Work Corner

I spend lots of time in this room. It's been the subject of previous  favorite corners posts, but today I'm giving a different view, a tighter shot. Focusing on some of the paraphernalia that clutters this corner. The stuff that has become part of my everyday. Necessities if you will. I don't know if I could qualify one thing and the most important because they all work together. Of course the sewing machine is essential,but more than my scissors or cutting table?  In the short time it took for me to go from timidly sticking my toe into the waters of sewing to being fully immersed I have acquired quite a bit of stuff. It has taken over this room that used to be known as the dining room. Since I do much more sewing than cooking or entertaining it seemed logical. The fabric, oh the fabric. it seems to grow and grow doesn't it? I've had to get a bigger shelf twice now to house it. I think it's time to take a look at some of what I haven't used and likely won't and find someone who will put it to use. My work table is what was my dining room table. This 5 foot cutting mat fits perfectly. I have my sewing machine at one end and use the other end for cutting. Next to the sewing machine I keep those frequently used tools close at hand. Everyone has their necessities, tools required to get the job done. Some of the tools I've found invaluable are good sharp scissors, rotary cutter (with a sharp blade) and ruler, good sewing machine needles, denim needles are a must for sewing through multiple layers.  Hemostats are very useful for turning narrow things right side out. I love my pen with disappearing ink, use it daily and my little army of seam rippers...it's a love hate relationship with those guys. Fusible tape has become one of my staples. Great for putting zippers in. It adds an extra step but doesn't take long and eliminates lots of mistakes. Not really tools but necessities in my arsenal are chap-stick, my inhaler and a cup of tea. Not hot tea, ice tea without the ice. What's in your arsenal, what could you not get along without?

One more corner shot. My little shadow, he doesn't let me out of his sight. Ever. Seriously.

This is his radar look. One ear up. Notice the redness in the corner of his left eye? The vet calls it cherry eye. It looks painful but I've been assured it isn't. He suggested we have it removed, the gland not the eye, when he is six months old and goes under the knife to remove his puppy dog manhood. Shhhh don't tell him.

Comments

[Lindsey (Yankee Girl Designs)]

Hey babe, Charlie had the same thing at Toby's age! Just make sure you keep it moist w/ Neosporin, otherwise it'll dry out and he'll start scratching at it. Whatever you do, don't have the gland fully removed, just see if they can give it a stitch or 2 and pull it back into the eye, he needs that gland to keep his eye moist.

[Me, Myself and Sewing]

All of the above, plus a good hot iron, sewing gauge ruler, the walking foot on my sewing machine and maybe just a little bit more room in my sewing area, as I am running out/ran out of fabric space.

[Mindy]

I LOVE my rotary scissors!

[MéLisa]

I would add to your list my Grabbit magnetic pin holder, white marking pencils, Qtips (for cleaning the fuzz outta the machine), hot tea (our highs have been in the 40’s!).

I ask you how cute is that Toby!? I just want to smoosh on him he’s so cute!!!!

[Bonnie]

Toby is getting even cuter, I think!! He reminds me a lot of Tini! I just had to lock both puppies in my sewing room while I did my pilates workout. Otherwise they jump up and lick my face or jump at my feet when I'm doing leg work.

They cried the whole time but what could I do???

[lla]

I think that this is one of the (many) things I find daunting about sewing - it seems like to do it well, you need so much stuff! And I don't know what any of it is, or what it is for, etc... Knitting seems far less scary - two sticks and some string.

What is that you are eating? Looks kind of like pizza rolls, but there's no telltale red sauce ooze???

And your littlest baby is just the cutest thing. ever.

[autum]

Yep, it's pizza rolls. You caught me. Not a very nutritious lunch huh?

[Amy]

That. dog. is. cute.

My sewing area has exploded. It is such a disaster (go-wacto as Bea says).

I hereby formally request tutorial on how to use a hemostat for turning narrow things right side out. Seriously. Please :-)

Pizza rolls? Wow. I totally forgot about those - haven't had them since high school. Sounds pretty good right now actually.

[tanya nichols]

Ok um in my arsenal,
* laptop running smoothly
* ice tea with ice and splenda
* rolodex
* cell phone
* magazines GALORE for inspiration of course
* children throwing apples...and making silly faces (required source of inspiration)
* hangars...to hang up the clothes in between creative spurts
* MOTHERS HELPER DAILY...is required for the time that I spend UNINTERRUPTED.
* my friends encouragement...daily...I know Im needy
* my nooner...my daily lunch date with my honey...ohhh get your mind outa the gutter heeheh or you could stay in the gutter and I'll be there to giggle with you and some ice tea without ice...

[Bettsi]

I like all the same tools, but I have to give a shout out to my pin cushion! (haha! a geeky shout out to my pin cushion!) But, seriously, I love that thing! I made it myself and it's a wristlet version so my pins are always handy. And boy! that puppy is sooooo cute!

[sueb]

I can't live without my iron, my rotary cutter and ruler and my bolt of fusible web. And my secret stash of werthers hard candy's!

Good grief he is a cutie! One of my cocker spaniels won't let me out her site either. If I step behind a closed door she bangs at it non stop until I open it!

[capello]

well, he's the cutest little shadow i've ever seen.

my seam ripper and i have been spending some quality time together lately too. i've been tempted to throw it across the room in a fit a rage, but caught myself. we don't need anymore medical bills.

[pinar]

I love the radar look..
best shade ever..
and my arsenals are the magnet pinholder (which was once my mother's.. and a stich remover.. as I often make mistakes in my hurried sewing time.. and a good lamp.. to be able to see..

[Jessica]

Hey girlie! How ya been? Abby had to have operations on both her eyes due to the cherry eye. It was a very simple procedure & one they suggested so that she wouldn't scratch her eye. I hope you all have a great weekend! Love the fall look on your blog, too!

[beki]

Hey, I was gonna comment on the pizza rolls. I love those things!

The things I absolutely can not live without are a good ruler, a cutting mat, and a rotary cutter. Boy, those things make life easier. I have yet to sew in my sewing room, but it's a complete disaster. Fabric and "stuff" everywhere.

[Toni]

squeeze little toby for me, so cute.

[Beth]

okay, he is still the cutest little thing ever! and I will not breathe a word of him losing his umm,, a,,, manhood : )

[linda]

Yup, I've got most of that stuff. It looks like you have 2 pairs of scissors - so maybe you do this as well. I remember my mom screaming, more than once, "NOT MY GOOD SCISSORS!" when we reached for them to cut paper. I have a nice sharp pair of scissors that I keep in my sewing space that are pretty sharp for cutting fabric, but that I don't mind cutting paper, plastic, tags, etc. because they were cheap. No more, "Is it worth it to dull my good scissors on this piece of paper?" anymore!

[katie]

Right now, I have to have a cup of hot tea at my side at all times. It's started to get cold here! I love my mini ruler with those metric measurements on it (I'm not going to lobby for ditching the inch, but millimeters are so useful in machine embroidery). I also love my big plastic shoebox full of buttons and snaps. And I ditto the person who loves their grabbit pin "cushion". I have one that my MIL gave me years ago, at Christmas. It says Bernina on it, but I didn't have a Bernina until about 4 months ago. When I opened the package that Christmas, I mistakenly thought it was a clue that I was getting some huge gift from her that year (my parents always do gift-giving like that, with clues and fun sneaky diversions). But, it was just the pin cushion. It was like getting the keys to a Porsche, without the Porsche. I thought it was a funny (weird, not ha-ha) gift. But I do still love it regardless. Anyhoo...

You know that daisy tea cup you show in the first photo? Does it have a little pedestal foot? My mom has the same (or similar) cup, and it's my favorite to drink tea from when I'm at her house. It has a very thin rim. Hers has yellow daisies with orange centers, on a white background. It's so 60s, I love it.