What is A R?

Gonna guess it's Anal Retentive. That is what it usually means.
I like an Ott light, a cleared space (preferably cat-free but very rare occurrence), good thread, cleaned machine, correct type bobbins nearby, magnetic pin keeper and radio or IPod depending upon my mood. I'd like to be dog-free while quilting/sewing but I typically sew near the back door so my three pooches think it's my job to be their door-woman. Lastly, since I use vintage or older machines, my tool bag of supplies like screwdrivers and cleaning doohickeys.

The quilt room stereo is usually on, often with records to break up the work. The cats can be in there when I am there but not when I am not. Hairballs on your quilt... yuck. Thread for the Tin Lizzy is Sewfine for the bobbin, King Tut usually for the top thread. For the piecing machine (old 830) uses good quality thread, good needles and lots of light. All projects get sewn with a marker of layered fiberglass tape put down 1/4 inch from the needle so all my seams are consistent. And after dinner, a glass of white wine to ease the frustrations of the day. tim in san jose

I do all my daily chores before heading downstairs to the sewing room....OC about keeping house! In between sewing projects the sewing room is organized. While doing a project I need good lighting, needed tools in a tray next to the machine, iron at hand, pincushiion on my wrist, rulers at the ready standing upright between two supports under the sewing table, lint roller nearby. TV on to shows I recorded, or DVDs or VCR tapes I listen to over and over. Sometimes no noise at all.

My brain concentrating on one thing. Too often I go in my "toy room" and my mind scatters cause there's so many want to's. But a clean work space is a must for me and my ironing board with nothing on it.

Fabric, matching thread, a needle, and a cold can of ginger ale. Simple as that. :)

Every curtain open and, if summer, every window open...task lighting....my handy, dandy, ever faithful hemostat (some use tweezers)...preferably a few birds singing, wind blowing softly, rustling the leaves and the hum of vehicles moving up and down the highway....ah, my Utopia......

RugosaB, same here :)

glasses, light, music, action… oh, and somewhat of a plan helps:)

The dogs are allowed, they have their quilt pieces to chew on and now leave my scraps alone; Other than that, I too, go with the flow

Good lighting and my cheater glasses. That's it.

Can't sew in a mess. Right tool for the job- good needles, thread, rotary blades and lots of light! TVs ok, prefer audiobooks, my dogs supervise from their spots on the daybed. They're so talented, they can do this with their eyes closed :-)

Have to tell you that my cat nearly died when she ate some thread. Please be careful.

Thread gets picked up. Machines are covered when not in use. The Siamese has a habit of going "chomp" close to the spool on serger, so she would chomp on the PQ1500 spool also. The Pfaff will shut the top if using the horizontal spool, and if you take the vertical guide out and lay it down, she doesn't see the spool at all. You can also remove the spool and sit it in the spot for the horizontal spool and close the top of the machine. The vertical spool holder with guide is expensive and I don't want to replace it.