Phase 1 of my mission to organize
 

Getting my sewing and fabric room organized has been my
biggest wish list thing to for quite some time.

But it has been pushed into to action now because a week ago
this past Friday I was at a thift store (Savers) and saw this nice
L-shaped desk that I wanted.
Well knowing how things can get sold fast at this store I didn't waste
any time I marched up to the cashier told them I wanted to purchase
the big desk and I would return the next day to pick it up.

I told my husband about this desk and he asked how big was it. I told
him that it will fit where my current desk is blah blah blah. I HONESTLY
did think it would fit.
So we get to Savers hubs pulled out the measuring tape and OH MY
GOODNESS! that desk was 7-1/2 feet long on one side. He said there
was no way it was going to fit anywhere in our small condo. Telling me
that was like waving a red flag in front of a bull! I was determined to
prove him wrong.

So I proceeded to load the desk up piece by piece into my little car
and come home. I measure my space in my sewing room and oh no
the desk is to big to fit in there the same way I have the current sewing
machine desk (my old L-shaped desk).

Well to make this long story shorter I devised a plan that will allow me
to use the new desk, but it means moving EVERYTHING in my sewing
room out so that I can have room to set up the new desk.

So I moved ALL my bins of fabric to the fabric room, but this is what my
(UNorganized) stash looks like at this present time.

To start with this is the desk I was determined to make fit.

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This is the "upper" section of my youngest daughters platform
bed that her and her dad made many years ago. There is enough
room to hold 18 bins 58qt size on the upper section. Right now I
only have 12 bins in place.

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This photo show the lower section of the platform bed. I can
put 24 bins 58qt size here. Right now there is only 20 bins plus
1 shorter bin (hidden) in here.

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Here are 4 more bins plus 1 shorter bin.

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This is the largest bin I have not sure the size but it is full of
fleece.

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Once I get everything cleaned and organized I plan to sort
through the fabric and start selling and donating some of it
so that I can downsize.

These bins do NOT show ALL my fabric I have a lot more which
is on bolts.

Hopefully this week I can get the desk moved in and set up so that\
I can get things set up again.

Oh my Louise, you do have a bit of fabric. lol Good luck with organization and then downsizing. Hope it won't be hard to part with the fabric.

Your stash looks like some of mine. Plus I have 6 big solid blue ones bigger than the one you have your fleece in. I did get some moved out into the construction trailer before the snow flew. However am not able to get in the anymore. The snow is piled as high as the trailer, got it buried. I need to get the cellar door fixed so I can get upstairs to get some fabric that I want to send to 2 ladies here on this board. Have 1 box 1/2 full. but need more. If I am going to send a box might as well make it a good one. I SAY " THE LORD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP OTHERS " and I think that is true. Amy

I love your desk. Good luck with the organization and please post pics when finished.

Oh my goodness, and I thought I had a lot of fabric! Good luck with your new sewing room. That desk seems to be perfect for a quilting set up. Be sure to keep us updated on your progress.

I really like your desk. My counter is L-shaped too and it is so convenient to be sewing in one section, swivel the chair to iron, or the other way to cut. Really works well. Hope you enjoy yours.

One of my sewing centers is similar to this. It is so nice. I can sew at it. Press at it. Cut at it and my serger is right there as well. I love it. This room is full as I also have two embrodiery machines set up side by side, two sergers, a Singer sewing machine in it's cabinet, a cutting table, a bookcase, and shelves with items stored in plastic containers all labeled with contents and I raised by old conference table up on risers so I have my smaller 3 drawer bins under it containing patterns, stabilizers, and tons of supplies under it in this room. I really like the set-up now as everything is all against the walls and the center section of the room allows me to roll from one place to another. I believe I finally have it all set up for me to get the most bang for my space in this room. My other sewing room is full of wall to wall fabric and my mid arm and frame which is 12' long. I have reorganized many times and I think I finally have it all just the way I want it. Except I don't have my treadle and one other antique machine in either room. They are on the main floor. I tell myself I can treadle on ocassion and be near my husband in the living room.

The desk is totally amazing for a sewing room !
Your fabric has outdone me for sure. I am still downsizing my fabric stash though.
Keep a steady pace & you will make progress in having a wonderful sewing area.

That desk is really great! Hope your organizations sessions are quick-post when you are done.

Oh my goodness! You do have a lot of material!!! I hope your desk fits! Good luck!!!

please send pictures when you get everthing finished. And I would eat dirt for a desk like that.

I love the desk!!! I can see all of its potential. Can't wait to see your sewing room when
you are done.

I think you need to buy another condo just for your fabric....just kidding!!! It will be great when you have it all together again....I really like that desk and it will serve you well.

Wonderful desk!!! I am with you all the way!! Were there is a will there is a way!!!! LOL

I like the desk, should work great. you have a very large stash of fabric

Glad to see someone else has their fabric in totes (where we can't see all the fabric). tee hee ONE of these days, I hope to get mine out on shelves so I can see it to choose for that 'certain' quilt. Am working on a wildlife quilt right now and wish I had time to go through the totes to find some the right background pieces for it. It took me a week to sort, measure and mark a lot of my smaller cuts so know it will take longer to get the rest measured, folded, marked and put out to see. Good luck with your organizing. Am envious of your new desk. With determination, you'll get it all to fit.

Wow! That's quite the desk!! Looking forward to seeing your progress~:)

What a great find! I never seem to score anything good at thrift stores....(just an Ott light once)

thanks for sharing :)

Thanks everyone for the encouragement in my organization.

Yes it is big big job to have to move everything out of the
sewing room (formerly known as a small dining room) and
get it moved into my fabric room (formerly known as my
youngest daughters bedroom). I only have a little bit left
to get moved.

Once I have the sewing room cleared, and the current desk
in there broken down to be moved I will have to bring up the
new desk from the back seat of my car. It is in pieces (only
way to fit it into my car). But that is going to be much harder
to accomplish because most of the pieces are to heavy for me
to carry up 3 flights of stairs alone.

Geri B - Well buying another condo might be hard since we only
rent the one we are in. Someday I HOPE to be able to move into
a (much) larger home so that I can have room to spread out and
maybe have all my fabric and sewing in 1 room.

KimmieH - I seldom every find "good" stuff at thrift stores, but I
got lucky the last 2 times I went to one, the time before last I found
an old sleeve ironing board for $3.

I am having to stop with the moving of stuff today because I moved
so much yesterday that I tweaked my lower back some and I know
when that happens to just stop and give it a break.

But I am so darn anxious to get it finished.

Nice start ..Love the desk...

oh wow you definitely have more "stash" than I do! But I'm supportive of you and I know you'll work your miracles. Also don't overdo it with the heavy pieces ask hubby for help, which I'm sure he will :) Good luck and can't wait to see the finished product!

Where there is a will, there's a way! I know you will love your new desk.

Why not leave some of that fabric stored in your daughter's previous bedroom?

Great start. I too am trying to get organized. Retired almost two years ago. I am slowing turning the third bedroom into a sewing room. There is a 9 foot closet that I have plans to organize with storage shelves, etc. I took out the day bed to put up a quilt frame. I would like to do what you did with a corner table. It is a work in progress. My husband thinks we should reorganize all the rooms and think about down sizing. Hope to send out some pictures when get more done.

Trust me, most men don't have that kind of vision. Just let a woman loose on the project and things get done! It will be a wonderful place to sew.

I never mind reorganizing - it is amazing how many neat projects I find stashed here and there. Reorganizing reminds me of the different fabrics I have!

After looking at my own sewing room I may have to re-configure my area. Its not crowded, the closet is large enough but I do have to move some furniture around :(. Probably not until two more weeks since I have friends visiting.

Great desk and at least with cleaning you have room for it. And you have even more material than I do and I have too much, not much place to sew which makes it hard. Keep up the good work.

Love your desk. Are your stairs carpeted? You might be able to use some rope and pull those pieces up on their flat sides (very carefully, of course). You should be able to store a lot under the desk. I bet you can get it all arranged the way you want it!

Phase 2a & 2b
 

Well FINALLY got everything out of the sewing room. At least as far
as what was on the floor. Shelves will be tackled at a later date once
new desk is set up.


Phase 2a shows only the OLD desk left to remove.

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Phase 2b shows old desk disassembled.

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I am in the process right now of setting up the new desk, but I
can't complete the setup until tomorrow, I had to do a minor glue
repair and the glue won't be dry for about 24 hours.

Louise any kind of progress is good and I'm sure you're excited!!!! Just don't overdo it and break for some rests!

hmmmmm- i'm just wondering how much it would cost to ship the old desk to pennsylvania? my dh just put together a sewing cabinet for my main dsm, and he would not be pleased if i replaced it. it's not even dusty yet! but that is a very impressive new desk as well! enjoy it! what am i saying? of course, you're going to love it!!

LOL

Sorry Nanci but the old desk is going back to being my primary
desk for my computer/printer etc (it USED to be my desk until
I put it in the sewing room).

I have the new desk fully assembled now, and well on my way to
putting stuff back in the room.

My supervisor is asleep on the job.

But she is just outside the "danger" zone of the sewing room
which is a good place for her.



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Hard's day work for her...how cute!