June Studio Organizing, Task One
Posted on June 10, 2023 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing ChallengeDid you find a random tub to clean out last time? I know some of you did. It’s always fun to hear about what you find while organizing. And comforting to know that I’m not alone!
I ended up cleaning out all four of the little tubs on the top of my gigantic tub pile (which you can see HERE). Now I need to keep going and work my way through the boxes and larger tubs as well. I still have a lot to do!
But meanwhile, it’s time for the next task. And I don’t like doing this one, but it desperately needs doing, and we haven’t made it a real challenge for a while, so here it is again:
Clear off your main work surface
My cutting table has gotten out of control! I was doing so good with cleaning it off every weekend, and never allowing more than a certain number of projects to be on it, but things have been so crazy around here, that I gave up and haven’t paid it much attention.
Here’s its current state:
What a mess! And it’s starting to creep back onto my ironing board, too. Need to nip this avalanche in the bud! I know I won’t get it completely cleaned off, but I hope to at least give myself a little bit of room to work! Sheesh!
How about you? How’s your main work surface? Are you trying to work in a little 10″ square area, too? I’m thinking that’s just me, cos it’s so ridiculous! Haha!
Surely I can make some good progress on it over the next two weeks. Good luck to you, as well.
Great task. My work surface was in pretty bad shape, and I just recently cleaned it off. It won’t take me too long to get it in shape again. Of course, if I clean the piles I took off the table… that will take some time.
Stuff was closing in on my cutting table; how did that happen?!!! Now clean. Next, clean my basket which was sitting untouched for months. Found strips for my log cabin blocks! Nice reward!
You have 10″ to work in? You must be ecstatic! 🙂
OH MY!!! I would go crazy. My cutting table stays pretty clean. Now, the sit down machine table next to it sometimes gets a little piled up. Right now my sewing table is a mess. I recently got an embroidery machine and today I did my first tshirt. The tear away stabilizer is ALL over. I have a date tonight so it will get cleaned tomorrow.
I need to do this in my place……….but, with my dad’s passing 3 weeks ago, my sorting / cleaning out is being done right now at what was my parents home for the last 45 years. Lots of work there to get done so that I can live there and get all of my stuff into the house.
Thank you Shelly. Due to you I have started a habit of keeping a clean cutting table. No it gets piled up sometimes, but I make myself stop and “put away” before I cut anything. The ironing board is the same. It is so nice to work on clean surfaces.
Tub update. I wish I took a before picture. But after your last challenge, I got to work. A progression started,
1. needed space for fabric bought at discount, over 4 yards bolts. Solution shelf were tubs and storage cubes holding leftover batting.
2. Scrap batting put in large bag to gift to Guild dog beds. Shelf now holds bolts
3. Need storage for large batting pieces: solution two under bed storage boxes had items from a move in 2020 not sorted.
4. Sorted under bed boxes gifted unnecessary items, put patterns with patterns, UFOs in UFO area and leftover fabric in stash by color
So I did empty 2 (tubs) but filled them with usable items and put under guest bed.
It feels so clean now.
Since my work surface is clean. Will work on some old FedEx boxes that have projects.
How timely! Was so messy i started cleaning space this afternoon – made some progress but need more. Did my 2 tubs but didn’t find any fun stuff☹️. Keep plugging away on my lists of projects. My sister was visiting so now have 3 more to make before Christmas.
I did get 3 tubs/ boxes dealt with that were on my floor trying to be a tripping hazard. Box #1 was donations that is now moved to the garage to be taken to donation center on the next trip. Bin #2 was small pieces of batting that I took to my friend who does all kind of small and miniature projects. I also emptied the cut off batting into the pet bed and finished it up. Bin #3 just had one project left and since I just finished the last embroidered block the blocks are on the design wall to contemplate color placement, empty bin removed to garage storage.
I did a little catch up on the first task of the month too…the tv console where I have my current WIP containers had gotten piled so high couldn’t see the tv 😱! I got the extra fluff put away so I can concentrate on getting those limited projects completed.
My work surface is part of my active sewing cabinet. It’s in good shape as I’ve been working on bindings on the machine and need it to be clear. However, my secondary sewing cabinet is covered and I have one bin on the floor still that has fabric that needs to be put away. I hope to get those dealt with. Ideally I’m hoping to sell that secondary cabinet or donate it, just not sure where all the to do stuff will go then.
Inch by inch we will get there! You are continuing to make progress and get work done. That deserves a pat on the back!
Congrats on being featured in Fons & Porter`s Love of Quilting magazine!
mine is terrible! definately needs work!
I’m in the process of moving from my house to my fiance’s; thankfully he’s not that far away. The worst part? One pack rat marrying another. My sewing machines and fabric will be moving in with my long arm next door to where I was living. Right now everything is a hot mess.
I have begun a resorting of my color bins, prompted by Brenda at YouTube, Conquering Mount Scrapmore. I don’t do everything she does, but I found some ideas I could integrate into what I was already doing. Why is it that I keep needing bigger bins??? =)