Chasing the foot control

Howdy!

Yeah, what you said about the usual sewing rooms, Taria. We spend Big Bucks on the machine(s), the fabric, traveling around to quilt shows , and then we return to our inadequate work rooms full of cast-off furniture and white walls. And shove the sewing table up against the wall. Many sewing rooms are just plain ugly, or maybe that's just the ones brave enough to show pics. --MY opinion: YMMV Not here. No sewing room for me. I sew all over the house, I like a good view, space that makes me happy, & using my own preferred furniture (the dining room table is the perfect height for me & my Janome). Design wall: never had one, never needed one. Would like to have my fabric more accessible than the closet but it doesn't fade in there. Quite different from the way I grew up (oh, the houses we lived in-- sheesh! & we knew it-- it was.. colorful!). Cleaning up after the holidays reminds me to de-clutter and re-discover the things I like about this place (almost everything fits ). And I always find a few forgotten treasures, some that inspire me to the next quilt. To each her/his own: bloom where you're planted. Happy Quilting!

Ragmop/Sandy--in beautiful (today) north Texas where the sun is shining and the windows are open

I used that rubbery waffle-y stuff that you put on shelves to cushion glasses and such. It keeps my foot peddles from sliding around. I also put a piece of it under my serger and used a couple of small pieces to put under and on the surfaces I clamp my task lights. Protects the surface and kept them from shifting

I've gone back to look at John's sewing room numerous times. I can't help myself. It's sort of like looking at a disaster film. You just KNOW it can't possibly be real, you just KNOW this will never happen to you in real life but you can't stop looking with fascinated awe. OK, I need a cool cloth on the back of my neck. I'd lay down in my sewing room until my light headedness passed but I don't think I could find 5 feet of space to do that.

Color me somewhat chartreuse green around the edges with envy, Val

John, I see exactly where you are coming from, and I strive to atain a similar simplicity. Unfortunately my space isn't dedicated: I have to share it with the spare bed and 3000 books! I do my best, and look forward to a day when I have far less clutter than I have now, and what I have is al AWAY in its place!

I make a considerable mess when I'm planning, but I like to get it cleared away for the actual work. Things don't always work out as planed!

fixedgearhead wrote:

It is interesting all the commentary that my postings have generated. My mother taught me to sew as a young child, as I was fascinated with the treadle Singer machine that we had. For 45 years I sewed on the kitchen table like a lot of you have said you do. Clothing mostly, and some curtains and such. My wife and I were into Civil War Reenacting and I did all of both of our outfits. The stories I could tell about crotchless bloomers. We lived in California and what with running a remodeling business and custom woodworking there was just not enough space in the small houses we lived in all that time. When my wife and I both retired we realized we would be bumping into each other in the small house we lived in so we bit the bullet sold the house, put everything in storage and pulled up stakes and lit out for parts unknown. We went looking for a small town in an affordable area with large houses. Traveled the country for 6 months and found just the place in North Central Ohio and are reasonably close to her relatives. Aside from the cultural differences, It was the best solution as we got lots of space and each has their own room for activities of special interest to them. I made sure that I would have a large basement for woodworking and a dedicated sewing room. Other rooms for TV and even a Meditation Room upstairs in the attic. We were from California, you know, so that would be a given. I remodled the Kitchen and her room, so that it houses her office furniture and her Genealogy stuff and other things of a like nature. I had been planing the sewing room for quite some time and it is the culmination of a lot of thought and desire. Sure I would have liked to have one twice as big and with lots more stuff in it, but this is how it worked out, due to the space available. So far I have been pleased with the result. I am sure it will get filled up more than it is as time goes by; every room does, it seems. The quilting interest has been an interesting development. I get quite a few looks when I go to fabric stores in the area as it is not, shall we say diverse, in it's approach to mens activities. You have to be rather self confident when the subject comes up around all the NASCAR and small town types who are my neighbors. It does make for some interesting interchanges, but I just tell them that all the men in California sew and that reinforces the stereotype that they already have. I am probably responsible for the whole California bashing thing in this area. It is an great conversation starter at parties. Hope you find all this of interest. It is great to have an outlet for interchange of ideas for my specialized interest. A guy and a sewing machine is a different kettle of fish.

Back to the piecework for me.

John Taylor

You live in a beautiful area. I visited friends a couple years ago in Centerburg and we spent 2 days driving around Holmes county.

I love P & Q and also Formula 1 motor racing! So you are not alone >g< Please tell me you have a cat? . In message , fixedgearhead writes

We live just a short drive away from there, in Fredericktown. There is a lot of quilting activity in Ohio and the Amish area of Holmes County is chock full of stores and machine dealers. My Bernina dealer is a wonderful Old Order Mennonite couple who have a small shop attached to their house/barn. When I first went looking for the place, I couldn't imagine that a shop selling sewing machines would be located on a horse and buggy farm in the middle of plowed fields.They are wonderful people and most honest and trustworthy to do business with. Very fair on pricing also. I am always amazed that that culture can survive in the fast paced world that the rest of us live in, but they do.

John

maryd wrote:

What a great story. I'm sorry you left CA but it seems many good folks are doing that these days. I guess I am in an odd area. I can't think of men that sew or anyone that has a meditation room. I have found that spaces do fill up over time. It took 1 year after moving from an 850 sq' ft house to a 1450 one to fill it. I don't know that we live any better but we have more stuff! I guess we won't be waiting for any macho guys to move here from Ohio. Taria

welcome to my sewing room Susan :-D you will fit right in LOL

Nice story. 20 years ago I might have looked funny at a guy buying fabric, but after being in a Middle Ages recreation group I wouldn't bat an eye. I now know more guys who sew than gals who sew. Debra in VA See my quilts at

at on the hill

Sorry. One very happy go lucky Female Airedale who thinks she is a human. Actually, whe things we are dogs.

at on the hill

Sorry. One very happy go lucky Female Airedale who thinks she is a human. Actually, whe things we are dogs.

Very cool and thanks for the idea! I am going to do this!

fixedgearhead wrote:

Hey John, I'm in Grove City, suburb of Columbus. Nice to see another Ohioan. Gen

A part of it is the complete lack of good looking sewing furniture out there for us to actually buy. Last time I looked I couldn't find anything except expensive, ugly, utilitarian, bulky, pressed board sewing furniture that wouldn't suit my needs at all. I doubt anyone ever produced nice sewing furniture. I've got a limited space and budget as do most quilters and home sewists, but I also want something that looks decent. As a result I have to re-purpose my own old furniture and make do, or do without. I'm just not interested in buying big ugly pieces of furniture made basically of cardboard when I have a solid oak table that will work for a work surface, and a nice wood 4 drawer chest for storage.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

Oh a lovely big Airedale will do just fine! . In message , fixedgearhead writes

The neighbor who gave him to us thinks Winston looks like a sissy. That might be because of the false eyelashes that would even make Joan Rivers jealous. Speaking of Joan, yesterday I heard her say she had been out shopping for a 9-piece bathing suit. Sounds good to me. Polly

There's nothing gender-specific about being able to sew. You are lucky to have had a mother who taught you.

We tend to make jokes about male seamsters the same way that some men make jokes about female drivers. Both are prejudices with no supporting evidence. Roberta in D

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