Sachiko Aldous and her Miniature Sewing Space
Sachiko Aldous didn’t have a spare room to transform into her sewing space, so she made the dream a reality in miniature!
Take a browse around this pretty, light-filled sewing space. Check out the cupboard with bolts of fabric organised in colourways, the mannequin showcasing the latest garment, and quilt blocks awaiting pressing.
But all is not what it seems. This is a weeny sewing room in a suitcase, furnished with craft- and dollar-store finds, handmade pieces and repurposed items, all Thumbelina size.
The cutting mat is cardstock with a gridwork of lines drawn onto it; the floorboards and wallpaper are scrapbook papers; buttons are used as plates; and that gorgeous white-lace rug? – a paper doily!
And this downsized ‘room’ pays big decorative and creative dividends for next to no cash.
“If I am working with a life size room it can cost a fortune to design the whole thing, but with the miniature room, I can be creative and achieve the look for a fraction of the cost,” says its creator, US-based Sachiko Aldous, who has also made a bedroom in a candy container, weeny Christmas-themed rooms and a minuscule quilt shop.
“I have been collecting miniature items for a while. When I had a sewing machine, iron and ironing board, it was time for me to put together a sewing room. Once I channelled my mind, ideas flooded, and I couldn’t stop till I was done.”
The soft colour scheme of the room is modelled from Sachiko’s own sewing space, but other elements, such as the white, textured wallpaper, chest of drawers, large pompom pillow and a selection of yummy treats are all fresh from Sachiko’s imagination.
“I love everything to do with creating. I make quilts, sew, stitch, refashion, repurpose, paint shoes and make jewellery, too! I have to say my deepest love is working with fabrics,” Sachiko says. But we think her finest hours come from her tiny treasures.
“Any box can be the base of a [mini] room, but I wanted more than just a box, to expand the room and capability to put it away if I want to. So the wooden suitcase was a perfect fit for what I had in mind. First, I spray painted the unfinished box, added wallpaper, wood and then decided on furniture. The rest is just making, decorating and moving around small items,” she says.
Sachiko has big plans for more tiny rooms. “I like to create something people look at and relate to – something people can see themselves in. A living room, kitchen, hallway, bookstore, flower shop … the possibilities are endless.”
Topping her priorities is a girl’s bedroom, which she promised her daughter she’d make before any other miniatures.
Her daughter is clearly as enraptured as we are with tiny crafts. When Sachiko showed her the miniature sewing space, her jaw dropped and eyes filled with amazement. “I caught her playing with the sewing space, using the tiny iron and ironing board to press the tiny quilt blocks!” beams Sachiko.
Find out more about Sachiko Aldous
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