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Sewing Room Tour

May 14, 2015 by girlinspired 7 Comments

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!I mentioned last week that we’re selling our home.  We built this house nine years ago and it has been a beautiful dream starting our little family out in the country.  But, alas, it’s time for us to move on.  We’ll be relocating to Sacramento over the summer and continuing our journey in a new home, with new dreams and new SPACES TO DECORATE!!  So, there’s that.  I have worked and reworked decorating our current home over the years and so I want to document where this road has led.  I have shared several of the rooms in the past, but it’s my intent to complete our home tour over the next couple weeks!!  My faaaaavorite FAVORITE room comes first!  My Sewing Room.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Although this room was intended to be an office, it has become the core hub of my creative work.  It houses nearly all of my sewing and craft supplies, save for the additional bins of fabric that runneth over and are stored in the garage.  This room is rarely clean and tidy.  I’m a messy worker and I usually have several projects out and in progress at the same time.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Organizing this space to get it “show-ready” was so soothing and fun!  If you’re a crafter or a sewing fanatic, you can probably relate – love to sort through all the pretty things!!  I FINALLY was able to rainbowtize this amazing cubby wall unit that I picked up from my local antique/junk shop guy a few years ago.  It has served me well and is one of the select few pieces of furniture in the house that I could never part with.  It came from a factory warehouse and has markings for screws and nuts and whatnot.  The cubbies are the perfect size and there are so many, I never run out!!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Just some of the things I store here:  neat, little stacks of fabric – either 1 yard cuts or large remnants.  I’ve organized them by color – mostly – and it makes me super happy!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

I also keep all my little nicknacks on this unit.  Party supplies like cupcake wrappers, stripey straws, and gift baggies are sorted by color.  Upholstery nails and supplies, as well as sewing machine feet, are stored in quart-sized mason jars.  I have a mug with all my Sharpies and a basket with clothespins.  Another little basket holds a million glue sticks and my hot glue gun sits next to it.  I have tape and paint bottles and jars with buttons.  Embroidery floss and paper flowers, and pom-poms all find their spots.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Moving around the room, I have a vintage basket with rolls of paper, a large thread rack, and a wall organizer that holds binder clips, washi tape, patterns I’m currently using, and drafting tools/rulers.  I also have baskets stacked on the floor – the top one houses all of my yarn and knitting/crochet stuff (it’s not large because I don’t actually know how to do much in this department).  The bottom basket is my scrap bin and is usually overflowing, but I THREW IT ALL AWAY in the name of organization!!  It feels good to have a fresh start.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Next, I have a desk that is mostly decorative, but holds lots of pretties.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

More stacks of fabric, the vintage typewriter I painted pink, lots of big glass jars full of ribbon (sorted by color), old thread spools I snagged at the flea market in Paris, and my favorite fabric organizer boards!!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sometimes people comment on my old post about those fabric organizer boards that it would be impossible to store much fabric on them.  And I say, YES!, that’s what the bins in the garage are for – yardage, slippery fabrics, bulky fabrics, all that!  But the yummy quilting cottons go here.  The desk cupboards hold some of my less used supplies – office supplies like empty binders and extra staples and allll the stamps I needed to have when my main hobby was scrapbooking.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

If you step back from the desk, you’ll find my main workspace and MORE storage.  We built this large worktable, modeled after a similar one from Pottery Barn, several years ago.  You can read more about it in this Project Table post:

Custom Built Project Table for Craft/Sewing Room

The room has come a long way since I first wrote that post, but the project table still provides many of the same functions.  The whole table is custom built, and many have suggested you could put two cheapy cubby units together with a table on top.  I’m all for quick DIYs, but I don’t regret going the custom route and building something that is tall, super sturdy, and has held up to a LOT of sewing!!  The baskets in the side cubbies hold zippers, punches, craft/scrapbook materials, and patterns.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!I now keep my sewing machines and cutting mat on top of the table all the time because I use them daily.  I started sewing with Baby Lock machines at the beginning of the year and I am in love!  I will be sharing more about the specific features on the machines, but want to show you what I’m sewing with now.  This Ellure Plus has some of my favorite features including:  auto-cut (seriously the best feature ever, such a time saver), automatic threading, a “your bobbin is running out of thread” alert!!, and seam allowance guides on the throat of the machine.  It also does embroidery, a feature that I haven’t had before and am really excited to try!!

Sewing Room Tour - THE serger!

And my serger!!  The Evolution dream machine!  I am beyond thrilled to have a machine that can do both overlock and cover stitching.  There are so many stitch options with the ability to use 8 spools of thread!  But, my very very favorite thing about this machine is the ExtraordinAir threading capabilities.  You Guys.  If you haven’t ever seen this in action, you are absolutely going to faint!

It’s almost unbelievable it’s so awesome, right??  Dare I say I get giddy to change out my serger thread now?

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Alright then, moving on with the tour.  I have also started keeping my pins and basic tools super handy right on the tabletop.  Makes things much easier.  There are quite a few tools that are used less often and are stored in various plastic storage organization bins.  I recently wrote a whole post about Craft Supply Organization and you can click here to read more about those supplies.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

I have a large armoire over on the other side of the room, and it holds lots of my knit fabric stash in neat rolls.  I also have extra sewing machine components, like the embroidery hoops, cover stitch plate, and machine manuals.  My Cricut machine and Silhouette machine are in the armoire.  And the bottom holds a never-ending supply of scrapbook paper!  My large cutting tools, some blank canvases, and plastic organization containers all line up inside.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

On the side of the armoire, I added a heavy metal hook, which holds my camera bag and lenses.  Between the wall and armoire, I hide my tripod and large mats for photo backgrounds and/or light bouncing.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

They’re over there behind those dress forms – hidden from (almost) every angle, thank you very much!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Next to the armoire, I have a file drawer that holds work files and receipts.  On top of it, I keep a cute tin to stash small mending projects (they never ever get done because you know how much I hate hand-stitching).  The larger basket is where I usually stash larger works in progress, but it tends to overflow and look really ugly.  I’ve finished up (or given up) all of my WIP as part of organizing and staging this room, so currently the basket holds just a few linens that I use for photo shoots.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Alright!  We’re almost around the room.  Who knew you could shove so much stuff into one space and still have it look organized?? This here is an open bookcase where I stash extra printer painter and card stock, a few sewing books, some bins with glue products, and then those large boxes that house rolls of products like vinyl, interfacing, freezer paper, and sewing adhesives.  I also keep finished garments that are waiting to be photographed or gifted.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

My work desk and computer sit in the far corner.  I have PDF patterns filed in one of the file drawers, as well as household and work files and office supplies.  My iMac is new after killing three PC laptops in the last three years.  I LOVE her!!  I spend a lot of time at this desk, as you can imagine.  It keeps my work confined to the office and “work hours”, which is good for my family.  The inspiration board up on the wall there still makes me happy.  It’s less functional than I thought it would be, but I pin up friends’ business cards and little inspirational notes and it still adds some decoration to the room.

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Well!!  I think that’s it!  We’ve gotten all the way around the room!  I have an antique ladder that I keep over by the door that somehow didn’t get photographed, but it holds my big pieces of leather and sometimes new pieces of fabric that I’ve just toted home.  I also didn’t show my ironing board because I haul it up and down the stairs from the laundry room.  I’m hoping to have a nice place to store the ironing board within my craft room in the next house.  We shall see!

Sewing Room Tour - ideas for storing fabric, tools, a large workspace and desk - and lots of little decorative details!

Thanks for hanging out with me today for my very long-winded sewing room tour!

Filed Under: Crafting, Home Decorating, Sewing, Sewing Ideas and Inspiration Tagged With: craft room, house tour, organization, sewing room

Craft Room Organization

April 1, 2013 by girlinspired 186 Comments

Maybe I’m an oddball, but organizing my craft space makes me almost as happy as doing the actual crafting. Sorting ribbon by color, stacking pretty fabrics, tucking buttons into their designated jars… all good stuff. The goal, for me, is to make things as functional and accessible as possible while maintaining a cohesive, beautiful space. I recently de-stashed a bunch of fabrics and trims, freeing up some space in my craft room, and kicking another round of organization into gear.

Fortunately, at about the same time, I was contacted to review the new Martha Stewart Home Office with Avery Wall Manager.  I had just the space in my craft room for the Wall Manager – a blank area between my awesome vintage shelving unit and the desk that holds all (well, some!!) of my fabric and trims.  The bare space was looking awkward and I was happy to fill it with something that is not only stylish, but functional too.

The wall manager provides really handy storage for several of my sewing supplies that I use on a daily basis.  A tool caddy holds some of my scissors and marking tools so that they are up out of the reach of little hands.  There are several trays where I’ve stored clips and washi tape.  The cork board will be great for pinning up notes or cute quotes or other bits of inspiration.  I have a pretty file folder where I am sticking patterns that are in use or in the queue – it has been awesome to get them up off of my worktable, but separate from my massive pile of stored patterns.  The little drawers are nifty for storing some of my rotary blades, snap setter, an extra measuring tape – things I’m always digging for when I need them.  There is also a dry-erase board – I’m thinking this will be really useful for calculating measurements or taking notes for sewing tutorials.  It’s even magnetic!

There are also these little hooks that slide into the accessory board – um, awesome!!!  All of my rulers that take up space on my cutting table or get lost under a mound of fabric?  I tied some strings on them and now they’re stored vertically up out of the way and easy to grab!

I love that I could also utilize a calendar with this wall system by installing the Magnetic Monthly Dry Erase Board (see my sample pic above?), but right now I’m loving the look of the cork board/blank dry erase board/accessory board combo.

The Wall Manager system is not only quick to install, it’s also easy to interchange the various boards and accessories that are available.  There is some temporary adhesive on the back of the wall mount and a built-in level to position and hold the mount in place while you tap in the included micro nails.  Then, you just slide your cork board, accessory panel, etc. onto the wall mount and snap your accessories onto that!  Easy and interchangeable, both major bonuses when I’m decorating.

The wall organizer sits next to my desk with all my pretty pretty organized fabric!

I think the Wall Manager is perfect in its space in my craft room!  It adds to the decor and makes function look pretty, doesn’t it?  Ahhhh, an organized and beautiful craft space – the perfect combination for MY creativity and productivity!  See the whole sewing room tour here.

Filed Under: Crafting, Popular Posts Tagged With: Avery wall manager, craft room, craft room storage, fabric storage, organization

Welcome Clean Mama Printables!

December 7, 2012 by girlinspired 2 Comments

My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary.  He handed me the sweetest card while we were snuggling up in the restaurant booth for dinner.  He wrote all kinds of sweet things, but there was one particular sentence that begged for discussion…. “I love all your quirks.”  My what?  Quirks?  Like what?  Give me one example!
  • I don’t care for ribbons in my ice cream.
  • The counter must be cleared completely, with all items put away in their designated places, before any cleaning can be done.  Housecleaning should be done in a sequential order, without deviation.
  • I can’t call to make a hair appointment…social anxiety or something.
  • I rub my feet together while watching TV or trying to fall asleep (my kids do, too!)
  • I don’t keep a calendar because I can’t handle when plans change and I have to cross something out.  And don’t get me started on mismatched pen.
  • I dislike the confinement of sleeping bags.  Also, I sleep with my feet sticking out the side of the bed.
So, I’m quirky.  Who isn’t?  But, sometimes my quirks can be a real hangup, like when they interfere with keeping organized and staying on top of appointments and housework.  I’ve been making some changes around here to try to get more organized, and to set aside my quirks in the name of peace and sanity in this household.  And simple, stylish solutions are my best friend!  You can see why I was super excited to try out some of the products from Clean Mama Printables.  She has a printable kit for everything you can imagine.  Household organization? Check.  Cleaning schedules? Check.  Budgeting? Check.  Chore charts and school schedules?  Check.  I’m on it!  Besides the comprehensive checklists (you know I love checklists!!) and fresh, pretty designs, I LOVE that I can just print out what I need at any given time.  And if I screw up a list or calendar page, and it bugs me too much, I CAN PRINT OUT A NEW ONE!!!!  Love it!
 I am super excited to welcome Clean Mama Printables as a sponsor of the Girl. Inspired. blog.  
Here’s a little more about Clean Mama Printables from the owner, Becky:
 Who says homekeeping and organizing can’t be adorable, fun AND easily implemented into your life?
***Home of the ORIGINAL printable homekeeping kit concept, including The Cleaning Kit, The Budget + Bill Pay Kit, The Resolution Kit, The Starter Kit and more!***
WHY choose Clean Mama Printables? All printables are designed by an artist/graphic designer – that’s me! Clean Mama Printables is THE BEST place to get homekeeping printables that REALLY work for you AND make your life easier! Clean Mama Printables specializes in original organizational documents designed to take the *WORK* out of organizing your life.
Becky also has a Super, Awesome blog chock full of free printables and all kinds of great cleaning and organizational tips.  Seriously, go check it out!  The Clean Mama Blog
Also, find her on Pinterest and Facebook!
A warm welcome to Clean Mama Printables!!
Do you have a particular area of your life where you struggle to get organized?  Why not try out one of Clean Mama’s kits?  
USE THE CODE 20TGI for 20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE!!  GO NOW!  I’m more organized already and it feels SO great!!

Filed Under: Products We Love Tagged With: Clean Mama Printables, organization, printables

Fabric Organization on the Cheap

November 21, 2011 by girlinspired 21 Comments

 Today I wanted to share with you a pocketbook friendly way to organize your fabric, but first, thank you to everyone who joined in the Janey Jumper pattern giveaway.  I loved reading what makes all of you happy; your responses were sweet and some quite entertaining!  The winners have been announced at the end of the giveaway post – you can find it here.
Remember when I shared the fabric organizers that I used across the desk in my office?  Well, I am LOVING them.  Being able to see my newest and favorite fabrics makes me super happy and more productive.  But friends, I have a fabric addiction.  And there’s no way that all my fabric would fit across that desk.  I have it sorted by material into big bins that I keep on shelves in my garage.  Although the material types are sorted, the fabrics are still not as visible as I’d like.  Not wanting to shell out the big bucks for more white, plastic fabric organizers, I followed the lead of my friend Christene and ordered a pile of pre-cut cardboard sheets.  
 They are inexpensive and I’m able to wrap my fabric around them in much the same way without too much effort.  I measured the depth and width of my plastic bins and chose the pre-cut size accordingly.  I use straight pins to secure the fabric to the cardboard. 
I also cut down a handful of the cardboard sheets so they would slip into one of the cubbies on the project table.  Now I have even more fabric at my fingertips and the cardboard doesn’t stand out too much tucked into the cubby.  Lovely. 
 I’ve had a few questions about the cubbies on the project table.  My dedicated husband made the cubbies by cutting the vertical and horizontal boards and then routing slits in them so that they would lock together; does that make sense?  I think you could use two pre-made bookcases, but I wanted taller cubbies to fit some larger items and I also wanted really sturdy bases to hold up a looong, heavy tabletop.  Maybe someday we can get Graham to give us a little tutorial on it, but don’t forget, it took him two years to build the thing….
I found my cardboard sheets here, at Uline.  They’re called “small corrugated pads.” 

Filed Under: Crafting, Pattern and Product Reviews, Sewing Tagged With: fabric, giveaway, organization

Mission Reorganization: Fabric Storage

May 16, 2011 by girlinspired 69 Comments

Finally!  I’m making my way through the disorganized mounds of sewing and craft supplies that have been littering our bedroom floor since we had to move everything out for the floor redo.  I’ve never had a great system for storing my fabric, but now that I am sewing on a regular basis, I need a workable system more than ever!  There is quite a bit of work left to be done, but I was so excited about my weekend fabric accomplishment that I thought I’d share!  It’s looking so pretty! 

I first saw these Fabric Organizers on Lindsay’s blog, The Cottage Home.  As soon as I saw this post of Lindsay’s studio, the fabric organizers went on my list, but I wasn’t able to purchase them until last week!  They are made from a lightweight material with little tabs to secure your fabric to the organizer.  It wraps up into neat little bolts which fit perfectly on my old desk. 

I grouped the fabrics by color as I went along, moving them around until I found the color progression visually appealing.  Once I lined them up on my desk, I made a couple breaks in the row with large jars that I have filled with ribbon.  I may not keep the large ribbon jars, but I do like the groupings.  It makes me so happy to have all my pretty fabric out where I can stare at it!  Kind of like my very own fabric shop.

It’s a small dent in mission reorganization…

Filed Under: Crafting, Pattern and Product Reviews, Sewing Tagged With: fabric, organization

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It is my hope that you will find inspiration on the Girl. Inspired. blog. All photos are copyright protected by Girl. Inspired. If you wish to share something that you have seen here, I am absolutely thrilled! Please use only one picture with a direct link back to the project you are referencing. Thank you so much for your understanding!

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