Studio Organizing, Week 4

Posted on January 22, 2015 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing Challenge

So . . . has your rotary cutting been easier since you changed your blade?

I dutifully changed my blade right along with you all, used it for about 10 minutes, and then my cutter just quit working! My favorite one, the one on the left:

cutters

So I changed the blade in the one on the right, and it promptly broke as well! I saved the good parts of my favorite one, in hopes I can find replacement parts (that black bolt). But I have no hope for the one on the right. This is the 5th one of those I’ve broken. I just pitched it in the trash. Thankfully, I still had one more spare in the drawer, so I pulled it out and have been using it. And it doesn’t seem quite right, but it’s working for now. I think I’m gonna have to just buy a new one.

So . . . if you have any suggestions on what I should get, leave me a comment. I cut a LOT, so I need something that’s easy on my hands and wrists. The “pizza cutter” styles don’t work well for me. I have to turn my wrist too much to use them. Maybe they’ve been improved since I last tried one, though. What’s your favorite?

I cut out three quilts this week, and some other stuff besides. Think this is maybe why I had a problem? So I also need one that can take the abuse I give it . . .

As I was wasting time on the computer doing research on the Internet this week, I ran across this: Creative Storage — the cutest storage ideas from Mollie Makes. If you haven’t checked out Mollie Makes, then you really should — they have THE cutest ideas and projects! I’m sure you can get lots of ideas from them.

But onward, to this week’s organizing task, which will probably be super easy for some of you:

Organize your marking pens and pencils

For me — it’s gonna be a chore. Look at this!

Some here:

pens1

More here:

pens2

More here:

pens3

More here:

pens4

And who knows what I’ll find scattered in random places?

I clearly have a “Sharpie-in-every-size-and-color” fetish!

First of all, I doubt I need this many. But then, too, I should never have to buy any more ever again, right?

The first thing I’m doing is gathering them all up.

Then, I’m going to test them all, and make sure they even work.

If they don’t work — trash!

If they do work, but not easily — probably also trash. If I have to struggle with them, I’ll never use them anyway.

If they work, and I like them, then I need to organize the ones I’m keeping.

If they work, and I don’t want to keep them, I can certainly donate them.

Simple as that — haha!

How about you? Do you have an office-supply fetish like mine? Do you have way too many pens and pencils?

Here’s your challenge to clean them up! GO!

0 responses to “Studio Organizing, Week 4”

  1. Mary says:

    I have used a Fiskars cutter similar to yours on the right for years and loved it, but a while back I bought one of those turquoise Splash ones by Olfa (mostly because my granddaughter saw Jenny Doan using it on a video and thought Grammy should get one in that pretty color, and it was on sale) and I really, really like it. I don’t know how well it will hold up in the long run though.
    I also have a love for markers, notepads, clips, you name it, and it is very hard to keep them organized.

  2. Sue H says:

    Not much help on the rotary cutter. I received a Fiskar pizza cutter style as a gift when I first started quilting 6 years ago. I have always used it with out any problems so haven’t tried any others. Good Luck!

    Looks like I will get a pass this week. I do not collect pens & markers in my sewing room (my office is slightly different as my husband is a pen collector). I have medium size round container that I keep all of my writing / marking things in on the back of my cutting table. It does have a few other items besides pens in it – maybe I will look through it anyway and make sure nothing needs to go!

  3. I bought the Olfa Ergonomic rotary cutter when I first started quilting 7 years ago. I love that I have to lightly squeeze the handle for the blade to appear and when I release it, the blade disappears – I’m really bad about remembering to slide the cover over the pizza cutters! They hurt my wrist as well. This is the 45mm one I use and love: http://www.olfaproducts.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=C150000-1152727606

  4. Cindy says:

    Sounds to me like you don’t know your own strength. My rotary cutter is an Olfa. This task shouldn’t take to long. It does need to be done though.

  5. Donna says:

    I can’t resist pens and pencils, either. I still have my stash from my teaching days. Office supply and hardware stores hold almost as many temptations for me as fabric store do. I like the Fiskars rotary cutters with the ergonomic handle. I have several that had the push-buttons break off soon after I bought them, but they’re still useable–just more tedious to retract the blade. I keep an unbroken one on the cutting table and another with a cutting mat beside my sewing machine.

  6. Meloney says:

    I think you just need to try them and see what rotary cutter you like best. Fiskars is my favorite. I don’t like the ones you have to push down on to get the blade out. It hurts my wrist too much.
    I like to be able to open and close them.
    thanks for this challenge. I have way too many office supplies. It is time to go through them to weed out the ones that do not work.
    In my defense, DD likes pens too. LOL

  7. Karen says:

    Like Mary, I use that pretty Splash cutter. My daughter convinced me I just had to have it, because it matched things in my sewing room, lol! I love it, too. I was always amazed at how easily Jenny could cut, and now I know why.
    I just have a few pens in my sewing room, but my daughter needs help with this. I’ve been meaning to go through her art stuff for ages, so this is a good time to do it.

  8. Susan says:

    I still have the first Olfa I ever bought, and it still works like a charm, though I cut with a bigger one now, which I’ve also had since it was first marketed. I cut constantly, and I’ve never had a problem with breakage. I don’t use the ergonomic anything. I have arthritis and have had for more than 20 years, but the Olfa works fine. I’ve tried other brands, on a whim, and always give them away because nothing does the job like Olfa. I save all my blades and have them sharpened by a friend in WV. He does a really great job with a real sharpener, so I don’t spend a lot on blades.

  9. Cynthia says:

    Yes I must admit I love office supplies. I know I don’t need any else except the 1 item I needed when I go to the office supply store and I always leave with extras. Yes I did change my blade in my rotary cutter, no wonder my shoulder was feeling a little after trimming 100 HST units for a project. Now the rest will be a breeze.

  10. My favorite is the Olfa Ergonomic 60mm rotary cutter, the only one I use. Easy on the hands and the large blade means getting the job done faster. It has a nifty little on/off lock button, too.
    Good luck getting all your markers organized. Mine manage to stay where they belong 🙂

  11. Jane B says:

    I have used the Martelli cutter for years with no problems. My friend bought hers at the same time I did and something on it broke and she contacted the company and they sent her a brand new cutter. She said that their customer service was very helpful. I think they wanted her to send them the broken one. They like to see how they fail so they can improve the design and materials. I also have a weakness for office supplies. i should join you on this one!

  12. Cassandra says:

    I have a serious addiction to office supplies! I love going into the office supply store, wandering up and down the aisles, and drooling over everything. I rarely buy anything but it is SO much fun to look. I really want to get one of those huge sharpie packs with one of every color. hehe

    Good luck finding a new rotary cutter!

  13. CarolSmith says:

    You know me. I like stuff! I organize, reorganize and still am a mess. I am trying to get there and stay

  14. Barb B says:

    The markers/pens/pencils are all in their respective places. I took 5 minutes while I was on the phone and did this little ditty. Funny how they move about on their own. They must switch places at night while I’m asleep.

  15. DONNA HOOD says:

    yes I have mine neat in my beetle bag or on the table in my sewing room with a organizer and drawers. I also love office supplies. love going to walmart when school starts lol

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