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Even though they might contain out of date (or uninteresting) projects, I really like the Reader's Digest books for Sewing and Needlework.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 :).

NEO: A Recap

I've had so much fun creating my Never Enough Orange Sewing Studio.  I was looking back at some of the projects I did and thought I would post a recap before I reveal the whole room tomorrow.

Personalized Pin Tutorial

This seemed to be a favorite of lots of you.  It still makes me happy to use my orange glass head pins, and I have more beads I just picked up to add to the collection.

The Play Kitchen Hotpad Tutorial

I think it's the bias around the edge that I love so much about this project.  Homemade bias makes everything better, no?

My New Iron

I've mostly just used what I already had to put this room together, but acquiring my orange iron, well, just call me spoiled.  I was so excited to find out a good quality orange iron existed, and now we steam it up together ;).

Orange Art

Part of the charm of personalizing any space, whether it's at home, school, or work, is including pieces that remind you of family.  I love this vintage picture that just happens to look like Clover, as well as the art pieces my girls did to put on the cupboard doors.

Serious Seamstresses Use a Ham Tutorial

I haven't been a very serious seamstress lately because I haven't used my ham much, but I'm hoping that will change once I start sewing for myself again.  I have a hard time putting a lot of work into a piece of clothing that will get such limited use.  I did make a few maternity items during my previous pregnancies, but knowing this will be our last one, I haven't wanted to.

A Tape Measure as Colorful as You Tutorial

This is one of my favorites, especially with the plastic marble at the end of it.  I don't even have to measure something--just looking at it makes me happy.  I'm a sewing nerd I guess :).

Mini Waitress Apron Tutorial

This little aprons are wrinkled with use now--just how they should be.

A Very Pretty Pin Cushion

I've yet to see a better compliment to my personalized pins than this sweet felted cupcake!

Flor Bling

The Flor tiles really bring the whole room together.  Plus, they are really nice to sit on instead of tile when my work takes me to the floor ;).

Reupholstering Tutorial

Working with what I already had on hand, and spending a few pennies on fabric and paint, there were a whole lot of things that got a quick makeover. 

This isn't the end of Never Enough Orange Projects, but I will share those as they come.  Thank you for indulging me and my affinity for orange :).  

Come back tomorrow for the great reveal!

NEO: Reupholstering Tutorial

Thank you for all the lunch ideas!  Whoa!  I had no idea there were entire sites dedicated to packed lunches.  My girls are going to be eating well.  Oh.  And no baby yet.  In case you wondered, because I now have quite a long list of waitresses, check-out personnel, teachers, secretaries and even our pediatric orthopedist all wanting me to return to their place of employment to report the gender of this baby.  We took Pearl in for a cyst on her wrist (nothing serious that a little "freezy spray" and a needle couldn't take care of) and the doctor said she almost wanted to schedule another appointment to find out if this is our boy or our even half dozen girls.  I had a friend suggest I just direct them to my blog.  If only I had cards :)

Anyhow.  Thanks for your ramble reading.  I begin this by clearly stating I am not a reupholster professional, but I have certainly reupholstered my fair share of hand-me-downs through our years of marriage.  Please excuse my poor excuse of a before shot.  What this is: my first harp bench I bought...16 or so years ago?  I use it as my sewing bench, which might shock people who swear by back support when it comes to sewing, but I really like it.  I like that I can adjust the height depending on how intense my sewing gets ;).  It's been good to me, but it was time for a change.  I originally ordered some orange plaid oil cloth for the job, but when it arrived it seemed to cheap and plastic-y, so I stuck with this white faux leather that I've used for several projects around the house.

The disassembly went smoothly.  The key to a good reupholster job is to study the original construction and try to replicate or improve upon it.

After removing about a billion staples, I had the bench cover open and ready to trace and cut out of the new material.

I marked the button placement by sticking a marker in the old holes.

Next I sewed the corners and placed the bench top inside the new cover.

A staple gun is a must when it comes to reupholstering.  Start by stapling one side and then pull the opposite side taut and staple in place.  Repeat with remaining sides.

You want a button with a shank so you can't see the thread.  I couldn't find anything already manufactured that I wanted so I covered some in scraps of corduroy that was the perfect color.

I used embroidery thread doubled and threaded it through a needle and through the fabric and bench top.

Pull it as hard as you can to create a tufted effect on the other side and staple in place.

Now pull the thread the opposite way and staple again.  Repeat this process 2-3 more times (up, down, up).

I spray painted the bottom portion white and the knob orange to match my Never Enough Orange (NEO) Sewing Studio.  I think that's my favorite part.

It turned out pretty schnazzy.  You'd never guess it's previous life was so serious and reserved.

 Lovin' the buttons.

And the knob.

NEO: FLOR bling!

Man, oh, man, am I excited about my new floor bling...want the first peak at my Never Enough Orange (NEO) Sewing Studio?

NEO: Cupcake Ring Pincushion Giveaway

You might have thought I've forgotten about my NEO [never enough orange] series.  Nope.  Not a chance.  I'm getting things finished and organized, but much more slowly than I'd like.  I've got a butternut squash around my midsection and 5 others who roam freely, and who create chaos even more freely.  But, I am so excited to share with you today the most recent addition:

Oh, I knew the second my eyes beheld this beauty that she belonged in my sewing studio.  I had a perfectly functioning pincushion before, but this one, oh she just radiates, don't you think?  I found her at the Etsy shop: Made in Lowell, by Liz Smith.

She does wonders with wool and yarn in general, but she also plays with polymer clay and paper.  Her items are beautifully crafted, simple, but certainly not boring.  Look how my cupcake arrived:

Doesn't it look real?!

And if you add your color coordinated personalized pins:

You can lick off your frosting,

and use it for your needles instead of pins, which is what I'll be using mine for.  I am too lazy to put them back in their little packages, so they go here for easy access when doing hand stitching.

And with projects in full swing, I have little hands who are starting to use needles and they know where they can find them and [sometimes, hopefully] put them back.

I love when function and form have a perfectly balanced, harmonious relationship.

You can find Liz's full line of goods at her Etsy shop or more about her work on her blog.

Liz is giving a no big dill reader one of these adorable pincushion rings!

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