Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter: An Illustrated Guide to the Space of Your Dreams

Professional organizer Carolyn Woods immersed herself in the quilting world to write this book, visiting the sewing spaces of quilters near her home in Arizona as well as consulting with quilting celebrities like Alex Anderson, Libby Lehman, Diana McClun, and Nancy Arseneault. I found quite a few storage ideas in this book that I really like, including the ClosetMade wire mesh drawer bins (shown on the cover) that Alex Anderson uses to organize her fabric stash. I also loved the idea of repurposed library card catalogs used for thread storage, and a number of really good solutions for storing embroidery hoops, acrylic rulers and the bazillion tools and notions we all have piled up in our work spaces.However, I can only give this book 2 out of 5 stars because the ergonomics section of this book is so misinformed. I have consulted two other sewing studio design books, several sewing web sites, and the U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA recommendations for ergonomically correct sewing and cutting stations. Woods' recommendations are so far out of whack with everyone else recommends that, if her advice was followed by hard-core quilting enthusiasts, it would CAUSE back, neck, shoulder and wrist pain!Woods has degrees in political economy and business administration and runs a professional organizing business -- she does not have any credentials as an expert in ergonomics, which is fine, except that she does not appear to have consulted with any ergonomics or medical experts, either. Woods' suggests a sewing surface height between 5 1/2-7" HIGHER than your elbow when you are seated with your arms bent at right angles -- this is in direct contradiction with current OSHA guidelines; OSHA and every other reputable source I consulted says that having to reach up like this to sew is stressful to your wrists, shoulders, and can cause muskeloskeletal disorders.If the author didn't want to research ergonomics for sewing, she should have left that part out of the book and focused on storage and organization, her strongest suits. Misinformation is so much worse than no information at all.The book is worth the purchase price just for the storage and organizations ideas and resources, however -- so I recommend that you buy it, but do your back a favor and tear out pages 29-30!

I HOPE to turn our basement family room into a quilting/sewing room now that all the kids have left home and caregiving for our parents is behind us. But I want to do this right because I only have one one shot. So I ordered several books on organization, especially for quilting rooms. This one blew me away with great ideas for everything from storage methods and cautions (fabric needs air to breathe, so wire baskets are best, for example). It covers everything from a quilting space under a stairwell or in a closet to a whole room - whatever you have space for. Many space saving ideas, inexpensive ideas for fashioning a cutting table to the proper height for each individual, cautions, room design for effective quilting, storing threads to rulers to fabric, and so much more. I have lent this to several friends and they all end up buying the book for themselves, even if they are not building a quilting space but just want to spiff up the space they have. Carolyn Woods did her homework for this book and many of the ideas can be applied to non-sewing areas of your home and life. Thank you, Carolyn.

I find Carolyn Woods' "ORGANIZING SOLUTIONS for Every Quilter" to be an excellent resource. While providing good directions and explanations for organizing techniques in general, she also incorporates the reasoning and results of the craftsroom organization of some of the best in the business including Alex Anderson. Ms. Woods provides lots of options and possibilities that range from those which you are likely to already have on hand (empty pickle jars, plastic bags) to those which you may wish to create (peg board storage, flannel design walls) and on to commercially available options. An impressive handy reference section lists online resources at the end of the book.+All beautiful color photography throughout.+Lots of solid, but simple lists.+Good explanations, usually with a photograph so that there is no misunderstanding on the concept.+Easy to understand, but not judgemental or condescending.+Applications for spaces of all sizes.This is a great reference that you can come back to time and again for more ideas and for potential applications in other spaces, as well. I am enjoying my copy and I recommend it.

This book is all about organinzing and thinning out the overload many of us have. I have multiples of things, not because I need 4 of the same thing but I've never figured out a system of organization to be able to find what I know I already have. Until now! Great reference book to use again and again. It is set up in logical fashion, what to do first, then second, then thirdand even knows where we get sidetracked in the process and what to do about it. Very practical suggestions and also very well explained. I'm lovin' this book!

I enjoy organizing my sewing room because I'm a bit of a neat freak and also because it also gives me a reason to procrastinate. So, when this book came out, I had to have it.This book has lots of great organizing and storage ideas for all of the fabric and tools that we quilters accumulate. In the first chapter, the author challenges quilters to analyze the reasons for their messes before going out and purchasing solutions. The pictures in the book are beautiful and the resources section is outstanding. I discovered several items that I would like purchase and was thankful that the author provided information about where I can buy them. I found this book was fun to read and I really enjoyed the author's writing style.If I were organizationally challenged, this book would have had a greater impact on me and most likely would have earned five stars. If your sewing/quilting area is a mess, the information in this book will certainly help you out.

Amazing book with lots of great ideas,tips and information. While you read this book, you start thinking how you can better organize your sewing space and the rest of your home,garage and shed etc

今回欲しかった本をいっぱい見つけられた。それには感謝！！輸入販売していただけ助かりますが実用書には和訳を付けて欲しいと思います。今のままでは実用には苦労する。

I received this very fast and I'm already finding it very helpful. Thank you!

i now have and organized quilting room ,much more easy to find things , now i rea my space lly enjoy quilting in

Can you refund me since I did not download to kindle I was expecting hard copy. My kindle does not work.