I kept thinking there was nothing I could do till my flooring came in…so I’ve just been waiting, kind of in a funk, if you will. But I realized there was plenty to do in my sewing room as I waited. I was inspired (by someone) to get things a little bit in order where I could. One place I realized I could work on was my bookshelf area in the middle of my room. Everything is up off the floor so it wouldn’t have to be moved when the flooring does come in.
Now you see them…
…now you don’t…
I used some of my containers I bought and filled them with things suitable to their size. The clear drawers on the bottom shelf were emptied and still waiting for the perfect thing to go in them.
The smaller containers were filled with my stretch laces for fingerless gloves, my stickers and note pads for packaging up my things I sell and one with some thank you gifts I like to send along when someone purchases something from me.
I also took that one buffalo check curtain panel I thought might work in my sewing room, but didn’t, and used it in my main bathroom. The coloring isn’t the greatest in my picture but you can at least see how I did it… My walls are a pretty blue green and they look gray in my pictures.
This is what it looked like before. I made that curtain, but never did care for it.
Here is another picture later when the sun wasn’t shining through…I did put a lining in it so it’s not see through.
Now, do you want to see who inspired me? It was Shara… she just moved to GA and has been working at setting up her new sewing room. I figured if someone could move across the country and get their sewing room set up that quickly, surely I could get busy and get a few things done.
I asked Shara about a few things in her room… and this is what she said…
Those Purple Heart stickers are almost all of my LDs… they have the dolls’ names on the boxes so I don’t have to guess who is who:)
The wardrobe trunks have Various doll clothes in them.. (shoes and wigs are in my sewing room)
The 6-drawer Bin next to the closet has some of my LD wigs in them according to hair color ( blonde, brunette and redhead)
Knitting needles are in the top drawer and knitting/crochet patterns in the bottom.
4-drawer filing cabinet holds all my patterns by doll name and or size.(it’s full and I purged a LOT of them before we moved.)
I hope you’ll enjoy scrutinizing all her things like I did. I must say, she has LOTS of dolly’s on her shelf. My girls are SO jealous…they want MORE sisters!
Thanks for sharing Shara! Congrats on getting your room set up so quickly and I can’t wait to join you in sewing as soon as I can!
See everyone tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
That one cabinet of yours looks so nice and neat now, Jeanne–it’s almost a shame to cover it with a little curtain!! But…if you’re anything like I am, it probably won’t always look like that, so it’s nice to cover it!!
I do like the way that one curtain turned out in your bathroom. I’m glad you found a good use for that panel, and I agree, it’s much better in that particular window than the other one. Perhaps some day the other one (which is fine, just not the best in that room) will find another spot where it will go with the surroundings better.
Wow, Shara, you really got your things organized quickly! I’m really impressed by how neat it all looks. It’s something to aspire to, that’s for sure. Thanks for sharing pictures!
M goodness, Shara certainly did get things together fast! I guess she was always organized and all the containers were already filled, so it was easier to find the right spot for them. I can’t believe all the dolls! Shara, I do see a couple of AG things, Kit’s desk, Samantha’s bike, but I do not see any AG dolls. Do you have any? Do you dress your dolls up or mostly sew for them?
Jeanne, I remember when you shared your bathroom pictures on AGPT when you redid that bathroom. Or was it the other bathroom? I remember the pretty blue walls, and can’t believe that they look gray in the pictures! Yes, that is the perfect spot for the buffalo print curtains! You are getting someplace even though it’s not the way you envisioned getting there!
OMGoodness.. thanks ladies for the nice compliments! I DO have two AGs.. Samantha and Caroline.. the are standing in the 2nd shelf in the tall bookcase, left side.. that is probably why they are hard to spot. Also Bitty but she’s still napping in her box.
The bookcase holds all my resource books, the drawers have stationery, mailing supplies.. the bottom drawer is where more dolls are hiding .
I plan on rotating some.. it’s the only way I’ll be able to enjoy them all.
The closet shelf boxes hold my knitted sweaters in various doll sizes.. they are waiting for dresses to complete an outfit ( all my yarn is still in the guest room bathtub.. I may just have to get a shower curtain to hide them at this point! LOL
I use my toys as props for my photo shoots.. the Bitty Baby Tricycle is my newest find.. it’s for Meadow Mae ( who is sitting in top of the filing cabinet). My kids are always wanting more sisters too:) I lost a whole linen closet for fabric storage so the hanging fabrics in MY closet are ones who made the cut. I think some fuzzy and minky jackets and coats are in my doll’s’ future this winter.
At least I can smock now and get a few commissions that some lovely ladies have waited for for months ❤️
Jeanne! I’m so impressed with your shelving .. so neat and organized! We have to be when space is so limited:)
The buffalo plaid drapery treatment is perfect! The self valance is icing on the cake! The stripe turned out beautifully.
Thankfully your flooring will arrive very soon and you can get back to “where the magic happens “ too!
Shara
I just knew you would use that buffalo print somewhere. 🙂 Looks wonderful in the bath with that great window trim. I would love to see the view outside from there.
Shara has her dolls and sewing so well organized. I’m still in the dream stage here. I really like how the dolls and great props are incorporated into the look. Very inspiring to have everything you need within your vision.
I remember Jeanne, that you were thinking about getting rid of that glass cabinet that holds your props. Maybe you can use the top shelf on the end wall above the curtain and fill it with your wonderful props rather than storage baskets/boxes. It would be a perfect place to view them from the living room too. You might even be able to add a doll or two to the mix. I really like how Shara has some of her props on top of that bookcase. Really a cute display. 🙂
Today will be the hottest. At least 100 with fog rolling back in tomorrow. Hopefully. Maybe you’ll get that call from the flooring people today. 🙂
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could design our sewing room from scratch, as in build it ourselves and not always try to fit things in what is already there. I think we all do an amazing job with what we have to work with. It’s funny though. One of the things I love to do is design homes with my Home Design Program but I never really design it with a sewing room. I just take one of the bedrooms or create a large utility room and use that. I guess using what’s available is ingrained.
I love the Buffalo checked curtains in the bath. Really cute. And the curtain over the boxes is very nice. As I said before, I need to think about doing that in my sewing room. I use those small boxes too. They are great for zippers, Velcro, snaps and other fasteners, elastic (I have one for plain and another for decorative), glue guns and sticks, and anything else that gets lost in a bigger box with other things. I use canvas storage bins in my cabinets for trims and organize them by color, but I have one bin that is the dumping ground for things that there is not enough of for their own bin or box. I actually have an inventory list stuck in the bin so I can remind myself what is in it. But no matter how organized I am, I often find myself looking for things. In truth I just need a (much) bigger room so I can spread out more.
I am totally impressed with Shara’s setting up her sewing room so quickly. A masterpiece of organization. And so many dollies, especially LDs. I’ve been in the same house for 30 years and the very idea of moving overwhelms me. I would have to set up my sewing room post haste in order to maintain my sanity among the chaos of moving.
I thought I would be receiving my Stella-Rock Star Fashion Friend this month, but I just checked the Happily Ever After website and it says August now. Guess I’ll have to tamp down my anticipation. My Magalie LD is due sometime the end of the year. I have a serious case of dolly fever right now. Maybe sewing for the dolls I have will satisfy me for awhile. I know they’d appreciate that. They all want new summer clothes. I decided to wait until next summer to do bathing suits. The pool is not open, lol.
Was reviewing pictures of your sewing room makeover that started with a new sewing table. It sure was a LOT of work and looking so nice. Since you’re waiting for the flooring to put furniture back in place, it would be the perfect chance to paint that door! I know the plan is to put a cupboard In front of it again, but the matching door to the living room is painted. It would bother my OCD to know it’s dark and back there! Also if you ever did decide to rearrange the room it would be light and bright in that corner too! Just sayin’. What’s one more project? LOL
Count me in on the door painting. 🙂 Although, I think Jeanne wants that big cabinet for storage there in front of it. I’m still picturing a pretty view through it out onto the porch where one would see a little table and chairs and big pitcher filled with lovely flowers from the yard. 🙂
Your new sewing room looks wonderful, Shara and so organized, so fast. I love the idea of hanging fabric on hangers. That’s exactly what I do with my few vintage table cloths and have a piece of white fabric rolled a few times around the hanger first.
Those decorative boxes are something I’ve been eyeing lately. I’d love a few to organize some odds and ends.
Nice to hear you have Samantha and Caroline. Samantha was my first PC doll and Caroline is my favorite one AG made, Felicity is my favorite of the PC era girls. Yes, I break them into tow groups- Samantha, Kirsten, Molly, Felicity, Addy, and Josefina are the PC girls to me regardless of whether someone actually has a PC, Mattel, or BF version. Everyone else is an AG
My Samantha is jealously eyeing that wicker chaise and full length oval mirror. I’m always hoping to find a chair that fits the PC/AG girls for a pittance at the thrift store, but it hasn’t happened yet.
The curtain look very nice in your bathroom, Jeanne. I’m glad you found a new place for them. Your sewing room is becoming very tidy. I had to laugh at you two doll arms in the box that you obviously use for glove models.
Great job using those cute curtains Meanne! They look perfect there and even fit…done and done. Everything in your house is going to be so coordinated!
Shara…BTW Happy Birthday ! 😉🎂 You have inspired me…my room is Laundry/ DollRepair/Sewing is not tidy. I know where everything is but to look at it? …..not so much. I blame it on too many things going on in one place😉🤪 Maybe I’ll take a before and after pic?
Wow, Shara, I loved looking at all the dolls and props in your marvelously organized sewing room! I don’t sew for dolls, although I could, but my sewing room is in the basement and is overfull at the moment with my late mom’s sewing room contents–I brought it all to my house to spare my dad the grief of having to go through it a few years ago (My mom passed away 10 years ago, but her sewing room stood untouched for most of that time). My dolly room is upstairs, and is such a mess right now! I think I enjoy collecting containers and organizing pieces without actually using them….You all are inspiring me to start the process of cleaning out and organizing! I think I have too many dolls. Someone (or a few someones) might have to leave the island.