State of My Messy Studio

It’s gotten away from me.

From behind the longarm, looking at the cutting table.

Piles on the floor, not quite in the way

I like to hang pressed fabric on the longarm roller when it’s not in use.

Is that a coloring book?

Just a bit of my paper…

And while this isn’t terrible and wouldn’t bother a lot of people, I don’t like stepping over piles of fabric or digging through paperwork. I don’t like having scraps take over the end of my cutting table. Mostly I don’t like the feeling of being a bit out of control. It is a bit out of control.

In truth, I’ve started cleaning up already. It’s pretty easy to put fabric away since I store it (mostly) by color. Some of that is done. And the books are reshelved; because they are usually on the shelf by subject, they are easy to put away.

The papers always baffle me, but soon they’ll be sorted, too. I hope. 🙂 How do you deal with your paperwork? I have a few different sets right now: the class I’m teaching; guild presentations I’m scheduled to do; my guild’s program committee; my guild’s president stuff; my guild’s bylaws stuff; and random stuff… I know how to deal with them once I’m done with them, but it’s confusing when they’re still being used… And none of that includes the old laptop and three flash drives that need to be cleared, nor the digital photos that need to be sorted and filed. Aargh…

What is your biggest storage or organization challenge in your studio? What is easiest for you to control? Do you have some tips to share? 

 

 

 

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Studio and Stash Tour

I’m a member of the Stashbusters yahoo group, and one of the traditions is to give a “state of the stash” report during one’s birthday month. October is my month!

Since my last report, I’ve lamented my stash both privately and out loud. Having “too much” makes me a little uneasy. Fabric is intended to be used, not hoarded, as I wrote (and reposted recently.) And at various times over the past year, especially, I’ve felt like my inventory got a little away from me. However, after less buying for several months and some good work putting things in their right places, it all feels more under control now.

What you see below is the vast majority of my stash. The upper two shelves have 5 plastic bins each. I think they’re considered shoe box size. I separate most of my fabrics by color. On the top shelf, for instance, is black, brown, purple, and two kinds of pinks. Most of the bins are pretty full. In the lower part of the armoire are two cabinets. The right one has some pieces that are bigger and maybe useful as backing or background. In the left cabinet are odds and ends of flannel (hardly any,) some chunks of muslin, and some decorator fabric. There’s also a skein of yarn (why??) and a little embroidery stuff in there.

Besides the armoire, I have plastic roller bins under my cutting table. The three drawers on the right have “projects,” somewhat loosely defined. The middle drawer unit has bags, basic scraps, and remnants of bindings and odd blocks or parts. You can see none of the drawers is stuffed full.

All this is in a spare bedroom. In the closet I keep a roll of batting and some packaged batting. My extra machine and roller case, and some other odds and ends also live in the closet.

Also in the bedroom is my cutting table, my long-arm, and my book shelf.

Above the window is a long LED light bar. It adds a huge amount of light when I am quilting.

The last item in that room is an old shelf that has my long-arm accessories and threads.

As you can tell, nothing is very fancy but I have plenty and especially plenty of space! In fact, besides that room, I also have space in the adjacent family room. It includes a long desk area where I use my domestic machine and sometimes use my computer. My ironing board is here, as well as a currently blank design wall.

The design wall is empty because my current project is almost done. Its size now is a little too big and heavy to stick on the craft felt wall.

So, my friends, the state of my stash is healthy, and my studio is spacious and easy to use. I am so very blessed. Thanks for reading.

State of the Stash, October 2014

A year ago I gave my annual State of the Stash report, a long-standing tradition in the  Stashbusters Yahoo group. The primary goal of the group is to encourage members to avoid unneeded fabric accumulation, and to use what they have. The stash report helps members be accountable for their progress toward their own goals. And it’s time to report again.

Usually my personal goals don’t include stash reduction, simply because I have a relatively small stash. However, over the past couple of years I’ve been transitioning my stash to brighter, happier colors. With that I’ve added some stash.

Most of my stash lives in the upper part of the armoire, sorted by color into plastic bins. A few pieces are in the lower right cupboard, including oddments like large pieces of light neutrals, a couple of over-sized pieces that might become backing, and a couple of themed sets of fabrics.

In the lower left of the armoire are other odd things, including some upholstery fabric and an old embroidery project.

I don’t keep track of how much I purchase or how much I use, as some Stashbusters do. But it will all fit in there, even with the additions from this year.

State of the Stash, October Birthday

The Stashbusters Yahoo group, of which I’m a member, has a long-standing tradition. During a member’s birthday month, she is expected to give a report on the “state of the stash.” The primary goal of the group is to encourage members to avoid unneeded fabric accumulation, and to use what they have. The stash report helps members be accountable for their progress toward their own goals.

My personal goals don’t include stash reduction, simply because I have a relatively small stash. But I shop my stash first, because I enjoy the challenge of starting with what I already have. Only then do I hit the stores, and usually with colors or patterns in mind to fill the gaps. Also, this year I’ve been transitioning my stash to brighter, happier colors and have made buys with that intention.

Stash lives in the upper part of the armoire, sorted by color into plastic bins. Besides the color bins, there are a couple of others with oddments in them, like over-sized pieces that might become backing, and a couple of themed sets of fabrics.

In the bottom of the armoire are other odd things, including some upholstery fabric, an old embroidery project, and a few flannel chunks. I don’t like sewing with flannel, but it is useful now and then, so I keep it.

I don’t keep track of how much I purchase or how much I use, as some Stashbusters do. But it all fits in there, sometimes with room to spare and sometimes not.