I’ve been cleaning up my sewing room, you know how it is after a big project! I had stuff everywhere and couldn’t find anything anywhere! As I was getting re-organized, I realized how many things I’ve repurposed in my sewing space.
The blue organizer above was made by my uncle many years ago. He and my aunt loved to camp and he made this to use as a tote for napkins and silverware. I put magazines where the napkins would go and the all important TV remote in one of the silverware slots. He painted this a lovely shade of blue and I’ll keep it the same color in his memory.
The above flower vase was a left over from our son’s wedding last month. I liked the shape and it had a shabby chic look so I added a few silk flowers for some bold color. There’s Norma, my Bearded Collie sewing buddy! She was napping and then had to see what I was up to. She’s kind of a nib nose, which is why I love her!
Another item I’ve repurposed is an old rug beater. I was at a tag sale with mom (who is a pro at tag sales, by the way) and we saw this in the rafters of the garage. This cost me a grand total of $2.00 and serves as a mini inspiration board. I use clothespins to attach thing to the wires. My son made the clothespin with the two hearts on it…I think he was in first grade when he made it for a Mother’s Day gift!
I’m a big copy cat of Sandy even though she is my little sister! She has a big white bowl in her sewing room where she keeps all her pins. I thought her idea was clever and was looking for a bowl like hers. Guess what she found for me at a tag sale? This bowl has a worn blue edge that adds charm and I use it on my sewing table for leaders and enders.
I was antiquing with a friend and happened upon the sugar mold pictured below. I liked the green color and I liked how some of the paint was worn. There were four sugar slots and I originally planned to use it as a candle holder.
BUT, you guessed it! I decided it was the perfect organizer for pens, pencils, bias bars, chop sticks and all the other miscellaneous tools a quilter needs. I keep it on a shelf near my cutting table and it’s so handy to have everything at my fingertips!
I’ve got more repurposed items in my sewing room to write about and can’t wait to show you! Let us know what you’ve repurposed in your sewing space!
Your repurposed items are so clever and artistic! My sewing room is always in need of reorganization! I do have an old (antique?) wooden medicine cabinet I took the door off of, painted and put this and that on the shelves like pin cushions. Also cute tins I have collected hold my bobbins and safety pins.
I like your idea of using a wooden medicine cabinet for shelving! Tins are nice for storage, too! It’s nice to keep small things in one place. We quilters are resourceful, I think quilters are the original ‘recyclers’!
You have shared some great tips, thanks very much!!
Hi Jenny! I am glad you liked our blog! I tried to follow your blog and had some trouble with signing up. I hope it went through for your approval! I like how you roll the dice!
Those are some sweet accessories you have in your sewing room. There is also a very cute dog in one of the photos! I like your bowl for leaders and enders (we call them “bunny tails” in Central Oregon) – I might have to steal that idea 🙂
Thank you, Tierney! Norma is a very cute dog, she is a fluffy ball of love and happiness! Glad you like the bowl, it holds a lot of bunny tails!
I love the magazine rack/ remote caddy…beautiful! Norma is such a cutie 🙂
Thanks, Melinda, putting the remote in the caddy keeps it from getting lost under mounds of fabric! Norma is my heart dog, my sewing buddy AND my supervisor, I just love that girl!
Very clever! My favorite is your new pencil holder! So cool!
Thank you Kitcat! I am glad you like my pencil holder–it’s nice to re-use and re-purpose an antique.
Love the sugar mold use. Found a few of those at a vintage shop. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Thanks! It really works great!