Jocelyn Curry

For well over a year, my husband Rick has been remodeling our downstairs room. Once a studio apartment we rented out to make our mortgage payment while raising our children, the room later became the playroom. When the children grew up, the room gradually became the exercise room. In early 2009, I started Soft Shelter Hats, my online hatshop, so my sewing machine and a lot of fabric moved in alongside the exercise equipment. When the time came to earthquake-retrofit our home, Rick emptied the big room and launched into this gritty job. Over a year later, the room is completely done: retrofitted, insulated, newly-windowed, painted, floor-leveled, floored (cork), new-ceilinged (coffered – huge job), painted, and equipped with all new lighting and electrical. It's fabulous. Celebration time!

My sewing corner is vastly improved. A new glass-topped table, tidy shelves, bright lights, and general beautification all around create a lovely workspace. Before it really starts looking like I know it will soon look, here it is at this moment, shelves stocked with beautiful new Polartec fleece. Thank you, Rick, for this exceptional labor of love and determination!! Now, let the sewing of hats begin.