Organizing my Sewing Studio

I love my label maker!




I am rearranging my studio again. I still haven't made the new curtains or the curtain for the cutting table but I moving things around trying to get it more user friendly. I am trying to add supplies from my small sewing room without making the studio look cluttered. I have decided to make the small room the designated scrapbooking space and keep the scrapbooking supplies out of the sewing studio. Both hobbies use a lot of stuff! Anway, I have been using my label maker all day and lableling my plastic drawers. I think we sewers should buy stock in rubbermaid and the other makers of these drawers. I have never seen a sewing room that didn't have atleast one of these contraptions.

Happy Sewing!!

Organizing my Sewing Studio....still

Now that I am a single mom with five daughters still at home, I have to worry about mundane things like paying bills and supporting my girls. My ex is now unemployed and isn't able to pay the agreed child support, so things are getting tight. One would think that being a homeschooling, stay at home mom to six children and starting my own small business would give my a lot of marketable skills. However, I find myself to be very "under qualified" (atleast on paper) in this business market and especially this economy. My friend, George, keeps reminding me to follow my gifts, talents and dreams. My dream, my goal is to be able to support my family by teaching sewing and quilting and designing patterns AND to be able to continue to homeschool my girls. To that end....George spent 3 days and nights helping me clean out and organize my sewing studio. It had become a dumping ground for anything the kids couldn't find a place for. He has a gift for decluttering and organizing. Actully, I think it helps that he has no "emotional" attachment the stuff and can move quickly from one task to another. Anyway, by the end of day one, I was truly inspired.

I had been given two pattern cabinets by a dear friend who I helped close her quilt shop when she retired. These cabinets have been in outdoor storage and had become rusty. I had to sand them and they looked rough, to say the least. Well, I knew that they would drag down the looks of the studio, no matter how neat we got it. So....I just had to paint. I was actually thinking of having them professionally sprayed but time and money didn't allow. So, I visited my local Home Depot and bought two cans of Rustoleom paint. I wanted a very light blue but they didnt have it. So, I bought a dark royal blue and a white and mixed them myself. I rolled the paint with a small roller. It came out SO good!! I love paint. It makes things look new and fresh immediately. Love, love, love it. I am posting a before and after of the cabinets and one picture of the studio. I am making new curtains and have a few more things to put away. Then, I will let you see the rest. I am SEW excited.

Organizing my Sewing Studio

A dear friend of mine has been helping me organize my house room by room. The last room and most important to me is my Sewing Studio. I actually have two...don't hate me. One is a small office just off of the master bath and the larger one is our School room. This room was once the back porch, then my "little girl's" bedroom and most recently the school room, where we homeschool. Well, now that I am a single mom, I need to teach more classes. I still teach in local quilt stores, but I need to add more classes from my home. Several people have requested it and I just didn't have an organized space for it. Well, my New Year's resolution is to get it in order and add new classes asap. I have surfed the web looking at other sewer's spaces for inspiration. My promise to you is to post pics of my finished room asap. Come join me and lets get organized together. I would love to hear your comments and ideas about getting organized.

I'm Still Kickin...

Wow! What a year this has been. My divorce was finalized and I am weaving my way through the life of a single mom (truly something I never thought I would have to do). I am making last minute preparations for Christmas for my five daughters who still live at home. Thing are shaky financially, but I have hopes of things looking much better in the new year.

I was feeling pretty blue today, having a little pity party. I have remained pretty strong for the sake of my girls, but today the stress of life and the Holidays have caught up with me.

I was asking myself what I could do to "shake" this mood. As you usual the answer was : I need to sew, quilt and create something. That is my passion, my therapy and my escape. My sewing room is in disarray right now, so I cant just dive into a new project. I know what I need to do. The kids are going to be with their Dad beginning Christmas afternoon and through the weekend. I intend to get my workspace functional. I hope to begin teaching some of my classes at home soon, so it is just a necessity to get organized. I will let you know how that goes.

I did make my Dad a quilt that I began a few years ago. I was inspired to finish it, frankly, because I am broke and I have no other way to get him a gift. I am very glad to be able to have it finished and given to him. I will share pics and some background on it soon.

For today, I want to remind my readers that the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior. Jesus is the reason for the season. May you all come to know Him and his love. Enjoy your friends and families and don't sweat the small stuff.

God Bless you all,

Susan

Day Two: Organizing My Sewing Stuff

I am still organizing. The trick is to find it all first. In the past I have started putting stuff in organized drawers and containers, only to find I had too much or too little for that space. This time I want to be sure I find all of my notions first.

I probably could have finished yesterday if "life" didnt get in the way. I am hoping that this afternoon will prove to be very productive.

Tomorrow, I have one of my favorite sewing related tips for you.

Forced Productivity: Organize Your Sewing Stuff Day

I have always been blessed to have my own car to come and go as I please. As a mom of six children, it is a wonderful thing. I really feel for those moms who have been in a "one car" family. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have always been on the go. Even when I had three babies in diapers, we were still on the go a lot. Well, today, we have a car in the shop and my son had to be at work at 8:00 this morning. I have had a very busy week and I was looking forward to having a day that I dont have to be anywhere at a certain time. We do have church and choir practice this evening, but my day is appointment free. I let my son take my car for the day, so I guess you could say I am "stuck" at home. In the past, this would have stressed me out. Even if I didnt have anywhere I had to go, I would be panicked in case I decided I wanted to go somewhere. Well...I am taking full advatantage today. I have three quilts that need to be finished as soon as possible. I also need to get my quilting and sewing supplies organized. I have been working so hard, teaching my sewing classes, that my notions and supplies are spread out into three rooms and many class totes. So, even though, I should be quilting, I am going to take today and sort my supplies and get them organized so I can find them quickly. There is nothing worse than knowing you have a certain tool and not being able to find it. I have purchased so many duplicates, simply because I cant find something. Well...the chaos has got to end. So, I am proclaiming today......Organize Your Sewing Stuff Day. I know I will feel better and be able to work more effeciently.