Creative Space

my versatile sewing studio

Welcome to my sewing studio! I daresay that it is finally finished…

When I first entered this space, I fell for the light. Unlike most long, narrow Dutch living rooms, this one is wide, allowing the light to reach every corner. As you can see at first glance, I’ve filled it up with all my work equipment, but it still feels airy thanks to the square format.

I spend most of my time at this table. It’s my desk, my sewing table and our dining table all at once. When we have visitors, I can clear all the sewing gear away so that we have plenty of room to welcome guests.

The design wall opposite my table currently displays a customer’s quilt. Normally, of course, I have a work-in-progress up on the wall. It’s fun to see how friends engage with my current quilt whenever they stop by. You can’t help but notice what I’m working on!

I sit here to sew, with the longarm sewing machine just behind me. Actually, it’s a perfect triangle of efficiency. Those drawers hold my scrap fabrics, which you know I use constantly. While the longarm hums over a customer’s quilt, I’m writing or sewing at the table, everything within reach.

I completely adore this sideboard! It holds all my essential sewing supplies, plus my collection of sewing books. It would be even lovelier in a traditional living room, but it definitely dresses up this workspace. The sideboard, table and chairs are all vintage pieces, purchased from Tijdperk in Tubbergen.

Don’t you love how the light flows? There are glass transoms throughout the living room and above the doors. This is a typical Dutch feature, and it’s smart. It really brightens things up! In addition, the living room has a few wall openings which brighten the hall and entry.

For me the beating heart of the room is my fabric collection. It represents endless inspiration, beauty, joy.

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TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

The Confident Stitch

What??? All quilting cotton is 25% off now through August 4th! That includes the shiny new pretties, like Anna Maria’s Rhapsody collection. Happy stashing!

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And here is the elephant in the room - my longarm - that wonderful machine that enriches my life and gobbles up real estate. The long, empty green wall behind it soothes my sense of overwhelm, but nothing can really make the longarm feel cozy.

Did you notice that it took me WAY longer than normal to finish my sewing room? I blame it on those floating shelves. Each one required eight holes in a super-solid cement wall. I’m so glad that they’re mounted at last and doing their job nicely.

In this corner I wind longarm bobbins and press seams. Working in front of a window has always been a treat, but this view is amazingly expansive. It’s truly like nothing I’ve had in my life before.

An expansive view does something for my soul. It calls up perspective, peace and the feeling of possibility.

So you can find me here several times a day, eating lunch, reading a book or sharing tea with a friend. By the way, I’ve moved the climbing rose to a sunnier location, and it’s happy. Rosebuds are forming!

Or if it’s too cold to sit outside, I’ll take this chair in the corner, close by all the pretty things.

I feel so grateful to have found this space and made it my own. Even if it is small, it has become beautiful to me. It is full of color and of art and of life. I have a feeling that I’ll be creative here for years to come. Thanks for joining me!