Currently Stitching: Organizing my Stash!
Alright folks. I am finally ready to admit that perhaps, just maybe, I might be outgrowing my studio space. Just a little... Well at least the storage space anyway... Please hold off on the judgment until the end! Instead focus on how this can motivate you to stay ahead of your stash, instead of letting it take over your life! Or your house at least.
Between my closet, open shelves, desk and rolling cabinet, they are officially stuffed to the brim with materials, patterns, and stabilizers. And while this means I have to have a conversation with myself about slowing down on purchases, it also means I need to come up with a solution for the current problem.
I took the first few steps today! I cleared off all my surfaces and pulled out anything that was sitting on the floor and put it in the hallway.
It helped a lot to clear everything from the floor and tables so that I could see what I was doing! I also took my sewing machines out of my studio and put them in the living room until I got through some of the sorting. I trued to leave a path in the hallway so that it didn't completely disrupt our lives. But when you're trying to clean out and get organized, sometimes it has to be cluttered.
After the initial purge I started carrying pre-cuts, batting and large swaths of fabric downstairs. I cleared out one side of the family room in the basement and set up tables and shelves to use for whatever I brought down. After I dusted and cleaned them a bit, I was able to start "putting things away." As you can see I put this sweet basket to use for keeping my embroidery stabilizers in one place.
I've kept and been able to use a few bolts to store large swaths of fabric. I also grabbed some totes and baskets of varying sizes to help me get things sorted - and keep them that way! Additionally, pretty much every piece of furniture or storage that wasn't currently being used became part of this process/ display.
As with many projects, it sort of got worse before it got better.
Here is where I plead with you again to not judge me too harshly. It didn't help that I'd just come back from a show which ended in a bit of a shambles. So all my tarps and cloth and product I brought with me were somewhat haphazardly being housed on the couch, chairs and coffee table.
Ugh! Sorting the kits, variety of scraps, and projects in different stages took a lot of time. But I wanted to put in the effort to do it well so hopefully I won't have to do this sort of thing any time soon.
Even though there's still quite a bit of work to be done on this space, it has helped so much to be able to see what I have! I can actually find the materials I'm looking for as I work on my projects! Which saves me a time and a ton of frustration.
It's also been incredibly helpful in organizing my product inventory and working on listings. It gives me the opportunity to prioritize work orders and custom items and know where they are in their process. Which is amazing!
I was feeling so overwhelmed and not interested in sewing at all. Now that I have space to work and can see my fabric and find what I'm looking for, I am so ready to get some work done. While there were several moments where I felt like crying over the piles, I am so proud of myself for pushing through. If you're struggling with your space and managing your stash and projects, just take the time to get it sorted. You can do it a little at a time instead of a huge overhaul like me. And I still have a ton of work to get it where I want it! But I am so motivated to make it happen. Check back in to see the final storage solutions! 