Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Friday, January 31, 2014

She Who Sews


When Madame Samm first mentioned this new line of fabrics from Quilting Treasures, and I saw the pictures, I was in love!  Every single one of those women just made me smile.  So I was thrilled when Carla from Creatin In The Sticks agreed to be the cheerleader.  I might possibly have been the first one to sign up - I e-mailed her so quick she probably didn't know what hit her.  :)

I don't have a lot of imagination to come up with things to make but I just knew I wanted some of these women in my sewing room to keep me company.  Unfortunately life sometimes give us a kick in the pants when we're least expecting it and when I came down with an extreme case of Sciatica, which put me in the bed for three weeks now, I was so disappointed.  Oh - don't worry - I found I can even do a little sewing when on pain meds and my brain has turned to mush.  :)  When your brain is mush you just have to do something that doesn't require much thinking.  Thinking can get you in trouble when you're on pain meds!

The first thing I did was make a cover for my sewing machine.  It's a simple throw type cover but with these darling women I didn't want to cover up even one little piece of them with anything else.


I added a polka dot binding along with some large ric rac, which isn't really visible in this picture but trust me, is darling.  :)  I did a simple stippling pattern for the quilting and added some ties on the side.  One of the nice things about this is that when I take it off to sew it slips right over the back of my sewing chair so it doesn't end up on the floor or tucked away in a corner so I forget where I put it!




Then I noticed my serger, sitting there all plain and sad.  Well, more than plain - I had simply slipped a white pillowcase over it as a cover and it was pitiful.  Really.  Pitiful.  It was almost crying because it felt so plain.  So I made it a new cover too.  Now the shape of a serger isn't exactly like a sewing machine - I tried just a plain rectangle but it didn't seem right, so I added a tuck in the top on each side to make it a bit more fitted and less likely to slide off.



I put a pocket on each side, one for the instruction book and the other for the various little tools you use with a serger.  I didn't put ties on this one - the weight of the book and tools holds it in place nicely.  Now my serger is much happier.  Can't you just tell she's happy?  :)

That only left my Featherweight.  All alone.  Naked.


So I made her a dress too.  :)


I've never thought of my sewing room being "decorated".  Until now.  I mean, in the living areas of my home I'm constantly changing a pillow here, a picture there....but the sewing room has now taken on a whole new look.  Which means I looked around and thought, what else?  So I recovered my ironing table.



It's funny how a few new things make such a change - it's bright and cheerful and fun.  The changes inspired me and since I've finished these I've even been cleaning out some drawers going through old patterns and fabrics.  And everywhere I look I think of something else I could make out of this fabric for this room...I'm going to have to order more to do it but really, what's a girl to do?  :)

Please be sure you visit the other bloggers today - there are some really cute things to see!


 
 
 
 

75 comments:

Gmama Jane said...

I love your machine covers!! I sadly did not order any of the fabric being featured but I will definitely be buying some for my stash. Hope you are feeling better with your back. You are such a wonderful person and friend. I would love to visit you in your sewing room.
Hugs
Jane

Judy B said...

Your sewing machines all look lovely in their new dresses! The ironing board cover looks beautiful too. Thank you for sharing.

Amy said...

Very busy lady you were making all those fancy dresses for the girls. Love the polka dot trim around the edge. Your ironing station is great with the Handmaids on it. Great work!

DebraKay Neiman said...

Putting the cover on the back of your chair is pure genius. Love the ironing station too. I can't wait until warmer weather to get my little workshop area all spruced up to. Until then I will be getting a lot of these done for my sewing room. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

Anonymous said...

Your cover is just great, I like the little pouch on the side, you thought of everything! And the cover is great, the red colour just matches beautifully with the fabric panels!

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Love your machine covers, but really thing the idea of the pockets to hold manual and specifics for each machine is super.

charlotte said...

Love it. I love to decorate my room by displaying fabric. You have done so beautifully. Hope you're feeling better.

Anonymous said...

Love the changes to your sewing room-it really "dresses" it up.

Elizabeth Coughlin said...

Your machine covers are all great, and I really like the ironing table.

Teresa said...

Cute ideas and sure adds some interest and fun to your room.

Marian said...

Love the covers, great job!!

Vickie said...

Marlene, you are my super hero....coming up with those great ideas and then actually making them when your not feeling good and hurting ! 3 new bonnets (as Bente calls them) for your girls ! Putting them on the back of the chair while you use the machine was smart...I would have thrown it in a corner. What a great ironing station you have. I do hope your feeling better every day !

Dorian said...

Great job on your machine covers Marlene. Hope you are feeling better.

Michelle said...

What is the name of that line of fabric. It is sew cool, and I LOVE everything that you have done with it! Hope you are feeling much better. Hugs! Michelle

Sparky said...

Ohhh My word, dresses for all and nobody is naked….I love your ironing board….all the dresses and most of you for your humour…I was smiling through your whole post lol

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

Great ideas Marlene...I especially love the ironing board cover!! Fantastic job

Jeanie said...

Your machines are stylin:! I just love that you didn't cover up the wonderful ladies and just let them shine. Great job on everything and I hope they were a nice distraction from your pain. Prayers for continued healing!

Agnes B. Bullock said...

What a great sewing room- wish mine were as stylish and organied!

Love the machine covers- no more naked machines! (Now I hear mine caling out- they are naked and want covers!)

Leah said...

That iron board top is fabulous! I love it! Your other projects are beautiful too.

Carla said...

Oh, Marlene, your sewing room is a happier place with these beauties. Putting a pocket on your serger cover and being able to place the sewing machine cover over the back of the chair...just brilliant. You are so creative and your projects are always so pleasing.
Thanks for hopping. I hope you are feeling better.

Carol said...

Love the sewing machine covers and your ironing table cover! Your sewing room must be brighter and cheerier now! The pockets on your serger cover are genius! Thanks for sharing.

Maggey and Jim said...

Love your creations, also love the fabric.. Have a glorious day...
Maggey

Linda said...

When you finish, you'll have to show us your whole sewing room! I know it must be beautiful with all those beautiful fabrics. Love the covers and the ironing table cover, too!

Robin said...

Those are some cute covers! Great job. Feel better soon!

Thearica said...

Well you just gave your sewing room a make over! I need to make a machine cover too. I never put mine away so it always has dust on it.

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Marlene for not feeling well you sew circles around me. Love the sewing machine cover, and the ironing board cover and I had been putting off buying the fabric but after seeing your projects. I just knew that I had 3 little ladies that needed sewing machine covers from that line. (hehe they are dirty girls)

gpc said...

Super cute! I bet I'd enjoy my sewing time a lot more if I created such cute covers. :)

Deonn said...

Oh, Marlene, what wonderful ways to "dress" up your sewing room! I'm sure your machines all love their new covers. And what a great ironing table. Yes, red always does it for me - so cheery! Wonderful projects - I hope you get feeling better right away. Sciatica can really be a pain in the posterior!

Sherry VF said...

These fabrics are so unique. What a wonderful choice to decorate your sewing room. Very nice. svonfumetti at yahoo dot com

Carol Swift said...

You really decked out your sewing room with those beautiful projects...love them all! I love that sewing table on top of the cabinet. I can't believe you accomplished so much with that pain in your sciatica. What a woman! :O)

Heidi [Banks of Frog Creek] said...

Beautiful!! I'm sure it's like a breath of freah air when you walk into your sewing room now :)

krislovesfabric said...

These look just beautiful :)

Calicojoan said...

Wow, you have a dream sewing room now. I especially love the irong board cover you have made!

Brandy said...

Yay! I'm glad you were able to brighten up your room with these little changes, I will have to remember that whenever I'm able to get into my own room. Thank you for sharing, and get to feeling better!
~Brandy

jan said...

Marlene! I just love how you dressed those girls up! Sew very pretty. And I love the jumbo rick rack. Special touch!
Thanks you for sharing and I truly hope you are feeling lots better soon.
xo jan

Michele T said...

This fabric is perfect for a sewing machine cover - I've got to get some and make myself one (someday!!)

Joyce Carter said...

Cute-cute-cute! Everything looks so bright and cheerful in your sewing room. I love the way you store your machine cover when you are using your machine. I think that is why I haven't made one. I knew it would stay on the floor more than any where else. But now I know that it can be placed on my chair. Thank you for your inspiration and for sharing.

Margaret said...

Love how you have decorated your space. It is beautiful. Loving all the covers and Your ironing station is great

Scrapatches said...

Beautiful bright new sewing room makeover, Marlene! I am really enjoying the visits to everyone's sewing spaces. Thanks for sharing ... :) Pat

Just Quilt It said...

These are great! Hope you are feeling better!

Kathleen said...

Nice job! I like the ironing table cover the best.

tink's mom said...

Love that all of your girls have lovely new coordinated outfits. It must make for a very happy place to stop by for a visit. You did a great job, meds or no meds. Hope you are feeling a bit better.

MoeWest said...

These projects are all so beautiful! It makes your sewing room look bright and cheery. I hope your back is feeling better now. You did an amazing job for someone on pain meds!

Purl Buttons said...

BRILLIANT! You did such a nice job on your projects. What a smart idea you had for the instruction manual pocket. And I really like the ironing pad cover.

Mary Pat Callihan said...

Your free motion quilting is so good! It really stands out. We didn't get to see too much of your sewing room, but I am totally jealous of your ironing table!

Jane's Quilting said...

Your projects are all so great and you did such a good job on your quilting. I love your ironing table, oh, and that Singer sewing machine....I am jealous!

busyascanbe said...

Everything turned out perfect! I love all of them!

vicki said...

Looking good! Thanks for sharing. vickise at gmail dot com

Createology said...

I love this "She Who Sews" fabric and your projects are exactly what I need to do for my machines. What a great idea to have an ironing table...except I am horrible about horizontal surfaces and piling stuff! Thank you sew very much for Hopping...

LJ said...

Now that's dedication to be sewing while on pain meds and while suffering sciatica. What a great job with your covers and you utilized this marvelous fabric perfectly. I'll admit that I'm in love with your ironing board cover!!

Janarama said...

Perfect fabric to use for your machine covers. They are beautiful. Hope you feel better soon.

Marcy said...

Nifty goodies! What fun you had creating.

Material Girl said...

Cute machine covers! Love your idea to leave sides open and put on chair. Mine gets covered with junk or falls under table.

maggie said...

Wonderful idea to make sewing machine covers. It shows off the fabric so well and very useful as well.
Cheers
maggie

maggeimine42@gmail.com

Lixie said...

Ouch, I've had sciatica. Worst pain ever! You'd never known you'd been ill though from everything you made! Hope you are recovered now.

Denise said...

Sorry to hear you were feeling poorly! But WOW! look at what you created during that time! I love all your projects! Hope you feel better soon!

Quilt Doodle Designs said...

Love your sewing machine covers! Very nicely done. Feel better soon!

Sherry D said...

My fav-- the ironing board cover! It lights up the room...

Catherine said...

Beautiful Marlene! I just love your machine covers and sewing table. I also would like to see your sewing room.

Doris Rice, The Quilting Queen said...

Wow, you accomplished a lot for a women on "drugs"! lol. The covers on the sewing machines are a lovely addition and so is the ironing board cover. Isn't it amazing that a few little changes can make such a big difference and you'll probably find you're more productive with a cheery environment. Hope you're feeling better soon!!!

sandra said...

For a lady with Siatica you did really well. You can't keep a quilter down very long they have too many ideas running through their minds. I love all the covers on your sewing machines and your ironing board a lovely way to brighten up a room you spend many hours . Blessings Sandra

Michelle said...

Your covers are just darling!

Terry@ a quilting blog said...

Your pain meds did not affect your creativity…beautiful job on all your projects! Feel better soon :)

Britt-Inger said...

I love all your covers. You are a very creative lady. Thanks for sharing and being part of this hop.

Cecilia said...

Your covers are great. Thanks for sharing and I hope you are feeling better.

Lindah said...

OH, yes! Way to go, girl. I plan to make a simple DS cover, too, but had not decided what it should look like. Your big rickrack is perfect. Now, off to find me some. Glad you are feeling a bit better. You are in my prayers.

Belinda said...

OH WOW!! I've been meaning to make one of those for my machine. I LOVE that fabric!!

Lisa said...

I love each creative new item I see with this fabric!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Oh my goodness!
I am laughing with how cute those are and how you just kept going and going!
Energizer Bunny!!!!

gpc said...

Adorable! I really need to get busy, you put us all to shame. :)

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

What wonderful projects Marlene and I would love to see some more photos of your quilt room! Great idea to cover your machines with these fabrics!

Mara said...

That's a whole NEW room!

Michele said...

Oh all of your machines and your ironing table are thanking you for making them so pretty. One can't every have a naked machine, now can one.

Carrie P. said...

great projects. I love your ironing board.

Baa. xxx said...

Wow! Great to see everyone so well dressed - All the machines have great covers and love the ironing board - what a bright happy sewing room it is now.