A Room of Her Own

This is the last in our series of the Sewing Room redo, although there will always be more to accomplish.

This is the view from the door, showing the left side of the room. The daybed bed faces the sewing table and the organizational bins. This room needs to remain a guest bedroom as well as a sewing room. Look closely on the bed. Do you see anyone you know?


Wait a minute. Let's zoom in for a closer look.

Yep, that's me, doing what I like to do best. All those years of looking through Where's Waldo books with the kids helps Momcat spot me every time.

Thank you all for your kind comments regarding my organizational skills. I have to fight an uphill battle with my bean (why do you think I'm so tired all the time?). To illustrate my point....


Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid


This door leads into the basement/laundry room/ kitty toilette. And look what's here.




The fabric stash. Totes upon totes, to the point where I'm hoping Momcat doesn't have to flip a circuit breaker or else she'll have to send Butch in for the rescue, and I don't think we'd stand a chance. His favorite show is Short Attention Span Theater.

Now do you understand why I've forced Momcat to be on No Buy? I've developed a strategy for her. Things in the sewing room have to be WIPS, UFOs or PIGS. As a project is completed and we can count it as stash out the door, Trouble and I will tell Momcat about the next project in the queue. At that point, fabric specifically selected for the new project is allowed to escape the chains of the dungeon and enter into the light of the sewing room. There will be such fun in going through these containers searching for just the right color, the perfect material, and the coordinating fabrics to work on that special project.

This makes me think about one's purpose in life. Some human beans put themselves into self-imposed basements. In bins where their talents are hidden, they're crumpled and smashed, not discernible from the other inhabitants of the dark container. And then to be released! To find a purpose, a mission, a sense of being needed and loved. For us to be just the right piece for that special project. What a blessing to move into the light!


Still snoozing,
Piwacket

Sewing Room Redo - Part Deux

What about those of us who aren't likely to win a $10,000 Sewing Room Makeover? (Don't forget to click to enter on the sidebar). Momcat and I believe in living simply. She lives in the starter home that she and CatDaddy bought in 1984. Bloom where you are planted is a phrase heard frequently around here.

For many years, in this 1400 square foot house, sewing meant using the kitchen table and then moving everything when it was time for dinner and/or the kids' homework. When older son, Darren, got his own apartment, Momcat took over his room (with his permission) painting it in shades of lavender, buttercream and light sage. Having a room of her own for inspiration and creation is a huge blessing, even if it's 11" x 11" and still used as a guest room.


Here's the sewing space looking from the door. The table and chair belonged to CatDaddy's grandma and has special meaning to Momcat. Every scratch and watermark indicates an action made by people she loves. This table was given to her by Grandma Irma when she had to enter a nursing home. It's been used as a play table in the family room, an extra table when family gatherings have been held and now the beloved sewing table. I know that Grandma Irma is smiling down, knowing how much love has surrounded this simple maple table.

BTW, it has hinged leaves on either side that allow the workspace to expand. Great when trying to cut, iron and quilt all at the same time!

These containers are fairly new. They're Sterlite containers with casters, and sitting on top of them are boxes from IKEA. Momcat has been teaching me how to use the label maker. Some drawers aren't labeled yet. There's still some arranging to be done.


Here's a view from the Pi-Cam. I'm under the sewing table looking at the shelf to the left in the picture. This is what is on the bottom shelf.


And here's the rest of the shelf.


Here's that corner as seen from the daybed (you'll see the other half of the room in a future post).
You'll find many loving and inspirational bits in our sewing room. These are things that have no meaning or value to anyone but us. This container of purple hearts for example....


These five hearts were given to Momcat by her mother, Eileen. Now Eileen is 83 and Linda/Momcat is her only daughter. Things weren't always the best between them when Momcat was younger, and there was a sad time of complete estrangement for a couple of years in adulthood. Then a remarkable thing happened. Mother and daughter each softened their hearts at the same time. Forgiveness, love, understanding and respect won out over obstinacy and ego.

Eileen gave Momcat the hearts as a peace-offering. They are smooth and also represent the five smooth stones that David used. Not only are they a beautiful reminder of God's constant presence and the miracles of the heart, but of the love between a mother and a daughter. They also remind Momcat to never allow a heart made of stone to weigh her down again.

Plus they're nicely practical!


The sewing room is a corner bedroom and we like to work with the windows open, as well as with the ceiling fan on. That means that patterns or bits of fabric, or tracing paper can fly around in the breeze. The hearts make fantastic paperweights.

Here is the bag made by Regina that was part of a raffle Momcat won. Isn't it cute? And the darling socks were a gift from Cathy, fellow coffee and cat-lover.



Next up we're doing a bit more in the sewing room closet. We're using another Sterlite organizer on casters. The top drawer has already been labeled and filled with gift wrapping supplies.

The second drawer has interfacing, yarn, and me.


I'm a curvy kitty who doesn't miss many meals. Thankfully, the organizer survived my endurance test.

What I Learned About Organizing Your Work Area:

1. Be patient with yourself. You didn't accumulate all this stuff in a day, so don't expect to conquer it in an afternoon.

2. Start small. Our first project was to manage the fat quarters. That's all we did for about a week.

3. Make sure you surround yourself with things that will inspire you and remind you of the love you can give and receive. However, you also need to declutter. Be selective in what you keep.

4. Use what you have.

5. Set a budget and don't worry about how things look to others. Each week Momcat allowed herself to spend $25 on some kind of organizational supply. The big closet systems were way out of our league, but we've found something much less expensive that serves us perfectly.

6. Laugh and listen to some music while you go.

7. Throw away perfection. It is not your friend.

8. A label maker IS your friend.

9. Express gratitude for whatever you have and wherever you are. If you own a sewing machine, a computer, and have any kind of space at all, you are more fortunate than most of the people on this earth. Life is good. Give thanks.



Stash Report Week 2

Stash In: 0 yds
Stash Out: 0 yds

Your pieceful partner,
Piwacket