Studio Setup Complete!

February 2022, we decided to repatriate to Australia after ten years living in the USA, so I began decluttering, sorting and organizing my sewing studio contents ready for shipping. 

September 8, 2022 the contents of my Colorado studio were loaded into a shipping container and began their journey to Australia. 

They were delivered to our Australian house January 23rd, 2023. 

Then we replaced the carpet with hard flooring in my new Aussie studio which meant I couldn't unpack until that was completed. And of course there was lots of new ready to assemble furniture to build. First to go in was Ikea Bror metal shelving and my cutting station which features Ikea adjustable height legs and a wood tabletop.

Then I added Ikea Billy bookcases:

So much color, organized storage & resources at hand!

My vintage sewing machines are finally displayed on the Bror shelving! 

It's taken weeks but I finished setting up my new studio during the last two weekends with these three final tasks:

  • hung remaining wall decor
  • Added a CD tower to my bookshelf wall for fat quarter storage
  • Assembled my portable design wall and hung it  ready for use

Book shelves with the CD tower:


Hanging the remaining wall decor really made this space feel complete:
Priority FPP project clipboard holder by the doorway

Adventure sign above the window
This is the view out that window; our back yard.
In case you missed my earlier post here's how I've rigged up my design wall:

I'm now immensely enjoying my sewing studio after 14 months of planning, packing, waiting, prepping, unpacking, organizing, reorganizing and fine tuning. Such a massive upheaval. International moves are complex!

My dreams have become reality. 
My pressing station in the middle of the room is on wheels so it is easy to move as needed, depending on what area I am using and what I am working on. It is a tight space but it is working really well!
FYI - Downsizing your sewing studio space is hard work. But you can end up more organized than ever! Effective storage and organizational tools are the vital component. 
Here are a few tips:
  1. Use up scraps and fabric odds and ends leftover from projects - I have been focused on this for several years, knowing this move would eventually happen. I used up heaps of fabric odds and ends during the pandemic making 2000+ face masks (read more about that here: https://adventurousquilter.blogspot.com/p/1000.html). I made lots of scrap quilts the last few years too which used up a lot of scraps and unwanted fabric odds and ends (read more about some of those quilts here: https://adventurousquilter.blogspot.com/2022/07/81-patch-scrap-demolisher.html). Another great project for using up odds and ends of fabric is cutting it to make scrappy quilt bindings! Here are a couple of blog posts about that: Bindings Scrap Basket & Binding Rolls
  2. Invest in great storage systems for your new space; tubs, bins carts, bookshelves, project storage etc. (Ikea and Facebook Marketplace are awesome for this)
  3. Sort your stash. I have 2 main categories; backing fabric which is larger cuts of yardage or busy medium and large print fabrics (this I store in another room on my repurposed library cart as I don't need it as handy in my studio. Here's a couple of posts about the library cart from 2015: Library Cart Revamp & Library Cart w/ Fabric), the second category is tonals blenders which I sort into the colors of the rainbow ROYGBIV plus grey, black, brown, beige/neutral, pink, berry, aqua/teal, low volume whites/creams
  4. Only take into your new downsized space what you really want/need/use, de-stash the rest by donating, giving away etc. For me that meant several years of sewing focused on the end goal, I really only gave away excess wall decor. 

Realize your dreams! Do hard things! Live your best life! 




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