It’s commonly known that sewing is messy business. It’s also commonly known that people generally think more clearly and are more productive in a non-messy environment. The little threads and fabric snips that get scattered everywhere are what bog me down the most. They make my sewing environment feel unorganized. But a solution presented itself unexpectedly two years ago.
Vivian Shao Chen and I somehow became Instagram friends and I got my hands on one of her little creamers through a giveaway. When I unwrapped the package, it filled my heart as much with joy as it filled my hands with it’s weighty clay. I loved it so much I wanted to employ its usefulness in a way I could see it and use it on a daily basis.
It’s been sitting near my sewing table, collecting all the threads and fabric snips from sewing projects since. I empty it out when a project is finished, or when it gets too full, and set it back where it belongs - ready to collect threads from my next project. It has helped me maintain a level of neatness in my sewing area so I can concentrate on the important things with minimal distractions.
I’ve been thinking about the importance of surrounding ourselves with high quality things lately. That’s partly why I made the Black Walnut Point Turners a few weeks ago. I feel like a better quality person and feel motivated to do better quality work when I surround myself with good quality things. I’m so delighted to have Vivian’s little creamer on my sewing table, catching all my loose threads and keeping me tidy. Her high quality little ceramic creamer helps me make high quality things with my sewing machine.
Vivian makes limited edition ceramic pieces and recently opened up an online shop if you’re in the market for your own sewing table thread container. She also has a beautiful Instagram account and posts interesting stories about the process if you like beautiful photography and ceramics.
Website: vivianshaochen.com
Instagram: @vivianshaochen
