Amazing office update

So I started with this...

And this...

And this...

Finally, after making masks for people who generously helped us out by purchasing them, in my disaster of an office, I decided to redecorate.

The first thing I had to do was move the vintage sewing machine from the side wall th the back. Unfortunately that required moving pretty much everything else in the office. 

In the process, I tried to purge a bit and organize so that putting it all back together would be a little easier. So here goes...

The first and easiest sub-project I completed was to give my builder grade ceiling light some pizzazz. I found a bowl that just caught my attention and wouldn't let go...

The clothes rack needed relocation in order to use the desk at its current location. However, to do that I had to move a bookshelf, anf pretty much everything else in the office. It also required the purchase and assembly of another storage tower to hold everything. What I didn't realize is that said tower had open sides and was considerably shorter than I needed. Oops.

So, my wonderful b-chan helped me figure out a solution that works. Props to the husband.

In the meantime, I picked up some storage cubes to fill my shelves and organize my stuff, since my office functions as an office, a sewing studio, a linen closet, a storage cube, and a refuge from rampaging younglings, but I digress.

So, with said storage tower assembled and bookshelf moved, I could now tackle relocating the clothing rod...which I delegated to the husband. Might I add that this all required the removal of all previously employed storage apparatus, including a rather large and overflowingly full file box.

Enter my newly painted oak 2 drawer filing cabinet.

Really, it's just a basic file cabinet, sanded and painted white. Although my two rampaging younglings insisted on helping me paint it in this seemingly never-ending summer of quarrantine.

Next was cleaning up a little shelf unit purchased off of Offer Up ( not sponsored). This little shelf didn't require much; just perfect placement next to the storage tower.

Finally we were getting somewhere. There were a couple side projects that needed doing. I needed a lot more shelving and the wall needed patching and painting after removing the previous closet shelf and rod. So while I waited for the patch to dry, I built a couple pieces to hang stuff. The first was a set of hooks to hang my rulers (to the left).

The other piece I built was somewhere to hang my sewing projects or garments for steaming. For the first I cut, sanded, and painted some wood then applied gold hooks. For the second, repeat, but instead of hooks I used glass knobs from TJ Maxx (also not sponsored).

I also completed a set of pattern weights (separate tutorial) while waiting for my walls to dry after painting. 

With most of the big stuff moved, we could start installing shelving. We put in a total of 5 different shelves. And some odds and ends for sewing and office.

I wanted to add some more smaller shelf display space, so I settled on these cubes...

which I promptly lined with something more to my taste. A little wrapping paper and some Mod Podge. Presto!

I moved all my camera stuff to the shelves up top or the top of the bookshelves. My fabric lives in the baskets above my desk. Above the steaming area, I put my iron, steamer, room cooler, and mini heater. Another little shelf unit holds some office supplies. On the right is a gold file holder from Target (nothing is sponsored, you get the idea) to hold my smaller cutting mats and awkward rulers.

One of the mini projects I am most proud of is a retractable mirror attached to my bookshelf. The other is the fold down ironing board that I designed.

I almost forgot to mention the rugs I picked up. Tuesday Morning is among the retailers that will not survive the pandemic. So I used my bargain shopping skills to my advantage and picked up some rugs.

And yes, those are shims under the bookshelf. Don't be hatin'.

The very last purchase is going to be my new pink and white chair. I actually returned the chair I bought in the before picture in favor of an as yet unpurchased gaming style chair in pink and white.

To review, we went from this

To this

And this...

To this...

Another view...

Yes, even my clothes covers are pink and white.

Hope you enjoyed the transformation.

Easy pattern weights tutorial

For my newly rearranged office/ sewing room, I decided to make some of my own projects. Two of my projects were wood with hooks and knobs to hold things off the floor. 

The one featured in this tutorial is the pattern weights I made while waiting for paint to dry.

Materials

Ribbon

Tacky fabric glue

Washers

Scissors 

Craft clamps

Steps

1. Cut a length of ribbon that will cover the stack of washers. I used these washers and stacked them in 4s to give me 6 weights. I also pre wrapped the washers to measure out the amount of ribbon I needed. There was probably an easier way, but this is how I did it.
2. Next, apply glue to one end of the ribbon and place it against the stack of washers with the clamp. I found it helpful to over lap the ribbon once then clamp.
   
   
3. Then, wrap the ribbon tightly around the stack of washers.
   

   
4. Finally, apply glue to the end of the ribbon, wrap it, and clamp it.
   
   

   

   
5. Once the glue dries, remove the clamp.
   

   

So here it is. Boring washers to posh sewing fabric weights.

And 

Easy pattern weights tutorial

For my newly rearranged office/ sewing room, I decided to make some of my own projects. Two of my projects were wood with hooks and knobs to hold things off the floor. 

The one featured in this tutorial is the pattern weights I made while waiting for paint to dry.

Materials

Ribbon

Tacky fabric glue

Washers

Scissors 

Craft clamps

Steps

1. Cut a length of ribbon that will cover the stack of washers. I used these washers and stacked them in 4s to give me 6 weights. I also pre wrapped the washers to measure out the amount of ribbon I needed. There was probably an easier way, but this is how I did it.
   
   
   

   
2. Next, apply glue to one end of the ribbon and place it against the stack of washers with the clamp. I found it helpful to over lap the ribbon once then clamp.
   
   
3. Then, wrap the ribbon tightly around the stack of washers.
   

   
4. Finally, apply glue to the end of the ribbon, wrap it, and clamp it.
   
   

   

   
5. Once the glue dries, remove the clamp.
   

   

So here it is. Boring washers to posh sewing fabric weights.

And 

From bowl to chandelier

So, I found this bowl at Burlington...

And I knew I had to have it for my office.

My office is not devoid of light, style maybe, but not light. There is a west facing window, so ambient natural light abounds during the day. Rather, it is devioid of stylish or even useful light, save one Ott Light desk lamp. That is about to change, at least the stylish part.

Ok, for all you haters out there, this is my office, with my style aesthetic; I didn't ask you for a reason. There, now that that is done...

Materials

Said bowl from Burlington

Jewelry connectors? From Joann's

Chain, also from Joann's

Pliers (2 recommended)

Steps

1. Measure how low bowl is to hang, and measure out the same amount of chain.
   
   
2. Open chain with pliers.
   
   
3. Attach one end of chain to bowl and close chain.
   

   
4. Attach other end of chain to connector (ring) and close chain.
   

   
5. Repeat for a total of 3 chains/rings.
6. Hang rings on screws of existing light fixture.
   

   
7. Admire your upgrade!
   

   

Once again, from this

And this

(Where I should be inserting the unphotographed before picture of the plain, boring, builder grade, and a sundry other adjectives I cannot think of while in tremendous back pain from clearing out said office light fixture)

To this...