Oct
10
You have to be kidding me…
Filed Under Geeking, Painting, Sewing | 3 Comments
I’ve been working on cleaning out, and rearranging my sewing room for the last few weeks. I did a bunch of research, looked at other people’s ideas on flickr, (copied a few,) and started purging junk I will never use. I also managed to talk the husband into selling the daybed that took up way too much room in favor of an antique “murphy” bed that we found on craigslist. It’s really more of a hide-a-bed that folds into a cabinet, but it takes up a LOT less room. I even bought a new set of shelves. In total, I’ve spent about $75. The furniture cost me $25 (after the sale of our daybed), and I spent a fair bit at IKEA buying hangars and boxes, but so far I’m happy.
I even spent a whole evening folding fabric uniformly. I figure if it’s out where I can see it, I’ll be more likely to use it. And hey, I don’t have nearly as much as I thought! I guess it’s time to go shopping. Ok, not really. But I’m pretty happy seeing it all neat and tidy like.
I just wish I could bring myself to photograph it. Unfortunately, as I don’t feel it’s quite done, you get no action shots. Soon though, I promise. I’m even painting a picture to hang over the sewing desk. I hope it comes out ok. And then I’m going to splurge on this really nice easel for my birthday (only 21 days to go – yikes!)
But in my search on flickr for the best craft room ideas, I came across this completely ludicrous photo. It was posted as sort of an ironic, “yeah whatever” photo, so I don’t feel bad in the slightest ripping it to shreds.
And so I present to you, Pottery Barn’s idea of a craft room.
Honestly, how inaccurate can you get? Most craft rooms are a messy little corner completely over stuffed with way too much junk that the crafter can never find, much less USE. In fact, from what I can tell from my research on creating a good studio, most craft areas are really spread throughout the house in places that are deemed unusable by other members of the family. Under beds, in the back of closets, etc.
So what kind of dreamland do you have to live in to envision a room with enough natural light to be the breakfast nook? Where your work surfaces are clean and shiny? Where are the ink stains and other miscellaneous crap that builds up on the flat surfaces? Who can keep rolls of wrapping paper in an open cubby like that without their 3 year old walking in a chewing on it? And then the dog comes in and knocks it all over and tramples on it.
The lamps are in such a place that any crafter worth her (his) salt would be bent over working hard and suddenly sit up to recieve a severe knock on the head from them. Oh and while we’re at that desk, don’t get me started on the stool. All I can think is I would need to alternately see my chiropractor and massuse every day to recover from sitting on it.
And now I’m just getting nit-picky, but are there any actual crafting supplies in that room? To me it looks like a really nice place to wrap presents and enjoy a cup of tea… but that’s it!
Ok, rant over. Time to go back to cleaning…
Oct
3
Way back at the begining of the year I did a craft show (my first and last so far). I only sold about $90 worth of stuff that day, but the most raved about items were a little stuffed chicken and pig. I sold both of those that day (probably for way too little money) and began making stuffed animals for my Etsy shop. So far the elephants have been the overwhelming leader, but people like my cats too. But no one loves the chickens.
They have been in my shop for over 6 months. At first, I had them listed seperately, but thinking that maybe people wanted the set, I decided to list them as a group. For a while, I thought of listing them with a Mac like campaign. You know, the black one is $400 more for no good reason? Ok, I admit, I have a bizarre sense of humor.
Poor poor chickens. They really need a new home… Should I make some little felted eggs for them to sit on?
Sep
28
How cool!!!
Filed Under Geeking, Sewing | Leave a Comment
I love love LOVE to play with tape measures. In fact, right now, I’m thinking I need one in my office at work to play with. This light fixture has me drooling and wanting to try and copy it.
The squeak as you tighten them up, pushing the center out to make a little round pyramid. Seeing how tall you can make that pyramid until the whole thing colapses due to unwinding. Ahhh… so fun.
Sep
27
Cleaning
Filed Under Sewing | Leave a Comment
The sewing room is a pit. I’ve been trying to clean it out all week. Unfortuately, I’m starting to hit a roadblock where the usable space in there is so small that I really am going to have to look at buying new furniture. I’ve been scouring craigslist. Ideally I want to find a murphy bed, and a really nice curio cabinet (and by really nice I mean banged up and old).
Right now there is a daybed in there, and you can’t even get underneath it for all the storage boxes full of fabric. Good God. Does one person really need so much fabric? OF COURSE I DO!!! Actually, at some point, I am going to go through and pitch anything that I wouldn’t buy today. I also tend to be a scrap hoarder, and I NEVER use them. I need to get rid of that habit.
Wish me luck on my craigslist finds.
Sep
25
Done! — well, mostly
Filed Under Sewing | Leave a Comment
Busy weekend. I spent most of it working on the flower girl dress and I am happy to report it is done(!) except for the hem. Even the little jacket for just in case it’s chilly on October 5 in Texas is done.
Can you see the sparklies in the fabric? This is such a princess dress. The entire inside is lined, so no itching! and it has these wide ties on the back that are about a foot longer than the hem, so when you tie the bow, the tails will still nearly touch the ground.
The pattern for the jacket was this little shrug patten made for furs. But it’s so cute in the same pink glittery satin. Yummmm.
You know, I really really love sewing little girl dresses. I would love to do it professionally, but no idea how to get started with that. And besides, the choice words that come from my sewing room when I’m working on them, are not fit for the deck of a pirate ship, much less my 5 year old’s ears. But the satisfaction of a pretty dress and a job well done mean so much to me.