I've been dreaming of something like this. Not because I don't have enough already. Or because I need something else to spend my money on. But because my studio takes up the biggest room in our small house. And now we want it to take up a wall.
My sewing room is always a mess. This week I've been reading a book called "Organising from the Inside Out." by Julie Morgenstern. Julie tells me that even messy people like me can be organised. Not with more effort, but with systems that lead to less. For example, my dirty clothes basket is in the laundry. My dirty clothes are in the bedroom, bathroom and on the change table. Instead of putting more effort (and chastisement) in and making sure I always take the clothes to the laundry, Julie suggests I put baskets where the clothes are. (Why didn't I think of that?!)
Also, Julie says that disorganisation is a result of things not having a home. In my studio, I don't have a specific place for my scissors, rotary cutter, ruler, seam ripper, fabric that I've finished cutting but not yet ready to put away. I think I spend about 20% of my sewing time looking for my seam ripper and scissors.
And so, after Christmas, armed with generous cash gifts, we started looking for the perfect wall-sized office. Something with cupboards so I can lock away the things down low, as I'll be in the dining room. Something with shelves or glass doors so I can have my fabric on display up high, but out of reach. Something with room for Tully's craft things and cards we've kept and all the other stuff that I'm not ready to throw out.
We were so nearly ready to go down to Ikea and buy kitchen cupboards to make our own little amazing office/ creative/ storage space like these when Tim lost his job again. We looked around for something second hand but everything was either just as expensive, or not what we were after. So we decided to wait.
Last night, while the kids were soundly sleeping, we decided to move the house around anyway and just use what we had to fill my new 'wall'. We did a serious cull of our bookshelves to free up this one, and tidied, threw out, gave away until we had this:
As you can see, it didn't take long for Evie to start pulling things out. Hence the yarn in zip-lock bags!
I didn't take a photo of the mess behind me. but we're getting there. I'd still love a home for my sewing machine other than the dining room table, but for the moment, this will all work fine (or, at least I hope so! I guess I'll find out what better systems I need to keep it organised!)
We did finally hang this! I wrote about this framed fabric organiser a while ago. But what I didn't take into account was the fact that half my frames don't have hooks, only a stand to lean on! Blue-tac isn't working, as you can see. Anyone get any other ideas? They're hanging by fishing wire from the picture rail.
So! A winner! The trusty Random Number Generator chose number 22!
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I follow follow followwwww you (said in echoey voice!)
Congratulations Second Chance Tan! I'm glad you do! Email me with your address and I'll post some pretty colours off to you soon! The rest of you, go buy the pattern! You might help me get my new shiny office! :) xx
In the States they sell kits that allow you to string a wire across the back and screw in the wire with tiny screws on the frame. I, however, have done the poor man's version with twine and picture-hanging nails! :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to find something in the interim without spending any money: always a good feeling!
ReplyDeleteYipppeeee, I am thrilled to bits to win this..... thank you so so much x
ReplyDeleteAnd your wall looks very organised and lovely (Zip lock bags, great idea why didn't I think of that?) I am drooling over your beautifully organised fabric xx
Your fabric organization looks stellar! And your daughter is adorable!
ReplyDeleteLooks Brilliant Jo.
ReplyDeleteGreat job in being a contented little sewer. You're amazing. Hope it works for the time being and Evie doesn't enjoy watching it all come out.
Your new craft wall is great. And what a bonus that you were able to use shelves that you already had. Good luck with finding a place for your sewing machine (if you find a nifty spot let me know). I have a craft room (dump n dash room) in my basement but my sewing is done at the dining room table...the kids need two eyes on them and the basement just doesn't work for that.
ReplyDeleteYour newly organised space is looking great! It's funny, I was just complaining to my mum last night that I didn't have enough storage in my sewing space, and that I spend half my time moving piles from my ironing board to cutting mat so that I can press, and then moving it back so that I can cut. Grr... I am also lusting after an Ikea solution, but as a grad student with no income it's not going to happen any time soon. My glass-half-full spin is, "If I were rich already, there would be nothing to look forward to." It works...sometimes... :)
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