I'm sure technologically they're outdated, so substitue with something more modern, but I have a CD player and some CD's in my sewing room. I love haing it there

Take her out for a really nice lunch, while there present her with a single flower and a sizeable gift certificate to a local fabric store. AFter lunch take her to said fabric store and let her do her thing. You can sit at the pattern table (where they have chairs) and hold her purse while she does her thing. Take a book to read, this could take some time. Play your cards right, hubby dearest, and you might "get lucky" when you get home.
There should be more like you.
Good luck.

My hubby (who also backs me in any form of quilting) made me a thread cabinet....I had thread all over the place and now it is all contained in one wall cabinet......I love it.....and I can always
find any color or type of thread at a moment's notice.

Storage space for fabric, a rectangular ironing board, a pegboard for hoops and tools, a flannel design board, paint the room, lighting, TV in the corner, or just listen when she says "i wish I had..."
Of course there is the sewing machine that makes quilt labels and fancy stitches that I have my eye on...:)
My wonderful husband took me a quilt auction at the county fairgrounds. We didn't buy, but it was a terrific day.

Hop in your vehicle and take a road trip down to Marietta, Ga. There are 3 quilt shops there , Little Quilts, Red Hen Fabrics, and Tiny stitches. If she hasn't dropped after that and loves brights come on in to Decatur and take her to Intown Quilters. If you need more info PM me. Bring her down to our Ga get together 5/29
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-121247-1.htm
If you do this, just please let me know to expect you!

Needless to say providing some money for the trip would be nice.
You are so sweet to think this way and I hope we've given you a ton of new ideas. Please let us know what you decide to do even if after.

A gift certificate to go on a weekend quilting retreat would be wonderful! As well as some cash for the purchase of some of the great deals that are often available for participators!

How about a gift certificate to buy more fabric, presented over a dinner you fix, on a day you know she will be busy with lots of things? That would be my idea of the perfect gift.

Somewhere on the board, there's a suggestion for a design wall made out of lightweight insulation foam board covered with flannel and hinged with duct tape. That could be a real treat. You, by the way, are a sweetheart to be looking for a way to surprise her. Good luck.

She is a quilter. She may go after what she needs for quilting. If you have done all this for her, you will not step in her way when she needs/wants something pertaining to her passion.
So, the gift could be something that has nothing to do with sewing (except the gift card to her favorite LQS-we would all love that!). Dinner, picnic, etc. are all excellent ideas.
My suggestion is (if she doesn't already have one) a 3-stone diamond ring. For your past, for your present, and for your future. Hopefully size won't matter to her. (More money for fabric...) With us, it is the meaning of the gift.
And always surprise her with your support in her quilting.

I love the idea of a TV tray pressing table....I can't wait to get mine assembled. If she enjoys shopping at Good Will stores or garage sales, you can find one cheap. To view what I'm referring to, go to the same newsletter (May 17th ) that you posted here, and scroll down to Links and click on Video Small pressing ironing table. How much handier can one get, then to have a table next to your sewing machine. Another nice idea is a gift certificate, to buy your own thing for the sewing room.

How about the the TV tray ironing board that has been talked about on this board, that way she doesn't have to get up all the time to iron her blocks.

Fabric store gift certificate is ALWAYS a winner......however, if you want to really make it special......how about a large thread rack she can put on her wall. They are fairly simple to make - I have made several - just check out the thread racks at a fabric store and go from there!

My "handy" hubby customized one of my sewing cabinet drawers with small dowels placed just right on pegboard to hold my small spools of threads....out of the dust and very easy to keep organized. The little dowels are just right to stack 2 spools of thread....thereby being able to store a LOT of thread. That's my favorite addition to my sewing room.

My "handy" hubby customized one of my sewing cabinet drawers with small dowels placed just right on pegboard to hold my small spools of threads....out of the dust and very easy to keep organized. The little dowels are just right to stack 2 spools of thread....thereby being able to store a LOT of thread. That's my favorite addition to my sewing room.

If you have small kids, what about taking them out for the day, real EARLY so she can sleep all day if she wants. Or get up and sew all day if that is what she wants.

From what I can remember of those lovely days, I would have killed for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. 8 hours straight.

Mr MyWifeMadeMe,

You didn't give us a price range. Bonnie Hunter/quiltville.com is hosting a quilting cruise this fall for under $1000.

:mrgreen:

quiltmouse

I truly think she would want you to share your talent with all her good friends...I need shelves, taller cutting tables, another sewing machine table, a bit more space, etc. etc. LOL!!!! I'd just like to tell her how lucky she is! And I'd like to tell you that the mold must have gotten broken after you were made! Good job!
P.S. Do you make chairs??? JK!!! LOL!

I like the surprise road trip idea, ending at a quilt shop or two.

How about a nice Ott light!

How about a quilting frame that lowers from the ceiling?<Only if she is into hand quilting.>

Are you asking for her sewing room? If so, does she have a big cutting mat on her table? A bright Light on her cutting table, maybe even a sewing maching quilting frame, a HUGE Hefty gift certificate from her favorite fabric store,

How is the lighting in the room, when you sew you need alot of light. Something that hold her thread with enough room for a bobbin to match. And if you have rugs in the room she would probably like a tiled floor or floating floor it is easier to clean up. Hope that helps.

A pretty pair of gingher scissors,a girl can never have enough of those,and they are always coming out with new ones,so she probable won't have the newest one

My daughter suggested (she made me under pressure) that I make an Amazon wish list so she would have an easier time finding gifts that I would truly like. One can put things on their wishlist from other sites besides Amazon, too. Encourage your wife to do so for gadgets, books, patterns, etc., and you'll be sure to choose something she will like, since she picked it out herself! Since you're a handy guy, you could make something on her list that you could customize just for her. What a thoughtful guy!

Does she have a good ergonomic/dense padding/adjustable/comfy chair? Hubby bought me one because he knows I have so many aches and pains, best purchase we've made -- really makes the difference if she sews for very long at a time.

How about a nice spa treatment, nice lunch, and then to a quilt shop or show.

Two weekends ago, my DH took me to the next county over for the premier showing of the county quilt barns. We were able to see about a dozen of them. Then we ended up at a wonderful spa in the mountains near a state forest and had a couples spa treatment. We then came home and had time to change and go out for dinner and dancing. Now that was a great birthday!

I try to what I can for others. What a great bunch of ideas. Thanks! Anytime you guys are up to the mountains of East Tennessee,,, shout!

And why are you seeking suggestions? What is it that your wanting? calla

How about a huge diamond? Works everytime.

hey I am in the mountains in Between Nashville & Knoxville, I could use some help on my sewing room! :-D

how far do you want to go? I look at quilting cruises and drool. Does she mention a designer or quilter she admires their work check out their web sites and see if she could attend a conference.

Sounds like you are doing good on your own. The only thing I can think of ( she may not be into this sort of thing) a picnic out in the back yard under a big tree! :lol: :lol:

A 24 x 48 ironing board, query this board, you'll find lots of great instructions. Also, a bracket that hangs from the ceiling to hold a big roll of batting.

quilting ROADTRIP! Fun for both of you!

I will always vote diamonds

A large wooden iron board cover for ironing large quilts and fabric. Most quilt shop have them if the host classes. I'd love one. I found a link on show.

Take her for a weekend to Paducah Kentucky National Quilt Museum ,My husband took me to the quilt show and we had lots of fun.Lots of antique malls ,near Kentucky lake if you want to rent a cabin or fish, great fabric stores .The guys razzed him at work but he did it for me and that blessed my heart.

make her a design wall

One of the best things that my DH bought me was the Accuquilt Go cutter. I just love it and they have so many dies for it now. I also love it when he takes me on a shopping trip to one of our local quilt shops. I think it is wonderful that you are taking an interest in what she likes to do. I know from experience that it mean a lot.

How about a custom ironing board. Wide enough to accommodate 45 inches and deep enough to accommodate a 12 inch block. Say 15 X 50 and sturdy. And then you can buy the fabric and supplies to make the pad.

Does the winner of the best idea get one, too?

2 ideas: my husband wired our stereo/CD player into speakers in my sewing room. I love it. The other: At some of the quilt shows, there is a vendor that sells chests with glass sides where you can display your folded and finshed quilts. They usually have a rounded top. It is a dust free way to show off your quilts. I want one and my husband is going to try to make one like it. I can't find the website that has them, but I have seen them advertised in magazines.