Notes for Sewing Room Outside

 

I began with a box that had been created for us in a club situation.  One of our members Pate Steele’s husband created them for us.   I bought a few of them.  (Many mini and doll projects were calling.)

They looked like this:

I painted the box black and filled the interior with the Itsy Bitsy Mini wallpaper in fashion design.   I could not locate my specific pattern, but there are many from which to choose and personalize your room box. 

When that was complete, I decided to then paper the box, though I had already painted it.  So, I began to choose from some shelf papers in a French Toile pattern. 

After covering the lower portion of the box with the toile, I tried to think of something different for the top portion.  The box sat for a little while.  (I played with the interior a bit, to be honest.)   I thought and thought, and came upon the idea that this was a pattern box.  It was a sewing room or shop after all.  Placing a number of patterns in a basket, I took pictures from the top, bottom, right, left, back, and then printed, and cropped until I got the right picture for the top edges of the room box.  That was fun, however; it took a great deal more time than I thought. 

A little braid trim to hide the seam line and it was time for the fun stuff!!! 

And here is the fun stuff again! 

Use your imagination, and Have Fun!

Kathi

Sewing Box, Redefined!

Welcome to August. This week we look at a finished project.  I had a lovely box, a trifold box, just waiting for a doll and her wardrobe.  But for some reason, I wondered if this couldn’t be something else.  And look, it could!  

I wanted to do something with the myriad sewing supplies I had made and collected in miniature.  Some things were from round tables, Ann Vanture Paper Minis, baskets as gifts, small prizes won, door prizes, gift bags, and other collectibles from many artists.  They were all within the theme of sewing. 

(http://www.paperminis.com/gateway-to-dollhouse-scale.htm  Look for other scales as well.  A wonderful place to fill out just what you need and have a little craft time, too.)  

This week the finished project, and next week a few tricks of how I pulled it together as a “Sewing Box”.  

The overall finished box was a trifold box, finished with paper and latches. 

 The Center of the box, partially opened, contained the sewing room itself.  The Victorian Armoire with children’s dresses I had made, a crocheted purse by Lajuana Whitwell, a little porcelain pincushion.  The Wallpaper from Itty Bitty purchased at Miniature Cottage in Nashville, TN.  The gown created by Mary Carl Robertson.  All my friends from the Nashville Miniature Club.  Paper mini-posters and boxes and some of the all-around items by Ann Vanture.  Miscellaneous bits of ribbons and laces. 

(Miniature Cottage, Nashville, TN.  https://miniaturecottage.com/shop/  Be sure to stop in for all sorts of delights.) 

On the left side of “the room” are mannequins, books, more clothing, and hats.  A shelf made from a kit purchased at Suzanne Andres Miniature shop in Nashville.  (No longer there.) Bolts of fabrics and more sewing baskets.  A shoe as a bookend and an outsized pair of scissors.  Just fun stuff. 

 To the right is a cabinet with bolts of fabric, also Ann Vanture Paperminis, a little glass bird on more shelves, a lamp for the late nights meeting deadlines.  More books, more laces, more ribbons. 

 And finally, the whole box insides for a room box to delight.  How else to spread out and take up less room at the same time.  One can surely corral any number of disparate things to have a wonderful display. 

 I think next week I will tell you how I accomplished a few things with this project and perhaps one thing could inspire you to a new room, too!

Until next week.  

Have Fun!

Kathi 

Organizing in a Thoughtful Way

While I am waiting for the upstairs painter to arrive, I have been a little busy cleaning out the rooms, boxing, (rather reboxing), and moving things to a storage closet.  This makes me sore.  My mind doesn’t sore or tire quite so easily and I have been putting my mind to efforts of how to store and organize when I move back in.  I am too excited about a designated sewing and display room. 

While something is not on display how do I save it and make it look right?  And trust me, I can really overthink things.  And if you ever want to rationalize something you want to do, but have misgivings, give me a shout.  I am good at that, too. 

To that end, I have been playing with the Barbie Costume idea.  I have seen it many places as have you, package a set of clothes so you MUST have it.  I want things for the box these days as well.  I love boxes.  But I digress. 

To that end, I bought some boxes from a packaging company. I think I bought something like a 5’ x 6” and a 6” x 8”  Not really sure.  My excuse is they are packed up again and I cannot measure to be sure.  But your things might be different sizes and there is a lot from which to choose.    

https://www.papermart.com/p/clear-lid-view-top-boxes/11323

My plotting started with which doll fit the box, and which clothes went with her.  That settled the box sizes to buy.  I did not buy every size for every doll, as the 12” dolls will not fit into a box, but most of their clothes will.  That for another blog post.  (I am also a bit conservative with money. So mind your budget!) 

Here is a 6” Cathy Hansen Bru in a small box with her wardrobe.  Small wardrobe for now.  I have plans.  But then I questioned my decision, a doll with clothes or doll clothes with no doll. 

Let’s complicate this further as you see I drift as my mind works.  Don’t be appalled.  If I do the doll in this size box, I will only be able to fit the two dresses, the matching hats, and perhaps some other dolly, shoe, or purse accessories. What happens if I make more?  And how do I make it pretty if I want to compartmentalize?  Pretty scrapbook paper?  I cannot get the same paper as the bottom lining, so would I redo the bottom lining and do fancy folding to get compartments.  Can I make this any harder? 

I wanted to share is virtually the same, a sweet little Jumeau created by Sophie Pearson.  Doll with box, clothes only?  All the same little problems. 

All the time I am fiddling I am thinking about provenance.  Do I do a little card inside that says when it was made, who made it, and who designed it?  And notes about the inspiration?

I have more questions than answers and tons of inspiration.  Until I figure it out it is a nice place to store the items so they are not lost.  Bonus, they pack easily. Now you can be thinking about these things, too.  It would surely take a load off my mind. 

Have Fun!  Kathi