sewing organization tip

One thing about sewing that can get out of control super fast is organization. When I first started sewing, we had a tiny apartment and my sewing space was our kitchen table and a shelf in our hall closet. I had stacks for my projects and it got crazy out of control. Now I have a sewing room and my project organization gets crazy out of control. :)

A few weeks ago I was strolling through the dollar bins at Target, I heart Target, and I found some super cute cardboard paper trays. I had an idea. They were the perfect size to store fabric in the project process. (Think quilt blocks, cut fabric, dress fabric for a little girl, etc.)  Plus they were a dollar. Score. So I picked up a couple and put them to use.

Here they are holding all my Swoon blocks. Slide the pattern on top and you have all your pieces for the project in one place. 

Plus, if you are like me and have a little helper who loves to play with whatever mommy is playing with, it is easy to stick the tray up on a shelf and it looks neat and tidy. 

 I found this cute aqua one around Christmas and it holds my bobbins, pins, and little scissors. I put it next to my machine when I sew and when I am done, it goes up high on a shelf. Again, out of the reach of little investigative clutches.

So go and grab some from the happiest place on Earth {for me at least} and get those projects organized!

Happy Monday!

LeAnne

Sewing Space: Show me the Buttons!

Do any of you have oodles of buttons? Or am I the only one? I love buttons. When I first started sewing Joann's had a bunch of buttons on clearance for 20 cents a tin. I kinda went crazy and bought a bunch. Of course I didn't have a plan in mind, but you never know when you'll need a button...right?

A few months back someone gave me a craft caddy. Back then I didn't embroider like I do now, so I decided to use it for buttons instead of floss. (However, this week I went and bought a caddy for my embroidery floss because the stuffing in a jar thing isn't working anymore. I knew that was a quick solution and not a long-term thing...)

So if you will...my pretty little caddy of buttons...

I love having my buttons organized like this. When I open up the caddy, I just love looking at the colors together. What great inspiration! The large aqua ones are among one of my favorites.

Then the aqua and red polka dot buttons are a brand new aquisition. I have been eyeing these on Etsy for months and finally gave in and bought them. Again, no specific purpose in mind...

 

They came from England, and it was worth the extra wait for them to go through customs. (FYI: International shipping into the US is taking longer than usual.)

 

Such a nice way to organize those buttons...

When I am all done, I just place the caddy towards the back of my sewing table...out of the reach of little hands. :) I currently don't have any shelving for my sewing stuff so my sewing table is currently home to most things like this. The empty caddy on the bottom is for my floss. I just have to wind all the floss on the bobbins...movie night anyone?

So there you go! Any other tips for organizing out there?

Happy Friday!

LeAnne

Sewing Space: Organizing Ribbons and Such

I have a wish.

My wish is that one day I will have a sewing room. In the past and currently, my sewing space has been the kitchen table or a corner in a room wherever we have space. When I look at sewing studios/rooms like these a girl can only dream.

Nevertheless, just because I don't have the above doesn't mean I can't love the little space I call my own and I do. However, the biggest challenge with having an involved hobby like sewing is storing all the 'stuff'.

For the longest time my ribbons and the like where kept on the original spools in a drawer. What a nightmare. Ribbon was always slipping off and becoming a tangled mess.  A while back I saw this idea and knew it was the solution for me. (You can also see the same idea here.)

Now my ribbons and trim happily reside wrapped on clothespins inside this great glass jar.

A couple of things.  I bought my clothespins or Doll Pins at Michael's. (Some mentioned they were able to find some Dollar Tree. I could never find any at mine.) Also, I purchased my glass jar at Walmart for right around $8.00. Ten bucks for ribbon organization bliss. Priceless.

The other day I was going through my mess of embroidery floss driving myself crazy.  Take one look at my floss organization compared to my ribbon:

If you could choose to be the floss or the ribbon which one would you be? Ya...I'd be the ribbon too.

I knew I needed a quick solution. I recently saw this post over at homemade by jill and wished my floss was organized in such a way. But right now I don't have time to wind my floss. I was at Hobby Lobby the other day when I saw all their glassware 50% off. I had a vision of sorts.  I made a  purchase, came home, and dumped out my mess of floss.

Nice eh? Don't you love the paper in there too?

Next, I placed the floss in the jar with the colors I use most on the top.  Is it the most organized in the most efficient way? No, but it works for now. Much better than the mangled zippie bag.

Now my floss can hold it's own next to my ribbon.

Yep. Looks much better.

Happy Tuesday!

LeAnne