Tuesday 7 May 2013

Bob the Builder

Plans are progressing towards my eventual sewing desk. Himself is really enjoying the planning process as well as the idea of building it. Being an engineering sort of man he has drawn up his plans on the computer using a 3D CAD system (please do not ask for details as I know nothing). The shelving is not yet in the drawing but I do keep reminding him that I will be requiring one. He claims not to have forgotten. He has also decided that my request to inset the machine so that I have a flush sewing surface is completely reasonable. Yay!

The desk will have two extensions. One on my right for a cutting board, or small ironing board. One on the left for when I require more sewing space to hold the weight of the fabric - in particular when quilting. The next question was what I wanted the desk made from, so today we went to a timber merchant and I got to compare woods. I love the smell of freshly sawn wood!


I liked the various oaks, and chestnut, but finally decided on the American Ash as it is a nice pale wood but with a good grain. I want a light coloured work surface. The ash is in the bottom right hand photo. Hard to really tell what it is like from that but that's the one I am going with.

It's a funny old thing. I had lots of stuff I would have liked to get on with today but a trip to the timber merchant was much more fun. And it was a beautiful day. Anyone who lives in the UK, or knows someone in the UK, or reads blogs by people living in the UK, knows the weather has sucked here for the most part of the past year. But give us a few days of sunshine and we are all happy again. Well, I am!

This was the beautiful setting of the timber merchant.


So, birthday present progress and sunshine. What more could a girl ask for? Why fabric of course! Himself kindly stopped at my lqs as we meandered home and I got the backing and binding fabric for my Walk in the Woods epp.


I will very quietly add on that we also stopped and bought Lemon Yum Yum doughnuts from Waitrose. I am hoping that Rhonda misses this bit of the blog post because she just may stop talking to me if she realises that I am having so much fun.

Susan

If you are looking for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway you can find it here. Thank you to everyone who has put their name in the hat so far. Please be adviced while a good number of no-reply bloggers have included a contact email address, there are quite a few who have not. If I can't contact you then you can't win. And that would be a shame. Clue, if you comment on blogs but never, ever get a reply back from any bloggers then you are probably a no-reply blogger.

39 comments:

  1. A new quilting table sounds nice!

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  2. Yep we use that at work, well I don't (though the boss's dad was irate that I didn't know how to use it to design his new roof, but that's a different story).

    Enjoy you're special handmade table- will it have a recessed but to put your machine into to make it easier for quilting?

    When exactly is your birthday anyway?

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  3. why this table sounds totally amazing !!! wish my hubby was handy like that! xx

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  4. why this table sounds totally amazing !!! wish my hubby was handy like that! xx

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  5. What a lovely day. And you got to spend it with your dh. What a treat.

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  6. Your new workstation is going to be perfect Susan, maybe you should copyright the design and sell it.

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  7. Plans are looking good and I have a CAD geek in the house as well ;-)

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  8. how fun to be planning your new sewing space!

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  9. Aww, I can normally tell what cad package it is from the render, but I don't know that one :( now I might need stop at Waitrose on the way home, thanks!

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  10. How fab to be having a custom made sewing table! Have you seen how Lori Holt uses her table top to iron on and also to cut on - might interest you. She describes how to make the ironing surface in this you tube video I just watched on Sunday - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGg5tYDHy1w

    I have one of those small table top ironing boards from IKEA for £4 which also does a great job.

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  11. What fun, sounds like you are going to have an all singing and dancing sewing table. Fab!

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  12. With regard to the no-reply thing, even if you have had this problem before and corrected it, it may change itself back. Mine did. I think it has something to do with Google+ becoming part of the commenting system. Anyway just thought I'd point that out to anyone else who didn't know that even though they thought they had sorted it out, they might need to do so again!

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  13. Hasn't it just been beautiful today? I've been 3 hours weeding, though. Knackered. Still, it's to be chucking it down here tomorrow so gotta make the most of it!

    P.S. Oh yeah, got serious desk envy, too!

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  14. Sounds like the perfect day to me!

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  15. So pleased for you that you're getting such a fabulous set up! Yay for Mr, he's doing good!

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  16. Hadley would love the idea of touching wood!! ;o)

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  17. Designing your own work table is such fun! It is nice to share the design process with your hubby too. The weather makes us all feel better when the sun shines. Di x

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  18. How exciting to be getting a bestoke desk of your own choosing! Oh and you're timber merchants are a bit posher than the one's round here!

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  19. Eee! It sounds like an amazing day! An inset machine is just heaven!

    What I would do for a lemon doughnut right now! Mmm...

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  20. Love the backing fabric. Glad you're having some nice days. Always lifts my spirits too.

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  21. Good to hear you had such a lovely day; the table design looks great, will it be finished in time for the big day?

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  22. It was nice to see what you were up to today, whilst I was stuck inside in a very boring meeting! The table is going to look great. Maybe he could take on commissions!!

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  23. You certainly are sounding happy these days and now tell me, does your husband go into your lqs or wait outside?

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  24. Don't worry about what Rhonda thinks- you deserve a fun, sunny day!!! Sunshine and fabric is a perfect day!

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  25. Oh I doo love that fresh wood smell *sigh* The sun finally came out up here too, so to celebrate I walked over to Sainsbury's at lunchtime to get some salad - living the life I tell ya ;o)

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  26. Oh the planning and scheming is all part of the fun! You're so fortunate to have a handy-man around! Jxo

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  27. It's all so exciting...I bet you cant wait for your new sewing desk to materialise.

    Dont tell Mr. P but I actually like going to the hardware store...

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  28. Looks like Himself and you are doing great on the sewing room plans and sunshine!! Win win...and win on the lemon thingys :)

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  29. Looks like Himself and you are doing great on the sewing room plans and sunshine!! Win win...and win on the lemon thingys :)

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  30. That's pure GENIUS to inset your machine into your new sewing table!

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  31. I'm not sure who's having more fun with this birthday present - you or hubby!!

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  32. Oh, looks like the birthday present is coming along quite nicely. So excited for you, Susan!

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  33. Ooh... the smell of a wood store... Takes me back to my Dad's workshop, I would play with the shavings & sawdust for hours... Looking forward to seeing your sewing table become a reality...

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  34. OOoh sunshine. I hope you don't use it all up before July!
    How exciting, choosing the timber for your sewing desk.

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  35. ooh, your new table is not only going to be functional, but lovely too. I like this kind of wood very much.
    And yay for the sunshine.

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  36. Here am I happy with my Ikea hacked sewing table :) - yours will be a beautiful piece of furniture. Looks fab already!

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  37. That sewing table looks like just the thing! I might have to accidentally leave this post open so hubby can see it.... I'm still stuck with the dining room table for my sewing!

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    Screed A Floor Scunthorpe

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