Organizing your sewing stuff

[LadyStitch]

I am giving up my small desk for the PP, since his office is becoming the fuzzlet's room.  The promise is that I will get a nice bookcase, of the same size to organize things on.  My thinking is by giving up the desk, which I only use as a flat surface on sit things anyway, I can game a bigger thing to organize bins into.  Nice labled, organized, bins. Hey if I can't repurpose a ferret cage I can make do with a book case.

[gem]

Stitch, one thing to look out for is the *depth* of the bookcases. Many of them are only 12" deep, which is not really deep enough to store things besides books (crafty stuff, anyway). I have a wall of Sauder Heritage Hill bookcases in my office, and I love them, but the closed storage could be a smidge roomier!  What seemed like a better solution than basic bookcases were those cube cubby units, like these. We found a great one at Big Lots back in January. The shelves are 15.5" deep.

Agree with you on the flat surfaces, though! My new hutch isn't even unpacked yet, and I'm already stacking stuff on it!

[Kate XXXXXX]

On project organization:

We set up project bags: PIGS (Projects in Grocery Sacks!).  Each project has all the fabrics and notions and the project file with all the patterns, case notes and copies of fabric bills, customer accounts, customer contract detailing exactly what the project is and the delivery date.  

We also note these on the computer calendar and it BONGS at ua when we have customer appointments.  It tells us where they are, too (London or Kent), since we work in two bases.  It tells us which week who is where, like this week we were both here in Kent working together for two days and seeing a customer.  Next week we have to be in London, so I'll make a note of which projects I need to take to work on...  The week after, we're back here, and at some point we need to fit in a trip to Bexley...  And another to Norfolk to fit a kilt!

[gem]

Kate, what kind of computer calendar are you using? I've been looking for one that BONGS at me!! I'm really good at setting up calendars, but rubbish at actually looking at them ever again. I've tried the calendar with Thunderbird (email client), and I like it... *when* I remember to check it!

[LadyStitch]

I have been eyeing the , I think they are called, Bobby book cases at Ikea.  They are made to put bins in or even have doors.  That way when fuzzlet get's bigger I can put glass doors on it, and he/she can't get into it. Just look at the pretty colors like I did when I was little.  
If I can keep 1-2 pound ferrets out of sewing stuff , on can hope, I can keep a kiddo out.

On a simular note, The PP has gotten into making props.  Much of our stuff is crossing from fabric stuff to hardware stuff.  I also need ideas on how to organize the 'hard' workshop as well as my 'soft' workshop.   He is always in my paints, and I'm always stealing his wire cutters.

kate: I tried the Pigs, and have found it seems too messy to me. I have them projects hanging in order of completion, but it feels "messy" to me.  I have started doing the covered bin idea of gems, which has helped me from having stuff walk off. (IE the PP borrowing the wire cutters I need for my boning.)

[Kate XXXXXX]

Kate, what kind of computer calendar are you using? I've been looking for one that BONGS at me!! I'm really good at setting up calendars, but rubbish at actually looking at them ever again. I've tried the calendar with Thunderbird (email client), and I like it... *when* I remember to check it!

We use a gamail one for work.  I also have the iCal that came on the iMac I use.  Both can be set to give alarms and reminders at intervals to suit you.

[Artemisia]

Ooooo, looky what I found:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001DKIPS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=sewingorg-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0001DKIPS

[LadyStitch]

It kind of reminds me of an IKEA hack that someone did.  They hinged 2 bookcases together, and hand them on wheels, and a trunk latch to 'lock' it closed. On the inside there was a hinged table that could fold out, that they could sew on.  That way when they were done sewing they put the machine up on it's shelf, fold the table back in, pull the halves together, latch it shut, and roll it back into it's cornor.  All the sewing stuff is contained, and out of little hands.

Here is the link: http://www.ikeahackers.net/2009/08/craft-pod-that-hides-sewing-machine.html

[Artemisia]

That's brilliant!

I didn't even know of this website. Got some surfing to do now. 

[gem]

I have a friend who has one of the Sauder craft armoires. She's a Creative Memories scrapbook consultant and a seamstress who's on cast at Scarborough, and IIRC she really likes the armoire. I'm a big fan of Sauder, on the whole.

I'm so excited! I finally got my step cupboard in place! This isn't exactly how the permanent storage is going to be set up; I just flung some stuff in there to demonstrate how much space it has! (Now, just need to figure out what to do with the Janet Arnold books!) You can see the sewing machine on one side and the big Rubbermaid bin at the bottom. The purple drawer unit I just picked up today at JoAnn for $12. It's the same size as the plastic Sterlite units--but it's PRETTY! I can't believe all my books are going to fit!



(Milord just walked in the door; will come back and post another pic of the cabinet closed later tonight.)

[LadyStitch]

I spent 4 hours Saturday evening organizing, boxing up scraps for the quilt guild, and making my room ready for the next round of projects... Baby Dresses 

Then the PP dropped a bomb shell on me.  He wanted to know if I wanted the room that was his office, instead of giving it to the baby.  That way I had more room to sew, he could still keep his computer desk in there, and ALL the craft/prop/ sewing stuff was in one room, instead of scattered about the house.  The baby had the room that was already girly.  He said it would be a better use of space, and besides I already had my sewing stuff boxed up.  Great idea... still had some issue. 
I lost serious shelf space, but I also gained a functional closet. It also means going through all the boxes that had been hiding in that closet, but I think it will be worth it.   Though I have a feeling he may loose some of his desk space me me    He did 'give me' the room, right.....