And of course the thing everyone wants to know is 'what did you wear?':
Hat by Madly Hatted Millinery
Dress from Miskonduct Klothing
Mmmm curvalicious! I felt a million bucks all day. Unfortunately I did not win a million bucks....
The next day though we did do something productive! Whilst in Sydney we took the opportunity to visit Ikea so I could get some shelving units to help me tidy up my sewing room. You remember the mess - it looked like this:
Total pigstye!
So we shopped up a storm and left with all of this (for surprisingly cheap!):
Not all of the containers are for me - some are for storing things in the garage
Now a bit of a side note about my husband - as soon as he had that flat-pack trolley in his hands he wanted to stand on it and have me push him... or scoot along and then jump on it and ride it... This was through the accessory section of the store, where lots of breakable things are!!! Common sense prevailed UNTIL we got into the carpark - then he went crazy:
Anyone else have a husband that doesn't act his age???
So, we somehow managed to fit it all in the car and get it home, where I left it in the capable (much more so than my husband's) hands of my Dad, who put the shelves together and delivered them to me the following afternoon:
What would I do without my Dad!
Then it was my job to tidy and clean. I pulled everything that wasn't where it should be, or looked messy, out of my sewing room and into the living room, then I set about putting it all back in. And this is where I'm at with it now:
Ta-DAAAAAAA!!!!!!!
(and yes I do sew standing up)
Here is a better view of the shelves. I used this opportunity to move some things out of a bookcase in my bedroom, and now the bookcase can go to the charity shop which means more room in my bedroom! (vintage dresser maybe???)
And here are all the pretty details!
I feel SO MUCH BETTER about this space now - its pretty and its even more functional, and it smells nice thanks to the scented candles (Pumpkin Maple!!!!). Every time I walk past the door I want to go in just to look at all the prettiness. It makes me happy again - YAY!!!
For those of you out there that have commented that their creative spaces are as bad, or worse than, what mine was (you know who you are) you really should consider spending some time to make it better. You will feel so much more creative in a space thats clear!
What do you think? Does your space need an overhaul? Do you think I'll be able to keep mine this tidy? Should I ban my husband from Ikea?
Beccie
xxx
I love it! I have sewn in short bursts standing. Do you find it comfortable doing so for long sewing stints? Sometimes I will sew for a good hour or two (or more), only getting up to press from time to time.
ReplyDeleteI've only ever sewn standing so I'm not sure how I would go sitting! And I'm not uncomfortable standing to sew, even for long periods of time (I think carpet helps with this). I actually think it makes more sense because of all the moving about I do - I think it would be annoying if there was a chair in the way!
DeleteBut each to their own :)
DeleteYeah, I've just always sat to sew. lol I'm gong to try standing, though, once I get a table high enough
DeleteThats the thing - my Dad custom made my bench to the exact height I need so I don't have to bend over when cutting or sewing...
Deletei love the idea of standing sewing. does sound more logical as you put it, with pressing etc... and probably a lot more ergonomical as well, less hunching.
DeleteI definitely think I have better posture this way. I spend enough time during the week sitting on my bum at a desk - its nice to be standing! :)
DeleteYou look gorgeous! And so does your sewing room. I am mad with envy. All of my sewing stuff is still packed in boxes from our move... and since we still don't have a new apartment it will likely remain so for some time.
ReplyDeleteOh Shannon! I hope you find a new apartment soon!
DeleteI know I'm extremely lucky to have the space that I do, and I really should make more of an effort to keep it this nice :)
Ooooh very pretty, I felt much better after reorganising my space too:) and I also have smelling candles that make me want to go in there all the time ;)
ReplyDeleteCant believe you sew standing up, I don't know of anyone else who sews this way.. how interesting :)
I don't know of anyone else who does either (besides my Mum, which is probably where I got it from).
DeleteAnd how good is a freshly reorganised space! I'm loving it - can't wait to get in there and CREATE SOMETHING!!!
our dress is very vavavoom! i understand why you felt so beautiful in it. and yeah on that room! great job!!! so much more productive and youll enjoy your time in there so much more :D
ReplyDeletetotal vavavoom dress! And a fabulous and unusual colour too - nothing like the photo at all really :)
DeleteAnd I can't wait to get in there and create something, not long to go now and it'll be the weekend... who knows what will happen!!!
Gorgeous dress! And how much I envy you for this HUGE sewing room! Mine looks even more "pig-like", it's a tiny room, and from time to time one of the kids will find his/her way into it and makes it even more messy...
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I have a husband like yours, when it comes to these trolleys, he's totally childish. Good role model for the little ones... :-)
Kindest regards from the other side of the globe (from Switzerland),
I just stared to follow your blog,
Doris
Hi Doris! Welcome!! Make yourself at home :)
DeleteI am very lucky to have the space that I do, and thats why I really should look after it better! But I know what you mean about the kids making it more messy. Steve's kids (15 and 12) know to stay out, but Steve uses it as a dumping ground often.
And I'm glad I'm not the only one with a childish husband! And however much I poo-poo him sometimes, I really love and admire his sense of fun :)
I am drooling over two things-your amazing outfit and the organization! Omg I feel good for you! I just love looking at how functional it all is now!!! LOVE this!!!! Yeah for hubby and dad-they rock! And your hubby is adorable-I think mine would do the same hehee xox
ReplyDeleteThanks Bunny :) you are adorable :)
DeleteThat dress is so Marilyn style! I could totally see her rocking it. :-) I don't know if I've ever said this, but you kinda remind me of her, only you have red hair. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe Fictionista
{sean-mackenzie.blogspot.com}
Thanks Sean - what a compliment! It definitely is a 'curves for days' kind of dress!!!
DeleteYou look amazing in that outfit!
ReplyDeleteYour sewing room looks wonderful, how great to have a standing table for cutting out. Not sure I'd want to combine it with my sewing desk, though. One of my machines weighs a hundred tons =) Sewing standing up is an interesting idea, I'd never even thought of it! But why not, after all it's better to work that way in the office.
Nothing to get the creativity flowing like having an organized sewing room - at least that's true for me =) I cleaned up my sewing space last year, also with the help of Ikea. They really are good for that kind of stuff! Hope you'll have loads of fun in your "new" sewing room!
Ikea is fabulous! If I ever build another house I'm going there for ideas :)
DeleteAnd yes a standing table for cutting out is the best - all that bending used to give me a back ache...
Well you felt a million dollars and LOOKED a million dollars ! Love your style and how everything is coordinated,black and blue bangles to match the dress ! I'm a bit coordinate obsessive myself, known for it and it's strange since I'm a scatter girl ! And there's nothing like getting a work area straightened out and welcoming, it really does really get the clutter out of the mind too thus enabling your creativity to let rip. I wish my house could accomodate such a room but we live in a shoe box so out comes the sewing machine, then put away, etc...best way to have loads of half projects piling in the wardrobe...loving the pics of your crazy hubby ! Mine's 46 and a big kid too ! Do men ever grow anyway, and when they do they get boring lol ! Anyway that dress is ding dong bang bang shoop de wa dee wah dee paaahhh ! But your Joanie Mad Men dress is quite the little number too ! Can't wait to follow your next project in the new Sewing Boudoir !
ReplyDeleteI'm the matchy matchy queen Johanna - its very very rare that I wear something that doesn't co-ordinate. And I love matching with colours all the way down to the accessories. What you probably can't see in the photo is that my nail polish on my fingers and toes is the same colour as the dress :)
DeleteAnd I'm totally lucky when it comes to space. I live in a 5 bedroom house. Two of those bedrooms are occupied permanently and one part time. We used to have two guest rooms, but then I took over one as my sewing room. Best thing I ever did. No more packing things up! I know not everyone is in my position though...
Mine man 46 too! And no, I don't think they ever grow up :)
Gorgeous sewing space! I'm so jealous. You are a super organizer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous ;)
Deleteooh so jealous of your sewing room. it looks amazing. Ikea is the greatest place ever. I keep thinking my sewing area needs a an overhaul. but I’m so limited in space. (my sewing room is also my bedroom.) I’m lucky though I have it set up at all times. and I do try to organize it at least once a year. since somehow it always gets disorganized and I have no idea how.
ReplyDeleteeven though I mostly sew sitting down, sometimes I’ll sew standing up too. especially when I use my serger, since it doesn’t have its own table..... yet.... still trying to figure out how to fit another table in there.
My sewing room gets disorganised easily too - and I tend to give it an overhaul about every 6 months. However, this overhaul is just so successful that I'm going to try really hard to keep it neat and clean :)
DeleteYou obviously have fantastic taste! Billy bookshelves are an excellent way to keep all of your vintage gorgeousness and sewing supplies neat and organised. And how va va voom you look in your wiggle dress. If you can't sew your own frocks Emma at Miss Conduct has the best dresses bar none.
ReplyDeleteEmma is just so lovely, and she really helped me out with this dress at short notice too :)
Delete