Thursday, February 05, 2009

Plastic Fantastic

Do you remember me telling you about the plastic boxes that inspired me when I went to Lizzie's sale? Well the other day I decided enough was enough. I couldn't even get into my fabric room let alone find anything. It was so full and disorganised that it depressed me. Fabrics were stuffed into vintage trunks, suitcases and pretty laundry bags but the trouble was I couldn't see what was in them and there was no order to anything. I didn't take 'before' photos, I was too scared to, but believe me it was a disaster zone. Sue shrieked when she saw it and said it made her feel better, hahaha! It is an Aladdin's cave stuffed full of gorgeous things but I could never find anything.

Anyway, I bought 10 huge plastic containers on wheels that cost £10.99 each. It hurt to buy something so ugly and have to spend over £100 on them but I told myself that they were a necessary evil. I lined them up along the corridor and for days I emptied the room, bit by bit, sorting the fabrics into categories and piling up fabrics to take to the recycling centre that I had no feeling for. Once I had cleared the room it was just a matter of labelling up the boxes and putting them back in the room.

I now have an organised room, still stuffed to the rafters as you can see, but now much more orderly and organised. Now when someone asks me for a certain piece of fabric I should hopefully know where to find it. A job well done, and well overdue!

Here, I'll take you on a tour round my newly organised room. There is lots to look at so remember to click on the photos to enlarge them if you want to see anything in detail.



















I now have lots of trunks and baskets for sale if anyone is interested?!



Pin It

23 comments:

Josie-Mary said...

I would love to spend an afternoon in that room.... ok so maybe a day!!! I have a baskets thing.... so would like to have them all!! :)

MelMel said...

Oh wow...its like a wonderful old shop, what super fun you must have in there....brill!xxxx

Bobo Bun said...

Good god Donna, no wonder you were putting it off, bit more than a stash. The plastic boxes are very beautiful indeed. I think you need a ten bed house so you can spill into a few more rooms with your great collection.

Lisa x

BusyLizzie said...

well done! Looks sooooo organised. Those boses are a necessary evil for us textile girlies aren't they!
Lizzie x

Shabby Chick said...

Can I move in there please? I don't think you'd notice for a couple of months!!! Wow, you have some great stuff. That ginormous jar of buttons is amazing. I would love to indulge in some trunks and baskets but my husband has already read me the riot act this month for spending too much, oops!

Mel xxx

Redwoodhouse said...

I am positively dribbling over the computer key board, that is a serious stash of fabric that I would be in heaven rummaging through. Good for you sorting it all, I bought similar boxes last year and they are a god send when trying to find a particular fabric but as you say not the best looking.
Stay cosy
Jan x

Flossie and Tom said...

Can I come round and play please ??

I would so love to have a rummage in there - I love the Sylko stand and the red and white sewing box and the baskets and the white sewing bo and. and well just everything

Sara
X

A Thrifty Mrs said...

I'd certainly be interested in baskets and trunks but I think postage would be insane?!

It looks great all neat and tidy and I bet it'll be a god send in terms of finding things.

Dotty said...

Oh I would so like to poke about this room in person, it fills me with delight and good for you for getting so organised I am inspired....

Vintage to Victorian said...

Hi Donna

I'm so impressed - you have carpet!!!! What a transformation. Such a shame you didn't take a before photo though!!!

Yes please to a trunk(s). Will email you.

Sue xx

Pipany said...

I'm moving in tomorrow donna. Think I've died and gone to heaven!!! x

Anonymous said...

It all looks wonderful.

my new Ikea boxes are still empty as i can't be bothered to tidy up my work room.

I am very pleased to see you have used "your" font for the labels. ;-)

Greedy Nan said...

Golly, there's a lot of stuff in there Donna - how do you manage to find what you want!
Plastic is ugly isn't it but it does seem to do the trick when it comes to clutter.
Hope you're keeping warm - our snow is almost gone.

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Donna....It must feel great to be so 'sorted'! I can just imagine you shrieking at customers now to keep everything tidy! Ha!

Have a wonderful weekend - Keep warm,
Niki x

Gigibird said...

Ding Dongs!

Plastic doesn’t add ambience or style but it is very functional and for that we all need to embrace it.
Positives – it will keep moth out and keep everything dust free….

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! Thats all I can say, that is my absolute dream!! How many years did it take you to collect all of that? I have lots of buckles like you, what a great way of displaying them on the cake stand!!

Lucy xx

Woo Gilchrist said...

Hey Dons,

Plastic boxes are an unfortunately necessity for the fabric hoarder.

Glad you like the playlist I am working on your CD's. The Nick Cave track means alot to me and the others I just really like. Nouvelle Vague - fantastic, lots of happy memories and the others too. I think your CD's may well be 3 instead of 2!

Woo.
xx

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

Your blog is like visiting an old friend..Comforting..
xoxo Nita <3

Anonymous said...

BLIMEY!!! Look at all that fabric!! I literally gasped when I scrolled down to the photos! I used to use those boxes for my vintage clothing. Not the prettiest but they really do make complete sense business wise.Good move Dons!
Hey, what's that song playing? Is love alive or Winter Song? Who is it? The music here is rubbish so I've decided that I'd like you to be my music guru and introduce me to all the lovely stuff that I'm missing. Thanks to you I'm now an Elbow fan. They haven't heard of them here! Plebs!:-)
Big love to you from NZ. xx
P.S. Thank you so much for the fabric. I'm way behind on emails.

grumpy old woman said...

Well done you - a marathon task.
xxxx
~(:o})=

Margaret's Ramblings said...

Just a quick note to let you know there is an award waiting for you at Margaret's Ramblings, you deserve it, Margaret

Monica said...

Hi Donna! Oh yes! Plastic is fantastic (UGLY but fantastic!!).
Just to say my little shop is open if you would like to sneak a glance at my creations!
Have a great week,
Monica.

Sue said...

Wow....what else can I say. What a stash and what hard work that must have been to organise. I would love all your trunks and baskets..............

Sue xx