Over the past few weeks the hubby and I have been really studying my sewing space. Well, let me re-phrase this… He has been studying my mess while Chewie and I have been doing our thing.
It seems that no matter how hard I try, I am just not neat and organized. So, it’s back to the drawing board or in this case Pinterest, I go. I really need to put my thinking cap on to make this space work for everyone in the house. (Mr. TSL is a total neat knick and this is NO small task!)
While surfing the internet, I have found some of the most amazing ideas and thought I would share. After all, I can’t be the only one who seems to thrive in creative chaos.
ps- Along with clever and creative storage solutions, you might notice a couple of really cool chairs on the board. I am pinning them to keep reminding me that I need a sitting area in my space for guests. What is the one thing you MUST have in your workspace? Leave me a note in the comment section. Who knows, I might need it too!
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Comments & Reviews
Hmmm… The one thing I must have in my work space — a work space! Seriously, this tiny apartment has NO space for anything on a permanent basis. My dining table is my craft, sewing, cutting, art, study & etc. table between meals, and often, hubby and I skip eating at that table just so we don’t have to move my project(s) again. That sort of arrangement puts a serious cramp in my creativity.
I need someone to follow me around and put items in the neat little storage places when I’m done with them…isn’t that actually how the clutter builds?
I need shelves/cubbies. I’ve asked Sweetie to tear out the wall in front of the closet (only a door currently) and I just want shelves in there, not 2′ spaces in between but large enough to accommodate bins and such so I can store projects, ready to go or in whatever state/stage they’re in. I’ve got all the bins, just need the shelves. However, no indoor projects until weather dictates!
I would like a TV in my sewing room, so that I could watch public television while sewing and also watch my sewing DVD’s right there while I am working. It would not work to put our PC in the sewing room, as my husband also uses it much of the time. I also need a place for the cats to sit/sleep, as they like to be in the room with me. One of them now sleeps on the end of the ironing board. I’m now following your storage ideas on Pinterest.
Hi Heather! So…I went on vacation to Branson, stayed at a nice resort in a suite set up like a 1 bdrm apt–everything you needed (dishes, towel,etc) was in the cupboards/closets & I loved the “streamline” life…I came home & went on a major de-cluttering war! I’m almost done, except for ONE room–can you guess which one? MY sewing room! Here are my suggestions…little bites! little steps! If you could organize/design your room any way you wanted to, what would you do? jot down some notes…What frustrates you? I get frustrated if I can’t put my hands on a product w/in two minutes! jot down some more notes…Have you heard of Alejandra (Costello)? She has free organizing tips on Youtube & her web site–I was/am using several of her ideas…What looks neat to me is when boxes are same/similar & are lined up & labeled on my shelves…I LOVE Art Bin boxes from JoAnn’s–I get them on sale &/or w/ a coupon–they come in different colors sometimes…I have one shelf w/ US Mail Priority boxes lined up-labeled w/ the quilt project that is in each box. I like to use metal free standing shelving units, with castors, for easy moving & cleaning…regular retail for a 72″ one is about $75.00 at Lowe’s, but they do go on sale! Ideally, I’d love to have my shelves hidden behind sliding doors, but that’s spendy! I also really like the Koala studio furniture (think spendy again!)
I love the idea of pairing everything down Barb! I have actually been doing some serious thinking about what I “really need” verse “really want”. Clearly they are not the same. I have an overload magazines, patterns and fabric that must be paired down but I fear that as soon as I let them go I will need them.
Also, I have bought some amazing vintage chenille quilts, sheets and fabrics over years and have yet to do anything with them. It might be time to let them go but they are SO pretty!! I think once I just come to terms with the purge factor the rest will fall into place.
The right furniture is key. My office/studio is front and center when you walk into the house and hubby really wishes it was neat and tidy. The Koala furniture is perfect for sewing but I could not find any actual storage type cabinets that had doors on the front. I think I need something with drawers on the bottom for paperwork/odd shaped things and maybe glass door shelving for storing my fabrics/projects up top. I would love to hire an interior designer/organizer to come and help me. That might have to be on my Christmas list this year. Until then, I will be pinning away and dreaming of a new organized space.
~Heather
OH! Please post pictures of your vintage chenille quilts, sheets & fabric! Is there a way to hang the quilts & display them? I have a display “box” for quilts (about the size of a hassock)…it’s glass on the 4 sides & on the top…and I have a couple of display “holders” (about waist high) to display folded quilts on…
I typed up a master list (In WORD–kind of wish I had typed it up in EXCEL) of all my patterns & quilt books by title and author, which has helped me to not buy duplicates!
I have a great sewing space but I also have a great deal of trouble keeping it tidy too!!! I tend to do more than 1 thing at a time, which I’m sure doesn’t help. I have to have music in my craft room and snoozing places for my 2 dogs. 🙂 Good luck with sorting!!
I think we all work on a few projects at a time Angela. That said, I think I should factor in a staging area for my UFO’s great idea!!
~Heather
I had to prioritize what hobbies are important to me…quilting, embroidery, scrapbooking & card making…the beautiful yarn I had collected was given to a talented knitter at church (I just couldn’t find time to do it all, and I’m not a good knitter!) The knitter had already made me a beautiful scarf a couple of years ago, and she sent me a text asking if I wanted her to knit me a scarf–NO! I have enough, and I LOVE the ones I already have! I’ve re-evaluated my fabric, and if I don’t like it, I take it to a quilt guild meeting & give it away! (PS: I also collect vintage handkerchiefs, table clothes & dresser scarves! Most of those are in the cedar chest)
Gosh, I love handkerchiefs too. I am always on the hunt for vintage hearts/Valentine’s Day ones. Kinda corny but the shoe totally fits!
~Heather
Heather I am right with you. We have been undergoing a kitchen renovation that used my previous storage space as kitchen space. As we start putting the kitchen back together I need to think smart about the space I have. Our toddler also needs space for his toys. I’m following your pinterest board now.
We hired a cleaning lady that has really helped with me organization. She’s coming tomorrow and can’t wait to see what we accomplish.
Good luck.
Wow Tisha, is the cleaning lady going to help you sort things out? Maybe I should wrangle up a friend to help me decide what to toss and what to keep.
Keep me posted!
~Heather
Heather,
She will help me sort things. Having fresh eyes on my sewing stuff is helpful too. This week she organized the kitchen which makes it easier for me to start going through all my stuff. We have been discussing where everything should go.
Tisha
I don’t have a dedicated sewing space, so most of my supplies and material need to be packed away except when I’m working with them. I find the most important thing for me is to store things in see-through containers – this becomes more important the more stuff I have. Nothing is more frustrating to me than to have a bit of time to sew or craft and spend it all finding what I need to begin. My solution doesn’t need to be pretty because things are stored out of sight, so I use a lot of the plastic zippered bags that sheets and other linens come in, and I also use under-the-bed plastic containers.
The other thing that has helped me is what you mentioned above – wants vs needs. If I live to be 100 I will never get all the things done that I want to. I try to decide what the most vital projects are for me, and the ones that don’t make the top spots are the ones I need to let go. (The older you get, the easier this becomes :)) And I try to remember that there are many people out there who can’t afford supplies at full price, and if I donate what I don’t need and won’t reasonably use, they might be able to afford it and have the joy of creating too. Good luck with your reorganization.
I feel your pain. My oldest is in the process of moving out now and I can not wait to take over that bedroom for my craft space. It’s small at 9’x9′ but has a walk in closet and is much better than my current shared office & panty space that I can hardly turn around in. I have stuff stored everywhere, baskets under the sofa, chairs, hutch, entertainment center & beds as well as behind stuff, trunks as coffee tables, any little space I can find and it is in just about every room and sadly I feel lucky to have it. I tried to commandeer part of the family room which was a two car garage, but I lost that battle. When the last child moves on, I will have that space because I won’t be consulting anyone. Yes, the dream is still alive.
I don’t have Pinterest but I think I’m going to make an account because of you! I love those storage ideas!
At the risk of sounding crazy, here’s what I finally did. I have 2 desks, one for sewing with all the necessities and the other for misc.crafts like jewelry making, painting, glue gun etc each with a separate drawer for the major components (glue gun and sticks, upholstery tools, soldering iron and materials). I have a commercial kitchen table to cut on with a bottom shelf for stuff for larger projects, paper rolls and big rulers for drafting. A vintage rolling retro cart that holds trays to set incomplete projects or drying projects. A small settee for duh sitting and contemplating. A small corner unit for books and ideas. Finally, I have a closet with cubes for storage of fabric, yarn, and anything that looks “messy” when out. The cubes hold sorted fabric by type (knit vs woven, then by size/amount/yardage) that are folded to see everything that I have and know how much I have; yarns are stacked so I can see them as well. Thread is sorted by type and in plastic shoe boxes, Stuff I want to do something with is on the top in plain site to remind me of its existence. When I decide what I want to do, I put everything for that project into a rolling bin which fits under my cutting table (I have 3 of these). I actually know where most things are and my space is rarely messy (bins are wonderful). For me, the second desk and the cube shelf were the key. I still have some stuff scattered (as stated before), but it is finally coming together. Keep us posted.