New Storage : :

One afternoon during the long Memorial Day weekend, we spent some time together moving things around in my sewing room and did some major organizing of all our art supplies. Since we moved here in November,  my sewing room has worked great as a shared craft space for the kids, but soon with the the four of us together each day, it was time to do some shuffling around. I have a few more things yet to figure out and then I plan to share what we've done!

The amount of colored pencils we've acquired alone since we moved is pretty astounding, but I don't worry -- with my crew, they'll be useful!



I had things looking pretty tidy, and then as usual, just as soon as everything was nice and neat the kids got everything out again! This happens in your house too, I assume?

Later that day I stopped in at our local thrift shop to pick up these beautiful, large wooden spools I had left behind on my last visit. Perfect for quilt binding, right?!



While I was there I spotted this piece right away! It had just come into the shop and was something I was looking for, for years!! It had a great price and my friend who owns the shop was willing to give me an even better deal. But still, it was a lot of money to spend on a random Sunday, after telling Kevin that I was running to the store and then the thrift shop to pick up a few $3 spools.

I'm excited to share, that with the encouragement of my Instagram friends and a husband who understands that I would be kicking myself, and him, forever if I had passed on it -- I brought it home! And, I love it!!

Kevin even cleaned it all up for me, he's the best!!

Can you tell how huge it is? It's really, really big!



Since, I swapped out the knobs with these pretty, white porcelain knobs from the 20's, and filled each of the label areas with a bright, fabric/washi tape tag.







I'm so happy with it, it's such a special piece! Each of the drawers is made with extra large dovetails and it's got such a great handmade look. I think it's a good fit here!





I'm curious, are you all interested in thrifting and collecting, as well? I bet that's another thing most of us have in common! If so, I might just have to share more of my finds here throughout the Summer! Feel free to share your own favorite pieces for storage, I love seeing creative uses for thrift finds! How about collections, do you have any??  I love chatting about this stuff just as much as I love chatting about sewing!!

And, if you would like to listen to me do that for a few minutes, I was a guest this past Monday on the American Patchwork & Quilting Radio Show with Pat Sloan. I was really nervous, but it was a lot of fun! I'd love for you to listen if you get the chance!   ♥,  Maureen

Scrap Chat : :

Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to offer up some of my fabric scraps to those ordering felt during my sale. A win, win for sure! But once I had the day's orders all laid out and I began sorting through my scraps, I became completely overwhelmed!

What's too small? What's too big? Should I press them? They're kind of wrinkled from being shoved in my drawer! Should I square them up so they look nice and neat?

My goodness, I was seriously stressing out over this?! In the end, I ended up with these answers --
I will send a variety of sizes, I will square them up a little, and I will definitely press them!



Back when I was avoiding packing for the BIG move into our new home, I started making these Simple Color Totes, with my Simply Color Layer Cake. I love, love the idea of organizing my scraps by color! I accomplished four before I had run out of my procrastination time, and I still plan to finish out that rainbow eventually!





The majority of my scraps presently dwell in the large bottom drawer of my most favorite dresser, stuffed to the brim! Which is why I'm happy, thrilled actually, to offer some up!



So, when I saw that my friend Alia had ordered, creator of this beautiful, felt needle book of mine, I decided to send her a nice variety!



A little improv scattering of scraps for another order!



And, when Mara asked so sweetly for orange and purple scraps, if I could please, I was happy to share!



One day I will eventually get around to beginning that second scraps quilt!



But with each new sewing day, comes more and MORE scraps than I could ever imagine using all on my own!

So today, I'm asking all of you -- What do you keep? What do you consider useful scraps? Do you keep your selvages, as well? And, how do you store your own scraps?

I'll continue sending out my scraps with all the Wool Blend Felt orders I receive during my sale, and I may even use your super helpful answers to offer up some fabric scrap bundles in my Etsy shop at some point, as well!

As always, thanks so much taking the time to stop by!   ♥, Maureen

Welcome, to my Sewing Room : :

Today I'm ready to share a little tour of my new space, well our space actually -- we decided to fit as much of the kids craft supplies in here, as well. And, we're all loving that so far! I can't say that it's 'finished', just that it's all unpacked and we're using it!

Come on in!



This room is attached to the dining room, which I LOVE! Having the large table for big projects, craft days, and even just to dream of hosting a "sewing club," is a beautiful thing! I thought I would really want some doors to close it off from the other rooms, but so far I don't and the kids have already decided this is their favorite room in the house. Yes!

Going around the room, I have lots of pieces of furniture! Most of which I stole from other rooms in our last house, with just a few pieces you'll find familiar. It's an eclectic mix of things, that's for sure, which I love! Old furniture just suits us better, it feels more warm and homey to me than anything I could ever buy new. The first piece to my left, and most favorite, is our first, old bedroom dresser -- used now for felt and fabric scrap storage (until I can finish the rest of my color totes). We bought this from a local antique dealer, I love the color and style of it, and am excited I found a reason to use it in here!



On top of the dresser sits my packaging supplies, boxes of floss, and some of the kids craft supplies.



My flower hooks (from here or here) hold all my hoops. And, these wool felt boxes keep my business cards and stickers nicely organized.



Next up is a little desk, the one I made my Innocent Crush/linen desk mat for, that's in major need of knobs!





Then we have my Monster Fabric Shelf -- overflowing with fabric LOVE and handmade goodness!







For the kids, company, afternoon naps for Lily, and a place to put all my pillow makings -- we decided to put our extra sofa in here. In front of that is the kids very used and loved craft/activity table, and a place to hold my cutting mats.



The other side of the room holds a little less -- a shelf for my wips and the kids projects, my sewing table, and one last shelf of fabric and more supplies.





After Martha's suggestion the other day (thank you!), I decided the perfect thing for this empty space would be an inspiration board. It's on my wishlist!!

I'm so excited and so very grateful to have a permanent room like this! I have MANY more pictures here! Even though there is still so much I want & need to do, it feels really good already. I know that this work & play space of ours IS going to get cluttered with all the making that's certain to happen, but I'm up for the challenge of making it work.

And now after a very busy long weekend of orders, I do believe it's time for me to get to work in here!! ♥,  Maureen

Simple Color Totes : :

Since sharing my Sewing Room Before post, I have been thinking a lot about simple storage solutions.
In my current space, I have a pretty large closet for how small my room is, which holds all my fabric and felt scraps, my large stack of felt sheets, and boxes of vintage notions. The truth is, it's usually a complete mess! I also have a hallway that continues past my room that leads only to the attic, where you can almost always find a pile of new pillow forms and batting. With my new room being so open, with no closets or hidden hallways, having a plan for the items that I'm used to tucking away is something I really want to figure out now.

First on my list -- fabric scrap storage!



After playing around with a few prints from my Simply Color Layer Cake for my Quilted Fox Pillow, I was inspired to use one of the prints, in the eight different colorways included in the Layer Cake, to help me sort my scraps by color.



I've used this method of fabric scrap separating in the past with mason jars, but now that I sew everyday... Well, I'm sure you can imagine how many scraps I acquire throughout my days. It's a little crazy! And the fabric hoarder, pinner, & scrap-happy project enthusiast in me, has a really hard time letting go of even the littlest fabric bit.



In case you're wondering, I did not use a specific pattern or tutorial for making these totes. I just used what I know from making my lined tote bags, adapting them to be boxier with little side handles. I actually forgot to write down what I was doing when I made my first one. I did remember with my second, and now I think they will come together much easier and faster. I really do want them to all be the same. These first two are a little off in size, but you can see that they make a pretty generous landing spot for fabric scraps.



I just have six more to go, in these great Simply Color - colors... And, then I'll have to take a look at what other fabric scrap tote colors I'll need, and at what prints in my stash will work best for finishing the job. I have to say, these 10" layer cake squares worked perfectly for this project!



My plan is to have them lined up along the bottom of a shelf, possibly my new shelf if they'll fit? I probably should have measured that first, hmn? It's a good thing I also like the idea of having them hanging around?! What do you think??



I'm so excited to be able to share all these little projects while we wait to move. The feedback you all left me on my last post, and all the sweet comments congratulating us, has been so helpful and has meant so much! THANK YOU!!

Alright, time to make some scraps!! ♥,  Maureen 

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Fabric Stash Rainbow : :

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!



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.



It didn't take long before it was full!



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.



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!



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



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



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

Studio Update : :

Late last week I had mentioned how messy my studio was becoming and added a few pictures of the clutter here. I ended up spending a good part of that day making some changes -- I took some new photos yesterday, and thought today that I should share.

So, once again, come on in...



That door straight ahead really needs some curtains, doesn't it? I decided to make my main shelf here just for my fabrics.



I made a little space dedicated to just the new fabrics... they deserve their own spot, don't they?



Where I use to have my home decs wasn't working, so I added them to the fabric shelf as well and turned that drying rack into a make-shift shelf for my buttons, sewing and knitting books, and the hoops that my boys had made last year.



Here is what it all looks like from my sewing desk... Much nicer than this, I think.



Across the room, I rehung the project piping clothes line and made room for my bottled rainbows atop my yarn shelf.



You can see all the photos I took of my room here, these are a few of my favorites...











During all of the picture taking I could hear someone little rustling under my desk, trying not to giggle, waiting for just the right moment to frighten his mama...



He thinks he's scary? c'mon



Yes, there is always something happening in this room of mine -- lots of messes will continue to be made and that makes me very happy!