Something new to love...

Today Alayna and I went to welcome our newest neighbor. They opened a brand new Michael's in a plaza fairly near our home. I had my trusty 40% off coupon with me and I was ready to shop. They had alot of great deals to celebrate their grand opening week and was able to take advantage of a few of them. I had thrown a rotary cutter into my cart and thought I would use my coupon towards that. But as I wheeled my way through the aisles I found this...

It is perfect for my ribbon and other little things. My ribbon had been in plastic containers on a nearby shelf but it was kind of a pain having to open each container seeing which was the best match. Like my thread, I can now just glance up and see everything at once. My handy hubby hung it up for me lickety split.

Can you tell I love organization! In my studio anyways!

What a difference...

I can't believe it has taken me so long to move my thread rack right next to my ironing board. It has only been there for one day and already it makes such a difference! It had been on a shelf on the other side of my room. Now it's not like I have an olympic sized swimming pool for a room - but still. When I am ready to stitch and looking for thread I just glance up and there they all are.

Shiny Happy Thread!

My handy helper...

Now that I have changed my packaging and colors to be more inclusive of boys and girls - I have alot more raffia to deal with.

I had a wooden dowel left over from some other project and was trying to think of a way to use it as a dispenser. I couldn't think of a good way to attach it to the wall though. As I was digging through another closet I found a pair of curtain rods that had been taken out of another room after redecorating. These of course came with brackets for the wall and it was the perfect size to hold all of my raffia. My hubby hung it up for me and I am loving it! It keeps everything orderly and out of my way.





I was thinking either above my shipping table for the cookie sheet message center or maybe one sideways above my raffia bar? We'll have to see...

Around the house...

The poll is over and it is a tie! You wanted to see Alayna's room and the attic. I will break the tie and pick Alayna's room since it is much less messy! :P

We finished my daughter's room about 3 months before she was born. I love decorating and couldn't wait to get going on it. Even though we weren't 100% sure she was going to be a girl, I fell in love with this pink and green wallpaper and had to have it. Lucky for her (and my husband who put up the wallpaper) Alayna came out a baby girl.

I have pulled different characters out of the wallpaper to emphasize. At first I bought every bunny thing I saw. But about 5 months ago I found the Penelope bedding from Pottery Barn and had to have that. So now everything is about the birdies. In a closet I have the coordinating pieces for when we turn her crib into a toddler bed.

I also love the furniture we picked out for her room. I really didn't want something that looked like baby furniture. In a local furniture store we found this set from Broyhill called Attic Heirlooms. I love the heavy distressting on everything and the fact it can really grow with her and last a long time. When we move her into a regular sized bed I would love to get a painted canopy bed like this. But if I had higher ceilings (darn old house) and a bigger room for her, you can bet I would be buying this!

The one thing I just can't settle on is the wall behind her crib. We painted it a solid shade of pink. I didn't want wallpaper there as I thought it would close in the room too much. I just can't seem to find the perfect artwork that I want or anything else that would go. Always something to keep an eye out for I guess. A couple of weeks ago we were in Pottery Barn Kids spending a gift card we had and Alayna saw these birds hanging around the canopy bed I like. She loves them - she lies in bed looking up smiling and talking to them.

And of course I need to show you the inside of Alayna's Closet! It is quite small but it holds everything for now.

Thank you for taking a tour of Alayna's room! It is my most favorite room in the house. : ) What will we see next week? Vote in the poll and we'll find out!

* Also - my current giveaway for one of my personalized applique tees is ending tonight at 10pm EST. Make sure you leave a comment for your chance to win! *

This is where I create...

I would like to invite you into Alayna's Closet. Not literally of course, but where I create everything you see in my Etsy shop and more! I have temporarily taken over my daughter's playroom while my attic studio renovations are on hold. Luckily the nice bright colors I painted are lively and fresh for my shop also.

As you are standing in the doorway you face my shipping table. A gorgeous thing I found at my local HomeGoods. I keep my mailing envelopes, labels, tape and other supplies here. Also you can see my fabric stash in the clear containers.

To the left of that is my ironing board where all the magic happens. I cut out all of my designs here. On the tall bookcase is various bins for scraps and receipts and folders for my patterns and invoices. In the photoboxes towards the bottom is my grosgrain ribbon collection. And of course my little radio. I jam out to 93.7 Mike FM in Boston while I work.

Next up is my comfy leather chair where I stitch all my shirts and totes. It does double duty as a reading chair before Alayna's bedtime. We both enjoy a good Dr. Seuss book.

This storage unit was actually in my kitchen for the last 4 years. I used the towers in a craft show I did about a month ago and decided to use it in my room upstairs. It does a great job of holding all of the plastic bins that I keep my shirt inventory in. I have a wide range of sizes for both boys and girls and many colors to choose from. Right now I probably have about 150 shirts in stock. But you can see I still have a couple open spots - so I will keep an eye out for more cute styles!

And finally a little space that isn't filled with something that I use as a back drop for my product photos. I recently ordered a pinnable mannequin and a plastic half form that I love! They defintely help to show my items better and they don't run away like Alayna does when I try to take a picture. : )

And that closed door you see is the stairway up to my in the future studio. Can't wait!

Thanks for joining me in my little space of creating heaven!