Debby's Sewing Studio

Welcome to my sewing room!

As long as I can remember I have wanted a room that was mostly a sewing room.  As many of you know, having children in a home, and moving lots of times, do not lend themselves to space set aside for sewing.  So I am really excited now to have my own creative space!  I do still share it with the computer and office stuff, but that's ok since the computer is a great place to look for quilt patterns and sewing tutorials and you tube videos on binding techniques.

The room has been a work in progress, with the shelves on the wall being the most recent addition.  Lots of projects in varies stages there.  And room for more fabric... My dad helped me build the sewing cabinet years ago, specially planned with a place for cutting mats and rulers, and the top for cutting.   

I have use of half of the closet and have mounted batting and a layer of flannel on one of the doors for a design wall.  That is currently displaying an 'over-due' graduation gift with photo transfers. 

Having the bulletin board area above my sewing machine is really handy, so that I can look at pattern directions while I am working.  Otherwise, they seem to slide away under the table or behind a shelf... And I like to have special things around me that remind me of family and friends – photos and handmade gifts. 

I am so enjoying my job at Seams Like Home!  I love to help choose fabrics and plan quilts, or other sewing projects.  And teaching classes is awesome!  All in all, I get to do the things I love to do and help others develop their confidence and creativity too!  How fun is that!

Debby

Jenni's Sewing Studio aka "Mom's Sweat Shop"

Welcome to my sweat shop!  To many people I would imagine this space is merely a spare room full of stuff.  To my daughters and me…it’s where dreams are designed and made into reality!    Sort of…sew like you have never sewn before girls!!!!  

Many evenings are spent in our little ‘sweat shop’.  In this room, anything is possible.  I chose the spare room next to the playroom in our house, so I could be near the kiddos.  However, it has turned into so much more…  It’s a special place where my daughters and I enjoy  sewing, designing, creating, watching Netflix, sharing school day drama, helping with reports, crafts for scouting badges, science fairs, and so much more…. WHEW!  So much going on in an 9’x12’ space, it can be organized chaos at times. Maybe even a little disorganized.  Whether we are designing, creating, cutting, storing, we all have our little stations.

What’s the best part about my studio?  Besides sharing it my talented girls? And sewing on a FABULOUS 635 LE E?  My pegboard wall…  Yup..  Thanks Hubby!!!!   With the peg board, I am able to stay organized and keep my tools handy.  I like having a place for everything.  I try to keep my fabrics coordinated in color/pattern schemes so I can visualize using them in future projects.  Most of them are kept in the closet.  I try to keep the current projects visible…otherwise; I tend to get a case of creative distraction disorder!  I find the fabric organizer cards are a great way to stay organized and keep coordinates together!!  Seams Like Home has them now and they are GREAT! 

My daughters each have their own space to dream, design, and create.  My youngest is more into painting (check out her latest artwork on my pegboard wall), fabric art and designing (she is currently designing jackets for our fur babies!).  Meanwhile, my oldest likes to create gifts (personally embroidered scarves, knitted hats, and much more) for her friends, apparel for herself, and her American Girl Doll.

Their space was created with a shelf and storage bins.  It’s versatile and able to be moved when the room needs to be used as a guest area.  

The Cutting Table is our workspace hub.  Drawing out scrapbook designs, working on a valentine’s day boxes, or cutting out the pattern for a table runner for grandma~ it all happens right here.  Each of my daughters has a chair to sit, help, or just hang out and chat with me while I work.  

I wouldn’t have it any other way!!!

Any Room can be a sewing room.  But, it takes a lot of love and creativity to have a sweat shop like mine!  I hope you enjoyed a peek into our creative world…  Happy Sewing!!!! 

Jenn's Sewing Studio

Hello everyone!  I am very excited to share my sewing space with you, because much of it is very new.  So new that it still looks tidy and even almost organized!

You see, I am a baby quilter and new at sewing as well.  A few years ago my Aunt, who was an extremely talented quilter, passed away.  I realized there was no one left in the family who did quilting, so I thought I would give it a try.  I come from an artistic background; my Mother is an artist, so I grew up painting and drawing.  As an adult I took up cross-stitching and beading, among other things.  So trying out quilting seemed like a natural progression to me.  My Husband bought me an inexpensive Brother to get started with, and I was off and running!

As I said, that was several years ago, and all this time I’ve just been working with my machine set up on my kitchen table, since we live in a small place without much extra room.  But since I’ve gotten serious about both quilting and sewing, my Husband gifted me with a brand new sewing/embroidery machine this past Christmas, and an updated sewing area to go around it for my birthday in January.  I am so pleased with this new space, even if it is still crammed into one end of my kitchen.

 

Yes, that is a kitty by the window!  That’s Benjamin, one of my three cats, and he likes to be nearby when I’m working, so he has his own spot on top of one of my storage units.

I am trying to keep things as organized as possible, though it does admittedly get pretty messy when I am in the middle of a project.  The shelves in the foreground of that picture are where I keep trims, ribbons, jelly rolls and some other fabrics.  There are also some folders where I keep projects that I’ve torn out of magazines and hope to someday try.  Down below I keep scrap booking papers, paints, and other artsy supplies.

 

Between those shelves and the sewing table, there is a set of cubicle shelves with drawers where I keep most of my fabric stash.  A small ironing board sits on top of that, so I can easily hop up and down from my chair to press seams when I’m working.  I set up a full size ironing board when I have to wrangle larger pieces of fabric.

On the sewing table is, of course, my beautiful new machine.  I absolutely love working with it!  I also have my sewing and quilting threads, and a small bulletin board where I tack reminders and important information.  On the table my sewing box is always to my left.  It’s where I keep most of my small supplies, so I can just grab them all and go when I am taking a class.

To the side, there is a set of shelves where I keep some of my many books handy for reference, as well as items like quilting rulers that are easy to grab when I need them. On the top of those shelves is my collection of embroidery threads, which my Husband also recently bought for me.  He’s pretty awesome, alright!

I’m sure you’ve noticed all the toys and other treasures all around.  Well, I am a collector, there’s no doubt about that.  I collect so many things – dinosaurs, Star Wars and other sci fi paraphernalia, Delft, chickens, cats, My Little Pony toys and Breyer horses, just to name a few favorite obsessions.  And I like to have the things that I love around me.  So, you can see many of those things in my sewing area, along with beautiful gifts that my friend Grace has made for me, pictures of my Mom and Husband, and my “internet niece and nephew”, the hummingbird plate I inherited from my Mother-in-law, and lots of other very special and important things.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this look at my crazy little corner of the kitchen!  It’s pretty wild and colorful, but it makes me very happy to have this space to work in.

Happy Sewing!

JennM

Norm's Sewing Studio

To the observer looking in, this looks like an unorganized mess.  However, this is the place where music fills the air, the daylight lights brightly discern the true colors for the fabrics, the family pictures, statues and photos hang, the sewing machines hum, the creative thoughts flow, and Norman spends his sewing time and spare time with every pile and box having a significant part of the whole.

     I have sewn as long as I can remember.  In a rural county school in Iowa, I learned to do embroidery, spool knit, crochet, and knit. So in this room currently there are five quilts, three shirts, and a blouse in progress with several other project and quilts lying in wait for maturity.  There are also three sweaters, a pair of socks and a scarf in various stages of completion in knitting with others awaiting a beginning date.

     Some of the big projects of my life time in addition to quilts are, the making of my daughter-in-laws wedding dress, a tuxedo for my son, several brides maid dresses, prom dresses, shirts, dress pants and suits.  Also I have exhibited some of my work at the Alaska State Fair.  Since the year 2000, it has been my goal to read 20 books a year and I have exceeded that goal each year.  Oh, by the way my cutting table and ironing board are in the hall. 

     My ambition is to do good work.  I like to do the best I can possibly do, thus I do not hurry and my sewing room is always relaxed.  Happy Sewing!  Norman

Janis' Sewing Studio

Hi, this is Janis' Sewing Space.

  It is not very big, but it has a great view. I love to watch the snow fall out this window or watch the wild life in the summer, although I don't sew as much in the summer. 

  I love sewing on my Bernina 730, and have a hard time deciding whether to embroider or sew these days. :)  

  On the right of the picture is my stack of plastic containers which hold my stash of fabrics. I have been collecting for years. Also one of them contain pieced quilts, that just need the finishing touches. I always have such a choice as to which one I would like to work on. Not counting the new projects I find to do.

  Above my sewing station on the top shelf , is my collection of quilt books. And to the left,  some projects yet to be started,  hanging in very large ziplock bags.  Under the machine are some containers that hold my buttons, and notions. 

  The fall kitty quilt I made a few years ago, just adding a little machine quilting too.

  I share this space with a lot of other things like my food pantry, my husbands bullet loading station and winter gear . As you can see it is quite full. But I do take up this whole side of the room.

 I do most of my cutting in my kitchen, where we have a large counter that works quite well and is very well lit.

 Thanks for looking!
 Janis

Karens Sewing Studio

HEADS WILL ROLL!

I am lucky to have a wonderful and light filled “laboratory” right downstairs next to my family room.  Entry is through pocket doors that can be closed to hide chaos and keep my “dogmonsters” out.  (One “monster” has a penchant for knocking over my Holly Hobby trash can!)  Needless to say, it’s not your typical sewing room.  In my space you’ll find a “manicure and pedicure” attached and drying on the ironing board (I don’t want to smudge the nails!), a head propped up with “makeup setting” and a body waiting for these parts!

   

I try to keep some plan of organization so I have labels on most drawers and containers  - hair - purses  & shoes – dyes – snowflakes - vintage jewelry (by color)  and on and on  – including the inevitable “spare body parts”  bin. (Dolls are “high maintenance”)   I have a fantastic younger sister who finds me so many beautiful trims, jewelry, buttons, lace and everything a doll maker would love to have (and the fashionable doll “needs”).  So I have wrapped all these wonderful “frou frou’s” on old spools, created containers of jewelry and laces, and THE “tower” of button drawers (by color).   In “payment” I send her dolls whether she likes or not!  (I think she likes them.)

However, in some ways, my sewing room is very similar to others.  I do have the drawers of thread, notions, pins, needles, scissors, rulers (and so on) and THE “STASH.”  My “stash”is organized (by color) and I have the “novelty” stack.   I also have a small closet under the stairs (aka “The Black Hole”) where I put things I don’t want to give up (“because I may want them someday”) and I think I still remember what’s in there?   I just ignore this closet most of the time!

My sewing room is my “ahhh” room (unless I need to use my seam ripper) and I love to be in there creating or planning a new project.  It’s a place to relax and just “have fun” (my mantra) and watch a Jane Austen movie while I sew away the day.  I hope you have enjoyed me sharing one of my favorite passions.    

Karen

Welcome!

Oh the possibilities!

The "stash" & iron board accessories!

Sara's Sewing Studio

Happy Monday everyone! This is Sara, and this is a little peek into my sewing room. I am lucky enough to have a whole bedroom dedicated to my sewing space and I don’t have to share with anyone. Even my husband is pretty much not allowed in this room because he seems to “borrow” my Gingher scissors for things they shouldn’t be used for!

I tend to sew all types of things and I do everything from dresses, skirts, hand bags, home dec projects, quilts, machine embroidery and even hand embroidery. I feel that I am confident enough to take on new things by dabbling in many different types of sewing as I love picking up a new type of sewing by simply teaching myself.

In my room I have an ironing station right next to where my sewing machines are, so it’s very convenient to sew and set my pieces on the ironing board to press them later. I have had only TV trays to put my sewing machines on until recently, and I was able to repurpose a table that housed a rabbit cage. This little black table is the perfect height and is super stable so I can be embroidering on my Bernina 630 and sewing on my Bernina 210 (now called the Bernina 215 model) at the same time on the same table. I love to multi-task while sewing so it’s great to have my two machines in the same place. Right next to my sewing machines I have a little end table with a draw that houses all the odds and ends I need while sewing, like quilting gloves, safety pins, and my super useful Bernina Walking foot! And on top of the table is awesome Bernina accessory case that keeps all of my sewing machine feet, accessories, needles and bobbins organized.

Another section of my sewing room is my amazing cutting table. I have always hated cutting on tables that are tradition sitting height as I have to bend down and that never feels good, especially if you have a lot of cutting to do! I think we all know what I’m talking about so I was lucky to find a gathering height table at a closeout furniture store for a great deal and it has made the perfect cutting table! It’s high enough that I don’t have to bend over at all and it leaves tons of space below the table for storage. Below the table I have a bin of interfacing, a bin of batting and a whole tub of projects and kits.

The rest of my sewing room is all about storage and it’s somewhat organized. I have a few lovely little cabinets that just have large floor tiles glued to the top that make good hiding spots for gifts and surprises for my husband as well as storage my knitting, crocheting, yarn, batting and other projects.

In the closet in my sewing room I have two bookshelves that weren’t nice enough to be out in the rest of my house but they are perfect to be filled with gorgeous fabric! The shelf on the left is just fabrics that are to be used. This includes fabrics that are given to me, fabrics I have fallen in love with at first sight, and fabrics that seem perfect for the people in my life but I have no idea what I’m going to do with them. The shelf on the right is my project shelf. Everything there has already been set aside to be used in projects and some of the projects are even cut out and some are in different stages of being put together. It’s nice to have this project shelf as I can grab things depending on my desire to cut, sew or quilt!

Activa 210 (Now called the B215)

This is my space, it’s not much but to me it’s wonderful!  If I ever move or have children soon I hope I don’t have to give up this amazing space but I would deal. Then I would just be making a mess all over the dining room able! Thanks for looking!

Say hi the next time you’re in the store!
Sara Carmen