Building my Historical Sewing Room & Tour 🪡

In this video I create the historical sewing room of my dreams. Some of you may know that I recently moved (nj to va) and thus have had a major upgrade in my sewing space. I loved my old sewing room with a passion, however it was TINY tiny. Now I have room for my cutting table, a dedicated sewing desk, an editing desk (it's not fun moving a 50lb sewing machine every time I have to edit or work lol) and I even have my own fireplace!? Can't get much more cozy than that. I even have build-ins for all my dress history literature! like isn't that the American dream right there? I feel like I won the lottery with this set up. The majority of the furniture in my sewing room is reproduction English colonial furniture that was ultra popular up until the 1990s. Now all you see in furniture stores is that ugly ass grey washed/painted, faked distressed modern farmhouse ish and word signs that say "gather" and "our story" in that really swishy font I loathe. Anyway, I purchased everything from estate sales, auctions or ebay and no piece was more than $125.
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[@chazhoosier2478]

Having a fireplace in your sewing room will be nice. When it's cold and pouring rain or snowing I rush home to light a fire and sew.

[@kathesss]

the amount of space in this room is an absolute dream

[@lifebyjo3999]

Love your content! I have a love/hate relationship with colonial especially being a black person. But there are some elements that are so warm and intentional that I completely understand why you love it. I love your approach to history and how you make it alive.

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thank you, that’s very kind! I totally understand. I guess it’s something I grew up with so I associate it more with childhood memories. I do think it’s cool wondering how 1700s Christian white men would’ve hated my Jewish family living in these homes lol

[@alethealopez4475]

I think the rust orange colored spots on the walls etc. may be mold. Don't know what kind, but we have it too. I live on the West coast in Cali about 5 miles from the ocean and it's very moist here. That same kinda mold shows up behind furniture against walls all the time. I have to clorox/bleach it down when that happens. The good thing is that once I clean an area or wall with bleach, it usually never comes back to that spot. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Congratulations on your home, it's beautiful and so much space for your sewing room is awesome!

[@MichelleSMV]

I dunno if you’ll see this but, for the watercolour painting, if you take it out of the glass you need to replace the glass covering. Watercolour degrades without the glass. So maybe just cleaning the glass would be better than doing away with it altogether. This is what I learned when I learned to paint watercolour at an atelier lol. If it’s oil I think it’s fine to be outside of glass because oil is usually done on canvas or wood and other chemistry related reasons, but watercolour should always be placed behind glass if you want to preserve it for a long time

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@MichelleSMV]

No problem!

[@christinepantling3826]

Hi I Love your sewing room, plus I like that it's all hidden. I'm so over the white I Kea sewing room with no personally until everything is on show. With my sewing supplies in the draw below my machine I separated it with card and glues it all together, like a customer draw insert. It look it a piece of mondrian art. Your work table looks a bit low, mind your back. Maybe some way to raise it to a good working hight but have it detachable. I hope you love it and love making in there.

[@karinbaird2499]

I DO love your chatty vlogstyle videos😁

[@WildflowersCreations]

Instead of tins glad jars are great for organizing all kinds of stuff. I love using jars I have collected over the years. For organizing drawers you can make wood dividers or you can cut up cardboard boxes and tape them together, both will look period for the 1950s. Love both your videos about your sewing room and how you have created it.

[@johnshepard629]

I applaud your decision of the green velvet curtains! Very elegant and adds nice texture. You are certainly turning your fabulous house into an even more fabulous home! I love that your husband and both pitties were all sunbathing together. Nothing like family! Keep up the great videos and have a great week!!!

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

thank you John, you're so sweet! i initially thought of the velvet but wondered if the polyester velvet would look bad so i went with the white linen. i should've stuck with my initial thought lol i think since it's dark velvet it doesn't give away that it's polyester. i hope you have a great week as well!

[@strawberrymaple]

Oh my gawd I love it, the fireplace is everything. Loved watching everything come together.

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thank you, so glad you enjoyed 😊

[@bonniestevens6932]

I am absolutely in love with your room!!!! almost jealous ,I adore and old furniture,and have several pieces, so not the "cookie cutter" stark white sewing rooms!!! I do have a 1974 SEARS catalog, wishing to look for a older one. I am also a vintage /old sewing machine collector (17) and use them for most sewing projects. Thank you for sharing, it looks beautiful and happy peaceful sewing.

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thank you 😊

[@caitlinl6795]

If you're ever interested in dating your patterns, the vintage patterns wiki can be a great resource. You can search the pattern number and hopefully someone has input the information.

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

thank you caitlin, that's a great idea!

[@stevezytveld6585]

Your space is so lovely. Congratulation!. You even have a working fireplace, which will be completely clutch in the winter. The two most valuable things in your studio, from my point of view, are the cutting table (I dream of someday not being a floor troll) and the multiple windows. We once got a backstage tour at the Stratford Festival Theatre. The head of the costume shop could not wax poetic enough over their wall of windows. She called it the most expensive and most necessary tool in the room. Maybe keep an eye out on the walls that had the little black spots. Going by sight - potential black mold. But it's better to know now than later. Worse case is you hide a dehumidifier somewhere in the space. If you're lucky your town conforms to the rule of having at least one knife sharpening professional who also works magic on sewing scissors. The pinking sheers are fixable... our local version charges 8$ Ca. So worth it. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

hi cathy! thank you! woah that is so cool, i would love to go on a tour like that. finally having a cutting table is amazing! floor cutting was the absolute worst part of any project imo. good thinking, virginia is significantly more humid than what we were used to so dehumidifiers are going to be our best friends. once we get a contractor in here when we renovate the kitchen and bathrooms we can ask about mold remediation. nervous to see what's behind the walls lol. ooooo i will definitely look into it because i would love to start using my historical sheers!

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@CarolineElizabethMartin All else fails, there is always Historic Williamsburg for a scissor guru? I live a little vicariously on the memories of that tour of the Stratford costume shop. It was before I started sewing. There are so many room set-up and organizational questions I have... And. Yeah. Humidity. The Ottawa Valley is full of it. Part of what makes winter miserable is the damp cold. Parents house had mold issues, so it's something I always, always keep an eye out for.

[@stevezytveld6585]

@@CarolineElizabethMartin Hey. Random thought. There's a group of vintage/historic Cos Tube people who are starting to boost each others videos. Maybe reach out to creators like Stringcronicity (in Canada), and Stephanie Canada (not actually in Canada, but she's surrounded by Snow Birds in Miami... so honourary), and Drew Hayden Keelin (Louisiana). Collabs can be fun?

[@amysbees6686]

Fyi Kilz gets rid of stains/odors. In addition to be a primer, they also make a paint + primer.

[@amysbees6686]

Beautiful room. Charming paintings! Watercolor needs glass to protect it. Museum glass is recommended.

[@logcabin3551]

Loved your video, so glad I discovered your channel. Would you ever consider putting your Morse machine in a cabinet from the 50's so you could sew on a flat surface? Singer made very sturdy, beautiful cabinets of different styles then. They had to be sturdy to hold up under the weight of their solid machines. You might be able to find one in the Queen Anne style. Many women from the 50's sewed with a cabinet. It makes sewing more comfortable and more accurate. It was a real eye-opener for me. I never went back to sewing "over the hump". Good luck!

[@Marty_Makes]

So excited for you

[@sewvintagebysunraedoll]

I have those same vintage pinking shears😅 & mine work soooo good-way better than modern fiskars to me!

[@elizabethstreeter2145]

Put the art pieces together not spread out it will give a better impression looking like a lather picture,if your table feels too low once you start using it just put blocks under the legs to raise it up to a better height to comfortably use. Love the room and your furniture

[@SheerStitchery]

For the Shure mic pro, the reason it is so low is because you need to do add a cloud lifter between the mic and the zoom H6 (or whatever you use to record with it). It is the mic I use for voiceovers and is my fav!

[@tamipugh3377]

So entertaining to see you buying stuff that is old. I am still using the items you are purchasing from when I bought them knew. The pattern you held up with the yellow dress I remember that pattern my mother had it. My mom taught me if you take good care of your sewing tools you will have them forever. Not quite but almost. My sewing basket was stolen out of our car along with other items when I was in the 9th grade. So those all had to be replaced. I still have most of the replacements. I’m now 63. I started sewing at age 5 and to this day I love sewing, cross stitch, embroidery, needlepoint, crewel work, crocheting & knitting. I sold sewing machines and taught sewing classes. I love that you enjoy the old machines. But, honestly if you moved into this century with a new modern machine you would find a lot of benefits. I have my grandmothers 1925 treadle machine. I have my mothers Bernina from 1977. I have my second machine I ever purchased a 1984 Nechi. My first machine was broke by the military movers. Today I use a Brother Luminaire and a Bernina 570 QE. I still have a few patterns from the seventies.

[@cinnamongurl8102]

Just found your channel…sub’s. I like chatty videos. I love your new sewing, the furniture is perfect for it. I would love to have a room like this. Lastly, my mom taught was us if we didn’t anything nice to say, just be quiet. This is directed at the negatives comment/opinions of this video. Ya’ll just share in her excitement or rephrase your comment more politely.

[@nanaycctv2338]

I like your video bec you incorporate old things for your activity. Kind of nostalgic ambience.

[@kimtaylor7976]

LOVE your room!

[@deannemarino1382]

People don't love chatty sewing room vlogs? WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM?? Congratulations on the new house and the fab sewing room!!

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thank you Deanne 💕

[@jacqueline4445]

Love it! Do some vlogs out and about in Williamsburg. I love 18th century America especially Patrick Henry. I'm a Virginian, lived here my whole life. Love your house and your great 2nd hand finds.

[@sweetlikehoney5216]

You are literally living my dream, everything looks beautiful. Can’t wait for the next video.

[@susansusan3793]

What a beautiful space! Love all the details!

[@elainemartin1321]

Wonderful video! The room is terrific---really well done.

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thank you Elaine 💗

[@Ann65.]

Beautiful content Caroline. Thank you. Subscribed. ❤

[@johnshepard629]

Hi Caroline! Happy New Year to you, your hubby and the dogs! I hope all is well with all of you and hope to see a new upload soon. Miss you!!!

[@linda.brotherton1689]

Great video I loved it ❤

[@annailnytska6329]

I love it so beautiful God bless you ❤️🙏❤️

[@602redroses]

Your room is lovely. I love brown furniture too:)

[@valerie-stitchinginthebarn723]

This was the coolest thing I’ve watched in ages! ❤

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Aw thank you Valerie, that’s so nice to hear ❤️

[@gbdsn]

It's the perfect room!! 💫

[@RubyRudi]

I’m in love! I love the tins and all of the sewing notions, and that cool sewing machine. This room is great, you rock.

[@karenshaffer1511]

This is the first of your videos I've seen and I am IN LOVE with that room! All that gorgeous natural light, and all of your lovely, carefully chosen furnishings! And a fireplace is just the cherry on top. Congrats, this is beautiful. I'll check out more of your content. 🙂

[@eljay5623]

Oh my gosh that is my sewing room you’re putting together! 😀 I am, as we speak, putting together a sewing room very much like yours… old home, wood floors, antique/vintage furniture. I love seeing how yours has turned out! ❤

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Ahh that sounds amazing, so excited for you

[@indiabilly]

That’s a beautiful room, I want to steal the light- and the space, I sew in a tiny attic with a tiny window xx

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thank you Tabitha (love your name btw), I feel so grateful. I know that struggle, but tiny attic sounds kind of aesthetic lol

[@indiabilly]

@@CarolineElizabethMartin it could be if it wasn’t rammed floor to ceiling with supplies! Every so often- mostly between projects I make it look picture ready and then it returns to chaos almost immediately! So yes to be fair if it was bigger it would just have more chaos! Xx

[@joanpellillo2981]

Cool tour = thanks

[@soSEW-COB]

I love your chatty long videos. So much information and history. Love love love it all. Thank you for sharing 👋🏻

[@wolfgangshuman]

Lovely space

[@Kathywake23]

The weird wall drips seems to be something thag happens to homes overtime. We've got that here too and the previous owner was 85.

[@robynnedorion3900]

Love everything!

[@SparkleToes04]

Looks like a dream sewing room! Also - where did you get those cute red and blue gingham dresses??

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Thank you. My mom got them for me for my bday lol all from Amazon. I wouldn’t usually buy clothes from Amazon but these are honestly good quality and so comfortable. Zcsia is the brand I think.

[@fulloflife97]

Wow, what a gorgeous sewing room!! Love all the period furniture, it gives such a warm feel. The red and blue dresses you wear in the vlog are really cute! Did you make them? If so, which pattern did you use?

[@joanhendrix5967]

What a beautiful home. My husband tells me those brown dots are bug poop. Gross, I know. We've had them too in Arkansas and Virginia. 🤢

[@farmthreads5679]

Love your blue and white gingham dress, what pattern did you use

[@HomemakingMama]

I’ve missed your videos! Will you be posting again soon? 🥰

[@JennySimon206]

Won't green muslin ironing board bleed onto the fabric? That would suck but forest green would be cool. Moss green even. Lighter

[@ChibiSugar]

10:37 I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think you have a reproduction machine :( The easiest giveaway were the decals (they look "vibrant", whereas the actual Sphinx decals are "richer"), but also the lack of serial number and the badge. The reproductions were made roughly in the 70's I think, whereas the oldest sphinx decals (or just the 27 and 127 models) were made end 1800's. Regardless, I'm sure they sew well which is often most important!

[@haneyletpajo2922]

Hello, I just found your channel and I enjoyed watching your videos! I wanted to comment that, according to our art teacher, watercolor paintings are mostly, or should be, under glass to protect them from fading.

[@ninalopez1593]

Mid Atlantic colonial vibes are the best

[@courtneyfaust3714]

I just found you and now it looks like you’re gone! So sad. I love the content so far. If that baby lets you, come back to the ‘tube!

[@rikim1693]

Do you have a video concerning wedding dresses.

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

No, but I would love to make one in the future!

[@lyndaholloway5469]

Love the chit chat. I think of these videos as a visit with a friend. So would you visit with a friend and not say anything to them, NO you would not. Love your sewing and your machines. Mine is in the shop after only using it about a dozen times. Oh I almost forgot to say it is a so called mechanical Viking Husqvarna piece of crap . Give me a traditional machine from the 50's or 60's. Viking should be ashamed of making such a pile of junk. Okay rant done. Love the new sewing room. You are so fortunate .

[@phazon100]

What chapstick is your favorite ? Which brand

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

I’m loving Burt’s bees watermelon right now (I like all their fruit ones minus the strawberry). I also like Trader Joe’s mint chapstick but it’s very thin. I used to love bager balm but they changed their formula and it’s ass now.

[@jdh6752]

Oh wow, you look a lot like Amala Ekpunobi

[@amysbees6686]

By any chance, do you have a copy of Better Homes & Gardens Sewing Book from 1961?

[@Yuyuxi486]

Girl I lived for 15 years in Canary Islands and I kid you not, every summer we had this big ass cockroaches make their way into our bathroom

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

Woah living in the Canary Islands sounds like such a cool experience! True, I know people in Hawaii also suffer w the massive roaches 😣..the worst part was not knowing where it went.

[@marywest2896]

watercolors need to be behind glass...as a watercolor painter, please, just clean the glass let it completely dry then put it back on, I would check that painting out, there are some ship watercolors worth thousands of dollars, who knows, you may have just bought a painting that will pay for your new house.....new to your channel....

[@mrsgingernoisette]

Where are youuuu :(((

[@sheilawaterman9196]

The height of your work table appears to be too short for comfort.

[@fiorellafenati5395]

if you really are a seamstress you should have the floor full of threads, things scattered and not inside the drawer, scissors always at hand and on the table and a large cloth.

[@gorsian1979]

How old are you

[@editaedita473]

The curtains are too short. They have to be a little longer than level with the floor.

[@fulloflife97]

Wow, what a gorgeous sewing room!! Love all the period furniture, it gives such a warm feel. The red and blue dresses you wear in the vlog are really cute! Did you make them? If so, which pattern did you use?