I tend to operate in a disaster. It seems like I just work better that way.  The last time I reorganized the craft room it was 2 weeks before I could create again – so I’ve been putting it off…for 2 years.  After the holidays this year, it was definitely time.  I purchased a short arm quilting machine that needed to fit in and my mess was out of control. 

photo by Friends in Photography

I was to the point in my room that I was spending more time looking for things than I was creating.  

photo by Friends in Photography

I have a HUGE cutting board and it was almost impossible for me to do any cutting.  I really had to get myself together.

So, the first step was to get the east shelf moved and instead of having just a quarter of the basement I would now get another 1/8 of the basement (thank you Jared).  We created a new sort of ‘L’ shaped room for me. 

Here’s my new ‘short’ arm.  It’s a 1600P from Janome.  I haven’t had a super lot of time to practice on it but I’ll get there! After we moved the shelves this was the first thing we set up.   The next thing we did (yes, my husband helped me with as much as this as he could – he’s a good man I know I couldn’t have done it without him.  Even with it helped this was a SIX WEEK project.  I will not wait 2 years again!) was take out the ovular tables I had and replaced them with rectangular ones.  One was shorter than the other but it left a perfect notch for me and my sewing machine.  There is now enough room for both my sewing machines and my serger one side of the table.  On the other side I can either work on jewelry projects or use my new AccuQuilt GO cutter.  OR I could have some friends over to sew with me. *hint, hint* These drawers contain WIP’s and ‘ideas’ that I have.    WOW  Check out that cutting table!  You can actually see it!  AMAZING!

My ironing board is right behind my sewing station.  I iron with an old school heavy iron.  I LOVE it! Above it I have more storage cupboards and I put cork board up so I could have my ‘idea’ and inspirational items pinned up.  Peg board holds some of those things that I collect because you never know when you’re going to need them – like embroidery loops and purse handles.

I showed you in earlier posts how I store my thread and my fabric stash if you want to look back.  Every jewelry seller on etsy should have a light box – it also works great for some of my smaller sewn/quilted items.  Now I have a perfect little station for mine with customized lighting installed by none other than my lovely husband.   This shelf holds my paint supplies, my typewriter keys and other cabachons for gluing and my ring bases.   Oh – and my quilt batting! Inside the cabinet I have orphan blocks and charm squares – all organized!  On the bottom of the doored cabinet there is also my collection of vintage feed sacks that I’ve been collecting at garage sales.  The white shelf has the fabrics I designed on spoonflower and my ‘love’ fabrics that I want to save for just the right projects.  It also has the panels I’ve been collecting to practice quilting on.  Here’s a beautiful view of 2/3 of my craft room from the stairs.  I’m so proud!And since I’m not just a quilter/sewer I’m also a jewelry maker and designer so I have quite a bit of jewelry supplies.  On the rotate shelf – I made that all fit in too! 

It was perfect timing for me the Quilting Gallery was running there Studio Organizational Series for the Learning Center with Pat Sloan right when I was in the middle of all this!  Thanks for following along and I hope I’ve inspired you to clean up your mess!

***NOTE – it’s been two weeks since I finished the big clean up and I’ve managed to keep things in their place and put away scraps, etc. when I’m done using them for a project – yeah me!***