Thanks for this comment Bev. It got my mind thinking about all kinds of things in my studio and prompted today's posting. You have a plan. I think that's fabulous. When I was teaching Studio Makeover, far too many of my students didn't have a plan of any kind and ended up in studios stuffed to overflowing with things they didn't want or need. Not that this doesn't happen with a plan but it sure happens less often and usually only in a few areas rather than an entire studio. That eliminates a lot of guilt and frustration to say nothing of over spending.
Above is my thread shelf in full. It's a wonderful space for storing thread and those large canning jars work fabulously. It's tucked into the work island with the yarn shelf to the left and the pattern cupboard on the back - neat, contained, accessible.
I have a thing about oozing. I want all of the ingredients of my creativity to remain within my studio and not spread out all over my house. For that reason, my studio is set up with space limitations for each ingredient. I have a designated amount of space for books, patterns, fashion fabric, art fabric, thread, yarn and so on. Having limitations helps me to maintain a clutter free working environment and to think through purchases and avoid over spending. It works for me!
Because I have a large studio, I'm able to have this much space for thread although it was delegated that way because - for twenty years - thread - and a good variety of it - was a key ingredient of my textile work and part of my business. Stitched to death is one aspect of my signature look. I LOVE thread.
Those jars on the top shelf aren't getting much of a work out right now. I haven't created a textile piece since the end of August last year. I'm debating how to add some of them to my choice garment for the SWAP. While I'm glad to have a collection for when I need it, overspending or stocking up items I don't and won't use are nowhere on my goal list. Being creative is costly.
Above is a selection of PolyNeon threads bought at a closing out sale. They were HUGELY discounted. These are fabulous threads for my textile art work. When I'm creating a piece for resale, the cost of the thread is one factor of the selling price. A higher price can limit sales. Along with the perfect color, I really had to consider the cost.
My thread collection consists of polyester, silk finish, rayon, and a selected few speciality threads. While I was working, not having access to specialty threads in town was both an advantage and a disadvantage. It forced me to use what I had and frustrated me when what I needed wasn't here.
Mail ordering thread isn't the easiest way to solve a color problem which is why I tended to stock up when I was away on a business trip. I kept a list of specific colors and brands to buy. Lists can be helpful whether you're in business or not. I started making them after I'd arrive at a sale (more than once) and completely forget what I needed - obvious things like batting and backing fabrics or interfacing. Without a list, I'd be seduced away from the practicalities by the pretty colors of the fabric.
Way up there on the list were the really large spools of Mettler polyester thread. I used them for piecing both textile art works and garments. Up until a few years ago, I could buy these in town - on sale - 50% off - and stock up on whatever colors had dwindled since the last sale. 50% off is the same as wholesale. Our one and only local fabric store has since stopped carrying them and now carries a brand "we" dislike. My machines are fussy. That has been really frustrating.
The serger threads in yesterday's posting were bought in Washington, USA when I was down in the fall of 2008. I was looking for the large Mettler spools and couldn't find them there either so I picked up these spools at a Joanne's for $1.99 each. GREAT price. I was only just returning to fashion sewing after a really long break and wasn't too sure which colors I'd need. Although I knew that I wore a lot of black, it was still a surprise how much of the black I've used in contrast to the other colors - a lot compared to nothing.
There have been a few times when I could have shifted to the burgundy or purple or dark brown and it just wasn't worth the work since I'm only interested in blending. Occasionally, I'll change the needle color and sometimes, I'll deliberately use different colors like black on pink to create a little fun inside the garment. I love the look of beautifully done, Hong Kong seam finishes but not the work. Instead, I get my fun from color.
After I finished up the books from last year and closing the business, I started an excel spread sheet for my studio spending just so I'd know exactly how much I was spending and be able to stay on track. It's been very helpful not only for the total but for the percentages - how much I've spent for patterns, books, fabric, notions and so on. That way I can compare the amount spent to whether I actually used it which provides some shopping guidance. Perhaps it's a little OCD but that's okay. Better that than debt.
I'm a huge SALE shopper. I have to be madly in love or desperately in need of something to purchase it full price. That doesn't happen too often. I have a LOT - some would even say an excessive amount - of fabric, about 500 meters. However, most of it was bought in the bargain section when it was on sale 50% off meaning that most of of my fabric was bought for a cost somewhere between $0.50 and $2.50 a meter.
When I buy fabric outside of the bargain center, it has to be at least 50% off or net under $10.00 a meter with the more under the better OR... be an amazing sale for that particular item. The boiled wool I bought a few weeks ago was 70% off of $40.00 per meter. At $12.00 a meter, that's a REALLY expensive fabric for me. However, it was worth the wait - about six months - as I never would have bought it earlier and I love it. Now, I'll be really picky what pattern I use to sew it so I don't waste it. Definitely a muslin first.
There are a few were you crazy purchases in my fabric stash but for the most part, these are fabrics that I like and enjoy. As time has passed and I've gotten to know myself better, I have a much clearer awareness of the information I need, the pattern styles to buy, and what I'll sew and what I won't.
The "oops" purchases are used for sampling ideas like the white blouse in yesterday's posting that I made to test my sizing theory. Since it worked out so well, I'll now try over-dyeing it and if that doesn't work, it's not a great loss. That fabric was less expensive that broadcloth. It worked for making a muslin.
There's a cost to learning while the learning itself is invaluable. I'm about to re-make the blouse in that blue fabric from a week ago that goes so well with my SWAP. That might seem silly since I'll then give away the first blouse but... I bought the fabric for 1.50 a meter and the second one is going to fit MUCH better and be worn far more often and I don't need a lot of clothing. This is good AND, sewing is pretty cheap entertainment.
Over the years - and after an illuminating conversation with my daughter - one thing I've come to realize is that of all the things I love to do, sewing is my least expensive form of entertainment. Because of the way I shop, when I break down the cost per hour, even with my textile art work, that hourly amount is quite low compared to other activities I enjoy doing. Take this top. It will take $3.75 in fabric and about four hours. That's less than $1.00 an hour. That makes me happy, in part because it shows a huge amount of maturity and growing up on my part since at one time, I was severely in debt. Now, this is a wonderful way of being and one that I've transferred to knitting so even it is cost conscious. LOVE sales.
How do you manage the space requirements and cost of your creativity?
Talk soon - Myrna
Grateful - recovering from debt and finding a new way of being and wanting - still - to improve.
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Personal Growth - Here's what I'm saying: ask and you'll get; seek and you'll find; knock and the door will open. Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. - Luke 11:9-10
There are several issues in my life that I am exceedingly tired of dealing with. I often wish God would speak louder into the mike so I'd get it and get it over with. LOL - it just occurred to me that maybe he has been doing that, that with each re-occurrence he's been speaking louder only I'm still not listening, not getting it, not doing what needs to be done. Just maybe, I've been my own worse enemy. Hmm...?
Either way, I'm all for being done with it. In part, I think being done is a choice and in part, I think I need to stop avoiding and do some of work that will help me manage better, work like getting out of the house for regular exercise and work like being more outgoing in social situations without expectations. Exercise - yucky. Expectations - darn - real killers and so difficult to manage. Giving this some thought. Asking for help. God will provide a way. He promised that he would and he keeps his promises.
Myrna, I had to laugh when I saw your comment about not listening to God. Many years ago, I was complaining to a friend that I hadn't received an answer to my prayers. Her comment - have you considered that the answer is no? No, I hadn't as that was NOT what I wanted to hear!Since then, I try to remember that I need to 'listen' and not try to outguess Him. Recently, my prayers were answered in a way I hadn't even thought of but which gives me what I asked for.Lesson learned!
ReplyDeleteLove all your new tops.
Elizabeth