A few of my favourite things ....

There are some things you really want and then when you get them you find they are not quite as good as you thought – a Teflon applique sheet fits into this category for me – it is just too darn slippery!  And then there are some things you are not really fussed about but when you get them you love them and use them everyday. 

 

One such gem in my workroom is a nifty little bobbin holder, called a BobbinSaver.

This useful little item found its way into my Christmas stocking last year (you’ve gotta love Santa!).   As you can see it isn’t full yet – I am awaiting a delivery of bobbins. Once these arrive I will spend an afternoon filling those bobbins so that I can concentrate on uninterrupted sewing.  It is such a simple idea and I wonder why nobody thought of it earlier.  It keeps up to 20 bobbins neat and tidy and the whole thing slips into my sewing desk drawer.

 

Another of my useful items is only a month old but is already invaluable - it is a daylight lamp.  This floor lamp has a white fluorescent tube which shows fabric and thread in their true colours - perfect on dull and dreary days like today or dark evenings.  

(Photo courtesy of Coopers - so no - that isn't the Patchsmith reading her fan mail!)

I am guessing you could get the same effect by fitting a white fluorescent bulb in any standard lamp which would make this a very economical addition to the workroom but for the money (£30+P&P) this lamp is worth every penny.  I got my lamp from Coopers in the UK and whilst they are currently out of stock you can purchase similar ones from Amazon.  The head is adjustable and can be twisted to almost any angle - perfect for getting the lighting right when photographing mug rugs. 

 

And that brings me on to another useful sewing room item – my jigsaw case. 

Yep, you heard me right – a jigsaw case in the sewing room.  It is the perfect surface for laying out patchwork squares prior to piecing them together.  And if you don’t get time to piece them together you can just zip up the case, put it away and the pieces will stay exactly where you put them. 

My jigsaw case came with two fully removable pads that easily hold a 12" block each.  I can take the pads direct to my worktable without the fabric flying all over the place.  The case is also a great help if taking your sewing to the local quilting bee.  True, my case is rather large – a smaller one would work equally well and be more transportable but this case also doubles as a ......... yep, you guessed it ..... a JIGSAW BOARD!!!

Talking of flying fabric, it wouldn’t be right to leave this little excursion without mentioning my blue bird pin cushion which I have now named Florentine (Flo to you and me).  If you are following the Across the Pond sew-along you will have met Flo already – she is my version of the January free pattern.  If you haven’t been following along and would like a little Flo all of your own then just click on the tab at the top of this page.  I padded her wings so not only is she a great pin cushion but her wings store my sewing needles.  Flo and I get together at every opportunity to create wonderful handmade items.  Maybe we’ll show you a couple of these next time we meet.  Sew until then .......