December Studio Organizing
Posted on December 9, 2025 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing ChallengeI went through so much paper! But I didn’t make a dent in it. Because this time, I’m getting super serious about thinning it ALL out. So, rather than just dealing with the piles laying around, I’m actually forcing myself to quit rearranging them, and deal with each piece. Usually, I just leaf through a few pieces, combine several piles into one, and tell myself I’ll deal with it more later.
But that has simply led to bigger piles that need decisions that I never seem to want to make. So this time, I’m forcing myself to do it, and it’s much slower going. I’ll keep at it.
I did find some funny and interesting things. Like . . . notes to self:
Old doodles:
And many lists of things I no longer want to do . . .
. . . along with some sketches of things I DO want to do. Keeping myself from doing them right now is the problem. I need to finish this up before I start something else. This is exactly how the String Quilt got started!
And here we are at time for the next challenge already!
Since this is our last challenge before The Final Countdown (are you all looking forward to that?), I’m making this a “catch-up” task.
Pick a previous task you’d like to work on more
If there’s a previous task that you didn’t quite get done (like me and the paper piles — or the scrap basket) and you’d like to tackle it a bit more before the end of the year, now is the time. January 1st is gonna be here before we can blink, and we all want to start the new year out on the right foot, don’t we?
So pick something that’s bothering you because it’s still undone, and work on that. If you need a reminder of what we worked on this year (or any previous year), the entire list is HERE.
I’m gonna still work through some paper piles, while also realizing that the piles are probably bigger than I can get through in the next couple weeks, but any progress will help. And I’m still trying to empty out my giant box of scraps.
And . . . at the end of the month, we’ll do The Final Countdown, so stay tuned! It’s always fun (and there are prizes). I have a couple weeks to dream up some ways to change it up this year and possibly make it even more challenging. Are you ready??
I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggles with keeping myself from starting something new. I have 9 days to finish a quilt which I’m still piecing units(!), bind another quilt, and I just agreed to quilt and bind another quilt for my sister in the same timeframe. I’m crazy since I still have an 8-5. After Christmas I will finish the top you are quilting for me and work on the Final Countdown so maybe I’ll have a clean space for sister when she gets her in January to use my long arm.
I have done pretty well at getting the project piles cleaned up off my cutting table. Most of them are now tops waiting for their turn on the long arm. However, I have not made much progress in sorting scraps into their appropriate bins yet. My goal is to finish that before the end of the year.
What was clear is now full of paraphernalia – things I need, things I don’t, things that were meant for a friend but she sadly passed away last month. Kind of makes me not want to do anything with it at the moment. But I loaded up a quilt (that one of my groups did a group string session for a charity quilt and we ended up with more blocks – enough for 2 quilts or more). Then it had been such a long time since I fired up Big Bertha, that I’ve had to go on Youtube to see how to do the bobbin winder and how did the bobbin go in! What a numpty. Ready to rock and roll tomorrow!
Your “doodles” are pieces of art! Don’t ever throw them away. I would frame that and hang it in my sewing room!
That doodle would make a fabulous quilt motif. I’m just try to finish the applique on a quilt I started in 2011. Nearly there and then to sandwich, quilt and bind by 12/31. The rest has to wait. I’m determined!
A few days ago I started a Christmas quilt, so I’ve been going through the Christmas fabric tote–which I hope to continue for this next task. I’m using the Jane Austen pattern, as her birthday was in December–so it’s a fun and challenging project. May not do the tiny pieced border–will see how it goes, as I do like challenges!
But yes, organizing leads to new projects and my paper piles still need more work… But it is so much fun working with these Christmas fabrics and choosing where to place them according to the pattern diagram… And there’s time in the day for the paper piles too!!!
I moved in November so lots of cleanup/throwout was done then. Two of my guild members helped me and packaged it for disbursement to other guild members and future guild garage sales, all for a good cause. I packaged a lot of the larger pieces in gallon baggies for the house auction, so someone got a lot of bargains. Even though I am in a smaller place, I have a sewing room which looks very organized right now, but in time Im sure it will need another cleanup.
I’m trying to finish up BOMs from 2025. I just got the finishing kit last Saturday for one.
But I decided to make a Christmas Quilt from my stash. I have the 12 trees done and working on the Alt blocks now.
The last two weeks of December I will be at home sewing as we had all the family at Thanksmas this year. Thursday-Thanksgiving, Friday-Christmas.
I do the same thing with paper – oh the patterns I print with good intentions. then they end up in a pile have to be sorted then filed in the binders. I have no more room for binders. I somehow need to come up with a system to purge these??? I just keep thinking when I retire and have more time I can finally make those patterns.
Cutting table is still a mess but at least I found one corner so I can trim my blocks!
Thanks to my insomnia I reread all of the studio organizing challenges back to January 2020. I decided to go with the challenge of working on an older project that got pushed to the side. Here’s hoping that I can actually find the one I’m thinking about!
The floor is my biggest challenge…I keep the surfaces clear by piling into bins on the floor. Instead of getting rid of them I’ve added more🤪! Then I have to move them to get around! I really need to put the stuff away which means purging. It doesn’t get put away because it’s difficult or no room. My design wall sits in front of my fabric shelves so if there is something on it it’s hard to put fabric away. I will aim to take care of one pile before the end of the year (that’s doable since I started it 😂). I’m looking forward to the Final Countdown…and probably Just Get It Done decluttering in Jan., until then I’ll be making another gift and trying to get my Christmas quilt on my longarm finished. Time is flying and I’m feeling a little hopeless of accomplishing much with other obligations. Have a Merry Christmas! I sure enjoy reading your blog posts and seeing what you are doing.
I am going through all my papers on both cutting tables and my notebooks with quilt ideas, how tos, etc. and thinning out. Also, did Tucker manage to allow his foot to heal?