Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Cleaning!




Since reading all the blogs, I've started to take more of an interest in my own sewing space. I finally started cleaning it, so it will be even more inviting to work in there. It's about 5 years in the making..... That's when we added a garage with living space on top to the house. One of those rooms is my sewing room. Big, bright, open and inviting (in the beginning). Soon it was also used as storage room, and people who knew that I sewed gave me boxes upon boxes of material. Guess where it all ended up? Yes, my sewing room!
Started out with good intentions 5 years ago in the walk in closet.........


  
More material......And most of that is on the ground.....
Combined with  my lack of being able to throw anything out, it had over the last couple of years become a mess.  I started organizing it on and off during the last couple of years, but never really finished it, and ran out of energy.  This year, though, it seems as if I'm getting my energy back, finally.  I keep working in there, finishing up any alterations that I've had for a few years already, and even straightening, and cleaning out my sewing space.  It's become clear to me that I will be spending many more hours in that room before I finally will have it all the way I like it.  But that's ok.  I think I am ready for the next step in my life, and that involves more furniture in my sewing room so I can start teaching children and adults to sew.
I have all sorts of plans, and maybe soon they will be coming to frutition!  It all depends on how clean I can get my sewing room, and how quickly furniture can be added.  I do more sewing and alterations than quilting, but am enjoying it at this stage of my life.  Quilting for now is being kept as a hobby, something I can loose myself in, without having to share that part to people wanting to learn quilting.  I will do the occasional quilting pattern in something when I am teaching sewing, but more as a sidepart than on purpose.  When students come to learn, one of the first things I have them make is a pin cushion, but usually I have them put a quilt block on the one side.  This way they learn by trying little things, and it teaches them to often sew straight lines. 
Sewing is such an integral part of quilting, being able to sew, being able to sew straight lines (mostly), being able to cut things out for a pattern, that I really want to start at this end of the spectrum. And it has become such a lost art, that now people are starting to look for seamstresses willing to teach them the basics! And that is a niche I hope to fill in the near future.
To that end I will continue to clean, re-organize, and work away at making my sewing space look inviting. Hopefully I can show you more cleaned up space soon!


The patterns and lace cupboard fairly organized!  










I started with the book case area.  I clean that one fairly often.  It's the easiest to keep clean, and organized.  I have also been going thru some of the boxes that have been given me.  But since I like to wash everything before I store it, it makes it quite interesting.  Sometimes there is a lot of scraps, other times quite a lot of good material.  I just finished washing all the new things I received earlier this spring, and am using some of that already for a bag swap that I am taking part in.  If I really have to pin myself down, I think I prefer sewing anything over quilting at this time.  Also because I am petrified of free motion quilting.....   I know I shouldn't be, but right now it's not one of my strong points. 
Books and more books.....

Anyway, this post is long enough! Happy reading, sewing and quilting!



Maria K 

14 comments:

Cherie said...

That looks like a good start! I'll be watching out to see your next steps in clearing up. =D

Maria Kievit said...

I on purpose chose a couple of pictures which weren't too bad! Hopefully the next post will be then and now! Still working on it.

Rosemary Dickinson said...

I'm trying to cut my scraps down into useable squares. Takes so long! I've started to organize my fabric but so time consuming! No wonder we just throw our fabric around. It takes too long to do anything else!

Maria Kievit said...

I haven't even attempted that part. That is after all the fabric is washed, and put somewhere in the closet. After the whole floor is clean, it's time to attack the closet with material. And yes, then I will also be cutting squares and strips........ Not yet looking forward to that. Almost need to have a party for something like that!

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

You'll get there! I moved several times and for awhile all my sewing/quilting stuff was packed away and it was so much fun to get it all out. Unfortunately I didn't have the room I used to so something had to go. I agree with you that sewing is very important....I sewed all my own clothes years before I ever quilted. Now I just love to quilt so all of the clothes patterns and that type of fabric finally had to go.

It can really be fun to clean and organize your room....lots of goodies show up! Don't be afraid of free motion quilting.....so go at it slow. No one learns it overnight.....no matter what they say. I actually hand-quilted in the beginning. Good luck!

Maria Kievit said...

I have been doing all handquilting up to this point, too. But I have too many crafts on the go, to pick away at it on a fairly consistant basis. Thanks for your response!

Carrie P. said...

wow you sure do have a lot of books.
As far as that fabric goes don't feel like you have to keep it all just because someone gave it to you.Feel free to donate what you really don't like to places that can use it.

Maria Kievit said...

Yep, all those books are categorized, alphabetized and to me organized! As for the material, anything good and keepable (for now) will get washed if it can, and the rest is thrown away especially if it's dirty, old and ratty. The rest if I really keep it will wait till I get to that cupboard. Thanks for commenting!

bohemiannie! art said...

I remember when I decided to get my 'Play Room' organized. It took me about 3 years but little by little it came together and I now keep everything in it's place...religiously. I continued to make art during the clean up but now...I'm so organized the I can produce 10 times as much as I used to simply because I know where to look...and find...whatever I need for a project. And believe me...I have been gifted with LOTS of fabric, and stuff too! You GO girl!

Maria Kievit said...

Am working on it! I know it will take me a couple of more months at least, as I do it when I want to, and have a couple of minutes to spare. And if I've made it messy now, it's easier to clean it again, as it's on small spots that were clean before. It's just a matter of putting everything back in it's place again, and I am like you in that way, I know where everything belongs, and everything has it's own spot! Thanks for the comment

Lisa said...

Looks like my world! I keep trying too!

Maria Kievit said...

Life just always gets in the way, doesn't it?

Unknown said...

I just rearranged my fabric, too! You look like you have a lot more supplies than I do, though. My craft room was recently all moved into my bedroom so, I had to downsize on the crafts and trade in my desk for my sewing table. I love your blog!

Amanda Rose
http://sewmuchtosay.blogspot.com

Maria Kievit said...

Thanks! Haven't been blogging on here the last couple of months, but you've just given me another nudge in making another post. I have been writing them in my head, but not here, and you don't get too far with just putting words in your head. Love my stash, but it really desperately needs cleaning out. It has been build up over the last 20 years or so!