It took all weekend, but I did get my sewing room and upstairs guest room all organized! My daughter moved into her own place, so I gained a guest room and more closet space for my fabric. I haven't had a chance to miss Sara and Eva too much, because for one thing they are only a mile or so away, so I see them all the time, and second I have been too busy organizing. So how about a little tour of my upstairs?
When you climb the stairs, the first thing you see is a little desk nook and a couple of linen cabinets. Excuse the light, it was late afternoon and the sun was coming in the windows so brightly. I haven't figured out how to use the desk area yet. The upstairs bathroom is just to the right of the linen closets.
There is a nice loft area up there also, and I have two random chairs there, along with a quilt rack. You can glimpse a peek into my sewing room.
Come on in. Feel free to enlarge the photos to see more detail.
You see my cutting table straight ahead, a dresser full of rulers, charm packs, layer cakes and fat quarters. The closet is to the left of the cutting table.
Here is a peek in one side of the closet, and a look at my vastly cleared out bookcase. I packed up three boxes of books and threw one away. Organized my magazines, and threw out anything prior to 2009.
Close up of the left side of the closet. Labeled project boxes on top, fat quarter bundles on next two shelves and bins with kits and some layer cakes on the bottom.
Close up of the right side of the closet, with my longer fabric lengths wound around comic book cardboards. Smartest thing I have ever done.
On the right of the window is the dresser and my ironing board and two design walls. You can see I didn't lie about being a multi-tasker. Those are three projects I am working on.
Continuing around the room, here is my sewing table, and peg board for all my rulers. The biggest improvement in here is that I got almost everything off the floor. I had baskets and bins and various items piled up in every corner, and now that is all cleared out. Much better feng shui I am sure.
Now let's go next door.
This is the newly unoccupied guest room. I did use a few drawers in the big dresser for sewing supplies, but left most of them empty for guests. And look, now I have a room I can decorate in blues.
Now for the closet organization!
This is the left side of the closet. I have my quilts that need quilting hanging. I did leave a little room on the lower closet pole for my guests to use.
The right hand side of the closet. This is what took most of my time. I went through my stash out in the garage and reorganized just the very best stuff into smaller bins that I can keep near me when I need them. It was such a drag having to go downstairs, out to the garage, rummage around in the stash bins, then schlep back upstairs again. Now everything I need is right close by.
I did discover some forgotten things and have in mind some projects that will use them. My prize find was a project box containing dark greens and burgundies that I had in mind for a Christmas quilt some years back. Still love the fabric, but have a better idea on how to use them.
I highly recommend reorganizing every year or so. Even if you don't gain another closet like I did, you can sort through what you have, clear out what you don't need, and make much better use of your space. Handling all the project boxes, fat quarter bundles, kits, and patterns also gave me a better sense of what my sewing priorities might be in the new year.
51 responses to “Upstairs Tour”
I sure wish that I had all that room! I have a bunch of us quilted tops too, so it made me feel better to know that someone else has a bunch of flimsiest too!
I sure wish that I had all that room! I have a bunch of us quilted tops too, so it made me feel better to know that someone else has a bunch of flimsiest too!
I sure wish that I had all that room! I have a bunch of us quilted tops too, so it made me feel better to know that someone else has a bunch of flimsiest too!
Thanks for the tour. What a lovely upstairs you have … I wish I had a full room that I could dedicate to quilting. But I’m thankful for what I do have, so no complaints here. Reorganization is always worth the time and effort. Not sure what I resist. 😉
Thanks for the tour. What a lovely upstairs you have … I wish I had a full room that I could dedicate to quilting. But I’m thankful for what I do have, so no complaints here. Reorganization is always worth the time and effort. Not sure what I resist. 😉
Thanks for the tour. What a lovely upstairs you have … I wish I had a full room that I could dedicate to quilting. But I’m thankful for what I do have, so no complaints here. Reorganization is always worth the time and effort. Not sure what I resist. 😉
Wonderful use of space and it looks like you have room to twirl in the middle of your newly cleaned out sewing room!! Will you please come clear out my wee sewing room? I still have closet and design wall envy.
Love those interesting chairs on the loft balcony and, of course, the quilts are a delight.
I might be tempted to turn the desk area into another closet, but with a ceiling low enough as to not block the windows.
Thanks for the tour!! Oh, how is Ozzie doing since two of his people are missing?
Hugs!
Wonderful use of space and it looks like you have room to twirl in the middle of your newly cleaned out sewing room!! Will you please come clear out my wee sewing room? I still have closet and design wall envy.
Love those interesting chairs on the loft balcony and, of course, the quilts are a delight.
I might be tempted to turn the desk area into another closet, but with a ceiling low enough as to not block the windows.
Thanks for the tour!! Oh, how is Ozzie doing since two of his people are missing?
Hugs!
Wonderful use of space and it looks like you have room to twirl in the middle of your newly cleaned out sewing room!! Will you please come clear out my wee sewing room? I still have closet and design wall envy.
Love those interesting chairs on the loft balcony and, of course, the quilts are a delight.
I might be tempted to turn the desk area into another closet, but with a ceiling low enough as to not block the windows.
Thanks for the tour!! Oh, how is Ozzie doing since two of his people are missing?
Hugs!
Wow! Looks fantastic Nicole. I should be so lucky. You obviously spent a lot of time getting this accomplished. great results!
Mary
Wow! Looks fantastic Nicole. I should be so lucky. You obviously spent a lot of time getting this accomplished. great results!
Mary
Wow! Looks fantastic Nicole. I should be so lucky. You obviously spent a lot of time getting this accomplished. great results!
Mary
Thanks for the tour; I love seeing other people’s sewing spaces. You are well organized too. I hang my quilt tops awaiting quilting on hangers, and I hang the backing and binding fabric along side, so I don’t mistakenly use it for something else. You have a great collection of precuts there! I find them very tempting too and have had to work hard to resist. If only I could exhibit such willpower when it comes to chocolate!
Thanks for the tour; I love seeing other people’s sewing spaces. You are well organized too. I hang my quilt tops awaiting quilting on hangers, and I hang the backing and binding fabric along side, so I don’t mistakenly use it for something else. You have a great collection of precuts there! I find them very tempting too and have had to work hard to resist. If only I could exhibit such willpower when it comes to chocolate!
Thanks for the tour; I love seeing other people’s sewing spaces. You are well organized too. I hang my quilt tops awaiting quilting on hangers, and I hang the backing and binding fabric along side, so I don’t mistakenly use it for something else. You have a great collection of precuts there! I find them very tempting too and have had to work hard to resist. If only I could exhibit such willpower when it comes to chocolate!
Your space is fantastic! I agree on going through the stash every few years – I did that earlier this year and wound up donating 80 yards to my guild – it felt so good!
Your space is fantastic! I agree on going through the stash every few years – I did that earlier this year and wound up donating 80 yards to my guild – it felt so good!
Your space is fantastic! I agree on going through the stash every few years – I did that earlier this year and wound up donating 80 yards to my guild – it felt so good!
What a nice sewing space you have! Good for you spending the time to sort & organize! A place for everything & everything in its place!
What a nice sewing space you have! Good for you spending the time to sort & organize! A place for everything & everything in its place!
What a nice sewing space you have! Good for you spending the time to sort & organize! A place for everything & everything in its place!
Thanks for the tour you have a beautiful home! Now I wish to have a bit more space but I’m glad you have it:-)
Thanks for the tour you have a beautiful home! Now I wish to have a bit more space but I’m glad you have it:-)
Thanks for the tour you have a beautiful home! Now I wish to have a bit more space but I’m glad you have it:-)
Great tour, I am in the middle of a forced clean up due to a water leak. No damage to fabric. Just to the carpet. A good excuse to replace it but a bit of sorting to do.
Great tour, I am in the middle of a forced clean up due to a water leak. No damage to fabric. Just to the carpet. A good excuse to replace it but a bit of sorting to do.
Great tour, I am in the middle of a forced clean up due to a water leak. No damage to fabric. Just to the carpet. A good excuse to replace it but a bit of sorting to do.
I am so impressed by your organization. Your sewing room and guest rooms both look so inviting
I am so impressed by your organization. Your sewing room and guest rooms both look so inviting
I am so impressed by your organization. Your sewing room and guest rooms both look so inviting
Looks great Nicole.
Looks great Nicole.
Looks great Nicole.
Spectacular job of reorganizing, Nicole. You must feel so proud of yourself for doing all this. It’s such a chore to organize a fabric stash, but you’re right, it should be done at least once a year. Hopefully, you’ll remember where you put everything.haha
Spectacular job of reorganizing, Nicole. You must feel so proud of yourself for doing all this. It’s such a chore to organize a fabric stash, but you’re right, it should be done at least once a year. Hopefully, you’ll remember where you put everything.haha
Spectacular job of reorganizing, Nicole. You must feel so proud of yourself for doing all this. It’s such a chore to organize a fabric stash, but you’re right, it should be done at least once a year. Hopefully, you’ll remember where you put everything.haha
Very nice. I envy you your organization skills.
Very nice. I envy you your organization skills.
Very nice. I envy you your organization skills.
What a beautiful space to create in. If you have no use for the desk take it out and put in some sort of storage. Built ins or an armoire for more fabric. You are right about reorganizing. Besides getting the space in order it is always fun to fund forgotten treasures.
What a beautiful space to create in. If you have no use for the desk take it out and put in some sort of storage. Built ins or an armoire for more fabric. You are right about reorganizing. Besides getting the space in order it is always fun to fund forgotten treasures.
What a beautiful space to create in. If you have no use for the desk take it out and put in some sort of storage. Built ins or an armoire for more fabric. You are right about reorganizing. Besides getting the space in order it is always fun to fund forgotten treasures.
Wow! Everything looks great and organized 😀 Can’t wait to see what new projects come out of your forgotten boxes.
Wow! Everything looks great and organized 😀 Can’t wait to see what new projects come out of your forgotten boxes.
Wow! Everything looks great and organized 😀 Can’t wait to see what new projects come out of your forgotten boxes.
Please come organize mine! I enjoyed the peek.
Please come organize mine! I enjoyed the peek.
Please come organize mine! I enjoyed the peek.
How fun to see your sewing room
It must feel SO good to be so organized.
I was thinking of you this morning. I plan on making 3 of the Turkey placements like you made and 3 of the gingerbread man & cocoa mug placemats for Christmas gifts.
Do you remember what line of fabric you used for the Turkey ? It is just adorable
How fun to see your sewing room
It must feel SO good to be so organized.
I was thinking of you this morning. I plan on making 3 of the Turkey placements like you made and 3 of the gingerbread man & cocoa mug placemats for Christmas gifts.
Do you remember what line of fabric you used for the Turkey ? It is just adorable
How fun to see your sewing room
It must feel SO good to be so organized.
I was thinking of you this morning. I plan on making 3 of the Turkey placements like you made and 3 of the gingerbread man & cocoa mug placemats for Christmas gifts.
Do you remember what line of fabric you used for the Turkey ? It is just adorable