Pray for me! :mrgreen: I am FINALLY ready to tackle organizing the studio!!! ACCCCK!
I have been MIA around here, but I am ready to get back into quilting...if I could only find the stuff I was looking for in the studio...

so, off I go, to search for your collective wisdom in studio and fabric organization.....
(the full story, plus a photo is on my blog, link below..)

Ok, first, I think I need sustenance before starting. Where is the chocolate? :XD:

Deep breath - lots of rewards on hand - go tackle it!

Chocolate and coffee/tea :D:D:D
You will be so happy once it is all done... Are you going to take before and after pictures?
If we don't hear from you again soon, we shall send in the troops to unbury you!!! :D:D:D

One before. Just one. Its on my blog. I can't show more than that, as I have made a MAJOR mess in here lately its just too embarrasing....but I do have them for myself....
to keep me honest, lol :oops:

Good luck! I just cleaned my sewing room today! And I made it out alive. :lol: :lol:

I just checked out your picture on your blog... Now granted that is just one section of your studio - but I think you can handle the job! Best of luck and make sure you post pictures of your clean, organized space. It will inspire the rest of us!

Good LUCK! I need to reorganize my stash, too, I cant find anything! I dream of a great work space, all neat and tidy, LOL!

Clean sewing room. I was gone for 3 days, and came home to a well organized sewing room. My son-in-law had gone and done a wonderful job. He has lots more patience than me. I just go stand at the door and thank God He give my daughter a great husband. He is the son we don't have. No he is not up for trade.

your SIL is far braver than my DH!!!!! He won't even go looking for scissors in here without calling me at work for specific directions!!!!

My DH won't enter the room at all. This morning his toes went over the doorway/line into the sewing room and he backed out and asked me for the phillips head screwdriver. (My tools are easier to get to than his). lol

Go for it. We are all right behind you. Post pics when you are done.

If you are not out by this weekend we will gather the troops and send in help :wink: LOL They say it is worth it after it is all done , haven't tried it myself :oops: LOL

lol, that was the 'clean' section!!!

then aren't YOU one to encourage??? LOL :mrgreen: Better watch out, after I am done, we may need to assist you

Sadly, its going to take more than a week, as I work full time as well....

However, I DID just sort through all the ribbons and lace I have and have divested myself of about 1/3rd....

Think I will box up by light and dark and sell it cheap!

Maybe a few boxes at the PO and a few $$$ will motivate...

thanks for your encouragement!

Did you find any surprises yet?

A hint to the wise quilter: Keep the chocolate IN the sewing room!

chocolate and mountain dew.

Okay. I looked at the photo and it looks like mine looks after I organize. Well, no, because the fabric has taken over the sewing room and I can't actually sew in there anymore. there is also fabric in the guest closet, and a couple (okay 5) large tubs in the living room, with one sewing machine on a table and the other on my frame. I am afraid to take photos, because it would document how much crap I have. I have gone completely insane buying barkcloth on eBay. So, boxes and boxes and piles of fabulous, vintage heavy cotton, just waiting. We need to make the house bigger....

Good luck and just remember to smile. I need to clean my sewing/office room. Its not fabric or quilting supplies that is my prob since I don't have a big stash....people just seem to throw things they don't know what to do with in there! Grrrr....

I think it would be fun to organize someone elses sewing room, all those hidden treasures...as for mine?? I can't even open the door its piled so high. I sew in the family room.

Oh my goodness, this is something I need to do and just haven't gotten the courage to start-you will be an inspiration! Good luck. Hope you find something you forgot about and will be thrilled to see it again.

Baby steps, girlfriend, baby steps.....

Put that chocolate down and charge into it. I found treasures and "what was I thinking?" items!

I quilt in a section of my living room which also houses my computer and desk, table for sewing/cutting/ironing, etc. I have items in baskets, in the TV entertainment center (the shelves and drawers), in stacks, or yea some in the basement also. Under the sewing table. Since this is the only area I have that is useful for my sewing (and other stuff) I am learning and loving it. I love all the bright suggestions and ideas that each of you share. Many thanks. Good thoughts

I will be following along for inspiration as I have to do the same thing as well. Maybe if I thought of it as a studio it would help with the organization.

i have the daughter in law to match...she uses my studio as much as i do, and she likes to clean...she doesn't touch my stash without asking, and loves to keep it all swept up & everything (rulers, cutters etc) put away...so after i make a mess, she picks it up...but leaves whatever i was working on alone on my table...

i am blessed & she's not up for trade either...in fact we tell our son that if they ever, god forbid, split up, we're keeping her!

I also have a wonderful daughter in law. Between the two of us (when our daughters are not with us) we call her daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is a gem. AND, I just gave her an vintage Singer. She was visiting me, went with me to my quilt guild and got really turned on to quilting. She has never sewn before but now she sneaks in time when the kiddos are napping.

PS: I am in the process of 'trying to consolidate my sewing stuff(which is ALL over our home) into one sewing room and maybe a cupboard or two here and there. :roll: :roll:

good luck

Ok, thanks all for your encouragement.... I DID find CHOCOLATE kisses hidden on a shelf ...so far, the only 'surprise'....of course I haven't done much in here yet, because I had to work... and will have to today...but I AM off for the weekend...hopefully will make major progress.... (I have run out of library books so there is nothing serious to distract me!!! LOL)

And ok, HERE is one of the other corners of the room...
As you see, I have the storage... I think after I declutter however, I will need to definitely refold and reorganize by color....that seems to be a sticking point...what goes in which box!!!!

Off to work now, back at dinnertime to really dig in!

Have a bundle(s) of fun this weekend. Going through all those closed boxes will be like Christmas without all the wrapping paper (and ribbons). It is fun to re-organize at times because we so forget what we have. Oh yes, I am sure you will find some chocolate in there, keep looking.

ONce your done you will feel so good about what you did. Keep it up.

Here is a site of quilters, sewers and needle crafters who have organized their work areas. Maybe there are some ideas here that will help those of us who want to organize our space. http://www.younge.com/sewing%20rooms.htm

Hey, thanks for that link!!! I should be able to procrastinate a bit longer, looking@!!! :mrgreen:

Ok, we are somewhere around day two of really working in here, and I haven't touched a piece of fabric yet!! (this is a GOOD thing, really!) Once I touch the fabric, I think I will become overwhelmed.

I have been systematically going through drawers of other crafts, and notions and such.

I can duplicate-- no quadruplicate ---fully equipped sewing kits....and probably come up with closer to a dozen adequate kits....there is going to be a LOT of purging!!!!

Hope others of you who are doing the same studio cleaning are finding themselves in a good place!

I am finished Phase One:
cleaning all surfaces, and flinging a good amount of stuff from everywhere BUT the fabric (and well, the Scrapbook stuff....)

Next, I need to take each bin of fabric, sort, refold and keep or donate.

Then do the same essentially with the scrapbook stuff....there is so much I will NEVER use!!!!

Here are before and During photos. Afters will be when I finish!!!

Way to go, its looking great. :thumbup:

Looking more organized with each picture! Good for you! :-D

Thanks! I am giving in for the night... Moving over to actually playing with a couple of pieces of fabric I found .....

You have performed a task to be envied. Great difference. Do you like it? By the way, where oh where was the chocolate? Congrats on a job well done.
Good thoughts

Not done by any stretch of the imagination, Connie, but thanks~~~

(I found the bag of Hershey kisses on the tower of fabric near the cutting table, lol)!!

I posted on my blog (link under siggie) more about the cleanup, and about my next plans, which are about actual FABRIC! Take a look if you have a chance!