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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

"get organized" giveaway

My craft room has been a disaster for ages, but I never want to waste time I could be sewing on cleaning. But, inspired by Jeni's excellent lecture at Sewing Summit on colour, I decided to take the leap and refold and reorganize my heaps of fabric. So, I took a deep breath and separated all my pretties from their collections, and am having them all intermingle, like a big old party! I also used Jeni's tutorial on fabric folding so they would look all neat and tidy. I admit I a normally a total slob. Really- why hadn't I done this before? It makes me so happy!

So far, I have sorted the quilting cottons, storing the larger yardages, solids, voiles, home dec weight, holiday fabric and Heather Ross items separate. It appears I have a bazillion blues (not surprising- my favorite colour), am a bit short on the purples, and am sadly lacking in greys (which I also love- what gives?!?). But overall, I am certainly not hurting for stash. Wanna peak? Just don't mind my yellow photos, my sewing space is in a very dark room!

My reds, pinks, oranges and yellows:



Blues and greens:



More blues, purples, browns, neutrals and multicolored fabrics:


We had this built in cabinet placed a couple years back, and I love the sliding drawers for visibility of my fabric! Never thought back then that I would be able to FILL it with so many lovelies :)


Also bought some jars from IKEA and organized some of my notions. I got these wonderful vinyl labels by Ginger Snaps on Etsy. Perfect for getting organized! They work on glass, walls, plastic- most surfaces. I know my love affair with these has only just begun....


So what is this about a giveaway? Ginger, the busy mom of 5 behind Ginger Snaps, has offered up a free set of labels of your choice! She has so many great ones to choose from- chalkboard labels, kitchen labels, black and white labels or dishwasher safe cup labels! Mine were the kitchen labels, and I just had Ginger customize them for what I wanted in my sewing room. If you want to see some other cute ideas of how to use these labels, or just great ideas in general, go check out Ginger's blog as well!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below with your favorite label listed in Ginger's shop. Winner to be announced on Sunday, October 23. Good luck!

As for the rest of my sewing room? It remains a disaster. Ready for a reality photo??


Yikes! Still a work in progress, but at least I am getting started!!

NOTE: This giveaway is now closed!
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66 comments:

  1. randi--i have to sayOctober 19, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    i really like your drawers full of color! and i love the kitchen labels.

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  2. BendingPins.comOctober 19, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    All you really need is a little more organizational therapy, you've already got a great start! My sewing space has to be tidy or I get tense. Hmmm... I thought I was laid back! Guess not? ;D

    I love those chalkboard labels at Ginger Snaps, what a brilliant idea!

    bendingpins(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. krisgrayOctober 19, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    LOL! Your drawers are inspiring organizer envy. Love the chalkboard labels!

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  4. SashaOctober 19, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    LOL!! I love that you showed off your sewing room organization in progress!!! I have those same jars from Ikea...maybe hubby will hang some shelves for me so i can use them in my sewing area!! I love the oval chalkboard labels!!!

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  5. MaggieOctober 19, 2011 at 7:43 AM

    I just cleaned out my drawers yesterday myself! Feels good, doesn't it? I love those kitchen labels and appreciate the chance to win. Thanks for introducing me yo Ginger's great stuff!

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  6. Kelly IreneOctober 19, 2011 at 7:57 AM

    Your fabrics look so pretty all folded like that! Last November my mom was visiting and we spent an entire day reorganizing my sewing room. I vowed not to ever let it get so bad again. It still gets messy, but I make myself clean it after I finish a project so it doesn't get totally out of control. I'm like you and would much rather sew than clean any day, but if I don't clean it is so much more difficult to sew! I do need to refold/reorganize my fabric stash though, and your drawers are totally inspiring me to do it.
    I could definitely use some labels for my kitchen! (oats, sugar, ... yes, please!)

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  7. kellyOctober 19, 2011 at 8:06 AM

    good stash! one thing i love about organizing by color is that i can tell what colors i'm lacking.

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  8. SequanaOctober 19, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Great job of folding! Once we do it, we'll never "not do it" if you know what I mean.

    I really like the black and white labels in Ginger's shop. Thx for the chance to win.

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  9. QuiltKornerOctober 19, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    Her labels are cute, I'd like the kitchen labels. My sewing room is quite messy too--with not enough room to really get organized. Thanks for telling us about Ginger's shop.

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  10. Ana e os ViraventosOctober 19, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    I love the chalkboard tags. They would look so nice in my sewing room!
    Ana

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  11. AnonymousOctober 19, 2011 at 8:34 AM

    Your fabric looks great in those drawers! Thanks for introducing me to Ginger's shop! Love those kitchen labels!

    Ashley
    ashleymjones@live.com

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  12. SamanthaKOctober 19, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    I have to tell you, I found myself when I started to organize and sort my fabrics, it really lead me to keep the rest of my sewing room more neat and organized. I've never been one to sort things by color, shape, size, etc. One day I was moving my stash to a new shelf and decided to sort it by color. I alwasy kept fat quarters together by the bundle they came in and such. I finally parted them and couldn't be happier when sewing and I see my shelf out of the corner of my eye, sorted by color just like a quilt shop. Which of course that then lead me to sort my thread by color. Best of luck to you on the rest of your room!

    Also-I really like the kitchen labels like you had customized for sewing! Maybe she will now have to create a new set to sell for others!!

    Thank you!
    SamanthaK

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  13. EmilieOctober 19, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    I love the kitchen labels too (althgough the block ones are pretty fun looking too). You are so lucky to have a whole room for sewing... still dreaming over here!!

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  14. MichelleOctober 19, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    i love the kitchen labels!! gooberific @yahoo.com

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  15. PattiOctober 19, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    Now that is some serious stashing going on and LOVE the pull-out drawers! {{sigh...storage envy}}.
    The label idea is fantastic and I like the kitchen ones.She also gave me, inadvertently, my biggest chuckle of the day...the laptop label which reads Kitty...well, part of the K was cut off in the photo and it looked like Titty! I howled! I thought is was a fantastic name for a laptop!

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  16. Katie BOctober 19, 2011 at 9:06 AM

    Oh, fun! I'm going to have to go with the chalkboard labels.

    (And thanks for showing the reality shot too. I was going to be all annoyed if you were really that super organized!)

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  17. bethanndoddOctober 19, 2011 at 9:12 AM

    Yay for getting started!!! Great stash too! Love the jars and wishing we had an Ikea near by. Hope you have a splendid day! Smiles~Beth

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  18. Flo @ Butterfly QuiltingOctober 19, 2011 at 9:21 AM

    ok, your last picture makes me feel better!! I was starting to have an anxiety attack looking at all those neat tidy drawers full of fabric LOL

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  19. RachelOctober 19, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Yikes! That last photo was SCARY! Haha - it's not like my sewing room hasn't looked like that before... Your nicely-organized drawers look lovely, though.

    I love the chalkboard labels from Ginger Snaps.

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  20. drmithomeOctober 19, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Thanks for sharing, I like the Welcome letters.

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  21. DebOctober 19, 2011 at 10:09 AM

    I'd probably pick chalkboard labels - and put them on bins to store my WIPs so that as I finish things I can update the labels.

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  22. UnknownOctober 19, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    I love the chalkboard labels! Thanks for sharing pics of your room...mine is in a very similar state at the moment. =)

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  23. TanyaOctober 19, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    The rounded rectangle chalk board labels are my favorites. I love what you did with yours. And your fabric looks great!

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  24. Heather D.October 19, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    I love the family name labels!

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  25. LauraHOctober 19, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    Good job on organizing your fabric! My favorite labels are the chalkboard labels. I like the oval ones, but any would be great!! Thanks for sharing!

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  26. www.randomthoughtsdoordi.comOctober 19, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    I love the chalkboard labels and the kitchen labels. How fun. I too was inspired by Jeni's idea from her blog on organizing my fabric. I am still in the midst of all the piles I have made and also realized how much ugly fabric I have.

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  27. SandyOctober 19, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    I would do what you did and use the kitchen labels in my sewing room. I love having my room organized so that I can find things easily. My SIL came up with a great idea when we were setting up my room ... we went and bought those hanging closet organizers at Target and I use them in the closet in my craft room to store my bigger pieces of fabric (my 1, 2 or 3 yard cuts). It works great, plus I can see at a glance what I have! Good luck with your organzing :)

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  28. hollymadeOctober 19, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    I love the kitchen labels-I'm in the middle of attempting to organize my kitchen, and those would be perfect.

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  29. KathyOctober 19, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    I love the kitchen labels!

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  30. BarbOctober 19, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    Wow, you have a great stash! Great job organizing. I love the chalkboard labels.

    quiltingbarbie30(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  31. GillOctober 19, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    Great idea! This is a new shop to me, thanks for the recommendation!
    I like the dishwasher proof labels!

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  32. Amy FriendOctober 19, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    Those labels are fantastic! I try to make myself pick up the fabric mess after each project but it doesn't always work...

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  33. LeilaOctober 19, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    Glad to know someone else's sewing area looks like mine! :) I spent some time cleaning a few months ago and I loved it! Time to do it again though.

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  34. MelissaOctober 19, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    Way to go with your organizing! I love your drawer/colour system! I'm working on my stash right now too and it's pretty amazing some of the fabric I've dug up that I totally forgot I had!

    Those labels are fantastic! I could probably use them all but especially like the oval chalkboard labels!

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  35. PoppyprintOctober 19, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    You totally rock for that reality check photo. I just came home with a pack of 100 comic book boards to (one day) fold my stash around and line up all orderly-like on the shelves. I'm with you, though, why clean and organize when I could be sewing? I know it'll help me de-stash stuff I'll never use, but I can't quite face it. Maybe over the Christmas holidays? Yeah, right. Your fabric drawers are very inspiring - it's interesting when you put everything in colour order and you realize what's not there! For me, it's yellows. Sadly lacking.
    (those labels are totally cool, but I've been lucky lately so I'll skip the giveaway).

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  36. jednoiglecOctober 19, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    I just felt in love with your little disordered sewing room! Thank you for such photo!

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  37. AlliOctober 19, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    Hehe, I love the picture of your sewing room! I'd love to have such a room one day... right now, I sew in the living room and have to put everything away after each session. >_<

    I like the dishwasher safe labels! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  38. AnonymousOctober 19, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    I'm so envious of your new order! (Almost) inspires me to do my own lol. I love those chalkboard labels - would be perfect for craft canisters! VermontPines@aol.com

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  39. KendasCraftsOctober 19, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    lol! I love when other people share what their sewing rooms really look like. I call BS on anyone who claims their sewing room is always neat and orderly!

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  40. PatOctober 19, 2011 at 2:18 PM

    Your stash looks great :0)
    Love the chalkboard labels.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  41. CarenOctober 19, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    The dishwasher-safe names for the kids cups? BRILLIANT!!! Those are my absolute FAVORITE!!!

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  42. JulesOctober 19, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    those drawers are a marvel!, fabric envy over here!. i too am in love with the kitchen labels.only for sewing, of course.

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  43. Kellye QuiltsOctober 19, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    The kitchen labels are my favorite. : )

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  44. Mrs Flying Blind...October 19, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    That final shot is hilarious!!
    Chalkboard labels are a must!

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  45. DebbieOctober 19, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    I love the oval chalk board labels. But I also love the kitchen labels.

    Your fabric organization is great!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Debbie

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  46. LindseyOctober 19, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    I love it when bloggers post pics of their sewing rooms, I feel like mine is such a mess all the time (and it's WAY TOO SMALL an area to be a mess!) but this makes me feel more normal! I love all the fabrics. *drool*

    My favorite labels are the chalkboard labels, too cute!

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  47. SewLindaAnnOctober 19, 2011 at 6:15 PM

    I like the kitchen labels (although I do agree that those chalkboard labels are an awesome idea)

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  48. JenelleOctober 19, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    The black and white labels are great. I could also use some massive organizing right about now!

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  49. TiaraOctober 19, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    drool to all of the above!
    my favorite are the black and white labels especially for the brown sugar on those beautiful white tins. love it

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  50. JenniffierOctober 19, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    For a reality check you should go check out my blog post from a couple days ago. I will meet you disaster with my explosion :) Beautiful fabrics and thanks for hosting the giveaway. I like the custom kitchen labels but that welcome is wonderful too!

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  51. Kate ROctober 19, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    Oh, your room is lovely! I love the drawers. Thanks for posting a not-quite-perfect picture! Makes me feel better - I always feel so messy after seeing so many perfect sewing rooms/areas on blogs :)

    I love Ginger's labels! I could really use the kitchen labels - we have a line of white jars that aren't transparent and have no labels, so it's a guessing game every time!

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  52. james and bessOctober 19, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    i like the black and white labels - fun giveaway!

    bess :)

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  53. AnonymousOctober 20, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    I love your cabinet for storing your fabric, so great with the drawers, easy to pull out what you need. Love what you did with your customized labels. Hard to pick a favorite, but I think I would choose the kitchen labels also, I really like the lettering on them. Your last photo of your room made me smile, I think that's reality for most of us. :)
    valekort at yahoo dot com

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  54. Tara-ComfyandPrettyBlogOctober 20, 2011 at 5:36 AM

    I like the simplicity of black and white labels
    taraembendesigns(a)yahoo(dot)com

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  55. AnabellaOctober 20, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    I really like the Goody Bag Names!! Soo cool for my daughter birthday!!

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  56. UnknownOctober 20, 2011 at 11:37 AM

    Chalkboard Labels are the Best! I could sure use some of these. what a wonderful storage cupboard you have.
    very fun fabrics too. I need green if you are thinking of passing on fabrics...

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  57. Trish @MomOnTimeoutOctober 20, 2011 at 11:40 AM

    I really like the Black & White Labels - I need some for my canisters.

    trish at mom on timeout dot com

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  58. TawnyOctober 20, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    wow! I'm so jealous of your drawers. Beautiful.

    I really like those dishwasher safe labels. What a terrific idea for my new kindergartner who needs to have his name on everything he brings to school including his water bottle and snack bowls.

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  59. PunkiePie (Jen)October 20, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    I need to get into my sewing room an get organized. I love how everything you did is color-coded. I tried that once and then life gets in the way and fabric just gets shoved where it will fit. I love the kitchen labels. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  60. RhiannonOctober 20, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    I could use the chalkboard labels for so many things! I love your fabric stash, came over from ginger snaps and am a new follower too!

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  61. ShannonOctober 21, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    Those labels are SO cute! I love the Fun Kitchen Labels. I was tempted by the chalkboard labels, but I think a good starter set for thinks like various sugars, flour, oats, etc. would be perfect since I wouldn't need to change labels much. :)

    arbitraryaardvark (at) gmail (dot) com

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  62. Kelly O.October 21, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    I really like the black and white labels for the tubs of fabric in my sewing room--i love that you are organizing, it inspires me to do the same!

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  63. PaskiaqOctober 21, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    I love the dishwasher safe label for cups. Thanks! And now I really need to go organize all my fabric scraps !! :)

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  64. LynneOctober 21, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    What a great way to organise your stash! I organise my yarn by colour but do not have enough fabric (yet) to have to organise anything!

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  65. amylouwhosewsOctober 21, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    YES! I love that reality photo!! Looks like my sewing room. Kindred spirits indeed.
    I love the labels you have on your jars!

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  66. TanyaOctober 22, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    My reality is pretty similar to yours, minus the awesome fabric folding and sorting! Great job!

    Oh, and fun giveaway, too! I love the kitchen labels you chose for the sewing room, as well as the Welcome letters.

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Your comments make my day! Sharing projects with others makes it all the more fun. Thanks for your kind words!