What a year this has been. I think we are all reeling from the shock. My spring clean this year was major: I redid the floor.

In Australia we don’t have basements just ready to be turned into awesome sewing rooms, so I the deal when we bought this house was that I took over the garage as my studio. It had one window, a roller door and a back door, but was unpainted and unfinished and the floor sloped to the front. Initially, we replaced the roller door with a glass sliding door, added cornices and I painted. Then I changed the back door to a door with glass panels which lets in more of the outdoors. I also put a door through from the kitchen which saved me taking the long way round along the verandah and in the front door.

The thing I hadn’t done was the floor, it was still a step down from the rest of the house. Luckily for me, I got a fantastic retired builder who put in a great floor, perfectly level and solid. What I had to do was move every single item of furniture and every single box out. Aaargh. It was very heavy work. Remember, I had a step up. I also have a small house and it was chockablock with storage boxes, machine cabinets, computer, long arm, etc. Then I repainted. I deeply regretted starting.

After the concreters came. I had to water the concrete for three days and clean up all the mess.

However, before I went nuts with all the stuff in the house, the builder was ready to start. After an exciting trip to the hardware, all the wood was bought and the floor started going in. John, the builder also noticed that I’d had some damp coming in the westerly wall and advised putting a concrete apron around that end of the house at the level of the footings to create run off. Happily, the rest of the house is surrounded by a verandah. So then I had concreters as well. I did add more than was strictly necessary, but it seemed a good plan to create an outdoor space for coffee!

I couldn’t have done it without my brother-in-law Paul who did all the measuring and cutting of the planks.

In order to save money, my brother in law agreed to help me with the flooring, and I learnt a lot about laying vinyl planks. Tip 1: a rubber mallet is a must. Tip 2: an S hook or over door hanger is a handy tool for that last tricky plank by the wall. I was so excited when the flooring went in.
The next step was the skirting. I discovered the joys of a mitre box, sealant, and concrete glue. I was so proud of my mitres.
Then John the builder returned and fixed up the back door putting in a beautiful step and magnetic closure, some picture railing and blinds.

Finally I was able to return the furniture. I added sliders or wheels to anything heavy and had a much easier job returning the furniture.
The concreters had also come and I’d gotten them to add a 4 x 4 square metre terrace just outside the glass doors. Perfect for coffee or a bit of hand work (except now because it’s pouring and the mosquitoes are vicious).

I took the opportunity to rearrange the room and have made a machine, pressing, cutting area so I can cut from three sides of my fabric storage drawers, and I keep the mess to one area. Then the long arm is near the window and I put in a large design wall opposite. Sadly, I still have the computer and stationery and filing cabinet in my sewing room, but that’s ok at present.

Things that are working that i haven’t changed

Plastic boxes for storing scraps coded by colour, notions, and ufo’s.
Magazine holder for cutting rulers
Little storage drawers from the hardware for storing machine feet

best features:

clear plastic brochure holders screwed to a board on the wall to hold my rulers
magnet strip on the wall near my machine to hold snips etc

three sides of my cutting mat are accessible

fabric storage, accessories and notions, sewing machine and pressing station are in a U shape and easily accessible
Small design wall above my ironing station and large design wall opposite the longarm
wadding is stored on rolls underneath my light table

what still needs doing

I’m still working on the architraves around the window, though I have done the door. Long arm is not yet optimal. I need to reduce the amount of non quilting fabric and craft supplies that are just taking up space. I need a white board to keep me on track.
I’m putting up a magnetic hanging strip for finished quilts. This should make it super easy to hang a top or finished quilt to take a photo. My plan is a board with magnet strips on it, and strong magnets. I have all the pieces, I just miss having someone who can do the drilling into the wall.

Leave me a comment and tell me your great tips. I’m always looking for ways to get more organised.

Do check out all the spring clean your studio blogs. There are some amazing ideas.

March 29 - Raylee Bielenberg - http://sunflowerstitcheries.com

March 30 - Jen Frost - http://faithandfabricdesign.com

March 31 - Tara Gebhardt - https://quiltspluslove.com/quilt-stories

April 1 - Becca Fenstermaker - http://prettypiney.com/blog

April 2 - Leanne Parsons - http://www.devotedquilter.com

April 3 - Rebecca Lidstrom - http://Www.studiorquilts.com/blog

April 4 - Amy Bradley - http://purplepineapplestudios.com

April 5 - Sue Griffiths - https://www.duckcreekmountainquilting.com (that’s me)

April 6 - Kate Starcher - http://katiemaequilts.com/blog

April 7 - Tammy Silvers - https://tamarinis.typepad.com/