December Studio Organizing Challenge

Posted on December 15, 2020 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing Challenge

Well! I once again fizzled on last month’s organizing challenge. I did not even get close to working on the goat quilt, but it’s still on my list — and still on my cutting table!

That list of projects I made from my cutting table last month — well, I decided to also add in the projects on my ironing board, and all the projects on the table beside my sewing machine, and the ones on my design wall, and the list grew from 35 projects to 53. Horrifying, right?

I added a few new ones that came up and had to be done, I finished 11 projects, and moved one to the to-be-quilted pile. I’m now back down to 41. Still horrifying, but at least some progress was made in the right direction, and I’m still working on it. I’d like to be down to less than 5 projects laying around on my cutting table. I re-wrote my list, and will keep re-writing it every month. Hopefully, it will get smaller quickly. Wish me luck!

Here’s the current state of my cutting table:

This month, I’m not really offering up a new organizing challenge. If you’re like me, you have enough on your plate to do, all before the end of the year, so adding one more thing is not helpful. I plan to just:

Work on a previous challenge that still needs doing

and take it easy on myself. Drink some eggnog, knit a little, ignore the messes!

I still have a few things that must be done for customers before Christmas, but that list is getting smaller, too, and then I plan to take some much-needed time off, work on my house remodeling projects, and enjoy the holidays with My Cowboy. Maybe I can yet get that final upstairs room turned into a hand sewing haven in my studio — we’ll see. I can’t even decide on a paint color, and time is running out!

BUT . . . as usual . . .

The Final Countdown WILL go on at the end of the year, so stay tuned for that! We can all head into 2021 with a bit less on our plates, and a more organized workspace. It always makes me feel better. I hope you’ll join in. (If you aren’t subscribed already, you can subscribe to the blog to be notified when The Final Countdown starts. Just fill out the little form in the upper right.)

Until then, I hope you are heading into the holidays with as little stress as possible, and enjoying the season.

17 responses to “December Studio Organizing Challenge”

  1. Elle says:

    Honestly, this room would prevent me from working on anything. Would you consider boxing everything up, label with what’s inside, and stack the boxes? Leave out only the tools where you use them. Clear cutting, ironing and sewing stations would be so inviting.

    Merry Christmas and most definitely enjoy the season with those you love.

  2. Patricia Cash says:

    I finished the binding on my Christmas quilt, yeah!

  3. Diane says:

    My sewing area is in similar condition. My cutting table, my desk and my floor. I’m hoping to do much much better next year. I need to be focused on finishing what I’ve started, and putting my tools away when I’m done. I fritter hours away just trying to locate what I had in my hands or put in a safe place.

  4. Melanie says:

    Sounds like life is “normal.” Bahahahaha. Yes, you need to prioritize some rejuvenation time. I truly believe we are only as good as our last rest. Merry Christmas!

  5. Suelynn Williams says:

    Reading your post makes me feel better! Thanks, as always, for sharing (which also takes time). Have a wonderful Christmastime.

  6. Randy Menninghaus says:

    O Shelly, you make me feel that there is hope for me. I am hip deep in a holiday tree quilt. It is forcing me to bemire precise. There is math, and things are fiddly.
    In mid November I declared November Halloween quilt month,, and December Holiday quilt.. for ever forward. I don’t need a reason and I have a season. However only 10 blocks so far so I have to get cracking

  7. Kerry says:

    Well my room is still a mess but now organised in such a way that I can start quilting that quilt! A panic when I couldn’t find the LED light box thingy (why does the light break on the sewing machine when you need it – and it was replaced when it was serviced!) and thought it had broken. Well the kitties had played in the box, chewed it and stuffed it down the back of a chair. Saw how it worked and hey presto – I have light! No more excuses!
    I ended up using less blocks as it was already huge on the bed – I now have lots of 16 patch blocks spare! Ready for the next scrappy thing I do!
    Enjoy the eggnog – that’s something I’ve never had – but wouldn’t mind having a go!

  8. Amanda M. says:

    My cutting table looks about the same as yours. I would probably keel over in surprise if I ever get the pile at the end of it worked up. I did get the challenge completed last month!!! I have a t-shirt quilt to make and it doesn’t have to be done by Christmas yet I know they would prefer it be. I also aim to create a couple of whole cloth quilts for a couple of little girls but I’m not going to stress out. 2 things I really need to do is cook at home daily and use my fabric stash.

  9. I’m with you Shelly. It’s time to not stress over what’s not done and just enjoy doing what I can. Much of my time right now is taken up with DH and his ongoing medical appointments and testing so I’m just enjoying when I have time or energy to play with fabric or wool.

  10. Cindy Wienstroer says:

    I feel good – finished 20 small tops for charity using orphan quilts & stash and got them sent to my cousin in OK. Did some reorganizing and put backs & batting to smalls tops so maybe can quilt them between some tops i wanted to make. Scraps still need to be cut & but away but such is life. Enjoying a slower pace but it might get done next year! Have a slow holiday to enjoy life.

  11. Kate says:

    A wise person told me to pray for the ability to regard myself (and my pile of ufo-s) with compassion. ‘Tis the season to be kind and may it begin with me.

  12. Carole S. says:

    I do appreciate your reminders to just keep at it. Last night I finished my sister’s stocking, a project I started too many years ago. I’m afraid that if I look too closely at it, I won’t like it, but I just have to call it finished.

    The sewing areas are still chaotic, too, but they’ve been worse, so I shall just keep moving along. I hope you have a comfortable holiday, and stay safe and warm.

  13. Marlene Clausen says:

    Sometimes I think we need an “intervention;” but, then I look at all that gorgeous fabrics and plans for it and it’s potential. I think, no, I enjoy this so why not! I don’t go out to eat, go to liquor stores or shop for clothes, no vacations, movies, or plays (not JUST 2020 restrictions), don’t own a boat, don’t go to casinos. My fun is creating. HOWEVER!! having it organized so I can actually see what I have planned or working on makes it more enjoyable. I took on organizing this year (thank you, Shelly) and I’m really sticking to it. Next year I’m taking on completely renovating my sewing room.

  14. Ginny says:

    Have a Great Christmas and time away from work. We’ll be gone from the 23 to Jan 5 or 6. So no organizing for me. Hopefully we will do some house hunting even find one in TX to buy.

  15. Darlene says:

    Hi Shelly, that is a terrific cutting table with great size to store your projects. I have finished a quilt for my granddaughter ‘s 1st Birthday who is now 3 ! I have been trying hard to cut & store scraps as I go. I took out a 2nd table because there was no room on the cutting table but 2nd table is clean. Hoping to get the cutting table cleaned between the holidays. Enjoy your time w/ yourcowboy, relax with your eggnog!!!

  16. Celia says:

    Thank you for showing us your cutting table. It makes me feel like I am not alone in my chaos. I finished the last project for Christmas and now I am going to get back to work organizing the sewing room. Of course, the cat found an empty space on a shelf and has made it his own. He will be very sad when said space is gone.

  17. Penny says:

    I too, was glad to see you’re like me. I always berate myself b/c it gets like this. I am trying to finish one quilt at a time instead of getting overwhelmed and doing zero. I guess I’m not alone with UFOs!

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