My Sweet Mom bought this for me for an early birthday present. It is a June Taylor Shape Cut Slotted Ruler. We learned about this ruler from my sweet friend Michelle. Thank you Mom for buying it for me & Michelle for telling us about it. One day I was telling Michelle my thoughts about making a new sewing room in my house and I was telling her that it was connected to the dining room and she said something that made me just stop and think.
She told me that it was my home and I could do whatever I wanted with it. She said the kitchen table police would not come knocking on my door. That was a lightbulb moment so I did it.
The room is big and I have things in every corner but to me it looks great. This is a shoe rack that Maranda (daughter) bought at target a while back. She didn't take it with her when she left and I just could not see putting shoes in it. When I looked at it I saw my stash! The Noahs Ark hat boxes were so cute when I saw them at the thrift store. I knew they would be good for something and sure enough they have sewing things hidden inside. The pretty thread holder sitting on top was once in Shannons (oldest daughter) house. It used to have pretty vines in it and was hanging on her wall but in my house it is holding thread right now.
This is how I set up part of my sewing area. Do you see 3 sewing machines? Wow.
I decided when I was working on this room that I wanted things that I love in this room. The little orange table was in my granddaughters room at one time and she actually painted it. On that table you will see on the right side of the sewing machine a plastic box. It was my Grandmas sewing box. (My Moms mother). I treasure it. Of course you all know that I love my Singer 401A sewing machine. Sitting beside it is a fabric basket that Connie made for me. I love it. The T.V. tray underneath the sewing machine is a work in progress. Connie sent me the stuff to make a little ironing board to sit next to the sewing machine out of this tray. I can't wait to get that done.
This shows you a good view of my cutting table all folded out. In this room it will be able to stay that way. Sitting on it is my Brother Embroidery Machine. Over to the right is my desk to do paperwork. Sitting on the desk is pictures of my grands and also a plant and a candle that my sister Brenda sent to me. Thank you Brenda. Underneath the desk is a kudzu basket that was made for me many years ago by Randys aunt Jude. I would not take anything for it. It is full of quilting magazines and few toys for the kids. My rocking chair.....what can I say? This is the rocking chair that my Mom rocked me in. Precious. The afghan on the back is something I made for my Grandma Cochran before she passed away. When she went home to be with the Lord the family gave it back to me. It makes me think of her.
This is the view of my dining room if you were standing in the new sewing room. See my new rugs that my sweet honey gave me? I love them. They are Sisal rugs.
This is a shelf that is sitting in my dining room. I am not crazy about the shelf but I LOVE the things on the shelf. The cookie jar on the top is from when I was a little girl. My Mom gave this to me. The cookie jar below that is one that Shannon (my daughter) had made for me with all of the grandkids handprints and their ages on it when they were small. The next cookie jar was my Grandma Cochrans. You never went to her house without getting into this cookie jar and it always had Nilla Vanilla Wafers in it. Michelle made me those criss cross coasters that you see laying on the third shelf. I just love them. Both of the quilts on top of this shelf are ones that my Granny made.
This is the view from the dining room looking at my sewing room. Is that a taco bell cup sitting on my hearth??? Funny! My piano is very special to me. This is the piano that I practiced many hours on when I was young. This is the piano that my Mom taught students on to make extra money when we were growing up. It is funny how thinking of that now just touches my heart that my Mom would do that for us but of course when we were young we didn't know to appreciate that like we should. Thank you Mom for all of your sacrifices for us. Can you see the quilt on the piano bench? Mom & I took a quilting class and I have never finished that but thought if I have it laid out maybe I will work on it. The picture above the cutting table will eventually be took down and replaced with my design wall.
This area is the stairway that goes down to my basement. It doesn't look like much but I wanted to show you that piece sitting on top of the stairwell. It was actually the mantel above the fireplace when we bought this house. We hated it as a mantel but when my honey took it off and set it there we loved it. We don't know what it was originally. I don't know what you call that above the stairs going to the basement but when we do have people over that is where I set desserts. It is also as tall as my cutting table and serves as a second place to work when laying things out.
So I have 5 machines in this one room! (6 if you count Grannys old machine that doesn't work that you cannot see.) I have lots of things that I love in this room. I have a fireplace and lots of windows. What more can I ask for? Well I do want one thing. I would love to find some cushions for my rocking chair. I am sure there will be things that I change from day to day. I already have some new ideas just from seeing the pictures but so far I love it. My sweet honey is even impressed! That means a lot. So guess what I will be doing tomorrow to start the new year out right? Yes, I will be doing some cooking but most of all I will be sewing and loving it. 2010 is going to be a great year! There are lots of things that I want to do but my #1 thing on my agenda is to slow down and enjoy my family, friends & things that I love.
Happy New Year!
You all mean the world to me!