The Great Reveal

I've come to the realization that I'm a perfectionist.  As I took these photos I kept thinking, oh wait, I wanted to make this, or change this, or add this and really hesitated taking the photos at all.  But then I thought that if I don't take the photos now, who knows when I would feel like it was "complete", and with a baby coming, who knows when I would do the projects I wanted done.  So.  Here it is, my Never Enough Orange (NEO) Sewing Studio!

I covered both my giant antique desk and retro green kitchen table with the same white faux leather I used to cover my sewing bench and sewed some orange and white plaid bias around the edges.  I took the knobs off the desk and spray painted some inexpensive ones, saving the old ones for fear that one day we'd take the desk to Antique's Roadshow and they would tell us, if only you had the original knobs, this would be worth 2 million dollars ;).

Now my fabric doesn't even get to reside in my Never Enough Orange Sewing Studio, but I do have most of my notions and other sewing supplies stored under the table in clear containers.  I placed an orange sample of what they contain in the front instead of labeling them since little hands would most likely pull the labels off within a matter of minutes.  Behind the drawers is our emergency water containers, so the drawers can't get pushed back very far.

I used a paper holder and plastic containers to store some of my supplies such as embroidery thread, beads, covered button supplies, and random odds and ends that I manage to collect.  I would eventually like to replace this with a cool vintage miniature cupboard with lots of little drawers (orange, of course) but I haven't happened upon such a treasure as of yet.  I also keep handy a few of my sewing reference books on the table for easy access.

Even though they might contain out of date (or uninteresting) projects, I really like the Reader's Digest books for Sewing and Needlework.  They hold a huge amount of techniques that I browse through every once in a while when I need a refresher on something or to learn how to do something differently.

I kept killing my orange plants except for the succulents, so that's what I've finally stuck with (and those artificial flowers in the back).  My markers, pens, and pencils are on the table top for easy access.  Plus scissors.  Never too many scissors.

My dad emailed me one day and told me I needed this vintage Florida beverage tray he found on Etsy.  Being the obedient daughter that I am, I promptly ordered it and enjoy it with some of my favorite threads and yarns from Habu.

The play kitchen had a makeover as well with some spray paint and wrapping paper as the backsplash.  It was a lot more involved than I thought, but worth it.  Azure and Clover love this little kitchen and I love to be served their little meals.  The garbage can is just a wire basket that I covered with some oil cloth and taped with some decorative Japanese tape.

Where I slave away ;).  I love how bright this room is.  It makes for a happy seamstress.  The painting was done by my dad and the felted floral vine I snatched up from ABC Carpet & Home in New York on our last visit.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet, but I knew it needed to come home with me.

I filled a vase with glass pebbles to keep my much used supplies easily accessible: fabric scissors, fabric pens and pencils (separated from other types of pencils), and rulers.

In my mini Bisley drawers I keep more beads, needles and other odds and ends I use in my sewing projects.

The drawers in this desk are d  e  e  p, perfect for storing my thread rainbow.  Of course when someone accidentally pulls them all the way out, it makes for an annoying clean-up, but luckily that doesn't happen too frequently :).

One of the most beloved features is having my ironing board right next to my sewing machine plus a view of the kids playing in the backyard.  Still loving my Reliable Iron.

Do you know where to get your very own stars yet?  

And did you notice my new baby of the plug-in variety?  Yes.  I'm spoiled.  Bernina is closing out their 400 series and so she came home with me for my birthday.  She's a beaut.  What should I name her?  Her little sister won't be going anywhere, but turned into the sewing machine for my girls so we don't have to argue about who took my thread out of here?!

View from the desk: This is where all the art supplies and games are kept.

I feel spoiled but very grateful to have a dedicated space for creating after 11 years of marriage, but for those who just have the kitchen table or a corner of a room, it doesn't mean your sewing is limited, you just have to get more creative.  We've always had limited space in our petite apartments and houses, but that hasn't stopped me from sewing where and when I can.  I once sewed an apron on the floor of a closet.  Where's the strangest place you've sewn?

There you have it!  Of course I will continue to share the projects I complete to make it even more orange-y orange :).