Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Fabric Stash Rainbow : :

Color Order Fabric Shelf

It always feels so good to find new ways to store your fabrics and craft supplies, doesn't it? I think so! Once I was home from Atlanta, the first thing on my mind was to shift things around in my studio! I was so inspired by my trip to Whipstitch, not just to get things a little more organized, but to also change HOW I organize. You could even say that I had a bit of an "Aha! Moment" while I was there. And, that 14.5 hour ride home gave me lots of time to think this through, I'll explain!

Whipstitch is a very organized, well layout shop, with fabrics mostly displayed by fabric manufacturer, collection, and designer. Which is exactly how I was stashing my fabrics, in a much messier way. While we were shopping I realized something that I hadn't before -- I was much more drawn to the fabrics I bought, what it was that made them interesting and something I wanted, when they were pulled away from their collection, laid out on a cutting table, next to a contrasting print, or even in someone's hand. So of course I decided it would make much more sense for me to divide up my fabric stash in a new way. By color!

We found this great 25 cubby shelf at HomeGoods and right away I knew it would be perfect! I pinned a few similar options here, for those of you who are interested!

Empty

For this color game I called in the troops to do the sorting for me, while I did the folding. Most of my stash consists of half yard cuts, to give you an idea on what the dimensions are here.The little bowls for pins and buttons are from here, and the "M" from here.

Studio New

It didn't take long before it was full!

Color Order Fabric Shelf

Of course these aren't all my fabrics. I still have my wooden crate storage for the fabrics that wouldn't fit -- my Melody Miller and linen stash, holiday prints, solids, custom bundles, flannels, home dec, Riley Blake, Summersville, Anna Maria Horner (I'll save the pictures of that stash for another day), and my Art Gallery Fabrics.

Art Gallery Fabrics

It's so nice to be able to see what colors I really need now -- purples, true blues, and black for sure! Plus I really need solids!

fabrics1

It's extra wonderful to see this wall of goodness when I'm sitting behind my sewing machine!

Wall of Goodness

And I'm extra excited about WHAT having this view will inspire me to make!

My Janome!

My little space will always be a work in progress, but right now it sure feels pretty perfect!

55 comments:

  1. A very beautiful sight, Maureen! I'm so glad you were able to make this happen. I bet you'll spend less time searching for the right piece!

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  2. this looks LOVELY! I have slanted ceilings in my room, but when my husband finished this room- it was unfinished like a walk in attic- he made 48 cubbies, 24 on each side on the floor, so 12 x 2 high. I thought I would NEVER stuff them full, but I'm outgrowing this room. I've had another wire shelf put in. I also had to put my ironing board behind my table and block several cubbies- so I move that around if I need books from there etc. I used to have the kids crafts in here too, but not anymore, but I do have scrapbook supplies and paper and stamps etc taking up a lot of space- I don't scrapbook anymore. Only about 8 cubbies are fabric.

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  3. How pretty. It is the best wall decor - much better than paint or wallpaper!

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  4. Lots of great stash and love the distressed look of your new cupboard!

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  5. looks great! thanks for sharing the links/sources!

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  6. Love your space and your new way of organizing fabric. I have been aspiring to have my fabric displayed in that exact way for a while now, but we are living in tight space these days and so for now they are colorfully displayed in clear plastic bins (not so glamorous, but sort of functional).

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    1. I've tried so many different ways of storing fabrics over the last two years and am most happy with having mine out where I can see them! The only challenge now is keeping them looking this nice and neat! ;)

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    2. You will find a way to do that ! I love the comments I had to go to your link so I am glad you commented that it was your stash!!!
      Love it!!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Maureen.

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  7. It's so pretty! I really like that cabinet, too... looks like it was perfectly made for folded fabrics. ;)

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  8. I absolutely need a little shelf like this :) I love how all that fabric looks in it !
    My stash is also organized by color because I'm really not one to buy a whole collection.. I usually mix and match prints from different line to make something.

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  9. This is so fun and beautiful! =D

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  10. Gorgeous, thanks so much for sharing.

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  11. Gosh I keep seeing all the inspiring color sorts. QI may just have to give up a weekend sewing and go for the big organizing binge. I have been starting to fill in the solids in the last two years and I am always pleased at the flair they add to projects.

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  12. That cubby is just too tempting!! I saw Ann Sutton posted one she bought at Pottery Barn.

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  13. GREAT job - after all my summer company leaves - I need to re--think my fabric stash!!!Thanks. GayleB rlbouters@sbcglobal.net

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  14. Maureen, it really does look perfect! I LOVE the look of all those gorgeously organized fabrics.

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  15. While my stash is microscopic in comparison, I organize it the same way. By color and then pattern within color (generic pattern classifications like "flowers/leaves", "dots", "lines", "animals").

    Love that cabinet.

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  16. How awesome is that? Thanks for the ideas too. With that big of stash I think I might have a sewing "block" like in writer's block. There's so many choices that I'd just stand there for hours in front of it! LOL! We don't have a Homegoods around here but thanks for all the other shelf unit ideas. I like those Martha ones at Home Depot and you should check out Allison Paulson's blog who just did her craft/sewing room and posted yesterday using some cool Ikea units and all glass enclosed so no dust! She's at www.rosielittlethings.typepad.com which will come up as Posie Gets Cozy. I don't think you let your fabrics lay long enough to get dusty though! LOL! You're always creating! You go girl!

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  17. I dream of just having a space for all my stuff! Thanks for sharing, your room is certainly to be envied! :)

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    1. Dawn, I hope you get your room one day! I feel very blessed to have my little space, even though I'm not alone in there very often! ;)

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  18. Oh gosh! Loving this! And uber jealous of your view! at the moment all my fabrics are in bins and stacked so the puppy can't get to them :) Silly dog chews EVERYTHING! Sometime in the not too distant future Hubs and I will start the house renos and then I will have a space just for me and all me fabric/craft stuff :) Can't wait!

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  19. It would be hard to have a bad day when you've got that delicious wall of wonderfulness to gaze upon! Good medicine!

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  20. Two days of wonderful eye candy already this week! I'm luvin' it!

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  21. That looks amazing! I have my fabrics stashed (mostly) by color but on a smaller scale and mostly FQ's right now. It does help to see what colors are missing that way. I have a hard time finding good purples that aren't mixed with too much other color, and navy blue, too, so when I see some, I grab them up! I tend to gravitate toward greens and blues, so I have to force myself to find reds and oranges. Thanks for sharing!

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  22. LOVE that cabinet! What a great project and an inspiring art wall of fabric. I'm off to my sewing room to see what I can do to organize better. thanks for the inspiration.

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    1. Thank you Susan! I always appreciate when the bloggers I follow share their spaces and how they organize. Now to just keep it that way... :)

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  23. Gorgeous! I just hatched a plan for a new way to store and display my stash. Pawing through it all has got to be the funnest "cleaning" I have ever done :)

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  24. It's funny how a little rearranging can make us feel so great! I have a question about solids. You commented that you need more. Do you buy solids ahead of time/by the bundle/for a particular project/or what? I've been allergic to solids until about a month ago. I'm now wondering how to build up a stash. Thanks!

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  25. Oooh, so pretty! I have all my fat quarters in an old CD unit which has a similar effect, I love it!

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  26. Such a gorgeous and organized stash! It looks so great! And I'm totally jealous about your "m"....I wish I had bought the "h" now :)

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  27. Thanks for sharing not only the lovely pictures but also the method of your reorganization.

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  28. I love it! I had to pin it! I have mine organized by color but have them in those cheap Michael's photo boxes. this looks such much craftier, and so wonderful being able to see all that you have! It's just beautiful fabric eye candy! :)

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  29. Having an organised stash makes things look much better. Plus it really is a great way to see what fabrics you're missing. I sorted through mine and quite a lot of colours where missing..some serious fabric ordering needs to still commence.
    Love the cubby and shelving great to have fabric to hand when you need it =D

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  30. nhlady_2006@yahoo.comJuly 3, 2012 at 5:57 PM

    What a wonderful "view" while you are sewing!

    Looking at your fabrics lets me know what colors I am lacking.

    Great job!

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  31. Wow! Your organization is incredible! Like seriously I am in awe. I never organize my supplies. It's a mess.

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  32. Just beautiful!

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  33. Обожаю ткани для пэчворка! С огромным удовольствием покупаю, а затем складываю. У Вас супер много.

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  34. I don't know if you feel like sharing how much it costs? We have a HomeGoods about 30 minutes away, but since they don't have the item online to view (as far as I can tell) I'm not sure if it's worth it to go down to see if they are carrying it or not. I'm wondering if it's more expensive than the $129 one at Pottery Barn - the one you got has such a great top shelf so I do find it more interesting and useful.

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  35. I think a lot of people are doing summer cleaning instead of spring cleaning as I've seen lots of cute sewing room updates. Love your cubbies and Home Goods!

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  36. Oh my! Those colours, fabrics and storages are magnificent!!

    Hugs,
    Tatyana

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  37. your cubby is so pretty (with or without the fabric)

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  38. What an inspiring rainbow of colours! I've got my solids organized in a rainbow like yours but have to work on the rest of my stash.

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  39. Dear Maureen, I don't say that I envy you, I say that I'm really happy that have all those amazing fabrics and colours in your creative space, with the fantastic Janome sewing machine! Enjoy and have fun! x Teje
    PS. I'm waiting already the autumn to fix my little fabric stash by colours!

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  40. Fabulous, Maureen!! I did this same thing a couple months ago and it really helped me to know what was lacking in my stash. It also pushes me to get past collections and see the colors and all the possibilities. Hopefully it will inspire you in lots and lots more projects!!

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  41. Doesn't it feel great to organize your space a bit? I'm totally jealous of the machine... still.

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  42. this is going to save you so much time! so much! it looks lovely and i do love those bowls! xoxo

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  43. Wow, I wish I were this organized. I LOVE those cubbies and your stash is making me envious!

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  44. Love your fabric organization. I could see we have some of the same fabrics. I am a big fan of Janome too!

    Martha in Texas
    http://mcsqrd.blogspot.com/

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  45. You are so tidy!! My photos were as tidy as I ever got,but the room is back to its usual disarray. I still love to be there rather than any other room. :o)

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  46. Maureen Cracknell Handmade: Fabric Stash Rainbow : : >>>>> Download Now

    >>>>> Download Full

    Maureen Cracknell Handmade: Fabric Stash Rainbow : : >>>>> Download LINK

    >>>>> Download Now

    Maureen Cracknell Handmade: Fabric Stash Rainbow : : >>>>> Download Full

    >>>>> Download LINK Hg

    ReplyDelete

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