What I’m Working On….

If you read my blog post on Thursday evening last week, you’ll know I watched a video of Lori Holt’s sewing room tour.  HERE’s the link to that post if you missed the video, it’s all there…  I was in a hurry that day and very in the thick of things and didn’t have everything firmed up for my plans for the sewing room but I knew whatever was going to happen was going to happen NOW.

Ever since we moved to the house I’ve struggled with my sewing room.  Nothing clicked.  Nothing felt good so I muddled along and made the best of it.  In the back of my mind, it REALLY bothered me though.

This spring you might remember I started waging a war on my sewing room.  I was fixing it and that was all there was to it.  I started in my closet and made amazing progress there.

I’m very happy with my closet.  I don’t think I could like it any more than I already do.  It is EXACTLY what I had in mind when I was looking for a way to organize it.

From there I went to the main room.  I wasn’t happy.  It didn’t feel put together.  I couldn’t see my way through it.  Time passed.  I was back in my slump.  As I’d sew I’d consider this or that.  Did I need as many machines?  The girls and I don’t sew together anymore.  They have babies and sewing together isn’t in the cards right now.  Maybe downsizing and selling my Singer 99, might help.  I thought about that and yes, I was willing to sell that machine but it still didn’t solve the problem.  It’s so hard having machines in cabinets and machines, not in cabinets.

I knew I likely wouldn’t be able to get completely away from plastic storage drawers like these but I really wanted to move away from them.  They are super handy, priced reasonably, but not the look I was going for.

After watching Lori Holt’s video, here are a few things that stuck in my mind…

I could eliminate some of the plastic totes.  I could remove some furniture.  I could utilize dressers.  I could remove my ironing board.  Mostly, I could make an island….

and the very next day, the plans went into motion.  I went to the thrift store and found many things… Including these two dressers.  They were $40 for the one on the left..and $50 for the one on the right.

Wednesday night after getting these, I took a pad and paper along with a tape measure and started plotting the room.

The one on the right is going to be my ironing station.  I’m not going to keep an ironing board up anymore.  Rarely do I iron a full quilt in my sewing room.  I always take them downstairs and iron them.  Typically it’s because my ironing board is filled with STUFF and I can’t get to it.  Also, it’s because I typically save that as something I can do when the grandkids are napping.

Wednesday night after getting these, I took a pad and paper along with a tape measure and started plotting the room.

But then I got stuck again….I loved Lori Holt’s look.  That was totally right for her.  But, not for me.  I’m not a bright girl like Lori is.  What could I do-what could my color scheme be that was right for me?

Then I thought red of course.  I need some red.  It’s my favorite color…I didn’t want to paint everything red though.  Then I hit on charcoal.  I love charcoal…so everything will be dark wood, charcoal, or red.

Here are my plans…

The ironing station will be something like this…

This is the rough drawing of the island.  The top picture is how it would look from an ariel view.  The 49 1/2″ x 18″ area is where the desk will be underneath.  The island will hang over two inches on each side making the counter 53 1/2″ wide.

I want to butt my Singer 15-91 that is in a cabinet up to the island to make a rectangle.  The length of the 15-91 when it is open is going to determine the length of the island.  That length was 58″.  So the countertop I need for the island will be 53 1/2″ x 58″.

If you look at the drawing with the dresser included you can see that the dresser will be one end and table legs will be at the other end.  The Singer will be on the side where it says 58″.

Can you believe that I “happened” to find two dressers on the same day and they “happened” to be the exact height I needed?  One taller for an ironing station, one shorter for a sewing height island.  It was EXACTLY what I needed!!  When things happen like that, when I find what I need at a price I can afford, it reinforces my belief that someone is watching out for me!

Thursday Kalissa and I went to Waterloo and I ordered a countertop for the island…and I got supplies.  I am so EXCITED!!  Seriously, everything finally clicked.

This dresser is the one that is going to be the ironing station.  Stop back later this week because I already have it painted and upstairs.  I have to make the top for it.  I’ll write a post and tell you all about it!

I am chalk painting LOTS of things.  I know some people are not big on chalk paint…I like it to unify pieces that aren’t of high value as is.  Like the dresser above.  As is, it’s a mess and not worth much.  Just wait until you see it chalk painted!!

I ended up using this chalk paint.  I was a little nervous about it as in the past I’ve only used Annie Sloan.  I LOVED this….It’s MUCH cheaper too.  It is Rustoleum Chalked Paint in Charcoal.

I used this over the top…

This process was easier than Annie Sloan paint.  I’ll tell you more about that coming up.  The reason I went with this paint…  I was trying to do one-stop shopping.  I’m so glad I tried it.  I’ll be using it for future projects for sure!

As I said, nothing in the sewing room is sacred.  Many things are getting an updo including this piano bench that my plant stand sits on.

I stopped at Joann’s and got some fabric to redo the sewing chairs.  It’s a farmhouse print I’m excited about.

I also got ironing board fabric.

In light of going with my color scheme, I ended up ordering this for a countertop…This is old mill oak from Menards.  The top will be in a couple of weeks.

I talked to Buck and he promised me a day of coming to help get things all together.  In the meantime, I am going to fix and do as much I can while I wait for the countertop to come in and then Buck to come.

I am just thrilled!!  I feel like it’s all finally coming together and the best news of all, it’s not going to be super expensive as everything so far, besides the countertop, is something I already had or something I got reasonably priced at the thrift store.

You will be so surprised by how many things I found quickly, that were inspired by Lori Holt’s video.  I can’t wait to show you all that is to come!!  It’s going to be a fun month watching it all come together!!