I currently have all my fabric stored in my bedroom on a bookshelf. My rotary cutter and scissors are in the drawer in the coffee table. My thread is on the shelf under the coffee table, the rest is in the bedroom. My rulers are beside the couch. My projects are scattered around. I have the pieces of what I am currently working on, stacked on the little shelves of my 3 shelf lamp. So you see everything is scattered every which way. I do all of my sewing on the coffee table. My sewing machine resides there, on the floor, in the bedroom or wherever it may land at the time.
Anyways it is slowly all taking over my livingroom. The book shelf in the bedroom is full. I did the wrap around the ruler thing to get all my fabric the same size so its all stacked and nicely organized. But I need to find something for the rest of the stuff.
One of the huge factors I have now is the lack of space. Don't really have any. I think I can rearrange the livingroom to make room for some sort of cart or something to house all of my essentials and for everything I need for my current project. I saw one at Joann's tonight for 129.00. Looked ok. Maybe not exactly what I was looking for. But I thought that you all might have some good ideas as to where to look for some sort of storage thing. I don't want to spend anymore than 200! Thanks :)

I use a wheeled cart that I got at Michael's. It's white, has 3 drawers, and an area of vertical storage. It also has a flip up extension table. It's a bit taller than my dining room table so when I have the extension up, it slides overtop of the big table. That way I can have it at my left side to support the quilt when quilting. When I'm piecing, I use it for an ironing spot - just put a pressing surface on it. It runs around a $100 but use your 50% coupon, or wait until they're on sale. They're "officially" for scrapbook storage but translate well to sewing storage. There are also other modules that you can fit together to add more drawers or shelves. I particularly like the cube that has 4 drawers - they're the perfect size for fat quarters.

This sounds exactly like what I saw at Joanns. I was worried it might be a bite flimsy. It is sounding better and better

I found an old maple desk for 75.00, with 6 drawers and obviously center cut out. My sewing machine is sits on cutting board on top of desk, (sticks out a bit but that's OK). I have hooks on the side of my bookcase for rulers and they now kind of look like art work. I store my projects in project boxes from Joann's that I buy when they go 50 per cent off. I label them and they can stand up on a book shelf or go under the bed.
I don't care much for melamine (sp?) seems to fall to pieces. Project boxes hold 12 and 1/2" squares and are by ArtBin and come in colors so you can color code projects. I keep extra cutting mats under the bed. Smaller ones. Go garage saling and to thrift stores, you will find something good that works for you and it will be all your own.
I used to sew on a 2 foot by 18 inch table, real pain doing 108" quilt! Use couch table for extension, also a garage sale find.
Good Luck

I have a chrome wire cart that measures approximately 19"x 16" x 35". There are four drawers and it has wheels. I mostly use it for current projects and it is wonderful. I got it at Costco, but I have seen similar in other places. They look similar to a big chrome rolling shelf things they have in bakeries and such. Much smaller of course. It is sturdy and holds a lot of stuff. I don't really use it to store things, just for the stuff I plan to make at the moment. It is small enough to bring out and work on something, then put away when you are done.

I used to have one that was a bit bigger, but the same type and maker. I used it for big craft fairs. We put grids on the top and had a lot of heavy ornaments hanging on it. It had shelves, not drawers. It was taken apart and put back together for every show. And it held up perfectly.

Second hand stores that carry nice furniture, but not expensive furniture. Wonderful pieces can be found and they just might fit into your living room and "disguise" what is there. Part of the fun is the hunt. Good luck.

check out Ikea...boy you'll be overwhelmed...

We made the mistake of just going to look in ikea for ideas when we started altering a bedroom into more practical sewing space....just going to get ideas you understand .....I now have two expedit storage units, baskets, drawers, worksurface and two cupboards and am buying a sofa bed......!

Ikea have a unit that I think would be perfect for a sewer. You have access to stuff on all four sides ... bins, drawers, doors. It's not overly huge and I suspect would slide in under most tables.

My cutting table is from Ikea ... legs are like an A frame, and adjust for height, which I keep it at the highest. Plus you can tilt the table, though not what I want need.

Another thought for storage for those who are space-cramped ... what about a rolling suitcase?

Could have lots of storage, pouches, divisions and then fold it up and put it away when you don't want it all out and visible.

I totally forgot about Ikea. We have one about 45 min away. Maybe we will make a trip this weekend! Thanks for the tip