Back to blogging and a peak at my new sewing areas
Well, hello there. It's been a while hasn't it - just over two months in fact. I hope life has treated you well, that you all had a good rest over the festive period and are looking forward to a brand new year of opportunities and stitching.
The back end of 2015 was rather busy for me. Work exploded with a whole host of changes but more excitingly, Adam and I moved into our new home. Thankfully getting the place was relatively smooth and we got the keys in early December after living with some very kind friends for three weeks. Since then, we've been working on getting the place just the way we want it around the madness of Christmas. We're lucky as we don't have to do any decorating - the house was gutted and redecorated in the four years before we moved in and the previous owners had pretty good taste in decor. The slight downside to this is that it has taken a while to remove the feeling of this being their house but that continues to disappear as we unpack all of our possessions - the final lot will come out of boxes this weekend when the furniture for upstairs is delivered. It is pretty awesome to come home to a place that is ours - I still can't quite believe it!
I'm slowly getting back into sewing and managed to squeeze in a final 2015 make on New Year's Eve which I'll share in another post. For now, how about a tour of my new sewing areas? We'll start upstairs in the study. This is where my overlocker will live and I'll have to come upstairs to use it as the noise drives Adam insane. I'm not sure how this will work out in practice but I'm sure I'll make it work. In addition to being a work space, it is also home to all of my sewing paraphernalia which is stored in Kallax units from IKEA. The top row contains my entire fabric stash and those pieces that are big enough to squeeze a full or partial item from. My crafting book collection (sewing, cross stitch and other) takes up the next row. It's so nice that they are accessible in full for the first time. The bottom two rows contain my thread, notions, UFOs and other craft equipment. On top of the units are my sewing patterns and button box. Jessica has found her home next to the units.
Time to move downstairs and to reveal the room that sold the house to me. We have a gorgeous open plan kitchen and dining area with quite a bit of space! The dining table is big enough for me to leave my machine at the end of the table while we use the top half for dinner (sssh! Please don't tell Adam this is my plan - we can keep this quiet right?) It is also big enough to trace and cut out.
In addition, the island is big enough for both activities too. I bloody love this island! I've used it so much in the time we have been here including cooking a Christmas dinner for seven.
The open space in front of the chimney breast is big enough for the ironing board. I'm looking forward to having friends round for a sewing party at some point in the near future.
Despite not sewing for the last three months of 2015, I still had a productive year. I completed 26 items: five skirts, one coat, one pair of trousers, one jacket, four shirts, one sweatshirt, eight dresses, one Mary Poppins outfit, two night dresses for my mum, and two cross stitched penguins. I completed two of my three Vintage pledge makes although one hasn't made it to the blog. In addition, I made seven pocket squares, eight table squares and added a trim to three bridesmaid dresses for our friends wedding - all in tartan to match the groom's trousers (which I didn't make!)
At present, I don't have any major goals for 2016 although I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before I formulate some sort of plan. I was lucky enough to receive a number of sewing books, patterns, and machine feet for my birthday and Christmas and I have no doubt that they will feature throughout the year.
In addition, I now have two gardens and some indoor plants to look after. I've never been a gardener or a vegetable grower but I strongly suspect that will change now as I give the latter a try. One of the quirks of our home is that the front garden has been converted to an allotment - it has three big vegetable boxes and the beds around the edge have a mix of plants. So far I have identified rosemary and rhubarb - who knows what else is there! The back garden won't need so much work as it has a small lawn. However, we inherited three pear trees and a green house. Both gardens are looking a little sad and unloved at the moment but I'll get out there once the weather warms up. In the meantime, wish me luck as I attempt to keep two orchids alive - thanks to everyone on Instagram who gave me advice. I have some healthy looking buds I'm hopeful about.
How about you? I'd love to know what you have been up to and whether you have plans for 2016.