Week 4 of the Creative Space Blog Hop - Fabric Stash Oh My!

This week we tackle fabric storage.  I would like to say I am totally organized, but my fabric bins quickly became too small for my stash when I moved from a tiny sewing room to my new larger studio.

This is my fantasy, 

but unfortunately THIS is my reality!

 I started storing my fabric stash by color in labeled bins stored on a set of closet shelves my son built for me.  When I moved to the new studio I lost the closet shelves so I bought metal storage shelves and run these down the middle of the room.  I can store bins on both side of the racks.

I also have additional bins with fabric by theme, reproductions, and batiks.  There are also project bins for storing all the "stuff" needed for a project. . . when I have the time.  hahaha

Finally, I have bins for each Grandchild.  I put goodies in there I think they might like.  When the come to visit they can get out their box and play with the items in there.  They go back in the box when they are done.  I am always adding more things to the box so they never know what will be in there when they come over to play.  It is a great distraction for them when I am in the studio working and they want to be down there with me.

Thanks for stopping by!  Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Creative Spaces Week 3: Organization Tips

First things first.  The winners of Week 1 and Week 2:

Week One:  Complete 2018 BOM Pattern:  Cindy Shelley

Week Two:  Easy Binding Winder:  BJ Ramey

Congratulations Ladies!!!! 

Contact me at reeze@morningglorydesigns.com to claim your prize.

This week I am sharing a few of my favorite organization tips.  Here are a few of my favorite.



This is a Pampered Chef kitchen tool spinner.  I bought two of these and put one in my studio and the other out in our RV.  Nope, don’t need one in the kitchen.  I have a great drawer for that.

I love this because it keeps all the tools I need and use most right at hand next to my sewing machine.  I labeled each spot so I can return items to the correct cubby and keep it organized.

Take a video tour of the spinner.

Another favorite organizer is a small drawer unit that sits on my sewing table.

           

I labeled the drawer pulls N T R, which stands for Needles for my sewing machine, Tape measures, and Rotary cutter blades. I love having these nearby but away from little fingers who like to explore my studio.

   

On top of this little cabinet I keep a small notebook.

      

In the notebook I keep track of my machine settings for the project I am working on.  This page shows a Deco Rose block I am machine appliqueing.
 

The notations show my thread, machine stitch settings, tension, foot, throat plate, and the stabilizer I am using.  I also add the date I worked on the project.  This way I can pick up a project later and have all the information I need to pick up where I left off.  Gotta tell ya, this has saved me more than once.

I am used to working in a small space so I have arranged my sewing space so the things I need and use all the time are handy.  In the 5-drawer unit next to my machine table I have organized more tools I use a lot.


The top drawers holds extra scissors, snips, paper piecing tools, extra thread, and other “stuff.” 

Notice that I keep a lot of stuff in closed cases.  This is so I can grab what I need and throw it in my travel case when I am getting ready to go on the road.  When I get home it goes back in the drawer it came out of and I am ready to get to work at home again.



Drawer #2 keeps all my sewing machine accessories and users manuals nearby.  These drawers are large but shallow, so they hold everything where it is easy to see.  I have 3 Berninas so I label each box and case with the machine it goes to.  It is also a good place to tuck my machine quilting gloves so they are handy when I get out my quilting foot or stitch regulator.



I’ll save the bottom 3 drawers when we get to thread.  hint hint

My best organizer in my studio is my 14’ work top with cupboards underneath.



The drawers are labeled so I know what is in each one.  I have a drawer for rulers, for embroidery machine hoops and stabilizers, specialty thread, fusible web and stuff on a roll.



Specialty rulers and templates live here.  These are things I don’t use often but are too large to fit in my template tub.



This drawer holds my hoops, basting spray, stabilizers and other things I need when doing machine embroidery.   Unfortunately my embroidery unit is too big to fit in this drawer so it sits up on the counter.



I use a LOT of fusible web.  I keep my large rolls and small pieces in this drawer.  I love having different kinds of web so I can select just the right type and size for the project I am working on.  Scraps and leftovers go back in the drawer when I am done working.



This last drawer holds stuff on a roll.  Freezer paper, parchment paper, pressing mats, quilting paper, and clear acetate sheets all live happily together in here.

Yes, there are more drawers, but I will save those for next week.

Finally, I have these great cubbies beneath my cutting table.  The are just perfect for storing my GO! Cutter dies and mats.  I keep an inventory of what I have so it is easy to go right to the size I need when I am planning a project.

 Big dies are stored in those blue bins.  One for narrow dies, and one for the big square dies.  My large cubes are there too, although I keep the small dies for my 8" and 12” cubes on the shelf above my counter top with Big Boy keeping watch on his hamburger, and the sheep!

   

So that is all for today.  Join me next week to see how I deal with fabric, thread, embellishments and all the other “stuff” that fills up my studio

OH, I almost forgot. 

This week’s give away is a pair of Karen K Buckley 4" Perfect Scissors

Leave a comment to be entered to win. 

Share your favorite organizational tip.  Or give me a few suggestions for how I can be better organized.  My studio is clearly a work in progress. LOL

By the way. . . .

    

Here are the owners of those little fingers who love to play in g-ma’s studio.  Of course they are eating popsicles and ice cream cones.  This IS gramma’s house, after all!!



Be sure to visit all the other Hoppers in this second week of the Creative Spaces Blog Hop.

Here’s the list of participants and the days of the week they’ll be posting. Click the links to go to each of their blogs below and follow them, or bookmark their sites so you can check out what each has to say every week!

MONDAYS

• Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis
• Cherry Guidry of Cherry Blossom Quilting

TUESDAYS

• Reeze Hanson of Morning Glory Designs
• Jessica VanDenbergh of Sew Many Creations

WEDNESDAYS

• Kate Colleran of Seams Like a Dream
• Kris Poor of Poor House Quilt Designs
• Jessica Caldwell of Desert Bloom Quilting

THURSDAYS

• Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quilt Works
• Vicki Hansen of Cranberry Pie Designs

FRIDAYS

• Erin Hentzel of Avery Lane Designs
• Christa Quilts

SATURDAYS

• Toni Smith of Quiltoni
• Swan Sheridan of Swan Amity

SUNDAYS

• Pauline McArthur of Funky Friends Factory
• Annie Smith of Simple Arts
• Joanne Sharpe