sewing space spring cleaning! ready for a challenge?

I struggle with keeping my sewing space neat and orderly. Raise your hand if you know what I'm talking about.

Okay, now that we all know we're not alone... (right?)  I'll share an embarrassing picture, again.  I've done this before...

This is my former computer desk that was converted into my sewing desk.  It's too big, too open and too easily cluttered.  Plus it took up TOO much room in my sewing space and blocked the only wall in the room (it's the attached sunroom).  I decided after getting my new (to me) sewing cabinet that I needed to get rid of this desk.  I finally figured out that I need a small sewing desk and a big work table (i.e. my dining room table).

I had a friend who had expressed interest in buying my desk if I ever wanted to sell.  She's far more organized than me and I was happy to let her have it.  Open shelving and my "organizing style", or lack thereof, do not mix!

When I texted her she said she could pick it up the next day!  I had to get busy.  This desk is so alluring when it's all cleaned off!!

And now I have all this free space and room to move!  And a bunch of stuff to figure out where it goes. 

Go take a picture of your sewing space RIGHT now.  In it's current state.  Let's clean up together!  I am working out the details, but we will have a before and after sewing space spring cleaning sew & tell in a few weeks!  And I'm working on prizes, and a button, like I said.  The details. 

Stay tuned!  And really get a good before photo - you'll love seeing the difference a little cleaning up can do!

mission impossible: sewing room clean-up

Do you ever get to a point where you just can't take the disorganization anymore?
I had a little sewing night with friends last weekend and had to get my stuff together to take to my friend's house. WHAT A PAIN!! I couldn't find the things I wanted to take as I was searching through piles and making a bigger mess. Ugh. It was painful.

Here's what my sewing space looked like earlier this week:

messes always look better in black and white.

And I started grouping things together the other day. Pincushions, patterns, fabric, WIPs, mending, etc. Here's my fabric. Well, some of it.

Then I started folding it all yesterday and organizing by print. Have you see this method for folding fabric?  I LOVE it.  And now I want to take pictures like Darci did of her polka dot stash!

Do you have a fabric twin? I think Darci is mine. Every time I see something new in her photostream or on her blog, I die a little inside! Dieing of cuteness and adorable-ness. Like these pictures of the Denyse Schmidt fabrics you can buy at Joann's!

Here's to hoping I'll get my act together and then finish up some WIPs I have going!  I might be selling off some of my stash too, sooooo, stay tuned.   Nothing like pulling out all your fabric to realize you might just have a wee bit too much.  On the other hand, I've got all sorts of new ideas....

fake it til you make it + pretty fabric +wip

I've been feeling a bit of a slump in my blogging.  So I decided I would do some easy fun posts to get me back in the groove.  It *might* be working.

Should I start with some gratuitous fabric shots?

I bought my ball gown fabric from Fabric.com. I needed to spend a couple dollars more to get free shipping. I ended up with 3 yards of the Henna Garden that I love so much. I might need to get more of the green.  I think these would make adorable dresses.

I also finally caved and bought some of Bonnie and Camille's Bliss. I had been eyeing it for a while and wanting to get on the red and aqua bandwagon.  It was Mary's mug rugs that convinced me. This was an add-on to another order to optimize my shipping costs.

Because these had finally come in!!

Thanks to Kathy at Pink Chalk Fabrics for emailing when she got them back in stock! I ordered it the same day. And due to my partially brain dead state, I accidentally had the order sent to my old address in Virginia. Luckily the post office came through and got it forwarded to the right place. TEN DAYS LATER. But at least it didn't get lost. Thank you Kathy for shipping it with delivery confirmation!

So I cut out and put together the main bodice of my dress. AND, the scary part, I tried it on. I think taking a smaller seam allowance is going to be the only size alteration I need to make - which is quite a relief! This nursing body of mine is not quite what I'm used to.

It doesn't look spectacular on the hanger, but today I'm going to add the ruffle and maybe even the sleeves! and then we'll see. I might also make it just a tad bit longer. I like to make my short-waisted self appear longer.

And just to keep it real, I cleaned off my sewing table and it still looks like this.

That black fabric in the bag is the fabric for my dress. I hope I won't look like I'm going to a funeral.  Especially since it's a BIRTHDAY ball!  Happy 235th United States Marine Corps!  Semper Fi!

project with a deadline

Most of you know my husband is a Marine.  Every year we have to get to go to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.  Actually, it's pretty fun - I mean we get to go out sans kids and I don't have to cook.  And the place we are going again this year happens to have a really good food (including the desserts - and oh, how I hope they make us crab cakes for the appetizers, but I digress...).

The biggest problem is the dress.  I hear Ball and I think, full-length prom-like dress.  For the last 5 years, I've either worn old bridesmaid dresses (one while I was 8 months pregnant!) or I've borrowed them from friends.

This year, I decided to be adventurous.  OR crazy, one of the two.  I decided to make my own dress.  But I decided to buy a simple pattern (no darts or princess seaming).

 

(please notice my messy table.  I'm just keeping it real.  Go read Amy's excellent posts here and here.  I love her writing - she always expresses in words so well what most of us are thinking and/or feeling.)

I was originally going to go with a Dupioni silk - mostly because wearing silk is amazing - but it's also wrinkly and stains easily and they didn't have a color I liked.  I did however find this cool embroidered taffeta, for lack of a better word. It drapes a little softer than the old stiff stuff.

And this event is next Saturday, in November.  And it's getting chilly here - so I'm going to do view C with a little more substantial sleeve.  I probably ought to find a shrug to wear or something.

Wish me luck - I haven't made myself a dress since college (that was too long ago to admit).  And I'm really nervous about getting the right fit.  Hopefully this looser fitting style will accomodate me.  :)

I'm pretty sure this won't be sew & tell for this week, but will have to be done by next week!