New work space and a hot tip!

I mentioned recently that I have been moving stuff around in my sewing room and think I finally came up with a better arrangement for my sewing machine workspace. I am a messy project person with fabric all over the place and I have oodles of "projects in progress". I like to have them nearby so I can grab a project and work on it, if the mood for that project "hits me". :-)
I used one of my 4 x 8 utility tables and I made a cover for it. I wanted something utilitarian but also something pretty. :-) The "rose hearts" were the symbol I used to use on my business cards so I added them just because I like them. :-) This is the table before I put my sewing machine on it.............

and here it is when the table is all set up for sewing. And what's underneath? ....... lots of "projects in progress" and my supply of rick rack, bias tape, and a bin full of zippers. I really like this arrangement.

I have tried several tables and desk set-ups for my sewing machine but none worked as well as this one does. :-) Before I rearranged and set up the table, you can see my cluttered work area behind this clothesrack in the photo below. Yes, it's a good thing I rearranged. That's not what I want to focus on, though. Take a look at the rack..............

I have never seen a rack like this one but it's one my dad bought at an auction. The only time I use it is for displaying quilts at our library quilt shows. I decided it needed "new life" in my sewing room! One of the things I realized as I rearranged my room, was that I really needed some way to keep fabrics handy for projects that I am currently working on. Otherwise, I seem to be pulling fabrics for a backing or something and making a mess. This way, I can place pieces on the rack and see them at a glance!!!

Before I brought the clothesrack up to my sewing room, I cleaned it really well, and then........ I added the trick that will keep those rods from leaving marks on my fabric. I covered the wooden rods with heavy duty aluminum foil! That's right. The foil is a barrier to the acids in the wood!! I also cover wooden closet shelves with heavy duty foil. It's a tip I learned at our local historical society from then Curator, Megan Schaack. Several months ago, I asked her to verify the info for me again which she did and even double-verified it by asking Bob Herskovitz of the Minnesota Historical Society if "aluminum foil really is a barrier for wood". He replied......."Yes, it's absolutely OK. The foil is impenetrable for acid fumes/vapors from the wood. " So there you have it...............the best tip I can offer you to protect some of your favorite linens, quilts, etc. I've even used the foil to line baskets and boxes that will hold quilts and blocks in progress. :-) I know it works as I have used it for several years now. Prior to using the foil, I placed cotton flannel on my wood shelves but that doesn't work. I have discolored linens from the wood oils that seeped through the cotton and/or the tissue. I also wrap my really old vintage needlework magazines and patterns in foil before placing them in my dresser drawers. I just put a label on the package so that I know what is in it. I figure if it works to preserve linens, it can't hurt and might protect the fragile pattern pieces and pages. :-)

You will see in the photo above, that Kaiser the Wonder Beagle has found another use for my "fabulous fabric rack". He likes to sleep with his head under something and decided this was like a tent so he laid down to take a nap under the fabric. His nap only lasted as long as it took me take this picture and then I shooed him back to my sewing chair. :-)

Good Monday to you and hope this is the start of a great week!

Sandi