My New Sewing Room!

A couple of weeks ago, Greg and I decided that it was time to rearrange the apartment so I could have my own sewing room. I was starting to go a little bit crazy constantly stepping on the legos surrounding my desk and always needing to move things around every time I wanted to have a little workspace. Scissors and needles could never be left out, for obvious reasons, but it was really frustrating having to get out and clean up a huge pile of supplies every time I wanted to work for even half an hour. Greg has offered in the past to change places with me, giving up his very poorly utilized office space. I just wasn't able to get past the fact that moving all of my things in here would mean moving all of his very ugly things (multiple computers, hundreds of cables and wires and any other weird techy things he needs) into the very public and open living room. My space in the living room was crowded, but at least it was pretty!

At any rate, I finally weighed my limited options and this was the way to go. We've lived in our apartment for three and a half years now and plan to live here for probably another year or two. I often feel like I have to apologize for that fact because living in an apartment with a family of four in a very small town is definitely not the norm. But it works for us. In many ways I think it works a lot better for us than living in a house. So I decided it was worth the time and effort to make the switch so I could have a space that was entirely my own as I continue to grow Heartstring Annie and just plain need an escape from all the mass chaos my kids are forever creating. I think I can be happy here for a long time. :)

So back to the room! This is my newest addition - a beautiful handmade table from my favorite store to buy random furniture, Twisted Sister. One of the things I was most excited about when I got this room was realizing I could actually fit in a cutting table! I hate cutting fabric on the floor or at the kitchen table, but just assumed having a cutting table in the apartment would never work out. But it did!! I saw this table a couple of months ago at Twisted Sister and fell in love with it. I've been back to visit it multiple times since then and finally decided after a profitable craft fair that I could just go ahead and buy it. It makes me happy! And my cats, who think they just got a brand new bed.

Not that pretty, but now I'm able to get all my embroidery supplies (top bin) and mohair out in the open where I can use them more often. There's a closet next to the shelf that's mostly filled with all my shipping supplies, rarely used craft equipment, and my giant box of polyfil.

The actual sewing area. FYI, I also got my sewing table and desk from Twisted Sister. I'd buy all their furniture if I had room for it! I plan on painting that big shelf with some chalk paint one of these days. I just haven't had a chance yet.

My happy place!

Just another view of the beautiful wood on top of my table. I'm hoping to buy a shelf or two for this open wall space. Ideally I'd love a way to get my fabric in this room too, but I'm not sure it's possible. It's currently taking up a full dresser in the bathroom, four boxes in my closet, and a bunch of more rarely used fabrics are boxed up in my garage. I have a small white bookshelf in mind that I saw a few weeks ago at a store that is only open every few months. If my mom doesn't beat me to it, I'm thinking of getting it for right next to the sewing desk to put my most used fabrics on. Maybe.

One more picture.

And finally, this guy. :) For quite awhile now I've been greatly admiring a few people who create artist bears and other animals. I never understood how they made them so tiny until it finally clicked in my head that obviously they just sew everything by hand! So in between doll making I've been experimenting with some little animals myself. I made a tiny teddy for my mom's birthday which was pretty cute. Then I found a place to import mohair to make them even cuter and sewed a tiny elephant for my friend Dianne's birthday. And finally, over the weekend while I was doing a craft fair, I made this bunny for myself! I love him so much. I want to make him a friend, but it's been a very busy week! Anyway, I'm not sure I'll ever sell these, but they're fun to make for myself and family and friends when I need a break from business stuff.

So that's my new sewing room! And a bunch of ramblings. :)