Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Oh My.

001
My husband trundled all the boxes from where they have been stored in the garage, down to the studio.  The small boxes contain mainly fabric, the medium size boxes are full of project boxes, UFO's, flimsies and supplies.  The large boxes are full of folded quilts.

My job is to unpack these things and find places for all the contents. 

My asthma unfortunately has chosen this week to play up, so I am moving very slowly, and having to sit down often to rest and get my breath.  In the picture below, you can see my asthma inhaler peeking out from behind the sewing machine on the table.  I don't dare have it be too far away.

As far as unpacking, my strategy is pretty much to get the stuff out of the boxes and randomly stick it on a shelf.  Once I get it all out, I can have a good look at what all I own and start organizing it properly.  When I unpacked and organized my kitchen last summer, that is what I did and it was a good method for me.  I just unpacked a box and let the contents sit on the counter while I unpacked some more.  Eventually the counters were full of all the stuff that needed to go in the kitchen cabinets and it was so easy for me to get a visual of what there was, how much space it would take up and where it would be most conveniently located.

004
We got the knobs and drawer pulls on the doors and drawers, and I am liking the way it looks.  My husband told me he thought it was "plain".  He was drawn to the fancy schmancy knobs that were two tone metal or had a design of some kind.  Me, not so much.  I wanted the hardware to be dark to go with the counter top and also to be a nice contrast with the white of the cabinetry.  There is going to be plenty else going on in this room, so simple hardware seemed the right choice.

Several readers asked where I got the cabinets.  It turns out that Lowes has a custom kitchen cabinet department.  We picked out a style we liked, which was called Devon, and the sales associate at Lowes, who was very experienced and professional, drew up a computer drawing of what the room would look like with the product we liked.  It cost a lot more than buying in-stock cabinets, but I am very pleased to have a good quality grade of cabinetry.  What I need are super well made and strong shelves, to hold all the heavy fabric.  These seem to be up to that task.  The in-stock cabinets were clearly an inferior product, with thin wobbly shelves.  Once the order was placed, it took about three weeks to get delivery of the cabinets.  My husband and Handyman Bill installed them with little trouble.  Having Lowes install them would have added a lot to the total cost, do we chose the DIY method.  Bill has done this a million times, so he got the job done in no time.

006
Now that they are in, I am so wishing I had gone with drawers instead of shelving for these two lower cabinets.  Ack.  That would have been such a better idea.  No matter, Handyman Bill can put sliding drawer units inside the cabinets, but I will sacrifice a bit of space.

The counter top is not granite, it is a pre-fab granite-look-alike counter that Lowes sells that is exactly 48" wide, which is what these two cabinets measure.  You just pick one out, bring it home and plop it on top of the cabinet units.  Something called "scrim" has to go along the two sides to cover the teensy gap between the counter and the cabinet walls.  My husband really wanted me to go with granite, but I kept thinking "why?".  It is just a sewing room for heaven's sake, granite is a lot more expensive, and I would probably have to wait two months before a piece was found, cut to size and installed.  Fergitaboutit.

68 responses to “Oh My.”

  1. You are so smart to keep the shelving plain when it’s the quilts and fabrics that will take the stage.
    Just take your time. It will all be very worth it. What a wonderful space that is!

  2. You are so smart to keep the shelving plain when it’s the quilts and fabrics that will take the stage.
    Just take your time. It will all be very worth it. What a wonderful space that is!

  5. Oh, Nicole!! What a joy to meet your beautiful quilts, delicious fabrics, inspiring books, handy tools, and quilting decorations once again! Among the boxes, do leave room for happy dancing.
    You’re so right that a simple background is best for a quilting studio where a riot of colors and patterns will soon abound.
    Bummer about the asthma annoyance but having your inhaler at hand is the best it can be for now.
    Happy hugs!

  6. Oh, Nicole!! What a joy to meet your beautiful quilts, delicious fabrics, inspiring books, handy tools, and quilting decorations once again! Among the boxes, do leave room for happy dancing.
    You’re so right that a simple background is best for a quilting studio where a riot of colors and patterns will soon abound.
    Bummer about the asthma annoyance but having your inhaler at hand is the best it can be for now.
    Happy hugs!

  7. Since those smaller boxes contain mostly fabric you must have too much. Send some my way! Just kidding. Love the cabinets and this dream studio. Hope you have a play corner for your grand daughter too.

  8. Since those smaller boxes contain mostly fabric you must have too much. Send some my way! Just kidding. Love the cabinets and this dream studio. Hope you have a play corner for your grand daughter too.

  9. Looking good! I wish I were closer to you; I’d just pop on over and be your assistant for the day or week, however long you needed me! It’s always fun to stroke another quilter’s fabric and quilts! 😉

  10. Looking good! I wish I were closer to you; I’d just pop on over and be your assistant for the day or week, however long you needed me! It’s always fun to stroke another quilter’s fabric and quilts! 😉

  13. I love the quilts on top of the cupboard! I wish I were there to help you sort it all out. How much fun, but I hope you feel better so you are up for the task. I can’t wait to see how it all looks.

  14. I love the quilts on top of the cupboard! I wish I were there to help you sort it all out. How much fun, but I hope you feel better so you are up for the task. I can’t wait to see how it all looks.

  15. I don’t envy you the unpacking, but at least you have a wonderful studio with lots of cabinets to store everything. Watch that asthma. Unpacking might not be the best activity for you until it calms down.

  16. I don’t envy you the unpacking, but at least you have a wonderful studio with lots of cabinets to store everything. Watch that asthma. Unpacking might not be the best activity for you until it calms down.

  17. That’s a lot of boxes! I’m sure it will be fun to unbury all your treasures and set them up just the way you want in your new sewing studio. You’ll have to share a pictue with the cabinets opened so we can see how you organize!
    Sorry about your asthma. 🙁

  18. That’s a lot of boxes! I’m sure it will be fun to unbury all your treasures and set them up just the way you want in your new sewing studio. You’ll have to share a pictue with the cabinets opened so we can see how you organize!
    Sorry about your asthma. 🙁

  21. OMG Nicole, I wish your asthma would just say goodbye for now. How dare it ruin your unpacking/organizing week? Oh well, just take it slow like you said. It can still be fun even if you take a slower pace.
    sillysally aka choc chip addict

  22. OMG Nicole, I wish your asthma would just say goodbye for now. How dare it ruin your unpacking/organizing week? Oh well, just take it slow like you said. It can still be fun even if you take a slower pace.
    sillysally aka choc chip addict

  23. I love the cabinets (and the knobs). . . not that it matters, but it is a look I would love to have the room to install.
    I’m in the middle of trying to re-organize my own sewing area (part of the basement) so I have been watching your steps.
    I hope the asthma gets less intrusive in your life so that you can get back to having all the fun you want.

  24. I love the cabinets (and the knobs). . . not that it matters, but it is a look I would love to have the room to install.
    I’m in the middle of trying to re-organize my own sewing area (part of the basement) so I have been watching your steps.
    I hope the asthma gets less intrusive in your life so that you can get back to having all the fun you want.

  25. They look lovely! And you were right about the granite – it’s lovely, but expensive and really only worth it if you need heat resistance like in the kitchen – you made the right decision. Can’t wait to see how it looks when you’re all done!!

  26. They look lovely! And you were right about the granite – it’s lovely, but expensive and really only worth it if you need heat resistance like in the kitchen – you made the right decision. Can’t wait to see how it looks when you’re all done!!

  27. Your sewing room looks perfect to me. I bet your husband was more than happy to get those boxes out of his garage! Get well soon Nicole!

  28. Your sewing room looks perfect to me. I bet your husband was more than happy to get those boxes out of his garage! Get well soon Nicole!

  29. You must be over the moon happy to be in your space. So will you have teo quilts completed by the weekend? Just kidding.

  30. You must be over the moon happy to be in your space. So will you have teo quilts completed by the weekend? Just kidding.

  31. Well, it LOOKS like granite from here! haha! Treat yourself gently and enjoy being in your new studio. It’s fantastic!

  32. Well, it LOOKS like granite from here! haha! Treat yourself gently and enjoy being in your new studio. It’s fantastic!

  37. Wonderful space. I am sure you will make many memories there, including teaching your little granddaughter to sew and stitch. My granddaughter is 3 now and loves to play with my buttons and fabrics-such nice memories watching her. Don’t let your ashma get the best of you-take care.

  38. Wonderful space. I am sure you will make many memories there, including teaching your little granddaughter to sew and stitch. My granddaughter is 3 now and loves to play with my buttons and fabrics-such nice memories watching her. Don’t let your ashma get the best of you-take care.

  41. Maybe you have excitement-induced asthma! I know I would if I had such great storage for quilting…and the chance to go through all fabrics? Wheeeeeeeeee! Ok, now I need my inhaler…….gasp sputter wheez….

  42. Maybe you have excitement-induced asthma! I know I would if I had such great storage for quilting…and the chance to go through all fabrics? Wheeeeeeeeee! Ok, now I need my inhaler…….gasp sputter wheez….

  43. Oh, so have the space for such wonderful cabinets! Your new studio is going to be lovely, and I can’t wait to see the finished product. I smiled when I saw your quilts on top of the cabinets….the similar color palette running through them…we tend to buy what we love over and over! I think we like the same colors. Enjoy your process….be careful with your health!

  44. Oh, so have the space for such wonderful cabinets! Your new studio is going to be lovely, and I can’t wait to see the finished product. I smiled when I saw your quilts on top of the cabinets….the similar color palette running through them…we tend to buy what we love over and over! I think we like the same colors. Enjoy your process….be careful with your health!

  47. I’m with you–let the fabric and creativity shine brighter than fancy knobs and granite counters! What a fun place to play in this will be. Jealous!!!

  48. I’m with you–let the fabric and creativity shine brighter than fancy knobs and granite counters! What a fun place to play in this will be. Jealous!!!

  53. Looks like fun to me, sorry your asthma is slowing down your progress. Love the folded quilts on top of your cabinets, do you have some available wall space to also hang some quilts?

  54. Looks like fun to me, sorry your asthma is slowing down your progress. Love the folded quilts on top of your cabinets, do you have some available wall space to also hang some quilts?

  57. Woohoo! It’s so exciting to see your space come together! Good luck arranging and rearranging your loot! After this prolonged separation from your stash, I hope you have a happy reunion.

  58. Woohoo! It’s so exciting to see your space come together! Good luck arranging and rearranging your loot! After this prolonged separation from your stash, I hope you have a happy reunion.

  59. I sympathise with you about the asthma I also am having a bad time with it at the moment. My answer to having a puffer handy is to have one by the bed one on the coffee table in the living and just to be safe one in my handbag so I will never be without one while I’m out. Love the cabinets, wish I had the room for them in my room.

  60. I sympathise with you about the asthma I also am having a bad time with it at the moment. My answer to having a puffer handy is to have one by the bed one on the coffee table in the living and just to be safe one in my handbag so I will never be without one while I’m out. Love the cabinets, wish I had the room for them in my room.

  65. Oh I am lusting, er I mean loving your new cabinets!!!! Your room is going to be amazing!!! I love the piles of quilts on top of the shelving units!!! Hope you are feeling better and that the asthma settles down.

  66. Oh I am lusting, er I mean loving your new cabinets!!!! Your room is going to be amazing!!! I love the piles of quilts on top of the shelving units!!! Hope you are feeling better and that the asthma settles down.

  67. It’s going to be a great space! Try a dust mask to prevent inhaling lint from the fabric, it might help with the asthma. I sometimes feel like I’m inhaling batting when I machine quilt.

  68. It’s going to be a great space! Try a dust mask to prevent inhaling lint from the fabric, it might help with the asthma. I sometimes feel like I’m inhaling batting when I machine quilt.