Vanishing Design Wall

[Eileen K.]

Lady Rags asked about this in another topic but I'm posting it as a new topic so the subject is exactly what I'm asking about. I searched on The Forum for "Vanishing Design Wall" and didn't find it. I've seen this product in two magazines, most recently in Quilter Newsletter as one of their Staff Picks. Does anyone know more about this? I've been to the website, http://www.vanishingdesignwall.com but I really want to hear from someone who's bought one. It would solve my problem. I have one of those portable design walls and it's nice but DH does not like having it in the living room unless I "clean up and put it away each day" when I'm finished. Okay, finish in one day? Not me! Here's a chuckle for you, DH told me that I could get a long arm and put it in the living room, we do not use the living room at all, we have a family room where we "live". He said I could get a long arm as long as I "cleaned up and put everything away each day"! I don't think so!

I have no wall space in my sewing room so something like that vanishing thing would be nice, I could hang it above the sliding doors of the closet.

JoAnne in southern California

[Eileen K.]

You can use the flannel side of a flannel backed oilcloth tablecloth fabric as a portable design wall. Thumbtacks, clothespins or drapery clips can be used to hang it, depending on where you hang it. It works great. I used one to display the optional blocks turned in each month for my guild's optional block raffle.

[Eileen K.]

Thanks, Nancy, I have a portable design wall.

Hanging anything in front of the closet would mean I couldn't get into the closet very easily, if at all. That's where everything is stored. There is no other wall space available, the room is rather small, my sewing table, cutting table, and bookcase, etc. pretty much take up all the space. The closet (about 8 feet wide) is the "available wall". I contacted the manufacturer/seller of the Vanishing Design Wall, she said that some customers have said it's like a "mini garage door" and that it's very sturdy. I just hope to hear from someone who has one since I am not able to actually see one, except for photos.

I just heard from the manufacturer/seller again, she said the mechanism is like a garage door opener, it's strong. That makes more sense now.

JoAnne

[Eileen K.]

That would be my concern, is it something that will stay put while you are putting blocks up or is it going to move around?

[Eileen K.]

Good question, Ritzy! I shall email her again and ask her!
JoAnne
southern California

[Eileen K.]

That would be my concern, is it something that will stay put while you are putting blocks up or is it going to move around?

Ritzy, I asked her and she said, " It's better if you have a wall or doors behind it to push against when you put blocks up, but will work without as well. Think of maps or a screen in front of the classroom in elementary school. Hope this helps!" Their website states that there would be 1" to 2" clearance between the "Design surface" and the wall. So, I don't think there were be too much swaying. She had said, in her first email to me, "The hardest part of creating the Vanishing Design Wall to bring to the public was finding the fabric, next was finding the proper mechanism!" It sounds like the fabric may be rather heavier than flannel.

The woman has been so kind to answer many emails from me today and the product sounds so good, I'm going to order one right now, i can't wait! I will let you know how it works out.

JoAnne
southern California

[Eileen K.]

A design wall does not require a fabric more sturdy than flannel. I think I understand that you want something fixed, rather than portable, that can vanish or be hidden when needed.

I had a thought. What about making yourself a rolling shade using the flannel backed oilcloth? Most fabric stores have the DIY rolling shade kits in various sizes. You'd have to put the oilcloth on such that the flannel rolls out on the front. The shade could be mounted on or above your 8' wide door and rolled out to whatever length you want.

[Eileen K.]

A design wall does not require a fabric more sturdy than flannel. I think I understand that you want something fixed, rather than portable, that can vanish or be hidden when needed.

I had a thought. What about making yourself a rolling shade using the flannel backed oilcloth? Most fabric stores have the DIY rolling shade kits in various sizes. You'd have to put the oilcloth on such that the flannel rolls out on the front. The shade could be mounted on or above your 8' wide door and rolled out to whatever length you want.

Nancy, is that what you have? Do the blocks or whatever is on the design surface stay in place when you roll the "shade" up out of the way?

JoAnne

[Eileen K.]

As I mentioned before, I have used the flannel backed oilcloth for a portable design wall at my quilt guild meetings. The blocks stick quite well to it, even with the oilcloth hanging loosely away from the wall. I have made the DIY roller shades, but not ever using oilcloth. If using one of those kits where you fuse your fabric to the shade, you could just fuse regular flannel instead of oilcloth. However, I think it should work and the blocks (unless they are very small) should stay in place when the shade is rolled up if you roll it up gently. I can't guarantee that this would work, it was just an idea that popped into my head. If I had the need, I'd be willing to give it a try using a old roller shade and a piece of flannel/oilcloth. Neither cost very much. I bought my oilcloth from the remnant table.

[Bonnie J.]

I have had one of my quilting buddies check into the cost of "making her own", but cost was prohibitive as she really wanted the cabinetry part to camoflage the works. Hope that helps.

[Bonnie J.]

Well, my original post was asking if anyone had one of those Vanishing Design Walls or if anyone knew anything about them. I showed the ads and the website to my husband, who makes incredible (he really does!) furniture and other things out of wood and is a terrific DIY guy. He said to get it. I ordered it and it has arrived. It is very well made, the "wall" is mounted on a very sturdy looking mechanism. I am very excited about it. DH has not installed it yet because I am in the process of rearranging and cleaning my sewing rooms. Yes, I said rooms, I have a sewing room and a fabric room. I shall paraphrase a woman from my guild, "My name is JoAnne and I am a fabricholic". I spent a good part of the summer making over 400 pillowcases and both rooms are a mess! I think I need a shovel to dig my way out!

I will post here again once the design wall is installed and in use.

JoAnne
southern California

[Bonnie J.]

Thank you for the update Joanne. I have been considering something like this also, but need to get things more organized before I will know where I would really want to hang it.

[Bonnie J.]

Yesterday DH installed my Vanishing Design Wall and it's fantastic! He hung it right above the sliding doors of the closet in my sewing room. It's beautiful, works very well and most of all I didn't have to give up any wall space. I am now able to have my cutting table right against the wall and my little room (9' by 10') seems so much bigger now. I can actually walk into the right and go right to my sewing machine without having to take a detour around the table.

The blocks really stick to the wall and roll up into it with no problems at all. I am very pleased that I have it, it only took about six weeks to get it installed. Maybe I didn't ask DH often enough!

It's expensive but, I think, well worth it.

JoAnne

[Bonnie J.]

Thank you Joanne for the update. I will have to consider, putting one of those on my wish list for Christmas!

[Eileen K.]

You can use the flannel side of a flannel backed oilcloth tablecloth fabric as a portable design wall. Thumbtacks, clothespins or drapery clips can be used to hang it, depending on where you hang it. It works great. I used one to display the optional blocks turned in each month for my guild's optional block raffle.

Yeah but don't buy the tablecloth in a dollar store. Opened the package and it went straight into recycling.