When I barely lost the Bernina Sewing Room Makeover last year, it felt like I had ruined my only chance to have a legitimate sewing space. How could I have known that something even better than a shared laundry room area in our basement was about to come my way. God’s plans are funny like that. Over and over again, in these last couple years especially, I find myself shaking my fist at Him for messing up my silly little plans to only later sheepishly admit that His plan was way better than I could have imagined. My love of sewing seems so silly and unimportant in the Grand Scheme of Things, and yet He blesses it again and again. I don’t get it, but do I really need to?
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthian’s 1:25
So yeah. That is what I am thinking about as I show you this new sewing room of mine. I have been making myself cozy in here for the last couple weeks or so. Do you remember what it used to look like? Here is how it looks now….
The walls were painted from shocking purple to a soothing “Antique White” and “Swiss Coffee” trim. It is a nice balance of brightness and warmth. So much cozier than the purple. I left the chalkboard wall up, and I am glad I did, because it really has become my favorite feature in the room. The chalkboard makes for a funky photo backdrop, a handy pattern holder, and prominent place for jotting down lists. Can you imagine how lovely it would look framed out with some pretty moulding?
Now that I have had a chance to get a feel for the room, I am working on pulling more color into it. The “Fabric Sunshine” curtains from my old living room will be hung as soon as my husband is done with his school semester. Then, maybe I could frame some Lily Belle in embroidery hoops? Or mount a brightly painted pegboard above the cutting table? I’m sure it will all come together over time.
I’ve been squirreling away all of my odds and ends into bins tucked into every corner of the room. Maybe some shelving would help the situation out a little bit? (Or maybe some temperance during 50% Notions sales? ha!) and a curtain to cover up the crazy. Maybe eyelet or lace? I’ve been way into lace lately.
The biggest project I am dreaming about is a better cutting table. One that doesn’t hurt my back to bend over, with plenty of space for laying out fabrics, and with better storage underneath for fabric. Fabric storage is an eternal problem for sewists, eh?
It’s coming along isn’t it? I doubt I will ever reach a “totally finished” state, or by that time my kids will be teenagers and begging to take over the room for themselves. Hopefully, much sooner than then, I will at least get the outlet covers back on.
Have a lovely Thanksgiving everyone!
I hope you get to sneak some sewing time in after all that Turkey and Pumpkin Pie.
Thank you! I needed this today: 1 Corinthian’s 1:25
I love your vlogs 🙂 You are adorable and it’s nice to see your pretty face and hear your voice for realz and not just on facebook and the blog. I TOTALLY LOVE YOUR SEWING ROOM. So fun. God is good. I recently hung my thread thingies (just like you have) on the wall which is working well for me, although it sounds like you have lofty plans. Now I kinda want to turn my basement family room into my own sewing cave… although it lacks the delicious natural light you have… hmm. It is all so awesome- so happy for you.
A place to keep your stuff out all the time is SUPER AWESOME, even without the natural light. 🙂 Do IT! DO IT! 🙂
I am looking forward to skyping your next craft night. 🙂
Hi Jodi,
Love the video!
Cute, happy sewing room! God has blessed you with a desire of your heart!
Be careful of that iron with your little ones, though! (sorry, always the mama& grandma)
Anyway, I have a question about your serger, what kind is it,is it easy to use? I’m looking for a used one however, no idea where to begin.
What do you think? User friendly is my main concern.
Martha,
I have a Brotherlock 1034D. I think just about everyone i know has that one. It is inexpensive as sergers go, and fairly easy to learn to use. I’m sure there are better ones out there but this one is “good enough”. 🙂
– Jodi
(And I try my best to be careful with my iron. thank you for your concern. I understand. 🙂 )
This is a easy suggestion for your cutting table to bring it up to a better height…….I am having serious problems w/my neck due to bending over at a cutting table that wasn’t at a good height…unfortunately my table is on wheels…..my husbands itdea was to but bricks under the wheels to make the table higher..it now sits on 2 bricks stacked to make the table higher and the bending of my neck at a minimal……you could use bricks or long pieces of wood stacked and cut to the length of the table legs until you can have a table built or maybe your husband could come up with a better idea………I love your room and it will alway be a work in process…enjoy!!! and never give it up to the kids!!!!…Hope this post has been helpful and has you thinking outside the box.
hmm… That could be a temporary solution. A lot more doable than the extravagent woodworking project I’ve concocted in my head. hehe.
nice! i dream of the day i can have my own sewing room.
in addition to bricks you could use cement blocks which are usually easy to find at hardware stores. they’re wider/maybe more stable than bricks would be (although it sounds like the previous commenter has had good luck with the bricks)
a table is a pretty easy build though, good luck with that!
That is FABULOSITY itself 🙂 what a wonderful space! I am so happy for you to have that and to be able to use it! Loved the video tour, seeing you, and being inspired by your space! Can’t wait to see it in person 🙂 I’m not sewing much for pleasure these days, but I did manage to stitch up a fleece earflap hat and a pair of mittens for a special godson’s first birthday, and I’m planning for some homemade Christmas gifts. Mainly I’m enjoying the wonderful happy goodness others *ahem* have gifted me, and feeling extremely blessed even as life is painfully unpredictable in my neck of the woods. Keeping upbeat by reading grounded, grateful blog posts is another blessing for me to count. Thank you, as always!!!
Jodi, I’m so glad you’re settling into your new sewing room! The wall color is great and will allow you to use your favorite fabrics and colors as you wish. At Church when we wanted to elevate a table like your cutting table we had a husband ‘volunteer’ to make us 4 wooden pillar-type leg extensions. We use the table to build our Altar of Repose for Holy Thursday so we had to have it higher and very stable. The blocks of wood actually were made about 10″ high with an indentation in the middle that the table leg fits neatly in. Works great. Just a tho’t.
What fun you’ll have over the years creating your room!!
I’m so happy for you! I don’t have any crafting space to call my own yet, but it is very exciting to see yours… and to be reminded that God’s plans are always better. =)
Your space looks fabulous, Jodi! I’m so happy for you that you get to have this creative space – and I’m totally loving that chalkboard wall…now I wish I had space in my room for one. 🙂