Organization

I had the week off last week, and while I had a lot to do, I found a little time to do some spring cleaning and organizing. I don't have any pictures of my bedroom closet and sewing room closet, but those took up most of the time. I put a shoe organizer in my sewing room closet to put odds and ends, and I bought a small shelf from Ikea. Since I've been taking grad school classes, I've been collecting lots of books and papers. I needed somewhere to put them. 

I put this next to my sewing tables, and it has become a great place for my sewing and schooling things.

I put my teacher things on the bottom shelf. All my text books, along with a few folders full of teacher resources, like all those articles about teaching I've collected over the years, found their home here. I had a lot of great articles hiding in a box in my closet. Now they're right where I need them! And of course, who wouldn't want an iron for a book end? lol

Next, I've got all my children's books. I've collected quite a few of these this semester. It's exciting to start building a children's library. Slowly but surely. And my sewing machine manuals and patterns are in that pink box.

This is mostly decorative, but I found a place to store all those ribbon flowers I made. When I want to use one, it's right there! I found these cute little hedgehogs at Target in December. They were just a couple dollars on clearance. And so cute!

I got a new magnetic whiteboard at Wal-Mart. Just a nice place to put the list of things I need to sew. And on the top shelf of the book shelf, I have baskets of all the clothes I need to tailor, projects I'm working on, and scraps. 

I found the idea for this one on my organization board on Pinterest. I didn't use any dowels, though.

I put my thread on this standard holder on the wall. This is sort of my "hometown wall." I got the metal keys in Leavenworth, WA while I was visiting family. If you haven't heard of Leavenworth....go there. It's a really cool Bavarian village in Washington State, not far from my hometown. It's one of my favorite places. We stayed at a great bed and breakfast while we were there at Christmas. I miss it. The wooden key was made by my grandfather, all from one piece of wood. Isn't he talented? And the apple wall hanging was bought at Christmas Tree Shops. My town used to be the apple capital of the world. It isn't anymore, but they still milk it. :) And that's my spring cleaning/organizing of my sewing room. Do you have any plans this spring?

Celebrating 101 Posts with a Giveaway!



That's right, even Slinky is getting in on the celebration! Today marks the 101st post on Silver Rose Sewing! It's been a long road so far, but I'm not stopping now! When I started this blog, I needed a creative outlet to give me something positive while in the throws of a back injury and unemployment. Since then, I've opened my Etsy shop, learned new sewing techniques, gained confidence, and after a lot of ups and down, gotten a job! Now, I've finished my newest project, a quilted fabric wall hanging organizer. I hope you enjoy it! 

I chose large pockets in a blue and white vine print, with pockets for ribbon, needles, scissors, misc. and scraps.

The pockets are fairly strong, able to hold a heavy remote and several cutting devices in each pocket.

Ribbons are placed around the edges to hang the organizer to the wall without seeing the nails.

Each pocket is embroidered with a label.

The organizer is built like a quilt, with batting in the center to give it some heft. I've hung mine above my cutting area so all my materials are at hand.

And now...it's your turn to win your own custom organizer! Size, number of pockets, orientation, color, labels...all up to you! There are several ways to enter! Leave a comment for each entry.

*Mandatory* Be a follower of the blog and tell me how you would use your organizer. (1 entry)

Be a fan on Facebook. (1 entry)

Add Silver Rose Sewing's Etsy shop as a favorite. (1 entry)

Buy an item from Silver Rose Sewing. (3 entries)

I'm so excited about this new project and I hope you like it too! Let me know what you think and any ideas you may have when you leave your entry comments. Happy 101 Posts!

New Projects, 50% Off Supplies, and A Giveaway!



Well, I stopped by Joann Fabrics while my prescriptions were being filled and everything I needed for my upcoming projects were 50%, plus I get my 15% teacher discount...I had to take advantage. So I bought my fabrics for the sewing room before the chair arrived...I think they will work. The yellow is for the window treatment, and the patterns are for pillows for the chair. The blue tie-backs are for the window as well, and the white cord is for the stripey pillow. I am so excited about the colors in this room and I can't wait to see it all put together!

Here are the fabrics for the quilted wall hanging organizer that I am adding to my sewing room, and eventually my shop. The solids are for the background, while the patterns are for the pockets and edging. 

I am going to use one of the blues with the white background.

Then there are two brown options...

...and a black option. I have other colors too, but these are the new fabrics, anyway. Ribbon ties will be placed around the edges to hang it on the wall, and the pockets will be embroidered with labels, or names. I'm thinking for the sewing room I will have pockets for scraps, scissors, measuring tape, things like that. I also thought of one for the entryway with pockets for mail, netflix to send back, and a pocket for car keys, since we tend to trade off sometimes and it can get confusing. I thought of an organizer for beside a child's bed with pockets for binkies, stuffed animals, books, and other special items that would otherwise get lost in the bed.

And since the 100th post is coming up soon (EEK!!), when I post my finished sewing room organizer, I will open up a giveaway for your own, personalized organizer for one special winner. I will announce details and ways to enter next time. Until then, what do you think of the new idea?!

Busy Organizing and Cooking

Today I took another day off from sewing, though it wasn't a completely craft-unrelated day. I cleaned my whole apartment, top to bottom, and did 4 loads of laundry (must remember to get some more Downy at the store soon). In that process, I realized that I have my sewing supplies all over the living room in various craft store bags. In an attempt to keep my sewing from taking over the house, I cleared out an old drawer tower from my closet (that wasn't getting a whole lot of use anyway) and brought it in as my crafting tower! All my little bits and bobs fit in the top drawer, and I put the buttons, lace and patterns in baggies to keep them together. Then I put the fabric in the remaining drawers (though two things of fleece didn't fit). It feels good to have everything cleaned and organized. I tend to clean with my emotions...when I am feeling a little stressed, things get messy and crazy, and then I have this cathartic cleaning spree and I feel put back together again, physically and emotionally. Well, it was just the right thing for me today. Tomorrow, I think I will be ready to tackle my new sewing project...a ruffly skirt...maybe with pockets. *eek* Oh, I also had to post the dinner I made tonight, because I very rarely cook, and I was proud of my domesticity. I made baked rotini, corn on the cob, steak and zuccini. Yum! In a few I'm going to make a healthy banana bread with strawberry yogurt and Splena. Crossing my fingers it turns out delicious!