Sunday, February 21, 2010

My Sewing Room

I'm going to participate in Between Naps on the Front Porch's Metamorphosis Monday. I don't see many westerners on her blog. It's mostly wonderful southern women who really know how to live graciously. I aspire to that. But I live in northern Utah where the climate doesn't say "sit on the back porch and drink in the sultry air." There are wonderful things about Utah, but the kind of consistent weather that makes you want to be outside all day is not one of them. I hope BNFP doesn't mind me crashing her party this week.

Anyone who visits this blog knows I'm a quilting fool these days. Part of it is that I'm using sewing as therapy right now and part of it is having a room in which to sew. Before we finished our basement I could only get out my sewing machine when my kitchen was spotlessly clean and the dining room table was cleared for cutting. Almost never. (Back off.) So, here is the metamorphosis of my sewing room:
May 2008 - framing and insulation are in, electrical is done, bomb shelter closet in the bedroom next door framed out thanks to Aron.

November 2008 - after the much-discussed blue paint went up. Since I did all the painting - three coats on every square inch of sheet rock in roughly 1400 square feet - I chose the paint colors. The end. (I wish.)

December 2008 - new bamboo floor! It's starting to look like something. Don't be jealous of my amazing view.

Same view a few minutes ago. It's looked like this (minus the lone star behind my desk - there used to be a map there) for about a year, but I'm just now getting around to photographing it. I have a car seat under my desk to use as a model for the car seat covers I make. That would be kind of weird if I just liked to tuck a small baby in under my desk while I worked. I love this room so much. It's definitely one of my happy places. Let's take a closer look:

My ironing board is barely a step away. When I did that lone star on the wall I lowered it and put it right next to my sewing desk so I wouldn't have to get up at all. On the floor is my distilled water for my iron that got plugged with calcium deposits after I'd used it for a week. Stupid hard water. The shelf above holds my big thread box, some giant spools I got from an antique store a long time ago, my patterns, a sewing box, some photos...

That's a photo of Bridget wearing her Halloween costume in 2008. To the right of that is one of my favorite family photos. The lab messed up on the cropping, so we got two of them. The box on the left of Bridget's picture is a sewing box my Grandma gave me when I was little. (The tube is a Christmas gift I haven't taken care of yet. I need help with it. I need to SEE someone do it before I can do it myself. The words in this parenthesis are for my Mom. Sorry everyone else had to see that.)


I love Sarah Jane art. I also love knowing what day it is.

A heart hook from Danforth Pewter that Katy gave me when we adopted Bridget.

My toile lone star wall hanging... extreme close up. This is one of the few projects I've kept for myself. It was my Great Grandma Rhoda's favorite pattern. She was quite a show off when it came to quilting. :)

I won't go into the other side of this room much right now, but this is part of my view from my sewing machine.

Books! There's plenty more where these came from.

How I love having an inspiring place to create stuff! Thanks for visiting and Happy Metamorphosis Monday to all. :)

16 comments:

Jess said...

What a wonderful retreat place! I am currently in the "dining room table must be clean" place if I have a sewing project. A room of my own is a distant dream, but I love the look of yours!

Ashley said...

Jealous. My sewing 'room' is a corner in an unfinished basement. I look at cement. I really love the blue you picked, so light and sweet.

Mom said...

Melissa is currently working on her "project in a tube". Maybe she'll post pictures of hers or you can come visit me and we'll got see a finished project. Kenzie's turned out great.
I don't know how much more I can take of "Between Naps.." - it's making me so homesick for North Carolina and my southern home. Especially since it got up to 28 degrees yesterday and I remember planting marigolds in February in the South. Love the pictures and love the room.:)

Jill said...

I love this post, because you see...I'm seriously thinking about converting my scrapbook room to a sewing room and taking up an entirely new hobbie. Scrapbooking has lost it's charm for me now that I blog and have my blog printed.
When I read your blog I want to take up sewing. I'm seriously considering this change and your room makes me want to do it even more.
I've really got to get over to your house and see it in person!!!

amylouwhosews said...

Love this room! I'm 98% happy for you - 2% jealous! One day I'll have my own room too....

KQ said...

I can see why that's your happy place, but where's all the gorgeous fabric you use?

melissa said...

Huh. Where DO you keep your fabric? It looks even happier with your beautiful lone star quilt. I'm hoping to have my Christmas gift in a tube done by the end of the week. Not totally sure what it's going to look like when I'm done.

Nicole said...

Christmas gift in a tube... ahahahaha! The fabric is in a safe place I like to call Wouldn't You Like To Know.

susan said...

You have created a great place for yourself! I love the blue--I think the right blue for wall is hard to find and can be really tricky :) Your lone star hanging is beuatiful and I am glad you kept it for yourself. Beautiful family picture!

Allison Shops said...

Love the blue. The quilt hanging is beautiful. I used to have a quilt in each bedroom. I use them now on the back veranda.

I hope you'll stop by AtticMag and see a tour of my home this week.
Allison

Anonymous said...

Oh, what a wonderful sewing room. You've thought of everything you've needed and it has it's perfect place! Your quilt is just beautiful! I'm not a quilter but my mother is. I do sew and would love a room like this all for myself!
I know you're enjoying it - it's lovely.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

allyn said...

why is your sewing room always so spic and spam? how is it possible that you don't have three different types of saws, an air compressor, some crown mold propped against the wall and trash all around? how is this possible? i am way jealous of your tidy creative corner.

Peg said...

Your sewing room is so inviting. I'm sure you enjoy the time you spend there. I love the beautiful quilt on the wall!

Erika Mulvenna said...

What a great room!

Sewconsult said...

Congratulations in acquiring your own space. When we built or house 21yrs ago, that was my #1 request. Your quilts are gorgeous.

Brenda said...

Love your room - I am originally from Montana - but now I am in the South!!! Glad you ventured out!!! I am an avid quilter also and have re-done one of our guest bedrooms as my sewing room - I'll have to post that someday soon - I too just love to be able to go up and start sewing...I'll keep an eye out to see what you are up to!!