CLEAN is a 5 Letter Word

Inspired by Summerset's recent cleaning binge, I decided to give my sewing room/office thorough attention this Friday. As a rule, I clean this space on Fridays anyway, but the past couple weeks have been so busy that I've been negligent. Piles of fabrics and papers (the bane of my existence, papers) have been accumulating everywhere and it'd become rather unpleasant in here.









I clean the sewing room on Fridays for several reasons.

For one, it serves to "wrap up" my work week. I empty waste baskets and clear surfaces. Threads are re-united with bobbins and put back in color coordinated order. Pins are placed back on the appropriate magnets according to type. The floor is freed from scraps and threads. Machines are dusted and ready-to-go.

It's a kind of cathartic process really. Clients' projects are stashed int he closet or dressing room. Papers are filed. Deposits are made and recorded. Quickbooks is backed up. With work things literally out of site, I'm free to have a weekend.










So, two hours later, I have this seemingly huge, open, free space. It's pleasant in here again, inviting - someplace I'd like to be creative in. What's more, the process of putting things away has reminded me of what I have, fabrics and trims and patterns and tools, and had wanted to use. I might just do some sewing this weekend. And if not, at least I'll have a pleasant workplace come Monday morning, when it can be very difficult to get into the swing of things when you work at home.

Note the top pictures of my machine area? Dad extended my L-shaped Koala Outback table all the way to the wall. (I got this table free with my Pfaff machine and otherwise would not have chose this particular model as I think it's rather poorly designed.)

I used to be constantly dropping things (threads, bobbins, rippers, snips, small pattern pieces) down b/w the wall and table (which b/c of moldings won't meet up with the wall at the floor) and having to fish them out with a yard stick - a regular occurrence that caused me endless annoyance. So he added a piece behind the table that would meet up with the wall (both walls, around the corner, actually) about 5" wide and including a "lip" climbing 2" up the wall.

That 5" or so of extra width really adds an amazing amount of work space, much more than I'd anticipated. He also extended the length of the serger side so I could keep two sergers set up at all times. I keep the simpler machine set up for regular 3-thread overlocking for finishing seams and hems and use the new machine for everything else. Thanks, Dad!!