Sewing Room Redux 3

Do you remember when I talked about how I installed cabinets in my second floor room over the garage because I was going to use it as my sewing room? Well, I changed plans during the winter and moved my fabric stash and everything else to our spare room on the third floor because I was tired of having to go from one room to another to gather all my items for sewing. Anyways, after my relocation I decided a month later that it would not work and relocated again to the first floor. All because of this thing.

Yes that is a library card catalog you are looking at. One of those coveted items that one can only wish to find. I was lucky enough to win this one at an online government auction for a steal.

As you can see I replaced the labels with some of my own. The green labels indicate craft type supplies while the hot pink (looks red in the picture) labels store my sewing supplies. Thankfully I only managed to fill up half of this thing. The card catalog is so heavy (despite removing all the drawers) that I was only able to move it to the first floor. My little study is now my new sewing/craft room.

I replaced the books in my bookshelves with my craft and sewing supplies. Reams of scrapbook paper, my cricut, sizzix, boxes of trim and tons of stickers are stored here. Mister is not very happy with this arrangement because he says it looks messy. Guess I can't please everyone. I do plan on cleaning this area up in anticipation of my daughters birthday, but for now I've been sewing up a storm ever since my new move.

For now here is my current work in progress: my first taffy blouse from the Colette sewing book.

All I need to do is hem the bottom and finish adding some bias tape to the sleeves. I am prepared to cut out and start some more of these this weekend. Stay tuned for my review. Lastly is a picture of another sewing project that I completed last weekend.



I got tired of looking at my plain notebooks that I use at work so I used up some of my scrap fabric and covered them. I even added a lopsided pocket to hold a pen. I will have to raid my scrap stash to make one more cover for my third notebook. Felt like I had to do something to brighten my day at work. Have a great weekend everyone.

The Missing Novice

Egads. Sorry that I've been neglecting my blog as of late. Been very busy planning and executing my daughters birthday party (she is two years old now) and I'm also just getting over Easter and Mister's birthday as well. Now my birthday is coming up next weekend. Sheesh. Between you and me I really don't like birthdays. Enough about that. I wanted to show you my sewing room work in progress. Drum rolls please:

Behold, my sewing room in progress.

Cabinets and countertop

This is just one half of my little sewing station that Mister has allowed me to build in my daughter's play room. The bottom cabinets (ready built from Lowes) that you see here are actually to store away her toys, but the countertop area belongs to me. What's missing is the three wall cabinets that will be placed above this (with my Father's help), which I will use to store things like this.

Vintage Lace from Ebay

Yes, that is a whole lot of lace. This picture doesn't even include the other lace, ribbon and trims that I have been purchasing and hoarding wrapping and storing away. I have discovered a new place to feed my need for vintage sewing: EBAY. I know I'm pretty late on figuring that out, but oh well. I will show more pictures of my additional Ebay finds later.

Lastly another must have that I had to have in my new sewing room/playroom is a big table to sew and cut patterns on. Here it is in all its messy glory.

My sewing/pattern cutting table

Close up of the mess on the table.

As you can see I've already set up some of my daughter's (Buni) toys around it. Buni has made the area under the table her makeshift play house. She loves to hide underneath and play with her toys. Hopefully when my wall cabinets are set up I'll have a spot to put the additional lace I have in the basket and my box of trims.

So will this end up to be the sewing room of my dreams? Will Buni be willing to share her playroom with the Experienced Novice? Is the Experienced Novice secretly an Ebay obsessed vintage sewing monster? Stay tuned!

Sewing Room Of My Dreams: IKEA Style

This past weekend my family have been out an about going to Great Wolf Lodge and to Northern Virginia so sadly I do not have any new outfits to display, but we did go to Ikea and I got to see the Sewing Room of my dreams.

Behold: The Experienced Novice's dream sewing room if she had the money.

I love the project table on the right with plenty of room to cut your fabric and put your sewing machine and serger.

And can you imagine storing all your fabric and trims in the drawers and shelves on the left.

How about the drafting table in the back.

Of course there is always room for a little Buni to come and play. I forgot to take a picture of the front corner of the cubby because it had a little table and stool for little kids to use as well. The room looks multi functional and would be perfect for the whole family. Now I am dreaming of converting one of the rooms in my house to something like this. Now all I need to do is convince Mister.

Currently this is the state of my sewing room. I really need to move out and store the rest of my scrapbooking, mixed media supplies for another time. I don't think I can fit everything they had in the IKEA project room into my little room. I have pondered about putting it downstairs, but too much temptation for an almost two year old to touch things. Sharp things. Heavy things. Who knows maybe I can do an IKEA hack with the furniture I have now and just place it somewhere else.

Below is what my sewing room at home looks like.

I am definitely in need of an IKEA sponsored room makeover.

So what is the sewing room of your dreams like?