Welcome to the 7th post in our series of “Sharing Our Sewing Spaces”. In this series members of our Facebook Group will be sharing their sewing spaces with us!
Today we have Donna Liljegren of Brynwood Needleworks’ Studio, sharing her space with us. I am positively GREEN with envy….just look at Donna’s fabric collection, not to mention how neat and well organised her space is!!…..Over to you Donna:
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My name is Donna Liljegren, and I’m the face behind Brynwood Needleworks. I learned to sew when I was ten, and took up needlework in my teens. Since then, I’ve created everything from my own clothes, wedding and Christening gowns to quilts, and now wallets and handbags. After all these years, I’ve also returned to needlework and now incorporate it into many of my creations.
I began my business as Stitches Needlework Shop in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1989. After owning the shop for a while, customers’ needs turned my attention to my own line of counted thread sampler designs. It was then that my name became “Brynwood Needleworks”, and it’s been close to my heart ever since.
These days, I’m busy creating beautiful and useful items from a 12 ft. x 12 ft. studio space in our home in southwest Florida. I hope you’ll enjoy the tour.
This is the view from the hall to my studio. Two windows allow light to flow into the space from early morning until late day. From the moment I walk into the space, my mood is sunny, and I’m ready to work.
My computer sits in the corner, so I don’t have to go to another room to print out orders, patterns, or catch up online. I write a daily blog post so my friends, family and clients can keep track of what I’m doing. The sunflower piece was made for me by a friend. I’m still trying to decide how to finish it.
As I turn away from the computer, my cutting table is right in front of the larger windows. I can keep track of wildlife and birds moving through our property.
The table was purchased at Ikea a number of years ago. (It’s called the Varde kitchen island.) I can store lots of my supplies in it. It measures 60” long, so I have lots of room for laying out and cutting fabrics.
You may notice that I have a little lot of fabric in my studio space. I purchased the shelving from my friends who owned a quilt shop that (unfortunately) closed a couple of years ago. I paid $25 for each unit. It cuts 12” into the floor space all around, but having the fabrics close at hand is worth the lost space. My sewing machines sit perpendicular to each other. All I have to do is turn my chair to move from one machine to another.
My modern machine is a Babylock Destiny. She sews and embroiders, and I can accomplish most anything with her. I’ve been a fan of Babylock and I love this machine.
This is my Kenmore Model 29. I call him “Kenny”, and he’s my “heavy lifter”. Whenever I need a machine to sew through multiple layers, or heavier fabrics, I turn to Kenny. He never fails to get the job down.
When I added the shelf units to this side of my studio, I knew that I wanted my small tv in the opening. What I forgot was the dvd player access for playing my tutorial dvds. (face palm)
My pattern cabinet, from a Northwest Fabrics store closing (my mom worked there and gave it to me), sits between the shelving. I keep fabric jelly rolls, fat quarters, patterns and other supplies in it. You wouldn’t believe how much it holds!
Below the television , my antique thread cabinet holds all my floss and pearl cottons.
Bella would like you to check out my storage units. There are actually two of them stacked together, which I purchased from a scrapbook store.
I was able to purchase inserts for the deeper drawers when I bought them, so I can use them to sort my handbag and wallet hardware. The shallower drawers also hold my tools and keep them at hand for easy access.
Well, my Corgi, Tag and our black Lab, Bella are letting me know that I’ve been at the computer long enough. They make sure I take regular breaks when I’m in the studio, so that they can run around our three acres, or swim in our pool. They remind me it’s important to take time to smell the flowers…or the wet dogs.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my tour today. If you’d like to learn more about Brynwood Needleworks , see what I’m working on next, or read Tag’s weekly “Tuesdays With Tag” posts , you can find my blog at http://www.brynwoodneedleworks.blogspot.com/. I also have a FaceBook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/164276727023824/ , and of course, you can see my latest available creations at http://www.brynwoodneedleworks.com/.
Thanks so much, ChrisW for allowing me to share my passion and my space with your readers. I’m looking forward to seeing your next inspiration, too!
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Thank you for sharing your studio with us Donna. What can I say! I really need to go away and look at my own space and take some of your organisation skills under my wing….Geesh….mine looks like a bomb hit it and yours is positively GORGEOUS! Love your two buddies as well! 🙂 What great company!
Would YOU like to share your space with us? Please email me christine@chriswdesigns.com for more info. Anyone sharing their spaces will receive a FREE pattern of choice from my website shop for their trouble! Come on….be BRAVE! 🙂
