Welcome to Heidi Polcyn’s Workroom
With a pin on Pinterest as the starting point and lots of (little) helping hands, Heidi Polcyn created a sewing space that’s compact, but with plenty of room to play. By Janai Velez
A stylish, functional and kid-friendly sewing area in 10 square metres may sound like a bit of a squeeze. But with vertical storage, mood lighting and plenty of toys, Heidi Polcyn has achieved the trifecta.
Heidi describes her sewing space as the “centre of the action”. It’s the intersection of five doorways and it doubles as a play area for her three children, which means “navigating the war-zone of toy landmines” every time she leaves her chair. But Heidi admits that she loves having her kids close by. “It allows them to play and be with me, and we can interact while I sew. It can be distracting at times, but this is truly the only way I can get any sewing done. Of course, the most productive times happen when baby is snoozing in his room!” she says.
But once awake, there are plenty of play areas nearby. “Off to the left of the space, there is a corner by the stairs that houses the play kitchen and baby book nook, so baby can ‘read’ while I’m pottering around my space. The dining room is also off to the left, and the table serves as my cutting table when needed. The big kids have all of their craft supplies and Legos in that room, as well. They love to work on some little project while I’m working creatively.”
Make a whimsical brother and sister cloth doll duo dressed in school uniform!
Although Heidi was never really keen to sew as a teenager, she took to stitching with gusto after she married and wanted to furnish her home with bespoke pieces. “My mum used to sew frequently when I was very young and occasionally during my adolescent years. I remember watching her, but was never very interested in trying it for myself. It wasn’t until I started sewing more frequently in my early 20s that I realised just how much I’d picked up simply by watching my mum.” Heidi hopes the same osmosis process happens with her own children.
Since then, Heidi has extended her repertoire from home decor to clothes for herself and her children. “There is something so satisfying about making a garment from nothing but a pile of fabric and having it fit well and that you can wear out in public proudly.”
From wardrobe to home decorating, Heidi strives for a cohesive style. She especially loves lots of bright white spaces with pops of colour – as seen in her thrifted sewing chair, which she reupholstered from a solid cream fabric (that had seen better days) to a distinctive floral print. “I may have squealed a little after I put it back together and saw that it turned out just like I had imagined and hoped,” she says. This has become the focal point of the room, doing the decorative heavy lifting to support simpler Ikea installations around it.
Make a colourful and dramatic quilt for the budding astronaut in your family
The finishing touches – lights, photos, greenery – transform the space into something special. However, Heidi emphasises the importance of having a functional, as well as pretty, space. “My favourite furnishings are probably my desk top, with the Alex drawer units. Everything I need is there at my fingertips.”
Working in such a tight space does mean that Heidi has to be practical when it comes to storage. “If I don’t have a place for something, then it (or something else), has to go.” But that’s sometimes easier said than done, as fabric-hoarder Heidi admits, saying she has a hard time letting go of fabric.
Make a fabulous teepee play tent with appliquéd walls!
Heidi has waited to have this special sewing spot, and says the interim didn’t dampen her enthusiasm. “My sewing space has travelled literally around the whole house. It started out as a tiny, ugly little desk that was just barely big enough for my vintage sewing machine. If you love your craft, it doesn’t matter where you do it. Just make time for it, and someday you may be able to find a dedicated spot in your home for it. But don’t let it be a road block in doing what you love to do!”
Find out more about Heidi Polcyn of Handmade Frenzy by visiting, www.handmade-frenzy.com, or following on Instagram, @heidi_handmadefrenzy and Pinterest, pinterest.com/handmadefrenzy. You can also email Heidi directly, handmadefrenzy@gmail.com.
