My workroom is now a bit tidier – and photos to prove it! I have a temp table to layout and cut…. and a sewing table, I store my fabrics in a cupboard behind the mannequin.
Top shelf is all old bedlinen which I make toiles from…. I have occasionally to stop myself buying white sheets especially – but when the charity shop sells them for a euro, what can I do….. (I can only buy if they will fit in this shelf)
Shelf 2 is clothes to be remade… a lot of these are bought in the last 2 years, and I have stopped buying pretty much from the charity shops until these are used up/sewn up. I was slowly turning into my father…. ‘sure you couldnt leave that quality behind….’ and so much so that this shelf was overflowing, so I donated back and will keep on using this. I am still amazed at the quantities in the Charity shops….
Shelf 3 is odds and ends… handbag bits I can’t get rid of that I need to fix, small bits of trims, and old linings that may or may not get used!
Shelf 4 is ‘stash and stuff’. Stash is in one bag, and stuff….. well its overflow stuff from Shelf 2!
I also drew some sewing picture plans…. The last one taken down (single sheet/less ambitious), some on this got done, and some got changed. I like drawing out these pics. The are intentions, not promises and it helps me clarify what I want to sew, what will make flexible wardrobe pieces.
Like others, I find 20% of my wardrobe is worn 80% of the time…. actually these percentages are arbitrary, I really don’t know the exacts, but at times there is ‘the uniform’ which I wear when I have wood to chop/chores to do/don’t know if it will rain or not, and then there are the clothes I wear when I am being a bit more social and a bit more confident of the weather (what can I say, I live on the atlantic seaboard)
My summer uniform for the last three years has been, black cut-offs (thrifted and only sewing involved ripping a fringe off the legs), crochet top (best ever), issy miyake top (2nd version with permanent pleating success), red short cardi (perennial).
New enty for last year, was the ‘cigarette pants’ and pillow case top, galactic top (crocheted by my sister, I made one too but gave mine to her!), and the cardigan here is a thrifted…. at least 15 years ago….. so lord knows how old. Main summer shoes are a mix of old sandals (irish sandals can never wear out….) and my mohops (probably not the most comfortable but you can change the ribbon for new shoes).
I am hoping that the new ‘uniform’ choice could be the black linen culottes I hope to make…………as lord knows there are enough co-ordinating blouses in the mix!
I love the workspace you have there and your sketches are beautiful – I’m so jealous!
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Thank you Agatha, when we moved in three years ago, this house needed (and still needs) a lot of work. there was beauty board and woodchip and rotten single glazed windows everywhere, but nice solid rooms and great light. I painted all the beauty board white, and set up my workspace. everywhere still needs a fair bit of work (we did get the windows done) but to finally have dedicated workspace (each) has been such a gift. Its amazing what you can overlook (bad roof/ lousy plumbing all will be fixed in time) when that part of your daily life is in place!
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That’s a lot of working space. I have a corner. I have now got two dining tables in one room, one for eating at and one has permanent sewing machines on it, but oddly, they match. I am never that organised with my clothing or intentions, I change my mind all the time.
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yes I got lucky – but its the quality of the light in the room for the morning I love the most. I had a workspace in the last house but I didnt use it as it was a dark room….. the room is about 8×10 but it has a high ceiling which makes it feel roomier… its great to have a room to escape to….. having said that, i intend to do some printing this summer (think this weekends workshop could start something) so I will temporarily take over the kitchen table (again)
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Yes your right, the light is everything. My sewing table sits opposite patio doors and faces north, so good light for me too
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Great workroom. I love seeing where other people spend their time sewing. Here’s a question from someone who first used a sewing machine in the 1960s (it was borrowed from the woman next door, a Singer hand machine, very frustrating!) – What’s the machine next to your sewing machine? Embroidery? Long arm? Looks intriguing.
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yes – its the embroidery – and electronic machine with embroidery function, the shelving beside has the other machines and I really should use my 80s singer more as its the one I have used the most and we are well acquainted (the embroidery machine is the new one and often ends out if I have been trying some fancy stitches…or testing some embroidery. to sew though I prefer the singer 80s best! (electronic machine out of favour currently as I screwed up with a twin needle on it recently which would never have happened on the singer!
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I agree with Agatha – your sketchings are just beautiful. And I have supreme workroom envy – a dedicated room for sewing is every sewist’s dream. I have a dedicated area for sewing – it just happens to be my whole flat with sewing paraphernalia in every room. But like you, I’m blessed with a light aspect with a beautiful view of the trees which makes sewing at this time of year such a delight. Nice to catch sight of that pillowcase top again!
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Thanks Aimee, when I used live on my own, my kitchen was my work and make space (as I could contend with ink getting on the plates, and pins on the floor, but seemingly other people cannot) so a work room is handy for containing mess and makes, its a messy workroom today as I am trying out some blocks and have not carved lino in years – but I am hoping to get a pattern together tomorrow and print some fabric in the print on fabric workshop we are doing on Saturday….. and as I have not block printed in a while, I am hoping it goes well…. but if it doesnt, sometimes its good to make a mess and have some fun! (or so I am telling myself today…)
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I do love how you try out so many techniques in your projects Eimear. I remember lino carving being really tricky back at school – I didn’t have the patience for it. Look forward to seeing what comes from the fabric workshop and yes – enjoying the process is just, if not more important, as the outcome. Happy creative weekend 🙂
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