Tuesday 17 March 2009

Playing Patchwork Shops

I decided at the weekend that I really HAD to tackle the chaos of my sewing area. I'm not lucky enough to have my own studio but I'm very lucky to have an incredibly kind and tolerant husband who doesn't complain about the excessive mess in what should be the dining room area of our open plan living room/dining room.

this is my sewing table underneath the dining room window - I know, you've seen it like this before, and no doubt you'll see it like this again, but it really was getting hard to be creative, especially as my sewing machine is normally squashed on the edge of all the clutter as well.

To get myself motivated I decided to make it into a game and persuaded the children that they would like to play too!! You know, many hands make light work! So we came up with the idea of "playing Patchwork Shops" and I even told them they would get to have some sewing lessons like in a real patchwork shop.

Dot organised the papers into work stuff, patterns, tutorials etc

Fred folded the fabrics that had become piled up on the table

While Daisy sorted out my thread box so it went from this

to this

Unfortunately I soon got bogged down in the nitty-gritty of sorting out the mess and the game evaporated so the children went on to do their own things and I failed to give them a sewing lesson - or even let Daisy iron my fabrics which is what she really wanted to do. Hopefully now that it is tidier we will be able to play the real "shop" part of it next weekend.

I was inspired by this post on Treefall's blog about how Manda has organised her new studio and I have to confess that I have shamelessly copied the idea


and I love it! Even if it did mean that I had to go to IKEA on Sunday! My super clever next door neighbour put it all up for me yesterday morning while I was out and I had a lovely evening arranging all my supplies and tools! Hopefully having less "stuff" on the work surface will make things a lot easier (and tidier?!)

This is a bad photo - but you can see that my table looks a lot better - I just hope it will stay that way


as my craft books were completely overflowing the shelves I decided to store the bulk of them horizontally so they are now organised by size!


And because all my posts lately seem to have been about sock knitting I thought I would leave you today with a photo of a pair of socks knitted by my lovely Mummy

compared with my idea of a "pair" of socks


Lucy xxx

P.S. come back next time to hear about my lovely morning with the gorgeous Helen of BusyBeeStudio (and then you will see the lovely goodies she gave me too!)

35 comments:

Things Hand Made said...

Well done on tidying. I think as soon as I have finisehd I have to start again. It takes me more time to find wht I want than it does to make it!

. said...

Isn't it a lovely feeling when you get your craft space all organised and tidy and can actually get to stuff. I hope yours last longer than mine did. It's already degenerated into chaos again around here. *SIGH*

Lovely sock btw :)

xMx

April said...

looks great

April xx

trash said...

My word Locket you have been busy. Am just a little envious of your IKEA day out though.

willywagtail said...

What a cool system! I have almost finished tidying my sewing room but seem stuck when it comes to organising all those little things. Your children were a great help. I can't believe your son can fold so neatly. My big kids can't even do that.

Anonymous said...

Well done on the tidying little lockets ,but how long will mummy keep it tidy for :-), love the sock yarn hung up too. All my stuff just gets put into a chest of drawers , easily hidden and away from little hands !! I think the bloggy meet up is a great idea but just a bit too far for me I'm afraid
Lisa x

silverpebble said...

The finished result is fabulous Lucy -like something out of Country Living - love all those clever storgage tricks! I love the picture of your thread box - a yummy rainbow. E xx

syko kajsa said...

Well done! It looks great! My table always ends up like a mess too, I wish I was more organised!

Anonymous said...

Oooooooooooh it looks lovely Lucy,
Love Helen

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Aren't you a clever Mom disguising cleaning as play! LOL I'll have to try that sometime.

Your space looks great and I, too, was eying Manda's Ikea find for organizing. Looks fab!

JuliaB said...

ooh that's wonderful! I had a sorty sorting weekend too. Just what Spring is for. x

Thimbleanna said...

I swear Lucy -- you have the best ever kids! Love your new organized hanging things -- very cool!

French Knots said...

I find the problem with tidying up is that before you knoe it, it's a mess again. But we can't be creative and tidy can we?!

Kitty said...

That looks brilliant. What a great idea to have wall-mounted organisation. I'm sure it'll help. It'll give you more space over which to spread yoruself too!

The socks are ALL delicious. x

rachelmp said...

It looks great Lucy! We played patchwork shops on Sunday and I cut all my strips half an inch too short with my shop helpers!! Love those socks too

Twiggy said...

Looks fab!! It is difficult to be creative in a muddle isn't it? I have drawers full of stuff which I open, say arghhhhh and close again :)
Twiggy x

Cass said...

Oh boy do I need to do this too. Your area looks great now

Annie said...

FABULOUS titying - can I pinch the idea too!!! I will be near IKEA at the weekend!! I have to have a tidy up and quickly as my mum and dad are coming to stay and they are already on the road. My sister emailed me - it is a six hour drive, but I have been doing just a spot of sewing and the time is slipping away.

est said...

i love your corner of accessories being shelved with ikea!! so lovely! and i'm sure with all the mess being un-messed you'll have a fun time creative! :)

our shabby cottage said...

I have got to go to IKEA! A job well done!

Tacha said...

Well done tidying - can you come over here now please. I have a pile under our dining room table that needs sorting out. I promise Dot can iron my fabric!

Greentwinsmummy said...

I love the smalls helping you out!it looks lovely & tidy now :o)
GTM x

wonderwoman said...

hey that is such a good idea on the tidying up front - i may have to get hubby to put me up some hooks and things- nice to see someone else's sewing area is as chaotic as mine! love your mums' socks. can't wait to see what you've been up to!!!

xxxx

Anonymous said...

Cooeeee, Lucy, I have delurked :O) Have I told you I love your blog !

Mrs Moog said...

Ok bossyboots -stop nagging, I'm here okay?! Your crafty space looks very lovely and very organised. Are you going to post a photo of it next week too so we can all see how tidy it still is?

xxx

dutchcomfort said...

Wonderful job!!
I tidy up every now and then, but it never takes long before the clutter rules again!

Love the organised wall with IKEA solutions!! I think I have to copy that idea too...LOL!

Gina said...

Do you think your children would like to come here and play fabric shops in my workroom? Love the system of organising supplies... very impressive! And great socks... both pairs!

Lina said...

Now doesn't that feel satisfying to have such a tidy sewing nook? I clear my sewing area up about once every 6 months but mostly it's a big pile of cr@p everywhere!

Jane said...

its always good for the soul to have a tidy up as you find lots of things you lost or forgot. I love your tidy system it looks great. Lovely socks too. Jane x

Colleen formerly of South Africa said...

Love the clever tidying up you did...and using the little lockets. I can't beleive I never thought to do that when my children were home. Wish I could hire your daughter to iron for me...I hate to do it....ever!

Anonymous said...

good tidying,looks really new, it doesn't really look like ur house, not sure y thou. where are the photos of u doin stuff??? lol
y don't u just give them money instead?
cya soon
em xoxox

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

oh I love your world... and as for your new look studio space..... going a shade of green here.........

JacquiMcR said...

I am so jealous of your lovely socks (something on my to do list), the colours are fab, enjoy your weekend - jacqui x

Michelle said...

oh your sewing "before" table looks so much like mine....
wow how nice is it all organized...amazing...

Unknown said...

Oh your sewing area looks so good now, I am green with envy, sitting hear surrounded by sewing debris...