organized and convenient. I was so happy to see the Holly Hobby embroidered pictures! I made those years ago and I still have them. They're no longer on display but perhaps one of the grands will want them someday. Happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Gretchen, for leaving me your lovely kind comment. I absolutely adore those Holly Hobby embroidered pictures. They were a gift from my friend Sally, quite some time ago now, & I just treasure them so - she reminds me of my childhood as I loved Holly Hobby when I was younger. (still do). xx
DeleteVery fulfilling work, Julie - it all looks quite splendid and itching to be used.
ReplyDeleteOh the mini ironing board! That is all I have had since we moved 18 years ago! I do not like to iron at all. And I used to make all my own clothes from age 17 till about 40. Then I discovered the "clearance rack"! At $3 to $5 for new clothes, I quit serious sewing. I love the new revised work room for sewing and crafts. I had one, not that neat, in the old home for 20 years. But when we moved here, what was to be my craft room only got my desk and sewing machine. Hubby took over both spare rooms. Miss Pip and Blackie looked good in your cloth stores, but I guess they will find a new place somewhere in the house, lol. Our snow is melting today and the sun is shining. I see hope at the end of the tunnel even though winter is here until at least April. Lynn and Precious XX
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous room you have created - so pretty and inspiring. I am sure many beautiful projects will come to life in there. (One question though - do the cats have another sleeping shelf?! They will be most put out to find their comfy baskets have vanished!) That little ironing board was a great bargain too. I wish I could contain all my hobbies and the 'stuff' that accompanies them to one lovely room, instead of all over the house...*sigh*
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely creative week
Best wishes
Ellie
Wonderful!!! My shop is a mess again and I need a thorough Sissie clean out!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Kim. We all need a Sissie to come in & clean up for us!!! Send her over here!! xx
DeleteOh Julie you have created such a beautiful space to create in, you are sure to get plenty of time in there. How are the cats dealing with their shelf going. xxx Sue C
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sue. I have not broken the news to the cats as yet so - until one of them goes looking for the fabric shelf -- they are totally oblivious, I am expecting many furry noses to be out of joint when they discover this!! xxx
DeleteFabulous sewing space you have created for yourself Julie. The little ironing board was a wonderful find.
ReplyDeleteIt must be wonderful to sew and hang out in your lovely new room, Julie. You have done wonders in culling what you don't need anymore and sorting what you do. It looks like a room where new and beautiful pretties will be imagined and fashioned.
ReplyDeleteLooks fabulous Julie, have fun sewing in there, love your Emily doll.
ReplyDeleteFabulous new fresh look in your sewing room..... have you sewn in there yet????
ReplyDeleteHugz
You have done extremely well cleaning, decorating and refilling your room. Some beautiful projects coming up in your future
ReplyDeleteWow, you did a very good job cleaning and setting up your room. Everything looks so fresh and lovely.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Just love reading all your posts, a very talented lady.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, you did a great job .
ReplyDeleteI wish I had the energy to do mine , trouble is I can't throw things away.
But I am now giving to the knitting group loads of wool and patterns , so that makes me feel good .
I also gave them two large cross stitch pictures that they raised allot of money for .
So I will do this now and lower my stock. They were Happy and so was I .
Have a fun week hugs June.
I'm very excited for you. How lovely to have a freshly painted spick and span creative room. I'm sure you will be dazzling us all again soon with your fantastic makes.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that after a fantastic revamp you are inspired to go in there to play.
ReplyDeleteYour updated room is lovely Julie. I just love those Holly Hobby prints. I still have my Holly Hobby mug with my name on it! So the big question is - did you managed to only put 3/4 of your stuff back in? LOL! xx
ReplyDeleteOh, Julie, I am so happy for you to have this beautiful space in which to create and sew. My sewing room was a small bedroom my two sons shared--they had bunkbeds, so their dressers and desk would fit.
ReplyDeleteWe do the best we can with the space we have available, and I think you have done well.
But I have to say, those photos of the cat shelf made me laugh.
Getting so excited to meet you in person! We begin our journey later today!
Stunning. Simply stunning. Well done you!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, how fantastic is that. No wonder when I talked to you the other day you said how tired you were, I'm not surprised. I'm guessing that furry friends think you have done all this for their comforts.Oh well , dreams are free. I read Willies comment, he's such a trick. Willie, I wonder WHAT your nick name is/was, should have a competition for guessing?! You didn't say you were off for your lemon tea!!. It;s hot here Julie, yes some roses are giving a few flowers but need to keep the watering up and because we are in a drought water sprinkling is very restricted.Lawns just dried straw. Have got some Dahlias. Take care, hugs.
ReplyDeleteHaHa! Bless! :). I have three names in fact...My birth name which
Deleteis William...so my nickname, has always been Willie...My stage
name, Willie Wine, still in use to~day, and my Sicilian name,
Gugliemo Piazza...! Still used among the family...!
It's just gone 10am...Just got back from town, so, yes, l'm off to
make an Earl Grey tea..with honey and lemon of course...! :)
Your newly refreshed sewing space is just wonderful Julie - so light & airy & what a lovely outlook on to your garden. I sew at a tiny corner of my dining room table, so not very conducive to creativeness. A lovely post thank You. Sarah USA xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sarah, for your sweet kind comment. xx
DeleteYou did a great job decorating your sewing room so beautifully... the large window overlooking the garden is beautiful, as are the shelves and closet. You made the most of the space. I love Emely, your sewing doll and the many beautiful quilts, bags and embroidery you have made.
ReplyDeleteIt will be a pleasure for you to work in the beautiful sewing room and for us it will be a pleasure to admire your work...
many kind regards from Viola.
Thank you so much Viola. Yes Emily is a wonderful pattern, lots of work, but I am so pleased with her & she is pefect for the sewing room. Thank you for your sweet kind comment. xx
DeleteYour sewing room looks fabulous!! I love all of your upcycled storage containers. Off to start my sewing room….by tidying out the wardrobe in the room next to it in readiness for overload!!🤣🤣
ReplyDelete