At the end of October I got busy taking my sewing room apart in lieu of some new furniture / storage my boyfriend kindly offered to buy me. He had finally had enough of the constant mess I was creating, so luckily he decided to help me rather than kick me out!
Anyway, on the weekend I finally found some time to finish converting this...
...into this!
I'm still housing my patterns on the old bookcase - which has worked well for me so far - and having got rid of the small bookcase, I've also relocated all my sewing and knitting books. I like having everything close together like this, it's really handy.
We also replaced my old desk, which has surprisingly made a world of difference! This one is wider which allows me much more movement when sewing and the lack of shelves is actually liberating and a whole lot less claustrophobic! Sadly, we're not allowed to hang / pin stuff on our rented walls, so it looks rather sparse on that front. However, I 'd like to make some mood boards, or something, to at least blu tack to the wall...
The piece de resistance, however, has to be the wall unit! The cupboards and drawers allow me to hide all my messy notions / tools and the cubicles are perfect for storing fabric. I've anally sorted all my fabric into types - it took forever to refold and sort, but it was so worth it just to feel this organised!
There was even room left to display a very special (and quite early) 30th Birthday present from some very special friends...this early 1930s tea set is literally to die for. I'm so happy I finally have somewhere to keep it where I can openly admire it!
Obviously this is a long way from my dream sewing room - I'd have a huge room, wooden floors, way more colour on the walls, inspiration boards / photos hanging from everywhere, double aspect windows for more light, more surfaces to cut out / work on...the list is endless - but I think we've done really well with the space we have and considering our renting restrictions. And, I totally know I'm lucky to even have a dedicated sewing room in the first place!
So, are you happy with where you sew? What does your ideal sewing space look like?
Gasp!! What a makeover! That wall unit is perfect - in fact, where'd you get it?? My rickety shelving is close to collapse... There really is nothing like a studio spring clean to get the sewing mojo back into overdrive! I'm pretty happy with my sewing space, but it could definitely do with some custom organised storage system. And I have a long rail with s-hooks to hang stuff off that I keep meaning to put up. Endless improvements...!
ReplyDeleteHappy (early) birthday too! xxx
Very predictable, but we ordered it from Ikea online - http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/series/09064/
DeleteI love that you have a studio...swoon!!!
Oh my your fabric stash is amazing! I wish I had a bookshelf like that. My sewing room is a total mess. It definitely needs some reorganization.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat, best get sewing though ;o) You have the little one now, so we'll excuse your messy sewing room...hehe!
DeleteI am wriggling in my seat with jealousy! This looks absolutely gorgeous. You may have inspired me, also. As you know, I only have that tiny round table thing at the window to sew on, and it drives me crazy - there's nowhere for fabric to spread out. I may need to remedy this situation in the new year... Well done, you and your fella! Storming. PS It's really odd to see my row of sewing books on someone else's shelf!
ReplyDeleteGlad to be of inspiring service Karen! If I remember, you have a pretty big dining room table though, that must be good for cutting on?! And yes, it's so odd to see 'your' stuff in other people's pictures ;o)
DeleteNice stash! What a difference, the room looks much bigger now. And it's tidy :) I don't have a seperate room for my sewing, I sew at my computer table in the living room. Which is actually an old dining table.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much! Your set up goes to show that where there's a passion, there's a way ;o)
DeleteOh it's wonderful Marie! What a lovely, organised space, you'll get a lot of pleasure working in such a lovely room. I must admit, I noticed yur beautiful tea set in the very first picture so I'm really pleased it gets a close-up later on! I love my sewing space but like you, I wish there was room for an inspiration board. Enjoy! x
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane, I knew you'd approve ;o) I absolutely adore your sewing space too...maybe we both just need to make ourselves a couple of inspiration boards in the new year.
DeleteWow! Well done you! It looks so well organised, and I am so jealous that you have so much space! I'm sure it will make your sewing a much more enjoyable process from now on :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie, I hope I'll be way more productive now!
DeleteI love it! Especially the girlish pop the tea set brings. What agreat space!
ReplyDeleteThe tea set is just divine, I'm so lucky to have such a gorgeous piece of history to inspire me!
DeleteOh, so lovely. I have dreams of a sewing dedicated room too. Currently I have a corner of our lounge but I tend to spread out into the whole room if I'm not careful, drives the boyfriend crazy. Perhaps if I carry on, he'll offer to buy me some furniture too!! I am also super jealous of your fabric stash, I mean apart from all the lovely things you can make from it, it's so pretty to look at all organised like that. Great job! x
ReplyDeleteYep,I definitely look at my fabric stash way more often than I sew from/with it! Fingers crossed your boyfriend takes pity on you too...hehe!
DeleteIt looks lovely!! I'm so jealous of all that fabric!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shanni, just need to get sewing up a storm now!
DeleteOh wow! What a transformation! It looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow that's ace! Super organised and ready for action! I'm jealous of you and your lovely sewing room now. One day we'll both have our dream sewing rooms :-) And what a lovely tea set!
ReplyDeleteYep, I'm confident that one day we will!
DeleteWhat an inspiring space! I did a little bit of stash-stirring at the weekend and found things I had forgotten about. How much better to have everything out in the open so you can see it! And so well organised!
ReplyDeleteRuth, I too found stuff that I had no recollection of at all...terrible isn't it! But at least I can see it all now and hopefully use it up faster...
DeleteHow lovely! I really like the stacked cubicle unit - ideal for all kinds of neat storage :) What a lovely boyfriend you have!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sarah! This unit is definitely ideal for so many things!
DeleteOh its lovely! So well laid out too, with lots of room :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah, I'm so pleased with the outcome!
DeleteIt looks gorgeous! So nice to have a little place for all your sewing goodies - and I'm going to have to steal your idea for rolling the knit fabrics (why do I keep trying to fold mine? Why why why???).
ReplyDeleteI do want to know why you can't hang stuff on your walls, though - that's so dumb! I hear a lot of people in other countries say they have the same restrictions - are y'alls landlords afraid of a few little thumbtack holes? What are you supposed to do with your art?? I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND I AM SO ANGRY ON YOUR BEHALF.
Thank you and steal away! Although I must say that I have the biggest crush on your AMAZING sewing room...it's what I aspire to one day ;o)
DeleteAnd yep, it's totally annoying that we can't put anything on the walls or decorate in any way. Rented apartments and up looking so generic for that very reason. One day though when we own our own place, I'm going to do all crazy shit to it ;o)
Um, this is AMAZING!!! This might be my dream sewing room, it's so organized!!
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks! There are other much prettier sewing rooms out there, but I'm very relieved to have my fabrics so organised finally!
DeleteIt looks so well organised and what a stash of fabrics and patterns you have. I too was wondering why you had all my sewing books on your shelves I even had to go and check to see if mine were still there. Enjoy your sewing room it great to be creative in a workable space.
ReplyDeleteHaha, don't worry I didn't steal your books. I just think we all have the same tastes / wishlists etc!
DeleteYour stash is HUGE, I'm so jealous! The room looks amazing. I currently sew on the floor in the lounge. Yes, seriously. So my hubby is in the middle of putting in a window seat in the bay window of the lounge, one bit of which will double up as my sewing corner when the cushion part is lifted off. Not ideal but a good deal better than trying to thread the needle lying on my tummy on the floor...!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, you are one dedicated lady! Hopefully you'll get more of a dedicated space sorted soon thanks to your hubby ;o)
DeleteWowzers!! It's fantastic! I am very jealous at the amount of fabric and room you have. I have a desk for my sewing machine with drawers for sewing stuff, but fabric and yarn go under the bed. May you have many happy hours in your sewing room. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Lynne!
DeleteMarie it is gorgeous! And what a fabric stash, you'll feel like you're going shopping every time you pick fabric with it all set out so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I must admit that the stash is somewhat overwhelming, but I feel much better about it now that it's organised!
DeleteBravo! I can relate, as I have a dedicated sewing for the first time ever and it is MARVELOUS, isn't it? Beautiful tea set, too, by the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Miranda and I'm glad you're loving your sewing room too!
DeleteHun it looks so lovely but def ocdish ;-) x
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks Rzyna!!! You've got me totally figured out ;o)
Deletewell done with the storage, you have so much fabric/patterns, I'm not jealous, honestly ;)
ReplyDeleteMy sewing room is waiting to be painted and furnished as we have a new house, so I'm all eyes and ears for inspiration.
Oooh, how exciting on the new house front! I hope you share some pictures of your sewing room soon, sounds like it's going to be brilliant!
DeleteVery nice room! Wish you nice sewing here!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sveta!
DeleteAhh I wish I had that much fabric and that amount of patern choice:) Looks great
ReplyDeletehttp://becstiches.blogspot.com.au/
Your room is amazing - it is so beautifully organized, it must be a pleasure to sew in now. What a stash - super impressive - now that it is all laid out for you to see will you stop purchasing?
ReplyDeleteOh yes, seeing it all there in plain view has definitely convinced me to sew more and buy less! ;o)
DeleteIt looks great!! I went on a cleaning frenzy in my sewing room today and it's looking much better but still has a ways to go. I wish I had a huge desk and a whole wall of cubbies!
ReplyDeleteWhat a difference!! That tea set is divine!!
ReplyDeleteOh wow. The big unit really is perfect for storing a stash :)
ReplyDeleteI've been lusting after one as the combination of boxes and shelves seems really useful.
wow. I'm so jealous over how much space you have! Your org job looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWow! I love it! You did such a great job. It's all so organized and pretty. I can't wait until we've finished remodeling so I can do this in my sewing room.
ReplyDeleteIt's so organized and lovely!!! That wall piece is especially perfect - well done!!
ReplyDeleteOh, how gorgeous! This looks amazing! I really HAVE to clean my space up soon! It's too terrible!
ReplyDeleteNice work on the tidying lady. Looks fantastic. I'm currently reading a room of one's own and it's just making me ache for a naturally lit oasis to sew and listen to records until the wee small hours :)
ReplyDeleteI'm completely jealous of how organized and orderly your sewing room is! I'm long overdue for an overhaul.
ReplyDeleteOMG. Best post ever. Must. organise. my sewing space!
ReplyDelete