Sewing Basket Reveal ...

Last Friday, Kimberly finished her suitcase, so I figured I'd better work on this mess to the left. My challenge was to get this all organized, but I could only use things that were in my house. I couldn't go out and buy anything new. By the time she had finished her project, I already felt a little frustrated with this assignment because I really need TWO different boxes for my sewing: one for mending and one for repurposing. The repurposing gear takes up massive real estate compared to my general sewing supplies, yet I continued to jam everything into this basket and any other container that might be hanging around in the vacinity. No wonder it wouldn't close anymore. My solution was to separate them into two different containers. Depending on the project I'm working on, I'll grab the box I need to finish the job.

To be truthful, when I took on this challenge, I had a vague idea of the container I would use. Since I started knitting, I've been housing my needles in an old silverware chest I purchased a couple years ago. Since my needle stash has grown, this chest wasn't working for that purpose anymore, but I was pretty sure it would store my repurpose supplies. When I started putting some of my thread in, I knew it would be perfect.

I had the first part of the assignment nailed, but I had also added that pesky extra challenge to not spend any dough on the inside of the container either. I'm not sure what I was thinking. I had nothing, no ideas! That's where I got stuck. I thought about using jewelry boxes, or fitting together cardboard to make little areas. I even had this crazy idea of making little origami dividers. Wouldn't that be cute? Little folded paper baskets to divide everything. Then I started thinking about all the time that would take. Yeah, the origami thing wasn't happening. I was trying to make things easier, not sit at my table for hours folding paper baskets. My hats off to anyone who has the patience for that endeavor, but it's not for me. So, I was really, really stuck. Until I remembered these little squishy drawer dividers I purchased on clearance at Dick Blick last summer. I don't know what they're actually called, but they're really neat. They are colorful, flexible plastic dividers that, at the time, I could see the kids using in their top desk drawers for school. However when I got home and tried them, they didn't fit in the desks, and since then, I've never really found a place to use them. I crossed my fingers, dug them out, and guess what? They fit! Amazing!

With that problem solved, I started my redo. First, I tore the bumper strip off the lid of the chest and put it in the top tray to form a nice little divider/tray for my scissors, fabric markers, pin cushion, etc. Then, I plopped in three "squishies" for loose buttons and the like. As I said before, my thread fit nicely in the top section, so I put the rest of it in there. I kept looking at the lid, thinking I should be able to do more with it. There were pockets to hold knives in there. Couldn't I store something there or use them in some way? Then it dawned on me that if I put popsicle sticks in the knife slits, I could store things behind them. It worked like a charm. The bottom drawer has 6 more squishies filled with accessories, felt, and trimming. Nana's sewing basket also got a redo, housing only my mending/sewing supplies. Both containers reside on a shelf together, waiting to help me finish my projects, aggravation-free. This makes me one happy mama, and, even better, I didn't spend a dime. That's the kind of projects I love to do.

Since I seem to be completely blog challenged at the moment and can't figure out how to add my pictures within my text, I'm just going to add them all to the end of my ramblings. Just click on "read more" underneath my signature, and it will direct you directly to the gallery of pictures. Then, you can share in my organized bliss. I'm quite pleased with this little project. :)

Worked on any fun, organizing projects lately? If you have, please share!

Until next time, let's keep things simple ....