...and it hit me in the shower the other morning, I need to see my fabric. Part of my reluctance to unpack my fabric and put those closets together is that once again I won't be able to see my fabric. I know that I had it in a closet before but it was easy to open and purview the extent of my collection. My fabric inspired me. It encouraged me. It pushed my boundaries. Not being able to see it makes me feel imprisoned and all bottled up...so I've taken the closets back to Lowes.
Instead I'm buying shelves and I'm putting my fabric on them. I want to be able to easily access it. I want to know where it is when I think of it. But most importantly I want to see it. So somewhere in the next couple of months, I will be transferring the fabric from the bins to shelves and hanging a curtain system to cover them. Now I say somewhere in the next couple of months because there is some sewing I want to do...
This is the fabric I pulled from the collection to make my version of the Lanvin top and skirt. I picked this one because the black & white fits into my work environment and also because I liked the black fringe on the selvedge...
Now I won't have to make my own fringe, I can use the fringe from the fabric. This will be up right after the lilac and gray pieces...which have turned into a little wardrobe grouping because I now want to make a white shirt and a printed cardigan to go with the original pieces (jacket/skirt/dress/pants)...I know right! But wardrobe sewing is in my blood and I can't deny the process cause it's crying out to be made.
Finally I'm resurrecting a UFO. I started this jacket last January as part of the Jacket a Month sew-along on Stitchers Guild (of which I woefully only made 3 or 4 pieces!) but as it has hung for months, I realized that I really like it as a vest. So a vest it will become with a matching pair of pants and a bow-tie blouse.
These projects have me so energized now that I'm surprised I haven't tossed over the scarves in favor of one of them! *LOL* Actually I'm enjoying making the scarves...so I will get them finished up because I will have some good sewing time in the next couple of weeks and I mean to take full advantage of it!
...as always, more later!
I admire the fact that you realized that seeing your fabric was part of your creative process. I think it can be hard, sometimes, to figure out what is causing a creative bottleneck.
ReplyDeleteGo girl! :)
I'm glad that you figured out how you'd like to store your fabric. We're all so different in how we're motivated. The trick is to make our environment work for us. Looking forward to all your new creations.
ReplyDeleteIt always takes me ages to adjust to change so a new sewing room/cave set up would knock me for six! Glad you have sussed out the stumbling block. Now who would have thought that a particular fabric becomes the chosen one because of the effectiveness of the selvedge? Are we just out there or what????
ReplyDeleteOooooo! Love that fabric and really think I like it as a vest. Waited on the finished project with baited breath. I'm still not back to my normal sewing so I have to do my sewing through you!
ReplyDeleteI totally, totally agree with you about seeing your fabric. I never have quite understood how someone could get inspired with stacks of bins. I've go to see that stuff! I guarantee, however, that a day of pulling your fabric from the bins and stacking it on your new shelving system will completely inspire you. Seeing and touching is what it is all about. Hope you get to do your new setup soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you figured that out *before* the closets were put together and filled. At least I hope it was before. Had they been paneled doors, I would have taken out the panel and put in glass or plexiglass. But then, you don't have fur-balls to keep out of it.
ReplyDeleteThey all sound great. Can't wait to see them all finished. I went to shelves last year and it is one hundred percent better than before. I use way more fabric on hand because I can see it now.
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you're saying: I love having my fabric in sight, seducing me. Unfortunately, due to lack of space, most of mine is stored in bins in the garage--although a healthy amount is in the sewing room. Can't wait to see what you turn out next.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you need to see your fabrics to keep the fire of sewing mojo burning. The reason I have never done a post on my sewing room is because I am embarrassed by how much fabric I have sitting around the periphery of the room in tottery stacks. But I love looking at the colors and textures, rearranging the stacks, patting the fabrics, and thinking about potential projects. It is part of my creative process. It is the fabric equivalent of a new box of crayons. And seeing all my fabric should deter me from buying more. Right? Somehow that part is not working very well. I.e. FMF 20%off everything sale announced yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI like the black and white with fringe selvedge up next. Hmmm maybe I need to liberate some fabric from their home in the cupboard; sometimes I find stuff in there I had no recollection of buying.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same way about seeing my fabric. I used to keep my stash in plastic bins and I would just end up buying more because I would forget what I had. Now i keep them on shelves and I love to just go look at them on evenings when I'm too tired to sew.
ReplyDeleteLove the scarves BTW— I'm inspired to make some myself.
I'd like to take all my fabric and dump it out on the floor and just roll around in it -- except that then I'd have to wash it and fold it and put it away again. Happy sewing, and merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see how you showcase your inspirational fabric. Because you are a inspiration to me. Love your creativity and how you go about designing your wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteI understand how you feel about being able to see your fabric. I had placed lots of my patterns in boxes in my laundry room only to get to the place where I realized that the patterns need to be near MaMa (lol). So they are are back in the sewing room now. Merry Christmas and happy sewing!
ReplyDeleteI too really need to see my fabric. As I was packing my fabric up I realized how much I had missed being able to see it, and what a difference it made in terms of creative inspiration. I hope to have mine visible once I can finally unpack.
ReplyDeleteI can appreciate your need to see your fabric. I think that keeps us all going. I like that black white piece and the fringe on the selvedge is going to work well however you plan to use it.!
ReplyDeleteI didn't see a comment place for your newest post, but wanted to say Merry Christmas to you too! Have a great time with your family.
ReplyDeleteI think the shelves are a great idea! I feel exactly the same away about my fabric.
ReplyDelete