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Thought I did good?!

Thought I did good?!

Old 12-12-2012, 08:00 AM
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Don't let Bonnie Hunter see that pink sewing machine!

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Originally Posted by buslady View Post
Spent some time straightening up my 2 sewing areas. Took pictures, sooooo proud of myself. Then I look at the pictures and wonder what I did for all that time!! Anyway, this is the sewing area I have at the new house.
The first one is just a cubby at the end of the living room that came quite by accident, but a happy one. I sit there nearly every night and sew. eventually will have my embroydery machine moved to the back wall next to the surger and my other Janome next to the ironing board so I can just swivel around to whichever one I want to use. Was also putting up Christmas decorations, thus the red and green totes.
The next are the bedroom turned sewing storage room. My DSIL built me the shelves, and I have collected a lot of different storage containers over the years. LOL That walk in closet it full of totes with different types of fabrics and smaller totes on the shelves up high have notions in them.
Looks like I will go home tonight and tidy up a little more.
We just moved into this house 3 months ago, I am so happy with it.
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Old 12-12-2012, 11:41 AM
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Very nice sewing soace. Good for you to get it.
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Old 12-12-2012, 08:05 PM
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I have done professional organizing and have just a couple of tips you might find helpful...if you don't mind.
We all like to put things in containers but if the container is not large enough or if you don't group like items, you end up stashing lots of different stuff all over the place. Also, the shelves over your window won't serve you well...unless you like climbing ladders. The magazines and books up there are only going to catch dust. Also, the pegboard is another waste of space. You can't reach over the machine to get the stuff up high.
I see you've got thread distributed amongst several plastic boxes and lots of boxes under things.
So, for a start, group all items like thread into a single area, group scissors, cutters, rulers, needles, pins, all in separate areas. See how much you've got or how much storage you need, go to Walmart and buy all the same type of plastic container (see through) and come home and start neatly placing items in these containers. Don't toss the thread cones, stand them up, etc.
Then take down the pegboard and use it in the garage or laundry room. Get some inexpensive boards and brackets from HDepot and put them up where you've got your pegboard.
Place your boxes with things you use most on those shelves and place the shelves far enough apart to be able to pile up at least two, one on top of the other.
Take the magazine shelf down...it's clutter.
Use the ruler method and fold all your fabric neatly.
Loose the baskets up on top of the fabric and put more fabric high.
Loose the black canvas holder and move your table over to the right. Add more board and bracket shelves to the right of that. Take down that small white shelf with the adhesive. The adhesive should be grouped with glues, etc.
That should get you started and I bet it will be more fun to sew when you can easily put your hands on things you are looking for.
Another thing, and I did this in my sewing room, is be on the lookout or go to Ikea and get a 3 drawer dresser. Make an ironing surface on top and use the drawers to store more craft stuff, etc.
Hope these tips help you. Good luck!
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Old 12-13-2012, 06:23 AM
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Originally Posted by Pieces2 View Post
I do hope you plan to do more organizing, I couldn't sew with this much clutter. How do you find anything?
Actually, it LOOKS cluttered. Well, it is cluttered. But it is organized. I am still working on it, but fact is, I have way too much stuff for the space. And that is bad, since I really do have a LOT of space. I have been working almost exclusively from my stash in an attempt to whittle it down. Like everyone else, I have several projects going and with the move we made I am still looking for some stuff. Foot pedal and cord for the Janome and my good camera are the two significant things that are MIA. After Christmas I will get it straightened up a little better. But I have to face the fact that I can only do so much. And after work, sewing is a priority!!
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Old 12-13-2012, 06:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Jory View Post
Don't let Bonnie Hunter see that pink sewing machine!

Jory
thank you for that. I actually do have the stuff organized within the boxes. The black stack has odds and ends of stabilizer in the top drawer, the second drawer, 2 unfinished purses, third "cheeter panels", and so on. The two tall clear roller drawer stacks have notions. One is buttons which is in clear containers sorted by color, one is beads also sorted into containers. I use the clear containers with 12 or so compartments., one is ribbon, one is men's ties I am collecting for a quilt, and so on. You cannot see the north wall of the closet, it has clear totes with various items sorted in there. 3 totes full of fleece (I use it when my grand kids come to sew), one tote with quilt bats and another with batting pieces, one with furs and another with purse fabrics ( I like to buy odd fabrics for purses). There is a shelf on that wall, too. It has clear plastic shoe boxes with notions in them. One with bias tape, one with ribbon, one with lace, one with zippers, one with my glue guns and glue sticks........ The fabric used to be folded and sorted by size and color, but that don't ever seem to last long!! I don't use that room for actual sewing. It is my cutting and designing room. I will eventually set a sewing machine up there so I can sew there if I want to. I actually sew in the living room and that can get cluttered when I am "in" a project, but I clean it up and put stuff away as soon as I can. That end of the room is separated from the living area by the sofa, so it is part of the room, but doesn't take it over. My friend had been over and I had to move that second chair in so I could help her. The little bunny covers the machine when not in use, and the iron goes in the cupboard under the ironing board when it is not in use.
I'm sure my sewing space will NEVER be perfect, cause I am not! I just love to sew!! I like many of your ideas and will implement a couple of them when I have time off during the holidays. Thank you so very much.

Last edited by buslady; 12-13-2012 at 06:39 AM.
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Old 12-13-2012, 01:55 PM
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I'm SO jealous!! I love the room you have! After my daughter recovers from a historectomy and isn't using my guest room I thought of turning it into a small sewing room...I hope!

Have fun in your "play" room!
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Old 12-13-2012, 05:12 PM
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Nice spaces are great to have, aren't they?
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Old 12-13-2012, 05:44 PM
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Buslady, you have a neat stash! I know what you mean about not being able to tell what you did! I have the same problem. I took out 3 large tubs of things I had on my tables and sat it just outside the door. Mind you I had no room to work it was so cluttered with auditioning things for the latest projects I'm working on. My husband came by and asked could he put them in the garage for me. LOL Not even, I need those fabrics and UFO's to work on!
Go figure.
'
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Old 12-13-2012, 07:16 PM
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Great space. I LOVE the hot pink machine! I sure hope she sews, but in the meantime, she's doing a good job of just looking pretty!
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Old 12-13-2012, 08:56 PM
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You will be able to organize more once you have been there a while and figure out just what you need to do to have it just the way you want. Keep up the organizing and you'll be happy.
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