After the Declutter Challenge
- Karen
- Feb 17, 2021
- 2 min read
It’s been 3 weeks since the Declutter Challenge and I am still feeling all the positive vibes that open spaces bring. When I open my sewing room door in the mornings, the view of that clean counter starts my day on a high.
Even after filming my Organizational Zones video a couple of weeks back, I am still making changes here and there with my own organization to make the space work better. I’ve tidied up a rat’s nest of electrical wires. Moved items from drawers into cupboards, items from cupboards to drawers.
Years ago, I intentionally painted the room completely white because the lighting in the room is so dim. But now the white seems a little too blah for me, so I’ve added some wallpaper for a bit of colour. And when my son was convalescing with us last year I had put up dark curtains so he could sleep during the day if necessary. I find them very depressing, and I really don't like curtains anyways so they came down pretty quickly
Then, of course, I still have too many boxes to deal with. I did a run to the post office last week to send mail finished quilts and de-stashed items to new homes. But now with the unclaimed decluttered items, it’s time to post some of these items online. I'm going to start with my local neighbourhood Facebook page and my local guild. Hopefully, by the next newsletter, I’ll be able to show off a clean floor.
There are still so many things I need to move around and take care of. My goal will be to have a more permanent design wall, but before I can begin the process, I need to tackle my lighting in the room. Sigh. It’s never straightforward, is it? But as I sew my latest Stashbuster (don't worry, the video is coming out this week), and all my tools are in their place and I have the room to lay the fabric out, I know that all the extra work pays off.
After the Declutter Challenge, how are you all feeling about your sewing rooms? Are there any areas you would like to improve on? Let me know in the comments below.
Thank you for the inspiration. I also wanted to thank you for your idea on the drawer dividers made from foam core board. I have very large drawers and couldn’t find anything off the shelf to fit the large area, so your idea was perfect. However, I think I was able to improve on the idea. I used short flat head pins like nails and attached the pieces together. It worked great and you can always reposition if you need to. If you are sure of the placement you can still glue as the pins hold the pieces in place. Thanks Again!!!
Thank you, thank you, Karen! The declutter challenge has been a true inspiration! Although I couldn’t start it on your timeline, I’m trying to get something done every weekend. (I was too busy clearing snow in January and February.) I finished four quick little projects that have been staring at me for years. And have so far managed to sort thread and notions and reorganize my zone one drawer in my sewing table and my zone two door where I hang all my rulers and templates. I have expanded beyond the sewing room and tackled my home office, an area equally in need of decluttering. But I am admittedly afraid to even start on my fabric or pattern stash. Mayb…
Karen, thanks to you I love going into my sew room. I cleared out so much during your decluttering challenge and gave away much fabric and notions to grateful quilters and sewers. I thought I was pretty well organized, but after watching your organizational zones video, it made me rethink once again! Though I have a drop down ironing surface on the other side of my cutting table , my son-in-love made me a small table for my wool sewing mat and small iron when I am piecing. It has felt on the bottom and slides under my sewing table. I also have a rolling cart and have moved the items i use every day to that. T…
I finally made the last run to the thrift shop donation door last week, set up my zones, and am so happy with my space. Thanks for the impetus to get me started and the community to urge me on! My next project is another closet, but no sewing items this time. 😉
Scored this used Horn Sewing Table and put my cart next to it. Zone 1. All have wheels and dropped back on sewing table can open to double width when I need it!