My little space

Here it is:  the sewing room, or studio, if you prefer that.  I call it both.  I painted it this beautiful turquoise-y blue last August and have been dreaming of getting it organized since way before then.  I did it and know that if the machine hadn't been gone for three weeks it never would have happened.

Here is the machine in its newly spruced up home.  I hung the peg board and keep patting myself on the back because it was a great idea.  No more lost scissors, rulers, embroidery hoops - they all have a home.

Here's the view I have while sitting at the table.  I covered a piece of plywood with cork and then fabric.  It looks a bit empty, but I am excited to fill it up with all the little things I have hoarded over the years.   Fatty hung the thread racks awhile back and I added the old E and photos of my little family.  And that little painting in an oval frame is an antique that my former boss and friend Susan gave me.

Next to the peg board on a blank spot of wall, Fatty and I installed a flannel board.  It small, but handy.  I like to lay out patchwork to visualize it and I think this will help.  It can also hold all the little bits of the appliques I like to do.  No more lost pieces!

Behind the table are shelves filled with fabric and trims.  The cottons along with the trims and buttons are organized by color.  The rest of the fabric is organized, too.  You probably couldn't tell how, though.  There is a stack of wool felt and some larger flat folds of cotton.  Throw in upholstery weight fabric organized by room/project and you get the drift.

Set back a bit from the other shelves, these hold the nuts and bolts:  books, patterns, supplies and super large flat folds.

On the next wall is a little alcove covered by a makeshift curtain (it still needs to be hemmed) which hides more stuff.  The ironing board can hang out of the way when not in use.

And on the door is this collage, made my friend Suzanne.  It always makes me smile.

You can see before pictures here and more photos of the finished space over on flickr.  We have family in town and a big weekend ahead.  If it's quiet on the blog, you can probably find me sitting in my chair, soaking it all in, loving my little space.

Finished

Meet my bird pillow:

I made this in my sewing class yesterday.  On Friday morning, I was unsure where I was going to put a new rose pillow.  I thought about making it for the window seat on our staircase landing, but couldn't find any fabric I was crazy about.  I thought about making it for one of the girls, but I was pretty sure the ribbon roses wouldn't hold up to being thrown on the floor and jumped on.  So the guest room it was.  It's all a bit humorous seeing that the guest room isn't even painted and has nothing in it that looks good with this pillow.  But when I get finished, I am sure it will fit right in.

I decided to embroider the bird to add a bit of interest to the insert.  I had planned on framing the image with some gingham ribbon, but my instructor suggested the Freshcut bias tape. Perfect, I thought.  I then added the ric rac.  The little ribbon roses and leaves set it all off.  I am thrilled with the end result.  I love my new pillow!

Here's a peek at the back.  Since the day I learned to put a zipper in a pillow, I haven't done it any other way.  It is surprisingly easy, looks professional and allows me to change it or clean it without any hassle at all.

So now that the pillow is finished, time to paint the room.  I'm off to spackle some holes before the Oscars!

Goldilocks and the Three Pillows

The third floor of our house is one big room that is currently used as a playroom/guest room.  One of my favorite parts of this room is the large window seat.  I have always thought it would be the perfect place to lay down, read and take a little nap.  It just never happens, though.  It's just too big, actually too deep.  I have tried, but I just can't get cozy enough to drift off to dreamland.

While trashing out the sewing room, I found two 14"x36" pillows that I had bought, but had forgotten about.  The closet is small and they were taking up valuable real estate, but I couldn't see them due to the mess.  Then there was the bolt of extra fabric leftover from the window seat cushion...light bulb!  I got out the scissors and got to work.  An hour later...pillows!

I plopped them on the seat, arranged the throw pillows and took it for a test drive.  Better, but not just right - two won't cut it, it really needs three.  Back to the sewing machine I went.  Now the third cover is ready, just waiting for the insert to arrive.

Kate likes it, too.  Now if she'd just take a nap....

A Dark Corner

This corner is next to our kitchen, but not really part of it.  It's not really a hallway either, just a little rectangle of space that houses staircases (the one on the right goes up and the one behind the door goes to our basement).  It's a strange space that came about as a result of an addition a previous owner had made.  It adds to our quirky house's character.  The peg rack was on the door when we moved in and I use it the most.  Right now it is home to my coats.

Do you see a theme?  I heart green and black.

Nutcrackers

Not only do we collect smokers, we collect nutcrackers too.  My parents have a massive collection at their house - well over a hundred.  Fittingly, they give Fatty one every year for Christmas and, after being married 10 years now, we have quite a little collection.

This is part of the group that is standing at attention on our sideboard.  It was hard to get a good photo of the whole group, so here are two favorites.

This guy is my favorite.  I LOVE to ski.  Really, though, it's the hat that got me.  How could you not love that hat?  He looks like he stepped right off of the slopes sometime in the 1970's.

And this guy is one of two Oktober Fest nutcrackers.  Fatty is in the beer business so it's appropriate that we have him and his brother.  This one is postively Bavarian with the moustache and fabulous suspenders.  I wish I had some of that trim in my stash!

Smokers

Did you see my new banner?  If not, clear your cache and refresh.  Those little guys are smokers.  I consider them cousins to the Nutcracker.  I may be wrong, but I think they are German.  At least that is where mine are from.  My mom has been giving one to my brothers and I for many Christmases now.  The ones in the banner are only part of my collection.  I love taking them out of the boxes and lining them up on our mantle each year.

This little Santa is one of the older ones.  I love his eyes - they have character.  All of these smokers can burn incense, too.  If you take the top half off, there is a little metal disc to put incense on.  Pop the top back on and smoke comes out of the mouth.  The girls are very concerned about this.  I tell them they are right, smoking isn't good for you, but don't worry, these guys are made of wood.

We have a couple other Christmas collections.  I will share those as soon as the light allows me to get some decent photos.  Happy Wednesday!

When I thought things couldn't get any worse....

This is my entry for November's Tie One On.  I made this apron (along with 9 others) for my local spring craft swap.  I loved it so much, I couldn't give it away.  So now, it's mine for keeps!

November's theme was to submit a picture of you wearing an apron and send it along with a favorite holiday recipe (check them out here).   Easy, peasy, I thought.  Well, as always, time got the best of me and I submitted on the last day.  Jane snapped this photo of me in front of one of our trees.  Not bad, huh?

The plan was to have two trees this year:  our standard one with white fairy lights and all the glass and Christopher Radko ornaments I have collected and then a second with the big, old fashioned bulbs, paper chains, popcorn strings and all the wood and handmade kid ornaments including the ones I made as a child.  Did you notice that I said plan?

Here are photos of the two trees now:

Beautiful, fancy glass ornament tree

Old-fashioned, homespun second tree

Yup - thwarted again!  The more kid-friendly version fell.  FELL.  RIGHT AFTER WE HAD PUT ALL THE ORNAMENTS ON.  I know you can picture it....toppled tree, broken glass bulbs, water everywhere, two completely stunned kids, one hysterical woman and one man totally fixated on the water and wood floor combination.  Then it was a long clean up process with lots of tears (mine).  Many of my childhood ornaments broke as did a couple of the girls'.  I am sentimental about those kinds of things hence more tears.  So I pitched it - threw the tree out into the yard and washed my hands of the whole deal.  We had a crap week (found out Friday about another friend's husband dying) and I need it to be over.  Really the black cloud that is hanging over our house needs to move on.

But I got the birthday stuff done.  And the party went well.  Jane was happy.

I still haven't finished the ornaments, though.  But I will.  Today.  In the mail today.

The Letter H

This is my all-time favorite wall in my house.  No room for discussion - I love it!

Um, this is the clean version of our desk, but as I am looking at the photo I'm thinking it could use a little more straightening.  Maybe later.

One Corner

A little peek at one of my favorite corners decorated for Halloween...

The jack-o-lantern is from my childhood and actually has a small bulb inside so it can light up the night.  I love having this - wish I could find someone to make them for J and K.

I'm off in the morning for a girls' trip to NYC.  Can't wait!  The thought of sleeping in, shopping (thank you, Susan, for the fabric store info) and good meals with good friends has me giddy.  First, though, I have laundry to put away, dinner to make, kids to bathe and, because I am a procrastinator, bills to pay and a suitcase to pack.

Have a great weekend!

Spoooooky

I was able to check one thing off my list today:  Halloween decorations.

Mind you, I only got the outside completed.  And that spider web stuff, what a pain!  Thanks to Mailorder, I did manage to get started on the inside.

A couple of trips to the basement for a few more small things and then we'll be finished.

On to the next thing - costumes.  This one I am dreading.

Thinking Pink

The bathroom renovation is almost complete.  All that is left is some drywall repair on the ceiling, a little more tile work and painting.  In this house, I am the painter.  So instead of crafting, I spent a couple of hours this morning priming woodwork and some new drywall.  Yawn.  At least the fun part is next - color!  Because this is Jane's bathroom and because she wants pink, pink it will be.  Ribbon Pink by Benjamin Moore to be exact.

I had originally thought that the bathroom would be green.  Jane shares the bath with our guest room and I thought pink might be too sweet for anyone under  over the age of 12.  As I thought more about it, I realized we have a lot of green around here.  A lot.  We probably don't need too much more.  And I like pink.  It is one of my favorite colors.  And pink is sweet.  And sweet isn't a bad thing for a 6 1/2 year old girl.  Actually, it's quite nice.