A Prairie Home Quilts

After discovering all the things I didn’t like about my creative space, it was time to figure out if I could do anything about those things. While I was house sitting, I had a chance to read through this book.  It was helpful. The before and after pictures were inspiring. (Yes I know, not much of a review.  My recommendation?  Check the book out of the library to see if it is worth the purchase price to you.)  Working in other quilter’s work spaces while I’m house sitting has given me some idea of things that will work for me  and what things I want to avoid.

There are space and money limitations for my redo. My room is about 11 ft x 10 ft. and there is a non-existent budget. I want to use what is already in the room if I can, but I had forgotten how much I loved my old “L” shaped desk and realize that it would be good to have that sort of set up with my sewing area.  I will need to bring in something to create the “L” shape though.  One of the reasons I want to use what is in the room is that I have personal possessions that have been packed away since 1999 and more items that haven’t seen the light of day since 2004.  (And I wonder why my life feels strangely like it’s in limbo?) I don’t want more of my life stuffed into boxes in a closet or worse yet, put out in the garage.

These are some of the other things I want to do:

1. Move the mini ironing board.
2. Set up some direct lighting on my sewing and cutting areas.
3. Create more work space on my desk.
4. Create more work space on my sewing table.
5. Be able to see the design wall from the desk and sewing table.
6. Get to the design wall easily while sewing.
7. Move my fabric into the room.
8. Organize my tools to be within easy reach of where they are most used.
9. Fix up my design wall.
10. Add some more color to the room (it’s awfully GREEN right now).
11. Organize the closet and come up with some good storage solutions.

Let’s see what I can get done on my list in the next month. Hahaha. Another list of things to do!

Thank you all for your wonderful and encouraging comments on my last post.  I have made some decisions about what to do and how I’ll accomplish my goals.  I’m going to try to get everything done in three phases.  Since I don’t have any  money right now, Phase One will start with rearranging what is already in the room.

I’ve been thinking a bit lately about my sewing space.  It’s suppose to be a creative place but most of the time when I’m in the room, it doesn’t inspire creativity.  For my birthday last year, my sweet DIL got me this wall decal.

The problem is that my soul doesn’t feel very “mended” when I’m in there sewing.  The room is not bringing me much joy…  most of the time I don’t even feel like going in there.

Hmm.  Could this be part of the problem?

I think it’s time to start asking the tough questions.  Why & What questions.  Why don’t I feel like going in there?  What is bugging me about it?  What can I do to change it so that I feel creative when I walk in to that space?  I’m even avoiding the computer in here and I used to spend a lot of time on that computer.

Hmm.  Could this be part of the problem?

While I was away, I spent some time thinking about why and what…  mostly what I don’t like about my space and what I want to do about it.

One last shot of the room in its current state.

Oh my goodness!  Look at that disgusting ironing board cover!  I know that’s what you’re thinking.  It’s okay.  I’m thinking the same thing…   Here is some more of what I want to change:

When I’m sewing,  my main light source is behind me and I have my back to my design wall.  I don’t like all the furniture around the edges of the room.  It gives me lots of floor space but I don’t need it.  I need more table space for cutting and sewing.  I want to be able to machine quilt and I can’t very well with the sewing table I’m using now.  I don’t like using my grandmother’s dry sink for the mini ironing board.  I don’t like how I have my computer desk set up and want more space to work and spread papers out.  I don’t like the curtains.  There’s a mess in the closet that has little to do with sewing and/or quilting.  My fabric stash (what little there is of it) is in another room.  My rulers, scissors and other tools are a jumble in drawers in a rolling cart in the closet.  I think that about covers it.  Oh, and I think I need some more stuff on the walls.  They are pretty bare.

I have my work cut out for me.

I’m off to house sit for about 12 days without internet access again.  Will post photos of my latest finishes when I return!