Standing While...Well, Just Standing More

You may have noticed that my sewing machine is up on a milk crate now....and I've got a standing desk at work, too. I thought I'd provide a few links about why I'm a convert, and also about where to get a standing desk and additional information, if you're interested.

What is screen apnea? This quotation really got me: "The computer becomes animated and we become less animated." Scary!

There are zillions of articles out there (and journal articles too, if you are so inclined) about how you increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, etc., if you sit a lot.  Here's one from February 2013 from the Independent. 

My legs were really tired the first week after work.  After the 2nd day, I had to buy an anti-fatigue pad.  I can walk miles, but standing (like in museums) is hard on my lower back...the pad really helps.  (You can see I'm standing on it in the photo above.)

I also have to admit I really look forward to meetings ('cause I'll get to sit!) and to working at the Reference Desk...again, because it's mostly sitting.  

And some people even have walking desks!  I would love this, but can't figure out how I'd get it at work, and I don't think it would work sewing--too much jumping on & off to iron, cut, try on, etc.  Here's Susan Orlean at her walking desk.  And here's a her article in the New Yorker.  (You'll have to subscribe to read it, though.)  

Work While Walking is full of great ideas & links, more about treadmill desks, but also about standing while working.  

And there are lots of sewists out there who stand while sewing (google "standing while sewing"), most of them seem to have started due to back problems.  That is not my issue, though; I just found a standing desk & decided to try it because it's supposed to be healthier. 

Geek Desk has desks that can be raised or lowered quickly...so you can easily sit or stand.  

And an article about posture...along with a helpful video.

Music?!  How about Stand? Amazing music & fashion from Sly & the Family Stone! And today is my 29th wedding anniversary...and the Roommate loves Sly.  Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Of Maharajas & Messiness

We bought our house just over a year ago.  In that time we've added on a bedroom with a bathroom + walk-in closet + screened-in porch, and now we've just redone our kitchen (it was finished when we got back from Spain). Oh, and that is the royal we--the Roommate & I do the selecting & designing, others with actual handyperson skills do the work!  

And now the Roommate is painting the living room.  So this is what my cutting table has looked like since late May.  It's a gateleg table, so the part with the cutting board on it folds down.  The stuff in the back?!  Hopefully it will get put away sometime today, as the paint dries in the living room and we get our buffet back together...


On a less messy note, we went to see the Maharaja exhibition at the VA Museum of Fine Art (in Richmond), which ends 8/19/12.  (Hurry!)  It was great; really fun.  

It's especially interesting to us because this man, Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, features heavily in the exhibit, because he was a maharaja well-known for his exquisite taste in gemstones & jewelry, & he placed the biggest order Cartier has ever received!  Oh and the second biggest, too!  And he's the grandfather of a friend of ours!  All those jewels you see in this photo (the strings of diamonds, the strings of pearls, the rubies & emeralds)...they are all real.  And his granddaughter, Joey, designs jewelry; guess where she gets her ideas? But you can afford these treasures! Manjusha Jewels

Of course I was interested in the clothing too, and managed to snap a photo before I remembered NO photography.  It's a bridal gown, embroidered with gold thread & pearls & weighs about 25 lbs.  Fortunately, back then, Indian wedding ceremonies had the bride sitting for most of the time!

I learned about some interesting techniques, too, which I'd never heard of. First, the thousand-head manner of holding various layers of fabric together with tiny gold-colored tacks.  The head of these tacks was about the size of a sewing pin.  Thousands of them were needed to keep the fabric together.  I couldn't handle the fabric, of course, and there wasn't any in the museum shop, so I'll have to do some additional research on this technique.

Another interesting technique is after embroidering paisleys in a staggered pattern all over a fine cashmere gown, thin hot irons were pressed to it to slightly melt the wool of the cashmere & make a fine grid that surrounded each paisley.  I'd never heard of that one, either.  That was a Kashmiri technique.  

Oh, and the messiness?  Not cleaned up or put away...traffic between our house & Richmond is notoriously awful and we spent a lot of our day driving.  

Sewing Room Rearranging & Ideas

Besides re-painting my sewing room, I also rearranged it.  I still have the same furniture in it, but think I made it a little less foreboding (I'll explain later).  Below you'll see some before/after floor plans, but I'll start off with this little rack from Ikea, which used to be for coats in our previous kitchen.  Now that we have a mudroom w/ a closet shelf & rack, I painted it white & hung it right by my sewing table.  I put ribbons on some of the tools I use regularly (pinking shears, scissors, clippers, rotary cutter, and sliding gauge).  It's great now to have them all on my left when I need them, rather than rumbling through the drawer.  So far Bella has shown no interest in them, so I'm not worried about her hurting herself.

She had a big adventure today, BTW.  She ran outside when I opened the sliding glass door.  By the time I got my shoes on & went out to help the Roommate round her up, she was back at the mudroom door trying to get in.  This has happened before--she spends a few minutes outside then decides it's not that bad inside! Silly kitty.

On the left, you'll see the same hooks being used for my necklaces; thanks to the Roommate for getting those up last week.  It's great to have the necklaces out, too...much easier to find.

When I posted the photos of my newly painted sewing studio in February, I mentioned before & after drawings for the arrangement.  So I thought I'd get those up now...finally.  I just wanted to show one arrangement that I thought would work and then the arrangement I have now, which seems better, though I'm not sure why.  (As always, clicking on a photo will take you to the largest size available.)  All measurements are in inches. All the furniture is from Ikea, I won't put all the links in because I'm not sure it's all still available...the sewing table is 5-6 years old at least.

BEFORE rearranging furniture

Okay, here's the deal:  This first arrangement seemed better because the table fits pretty much exactly under the window; I thought, "Hey, lots of light!" But I didn't like the cabinet where it was; it's tall, and seemed to make the whole room rather dark (walking into a room with a bookcase or cabinet right there by the door was just weird).  Also, with the table against the east wall, it meant the table I use for cutting out was in that dark corner.  There's no overhead light in the room--I've added 3 lamps of varying brightness and I think I probably need another OttLite (daylight lamp).

So after lots of thought, I took everything out, re-painted the room (with the Roommate's help), and am now using this arrangement.  Which seems better; the cabinet, which I don't use too often, is in the dark corner (and I put one of the desk lamps on top of it, so I can use that when I need to get into the cabinet).  What I use more often are the books & boxes that are stored on the shelves (photo here).

AFTER rearranging furniture

Because the gateleg table is now in the corner by the door, it's also closer to the power outlet--meaning I can store the shredder under there.  Bella also finds this an excellent hiding place because she's safe on 3 sides and a heating vent is right there--though is it a hiding place if I know exactly where she is?

I am liking it much better, though the drop down ironing board sort of covers the sewing table & almost touches the sewing machine.  Plus--if I'm ironing something huge, a lot of the weight can be on the table.  Minus--I cannot sew with the ironing board down; however, because it's so easy to put up & take down, that's not an issue.

Music?  My new crush:  Odio Paris - live, doing Cuando Nadie Pone un Disco.

7051/7501 Grand Finale!

Well, the most important item on today's post is, of course, our cat, Bella, who likes the new layout in the sewing room.  She immediately found an empty drawer to hide in and looked adorable.

And the next item is the 7501/7051 dress!  Finally...por fin!  If you remember the beginning of this saga was Scruffy Badger's blog about 7051 way back in October (2011!).  I thought, "I MUST have that, too!" And got online & bought a very large 7501, thinking, well, I can size it down.  Not realizing that I was buying the wrong pattern, being old & forgetful & when I got it into my hot little hands I quickly realized, "Uh oh!"  I'd transposed the numbers & bought the wrong pattern on ebay.  So I set about trying and trying and trying to turn the too big wrong pattern into the just right 7501.  (Can I just say here that after getting me started SB still has NOT made her version--and she has the right pattern & started all this?)

I then decided to use my new dress form & lots of extra pieces from my stash & leftover bits to try to make a toile.  I made 4 eventually and cut & sewed & stitched & restitched & and put in darts & moved them & resized them and ripped out stitches & did it again & again & again.  I won't go into the rest of the story (which involves canibalizing another pattern that does fit & then changing the neckline & sleeves).

But at least you can see that it's finished.  I wore it to work today & got lots of compliments! It goes especially well with all my turqouise jewelry.  It's not perfect, but it's good enough.

I'm not dumb enough to think that pattern making or alteration is easy, but I had no idea how hard it was...I just kept feeling like I'd get it--but I really never did.  Another thing is that unlike the Slenderette/Simplicity 2847, this one rolls back on my shoulders.  That is a problem I often have with tops & dresses I buy readymade, but I've never had it happen with a dress either I made, or Mohammed made.  So that's a bit weird.

Hopefully some of these questions will be answered as I take some classes at Bits of Thread & online with Gertie.

New color in the sewing room!

It's Southfield Green from Benjamin Moore...sort of a Williamsburg-y green.  Not Williamsburg, NYC--Williamsburg, VA!

Anyway, the Roommate had a 3 day weekend & I had a 4 day weekend, so we got it done (he did the green, I did the trim).  It's partially back together now.  I'm waiting for the ceiling touch-up to dry so I can take off the blue painter's tape.  Which I do NOT recommend...it always seems to pull part of the original paint off that you were trying to protect, or the other color leaks under the tape.  I guess it's better than trying to paint a whole room very carefully, but I'm just not that impressed...

I just wanted to quickly share a few pics...the first is the before.  Our whole house was painted in a very neutral light brown (moccasin, I think is the color name).  Mostly I like it, and that's why when I first did the sewing room, I just left it.  But over time, I really decided I wanted something a bit more fun...

(Don't be deceived by that big window.  It's to the east & our neighbors are next door, & fairly close (about 12 or 14'), and they have a 2 story house--so it's a nice window, but doesn't really bring in that much light, especially after noon.)

And the 2 after shots.  I think you can see how well the green looks against the white trim,and also how nice it is with the light wood furniture...all from Ikea, except my wall-mounted ironing board, which is also birch.

I don't have that much I can do w/ the 2 tables, the cabinet & 2 small drawer/file cabinet units (one is for my notions, the other is for our files & the printer lives on top of it).  But I am trying a bit of a different layout.  I wanted to get the cabinet away from the door because it made the room hard to look into & rather uninviting.

If you're wondering about the dress, I'm about to go put the hooks on it (got them at G Street yesterday when I bought enough wool for 2 Starlet Suits!) and I've already hemmed it.  I'm wearing it tomorrow, even though it's going to be too warm (60F)...but darn it, I'm wearing it!  Pictures will be posted!


Music?  Paint it Black by you-know-who!

Update! Quake + Hurricane + Ikea = New Sewing Room!

5.9 - Test #1 for the new place

Okay, well, with the 50th birthday celebrations (including a trip to ABQ to see family and stock up on green chiles & tamales & turquoise jewelry) + a 5.9 earthquake + Hurricane Irene, it's been a while since I've posted.  Apologies if you missed me (or even noticed I was gone?!).

Our new house, obscured by Irene

A little background: Right after the Roommate & I moved to the DC area, Snowmageddon  & Snowpocalypse arrived.  I'm very much into being prepared, so we did okay in terms of food, gas, etc. And it just so happened we were moving, so we had a ton of furniture to move + Ikea stuff to put together...which meant that when everyone else was bored due to lack of power & internet & trapped inside because of the bad roads, we were moving boxes & assembling furniture. Boredom for some was extra days off for us to fix up our new place!

To the right is the not-yet-installed
wall-mounted ironing board

Cabinet + shelves, 20"

So I figured, hey, if Irene is headed our way, let's go get a cabinet & shelves for my sewing room so we'll have something to work on while we're trapped inside.  We also stocked up on milk, soy milk, gasoline, eggs & bought another can opener (the old one is missing since the move).  We also filled many gallon jugs with water. And with all the New Mexican food in the freezer, we were ready for anything!

If you've been following this blog at all you know that I was trying to figure out a non-Ikea solution for my tiny sewing room.

Moved this table closer to window;
need a bird-feeder outside to entertain
both Bella & me!

However, I finally gave in.  We already had a very sturdy table (I used it for my sewing table in Abu Dhabi), and an extra gate-leg kitchen table with 6 deep drawers, which is a great size for a cutting board, but folds down to 9" wide when I don't need it.  So I just couldn't see buying a fancy sewing desk/cabinet.  Instead, I went w/ an Ivar cabinet + shelves.  I wanted to get something cool from CB2 or Pottery Barn, but they only have bookshelves--which are 8-12" wide.  I wanted at least 18-19" wide, and the Ivar shelves, at 20" are an economical way to do that.  I needed a cabinet, too, so I can store unfinished projects, along with knitting and beading supplies; it's necessary to keep a few things safe from Miss Bella, who isn't really destructive, but she is curious & helpful--even when you don't need help!  ;-)

Boxes from Ikea for storage;
I need to think of cool labels for them

The Roommate & I work quite well together--he can't read instructions & turn them into action & I can't do any of the heavy lifting, so I give orders & he does the manhandling and shows off his muscles.  I hope you'll agree the room is coming together.

The wall-mounted ironing board arrived & we'll try to get that up today.  I also plan to move the printer/file cabinet once the ironing board is up--I think that will leave just enough room for the mannequin in that corner...I have a piece of felt somewhere that I plan to tack up as a design board.  I also have a bulletin board that used to live in the kitchen but may end up in here.  There is plenty of wall space left--just not much floor space.

The printer & file cabinet will be moved
& you can see the gate-leg table,
folded up.

On my wish-list?  I'd like a mannequin/dress form and a sleeve ironing board.  Those may have to wait--we are about to start a "master suite" addition to the house. Which isn't as ridiculous as it sounds--the sewing room, which is 6' x 10' is supposed to be the 2nd bedroom. But since I've colonized it, we are down to one bed/one bath.  The basement ceiling is too low to put a finished bed & bath down there, so a new addition is almost necessary.  We live in a great area with lots to do & see, so want to make our place amenable to guests.

Appropriate music?  Neil Young, unplugged, 1993 "Hurricane," of course!

My new ironing board is on its way...pure excitement!

I won't even mention the composter, also en route, because then you'd be so jealous you'd stop visiting, huh?!  We have a composter, but decided we need 2...if you know about composting you'll understand.

Anyway, take a look at this beauty...it's weird (house not ironing board) because our new house has almost no doors!  Certainly none to the sewing room (2 bi-fold doors instead, given away thru Freecycle last weekend).  So I'm giving away my over the door ironing board to a co-worker and I just ordered this wall-mount fold-away ironing board from Amazon!  I cannot wait until it gets here because rigging up another bi-fold door for ironing right now is a bit crazy--the board moves radically because I can't shut the door it's attached to!  And I need to iron.  I don't like it that much, but I love how our clothes look & I love it when it's finished--sort of like exercise & yoga.

Hope you checked out Tilly, featured seamstress on the Collette Patterns site today!  

p.s. On a much different topic, if you've ever wondered about washing your Ikea pillows--give it a try!  Ours were quite un-fluffy after 18-24 months of usage.  I washed them (the instructions said I could) and though they took forever to dry (only do this with a good dryer), they look amazing & are super-puff fluffy now.