Sunday 13 March 2011

Tidying Up .... ?

Sonata:



Given that my quilts , when finished , measure seven inches by eight and the fact that I don't really make anything else , I seem to have a remarkable amount of storage for sewing paraphernalia . This cutlery box , for instance , is perfect for holding my current work and stray little tins of buttons , pins and bobbins.

I've got a particular weakness for vintage "storage solutions". I love this 1950s sewing box , despite the bottom drawers on each side being difficult to get into .




And a couple of weeks ago I found two of these boxes in a recycling shop and just had to lug them home




I particularly loved the "sewing notions"detail on the lid .They're very handy , actually , since they don't have lots of tiny compartments inside but can just be crammed with fat quarters and scraps .That orange plastic is pure 1970s and I can remember having lots of gadgets just that colour then .... even a hairdryer .

Anyway , I'm now working on a much bigger project now , all of ten inches by fourteen (!) , so may need to find another box or two ....

Meanwhile new things arrive , like this little tin of Rose Balm


from Smitonius , which I know is here to stay . How handy that it's already been labelled for re-use !

17 comments:

Mrs Smith said...

Oh! I am in love with that freestanding sewing box. What a gem! Funny how sewing stuff accumulates or reproduces itself exponentially, huh?

rachel said...

Fascinating! Would you give us a step-by-step demonstration of one of your teeny little quilts being made some time? So lovely.....

Rattling On said...

I am willing to fight Mrs Smith if you ever decide to free up that 50s box.
I am also guilty of having far too many storage spaces full of... what exactly? But I can't part with them.
Love the little tin.

lovethosecupcakes said...

Love your soon-to-be pin tin. Mine's an old Harrogate toffee tin. My mum's sewing paraphernalia was kept in a sandwich tin from a picnic set. She only ever sewed on buttons or darned socks and always with cotton or wool that never matched.

Friko said...

do you have a storage space or storage box for your storage boxes?

Just wait till you get old, you'll start chucking things out because you need storage space for pills and potions.

mountainear said...

Ditto Rachel on the step-by-step demo with magnifying glasses please.

Just what was it with the 70s and orange? Our first house was a nightmare concoction of all 70s colours - orange, brown, purple and turquoise ( one colour per room) and matching shag pile carpets. FAB! We did a deeply unfashionable thing and painted every wall cream.

Tattieweasle said...

I too love the 50s box and as for the tin for pins - beautiful!

Lesley said...

I'm amazed by the tiny quilt. So beautiful. You must have incredible patience and eyesight

Jane Lock said...

I love this post! Sometimes the things to put things in can be as lovely as the things inside them :)

molly said...

I'm with Rachel----teeny quilt tutorial please!

Planet Penny said...

Your little quilts are so lovely and I am impressed by your neat storage solutions. I produce small things from a mountain of uncontrollable chaos which is not a good thing but was ever thus...I feel it's a little too late for a miraculous change, but I continue to be in awe of tidy people!

Marcheline said...

Gorgeous little rose balm tin! I would also like to see a step-by-step of your wee quilts in the making...

Tania said...

I would use a hairdryer if I could own one in that orange. Now don't freak yourself out with the huge scale of this next project. Frequent stepping back may help.

Angel said...

If I had more space in my tiny two-room apartment I would have more neat baskets. I like baskets and bags like you like boxes, but I have to admit-- your boxes are pretty cool.

Rattling On said...

I am back to say that in my drooling state (over the work box) I completely forgot to comment on the quilt.
I've often wanted to see pictures of what you make, and here one is... You must have a lot of patience and good eyesight! It's really lovely. More, please.

Deborah said...

I'm with Marcheline - wanting to see your quilt-making in stages. How small are the individual squares?? (Did I just give away the fact that I know nothing about quilting?)

I like that your daughter sent you such a gift. There's a real connection there...

Liz Hinds said...

How on earth can you sew something so small and so intricate? I am in awe of your ability!

By the way, what are black tomatoes?

P.S. My word verifier is maternie - you're not, are you?!