Thank you so much for inviting me to join in with your fantastic series. I should warn you and your readers now that this wont be one of those visits that makes your jaw drop and your heart flutter a bit... Nope. No enviable "space" here...... But anyway, its so lovely to be asked, and I do like to join in.
Where is your Sewing Space?
This house has a bit of an odd layout which leaves us with a room accessible only through the spare room. I say "room"... Before I moved in with Man it was a cupboard of the "shut eyes - open door - chuck in - close door and run" variety.... One delivery from a certain Swedish outlet, and a whole ton of work from my mum (thanks mum!), and we have the sewing cupboard.
What 3 words do you feel best describes it?
Cosy. Interesting. FULL!!!
What are your most important things in there?
Fabric. Fabric. And some more Fabric. My sewing machine. And Granny's table... I sew at the same table my gran did most of her sewing at when it was her dining table! It looked a whole lot different then, had a very very dark lacquer on it, no pin marks, no squeaks... Years ago when it came to me I spent a few days stripping and waxing it. A couple of years of sewing on it have taken their toll, but I love it though!
How is the room laid out?
The room is too small to take pictures that show it, so here's a rough layout... Clockwise from top right!
- Drawer cabinet with paper (including tracing paper, foundation paper, stitch and tear etc), quilting stuff (gloves, tape, basting stuff etc) postage stuff (bags, labels, envelopes, tissue paper, ribbons etc) Stacked on top of drawers we have flannel bedding for quilt backs, and all my batting.
- The massive amount of shelving that houses pretty much everything else
- CD Tower stuffed with fabric
- 2 wooden boxes stacked. Bottom one has all my interfacings, and top one has W.I.P's
- Stool for putting laptop on... or stuff that wont fit on table when I'm working!
- Granny's table. Sewing machine live on or under it, alternating with the cutting mat.
- Window ledge! Handy for threads and the essential dab radio so I can listen to Radcliffe & Maconi and Radio 4 Extra.
Do you have anything in the room for inspiration?
I don't have anything on the walls - sticky stuff don't stick and if we hammered a nail in them they'd crack even more....lol But I do have a shelf full of sewing books, sewing magazines etc, and honestly I mostly use the Internet and my stash for inspiration. I do have a narrow bit of design wall though, and that is definitely something I'd recommend if you can squeeze it in somewhere. Mine is a bit of insulation board I got a friendly builder to fix to the wall, covered with batting. Its about 7ft tall but only about 30 inches wide. Its still a massive help though!
I don't have anything on the walls - sticky stuff don't stick and if we hammered a nail in them they'd crack even more....lol But I do have a shelf full of sewing books, sewing magazines etc, and honestly I mostly use the Internet and my stash for inspiration. I do have a narrow bit of design wall though, and that is definitely something I'd recommend if you can squeeze it in somewhere. Mine is a bit of insulation board I got a friendly builder to fix to the wall, covered with batting. Its about 7ft tall but only about 30 inches wide. Its still a massive help though!
Where do you keep your fabric stash and how do you organise it?
I obsessively fold, open out, stroke, re-fold and organise my fabric in transparent boxes on a regular basis... I think I'd probably get more sewing done if my stash was in another room entirely! Hmmmm might try that...
Do you have any top tips to do with work spaces?
Only to take full advantage of all the storage and organisation methods that Swedish meatball place offers... Its all you can do to use the space you've got and enjoy it, however poky and dilapidated it may be.... We'd all love a dedicated sewing studio, and I'll bet those with one still wish they had somewhere bigger!
Only to take full advantage of all the storage and organisation methods that Swedish meatball place offers... Its all you can do to use the space you've got and enjoy it, however poky and dilapidated it may be.... We'd all love a dedicated sewing studio, and I'll bet those with one still wish they had somewhere bigger!
What would your ideal workspace look like/be?
Can you just imagine this place as a dedicated sewing studio?
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| source : amazing loft studio |
Sweet dreams!!
OMG I love that dream space and I too love that Swedish Meatball place! Thanks again for showing us around Sarah xxx
19 comments:
Love the sneak peak into the cupboard!
the upside of a small space is you don't have to walk long ways to get what you need ... and if you feel the constant need to re-organise your fabric .. the sweedish company also offers those roll up/down kind of blinds - "out of sight out of the mind" (ok that's a wobbly translation of a proverb)
Thanks for inviting us in ...
Small, but everythings there! So cool to see your cupboard :) Can't believe how organised evrything is !
Love seeing where the magic happens xxx
Thank you x
Oh yes, the Swedish place rocks the fabric storage thing! Although I think their in-store designers would be secretly horrified ;o)
Yes! finally got to see inside the 'cupboard'!!
That is one great cupboard!
I love these posts, it's so great to be able to really imagine people in their spaces ...
Oh wow thanks for showing you the cupboard. I really thought they just shoved you in a cupboard when you were sleeping. No wonder I was worried when I saw that retreat picture of you covered in a quilt. ;-) Your space is inspirational as it shows how you can really get a small space to work so well for you if you're organised. I so need to live nearer the Swedish meatball place...
I actually think your cupboard might be bigger than my cupboard! Floor space might be about the same, but I'm under the eaves of the roof so that makes it even smaller. I actually think small is great though - would you really want to be rattling around in a great big studio? OK, you don't need to answer that!
What a fabulous peek into the cupboard and I'm delighted to learn it's got a window - I was worried about your eyes ;o) I'd love to spend a fortnight in there, looking at all the lovely stuff you've cleverly squeezed in!
Love how you get so much into your space. I am the world's most disorganised person and if I ever get a cupboard (or bigger) of my own I need to take Sarah with me to the meatball shop.
I am so envious of the sewing room. Can't speak.
I admire how you fit everything in, and make great use of your space.
I love what you did with the 'Monica' cupboard! Great to see into you wee space, you know you really need to come and fold here, you could be lost for months!
Thanks for sharing your cupboard, Sarah....I remember my cupboard sewing days well. Yes the swedish meatball place helped me out too.
Love Sarah's cosy corner! Jxo
Bit like a TARDIS!
Now I was going to say Tardis - you are one mean organiser Sarah.
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