LynnVT

This post resonated with me, too, as we are considering a move from Vermont to Kansas. Tough thing is that part of my kitchen is my sewing area - large cutting/ironing table, Sweet Sixteen, and now a baby Jem Janome on small table. My living room has my good sewing machine and closet there has most of my stash, plus stuff accumulating around the room as I pull out for projects. In order to sell, everything has to be neat and tidy, but houses here take years to sell, so I don't know how to manage it all. Tough choices! At least you have a place to go, and I hope it all works out for you without too much stress. Some good suggestions here!

Rhonda Lee

ksdot417, I checked out your profile page and enjoyed seeing your sewing room. It looks like your organizing skills paid off for you. Very inviting and so workable. Loved the quilt that's on your long arm frame. I'll be getting a long arm after we move, (clapping hands here). Also I noticed the portable design wall (it has wheels!) I don't have a lot of wall space to work with so I've been looking for ideas for a new design wall. (the list goes on and on). My new room is not square or rectangle, it almost has a octagon feel to it. It has nice windows though! Thanks for your reply and inside view of your wonderful sewing room. It helps!

Rhonda Lee

LynnVT, to Kansas from Vermont, wow what a change for you. Yes, the keeping of the neat and tidy for showing a home is so daunting and intimidating. My home is relatively clean and not too cluttered. But, that being said, our agent says it's important to have a very sterile look. Coffee pot, toaster, canisters, and the like are put out of sight when someone tours the house. My sewing studio has a door I can close if need be, not now. When I'm not working on a project things are put away, when I am....everything is out and about. I usually have several things going and so this has been very difficult. Sometimes I think I just need to move all my sewing stuff and not do anything until this house is sold!

I have no idea what to tell you. I am happy to have a place to put the things I'm not using all the time. Maybe a storage unit would be the answer, but that takes extra money and I would not want to be paying for one for the 3 years we've been in this situation.

For so many years I was in the same boat as you. I called it kitchen sewing. That's when I had a house full of children and did much more cooking too. But if there's a will there's a way right? I'm certain you'll find that way. Let us know and good luck to you too. Thank you for your reply.

lots2do

I'm in a similar boat. And, wow, it is so overwhelming to look into my sewing space with all of its stuff. We hope to put our house on the market in mid-May and are plugging away at sorting, purging and packing. I'll have a mini sewing setup in Maine and the second bedroom in Florida when all is said and done (and this house is sold). The house next door just went on the market this week and we've seen three sets of people there already today so that's encouraging. (It's a ranch with only one bath and we have a two story cape with two baths).
Next trip down to FL, I'm packing fabric and then again in July. Not so much because I need to, really, just to feel like I'm making some progress in that area. I have a featherweight there already and one to keep in Maine and will do the same with two regular sewing machines.
Good luck to you, Rhonda Lee, and all the rest of you. It is very encouraging to know that others are dealing with this, as well!

lots2do

Just to add to my previous post. I am going to pack most everything away. Realistically, I won't have much time to do any real sewing since I also have a classroom to purge and pack up. (First the house, then that chore)... Won't it be great to be retired and have the time to use the stuff we've already invested in! I can't wait!

Rhonda Lee

lots2do, it sounds like you are getting a head start on your moving adventure. Good for you! I am happy to be retired. If I was still working it would be so much harder to deal with what needs to be done.

Hopefully your home will sell quick and you won't be in limbo. I am seriously considering what you said about being realistic with sewing time. I think it's getting to be more frustrating to do anything within the quilting realm because I know I have to put everything away as soon as I start sewing because someone might want to look at the house! Maybe if I just have one quilting project to work on here and take everything else to the new home it just might work to my advantage. It's a new way to look at how things are being done. Then I could concentrate on getting my home sold.

I have a huge yard and need to spend time with it. I worked all day in the yard yesterday and it does look better but it still needs a lot of TLC.

There is so much to do and think about. Thanks for your reply and good thoughts. I hope all goes smoothly for you too.

Nettie

Rhonda Lee, I understand your pain. We moved again a year ago. The requirement for the new house was a room big enough to put my long arm and sewing machines. Even though I repeatedly told my realtor I had to have a room over 12 feet in length to house my long arm it took her quite a while to understand. But we eventually found our new home and I took over the master bedroom since it was a 12x17 with a walk in closet. I hate to say it but I am still trying to organize it to suit me so it may take you some time to get it all together but don't loose hope it will come. My walk in closet is perfect to store all my fabrics. I bought bookcases from IKEA and Walmart and have them all around the walls. It was perfect to house all my fabric bolts and and supplies. I will try to send a pic tomorrow. My long arm fit in nicely with room to walk around to the back. We are going to install another window. Always need more light. I bought some neat pieces from IKEA for storage under my longarm. My last dilemma is how to get three machines set up. Two for my sister and I sew to on and one to be embroidering. Take a deep breathe and know it will all come out right. Just take your time. When my room seemed to be taking too long I just set at the machine and sewed something simple to calm me down and to remember that I am lucky enough to have this room.

QuiltnLady1

Rhonda Lee, I have been wrestling with a similar problem for about 6 months. Our new home is about 1/3 the size of the old home. I lost a lot of storage and when we moved in, all my fabric and sewing was put in the garage -- in both cardboard boxes and plastic totes. I am slowly organizing things, but it does get overwhelming. The biggest issue I have is that the folks who packed (I was not able to do much) failed to label things. My DGS is helping me unpack and organize and we just opened a box labeled books and it had only fabric in it (sigh)... I still can't find my serger (the only machine that I did not have an original box for).

I would not try to organize and unpack until I had all my shelves in -- since my room is still a work in progress, I clear a space around a machine and play for a while since all work and no play make me grumpy. We rented a POD for a while so we had room to move around the garage (literally) -- only needed it for a few months but it sure helped. I wish I could have bought tubs for all my fabric because the stuff in the boxes is a mystery.

Rhonda Lee

Nettie, thank you for your information on how you handled such a large task! I also liked reading about sewing something simple. Only quilters would understand the need to just sew something!

I believe you have made significant progress, such encouraging words! The fact that you have done it and it is doable, lifts my spirits considerably, also you said that it does take time. I needed to hear that again. I know I have to back off a bit and just do what I can do at this point. Even if it's to just cut up some scraps! Would love to see pictures. Thanks again for your information on how you reorganized because of your move.

QuiltnLady1, I understand the lost storage space. My new room actually measures larger but the arrangement of the room is different. I do not have as much wall space because of windows and doorways. So when you said not to organize until I get my shelving in, I completely agree with you. I think that is where most of my anxiety is coming from..I feel like I can't do anything... me, who likes a 'place for everything and everything in it's place' person. Maybe I'm getting a huge lesson on patience!

I like you, have cardboard boxes with unknown contents (unlabeled because of others helping) along with the tubs and plastic drawer units free forming their own environment. I do have some of my books on a couple of free standing shelves that looks good!

I lol when I read about you sewing away on your machine in a cleared area! All of us are such kindred spirits in this world of quilting...thanks so much for your input. It all helps with the adjusting mindset.