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So sorry for your loss....I'm not much on organizing so I need to read the advice others are giving.
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I'm sorry for your loss. Right now you are still dealing with your mother's death, and your life has been disrupted by caring for her. It may not be the best time to deal with "stuff".
One of the main components of being organized is knowing when to get rid of something that you don't need. Right now it may be hard to dispose of any of your mother's things, because they were hers. I would suggest boxing all her things up and putting them out of the way for the time being. Then organize your crafting area the way you would like it to be, giving yourself room to actually create (rather than just having a place to store all the stuff). Donate or dispose of all the things you already own that you don't need. After that is done, and after you're ready to deal with the possibility of getting rid of some of your mother's things, open her boxes one by one and either place the items in your crafting area or dispose of them. Don't try to do all the boxes at once, or you will be overwhelmed, and don't try to hold on to everything. It's just stuff. |
I am sorry for your loss. I know that this is a tough time for you & going thru your Mom's things to sort & organize them presents a challenge. Everyone here has offered great ideas and personal experiences. If I may add mine?
My dear Mother died Thanksgiving Day 2007. An avid sewer/quilter, she had shared with me that I could do what I wanted with her sewing things. Her only request was that anything I chose not to keep go for something good, not for someone to make a profit off of. After sorting everything and deciding what I was going to keep, I began searching for who/what to give the remaining stash to. I chose the local chapter of Project Linus for all of the flannel fabric she had for making baby bibs & baby quilts. I chose a local women's shelter for the rest of the fabrics, sewing notions, patterns, etc. This shelter, run by a church organization, had a "Sewing Room" where homeless women could come to learn how to sew, mend their clothes, etc. It felt so good for me to pass my mother's things to these organizations, explaining to each why they were chosen and telling some about my mom & her request. I know in my heart that my Mom looked down and said, "Well done Daughter, well done". |
What an interesting Mom you had. So sorry for your loss. She sounds like a good example of a "good ole girl". I sure hope no one ever called her an "old biddie".
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Originally Posted by FranW
First I am so sorry for your loss. God's Blessings to you.
Second, if it were me, I would have to organize in steps (it is just how my mind works). First, I would separate into large boxes per craft activity. Then I would work on each craft, separating by what I will use the most. Honestly, if you have a basement, or some other storage space, put whatever you are not actively working on out of sight. Then just do as much as you can at any one time. I would not suggest discarding/donating/gifting anything right now. Too soon, wait a while before making any decisions. My craft room is a 10 x 10 spare bedroom: I have shelving units along one wall for fabrics and sewing supplies. Books and patterns are in shelving units along another wall. A large table has my sewing machine and laptop at a right angle to the third wall, and my embroidery center and TV are located on the fourth wall. Yarn, beadwork, cross stitch supplies and stamp supplies are in rollout carts with drawers/shelves located in the walk in closet. I also have extra supplies stored in the walk in closet in wheeled suitcases. Makes double use of the suitcases! Hope this helps. Just take it a little at a time! Those do it yourself cabinets that are tall with 2 doors and shelves are great! |
Originally Posted by QuiltnCowgirl
I am sorry for your loss. I know that this is a tough time for you & going thru your Mom's things to sort & organize them presents a challenge. Everyone here has offered great ideas and personal experiences. If I may add mine?
My dear Mother died Thanksgiving Day 2007. An avid sewer/quilter, she had shared with me that I could do what I wanted with her sewing things. Her only request was that anything I chose not to keep go for something good, not for someone to make a profit off of. After sorting everything and deciding what I was going to keep, I began searching for who/what to give the remaining stash to. I chose the local chapter of Project Linus for all of the flannel fabric she had for making baby bibs & baby quilts. I chose a local women's shelter for the rest of the fabrics, sewing notions, patterns, etc. This shelter, run by a church organization, had a "Sewing Room" where homeless women could come to learn how to sew, mend their clothes, etc. It felt so good for me to pass my mother's things to these organizations, explaining to each why they were chosen and telling some about my mom & her request. I know in my heart that my Mom looked down and said, "Well done Daughter, well done". |
How about just organizing first in categories, knitting, crochet, sewing, etc. then go with sorting after that? I used small tubs for my small scraps and put them in by colors - red in one, blue, black, greens, etc. It made it much easier just to have them in something and I can see through the clear tubs too. I don't blame you for not wanting to get rid of any of the things your mom liked to do. Sorry for the loss of your mom but good luck with getting organized. God Bless.
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Sorry for your loss and good luck.
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I am so sorry for the loss of your mother.
But for the orginizing, do not call Peter Walsh, I saw what he did to the poor dear sweet woman on Monday nite. Start slow, it can be so very over whelming, do a little every day. I need to do the same thing but a lot of people on the QB always say do a little at a time. Good Luck |
I'm sorry for your loss-I agree with what everyone else has said about sorting by craft and using tubs and shelves. If there ae unfinished projects that you just can't bear to throw away pack them away for awhile. We just moved again & this time I went thru every box in storage & finally made myself get rid of my mother's stuff and she died 20 years ago. My aunt, on her deathbed gave me 1.5 yards of muslin that she had bought to make cafe curtains in the 50's. My children have started really pushing us to get rid of excess becasue they don't want to be stuck with it when we die.
My local long arm quilting friend and her quilting group just finished a bunch of quilts that a friend of theirs had started before she died. She left journals with her plans and they finished them to give to family members-it has taken them a year but what a gift of Love! |
I would go through things in stages and ask 'will I use it?' If not (and just looking at a pretty thing is using it) I would put it in the sell/donate/toss pile. If yes, shuffle it in with the stuff you already have like it.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Very hard at the holidays especially. |
Now that is what mine looks like.
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Everyone's suggestions about clear plastic totes are excellent. Don't get the gigantic bins...remember, fabric is heavy! You have to be able to move the bins. One thing that I LOVE is my Brother label maker. Buy a couple of refill spools, then put the font size up pretty large and start labelling the bins. If you need to move a label you can peel it off carefully and move it to another bin. I group my fabrics like I'm sure everyone does...batiks, Christmas, juvenile, Halloween, etc. I use a tall CD bookcase to hold folded fat quarters grouped by color. Buy a couple boxes of the largest size zip-lock plastic bags (2 or 5 gal.?) to put projects in. These can also be labelled with the label maker and then filed in a box or bin. Good luck with this project, and do not exhaust yourself trying to do too much in one day. Do a bit and stop for a cup of tea. Be kind to yourself.
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So sorry for your loss. Take your time on deciding whether or not you want to get rid of your mothers things. You don't want to be sorry after wards. My sister and I had to do the same thing when my mother passed in 2000. She was also a quilter and my sister and I each took half of what she had as far as fabric.
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So very sorry to hear of your loss. I am facing the same delimma. My Mom is not in the best of health and we are sorting thru things now, preparing her will and I am to receive her whole sewing room plus other family heirlooms. Good luck and best wishes - {{{hugs!}}}}
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Originally Posted by pocoellie
Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your mother. Not that I'm all that organized, but all my quilting fabrics are folded with a 4" ruler, then put into the appropriate drawer, according to the background color and stood on it's side, so that I can see a portion of the fabric print. The non cotton fabrics are all in large plastic totes, sorted by the type of fabric, fleece, upholstery type, etc.
I think what I would do is to go through the fabrics, folding as you go and decide if you want to keep it or not and do the same for the rest of the items. I used to sew clothing and had tons of zippers, which I had sorted into large zip lock baggies according to size, I did the same with elastic, seam binding, etc. I would do more or less the same with the craft supplies, like paint. I would check the paint to make sure it's a good bottle, since it tends to dry up after a while, even when it's shut tight. Whatever you decide you aren't keeping, donate that to a local charity, school or the like or have a yard sale. But, if you don't do a lot of garment sewing, for example, then I wouldn't keep most of the stuff. I have my threads sorted by color in the small plastic totes, the 100% cotton thread are separate from the regular thread by color also. I agree with this posting. Take one tote at a time, for the fabric I fold mine with a 6 X 24 ruler & all fabrics are the same width on the shelves. Maybe fold all the fabric & get it out away, use the extra totes to separate the other projects. I did mine say one color or one tote at a time & believe me it took me awhile. But is so well worth it after all done & organized. Maybe have a girls day, have a friend over to help & make it a fun day remembering all the fun times with your mom! Attached is what mine looks like all folded & stored. I can find things quicker with it stored & believe me I'm not neat nut! Hope you get 'er done! |
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So sorry for your loss also, someone's comment earlier, reminded me that when my husbands mother passed away in 1997, we found her fabric stash afterwards. I still have her seersucker...just can't find that anymore...but I found two large bins of fabric that she pieced planning to quilt. I also finished three of her started quilts; made two baby quilts for great-grandaughters, and then used up pretty much what was left in a bed quilt for us. Most of this activity happend in the last three years. So you may not know what you want to do with your mom's stuff for a while. Pack it up and let it wait for a while!
This first quilt Mrs. Sandusky made with seersucker, front and back, I finished it by bordering it. [ATTACH=CONFIG]118039[/ATTACH] this one she made out of light weight fabrics, flannel on the back, and I bordered it. [ATTACH=CONFIG]118160[/ATTACH] Back of seersucker quilt. [ATTACH=CONFIG]118161[/ATTACH] these were all squares that she had already made, and I sewed them together, backed with flannel and bordered. I gave it to the first great-granddaughter. [ATTACH=CONFIG]118466[/ATTACH] Finally, after two baby quilts given away, I used up the rest of the squares to make our bedquilt, backed with flannel and tied. [ATTACH=CONFIG]118538[/ATTACH] |
I went through my Mom's things when she passed. I was able to incorporate her sewing stuff in with mine. Actually she even had some of my sister's sewing supplies so I put them in my room and went through them when I felt ready. I ended up with a sewing box for embroidery, sewing and enough thread in almost every color I didn't need to buy thread for 2 years. The fabric worked into my stash, and I have more scissors than I can shake a stick at. Take your time, it will add to the healing process.
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I have to be a little organized or when I go to sew, I spend all day looking for fabric or quilt pattern I want and get nothing done, so finally got organized so I can find things. Sorry about your Mom and so close to Christmas. My mom passed away 1/1/11. I am 68 years old, but still miss my "mommy".
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I went to the local big box hardware store (OSH) and purchased a large storage unit, with four doors, I am now trying to get everything put together, I started with some empty boxes and started putting like things in each box, doing this first helped me decide just what I would require to get it all organized, I think finding out what you have before you start buying is a important first step
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First, sort and arrange what is already in your sewing space, then tackle one box or bag per day, or week, which ever works for you. Figure out where the extra furniture can live, then label things, then sort at will. You can do it. Be careful not to overwhelm yourself thinking of the whole project, break it down into manageable parts. Each part you finish will encourage you to continue. (Think of each step as a personal 'gold star'.)
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i am so glad some your ladies are putting pics of your sewing areas, coz now i do not feel so bad, we are all in good company.....it is all the fabric...it has a mind of its own!!!!! gina
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so sorry for your loss , i lost my mom on Dec 2nd, it was her birthday, and i recieved a lot of her things , but just take it a day at a time one day you might want to organize for a little bit and the next you might want to do it all day long , that is what i did and it got done in my own way and at my own speed
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I at first thought, that;s not all that bad, but then realized it was your dining room. LOL Still think there are others of us in the same boat or worse. I too, wonder just how to go about my own accumulation
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call Peter Walsh! LOL just kidding really!
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So sorry to hear of your loss. At least you spent your time making memories. I am sure that you will enjoy the things you have and remember her as your finish up the different things from her..
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Originally Posted by QuiltnCowgirl
I am sorry for your loss. I know that this is a tough time for you & going thru your Mom's things to sort & organize them presents a challenge. Everyone here has offered great ideas and personal experiences. If I may add mine?
My dear Mother died Thanksgiving Day 2007. An avid sewer/quilter, she had shared with me that I could do what I wanted with her sewing things. Her only request was that anything I chose not to keep go for something good, not for someone to make a profit off of. After sorting everything and deciding what I was going to keep, I began searching for who/what to give the remaining stash to. I chose the local chapter of Project Linus for all of the flannel fabric she had for making baby bibs & baby quilts. I chose a local women's shelter for the rest of the fabrics, sewing notions, patterns, etc. This shelter, run by a church organization, had a "Sewing Room" where homeless women could come to learn how to sew, mend their clothes, etc. It felt so good for me to pass my mother's things to these organizations, explaining to each why they were chosen and telling some about my mom & her request. I know in my heart that my Mom looked down and said, "Well done Daughter, well done". |
So very sorry for the loss of your mother at such a special time of year. Now take a deep breath, and realize it is going to take you a little time. First, I would start with getting some large boxes from somehwere and sort by craft---ex: quilting, painting, jewelry making, etc. Mark each box with a giant label on the outside. Don't try to decide on what to keep and what to get rid of, that will come later. Once you have done that, then take 1 box at a time and separate into 2 piles---keep pile and bye bye pile. I know it is going to be hard, but once you start, it will get easier and the good memories you have of crafting with your mom will come through. This will also help you with the grieving process. Once you are done, then organize your sewing/crafting room with what you want to keep. The rest you can either sell on here or ebay or just donate. Be patient and if you get overwhelmed, stop for a day. You will get through it and it will get easier. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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I have shelving all over my walls which in turn are loaded with plastic baskets from the dollar store. Each basket is designated by colour. Its kaos in my sewing room, but I'm creative not neat, besides I know where everything is when I need it. When I'm working on a project I have a large Rubbermaid tote that I dump all the fabric I need for the project into. When I'm done, I go thru the tote and put everything back in it's own basket. At least that's the theory...lol
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I would first sort your fabric into groups. Then when you see how much of each you have, you'll have a better knowledge of what to put that pile in: a covered plastic box, on a shelf folded in a pile, in a drawer, etc.
I have my fabric sorted into colors. I also have plastic covered boxes of multi - brights, multi-darks, OBW fabrics, as well as boxes of each color: blue, teal/turquiose, red, pink, etc. I've also batting pieces with a slip of paper pinned on the corner w/ it's measurements, in it's own big box also. Another big box has muslin pieces in it, with the same scrap of paper pinned on the corner (if it's a large piece). i have all my fabric in transparent boxes, with a label on the side and on the top edge of the cover. This is so when they are stacked on top of each other I can easily see what color is where. If you will be stacking storage boxes, it's helpful to have the same brand - they fit together better, but this isn't absolutely necessary. Mine aren't. Organizing a roomful of fabric, yarn, craft supplies is a daunting task. Take it slow and you'll get there. So sorry for the passing of your Mom. :( |
Sorry for your loss, I have small containers for the smaller items and larger containers for the larger items. Looks like you have lots of storage containers and drawers, I would start there and arrange where you can put them and start filling them up.
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My mom passed away in January 2 years ago, You are fortunate for spending time with her. I also received my love of fabrics from my mom. Something that no one has thought of for storage and I use all the time are suitcases. Not the old, old ones but the ones with wheels and telescoping handles. Make a lugeage tag to say what is in it and they are much easier to move around. I can no longer lift or move those heavy bins, the shoe boxes are great, and my go cutter cuts down those piles of unmanagable scrapes so I am ready to start many new scrap quilts!
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Sorry about your Mom but enjoy the things she left behind. My husbands aunt Bea who was like a mother to me passed away and left me tons of yarn and I still haven't finished with it all. It's hard to organize it seems like you no sooner get it all fixed and you have to look for something. My son had come to stay with us when he first came to Fl. and we still have some of his things in the house and the garage and I can't seem to get organized. I always make the holiday things and a lot of things for the kids. to much to do and not enough time.
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Originally Posted by QweenBee
Oh yeah the balloons where from my birthday, and my Christmas tree never got decorated. I was with my Mother the whole month of December until she passed at 3:18am December 26, 2010 :cry:
This is where I store the cotton fabric. I don't use a lot of other fabrics, so they are stored in large containers underneath my cutting table. |
Very nice!
Cookie |
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