Hello and welcome to my first ever blog post!

Given that I now have an (almost) 1 year old little boy, am just about to return to work in a new job and have decided to start writing a blog about all my craft projects (and obviously need to continue my crafty bits and bobs) I thought I should probably start by getting myself organised.

I don’t know about you, but for me getting organised means 1 thing…stationary shopping!!!

So, I hit the (cheap) shops and stocked up. Pens, highlighters, notebooks, sticky labels, clear pockets (aka slippery fish), glue sticks etc etc. September is by far the best time to do this as you get all the back-to-school bargains.

I also needed to organise my fabric stash, sewing patterns and bits and pieces. Before this, my fabric organisation involved scrunching it up in a carrier bag.

The first thing I decided to tackle was my fabric. The white cards are magazine boards that I bought in a big pack from amazon. They are perfect for making your own little bolts of fabric. Just fold the fabric in half and then in half (or 3rds depending on width of fabric) again length ways and wrap it around the magazine board.

Next, so I can remember what the fabric is, where I got it from, how to wash it etc. I used some little tags to label each bolt.

I wasn’t quite sure what to do with fabric scraps. Again, they had been living in a big old carrier bag. Eventually I decided to put a magazine board (trimmed down) in a slippery fish and used one for each type of scrap.

Fabric…Done!

The big storage box was a gift from my other half, Simon. It opens at the front and has 3 smaller storage trays inside. I use it for all my thread, needles, bobbins etc. And the top opens up as well – I use that to store interfacing and dressmakers carbon.

Next on the list – sewing patterns. I usually trace off the pattern I am using in my size so I don’t damage the original pattern. I didn’t want to throw away my traced pattern when I was done with it though as it seemed a bit of a waste. So I put them in slippery fish! (Love those things!) I have just started using some commercial patterns that come printed on tissue paper. Once they are out of the envelope there is no way I can fold them neat and flat enough to go back in so these are also in the good old clear pockets.

Finally, I keep buying fabric and saving numerous patterns and I wanted a way to organise and plan my projects. I got a new notebook, made a pretty cover for it (tutorial to follow at a later date) and designed some sewing project templates to stick in the book.

Now that I have everything organised I just need to decide what to make next!!

 

Love Ashleigh x