image by Freepik Transforming a garage into a sewing/flex room not only maximizes unused space but also breathes new life into your home, tailoring it to fit your creative and practical needs. This conversion process offers a unique opportunity to design a versatile area that serves as a dedicated sewing zone while also accommodating various other activities, from crafting to yoga. In this article, courtesy of The Sewing Room, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to convert your garage into a functional and inspiring sewing/flex room you’ll be excited to use. Understand Your Vision Vis ..read more

Image credit: Pexels These days, your sunglasses can do more than shield your eyes from the sun. They can be a personal statement that expresses your unique fashion sense. They can signal your ethical beliefs towards sustainability, especially if you follow the advice from our article ‘5 Simple Ways to Make Your Wardrobe More Sustainable’ and choose sunglasses made of organic material and manufactured by eco-friendly brands. Some pairs of sunglasses can even upload pictures to Facebook now, making them more versatile than ever before! If you're wondering how humanity has innovated ..read more

This dress started with the fabric. I bought the fabric for the shop and when it came in, fell deeply and completely in love with it. It was so nostalgic for me, in part because of the vintage novelty print, but also because the print is actually of landmarks around Great Britain such as Buckingham Palace and Edinburgh Castle to name a few. I’ve been a huge Anglophile for eons now and love everything British, from High Tea to Bag Pipers in full dress. The varied and historic cultures within the British Isles holds a deep romance in my heart. It could be because of my respect & awe of the ..read more

For me, the seasons are measured by the school year. It’s been that way since I started teaching children how to sew about 15 years ago and when my daughter started preschool. So this season, while technically (and temperature wise) Summer, is really the beginning of Autumn. It’s back-to-school for all the kiddos and back to normalcy for my schedule. That being said, you might imagine that my time for sewing has been a little bit too little lately, so my next couple of blog posts will be a little brief. I’ve been enjoying sewing for the sake of sewing and for getting to wear something new. I ..read more

For myself, one of the most fun parts of getting ready for The ADSC Gatsby Summer Afternoon is making my outfit.  It truly brings me so much joy to plan what I’m wearing from my hat and hair down to my stockings and shoes.  Sometimes I have more time than other times to figure it out, so depending on my schedule I can make the experience as simple or as complex as I can handle at the time. 2019 Gatsby - Photo of me taken by Connie Ricca This event takes place in the daytime on a rolling lawn in front of a very grand home in the hills of Oakland, on the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Est ..read more

This 1980’s pink lace dress has been hanging in my closet for a couple of years. It was donated by the lovely Art Deco Society Member Cheryl Stanton, who thought I might be interested in turning it into something more Art Deco. I’ve been quite busy, but had a vision of how it might turn out, just this weekend. Sometimes a dress just needs time to simmer for a while. The lines of the dress are clearly 1980’s. It’s 100% Polyester and had a knit lining, with a zipper down the back. The shoulder pads were reminiscent of Alexis Carrington and the lace a classic look from that era. My original ide ..read more

Hello readers! Thanks for hanging in there with me. It’s our busiest time of year at The Sewing Room and I have very little time to write and post blogs. I DO want to share with you, this wonderful picnic I had with friends over Memorial Day weekend. Our theme was Victory Garden with a Farm-to-Table menu. We all tried to bring something that came from either our own garden or freshly made using natural ingredients that were locally sourced. We are wonderfully blessed to live in an area with local organic produce and many of us have back yard gardens. A big THANK YOU to Daisy Coby of Memento M ..read more

When My corset obsessed 13 year old student, Dalia, wanted to move onto a new bigger project, she chose the Italian Gown featured in the American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking. What a pretty gown it is! In order to give proper instruction and guidance in the process, I decided to make one myself. Getting started is often the hard part, with these bigger projects. This one started with all the underpinnings. Dalia had spent the (school) year prior working on a set of stays, so she still needed a shift and false rump and then opted for an additional under-petticoat. The shift she cr ..read more

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I wasn’t sure what to expect but have been eagerly awaiting my own copy of Make, Sew and Mend and it arrived in my hands a couple of weeks ago. Having been a fan of Ms. Banner’s now for a few years, I knew that she had a book in the works. I also knew it would be a sewing guide of some kind. This Book is something SPECIAL! The thing that is immediately apparent upon opening the book, is that the photography is clear and beautiful. That’s no surprise considering the author and her acute sense of professionalism, but the content surprised me a bit. In addition to the tools, fiber descriptions ..read more