Sometime in February, frustrated by the inability to find particular fabrics that I knew were in there somewhere, I pulled most of my stacks out and spent the better part of two days reorganizing my stash. I do this every once in a while after first doing an internet search of other quilters' strategies, certain that there must be some secret formula. Is there one? Please let me in on it.
I did a pretty good job of it, though still occasionally flummoxed by such big categorization issues as...should Kaffe dots go in the KF pile or the dots stack? What about the Koseki text designs...the SK section or the words stack? Usually around this point, I take a little break. Maybe get a quick snack. Then I return to start shoving things back in their cubbies, willy-nilly. This time I pressed on and was quite pleased with myself. For several weeks in February, I sat at my table, appliqueing my lollipop blocks, basking in the tidiness of the space.
Yeah, well.
For all of you who so often comment on my neat room, this is how it sometimes devolves as I'm working out something new. Decisions, decisions. Five fabrics discarded for each one that works. So much for the organized stacks. I did pick up a bit this morning, but you don't think I'm taking two more days to re-sort, do you?
I have nothing more than my messy room to share today. If you're looking for a knock-your-socks-off project photo, you must go right now to check out Nifty Quilts. *swoon*
I'm actually just dropping in today to say "I'm still here!" And where have I been?
- Shopping for a dress for Molly's wedding (my head hurts...)
- Consulting with the florist, the baker, the candlestick maker (scratch that last one...)
- Playing Goldilocks as we hunt...and hunt... for new living room furniture. And a sleeper sofa for an extra bedroom. Let's just say, they don't make things like they used to.
- Trying to decide on upholstery fabrics.
- Preparing for more house painting, inside and out.
- Decisions, decisions and more decisions.
I'm loving the warm weather, as I know so many of you are. There's a unique delight that a new homeowner enjoys when spring rolls around and all kinds of surprises reveal themselves as plants pop up here and there and bare bushes burst in to bloom. Even if (when) the cold weather returns for a while, it has been so energizing to be able to open the windows and feel the warm breeze as it blows the curtains a bit. This morning I caught the whiff of newly mown grass from somewhere in the neighborhood. Guess I'd better put some Preen and Claritin on the shopping list. And maybe pull the snowplow stakes from the driveway's edge. I'd hate to tempt fate, though.
hey, that space looks really familiar -- yup, it looks like the creative mess in my sewing space. I don't know of an easy way to keep things neat and tidy, except by not disturbing the fabric. I think mess is just part of the creative process.
Posted by: Brenda | March 21, 2012 at 02:37 PM
I agree with Brenda--you can't be creative without the mess! Thanks for showing your real working space--makes me not feel so bad when I see all the spotless studios! Good luck with all the other things on your to do list--Yikes--makes me tired thinking of all that! :)
Posted by: Donna | March 21, 2012 at 02:47 PM
Your "mess" is still so much neater than mine!!We can swap fabric collection any time!!Messiness aside,there's something wonderful about moving fabric, making piles, the ideas just pop again and again!Mother of the bride dress shopping for me was the pits....good luck,they still need to work on designs for Mom's!Spring has hit here in Boston...beautiful out,windows open. Just worried it's way too early!!
Posted by: Redsoxgal | March 21, 2012 at 03:05 PM
Having just finished a wedding weekend, I know all the effort and shopping that goes into it. I can't remember, is it here or in Japan? I hope yours is as enjoyable as the one we just had. Exhausting, but wonderful.
Posted by: Cindra | March 21, 2012 at 03:55 PM
I agree you can't be creative without a mess. If you find out the secret formula for tidyness let us know! Love your wall of fabric nothing nicer than being able to gaze at all that lovely fabric.
Posted by: Debra | March 21, 2012 at 04:48 PM
Yep, cant be creative w/o making a bit of a mess. Still looks better than my room does!!!! We're doing a lot of cleaning here for the MIL visit (she's cool and NOT a neat freak thank god!) and I'm realizing we've got more stuff/junk than we know what to do with. Time for a more thorough cleaning after she leaves. Now is the time for the APPEARANCE of clean!!! LOL
Posted by: Lynn | March 21, 2012 at 05:06 PM
If you aren't making a mess you aren't creating! I have one great big plastic bin just filled with my Kaffe fabric....
Posted by: Kelly | March 21, 2012 at 06:50 PM
Jan,
You should see my sewing room today! I am afraid if I go in there, I will pass out! I showed it to a friend today.. oh what a mess!
Wedding dress? Congratulations to Molly! Furniture shopping.. I need to do that too But I am going to keep stalling as long as I can!
Posted by: Sujata Shah | March 21, 2012 at 10:35 PM
We should all post shots of our messy spaces as a show of solidarity! Yours actually looks quite creative and good. I have serious stash envy that you have an SK pile and words one... Congrats to your daughter. Sounds like it is going to be a wonderful wedding!
Posted by: Susannah | March 21, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Yes, it drives me nuts when I can't find something I know I have! You have all those neat stacks of fabric still sitting on their shelves!
Posted by: Maureen from Ventura | March 22, 2012 at 12:15 AM
how I would love to come visit this sewing room! I love looking at all that fabric :)
pull out those stakes I did!
I am still trying to decide on curtains for 2 rooms I had painted last year, don't feel so bad!
Kathie
Posted by: kathie | March 22, 2012 at 04:33 AM
Zoom zoom zoom, you're a busy bee. I have no secrets about organising fabric, I think I have more than I need or can store neatly, lol. I do like playing with it all though.
Posted by: Janet | March 22, 2012 at 07:00 AM
I usually have fabric on the floor of my sewing room. I long for a nice, neat sewing room but it never happens.
Posted by: Karen Beigh | March 22, 2012 at 08:31 AM
My stash was stored neatly when it all fit in one closet. Now its out of control. I like all the bright colors in the photos of fabric.
Posted by: Meredith | March 22, 2012 at 10:17 AM
It looks like you're having so much fun playing with your fabrics! I always struggle with an organization method too -- I usually stack stuff by color, but some fabrics just don't want to play along. Can you beeeelieve this weather? We've had eight straight record setting days here. Our low the other day was 55 -- the normal high is only supposed to be 48 -- amazing! My neighbor mowed his lawn this week -- I'm now trying to figure out where to hide his body.
Posted by: Thimbleanna | March 22, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Nice to see you back Jan! I still haven't caught up on your Japan posts. Will get to it next week I hope! I've been so busy and we're off for a little spring break trip tomorrow. Enjoy the wonderful weather. I think the PNW is the only place not seeing it. We've had snow off and on all week.
Posted by: Kristin | March 22, 2012 at 03:26 PM
You have a beautiful stash ! Though I have been quilting since 1985 , I went through a huge change in 2002. We lost our job and with it went everything, for one reason or another we sold everything, I mean everything but the beds. Fabrics, sewing goods all of it went and since about 8 months ago I have been re plenishing my stash with help from some lovely ladies like Anita from Bloomin' Workshop and my hubby who has turned an eye when I over spend in fat quarters !! I can identify with loss and the graciousness of having plenty !http://patchworksail.blogspot.com/
Posted by: izzy | March 22, 2012 at 10:53 PM
OH I forgot to mention though all was sold I did have enough quilts made that needed work but I did not buy any fabrics for yrs.
Posted by: izzy | March 22, 2012 at 10:56 PM
I agree - can't be creative without mess. The trick is to put it back as soon as you've decided on the fabrics (if only I did as I say!). My fabrics are in baskets with a label to identify the contents; spots, stripes, checks, Kaffe and Japanese style all have their own basket(s) and the rest are done in colours. Seems to work!
Posted by: Meredithe | March 23, 2012 at 06:56 AM
So where did the Kaffe dots go? You can't tease us with burning questions like that and not give us the answers! I'm glad I'm not the only one who makes a serious mess when busy sewing!
Posted by: Denise Cheke | March 24, 2012 at 05:52 PM
I was out shopping for a dress for my daughter's wedding today, too. Hope you had better luck than I did! The search continues... Its nice to have the fabrics organized, but they sure don't seem to stay that way for long!
Posted by: Dixie | March 25, 2012 at 06:06 AM
Your fabric looks so neat! All such uniform size pieces & folds. I run into problems with little scraps and larger pieces - if i find something I really like that's on sale, I have been buying 5 or 6 yards, so I have enough for a back. (Hows that for rationalization?) I don't know whether to thank you or curse you for the link to Nifty. Now I really need to cut up more fabric and start something new. That's the kind of project that makes me want to pull out every single piece of fabric I own! Plus go buy more. Also, after looking through her blog I realized that Nifty is local to Seattle, in my quilting guild, I recognized one of her quilts from a show a few years back. Blogs make the world a much more connected place. Thanks for taking time out of your busy wedding planning schedule to keep us inspired and connected.
Posted by: Pam Cope | March 31, 2012 at 11:31 AM