Monday, September 14, 2009

Making Room

I took a break, though maybe not a break in the traditional sense.

I'm a compulsive mover and rearranger. It's one of the ways I exercise my creativity and fill those empty nights when my hubby is away. I decided the bedroom that I designated my studio was too small. Our lower level has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a storage area and a playroom (at least that's what it was when the kids were little.) I've been coveting that playroom since we moved back. The kids are gone, the legos are stored away, so what was stopping me. Not a thing. So, I moved the bedroom into my studio, the playroom furniture into the other bedroom and the studio into the playroom. I'm an expert at moving things alone...been doing it for years.

And...if a large room is good, bigger is even better. That required just a bit of demolition. I tore out a wall of cabinets, counter and bookshelves. One thing about demolition, you never know what you might find. In this case mold behind the cabinets...took a bit more demolition, more repair, but I made it happen. In the middle of all of this chaos I took a small detour and painted the bathroom. I had some leftover paint from the other house, mixed it all together (pretty good recycling, don't you think) painted the walls, got a cute new shower curtain, hung a few pictures and presto...nice, new fresh bathroom. It's hard to take a picture in a bathroom...maybe I'll figure it out so I can show you.
There's a reason I got so motivated to get my space in order....I had a birthday last week. I'm also celebrating Arbor day, Christmas, Valentine's Day and Mother's day (in advance) for the next couple of years with this present. I wanted to welcome it with a nice, new space.
The studio is getting there. The walls are only primed at this point, but I couldn't wait another minute to take that machine out of the box. Curtains and painted walls will happen eventually.
I did a tiny bit of sewing over Labor Day. I started cutting my Scraps to Treasure scraps into strips. My youngest son was with me in the sewing room and as I cut, he sorted. He's a bit compulsive about organization. While we talked late into the night, I cut and he sorted. He even drew a design for me...you can see it on the table between his piles. Jon inspires me again.
Here's the first panel from one (out of 20) of his piles. It's 30 x 48. I may have to make a couple of pieces from these. We'll see where it goes from here.
It's great to be back. I'm itching to sew. I have so many ideas, I'm almost ready to burst. I have a few commissions to finish first and then...who knows.

56 comments:

Laura said...

Wow what a great new space!

Anonymous said...

WOW.

What a fantastic space! What a lucky duck you are! :)

Jodi Nelson said...

I just knew we would be best buddies if we lived closer! The moving furniture and rearranging things (at night no less) is proof! LOL (just ask my husband) ;o) Loving the new studio space and CONGRATULATIONS!!! on the new friend. I mean machine. Way fun! ooxx`jodi

MichelleB said...

Wow. What a fabulous new space! Love the new machine, too. I'm sure that you will be in love with it in no time. Love the start on your next quilt, too.

em's scrapbag said...

Oh you inspire me on so many levels. Have fun with that new machine.

Needled Mom said...

You will love all that extra space AND the new Bernina. Did you get one of the new 820 or 830s?????

Angie said...

You have been so busy! Which Bernina did you get?

Staci K. said...

Ooohh - so jealous! :) What a fantastic new space and a brand new Bernina to top it off! Can't wait to see all of the pretty things you make together!

Anina said...

How wonderfully exciting! I'm just waiting for mine to go off to college then I'm tearing out a wall and combining two bedrooms.
I move stuff myself too. Big stuff.
Oooh, is that THE Bernina?

kclily said...

Loved the story about the move. I think you have inspired me to look around and see how much more space I can take over in the house..lol. Perhaps at least to paint my bathroom. I am coveting your large cutting table.

Anonymous said...

WOW Such great space!! What better to put there than the BERNIE!!! Good for you , you will not be sorry for a minute! I am on my third Bernina, still have the others. Wouldn't trade them for the world!! HAVE LOTS OF FUN!! Gail Norback

KateKwiltz said...

Can't believe you got that Bernina, you lucky girl! Happy Birthday to YOU!!! I just know the two of you are going to make magic together! Congratulations!

Joanna said...

Jackie, that is an awesome post!!! I feel you...I constantly move things. My friends never know what to expect when they visit - it's different every time!

Love your new space - it looks huge!! I am all for home-handy-woman projects. My hubby is the most least-likely to touch a tool man in the world (maybe having his finger cut off with a power saw in high school has something to do with it lol) so if anything is to be done it's up to me! This week I repainted the kitchen and laid down new floors! So we are both in the renovation frame of mind right now ;)

Love the new quilt design, and the piles your son made!! I should get my daughter onto that. Can't wait to see what you do next!

Vicki said...

Happy Birthday! My birthday was last week, too. I can't wait to hear more about your new machine.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Whew! That exhausted me just reading it! Happy belated birthday and congratulations on the new machine and great new studio space. Wonderful inspiration too!

beth said...

wow! what a great gift! a gift that you can keep using over and over again!
thanks for all the pictures of your beautiful sewing room...what fun!

LINDA BYLSMA said...

Let's see, your last entry was September 8th. So you accomplished all of this since then? This must be Wonder Woman!!
Wowee, you are something else, but what we won't do for a sewing machine, eh? And great new design by your son. Will be waiting to see how it develops.

Bekhy said...

aaaahhhh! I'm so jealous! I've been eyeing the 820/830 since the spring. I hear you about the presents for all the holidays in the next millenium schtick. The last time I did that, it was a Koala cabinet for my sewing machine. Congrats on seizing the moment and moving into a bigger studio space; it sounds fantastic! Can hardly wait to see how you arrange everything. Have fun with the Bernina! Please please please do a post on what you think about the machine :)

connie said...

I love your moving story. I do the same thing and I absolutly just love changing things. On one trip my husband took when he left the living room had carpet and when he came home it was rolled and in the front yard and I had redone the hardwood floors which were under the old carpet.

However I just am amazed at the amount of things you accomplish. I love the quilt in the last photo. Keep up the good work

Amy said...

Wow! This space is HUGE! Like half my apartment could fit in there. You're a lucky person!

Amanda Jean said...

i love your new space. you go, girl! you are one determined woman. :) love that.

Audrie said...

Loving the new space! I just moved into a new space a couple weeks ago and I'm loving it... curtains took a tiny while to get made but it happened eventually lol

Sophia said...

That is funny about liking to rearrange things Jacquie! I bet you have that in common with a lot of people, including me! :-) I love the new space and that your son takes an interest in your quilting! That is cool that he made a design for you!

Cheryl Arkison said...

Happy Birthday! And love that big table in the centre of the room. Oh the design possibilities now.

Dorrie said...

Wow! Great job! My hsuband work's out of town too; I've always been afraid to tackle remodels without him here (other than painting)~I think you've inspired me! Have a great day Jacquie!

dutchcomfort said...

Wow, this post is filled with adrenalin...! Congratulations on the new sewing-machine and the new working space! You’re definitely a multi-tasker!

Megan said...

Wow! This is so inspirational! I just love your studio (mine is still in our dining room!)

Browndirtcottage said...

Aahhh yes...a kindred spirit!! I recently did the 'studio' switch-a-
roo too....only I went from larger to a little smaller...from upstairs to downstairs...smaller but MUCH better...LOL..I'm closer to the washing machine!!....AND, I too have a new 'sewing' friend....I got the one with All the bells and whistles...the added embroidery apparatus. I will be anxious to hear how you like yours.....And I am most definetly
jealous of your massive cutting table!!!!!

Di~ said...

That's funny, I had my son sort my scraps the other day, of 2 drawers he only made it through 1 and asked the whole time if he was getting paid for it! ugh Hey what day was your birthday?! Mine was the 3rd. I won't ask your age, I'm sure I'm older than you.:)

Alissa said...

Of course you need a big room for a big and fancy sewing machine!! That room had better get ready - some serious sewing is gonna go down in there!!

Krista said...

Jacquie, you are a force! I can only hope to have half the energy you have by the time my kids grow up. I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I find you incredibly inspiring, both in the quantity and quality of your quilting work and in your 'can-do' attitude (and especially that you picked out the stitches in the batting-less quilt!!). Thank you for sharing, and for the grommet tute, too. - Krista

Unknown said...

Congrats on your new friend! I was hoping you would not be stealing your mom's machine much longer :) Love your new space and work in progress!!

Dresden Quilter said...

Good for you. The new space looks wonderful and I love the panel you made.

Jessica said...

you have been super busy...and let me just say how jealous I am of your new creative space...and all that demo you did...and I love love love scrap panel...it's amazing...you are so super creative and inspiring!!

Victoria said...

Dear Jacquie, please find a way to bottle your energy and sell it, as I would like to buy some, (If it comes in a solid form I will melt it and shoot it... I don't care, I want it that much!)

Great space and Congrats on the new high-test Bernina!! You deserve it!!

Candace said...

Whopppeeeee - happy all those days - you got the new Bernina!!!! What fun, Jacquie! You're going to have many wonderful days and nights with her! I wish I could straight trade my 3 Berninas for one of those - oh, well, to dream for sure! Can't wait to see your finished studio!
Cheers!

C. Jaeger said...

Congratulations! That is a great space!!!! Enjoy!

Beth said...

WOO HOO! DOn't get too crazy with loads of space and the fancy new machine!

Denise said...

I love the photo of the sorted scraps on the cutting table and the mini story of his character and your talking into the night. Lovely picture, lovely image of mom and son creating and connecting.

Erin said...

Seems like you and I are cut from the same cloth when it comes to rearranging and renovating. :)

henny said...

Did you mentioned a birthday? So...happy belated b'day, Jacquie :)
Hope all the best for you.
I love to read this post. I smiled when I read that always something we could do to fill those nights when hubby not at home. :)
You know Jacquie, I can sew since he was away (There's still 3 months left before he'll back home).
I'm itching to sew too haha..

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

Congratulations on getting that great new machine and a new space to put it in. Now I would turn the machine around and face into the room instead of at the wall so you can enjoy the space. You are going to have so much fun with the quilting part now.

MightyMom said...

so I wonder how many times your husband has come back from a trip and wondered it he walked into the wrong house???


Can I borrow your son? My scraps are all thrown in a bin because my brain does NOT sort scraps...no matter what I try!!

Debbie said...

Wow, that was a lot of moving and rearranging! Congratulations on getting it all accomplished. Can't wait to see the gorgeous quilts you'll make in your new space.

the Campfollower said...

Ohhhhh!!!!! I see something wonderful over on your sewing table! An 8 series! Oh all that wonderful quilting space under such a long graceful neck! Lovely lovely space.

Heidi said...

Such a wonderful space! No doubt you will do great things in there. Enjoy!

Rebekah said...

Sounds like it's going to be an amazing space!

Happy birthday and enjoy your new toy :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! What a great space!! Happy Happy Birthday...what a great gift! I cant' wait to see what your space will look like all set up. You are making me want to paint mine now and get organized!

Thimbleanna said...

Oh gosh -- I almost forgot about that swap! I have my blocks together -- I need to get on that!!! Congrats on the new sewing space -- looks like you'll have a ton of new room!!!

Cher said...

nice start on your new studio...and what a wonderful new machine to enjoy. I love to re-arrange as well-so I can relate to your detour.
fun stuff you stitched up!

Julie @ Jaybird Quilts said...

yay new machine... & new space to work in!!

Stephanie D said...

Woohooo! New Bernina! Now you don't have to borrow mom's anymore! Congratulations--if anyone has proved they will put one to good use, you have! And happy combo-day!

dutchcomfort said...

Ohhh. Wow! You did a great job and ended up with a gorgeous place to work. And hurray for the new sewing machine!

Sheree said...

The new space is FABULOUS!!! Enjoy setting it up!! And enjoy that new machine!

Wendy said...

You are going to LOVE that machine.

How bad a mother am I that I've not waited for the kids to be out of the playroom before I ousted them? Funny thing is, the more it's "mine" the more time they like to spend in it with me.

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