Hi everyone,
Before things can look better in my sewing room, they will have to look a little “disastrous” for a bit longer. I discovered I had things in SO many different places… for instance; I had corduroy fabric in a plastic tub, in a drawer and on a shelf. I decided to gather up as many “like” things as I could and put them in ONE place. Let me show you what I mean…
This was what used to be on top of the tall 21 drawer dresser… What a MESS! All my fur fabrics stuffed in clear, and some not so clear space bags… very hard to get to and manage. It was too much trouble to get into a bag when I could clearly see the fabric I wanted was on the bottom. UGH! So I moved them from here…
To these 2 drawers in my white dresser. One drawer used to hold my Ultrasuede fabrics and the other held “some” of my tulle for making slips…
I can easily see my fabrics and take out what I want…
Then I moved the white “props” wood box that was up in the corner, to the top of the 21 drawer dresser… (actually my hubby moved it!)
…and put my tulle fabrics in newly bought clear zippered storage cubes. They came from Hobby Lobby (in the Home Decor section with the sheets and comforters) and are WONDERFUL! There are 3 sizes and the prices are all under $7.00. I was given a $50 gift card to Hobby Lobby for Christmas and used it on some of these. They are great for “corralling” the same thing in one place… even if it’s just to see EVERYTHING you have of that item.
Here is one to show you the medium size cube.
Then I used 4 of the medium sized cubes to get ALL my tulle in them. I’ll sort them out later and get rid of the pieces I don’t need.
I had a few rolls of batting and one bag of a large piece of fleece up in the far corner.
I put my denims in the large one and a medium one. I did sort out my denim (quickly) and put the acid washed or printed denim in the medium storage container. I have collected enough denim for now. I would go to Goodwill on Monday’s, when one of their tags was 75% off. If I found a very lightweight denim dress or top, I’d buy it because doll clothes just can’t be made from the really heavy denim.
I used gallon zip lock bags and sorted my leathers by color, which makes it very easy to see what color grouping to reach for and stood them on end inside boxes to keep them upright and not fall over.
Oh, and as far as it being crowded and not able to get close to the shelves on my new bookshelf…. it’s kind of hard to see but it’s not crammed in right beside the long white dresser… there is at least a foot of space between them.
I gathered up my corduroys and put them in a large clear bag… but I realized I haven’t found the corduroy’s I bought from Sissy. They are in here somewhere…
I’ve also been searching for my “Action Figures” that I use for molding my leather doll shoes around. I have the Flash and maybe Captain America and I absolutely know I didn’t throw them away, so they are just hiding somewhere like Sissy’s corduroy. :o)
I used a small clear bag to put some of my 4 way stretch fabrics I use for making thigh highs. I do have more and they are in a clear blanket zippered bag. I haven’t gotten them sorted yet.
This is my bag of Ultrasuede and you can see that it hasn’t been sorted through yet. I just put it in this bag when I took it out of the drawer and put the fur fabrics in. Dear Kathie Welsh gave me MANY of these fabrics. She also gave me some leather gloves she found at yard sales…sometimes only one glove, but nice leather and pretty colors.
I found this neat 3 drawer organizer at Goodwill a while back and thought it would be perfect to keep the attachments for my 3 Vintage Singer sewing machines. I have a 221 Featherweight, my 301 longbed and the 15-91 machine. I just go from left to right… the smallest machine is my Featherweight, so it’s attachments and bobbins are on the left… the 301 things are in the middle and the largest machine; the 15-91 is on the right. If I need a bobbin for the Featherweight, I know exactly which drawer to slide out… AND they have those little hooks on the ends of the drawers that keep you from pulling them all the way out and spilling what’s inside.
As I’m gathering up groups of things, I’m setting it on my bookshelf if it will fit, just to get it up off the floor and out of the way. I will rearrange the shelves later… They look a little jammed with stuff. You know it always takes a while to see where things work best.
Well, I’m chipping away at it a little bit each day… working on my house too. The sitting room, where we built the bookshelf is all cleaned up and swept. Miss Kitty is happy, Linda! :o)
I’ve been wearing my compression hose so my leg doesn’t swell from being on it too long. I do take time for resting too.
I have some Valentine pictures from Linda…and will show them soon. I also received something in the mail today from one of the Sofa Sisters and will show it too. It’s something for my dolls! :o)
Well, I better get to bed. More work is in store for me tomorrow!
See you,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, you have gotten a lot done already, Jeanne! I need to do some more sorting and putting away again, especially the Christmas fabrics since I’m probably done with them until maybe late fall!
I finally finished knitting the sleeves for the baby sweater I’m working on. I got “stuck” for a while…first I had made a mistake somewhere in the center design panel, and then I realized the area where you bind of and then gradually decrease stitches didn’t look right, so I took it back several rows on that one sleeve. I am much happier with it now, and–hallelujah!–I finished the sleeves tonight and have started on the back!
I had several phone calls today (including from Tonya of the twinsie challenge, and from my best friend–for over 70 years!–June), quite a few cards, and lots of greetings on Facebook today. My son and I went out for dinner tonight. For another “first” without Ron, it was a pretty good day.
Happy Birthday Charlotte,
You had a lovely day. I admire your courage.
I am happy to know you have the sweater figured out.
I never was any good at knitting.
My mother was good at everything and God gave her only one hand
that is the way she was born, but she could do everything, even knitting. She taught my father’s mother, my gramma Diverdina, she was such a doll, how to knit and she took off like a rocket, knitting and knitting to make blankets.
I hope this year is the very best for you
Thank you, Ingrid. I appreciate it!
Your mother sounds like a remarkable and very talented person! You were fortunate to have her!
Dear Charlotte, Happy Birthday! All of the dolly children here are waving at you.
Charlotte Noelle, has pushed her way to the front of the group so you will see her first. She said to tell you to send her a piece of birthday cake and an ice cream cone. I told her that one cannot send that through the mail. She said that the mailman or maillady could just carry it. I told her that you lived on the other side of the country. She said that the mailman could ride his bike. You know how that girl is when she makes up her mind (laugh).
Sending good wishes and blessings your way.
Thank you, Dorothy! I am waving back!!
That Charlotte Noelle–she just has an answer for everything, doesn’t she?! 😂
Happy birthday Charlotte! Glad you had a good day. I don’t knit even though I’ve tried many times. But I just bought a beginner’s knitting book from JoAnn’s because there are so many beautiful doll sweater patterns out there but I haven’t a clue where to start. But I do crochet and have for years. Like you I am willing to pull out anything that isn’t right since sometimes I misinterpret what exactly I’m being told to do. One time I was doing a rather large project (can’t remember what) and I realized I’d been doing the pattern wrong so out it came, back to the 2nd row when I was on something like the 50th. David looked over and started laughing. I said, “What?” He said when he’d looked over the first time I had a nearly completed project in my hands but when he looked again I was covered in yarn. He said before me he’d never seen anyone that was willing to almost totally undo a project to get it right. I need to introduce him to you.
Thank you, Barbara!
Yes, I am willing to rip out as much as necessary; I’m rather a perfectionist (at least when it comes to my needlework!). For me, it isn’t usually a matter of getting it done Fast, but more a matter of doing it Well!
I first learned to knit when I wanted mittens, and couldn’t find any wool ones in the stores, so I bought some yarn and needles and an instruction book, and taught myself how to knit!
Happy Birthday, Dear Charlotte, and wishes for many more! So nice to have a nearby son to take you to dinner! So glad your sweater is going well. I used to knit, but it is amazing how easily I can forget the patterns etc. when I have done it in several years.
Thank you, Sissy! We did have a nice dinner.
Funny, I almost always have at least one knitting project going, but I’m not always knitting! However, I can usually figure out fairly easily where I left off and pick it right up. At the moment, there’s a pair of socks (with turned heels!) that I had set aside; when I finish the baby sweater, I’ll pick the socks up and try to figure out where I left off!
First, belated “Happy Birthday, Charlotte”! It was nice to hear that you had an enjoyable day!
Well, Jeanne,, things are looking a bit better, and you have found some nice containers and things to store your treasures in. Yes, it will take some time, but you will feel so good afterwards and very proud of yourself, when everything is done!
Yesterday on one of our local tv shows, they were talking about “low energy” hobbies, such as reading, putting puzzles tougher and the like, and they also mentioned sewing! If they saw what you have to do to keep your sewing room in order, I do doubt sewing would be considered a “low energy” hobby!🤣
The snow is almost gone from our yard, although the people across the street still have theirs, but our house faces south, while their’s faces north. However, the ice on our backyard patio, is still there, although we go out everyday and chip away around the edges. With this current warmup, hopefully we can make more inroads on that. I guess George is doing g what he can in the yard , while he can and the weather cooperates.
Happy Lunar New Year everyone!
Same here Linda.
Snow is still plentiful in the front of our house but the back yard is pretty…. muddy and .. less snow.
Last night hubbs and I were watching this new weird show on tv called Severance… it is supposed to be a Thriller. well, we are watching episodes until we do not like it anymore. Anyway, some one was using a hair dryer to melt snow on their front stoop. !?! that seemed kind of crazy and maybe stupid.
Sewing is low energy, keeping your room straight is not hahaaa
Thank you, Linda!! And today I got a card in the mail from my two youngest grandsons and their mom and stepdad–and a gift card from Michael’s! So I’m still celebrating!
Happy Wednesday.
Today I am going to work on finishing my goals for yesterday, 😂 and then bake a lemon cake for my sister, Joyce.
Jeanne, you did a lot yesterday. Zip bags are the best!! I use the gallon bags for many things as well. Your room will be organized. One thing great about tidy ups it that you find stuff you forgot about.
Happy Wednesday dears
Rosemary, we must think alike! I baked la lemon Bundt cake yesterday! So good and put lemon glaze icing on it. It made me feel more like spring is coming!
A big happy birthday to Charlotte. Glad she had a nice time.
Here, it was back to cutting up a couple more tree limbs at the other house. Tree is starting to look like an umbrella tree, but we’re about done with what we can reach. Then, we’ll get someone to fell the remains, probably. 🙂
Well, looks like Jeanne has been very busy. I suppose that she has a huge pile for return to Goodwill or another charity. Must be ruthless in this endeavor. Or so I say, since I haven’t even started here. Ugh We are lucky here as we have a senior shop a few miles from here that takes all fabric and resells it to help finance senior activities in their town. The place has everything. Like vintage lace, buttons, patterns, craft materials, etc. All organized and very cheaply priced. Fabric is sold by the pound.
Maybe there is a place like that near Jeanne? I sure would like to see more space in front of the new shelves in the back because, my big feet wouldn’t fit in there to get to anything. Just me though. Keep up the good work and hope everything still in the space can find a home. 🙂
My latest dolly is on her way north. FedEx says delivery Friday, but she is on the way to the FedEx delivery place right now. Wouldn’t it be great if she arrived a day early? But, I will need to be on alert. Other person will be lurking.
Dear Joy, I can’t wait for another one of your capers. We are going to have to start naming them…The Case of the ??? (smile).
I’ll see if I can type tomorrow without shaking to explain. Delivery was scary.
Dear Joy, oh dear. Take a deep breath and drink some tea, well not at the same time. I hope all is well. Please do let us know what happened.
Who is your latest dolly? I had ordered Polly and she arrived the other day. She is still in her box, however, since there was so much going on with the wedding and everything that I forgot about her. I got busted when David saw the still unopened box in my study.
You must immediately tear off the wrapping before hiding any doll shaped box that arrives. That white FedEx wrapping is a dead giveaway. 🙂 My latest arrived a little bit ago. She is Maisy. 🙂
I forgot the rules for aiding the clandestine arrival of dolly contraband. I think even taking off the white wrapping wouldn’t have done it. The first thing he said was that box looks suspiciously like it contains a doll. No matter what size doll and what size box he always figures it out. Such a suspicious nature. Maisy is cute.
Hi Joy, I’m guessing it’s either Maisy or Tom or both. Good luck sneaking your latest in. Can’t wait to hear that you are successful.
It’s Maisy. I’m still shaking from the delivery. Maybe I can think more tomorrow. 🙂
Thank you, Joy!
Oh, good, another dolly on the way! Can’t wait to hear how this goes!
That’s quite a stash you have there. Interesting to see how paltry mine is by comparison. Makes me more tolerant of it. I finally figured out how to post pictures on Facebook so my whole picture file won’t get accessed. The Bee’s Knees has many Likes now and counting.
I have a couple of suggestions that aren’t about dolls but pertain to things mentioned on the blog that you might find interesting. I did put water into the container for the Amaryllis bulb a couple of times and drained it right away by turning it upside down. The second stalk is still blooming. Also I’ve seen a recommendation to trim off the newest “leaves” from Christmas cactus plants so they won’t use up energy needed for further growth later on. I’ll try that.
Dear Jeanne, your room will be so beautiful and organized when you are done! I can’t wait to see it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Charlotte! I’m glad your special day was as happy as it could be.
Your sewing room is already beginning to look much more organized , Jeanne You’ll be very happy when it’s all completed.
Thank you so much, Laura!
Jeanne, the work you are doing in your sewing room is inspiring me to do some purging in my sewing room. You are doing a great job!
Wow, Jeanne, you are really a busy bee! I hope you can remember where every thing is stashed and find the ones you haven’t found! So glad you leg is well enough to let you do all this.
You made me think of how when I was a little girl my sister and I would let our playroom become totally in disarray. My mother would (probably hoping we would get the picture and not repeat that again) gather us together and help us tidy up our playroom turning it into a lovely, organized place to play. As soon as we were finished cleaning, we, of course, just had to get back in there to play. I feel like that when I tackle some reorganization in my sewing room. I just want to get in there and create now that I know where everything is. Hopefully I can find the time to do that soon, since I haven’t had the opportunity since my recent round of tidying up.
You are doing a fine job of organizing your stash(es). Can’t wait to see the totally completed job. But you seem to be able to create no matter the state of your sewing room so you always accomplish a lot. You have my admiration on that one. I can’t seem to overlook things that need to be done to indulge in the sheer joy of creating. I need to adopt the title of the woman I once talked about that did a lot of sewing. She said she was a procraftinator. She cleaned the house after she created. Until then she didn’t worry about it.