Hello, friends!
Yes, this blog actually works -- the writer? Well, she's generally working on other slipcover things, so this space sometimes falls further down the list ;)
Today I wanted to give you a little picture (or a few pictures) of where the slipcover "magic" happens. Like many slipcover makers, I work from home, which, I will confess, is definitely part of the appeal of this job. And while our house is not overly large or fancy (by North Texas suburb standards), it does permit me to have the space I need to get most jobs done.
So, let me give you a tour (I tidied up a little for you)!
We have a two-storey house, so when you come, you will see our front room where I have my "office" and where you will bring your pieces that you want slipcovered. My actual sewing space is upstairs in what is meant to be a game room, and this is what you would see if you came up up the stairs...
I love this little area! Clients don't generally see this, so it's mostly for me (and my family, as there are bedrooms up here, too). It serves several functions: it anchors the room as my business space, it provides a space to design slipcovers and/or think through the next step of slipcover construction, it's a great spot for a lunch break, and (this is the best part) most of the furniture easily moves out to provide backgrounds for photos. In case you are wondering, most chairs that are getting slipcovers will get moved up here - anything too large to be easily moved stays downstairs, and then I get my steps in :)
If you turn to the right just a bit, you will see my actual sewing space.
This space changed a lot when Mary came to work with me - having two people working in the space meant thinking it through differently. Floating the large table in the middle was a game-changer!
There are two sewing "stations"...
... the large machines along the half-wall (where the stairs are), and...
... and the smaller machines tucked in the corner by the window. I love the big windows!
Storage is important! These bins contain supplies designated for specific projects (and they can be labelled with dry erase marker if needed). The peg board is a must, as is the board to keep track of projects (I framed some fabric - the glass acts as the dry-erase board).
I love this table! We have had it since our previous house in Canada, where we had a dining room big enough for it (this is the Norden table from IKEA, but I guess they used to make it bigger - ours measures 86" long x 39" wide without the extra leaf!). Someday we'll have a large dining room again - in the meantime, it makes an excellent cutting table. Especially when you raise it up with bed risers, and cut plywood to fit the supports underneath to get storage for fabric rolls -- game-changer!
And that's my space!
I really enjoy making slipcovers, but it's ever so much more enjoyable to have a space that works. It's not perfect (it doesn't have double french doors so furniture can be brought straight in - that's for another house!), and will be adjusted as my needs and equipment changes. But, for now it makes me smile and that's mission accomplished!
Where do you work?
Sherri
