I have been spinning my wheels for a couple of weeks now. Trying to get things done and it was just impossible! Why? Because my studio was a HOT MESS!
So, taking a day off from wheel spinning, I cleaned up, organized, and put almost everything I had pulled out from the fabric wall…
back where it belongs. Wondering about my little Barista Bears everywhere? They are space blockers to keep my naughty kitties off my fabric!
THANKYOUVERYMUCH!
Well, I am done cleaning and putting away, but it still looks cluttered. I think I need to hang some shelves on this wall. Maybe a gallery above with a quilt hanger below? Someday maybe, but this week it was more lighting for my cutting table! I am very happy to have the light. That little window just doesn’t help.
More light means better accuracy when I cut my fabric.
Trust me… this IS cleaned up!
Now that I am in a state of organized confusion I will get back to work. What am I working on?
- the quilt blocks on the process board
- an apron for Julie in Australia (mock ups also on the process board)
- and a rug out of THESE…
I found them in the laundry last weekend!
I wonder what he imagined I was gonna do with them?
😉
What has kept you busy this month?
Life on the Farmlet 
Wow what a great studio! Cluttered? Maybe, but that is what makes it so great. I find clutter to be inspiring… kinda like projects in the making! About those pants… yikes, how on earth did that happen, i hope your husband is grateful to have survived in one piece! ha ha
He wears his pants till they begin to fray, then he wears them for working in the barn and garden… till they fall apart! So, Sunday their time was up, he stooped down, and the rest was history.
As for the studio, I can live with clutter, but sooner or later you just have to make a space. You know, like put your tools away and pick up all the mess so you can start all over again. 😉
I made a jean quilt from old jeans once. Instead of throwing them away I cut squares from the salvageable parts and saved them then when I had enough, I sewed them together by hand! Then I bought a heavy material for the back and stuffed it. It was heavy and too big for my washer and I ended up using it as a beach and picnic blanket!
Wonderful, Diana!
I have been saving jeans for a while now. My idea after the rug is to patch them together in smaller bits and use them to make a jacket or skirt. I love repurposing things to give them one more go round. In the grand tradition of the original quilters, I am saving shirts, blouses, etc, for a scrappy quilt too!
I bet you do wonderful work! Wouldn’t that be a great way to keep a loved one close when they pass on?…I mean make a quilt from their clothes… wow!
Actually, you are right! It is a long held tradition to use the clothing of a loved one to make a quilt to remember them by. Often an article of clothing is sent out to a relative and they make their block and send it back. Then all the blocks are put together and the resultant quilt is given to the family. As for my work, you can see some of it on the design board above my machine, and also hanging on the edge of my shelves. I am still learning, and I love it!
Now I want a quilt please – hehe! I can’t even sew a button on – will I can but I don’t like doing it!
Julie, I gotta get that apron done first!!! Oh, and BTW, I don’t think anyone likes sewing on buttons. That’s maintenance and repair. It is far more exciting to create! 😉
No hurry with apron – no pressure – luvya!
I know, I am just nervous that you will not like it…
I want it to be perfect.
Wow! Just call me weird then, okay? (I actually like knowing that the blasted thing shouldn’t be popping off again anytime soon; )
Ha! You know you are right Deb, there is a certain satisfaction in the security of a button that will stay on. I hadn’t thought of that. And although we don’t like it, there is also satisfaction in mending an item to keep it out of the landfill too! 🙂
Yes, patching things’ll keep them in the upper cycle a little while longer (but to be honest, I like the results on your story board a lot better; )
Funny thing about light, especially on the dawn of the autumnal equinox, is how much better you can “see” (and I don’t mean the kind that’s improved with a new prescription; ) Light is inspiring, uplifting and brings clarity. Cheers, D.
I went through the same thing several weeks ago when I was trying again to declutter. I finally realized I didn’t have room on my bookshelves, cleaned off one shelf and found it much easier to just keep going. I think the room DOES look improved and should be much more attractive for you to work in.
Nancy
http://livingtheseasons.com/2012/08/14/keeping-what-resolution-makes-me-happiest/
Thank you for your vote of confidence! I need to keep plugging away at my projects and use of some of that fabric stash! Then I will have even more room!
~ L
Never mind what you’re going to do WITH them… What the heck was he doing TO them? LMAO (seems most appropriate today; )
Hahaha! They were just really old. He knelt down in the garden and PFFfffft… that was the end of those jeans. ~ L
What an inspiring creative space. I love your process board – it must be so helpful to be able to lay projects out in front of you like that. It all makes me want to make time for a bit of creative sewing!
Thank you, and you should. It is so fun! The secret of the board is felt. The fabric sticks right to it. Some just tack it to the wall, or I have seen others who pin it to a curtain. However you do it, it certainly does make a difference to be able to assemble your design and step back before sewing it all together.
Loving seeing your studio and your projects, and can’t wait to see the denim rug!
If it works, you will Claire, if not… it will line the dogs bed! LOL!
First, Lynda, if this is cluttered then my “studio” is an absolute disaster. Your post came just when I need it most – I need this motivation to get into my space and clean it up so I can get something accomplished. As for naughty kitties – I am desperate. My “studio” is in an open space and I cannot close a door to keep the kitties out. I don’t know what “Barista Bears” are (I can’t see yours in the pic) but I need something to stop my wee ones from devastating my space.
The Barista Bears are teddy bears in costumes from Starbucks. Unfortunately, they no longer make them. But I stuffed them into my fabric shelves to plug the empty spaces the kitties were sleeping in. They were getting fur all over everything! I am now keeping the finished projects in flat plastic bins, and all the little stuff, ribbons, trims, tools, whatever are going into the rolling bins you see underneath all the furniture. 😉 If you can afford it, and I wish I could, you might consider building in some cabinets with a counter space to work out of. I made my table, but don’t know how to do cabinetry. OH, and I have seen several quilters who actually put a kitty bed in an inviting space up high. It seems to work like a magnet for them. I am actually considering doing this, because even though I can close the door when I am out of the room… they are sneaky and come in when I am busy working! 😉
If you’re in the market for “good, used” cabinets to create storage, look no farther than your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore/other building material (true)recycling facility, Kajiji, the Want Ads in your local paper or just Curb Cruising on garbage day.
People are always doing renovations and truly do not want to throw their old stuff away… After a good scrubbing and a coat of paint – “Bob’s your uncle!” (and, even better, most of the time it’s “free to a good home”; ) Happy hunting!!
I agree, but my hubby won’t stop for anything found on the side of the road! The local Rehab store is too expensive for cabinet shopping on my budget… but I have wheels again, now that the hubby’s car is fixed! Will look into Craig’s list and keep my eyes open. Thanks, Deb!
~ L
(That’s why I drive the truck; )
😉
Your work area looks great to me! I’ve seen some photos online that really are – uh – amazing. Crafters especially seem to need great piles of paper, ribbons, lace, old buttons, cloth, yarn…. well, you get the picture. Piles and bins all over the place. I don’t think I could stand it.
I’ve got two quilts that were made from old clothing, and scraps from clothes my mom and grandma made. I still can identify some of the sundresses, blouses and such. I may have told you – one is a Grandmother’s Flower Garden pattern, but I don’t know what the other pattern is. I can’t identify it online. I’ll have to take a photo and send along so you can see it. You’d probably say, “Oh, that’s (whatever)!”
Now I remember- we were talking fractal quilts over at my place. So many blog conversations, so little mental capacity. 😉
Just out of curiosity, how far are you from I-10? I may be passing through Alabama in January. It’s really tentative now, because I’d have to save up money for the trip to a “reunion” of sorts, but while I’m daydreaming about it all, I thought I’d do a fantasy itinerary. If you’re within striking distance, it sure would be fun to have a cup of coffee!
Hahahahaaa! I do have a lot of, shall we call it what it is? Crap in boxes. I have gotten rid of so much of it, and I am still trying to pry my death grip off of the rest of it. Most of the stuff I have kept is old (vintage antique) stuff from family and some gifts from students that I loved. Hence, my need for a gallery shelf to get it off my workspace.
I would love to see pictures of your quilts! I don’t know that I could help you identify it, but I do have Maggie Malone’s 5,500 Quilt Block Designs to narrow down the search… 😉
I Ten is 385 miles from where I am. Assuming you are in Mobile I would be 4 miles from the Tennessee border up north. 😦 In a perfect world, we would meet in Selma, visit the beautiful St. James Hotel (because it is too expensive to spend the night there), and do a Civil War/Civil Rights history tour.
Oh well, eh?
I am tidying by making crumb quilts with all the little bits. Unfortunately, the process involves spreading the heaps out so I can see what to use next.
My “little bits” are starting to fill up my crate… Looking up Crumb Quilts! 🙂
Those jeans are a classic! It’s usually the back end that goes on my son’s jeans 🙂
You’ve done a great job with all this organising – I really wish I could get into mine!
Thanks Dianne! I have been very successful using my “Timer Method.” Set the timer for an hour and do something you “have to do,” Then set it again and do something you WANT to do.” If I remember to set the timer each time it makes the work less painful and I got so much done! 😀
You’re my hero! 😀
Awww, thank you! (Blushing) 😀
Love your project room! 🙂
Thank you! Haven’t seen you around in a while, but then, I haven’t been about on the Blogosphere much these days either. How is your move coming along?
I’m way behind on reading and I haven’t written a post in weeks!! Egad! For a couple of decades now, I’ve kept instructions for making a rag rug from jean material. I had 3 large tubs of FD’s old work jeans saved up. For 10 years those jeans have been waiting. Finally, this spring I put them on a garage sale. If I hadn’t gotten to those jeans in 10 years, it was not going to happen! I’m terrible with projects like that!
Lori, you are not the only one, and on all counts! Well, at least I know I haven’t been missing your posts since you have been silent on the blog front too. 😉
~ L
September has gone by so quickly! Following the earlier months of the year, I suppose. It seems I’ve been trying to keep my head above water in blogland, missing days here and there.
Patti, I have given up on keeping up. I hate to say it, but I just can’t do it. I know so many wonderful people out there, but I just have to get my work done. Maybe this winter we can keep up? I don’t count on catching up, but at least I can start with the latest news! I’m glad you found the time to come by to visit me today. 😀
well that looks pretty darned cleaned up to me! it must be the weather because i am thinking of cleaning up my upstairs studio and moving back into the writing space.. but first i need to find my phone, where could it be in amongst all my mess! c
Celi, When I loose my phone I call myself and follow the ring. It usually works very well. Except for when I leave it in the truck and Bob has taken it to work with him. 😦
Your organised chaos looks wonderful. Hope you’re diving back in ready to undo all the ‘good work’ and do some good work!
Thanks Annie, I’m doing a fair job of both. Sewing a quilt I bought fabric for over a year ago, and working on a special apron for a special friend. It’s messy, but it’s fun! 🙂
I spotted the words quilter and sewist in the sidebar of Celie’s blog, and came hot foot over to see what you were about. What do I find? An immaculate workspace to which I should aspire. The trouble is, when I tidy mine, I can’t find anything. I love your word sewist: is it short for sewing saint?
Viv, I can’t take credit for the word “sewist” I borrowed the term from Quilting Daily http://www.quiltingdaily.com and I liked it better than seamstress or tailor, because I am neither. 😉 I dabble in sewing and quilting and I am learning more and more with each piece I complete.
My workspace is only about 9X12 so if I want to get anything done, well, I just have to clean up between tasks, or forget about “spreading out.” Thank you so much for visiting me today! ~ L
Mine is big, but has two big tables pushed together for cutting and basting,
another for the sewing machine, a 4th for the computer, two tall cupboards, two tall bookshelves and two big chests of drawers, plus the ironing board and 4 chairs. And STILL there is muddle lying about. The upstairs of our house was designed round my workroom, and I am sooo lucky, but sooo messy.
Yes, you are lucky! 🙂