I was about 55 before I finally had my own sewing room!!! The up side is that it has 2 windows so it is bright and sunny. The down side is that it has 2 windows and it is bright and sunny lol!!!!! It is about 5 degrees warmer than the rest of the house and I have black out curtains to try and reduce the heat in the hot and humid southern summer (and a ceiling fan!). I can look out my window and see my rose garden, one gorgeous pink and yellow bush has about 30 blooms on it right now. I had probs growing roses in Florida and they love this Georgia climate. It is small and I would love to have the whole garage to myself, but I can open the door and listen to the TV, and I can close the door when it is in a mess (always!). Rosa

I am not above sewing anything I can fit under my machine's presser foot. I used to make most of my clothes, got away from it for while and have started back up again. I do it because I can make them fit better and I'm disgusted at the quality of the sewing in store clothing compared to what is used to be. I've had too many expensive outfits fall apart quickly and I hate the raw seams in most of them. I do most of the house sewing like curtains and table linens, even dish cloths. Knowing to sew got me through some very lean times when it was the only way I could afford to give Christmas gifts to any but my own immediate relatives. My most ambitious projects? I sewed a formal for my sis when she was a student wife and couldn't afford a new one. Also made her a fully silk-lined wool suit when she got pregnant she could wear when she was too pregnant for her old wardrobe, but not showing enough for maternity clothes. Speaking of which, I was a very active pregnant woman back in the days women weren't. LOL. So I had to sew my own pregnancy swimwear. I did a full bridal gown, and then a velvet ballerina gown for my last marriage in wine red. (Christmas time) I do nursing scrubs and dog clothes and pillow cases too. Children's winter coats and christening gowns. Other fabric arts as well. I got into quilting as a Johnny-come-lately.

Kathi, never fails to amaze me how many people share your opinion of alterations/repairs. After Home Ec./4-H my formal training was in the shop of a tailor (4+ yrs.). I was taught well by someone who buttered his bread fixing/altering garments... and what I learned to love about that aspect of the trade was the VARIETY... . Sure, there were hems, sleeves, waist adj's., zipper replacements, but there were also pocket replacements, relines, lapel modifications, and countless "simple" mending jobs. Occasionally the addition of a hand-worked boutonniere! It was never "boring"! Interestingly, I feel no such excitment when it comes to Bridal work. I loathe it! and rarely deign to accept it. Give me straight alterations/repairs any day of the week; I've endured one too many brides late for app'ts. and have little time/patience for the "do I look fat in this?" routine. I feel a similar loathing when it comes to working on furs. The fur industry is fascinating from a technical aspect, but I've never quite been able to get past the philosophical aversion I have to the industry as a whole... (that's why I never bothered to buy the machinery when the occasion presented itself!). Funny how certain aspects of a trade appeal to some and repulse others! :)

I learned to sew on a Singer sewing Machine and remember quite vividly how my feet used to go like gangbusters on that thing. Here is what I have done with mine. We took off the top completely including the belt. Gave the iron base a fresh coat of black paint( looks great), and had a piece of lightly tinted tempered glass with slightly rounded corners( no sharpe edges) put on the top.The glass cutter gave us some small fancy flat fasteners to attach it to the base where the original screws held the top originally. I have it in our front foyer and use it as a table to put whatever seasonal decor I want. At Christmas time one of my larger Dept 56 Dickens Village pieces and accessories make a very nice entrance to the house.I hve also thought that a nice piece of marble on the top, would work well with the iron base perhaps in a kitchen.