It is a pain to have to put everything away and drag it all out. The thought of it is usually tiring enough to prevent me from doing anything at all.

If I ever get my own house, I definitely want a room that can be closed off (if it has pocket doors even better :o)

I remember one of the best pieces of advice I ever heard: you wont use it if it isn't out, referring to a sewing machine.

Since there is no one else to complain I leave everything out as I work. Easy to do as most of y friends are also creative people.

I'm so lucky, I have a building separate from my house for all my quilting so I can make a big mess, close the door & go into the house. However I do all my hand work in the house, bindings & Embroidery work

I never had problems with my Westie but he sure found any piece of fabric that fell to the floor to lay on. I would rather have a companion than worry about my quilting. Can have on in the apt where I now reside.

I have a bedroom for my machines,ironing board and fabric storage, but I take over the living room with my cutting tables and spread out all my stuff. I put it all up once every two weeks for the cleaning service or if I have special guests. Regular guests are not only used to the mess, but are contributors to it.

I have a separate room for sewing that I can shut the door if need to, but I usually can leave everything out and the cats don't bother it. The only thing I make sure to do when done for the day, is to put away any spools of thread and cover the machine. Learned that the hard way after finding a large brand new spool of Aurifil wrapped around every table and chair leg in the room.

I took our daughter's room when she moved out. she still calls it her room. I don't correct her anymore. If I had to get my machine out every time, I wouldn't get much done. I have always had my machine in a stand even when we had a 1 bedroom apt it was in the living-room. After we bought a house the kids took up the bedrooms so it was in our bedroom. So glad to have my own room.

You lucky one! I wish I had a basement or a spare room just for my stuff.

I remember that feeling when I went from sewing on the kitchen table, to taking our middle son's bedroom and finally having a room designated to sewing. One tends to forget those little joys. Congratulations. I hope you never have to go back. RE: dogs. We have TWO Golden retrievers that just turned one. I will allow one in at a time, IF I have scoured the floor for pins, fabric or thread first. Then I bring them in with their bone to occupy them for about an hour.

....must have missed something here...." Cats are gone". Hope you were just cat sitting, not the other thing!