Sunday, December 7, 2014

HELP


OK.  I am an old hippie.  So when I took the photo of my sewing loft today and looked at it on the computer, I thought HELP! and the song popped into my head.

But maybe there is no help for this space.

The key is less stuff.  I know that.  Bit by bit.  Pecking away at it.  I could spend time tidying up or I could spend time creatively.  I prefer to create.

I decided to give  a Singer 328 instead of the Monty Ward to the young woman in our Christmas family.  It is a simpler machine is some ways.  I made this draw string bag today.  I used the serger for the edges; otherwise the whole thing was created on the 328.  I feel good about this choice.  I will make a small bag for the outside to hold some little sewing notions and thread.  I will include a free lesson, too.  Of course I will write a little info page about the benefits of vintage over new.  



15 comments:

  1. It is not that bad, you can see floor. I think with someone helping you and some smaller plastic, some shelving, and grouping, you could transform the place to your liking. Sometimes it seems I spend half my time putting away and organizing as it is hard to anticipate how to handle supplies and projects before you get into them. Whenever you are working, it will always be non Martha Stewart.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't feel comfortable in a space that's too organized. Makes me feel like I shouldn't touch anything. I like houses that look like they're lived in, playrooms that look like children play there and studios with plenty of stuff available to season the creative juices. I guess, when you have to spend too much time finding common things then it's time to organize a bit, but otherwise, I'd just keep on sewing (or restoring a machine).

    And, what about the "eye candy"? What does the 328 look like?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It looks like a 329 but with more levers

      Delete
    2. http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/search/label/Singer%20328K

      Delete
  3. Is it this one? Nice present if so.
    http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2011/11/singer-328-k.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your room isn't that bad. I'm at the point where picking up random things and putting them in boxes and totes (no matter how neatly they are stacked) just doesn't work. Mainly because there is no place to stack totes and boxes any more.The room is a project for the upcoming holiday shutdown at work. I hope.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I forgot - I am envious of that big window in your room!

    ReplyDelete
  6. When I see a hobbyist's/crafter's work room and it's immaculate, I wonder if they make anything and if so, if it's any good. My only advice is that it looks like you need more shelves and a cabinet with doors or drawers so the clutter can be put away and/or labeled.

    What kind of serger/overlocker do you have and what type/brand serger do you recommend for a beginner?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mouse. I have no room for shelves. The walls are slanted as this building has a gambrel roof. I have two cabinets with doors. They are full. Thanks for the advice.

      I have a Juki 735 I think. I don't know sergers. This is a nice one.

      Delete
  7. If your loft is a public spot in your house and you entertain there, you probably do need help. If not then if it suits you and you work efficiently then it's the cat's meow. I can organize my brains out and still make the biggest mess in the world when in progress. I clean it up and the vicious cycle starts over. I see pretty rooms on the net yet would not want to work in many of them. They make me hesitate to make my usual mess when doing projects. I love your loft. Most of us need to do a little more organizing and clutter control but I don't want that to become my primary hobby replacing my create time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope. This space is mine. All mine. I just need to eliminate about half the stuff then I will feel better. Hanging the fabric up is ideal for me. Then I can see it and the mice can't nest in it. Someday it will look less chaotic. My goal is to empty the bins and eliminate them.

      Delete
    2. Well then just make yourself happy. I look at a sewing space as one where I have what I need close at hand and it has never failed what I get rid of or donate, I immediately have the V8 moment when I realized what I could have used it for. On the flip side I have to get a semblance of order back after every project or I cannot start another. It's sort of like a hamster on the wheel, pull it all out, put it all up, pull it all out, etc. I could never start a new something on top of the mess I make. I don't want to spend a lot of time tidying so for me that means putting away the worst of it and figuring out the next project (decisions, decisions so much to choose) and on with the show. I'd say just lock the door if its your space. Your sewing buddies are very cute. I have an old one in the mix here that is deaf and almost blind. She is my heart and follows me constantly. Btw, your long arm and quilts are giving me the fever. I have no space for a long arm but am definitely day dreaming about one and a space to put it. Guess I'll just enjoy your quilting in the meanwhile.

      Delete
    3. When I was in graduate school I had to clean the apartment before I could write a paper. Now I have absolutely NO PROBLEM starting a new project in a mess. I have been known to shove stuff out of the way. But I have to try. Just had a tiff with DH about clutter (mine). Guess I'd better figure it out.

      Delete
  8. I think you can have shelves, just not normal ones. Install a vertical support in front,floor to ceiling, as far out from the back wall as the deepest shelf you want. the upper shelves will be shallower. I've also seen shelves hung from the ceiling. The downside is it will make the room feel a bit smaller if you fill them completely. I found this out after putting up shelves on 2 walls of my sewing room, and then totally filled them with books.

    As far as I'm concerned, if someone's room makes them happy to work in and they can find what they are looking for, no worries. And as time passes, I'm also including spaces that don't have a door to close to "hide the mess". In a way, it feels like we are to be ashamed (? not sure that's the word I want) to be sewing. Or whatever hobby we love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would lose too much floor space building shelves.

      Delete