My Sewing Space- Part 2

If you missed part 1 of My Sewing Space. you can find it HERE.

Now onto Part 2!

My collection of assorted pincushions!

In part 1 of this post I shared my fabric,pattern,button storage along with other things that occupy my office/sewing space. This post will show you the rest of my space, whee my machines are,my cutting area and more storage. We sure do have a lot of 'stuff' to go along with this wonderful hobby!

The view of the dining nook are where I have 2 smaller tables set back to back with my BabyLock Symphony and the Babylock Ovation serger. These are my main machines. I have a TV set up that has access to cable as well as DVD/Blue ray player (great for sewing dvd's!) plus access to the internet so I can watch craftsy classes and other items of that sort while I am sewing.

The apartment that I moved into this past May has a lovely dining area/nook. Room for a table as well as a pantry/dry bar/storage area. This is primarily my sewing space!

This view shows the dry bar/pantry area. On the counter is my embroidery machine and my tools that I like to keep very handy. You can also see down the hallway to the entrance and my pressing station.

 When I moved, I used that opportunity to really simplify and downsize my life. I realized that for a single woman I did not need all the stuff that ad accumulated over the years.

I have very high ceilings which helps to maximize the light from the slider doors and windows in the main living room. From here you can also see my kitchen area.

Another view looking towards my kitchen and living room. I love the canvas prints that I had made and are hanging in my sewing area of my mom, me, my daughter and my granddaughter. They make me smile!

Close up of my machine tables.

On both sides of the tables I have hung up cork and magnetic boards. I use these for part inspiration and part keeping things handy! 

This is a nice white board/cork board combo. I use the white board to jot down my next steps in a project and also to jot down things that come to mind that I want to capture.

The main kitchen area is quite large enough for everything that I could I ever need to store in a kitchen and the large island with bar overhang was all that I needed for an eating space. It also doubles as a wonderful cutting and work area.

The island is perfect size for my jumbo 72 inch cutting mat! When it is not in use it slides behind the work table in the other room with my fabric storage.

As you can clearly see here, there is a wonderful overhang which makes thins island a perfect eating space as well. I have 4 lovely stools that fit perfectly in this space.

I love being in my main living area while working on my creations! It makes me happy, keeps my creativity flowing and just feels good. I know this type of set-up is not for everyone. However, for me, in this time of my life, it suits me perfectly.

Back to the dry bar/pantry. 80% of the space in this built in is used for sewing storage!

There are 2 pull out drawers. This one has pattern weights, sticky notes, sketching tools, machine needles, beeswax and etc.. in it.

This second drawer has all types of fusible tapes for knits and wovens of different weights. It also houses all of my ribbons and trims :)

I try to keep my collection of trims confines to this one box. It helps me to keep from going overboard with them.I think they are sooooo lovely! However, I dont always know what to do with them!

The main upper cabinet houses my machines feet, zipper bin, all the serger threads, both regular and decorative, an elastic bin and snaps/other closures bin. on the very top is a partial bolt of knit for making knit muslins and tester garments.

The upper cabinet on the tall portion has all of my pressing paraphernalia. Sleeve boards, seam sticks, pressing rolls, several hams and press cloths. The middle section is bolts of woven muslin fabrics. and the top has items i dont use that much. Hidden behind the paper towels are a bin with beads and sequins, the bias tape maker machine and some patterns that my daughter is interested in using someday. The lower half of this cabinet (not pictured) has my household items like cleaning supplies, irons and a handy man kit and electric drill. 

The bottom cupboards have a bin for fusible interfacings, under-linings and lining materials.

The second lower cupboard is all the embroidery paraphernalia to go with the embroidery machine sitting above it. There are threads, stabilizers and all sort of cd's with embroidery designs..

This is a shot of the items I like handy! Markers and pens for pattern drafting and tracing. The little fabric bin has small rulers and seam guides, marking pens, pencils and the like. There are also some glues and seam sealant in there.

And here are my favorite tape dispensers! Of course a pink one and the other is a most adorable and fun elephant given to me by my niece for a Christmas present!

 

Last but not least...My bookcase! When I say that I downsized when I moved, I mean I really downsized!! I used to keep every single book that I read. I had hundreds of them, several bookcases full. I donated almost all of my novels and really only kept a select few. A good 50% of this bookcase is sewing related! 

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I hope you have enjoyed the tour of my Sewing Space! It sure was a lot of fun to share it with you!

Happy Sewing!

2018 Plans and a peek into my Sewing space: Part 1

I have had so much fun reading blogs and posts about everyone's New Year sewing goals and plans. It really makes for such a fun community.

I have hemmed and hawed about whether I want to make concrete sewing plans versus more nebulous overall goals. I made lists, I jotted down notes, I reviewed what I did last year and looked through notes from my sewing notebooks. I also looked at what everyone else was planning to do and was trying not to get swept up in the overall sewing communities goals. There are challenges, and pledges and fasts and what not! Can be somewhat easy to get pulled along!

In the end, I have decided to just do my own thing and follow my own path....

So, what the heck does that path look like? Honestly, probably not much different then everyone else!

Just a couple quick notes:

• I already make most of my own clothes, so the RTW fast is something that I already have been doing for several years.
• My closet is comprised of an approx 85% or higher me made wardrobe. The RTW items I own are in great condition and fit and are very useful to me so I see no need at this point to get rid of them just so I can say I have a 100% med made wardrobe.
• I have mostly moved away from using commercial sewing patterns to designing my own patterns. So pattern fasting is already being done by default.

on the flip side:

• I have a very lovely and rather large curated collection of fabrics that I really want to use!
• I want to be more deliberate in what I choose to make and create.
• I really, really enjoy the entire creative process of designing and sewing.

If  I just HAD to write down a goal for 2018, I suppose it would look something like this:

For 2018 I want to continue to explore my creativity in design and sewing while using my beautiful textiles in a way that makes me happy and content.

Well, That's done! Now for a peek inside my sewing space. :)

I have 2 distinct sewing spaces. The first is my office which houses my fabric, patterns, buttons, cutting tools and a small cutting/work table. This is the space we will be exploring today.

One corner of the room is my real work desk. This is were I work when I am not traveling. the other 3 corners of the room are all sewing all the time!

First up my fabric closet: From here it looks like an ordinary closet...

However... once opened it contains so much beauty and color and makes me smile and dream of all the possibilities it contains!The center shelves contain cotton lawns and cotton shirtings, some linens and some silks. In the plastic bin on the upper shelf are smaller remnants that are 1/4 to 1/2 yard of cottons that are mainly used for facings, bindings and pocket materials. The pink file cabinet holds all my patterns.

To the left and right are all the rest of my woven fabrics that are hanging in a color coordinated fashion.

Top Left:

Bottom Left:

Top Right:

Bottom Right:

There is so much inspiration when I open my closet!

The very top of the closet, not pictured. Holds some empty bins and a sewing machine trolley and all of my old photo albums.

Moving on...

As you turn to the left from my fabric closet you come to a metal can that I use to hold my rolls of pattern paper, yard sticks and tall skinny items like that. Next to that is an InterMetro shelving unit and canvas  cover from The Container Store. This shelving unit holds all of my knits and on the bottom shelf some bulkier items like denims, faux shearling, pillow form.

I love having the canvas cover because it protects my fabrics from dust and light and since they are not in a plastic bin they can also breath.

Printed mesh fabrics:

Cotton/lycra and rayon/lycra knits:

Washable merino wool knits:

Next to the canvas covered shelving unit is an aqua colored locker that holds random items. Materials for my sewing group, materials from classes I have taken and liked. Plus some random odds and ends! You can see this locker in one of the pictures above.

Moving to the left around the room we come to my work desk, which I will skip, and then to my button, threads and project box area.

The 2 pink Bisley cabinets house my buttons. The thread rack is my regular sewing thread. Below in the cubbies are sewing magazines, current project boxes, current patterns I am using, and fabric and technique samples.

Many of my buttons are vintage and have been purchased in antique, resale and thrift shops.

Some have been purchased in regular button shops in NYC and other cities around the world.

One of my all time favorite type of buttons are Czechoslovakian glass buttons from pre-WW2.

Moving to the left again we come to my permanent cutting/work table.

This table has a smaller cutting mat (36" x 24") and I have 2 task lights as well as a small magnetic board above it to hold inspirations. Under the table is a bin of old muslins. I like to keep the last one I make of a garment so that if IO want to go back to it to check fit or use it to make a new design from then I already have that first step done. The other bin is of remnants.

Hanging on the wall is a peg board with all my most used cutting tools and rulers hanging on it.

And then we come back to the door. I have a long hanging mirror on it that I use for fitting. This mirror is easily moved as it is just attached to hooks that go over the door.

And that is plenty for today!!

Next time we will take a look at the other half of my Sewing space. 

Happy Sewing!

How sewing soothes my soul and keeps me moving forward!

Today I am celebrating life. I am celebrating the fact that I do not have pancreas cancer!
Unfortunately, even though cancer has been ruled out doesn't mean that I automatically feel better. What a lovely wish that would be. In fact, I feel just as crappy today as I did last week. What I do feel is a huge sense of relief and a huge weight off my shoulders.

My current diagnosis is Autoimmune Pancreatitis (AIP). A benign disease that can be treated. I say current diagnosis because the genetic tests needed to make a definitive diagnosis are extremely cost prohibitive and require a fight with the insurance company to get approved. So while we go through the process and try to cut through the red tape with the insurance company the doctors have decided that AIP is the most likely diagnosis. The treatment for the disease consists of a treatment regiment of high doses of steroids for 12 weeks followed by a course of immunosuppressive drugs. Sounds easy enough... except that I have an intolerance to steroids and experience abnormal joint pain.

I do not have cancer!! So, if 3 months of joint pain and assorted other crazy side effects is the path I have to travel then so be it! I have my family, my loved ones and my friends to stand by my side and help me down the path to health. They are the most integral part of my life!

I also have other things in my life.

I have meditation.
I have the beautiful outdoors and fresh air.
I have my dog
I have my sewing studio.

Yes, my sewing studio is a key part of my mental and physical health.
I can think of no better way to help myself get through trying times then to have some projects to work on. They will need to be 'easier' projects and projects that utilize my master patterns because success will be key to keeping my spirits up.
When I am in my sewing studio I feel like I have the ability to get into the zone. My creative energies flow and time seems to move smoothly by. Being in this zone has been quite helpful already in getting me through this illness. Even just pulling fabrics from my collection and sketching designs to create with them is a great way for me distract my mind from my body.

The process is the key. Having developed a process in my designing and sewing has already taken my skills through the roof and now I am using those same processes to keep myself moving forward in a an entirely different way.

• Sketching designs
• choosing fashion fabric
• flat pattern work
• making a muslin
• finalizing all fabric choices
• preparing fabric for construction
• garment construction 
• Final hand finishing

All of these steps are part of my creative process that allow me to get into the flow and enjoy life no matter how I am physically feeling!

On days that I am really feeling physically weak I retreat to my comfy chair with design and sewing books, my iPad and online classes, sewing and design blogs and of course, online fabric shopping! Plus there is always online fabric shopping to make me feel better ;-)

Does sewing mean more to your life than just producing a garment?