the kloset workshop

I thought it would be fun to give you a little tour of the Emily Ann’s Kloset workshop today.

Come on in and SEW awhile ….
IMG_8634-2Once upon a time there was a lonely dining room that was hardly ever used. Maybe for a birthday party or two or a Thanksgiving dinner… but let’s be honest…. the formal dining room in a home barely gets used. Atleast ours didn’t.

We have an eat in kitchen with a farm style table so the time we spend together during meals is usually at that table.

IMG_20150408_091551-2As Emily Ann’s Kloset grew over the years, I outgrew the small space I made for myself in the playroom and really needed to be somewhere in the house where I could see everything that was going on. And hear “mommy i need a snack”, right when I step on the sewing machine pedal.

That is how the dining room remix happened. The workshop is really the first thing you see when you come through my front door. #helloprettyfabrics

Helpful tip: Creating a work space for yourself doesn’t need to be expensive….I used things from around the house & a few new purchases to create this space. You might be surprised what you have already. #shopatyourownhouse

My cutting table is a folding table from Home Depot {with the legs folded up} and sits on top of 2 short dressers that were in our garage. I covered it with quilt batting & fabric so it also doubles as a huge ironing table. Bonus: dresser drawers = more storage space

I made my own gingham curtains, chalk painted my china cabinet, brought in a wicker chair from outside, and added some old bar stools so there’s somewhere to sit at the cutting table.

2025-01-16 17.37.38And to organize fabric I usually seperate by designer and/or holiday & keep on shelves, in cute baskets or stored in containers. Some is color coded, some scraps are stored in plastic containers, some are on bolts, & some is just sitting wherever it wants because I have no idea where to put it yet.

I don’t use a fancy sewing machine or a long arm quilting machine….though I still have dreams of owning a Juki. I handmake everything on my own, RIGHT HERE in what used to be our dining room.

I’m not a super hero but I sometimes wear Lily’s cape and mask. I make mistakes. I’m a mom & a maker just like you …. that makes pretty things from our home.

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I stay up late and sometimes my laundry piles up. I don’t love emptying the dishwasher. I sew with a kitten next to me and i move things so that my pictures are pretty. I drink way too much diet coke. I teach myself how to do mostly everything. I have a furniture rearranging compulsion that started at a very young age. I have a very active toddler, a special needs child and a teenage daughter here at home that take my parenting skills to an entirely new level.

But I love to share what I do here, because I hope it INSPIRES YOU to do more of what you love. When you can.

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I hope you liked your little tour of my workshop where quilts are made, fabric is cut, patterns are written & happy mail is wrapped.

Toodles, from Emily Ann’s Kloset…..

 

 

 

sweet and simple

sweet and simple homemade items plus some painted furniture and a little rearranging are a great way to make your house into a home without spending a ton of money.

When we moved into our house 9 years ago it was a little overwhelming.

Amazing and exciting but overwhelming.

There were a lot of things we imagined we would eventually do. Like replacing the kitchen floor, ceiling fans, painting each room.

It’s the first non-written draft of your new never ending & always growing project list.

After finally making some much needed changes to the front living room (aka the “piano room”), I came across a tutorial for making a quilted piano runner. What??? Who even knew those existed. I never even knew I needed one. Until now.

You can find the tutorial over at Bee in My Bonnet. Lori Holt shows us how to make a “Sweet & Simple” piano runner. that you never even knew you needed. It was part of her scrappy happy summer series, along with a handful of other fun quilty tutorials. Go take a peek.

Like I said in the beginning of this post…. making your house into a home doesn’t need to be expensive at all.

Yes, there will be household emergencies that suddenly pop up and cut in front of everyone on your project list, but don’t let that stop you.

Rearrange a few things, paint some old pieces of furniture for a fresh new look & definitely add some cute quilts to the room….. that makes any room look inviting.

Shop yard sales, accept hand me downs, save inspiration pictures from Pinterest ….but most of all enjoy the process.

Trust it will all eventually come together and just let it all happen when it does. Try cherishing your home in all its different quirky stages. Your mind and wallet will thank you for it in the end.

Happy decorating cute people!

 

 

cozy casual

I am not a decorator. I just love cute things.

And I get asked all the time …… “will you come decorate my house?”

So flattering and sweet, but I want you to be able to do those things yourself. Not that I wouldn’t want to come visit each and everyone that asked, because I sure would!

But half the fun of making your house into a home is making it your own. Taking the time to pick little things here and there that you love and bringing them into your family rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and everywhere.

A little at a time.

Sometimes it’s as easy as taking things from around your own house and moving them somewhere obvious.

Like a basket of quilts under a table. Go pull them out of your closet and fold them nicely and put in a basket.

Or a cute handmade table runner. Store bought ones are nice….but homemade goodness is so much sweeter. You can find this vintage happy runner in my etsy shop.

Maybe just your favorite picture in a frame would add some cuteness to a table, or some chalk paint on an old piece of furniture.

Cozy casual: A warm traditional look made for relaxing with family and friends. And sharing on Instagram. Or something.

It’s those little things that make the difference.