Optimal Positioning

This or that?

Fresh Arrangements

Effy came out to help me show off the new

bag I made today. I used some heavy gingham

someone had given me, and some uber retro, 

poly-vinyl with giant strawberries I found at

a local discount fabric store. It's a little

over-the-top, but I had to buy a yard of it

at $3 a yard. I'd never sewn with vinyl before 

so it was purely experimental. It was 

easier than I anticipated. No problems.

Simple construction. Make the inside envelope of 

fabric. Tuck the corners so it will 'stand' with

a flat bottom. The same process with the vinyl.

I ran a band of strap reinforcing around the top,

then turned it under and sewed the two bags

together. The handles are reinforced the

same way, and sewn to the band to provide

strength to the whole bag.

The large check gingham peeks through

just enough to make me think of a picinc.

I imagine over time the vinyl with harden

a little, but it will get some solid use this

season. Doesn't it look like a summer bag?

The best part is I can put it down anywhere,

and not be afraid of getting something on it.

Just wipe it off!

I took time over the Easter weekend to 

tear apart my sewing studio, and do some 

deep cleaning. I thought about how

my needs and movement in the space 

had changed since I first took it over.

I needed to make some small changes.

 These are flannel covered artists' canvases.

Blocks hold on to them easily, and I also stick 
pins through them to hang up papers and such.

I hung them up on the wall to get them off the 
back of my cutting table. They're still portable. 
I can take them down and move the blocks over to 
the large design wall keeping everything in order. 
Those extra few inches gain me space, and 
keep the boards from falling over into 
my work space now.

I relocated my sewing machines into a straight

line. Now I can use the table to the left to

help support large projects I'm working on.

I will cover that portion of the table in a 

slippery plastic as the rough surface makes

manipulating my quilts more difficult.
I'm directly under the light in the fan, and 
have an additional lamp. I need that extra
light when doing detail sewing.

One spare table is kept relatively free
in case someone comes in to sew with me.

I'm also facing the t.v. so if I choose to watch

or listen, it's easier. I've made an aisle

behind my machines to walk through, and I

think it all flows much better. My cart can
be moved around to wherever it's needed.

I've gotten bins off my cutting tables to gain

more space, too. I don't need everything up 

there at once, and it keeps things freer of lint

and dust build-up. Just store them on the shelves.

One last walk outside before the rain starts.
The Maple buds will burst open any day now.

Already there is color to go with our
April showers.

Until next time friends~

Come on, Doxie Girls.
Let's go sew.

Ergonomics in the Spare Room and Workspace

This is a typical picture of my "not-so-neat" sewing space.

Ergonomics. How many times have we heard this? Does it go in one ear and out the other, or can we use this to our advantage while sewing and quilting?

Web MD says this: 

Ergonomics (say "er-guh-NOM-iks") is the study of the kind of work you do, the environment you work in, and the tools you use to do your job. The goal of office ergonomics is to set up your office work space so that it fits you and the job you are doing.