Well decided to start my new year by showing you my new ''Happy'' finally installed in her permanent new home. Yesterday I got up and decided it was time to sort, clean, arrange and dump in my sewing room. Have been so busy no time for any of that in the last year. So after a very tiring day (I am getting old) this is my new organized, ready for action sewing room.
Photo #1 - ''Happy'' and next to her her cousin Ruby#2 - Side view of Happy and my thread rack all newly color sorted.
#3 - room to work comfortably at my computer, sewing and serger machine.
#4 - Cutting table
#5 - Number 1 fabric stash after a cleanup. I have others but this is my go to for most of my projects.
I was surprised to find only one UFO in all my cleanup (I guess I don't have time to start anything for myself) so I will decide on whether it is still pertinent or a throw away.
I have to say it was an inspiring day, going through all my fabrics and finding some I had forgotten about, that alone is an inspiration for future projects. I have to try out my new setup but already it is pleasant to walk in and feel the flow.
So my tip of the day, take time to organize and sort, it is a great way to unclutter your life in a good way.
I realize that I am very fortunate to have a room to myself where I can be in ''my things'' and not have to share with anyone else.
hugs to all
Michelle
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wow very impressive and well organized! And so much machinery. I only use a home embroidery machine like yours on the first picture on the left. It must be awesome to use such a lovely industrial machine and have such a great crafting place;so much bobbins and fabrics......I can only dream of.
Enjoy and happy times here :) now we know where all these lovely embroideries are made. Hugs, Gerry
743293That's it, I'm off cleaning my craft room and sort out my 25 bobbins. (lol) You are inspirational Michelle.
2423213I love your setup, Michelle! You are a great organizer. I HAVE to get my space organized, then I can enjoy stitching more! I truly love my HAPPY machine, too, but not finding time the past few months to use it, or my older Brother! Too many other demands of my time right now, but hope to get back to my favorite room soon!!
Hugs, Angel
12500Wow!!! your sewing room looks stunning and wonderful Have a nice day huggies stella
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15022836Looks fantastic Michelle - I am down in Florida right now with my sister until the beg Feb. so no embroidery - we are into beading while down here .... maybe one day I will get down to meet you and see your beautiful machine and sewing area... Hugs my friend ... x0x0x0
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by michemb
16 Jan 2014
Hi Glenda,
would love to meet you as well, time and place
have a great Holiday
hugs
Michelle
27071waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw...!!
im thrilled to see well organised sewing room...
few days back i discussed with hubby about having my seperate sewing room.. he has given me green signal...gonna show him this post definately...!!!This is such a wonderful setup..!!
can u tell me wat is tht big one in photo 1 n 2..where spools are kept on machine like thing with blue colour at places...its new for me...
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by michemb
15 Jan 2014
thanks anagha
Plan your room before setting it up, sketch it out on paper, makes it easier to see what will fit where. The big blue thing is my new industrial ''Happy'' embroidery machine. It has 15 threads and works really fast. Just purchased it at the end of Novemer and I love it.
Have fun setting up your new room
6446Ready for Action...I'll say. Wow how fantastic and wonderful to have such a beautiful room, good on you. truly a place to want to be. thanks for sharing, but I will decline on showing you mine....hehehe....
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by michemb
15 Jan 2014
Thanks
It is important to feel a sense of ''welcome'' when you spend this much time in one place.
25546Wow , no way will i show my swing room after this!!! Give you 20 more years of fabric and we will compare!
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by michemb
15 Jan 2014
Oh come on, I want to see. That is just one stash, I have 2 others for fabric I use less often.
85867Wow, Michelle, what a great sewing room! I wish mine was so organized!
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12452I wish mine was so organized.I know where things are,just not where fabrics are.I have fabrics in bins that I cannot 'see' which fabric is in.Tell me, are your fabric shelves in a closet or do they have a door, so dust fuzz can't get on them? What is the size of your room? I am bursting out of my room and it is a mess right now,driving me crazy, but as soon as I clean it up,I mess it up again.I have to pull bins out and dig, I know I have a fabric I want but where??? I label my bins/fleece/ purse/tote fabrics,etc but I have too much I guess.My husband once said he would put shelving on a wall for me, but I am so caltrophobic I'm afraid I will feel too closed in.My room is only 9'x10' I have 2 emb machines, 1 reg sewing,1 serger,pc,etc. ....I like to take photos,but I wouldn't dare show my room as it is!-LOL
4 comments
by toogie
14 Jan 2014
ps.just so you know, the rest of my house is neat.This room is mine,so no one comes in here but me,they probally wouldn't fit anyway-LOL
by michemb
15 Jan 2014
Oh toogie my room is 11'' by 8.5'' which works out to about the same square footage as you have. Please tell me your fabrics are in see through bins because if not I can understand how much hassle it is to pull them out and go through them all the time. I have my main fabric stash which is in the closest and had hubby install all the shelving and my other 2 stashes are in extra large bins as these are fabrics I don't use as often or by season. I have a lot of upholstery fabrics for making my saint nicolas's and I put that away for once a year use. I am looking at pulling it out to make some handbags, new projects I want to work on. My new ''Happy'' takes up alot of room and I too have all the same machine you do. Where are your threads, are they on a wall (that doesn't work against your clastrophia) or on the floor level. The secret is to work upwards when you have limited workspace. I love, love, love my thread rack that hubby made for me (so does he, very proud of himself on that one) if I had to store all of that on my floor space it would take up alot of room.
I would have to say that the secret to keeping my sewing room organized is that I always put things away as soon as I am finished with them. At the end of the day everything is cleaned up and I sweep so that when I come in the next morning I start with a smile on my face. I hate clutter.
P.S send me a pm with some pictures maybe I can give you some pointers (this was my job when I was working in a readaptation center for disabled children) and I was told I am real good at putting alot into a little.
have a great day
hugs
Michelle
by Patricia109
16 Jan 2014
Toogie, I keep my fabric in plastic bins. They are see through, but I want to be able to pull out one piece of fabric, not rearrange the bin when I decide on a piece.
My fabrics are folded to fit into the bin when it is on its side er short end I mean.
I place the bin on its end, fold my fabric and place it flat on the bin end with a rounder fold facing out. All 'loose' ends of fabric are kept for the bottom of the bin which is at the back when it is on its end.
Then another piece of fabric goes on top and so on and so on.
Turn bin up right way. Walla! Lovely rounded folds of fabric great you and they are easy to pull out.
Also more fabric fits in the bin this way too!
Hope this helps. Pat
109780Wow!! I could spend days just looking at this gorgeous sewing room and "planning" many projects. This is such a wonderful setup.
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6122My god, I can only dream of such a nice room !! I must be great being in there.
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by michemb
15 Jan 2014
thanks, of course I wish it was a little bigger, I would love to get an industrial sewing machine for applying my bias binding but it will not happen. I enjoy coming into this room which is very important considering I spent 70% of my day in here.
148911Your sewing room looks more like a shop to me. Certainly has more thread and material than my local sewing shop!!! I hope you and Happy will be really happy together. It looks an amazing machine. Hugs Sarah.
1 comment
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
thanks Sarah,
Believe me if it was a shop, I would enlarge the place lol,
As for ''Happy'', it is keeping me very happy
hugs back
255050Love the room, can I ask about "Happy" what type of machine what's it like to use ect... am currently looking to buy a multi needle machine..
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by michemb
13 Jan 2014
Thanks Marian
The Happy is made in Japan and is a workhorse. They have been in business since the 1960's and the reputation of these machines is excellent. I am in Canada and although I tried to find a used machine, from what I was told, people just don't sell them because they are so realiable and good. I have a friend who has 3 of them and after trying other brands, this is definetly her #1 choice. Easy to operate, easy maintenace, can run up to 1200 SPM (I run her about 750 to 800SPM) and this machine I am told can work 24/7. All parts are made of metal so no plastic or resin which makes it more durable.
My machine is a 15 thread but there are smaller ones at 6 or 10. It is for sure a big investment but when you compare it to say a new model of brother multi needle or husqvarna regular 1 needle this investment is a better deal. The depreciation value on one of these machines is much less than on a domestic machine. I am sure that when I decide to stop embroiderying, I will be able to sell her and still get a decent price. On the domestic machine they loose 60% of the value after just one year.
My only regret about the Happy is that I didn't buy it sooner. I have wanted to start a small business for as long as I can remember and now I am on my way to realizing that dream.
Good luck in your decision and definetly check out the Happy. Where are you living, do you have a dealer near you, go check it out and see it in action. You will be in awe, I sure was.
45918oooh...I think I see some of my fabric in there....Hmmm how come its there instead of here.
BEAUTIFULL ROOM....ENJOY
1 comment
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
Thanks
Did the fabric fairy make a mistake, could have because there are fabrics in there that I don't remember buying LOL.
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24342Wow Michele, what a lovely sewing room you have! I'm very happy for you. By the way, Happy embroidery machine is in my dreams! Love and hugs, Yoriko
1 comment
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
Thanks Yoriko,
I never dreamt of having such a wonderful machine, it just happened and my only regret it that I didn't do it sooner. This works like a charm.
hugs
Michelle
88650you coming to Australia any time soon?????? love it.
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16529WOW....it looks wonderful, everything in reach and organized....great job my friend. So happy for you with your new machine, you have got so much talent you deserve it....your creations are so beautiful! Hugs!!
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by michemb
13 Jan 2014
Thanks my friend,
I love my new machine beyond words, still can't believe I have this but am GRATEFUL. Life is good.
hugs
Michelle
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35167Looks great! You are ready to really good for it! Love the fabric closet! Want the Happy!
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173693This looks wonderful! Can you come and do mine next? ;-)
Hugs, Nadyne
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by michemb
13 Jan 2014
I'll stop in to B.C on my way to Australia LOL.
Hugs
Michelle
P.S. how is hubby by the way
24424Well done Michelle, I just love a tidy sewing room. I can't function if it's messy. Love what you have done with it. Love Chris
2 comments
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
I agree Chris, messy messes with my creativity. The pegs on my ruby are my thread holders. I have my 6 thread holder in the back (photo 1) from which I bring all my thread to the machine so that I don't have to stretch (problems with my shoulder) all the time. Bring the six to the machine and place them in their sewing order to be used as I need. Works great.
Hugs
Michelle
234497looks great! I'm trying to get mine reorganized right now - it's a lot of work when you have a small area and lots of stuff!
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by michemb
13 Jan 2014
your right Linda, small spaces are challenging but that makes it even more important to keep it organized otherwise you lose yourself Under the piles real fast. Good luck
38558what a great setup!
1 comment
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
thanks,
I spend so much time in here that I want it to be relaxing (most of the time LOL)
62461Love your room. I have been doing same. Not renewing again just yet but went through my stuff. Now I have same stacked can iron and can find fast.
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by michemb
13 Jan 2014
Mary do you iron all your fabrics?
I wash them all as soon as I buy them, fold neatly in a 8'' x 12'' bundle and stack according to color.
86901Wow So neat and tidy...........puts me to shame X
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2069Lovely working space!
I just finished reorganising my walk-in kitchen cupboard. It is a joy to use. Only problem is that about 1/3 of my stuff is now in boxes in the garage.
My sewing room can do with a bit of reorganising, but I'm sure a nice clean room would mean almost half of my stuff would find its way into the garage as well.
1 comment
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
I organize my things in three catergories, current, future and ''just to good to throw away''. This last pile is stored away in a plastic bin because these are fabrics that I could use for items in my future plans (distant future).
I don't have enough room to put everything in here.
145304OMG this is just great it looks so big mine is a small 3rd bedroom and I am sure I have half a house in there not even room to swing a cat ( this is a aussie saying )congrats....soozie
1 comment
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
thanks soozie,
I took over my son's bedroom (third one as well) not so big but I make it work. No cats in here LOL
2516923282Question ??In picture #3 what is in-front of your thread in a very large spool ??Maybe binding??
Love your room and your sewing machines .hugs Carolyn
1 comment
by michemb
12 Jan 2014
You old eagle eye you, spotted that did you? This is a roll of strapping that I use to make handles for bags.
360644With this big organized room, it's no wonder you can create such beautiful projects. I agree with hightechgrammy - I want to get locked in your stash cupboard so I can just feel the fabrics.
sbott54 - I get the feeling we are all going to be challeged now, to clean up and organize. If I only had another pair of hands and larger work space, and a big stash cupboard, and a nice thread rack, and..... oh my, I must have sewing room envy!!
1 comment
by michemb
12 Jan 2014
O.K. challenge is on cuties, organize and share your finished work space so we can all be inspired to work in a creative enviroment.
Come on now, we can do it.
31625318455What a welcoming room to work in. It is a lovely space.
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89895Now you've done it! Lol you laid down the gauntlet for all of us to get our rooms organized! I love your set-up and all your spools of thread so organized. I spend too much time searching and if I were more organized the wasted time could be spent creating. Thanks for the kick in the rear to work on my sewing room. Lol --Sandra
1 comment
by michemb
12 Jan 2014
No, No I don't want any gauntlets being tossed about lol,
hubby made me that rack (looks better than my own LOL) and I love it, easy access, quick color choices and so on. I still need a few more bobbins to fill it up and I am working on it. I agree with wasted time moving and searching for things, so counter productive and that is what I was thriving to avoid. Mission accomplished
5660Hope it all works for you.. Please let us know how long your fabric stash stays that neat. HO HO HO .
Hugs pam.
1 comment
by michemb
12 Jan 2014
It stays that neat all the time but once a year I re-organize and throw the pièces that are to small into my scrap basket. I have to see at a glance what I have to work with and I get all excited when I have new stuff coming, like tomorrow and new order coming from Connecting Threads. Can't wait.
hugs back
30988Congratulations on finishing a big job and getting ready to go again!
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158716Won't you please come to my house and help me re-organize my sewing room??? Pretty please? I don't have anyplace to work on my computer in my room, and really have room for just one machine, but have two and another I never use. I love all the folded fabrics neatly in stacks on your shelves. I want to go in there and feel them!
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59631Fantastic set up. Wish I was as well organized as you are. Thanks for sharing.
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167075104I love your room!! Now I have a wonderful idea for mine too. Thanks for sharing and I wish you may happy hours of sewing, embroidery and working in this lovely room!!
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by michemb
12 Jan 2014
thanks Susie,
I am a very organized person by nature so this would be my natural habitat LOL, I was so busy since May last year and then when I purchased my Happy, I didn't get a chance to set up properly, now I am home again and love it.
21543
60484looks like it organized and ready for new projects. Love Happy, but looks like a lot of work. I hope you enjoy your room and have fun in 2014!
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by michemb
12 Jan 2014
Happy definetly saves a lot of work and can produce like no body's business. I love this machine, should have done it alot sooner.
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299559Beautiful set up!
I am glad you have your Happy and Ruby room. It is nice to have your own space. You do so much with your machines. You need the room.
Reorganize and sort is on my list for this next month. The last one didn't work well -- so I must give it another go.
3 comments
by michemb
12 Jan 2014
Give it a go for sure, it is so gratifying to walk into a room and feel happy, seriously I walked in there this morning with my tea in hand and instantly had a big smile on my face.
by graceandham
12 Jan 2014
Mine's oraganized, but in a different sort of way. I have to have some inspirational items in there too, like small antiques, children's button cards, baby toys, etc. that speak to my heart while Ian happily combining designs and stitching them in strange places. And lists, like the list of color thread names that I like for cats, the list of colors that need replenishing, the list of hair color threads...So, my room gets pretty messy pretty fast.
by michemb
13 Jan 2014
I make it a point at the end of each day to put everything away and sweep so that the next morning I always start in a mess free room.
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