A sewing nook makeover

Earlier this year, I took a little break from sewing. I needed a step away to focus on other things. I've only maybe half-stepped back into making sewing a priority, mainly out of obligation to the other things in my life. The kids and my job and keeping the house from being condemned are all pretty much non-negotiable duties.

But another thing holding me back? The mess that is my sewing nook. How can you feel creative and inspired and excited about spending time on your favorite hobby when the place you do it looks like...(prepare yourself!).... this?

Please, don't call Hoarders. Or Child Protective Services. This is really the only corner that is in total mayhem in my house. I'm not a neat-freak in any sense, but this the place that for some reason gets really out of control and messy. Which leads to total sewing shutdown.

My sewing nook is in a small, L-shaped, ugly corner of my basement. It's lit by a single bare bulb hanging from the ceiling, and it shares real estate with the water shut-off thingy. The only electrical outlet is located in the base of the light-bulb, so my extension cord for my sewing machine, table light and iron hangs in the middle of the space. The third picture down shows the opening in the back left of the corner that goes into my laundry room. I had a bookcase shoved into the opening to close it off and hold all my fabric. It's a hard shape to make cute. But I was also not using the space well. I wasn't making a point to keep things neat. I needed way more organization. The smaller the space, the more important being really organized becomes.




So on Saturday, everything came out of the space. Things were sorted, fabrics were refolded, stuff that didn't belong there was sent to the get-outta-here pile. And then everything went back in.

In progress....

It has to get worse before it gets better, right?

After a few hours of working on it throughout the day, I finally had it reassembled and looking better.

I like to see some of my fabric, so for now, I'm storing a bunch of it here on this bookcase. Along with some notions like fusible fleece and interfacing, and on the bottom shelf, a small box of works-in-progress.

 Here's looking into the nook. I have had the striped rug for about 10 years, since I lived in an apartment. Haven't found a use for it in my house until now! I also bought the painting almost 10 years ago at a coffee shop. It too hasn't had a home in my house for some time. I like how they brighten the corner up!

The table itself is from the 1950s. My mother-in-law wanted to get rid of it a few years ago, and I love it dearly. The chair is from my childhood, so my vintage factor is not bad here, eh?

I'd like to get my threads mounted on the wall. Other than that, I'm happy!

 We bought a new storage unit for inside the laundry room, and it's doing wonders not just for that room, but for creating a nice barrier here. Eventually, when we add more storage options to that room, I might use some of the shelf space there for fabric.

 As part of my cleaning process, I threw away my old sewing cover, which was ugly, stained, misshapen and even cut apart down the middle. Time to make a new one!

 Organized these shelves by getting rid of most everything but the sewing books. I might add some baskets here eventually.

Right now, a lot of my fabric is hiding until the table. It's not ideal, as I worry I'll forget about things if they're so hidden away. And I also won't be as motivated to climb under there to put things away. But it'll do for now.

What do you think? Better?

It's still not a Pinterest-worthy crafting space, that's for sure. And it's not done. But I'm feeling way better about it. Before, just looking over into that corner got my blood boiling. Now, I'm actually drawn in and feeling inspired to go sit and sew.

Does your craft space need some TLC? Go in there and spend 30 minutes tidying up -- it feels so good! 

Idea for displaying kiddie art

First things first: If you haven't entered my giveaway for a cute handmade pouch and vintage-sewing-pattern-coaster, hop over here to do so! 

A few weeks ago, my mother-in-law and I were discussing ways to corner off my sewing nook from the rest of the basement. I was thinking curtains. She brought up a room divider. She said she'd always wanted one at her old house, where the dining room was set right off the kitchen. She thought it would be nice on Thanksgiving to pull it out, especially one of the dividers with built-in picture frames.  That way, she could hide the mess in the kitchen AND showcase pictures from Thanksgiving of yore. Cute idea, right? And for my purposes,  it would be a little less tacky (OK, a lot less tacky) to have a room divider than a bunch of Ikea curtains hanging from clothespins from my basement ceiling, right?

I agreed. But I already had the curtains. And I'm nothing if not impatient. So the idea was tabled.

That was until two days later. On the way home from working out, I passed a garage sale. Naturally, I pulled over. Can't pass a garage sale if I have cash in my pocket and no kids in my car. I wandered up and looked at a few tables before I saw it -- a room divider! Not just a room divider. A heavy wooden one with the very sort of picture frames my MIL had dreamt about!

Crazy, right?

Better yet, the price tag was $3.

$3!! Are you kidding? I just did an Amazon search and saw similar dividers that cost between $150 and $200.

I got my $3 out sooooo fast and got out of there before he could change his mind.

I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it until it dawned on me. Kiddie art! No longer will I be all, "Where do I put this.... interesting... scribbled.... mess.... I mean, work of art?" Now I know!

The watercolors are Luke's, with a helping hand from Uncle Matthew. The black and whites are Luke's photography.

HAHA. Just kidding. Apparently I need more kiddie art.

But I'm excited to fill the whole thing up, and I know that'll be easy with preschool starting soon. Now my sewing nook is a little more contained and I have a nice way to display my kid's art. All for $3. If you were here, you could totally five-high me now.

Since I am not the only one with brilliant art displaying ideas, I went on Pinterest to find more inspiration for you. You're welcome.

Take a looksie.

Source

Source

Source

Source

How do you display your kiddie art? Or maybe a more appropriate question here: if your sewing space is out in the open somewhere like your dining room, do you do anything to "hide" it?