a space with my name on it











I am so pleased to have my own space now. What you see here are my two thirds of a brand new room, one added when we built the extension. The other third is where we have the family computer. I resent the latter a bit but two thirds of a room is way better than what I had before, which was for most part of our life in this house the dining room table. I call it my sewing room although I have to admit, very little sewing has happened in there so far.

The sewing room was an integral part of our extension plans. Richard wanted a utility room (ever so practical), I wanted a sewing room (ever so whimsical). The kitchen/dining/whiling-time-away-whilst-contemplating-the-garden-space was just an afterthought. Honesty, it was.

Despite this brief the sewing room is of course a non-essential part of the extension in terms of family benefits, unless you count the keep-mummy's-temper-under-control factor. It took a while to get it where it is now. I assembled the cheapest possible Ikea tables all by myself, even the drawer unit. I only got two of the drawer bottoms upside down. I briefly considered to fix that but then it didn't feel urgent enough and now it is history. Richard mounted shelves for me. There was a lot of swearing coming out of the room but I didn't investigate. Some things are best left to the expert in the house. All my boxes of fabric, yarn and soap making essentials are now neatly tidied away. We lost quite some wall space when the extension was built and internal walls pulled down. As a result, there is not enough wall space to hang all our pictures and they were sitting in a corner, unloved and neglected. I chose some of the smaller ones to hang on my walls. Most have just sentimental value, for example, there is a framed picture that Annie made in a life drawing class when she was only little. I bought two metal rails to attach  magnetic tubs on and to tidy my cutting tools collection away. The tubs are a good size for sewing machine needles, curved quilting safety pins and things like that. And yes, you guessed right, these are all from Ikea. I am considering shares. I have been going into this little room frequently, gazing at the sheer practical beauty of it. Every time I go in, I am glared at by a random child 'working' at the family computer (they always call it work!). I feel totally unwelcome. I wonder if there might be elsewhere where this blasted piece of plastic could go.

Very little sewing has happened so far. I did some mending and I have been slowly cutting triangles for Annie's quilt. Cutting triangles is a tad more involved than cutting squares, the angles are important and mustn't be messed up. The cat however has made a shelf her new home. She is a cute one, isn't she? It is a strategic choice for she can see which animal is coming or going through the small dog flap in the wall.

Looking out through the window,  you'll notice that the garden is still disturbed from the building work. It needs some serious attention but not mine. Me, I'll focus on the little patch just outside the window. An order of spring bulbs is waiting patiently for a dry spell. The mud just outside the window is earmarked for spring planting Lily of the Valley rhizomes. They do well there, we had quite a few in that part of the garden before. I have also ordered some dahlia tubers and freesia bulbs (ever so optimistic, I know). I think I'll plant these in pots and bury them where I would like them to flower. Neither are suitable for a Scottish winter, not even a mild West of Scotland winter and being able to lift the pots and pop them somewhere sheltered is a good plan.

So there you are, a sewing room and some gardening. This should keep me busy for a while. x

P.S. I was delighted to see so many comments on my last post, thank you, I love to read about your views. There haven't been many comments lately, not as many as maybe a year ago, although page views went up. I suspect it is a common trend, I am often too busy to comment myself or sometimes I read on my phone and then can't get a proper sentence typed with my sausage fingers. It is good to see you all out there, still reading, still enjoying my blether.

Comments

  1. A room of your own is important for sanity. I took one of the bedrooms upstairs and made it my craft room. I emptied the closet, put in bookshelves and store all my supplies there. Do you have a wide hallway where you could move the computer? I would hate to share my space with one.

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  2. I love your room and very tasteful it looks too, I love Ikea units and storage.

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  3. What a fabulous room, just the place to spend many a happy hour.

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  4. Your new room is really beautiful, Christina. I'm sure you'll spend many happy hours there, enjoy.

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  5. The potential of that space is so exciting for you and your busy family life, I hope you have many a happy snatched minute in there. Having your machine out will make such a difference. It is one of the reasons I have such high productivity. I can pop in and out between mothering, working and being a slave! Those magnet thingys are perfect for sewing storage, I am going to look out for some of those on my next trip. hapy week my friend. Jo x

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  6. It's a lovely room with a lovely view out of the big window. I'm sure you'll enjoy many wonderful hours sewing there. Pat xx

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  7. What a beautiful room.....so light and tidy (ok I know it's just for now.) I like it so much I showed it to my husband who just said ......so ??? I may have one soon, fingers crossed eh? Love the pussy cat too. Barbara from Manchester. PS Keep posting more pics and I can really grind him down.

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  8. I have dreams of doing this when our children have moved out. It's lovely!

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  9. Thanks for the photos and post, Christina. The room looks lovely and I bet the sewing being done there will increase in time. It has to so much easier than using the dining room table!

    I also have sausage fingers and it does slow one down when posting comments.

    Rejoicing that Spring is on the way as I look at your flower pots and cheery room!

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  10. Despite the shared computer space I bet you are in heaven in your little sewing domain. No wonder your cat has found a shelf to inhabit. Love the tins on their metal strips. I may well purchase a few next time I'm in ikea land. Happy triangle cutting. B x

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  11. Oh how lovely, lucky you. I am on the dining table for all my endeavours, and have to move off every mealtime. Your room is divine, and very well deserved. An essential part of the extension I think. Would definitely be good to shift that computer out though! CJ xx

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  12. Your 2/3 of a room is wonderful. The Mother never seems to get a full room to herself. I have my office/studio that everyone walks right through. My husband is always grabbing my computer for, "just a second." ANd Little B is always in there playing with his cars right when I am writing up a big report. Ah well, I am in here now and it is quiet and I love it. BY the way my comments are down too, but I feel it is because I offend so many people with my political views!

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  13. I love your sewing room, Christina. And I am both impressed and envious at how neatly you've packed away your stash of fabrics. I think clear plastic boxes are a great idea - you can see the fabrics that you want without having to open the box, riffle through it and mess up its contents. Simple but clever.
    I hope you can enjoy this space more - the family computer can always move somewhere else. And also good luck with your gardening plans. x

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  14. I just forwarded this to a friend who is having a new craft room (extension) built. Prima facie evidence as to just why she needs more than half.:-) I will use your pictures as inspiration to get my 'studio' sorted; although I will still need to share it with the clothes drying racks......

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  15. Hello (waving!), I always read your blog and I love it. Thank you! However I am very tardy about writing my own or commenting on others as life rushes by at an alarming speed! Sorry! Smallp xx

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  16. what a great space.. your cat looks happy too

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  17. What a beautiful space you have created, I love the artwork. I also loved the magnetic rail with the tins such a great idea, I will definitely be on the look out for something similar. You will be able to spend many a happy hour when you start your new job. Take care.

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  18. It looks like a great space, plenty of light!

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  19. I love your sewing room. A bit jealous really. I hope you enjoy it very much.

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  20. Oh Christina, it's just absolutely lovely! I dream of a space like this, and you deserve a space for your crafting. I love the personal touches like the framed pictures, you've injected it with so much warmth and personality. Such a shame that you have to share it though... ;-)

    My comment numbers have also dropped although page views have increased, but I think that's a trend for the reasons you suggested. Also, I comment less (although I do still read a lot) so I think the more you pop up on other's blogs and say hi, the more likely people are to do the same to you. As always it's a time thing... x

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  21. You cat looks a happy bunny!! Enjoy your new space, I'm sure it will be a place of many wonderful creations.
    Wren x

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  22. great creative space, enjoy. x

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  23. It is a lovely space... So organised and tidy too. I always enjoy reading your posts.

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  24. Oh lovely! And so much nicer than a Utility Room (though I do dream of a Utility Room, I don't have one in my house). My sewing nook is in the window of my bedroom. If there was a word to indicate a smaller space than 'nook', I would use it. I have a cardboard box of fabrics in the sitting room, and various baskets scattered around the house with notions overflowing from them. I would be tempted to hang a curtain from the ceiling to partition off the computer. X

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  25. happy crafting in your lovely space x

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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