The WSBN Post-Winter Sewing Room Tour

It's been rather awhile since I last posted. I haven't stopped crafting, or telling people about what I've been doing. Life has just been full on and I've been doing things in real life and had barely an online presence. 

But Gemma of Sixty Six Stitches had the fantastic idea of a WSBN sewing room blog tour. I said yes , and promptly forgot about it till I was reminded a few days ago. It was awhile ago, at least, I think it was awhile ago, I wasn't quite so busy then.

Warning: This is a photo heavy post. 

So I have a sewing room. It's the biggest bedroom in the house, just, but it's also the one that gets the least natural light. Which is why it isn't used as a bedroom. Unfortunately, it means the lighting in here isn't the best. I have been known to move my machines to the dining table when I'm planning to spend a decent block of time working on a project. Also makes it easier to interact with a small one in the lounge. It has various names, sewing room, craft room. But usually it's just my room. It's my space. I keep my things in there, to attempt to keep the rest of the house uncluttered for the rest of the family.

First, my door. For my 30th, a friend made me this image for my door. I don't know if any of you know the game Munchkin, but it's based off that. 

To the left inside my room I have my wool cabinet. There are drawers under it (an entire one of trims, ribbons and elastic), along with various other assorted things. Most of my wool is in there. But there is a sweater lot of bottle green possum/merino and a 1kg bag of undyed 8ply on top as well. I love having the glass front so that I can see all my pretties. It's mostly 8 and 4 ply, because that's what I love. I think I'm heavy on the 4 ply currently, as it's migrated over to the right hand side, having overflowed the left. 

My worktable, takes up the entire centre of the room. I could make it a little smaller, but I love the space. It often gets covered, but always makes me smile when it's tidied, which I may have done last night before taking photos, I wanted to be able to see the table in them. This table is pretty special to me, it's one of the bits of furniture I got of a very creative favourite aunty. I used to have a table cloth on it, as I was worried about scratching it. Then it got pointed out to me (I can't remember who by), that I could always refinish it. Cloth promptly ended up in a donation box, and while it's got a few scratches now, I always love looking at it.

Box of things I need to do something with. Including a hip scarf for belly dancing, some cotton a friend spun for me and a shawl I finished knitting early in winter and haven't worn as I haven't yet blocked it.

Pretty sock wool reminding me to hurry up and finish my current almost-brainless knitting project so that I can start playing with them. 

Moving further across the table, but also into the near future planned projects. Table seems to be a good place to keep them. Beats the UFO cupboard, more on that later.

Dark purple linen that I got several years ago in Christchurch and have been trying to decide what perfect garment to make with it, as I love it. Some of it is getting made into a dress to wear to my little brother's wedding, which is next weekend. Guess what I'll be starting on tomorrow night.... The polka dots are a partially made gathered ruffle skirt for Guinevere. I've made two already, not for her, so I think it's time I made her one.

So this wedding of my brother's, it's steampunk. These are bits that are getting turned into accessories. A wee bag from that same aunt, which is getting turned into a belt pouch, random bits and the top of my wedding boots which I wore till the soles fell apart.

My sewing machine. 30th birthday present from my husband, Best Present Ever.

Love that my sewing desk has this bit for a jumble of threads, chalk, pins, quick-unpicks and all those other essentials.

Cupboard, good for holding up ironing board, looks tidy.....

Yeah, not so much, kinda full. Linens and calico on the bottom, knits one shelf up. Pinstripe (yes, that stack of black that takes up nearly half a shelf is all pinstripe), beading and box of cross stitch patterns next shelf up. Top shelf is cross stitch kits and fabrics, knitting equipment, calligraphy, coloured pencils and buttons. On top is a box of patterns and a basket of leather.

Little wardrobe unit. Drawers are full of paper, stickers and tape.  Cupboard is full of, well, I can't believe I'm actually posting this online....

This is my UFO cupboard. All of it. All of the cupboard, not all my UFO's. Unfinished projects. I'm much better at starting things than finishing them. One day I dream of having it emptied of all but a handful of projects to rotate between to prevent being bored. 

Top of the wardrobe is my mother-in-law's spinning wheel. Also makes a fantastic hat stand. You can see my iron, which I love and my sewing scissors. Actually, I think they rival my sewing machine for best present, and they're Singer as well. Thanks for those Dad.

 Computer desk. Actually tidy. With a wall of things that make me smile and inspire me.

More shelving. Magazines up the top (spin off, thread and various cross stitch ones). Shelf of knick knack type things, but all things with meaning and that make me smile. Most of those ones are up there to keep out of reach of small hands, like the glass blown Christmas bauble, or my Phantom of the Opera snow globe.
Next two shelves are mostly cotton fabrics, which a bunch of other ones thrown in as I just don't know where to put them. Bottom three shelves, I know, I can barely see the bottom shelf and I know it's there, it's mainly filled with a 10m piece of green so dark it's almost black velvet. Full of fabrics I really like and love. Like the velvet, like the red silk my Mum brought me back from somewhere overseas, it was years ago, sorry Mum, I don't remember where from.

 Bookshelf. Top shelf is stuff that has no where to go in the bathroom/bedroom. Two shelves of books and more magazines. And another two of fabrics. The bottom one has a stack of pinstripe shirts a friend gave me to refashion, I have a thing for pin stripe. And some pretty fabrics I got given for my daughter, like skulls :) The bookshelf by the door has an entire shelf of notebooks, another unfinished project (which doesn't fit in the UFO cupboard). One day I'll finish the dressing gown for my husband.... Also two bottom shelves are for Guinevere. She knows she can put her toys on them, or play with whats there. Makes it much easier when I'm working/playing in here.

I also have 6 x 60L plastic tubs of fabric and another large box full downstairs...... There is also two blanket boxes of spinning fibres, stuffing and medieval dresses. 

My favourite makes are my underbust corset, which I have plans to blog about, seeing as how I finally finished handsewing the binding on. The scarves I made for my nieces/nephew. There were 6 of them, I was a little bored by the end, but they're loving them. My wedding dress, which I really need to refashion as small one resulted in body shape changes. My Brickless, you saw it further up this post, it's waiting to be blocked and blogged about. 

I love my sewing room. I love having a space that is mine. Chaotic and cluttered, but one day it won't be. In the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy it. 

That's the end of my photo heavier, and wordier than I expected ramble. Tomorrow we have MaryLouise over at Thanks! I made this myself! Enjoy the rest of the tour :)