I wish I had been brave enough to take a “before” picture, but I didn’t . . really, I just didn’t think about it. All this talk about the stash, and my plans for the new year, made me want to clean up that mess of a closet. I spent most of the morning working in one of the stash closets. I doubt I tackle the other one any time soon. Even though there are no “before” pictures, I think you’ll agree that it looks nice and tidy now and considering how bad it did look . . it looks fantastic now!
Stash Closet
The yardage pieces are supposed to be sorted according to color. There are a couple of stacks that have fabrics that were purchased specifically to go together. The bolts are just stuck anywhere I could find room for them . . not much rhyme or reason as to their location. The units on the left of the picture contain pretty much everything except batiks, Moda Marbles browns, blacks, florals and a few fat quarter collections. Those are all on the shelves at the end of the room. You can see part of them and no, I didn’t straighten that fabric up.
Food Stash
These units are also in the fabric closet. I have these set up so I can put in on one side and take out on the other side so that the oldest stuff gets used first. By the time next year’s garden harvest is ready, almost all these Mason jars will be empty and when they’re empty, they go upstairs so these shelves will be looking bare about July.
Back Side
This is where I go behind the shelves to get the food off the shelves. In theory, everything gets pushed to the back and I use from the back side first.
More Food & Fabric
More bolts of fabric and food . . hey, there’s wine too! 🙂
Sardines
Just for laugh . . Vince’s stash of sardines. We actually like these and eat them for a snack at last once a week. There’s a couple of years worth of sardines there.
I kept picking things up off the floor and finally said .. heck, get the vacuum cleaner out and make it look nice. I did and I would like to say I’ll keep it clean but I know I won’t.
Boots
By the time we were done, Boots was all tuckered out. He worked hard . . checking out every single thing I touched. He is such a good kitty and he’s a great helper!
Kate says
Judy, this is so funny – as I looked through your photos – I thought “well, that’s not too much fabric”… but then “good heavens why do they need so much soup?”
Obviously I am a little biased !!!
Sardines in soup, now that’s a good combination… LOL
Sharon in Michigan says
Boots is such a handsome cat! Boots and Rita are lucky to have found you and Vince????
Karen J. in Calif. says
I showed this to my husband and he asked if I knew your address. LOL
Linda in NE says
You shouldn’t go hungry any time soon, Vince could survive on sardines alone for quite a while. 🙂
Love seeing the colorful piles of stash. I think if I had any burglarizing tendencies I’d break into houses and swipe from fabric stashes instead of going for the jewelry and other stuff usually considered valuables.
That Boots is one handsome fellow and you can just tell by looking at him that he knows he has a good thing going living there in your sewing room.
Joyce says
I could easily fabric shop in your stash! The sardine stack made me laugh. There should be no worries about running out of those for a while…
p miodonski says
Looking at Vince.s stash and sardines and then seeing Boots all strecthed out, looks like he had a few sardines himself. I bet Boots fights you for a few sardines. Pat
Vickie VanDyken says
Love it!! I am quite sure my room/studio would resemble the before photo’s……We moved in here 7 years ago and the room was fine. now it is way to small????? Not quite sure how that happened . ROFLOL. but I bet all who read this have a good idea!
I keep saying I’m going to clean it all up, then I push the stacks around and sew instead 🙂 hahahaha no one reading this has ever done that, right??
I do have lots of magazines and I have decided that I will take them all and scan them onto the computer and store them on a stick! Then I could put fabric where the magazines were. I hope this works????
Then I am determined to make a “dent” in my stash and not let it grow, to much more???
I am wondering if I am committed or if I should be commited? hahahahahaha . At least I am in some great company!!!
Jackie says
I’m in an organizing mood too. Today it was a shelf in the linen closet and a junk drawer. I’m working until Christmas so after I hope to get quite a bit more done. I’ve learned to go with the inspiration when it strikes!
Your stash closet looks wonderful! Love looking at all your homegrown goodies too!
Anita says
Judy, Thank you for sharing why you have a stash. And for showing some of it to us. I like to pick up fabric when I can get a good price for it. I consider it an investment especially when thinking how, in the future, we will have to use what money we have on more important things. And then, will still have fabric to fondle.
Lately, I have learned to buy several yards of nice priced fabric so I have enough for whatever project I decide to use it for. By the way, would you happen to have a couple yards of a Moda fabric-fresh air (purple tone on tone)- by Chez Moi? This is a case in point-I need about two more yds to complete my quilt. I am afraid I will have to punt and go with something else for the borders. Oh well! Live and learn. Thank you Judy, You give me more laughs than I can tell.
Anita
AmyM says
Looks fantastic. While I am going to enjoy Christmas with some of the kids home, I am also very much looking forward to getting my house back in order and getting back into the quilt room. Your pictures make we want to do that sooner.
Barbara Winkler says
That has to be one HUGE closet. Wish I had one. My stash is in a spare bedroom, and my Quilts of Valor stash is in the garage and my living room!
Sherrill says
I think one of the first things I noticed was the huge pkg of TP! HA You did say there was at least one more closet, huh? Those sardines reminded me of my DH and how much he loved the sardines packed in mustard..UGH! Although 100 yrs. ago, I used to eat sardines with my dad! What a cute picture of Boots! At least you accomplished something with your photo taking–I probably would’ve taken as is and left it……
patty says
Wow what a great stash! Yours makes me look like a want-ta-be! I live in a four bedroom by myself and I used the 10″ x 14″ bedroom and closet for my stash. It is right across the foyer from my studio. The closets in two other bedrooms contain quilts. Several of my quilting friend come and shop my stash before they go to the store!
Pat says
Love the stash(ES)! Do you leave the rings on your jars? My granny and mama did and I have,but was told I need to take them off.
Merry Christmas!
Alycia says
It looks so great – and now you are probably inspired to start a batrillion new projects 😉 Good Job!!
Dar in MO says
I love your organization of the food and fabric. If I could get my DH to move a few shelves to a different location, I could employ the take out/put in aspect of rotating the food. That is such a great idea. I sometimes mark the jars with the date, but still have to reach over each one to restock. Thanks for sharing your stashes with us.
Nancy says
Wow, thanks for sharing your stash. Both of them. Love the organization of the fabric by color. At one time I had my stash organized by color. Then I would pull fabric of a project or buy more and it doesn’t look so great now. I need to do the same type of thing. What I really need to do is use a bunch so it will all fit on the shelves.
Tricia says
Hooray–pictures of your fabric stash again!!! It has been too long since I got my eyes on all of that lovely fabric! I first found your blog when you were buying and quilting like a wild woman. Now, your blog is definitely different and it is fun for me to get a peek at the ‘old’ you!
Valerie says
Aren’t you lucky to have Boots?! And I feel so virtuous that I haven’t (yet) bought a bolt of fabric!
myrna sossner says
All I can say is “ditto to everyone else’s comments” except to add that I’ll bet Boots could live happily for a long time on the sardines! Merry Christmas.