> ~ Insights by SewCalGal ~

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Preparing for Spring Cleaning

Have you started doing any Spring Cleaning or started thinking about it?

It isn't my favorite activity, but I sure like the outcome.  I've been researching sewing room organization and have plans to make a major lifestyle change on how I organize my sewing room.  Don't expect any photos to be shared, but visualize chaos.  

All the experts tend to recommend that we start with de-Stashing.  There is probably a ten step program for this, but I'm thinking of taking it in a few major steps, with my first area of focus on what I'm calling De-Stash 101:



I'm a dumper.  When I go to a quilt retreat I come back exhausted and dump everything in my sewing room floor.  And I do the same thing when I take a workshop, or attend a sew-cial.  I'm taking a vow to better schedule time to put things away,  when I return home with projects and machine in tow.  But I also realize I have more "stuff" in my sewing room than I really use.  As such, I've decided to host a Spring Cleaning (and organization) ten step program that I'd like to invite you to participate in.

As I go thru my stash, I'm giving a serious evaluation as to what I really want to keep vs get out of my sewing room.  While I give a lot of things away, especially to charity quilting programs, there are some items that I want to sale, or possibly trade.  You may also have such items in your Sewing Cave too!


For the next couple of months, on the 15th of each month, I'll do a Spring Cleaning post and include a linky.  If you have something, from your sewing room, that you want to sale or trade, you are invited to add a link.  This will be open to bloggers and non-bloggers that have items that would like to get rid of.  And, of course, those that may not have enough stuff in their sewing room, or find something from these Spring Cleaning activities that they can use, are certainly able make a purchase, or negotiate a trade directly with the quilter that owns the item(s) they are interested in.



Interested?  Mark the date and start looking in your Sewing Cave for items that you are no longer interested in and want to get rid of, to free-up space.

Here is a list of some of the items I am planning on getting rid of, as I do some Spring Cleaning in my sewing room.
  • Serger thread
  • Janome Sewing Machine
  • Fabric
  • Rulers
  • sewing & quilting thread
  • portable quilt wall
  • quilt frames (small)
  • book:  "Facebook for Dummies".
  • Bernina Artista Designer Plus 5.0 embroidery digitizing software (CD, dongle, manual, etc).
I'm also hoping I can find someone with a few items that I'm interested in, such as:
  • quilting books published by Sharyn Craig

  • All-in-One Quilter's Reference Tool, published by CT Pub
  • Just about any book or dvd on free-motion quilting or precision piecing, or machine embroidery designs.

So, maybe you'll take a look at what you have in your sewing room that you may not be using, nor have plans to use, and would like to do some Spring Cleaning too.

Again, I'll post a linky to host then on the 15th.  Bloggers can write a post on what they have to sale, trade and/or what they want. 

Non-Bloggers can post images in  Flickr group called "De-Stash Spring Cleaning" to what they have to sale or trade and they will need to add a link to the specific item(s) they have for sale on the linky that will be shared on the 15th of the mont.

Best to have a photo of each individual item you want to sell or trade, determine how much you want for it, if the price will include shipping, etc. You may also want to share insights on why you want to get rid of it (e.g. your taste has changed, bought more than you needed, don't have time, doesn't meet your needs, etc.), to be able to help a potential buyer determine if it is a good fit for them to want to bring it home to their sewing room.

I do hope you'll come back.  I'll share more insights on my Sewing Room Cleaning and ten-step program.  You are on the ground floor, as I research and test this out. Of course, as I have absolutely no expertise in the area of Sewing Room Cleaning and Organization, I'm also eager to hear your recommendations.  And, my hubby is hopeful that one of my quilting friends will come over and help me de-stash. Oh my, does that thought make me shake.


39 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Love this idea! And will be sure to get a blog post in.

Richard Healey said...

I am new to quilting so not much to de-stash but need more stash

http://richardquilts.blogspot.com

Janet O. said...

I have both of those Sharyn Craig books, but I am not parting with them! They are filled with inspiration. : )

Anita said...

Great idea and plan of attack for destashing!

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

Oh please show photos, it helps us too!

Jan Alexander said...

This raises some questions - for example, if you're wanting to get rid of a design wall, is that because you didn't find it helpful, or you got a better one? I've been thinking about getting one, but now you've made me doubt! But the whole concept is a fab idea and I shall keep a note of the 15th of the month and stop by to see how you're doing.

Anita in Florida said...

Great Idea! I'll be looking around my sewing room for 'stuff', hope I can resist to BUY though!!! Thanks for thinking of this.

Thearica said...

This is a great idea that has inspired a further idea for me.. With my newest website about to go live, I think I will have a section to sell my de-stash goods that I have either never opened, never used, or gently used. Thanks Darlene!!

Rachel said...

This is rather timely for me. I am just about finished with a complete (Everything!)overhaul of my office/sewing room. I have a ton of stuff that has been donated, and a large pile of stuff I was not sure what I should do with it. I was actually considering having a "quilting garage sale" LOL I don't think there are enough quilters in my area to support that :-)(embarrassingly enough)I am not sure if I have any of the books you are looking for. Going through the books and (TONS) of magazines is on the agenda for today. LOL. Also still debating if I am keeping my Juki or not. I do have before pictures, but, yeah, I do NOT plan to show them. I plan to take pictures the instant I am 100% done, mostly because after that instant it may never look like that again.LOL. Anyway, really looking forward to this series. I will be paying close attention, I hope to see how everyone will be storing things, always great to get new ideas!! Have a great day and THANK YOU!!

Quiltingranny said...

Sew awesome! Every January 1st I take inventory and touch everything in my home. I clean out closets, old clothes and decide what can be sold and what can be given away and that includes quilting items. This past year I have a solid vow that one in the house, one out the door. I joined a destash party last year and made over 40 charity quilts. I have sold or given away 3 sewing machines that were in need of some repair or fix I couldn't afford. I have giveaways for extra books and fabrics. I recently gave a young girl a sewing box for her birthday and everything in it were extras I had. Thanks for posting!

Josie McRazie said...

I have one sad little shelf of material... I am getting there right! Maybe I will find something to snatch up in the cast offs! Great idea!

YankeeQuilter said...

I am trying to make a path in the sewing room...I guess you could call that de-stashing!

Snoodles said...

This is such a good idea...maybe you could encourage participants to include a note of why they are ditching items...if something did or did not work for their particular needs or their space. It might help others to know if the item will easily fit their needs, or if they should pass, and someone else may say "it's perfect for me" and snap it up. Just thinkin.....

Diane Wild said...

I've been working on the stash but haven't tackled the "other" stuff yet. This is a great idea. Watch out sewing closet.

Anonymous said...

I, too, am on the verge of reorganizing and de-cluttering my quilting studio because it's been a couple of years and the type of quilting that I do has changed dramatically since the last time that I did it. Having said that, I've been on a "fabric diet" for 3 years and am a month into my 4th year. I've donated some to my guild's "garage sale" and just gave a big, black garbage bag chock full of fabrics that are from my old stash that I will never use, to my daughter to start her stash. I only add fabrics if I'm given them or win them or am given a gift card. It was scary when I started, but I found it liberating and it has increased my creativity because I sometimes have to push myself to use a different colorway for a project if I don't have enough or the right fabrics for it.

My processes are different now, as are the materials that I'm using, so I may have some things to trade or sell. I do have the Harriet Hargrave book that you are looking for, but it's a classic that I plan to keep. I hope that you find a copy though.

One of the things that I have found to be helpful in my organizing in the past is my label machine and giving serious thought to HOW I work. I don't have my fabrics sorted by color or size of the piece of fabric, but by type. For example, brushed cottons for primitives in one area, batiks another, brights somewhere else, neutrals another, and holidays yet another. When I plan a new project, I already know what type of project and fabric set I'll need, so I can go right to it.

The Nifty Stitcher said...

Sorry I'm a hoarder and I'm not getting rid of anything - you never know when you might need it lol :)

Sara said...

I'm in! This is something I've been working on a little at a time already. I have a few items already sorted out to give away, trade, or whatever. Never thought of selling anything.

Bouts Choisis said...

I agree with The Nifty Stitcher - I never get rid of any fabric. Someone once said (who was it I can't remember?) that if you have fabric you don't like - you just haven't cut it small enough yet... (In my experience as soon as I get rid of something I am looking for it as I have a good use for it!) Always on the look out for good storage ideas though...

Abby said...

Perfect timing! I have a brand new huge sewing space but did not have time to sort anything before moving in. Now I can't find anything. A major sort and destash and organize is on the agenda.

Wendyb said...

What a great idea.....I must confess....I'm a dumper too! Leads to all sorts of trouble....like climbing over things to get to the machine!!!! LOL Time to destash!
sugary hugs
Wendy :O)

Linda at Roscoe's Ma said...

I like your idea! It will be fun to see how this works out!

Renate said...

I know that I'm going to have to destash at some time, but I just can help myself. I have gotten better in that I don't hang on to itty bitty bits anymore. I hand those over to a woman in our Guild that does wonderful things with those. As for the books that you're looking for, I have one of the Sharon Craign books and hte Harriet Hargreave book but like the others, I'm hanging on to those. I'll be watching to see if there is anything that I might be interested in.

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Great idea! I'm looking forward to seeing all the goodies. We moved this past summer from a house we had been in for over 20 years and I got rid of tons of things. Believe it or not I could still afford to get rid of a few more things. It was so hard and depressing to see all the money I had spent on different craft kits and items that I never used. I'll have a go-thru and see what I have, that I'm not using.

Genevieve said...

Im curious about your sewing machine. Would like to know which Janome it is and how much you would like for it. My mother needs a new one. Thanks so much!!

Leo said...

Luckily I don't need to do a spring clean, I did that last summer when I moved all my stuff into storage (luckily my grandma's got a huge attic and some empty bed rooms) so I will have a fresh start without cleaning when I move everything out of there in March.

Elaine said...

Sharyn Craig came to our guild (she's now retired) and it opened up my world! Those books sell for big bucks on e-bay--SewCalGal, check it out!

I read and reread those books.

Eileen said...

I just consolidated two sewing areas into one, and I'm still moving stuff. So, I'm very interested in your 10 step program! I have to find room for quite a bit of stuff.
I do have a blog, but I don't post very often. I'll try to do the linky thing on the 15th.

Tina said...

This is a FANTASTIC idea! I actually started going through the stack I have on the dresser in the guest bedroom ( also my sewing room) yesterday as it was really starting to look junky/ bad. So far I've got a small stack of patterns and books that need to go - I mean, what was I thinking when I bought some of this stuff??! Looking forward to your next Spring Cleaning post - please count me in!!

Anonymous said...

Great idea. But please shoot me if I try to buy anything from anyone!

Lynn

Susanne said...

This is a terrific idea. I've recently done some spring cleaning and de-stashing in my sewing/stamping/scrapbooking multipurpose craft room. I'm sure I can be inspired by your posts and remove another layer or two along the way. Thanks for motivating all of us!!!

Anonymous said...

I started cleaning after Christmas, got side tracked with the idea of moving...now I'm cleaning my home out, while sorting my sewing stuff. What a mess. Looking forward to your 15 of month blogs! Will be something to aim for. Get one room done completely by the 15th of month every month. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLOG!!!!!

Char said...

What an excellent idea. I'm sure I can find a few (hundred) things.

Kim Jones said...

Awww! I did this in December, I had to I couldn't find things and I was hoping to give my Dave incentive to finish making me the quilting table he started (alledgedly) two years ago. So the unwanted is gone. Since I'm here in the UK and you are back in the Good Ol' USA I might peruse for things my daughter could use.

Love you Sew-Cal Girl!

Anonymous said...

I have done the same things, I have given to local guilds or individuals starting to quilt or sew. I started collecting material and supplies 20+ years ago and have weeded out several times. Lately I have been making little girl dresses and outfits for my granddaughter out of them. She loves them and the colors. The only bad thing is that after I make it I wish I had kept it for a quilt. But all the little pieces left over somehow get into a quilt. So I guess it's not a total loss.
I'm down to what is in my room now,that's the closet all the way to the top a few storage tubs and a couple of shelves in a wardrobe cabinet. I did have a 5x10 rental storage unit and another room in the house so getting down to 1 room is amazing to me. My husband and son were getting impressed too.
I had never thought of selling any of it either. But it does sound like a good idea.

Deb R said...

Ohh this is a fantastic idea, I have a huge stash with fabric Im sure I will never use as well as lots of kits.....Count me in!!

Kim said...

What a great idea! Count me in..as my taste in fabric has changed/evolved, i have fabrics i will never use! Books, magazines and notions, from when i first started quilting. Thanks!

SusanQuilter said...

Looking for a good working featherweight, preferably NOT black...

cleomisty said...

I am lucky I have a group who swap fabrics and anything I do want gets passed on for charity quilts,funny how tastes change

JJ said...

What a fun idea. Barb told me to come over and check it out. I have spent most of January moving my sewing room and giving stuff away, mostly to my grown children that were will to take some things off my hands but I have lots more that I need to do something with. I just have a hard time parting with things. I guess there were to many years of doing without.