Hanging Pockets!

I really like hanging pockets!

I like that they keep things up off various surfaces, benches and tables - and you can make them to whatever size you need!

I've made a hanging pockets hair tie holder:

I made a Times Table Memory Game pocket holder:

Bed pockets for my girls to keep their books in:

Pockets for notebooks:

Lots of hanging pockets to organise my sewing things:

Even hanging pockets in the car:

My girls desks do get rather cluttered...

So I decided to try and provide spaces for all those little trinkets that girls just can't do without - but try to get them up off their desks so they have space to draw, do homework etc!

Hopefully this will help my daughter keep her desk tidy... Now I need to make another set of pockets for my younger daughter too!!

Do you have any hanging pockets in your house??

Tell me I'm not the only one.....

Sewing desk makeover - final reveal!

Now I know this doesn't have the wow factor of some makeovers that have neat little colour co-ordinated baskets and boxes so everything is tidily hidden away and super organised. BUT since I really only had a single desk with a couple of shelves to work with, and an awful lot of stuff to find space for, (plus I didn't want to spend any money!) I'm really happy with all the organisation I came up with - using what I had!

My sewing desk is in the corner of our computer room - which also has 3 more desks, and a couple of bookcases in it. It's a small room, so my space is limited - but I think I've managed to make the most of it! 

See what you think!

So on the shelves, I had these round storage tubs that I made a few years ago from covered poster tube sections:

They, together with a couple of baskets, were stuffed full to overflowing; and although labelled with what each had inside - I still had to empty the whole tub to find just one thing - inevitably from the bottom!

So first I decided to make some hanging pockets that went around the insides of the shelves - so I could use that space, but still leave the shelf itself clear:

Filled up I can now see what I've got!!

I then used the outer sides of the desk for storing my threads - again in more hanging pockets:

Regular threads on one side..

Overlocker (serger) threads on the other:

I made a pretty cover for my overlocker (serger)

a pretty Thread Catcher and pincushion:

And a quick needle book:

Then (and this is my favourite part)  I worked out storage for my buttons. 

Instead of this..

I now have this..

Little colour co-ordinated bags full of lovely buttons!  Hanging up so I still have the shelf surface free!

My girls had lots of fun sorting my buttons:

And I had fun sewing some little drawstring bags - using up more of my scrap stash!

(you can find the super simple tutorial for these bags here!)

I had lots of hooks drilled in and prepared..

They look pretty neat all hanging up now - just as I imagined!

Finally I had lots of ribbons in one big mess..

So I cut some pieces of sturdy plastic from old files and diaries, punched holes and wound the ribbon on:

And using various metal rings I had from old bags and keyrings, I hung the ribbons up on the remaining hooks.

So from this..

To this..

(I also have 3 plastic mesh baskets on the top shelf with things like my iron and hot glue gun in - but didn't photo them as it wasn't very exciting or imaginative!)

I'm rather pleased with my new sewing desk! And all I had to buy was some small hooks which cost me about $5!  Not bad!

I've just used covers I had to line the shelves, and a Japanese door hanging to hide away all that pinkness and keep the dust away!

Not that it's going to have much chance to collect dust over the coming weeks and months - I have so many projects planned in my head - can't wait to get started using my new fancy sewing desk!!

So...what do you think?  

What's your sewing or craft desk,area or room like? Leave a link with your comment if you have a picture - I'd love to see!

Threadcatcher and weighted pincushion

Finishing off my sewing desk makeover, I made a cute little

 Thread Catcher and weighted pincushion today using a great tutorial I found on Merriment Design.

Until now - I've been using this as my Thread Catcher..

I like my new one much better!

The tutorial was nice and clear and easy to follow, although the part about boxing out the corners of the bag confused me a bit - so I just winged it with my own knowledge!

It was another great project to use up some of my fabric scraps, and I also love that it uses clothes line to stiffen the top of the bag so it stays open! (I've got plenty of that in our shed for some reason!) Plus needing something to act as the weight in the pincushion, it was easy enough to find something in the shed for that too! (see - it is worth keeping odd bits and pieces - you never know when you might need them!)

Stitching the clothes line into the top of the bag, I used my zipper foot to get nice and close:

So now I have a pretty pincushion and thread catcher to go on my now pretty sewing desk!

On the left...

Or maybe on the right..

Just perfect! (and so much better than an old plastic honey pot!)

Come back tomorrow when I'll show you the final part of my sewing desk makeover !

Reorganising my sewing desk - part three

I've now added more hanging pockets to the side of my sewing desk!

I've had a set on the right hand side for a long time now to hold my threads in:

And now I've added another on the left hand side for my overlocker (serger) threads:

There's not much space on that side between the unit and the wall - but I don't want to waste any space at all!! Plus - I don't need to be able to see the overlocker threads that well to know which ones I want!

 

So - now I'm almost there!

I'm hoping to finish it off today, but it's also the end of my girls school holiday and they want to sew something too - so we'll see how much time I get!!

Reorganising my sewing desk - part two

This week I'm in the process of revamping and reorganising my sewing desk.

So far I've now finished some hanging pockets for the insides of the shelves:

I used pink fabric that I got a whole roll of from the charity shop for $10 a couple of years ago.  The fabric leaches pink everywhere when wet - so I only use it for things inside!

 that I shouldn't need to wash!

I also chose some pink netting for the pockets, so I could see what was in each one!

I've attached them to the edges of the cabinet with small hooks through the wood, and eyelets on the pockets.

I'm really pleased with how these turned out! A great improvement on what it was like before!

I also made a new cover for my overlocker (serger), as I was still using the flimsy plasticy one that came with it:

Much better now!

I've also added a few more hooks at the top of the top shelf for my next organisational project! 

Stay tuned for that!!