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Isaura
There are two things that make Brugge a great city to live in. First of all it’s quite easy because everything is so near. There are lots of special little shops, but also the typical shopping mall stores like H & M, New Look and Zara. Though I myself lately prefer to visit the smaller and not-so-well-known shops ;) Second, Bruges has some wonderful parks and quite a lot of nature in comparison to other cities, like Antwerp for example.
This week Hello Sweet Taco recreates the unique look of Icelandic singer-songwriter Bjork.
Björk was the Lady Gaga of the 90’s, her fashion was questionable at times but with her charm and grace she always managed to pull it off . She made her beautiful windswept hair look effortless and her make-up was often very delicate and simplistic, using soft pinks and neutral tones. I will forever love her bold fashion choice of the swan dress; it has inspired so many other great creative ventures. This pretty DIY style will show you how to transform yourself into the quirky Icelandic singer.
We head to Westerly, Rhode Island to explore the chic black & white sewing room of Karen from Sew Many Ways.
"My favorite thing about my sewing-craft room is the natural light from all the windows. My sewing room has been in so many different places in our home over years, like the basement and small closets, so the windows really make all the difference for me."
Tell us about your space?
We live in Westerly, Rhode Island and have been here for over 26 years. My sewing-craft room was a three season porch at the back of our home. It is located right off the family room, so I am still close to all the action that goes on in the house! The room is 12 feet by 25 feet with a full long wall of just windows. The room is all mine for sewing, crafting and my office and blogging work. However, I always have comfy chairs in there for my family to come in, sit for a while and visit. My sewing/craft room is where I do everything from quilting, sewing, painting, gluing, creating etc. You name it...if I do it...I do it in my craft room! I have the room broken down into areas. I have a crafting area, sewing, fabric cutting, gluing station, office area etc. This makes for better organization and less stress while trying to work and find things.
What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
I think paint is the most important thing in my workspace. I have painted old pieces of furniture all the same color black. It helps to unify all the pieces, but it's also a great backdrop for all the things that I make in my space.
How do you keep organized?
Organizing is my main hobby. I love it so much, I wish I could make a living at it! I organize and label everything in my craft space and the whole house too...everything! If things are organized and have a "place", there is less stress and more time to create, because you're not spending valuable minutes searching for things. Having things organized makes it easier for me and the whole family.
Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
I have used so many things to keep things neat and tidy. I've used galvanized buckets, plastic shoe boxes, cardboard boxes covered with fabric, painted coffee cans and wire baskets. Look past the obvious storage solutions that you can buy in the store and try to recycle things you already have. I little paint or fabric can unify anything and make your space sing.
Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
My favorite possessions are little things that no one would even look twice at. They are my mom's sewing tools...her thimble, a little wooden tracing wheel and a pincushion. Special memories of her that I wouldn't trade for anything. I do have a few quilts on display that were my first creations years ago. The first quilt I ever made was for my husband and the first quilt I hand quilted was for my mom.
How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
Inspiration is everywhere, but I do keep them in 2 places. I tear out magazines pages and store them in plastic protector sheets in a three ring binder organized by category and of course who could live without Pinterest!!
Where do you look for inspiration?
I look for inspiration everywhere, but for me what inspires me to create something or come up with new ideas is the "need" for it. What I mean by that is, finding the solution to a problem is what makes me think beyond the norm to find the answer. As the famous quote goes, "necessity is the mother of invention".
If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream space?
I really couldn't wish for more in my space. It really is a dream come true. However, if I had to pick a couple things they would be...
1. Heat. I know that sounds crazy, but my room is a three season porch and there was never a heat source added to that room. I have to use a space heater in the winter!!
2. More pot lights in the ceiling. Although I have great natural light during the day, I wish I had a few more lights in the ceiling for when I work at night.
Make sure to check out Sew Many Ways for craft ideas, recipes and blogging tips »