October Studio Organizing
Posted on October 22, 2024 by prairiemoonquilts in Studio Organizing ChallengeAltho I haven’t actually taken the time to sit down and sew here yet, I did get my handwork table cleared off. Once I DO start working there, I expect it to stay about as clean as my cutting table does! (See the reflection of my design wall in the window? — since I took this photo before daylight — I’ll be telling you all about that quilt in a couple days, so stay tuned!)
How did you do on the last challenge?
I’m late with this next one because I’ve been so scattered, I can’t decide what needs doing worst!
I spent a bit of time clearing my cutting table, but it’s not really clear, given all the projects I have laid out on it that I’m actually working on, so I’m not tackling that again until next week, when some (or most) of those projects will be gone and out of here.
That pile I worked on a couple challenges ago is still there. I cleared out some of it, then added more stuff back in. It seems to be the current catch-all spot for things I don’t quite know what to do with just yet. I’m still missing a couple pieces of furniture I need to get moved over, which will help immensely in getting things put away and up off the floor.
One huge step I made was getting all my solids moved over and put away where they belong. That got rid of a huge box and two smaller boxes that were just sitting in the floor at my old studio:
But it’s time to choose another serious challenge and just do it, if only to keep moving forward with this organization thing . . .
So what shall we do this time?
I think the best thing I could do for myself would be to . . .
Put away stray fabric
I’m currently refolding the rest of my large yardage to go into the closet instead of in tubs. This way, it will all be easy to access and use. But I found a couple of random boxes while moving that also have fabric in them (imagine that!), and it all needs a real home so that it’s not sitting around in boxes. So that will be my task this time.
How about you?
Do you have stray fabric laying around?
Fabric you intended to use for something, but decided not to, and it just needs to be put away?
Fabric leftover from a finished project that you haven’t found a home for yet?
The goodies from your last shopping excursion that you need to find a place for?
That coordinated bundle you don’t quite know what to do with? Or the leftovers from one you used out of?
Even scraps that need processing?
Let’s work on that this time, and see how much space we can clear up in our sewing areas. I’m hoping it gets rid of at least three boxes and a couple of large tubs! Remember: my goal has always been “clear floors”, so I’m still working toward that. At my age, all these stacks and boxes are nothing but a tripping hazard, and I’ve already had one broken elbow — haha!
YES, YES, YES!!! I have stray fabrics that need to be put away. This is the perfect challenge for me at this time. Let’s see how it goes.
My stray fabric has been pulled out for projects that I haven’t gotten around to cutting. My desk at home has a stack on it that I brought from the studio for my Leaves block production. The cutting table at the studio is the catch all and it needs time spent on it.
I have lots of stray fabric laying around that needs to be taken care of as I try to get things together for moving from a 900 sq ft mobile home to a 1900 sq ft house that is still loaded with stuff inherited from my parents. Along with dealing with the stray fabric I really need to weed out a bunch of stuff I haven’t used for yrs.
I’m making adults size quilts for my great grandchildren now even tho they aren’t adults! Not sure I’ll be around when they are. Problem is, I’ve gotten carried away and made more blocks than I needed and also have left over fabric too. Now what to do with this mess and get it organized somehow. I sure create a lot of problems for myself! Maybe I have enough to make more quilt🤪
I managed one counter clearing- and random fabric put aways will expose my husband’s T-shirt quilt that needs tying. Maybe can even bind it before Christmas. Now that could be my oldest WIP ever completed!
Oh groan…. I love doing your challenges, but this is a much needed one I hate to do…besides deciding is it just a blue or should it go in the kid box OR OR…
I’ll try!!
Thanks for motivating us.
Bev
I have a herd of stray fabric…. I was so proud last week. On my own I took out all the books and patterns and printed ideas… and organized and Culled… I was so satisfied after doing that.
I need to clean the floors, put away stray fabric and do scraps. Guess i should get busy.
The other day I was sorting through bags (actually looking for something that belonged in the car) and found a lot of fabrics that needed washing – I wash them all before using. All washed and ironed, now waiting for a home to be put away in. Otherwise the floor is still covered – last border to work on and the cats are annoyed I won’t let them in the room with their muddy paws!
Yes, to having stray fabric laying around.
I have nowhere to put it anymore.
It just seems to appear — including shirting that was given to me last month by a fellow guild member who thrust the bag into my hands with the words, “You deal with this; I don’t have time!”
OH MY, my sewing space is such a mess from fabric left overs, patterns, and I can’t find a clear flat surface. I have been so busy with other things I need to spend a week trying to sort & put away things. I can’t even think of sewing until I clean up my mess!
I guess I’m right on track for this month. My stuffed full scrap baskets got knocked over on the floor so I’m processing scraps! So time consuming! I keep asking myself if this is really how I should be spending my time while there are so many UFOs and other projects. I can’t seem to let them go either…such a dilemma!
I’m with you too. I keep starting to stitch scraps together and then tell myself “NO, you have too many other things to work on” and then next thing I know, I’m stitching scraps together again. UGH!!!
Good humor reading–and I fit in as well! Just came home last weekend from a quilt show where I purchased two grocery bags full of scraps from their sale tables. Looking forward to working my way through those for various scrap quilting projects and organizing as I go.
Boy do I need this now. DH has chemo treatments and doctor appointments every week. Then, I have my own appointments. So, I have done very little in the studio, except for making messes.
I desperately need to put away fabrics.
My fabrics are in good shape, but I moved the futon bed (which I used for a design area, into the adjacent bedroom. Now I’m going to build a design wall!!! Unfortunately I enlisted my husband who always makes projects 10 times bigger than necessary
. Wish me luck! He’s making a second trip to Loews now😩
Putting away fabric is definitely a task I need to do. Thanks for the motivation!