New storage concept. . .

so, I was in Wally World (aka Walmart) on Sunday and needed a small plastic bin to store my gardening tools in.  I panned over the large selection and my eyes fell on something, new, cute, right size and RIGHT PRICE!

Granted it wasn't meant for my gardening stuff, but it IS perfect for my sewing stuff!  You know those art bins that run $16 and up.  Well, these bins are along those lines but aren't 12" or 14" square (which is actually too big in my opinion), but they fit nicely into a stack and limited space.  And the RIGHT price?  Is $4.50!!  There were 3 color choices (at my Wally World) and so now I ponder on how to use that into my newly designed UFO storage area.



They are 3" deep, 13" long and 10" wide.  I only picked up a few to see how they would work into my area I already have for my UFO's.  I discovered a couple things.

• An un-cut UFO fits too tightly, so only pre-cut UFO's can be stored in these bins.


• I can only stack 16 bins in my area, meaning I can only have 16 UFO's


• Need to re- revalue uncut UFOs and either cut them or start my new stash (being I currently don't have one)


• Having a large rubbermaid bin just for uncut projects might be another option to go, but my goal is to downsize, so maybe not.

I'll be heading back to Wally World today and picking up a few more bins before they all go, then I'll retake some pictures to show them all being used properly :)

How are you organizing your sewing area this week?

WOW….what a weekend…

between my friend Sati and me I think we might have moved an entire house! First we moved a 6' foot couch and coffee table from my sewing area (finally) and stored it in her place. Then we put together the 2 organizers I have found that fit nicely with my items.

I took some before pictures....well, ya know that meme going around blog land a few weeks ago for the messiest sewing, I didn't apply because of embarrassment - - - and I'll show ya the main room before picture and after picture tomorrow (need to vacuum a wee bit more). But I can show you my new organized brightly colored corner:

Before, there was a 6' hutch - too dark in color and not very useful.

Now here's what it looks like in that same spot:

I have all my magazines and books in the 9-Patch Cube and going to put WIP (works in progress) in the Beachy Cubes. I still need to fill up several spots, but I'm weeding through MORE stuff/clutter/stash and freecycle folks love my posts to the list.

Back to cleaning up, I'm getting very excited that I can actually have friends over in a clutter free area--this week!!

Some days you just muddle through . . .

today is one of them. Well, I spent all afternoon walking off a over stuffed lunch from Olive Garden. My girlfriend is a lot more "girly" than me and aided me in getting a few new sweaters to wear for work and we shopped a few other places, including Target where I got new items for organizing my sewing area.

I feel a lot of weight on my shoulders I need to just let go, so that's the muddling through part ---ya know, things that make you feel "blah". So, I'm about to set up this new coolio storage organizer with bins (that was on clearance in the kid's area at Target) and fill it up with fabric stash and projects.....here's their picture:

The best part are the colors....don't they look beachy bright? Perfect for my piratey themed sewing area and life......yeppers, it's the simple goofy things. I'll post pictures tomorrow, once I fill it up!

Update: ugh, nothing like tearing open the entire box, setting all the pieces out and read to put together ---to discover no hardware was in the box....yes, on front of box it clearly states-Hardware included. Guess I'm going back to Target tomorrow....

wowsers….

I'm feeling a little lighter....I now have a list of 47 UFO's (was 80+), 21 Tops that need to be quilted (5 that are done, just need binding sewn on) and I have 20 Offerings! EPP!!

I want to get that 47 number down to about 20, so I might have to add a three offerings every Monday! And I'm impatient and want this stuff out of my house ---but where's the fun in that?

Next, I plan to weed through my fabric stash. There is a lot that I know just won't ever be used by me. That might take me the rest of the week!

Maybe do UFO's on Monday's and Fabric Friday Grab on Fridays? mmmmmmm.....(suggestions welcomed).

totally perfect day. . . .

of laziness!! Wore my pirate pj's all day and even tossed in a nap for good measure!!

But accomplished anything? nah...why would I do that!? Apparently I need the down time.

Though I DID start the organization process. I removed all items from a large bookcase I plan to move out of my sewing area and even dusted another area to move my quilting books too.

Tomorrow I'll start taking pictures of the area and as I start moving things around. I really feel I have a lot of wasted space, so going to try to think differently in storage and usage. Not to mention I do have a laundry room area with cabinets (old ones from our kitchen remodeling last year) that work for great storage as well. As I told my husband though, if I put things in those cabinets I forget I have them, so I prefer all my quilting items out where I can see them. Other crafty things I can store in the laundry room.

I'm also in the downsizing mode, so I have already accumulated lots of old magazines, books and tools that I don't need. Some will go to the shop with me, others I will offer up. I just have too much stuff and I want be simple.

I'm off to hand sew some, which next to cutting is my least favorite thing.

Oh yeah....no title thingy not working here in Blogger land - - - and I had a great subject title to draw everyone in....oh well....

I had an epiphany yesterday, like a bright light popped outside my head when I realized it. It's time to take a step back. As I looked around my rather large sewing area in disgust with how trashed it is, I realized I just can't focus on any one project and I'm starting to feel overwhelmed. So, for this week and maybe next, my focus is CLEANING UP! I'm even considering rearranging furniture and purchasing some new things to aid in my organization.

I'm too embarrassed to take pictures of the area right now, but once everything is picked up, then I will as I start moving things around.

I do have a few projects that I will still make the time to complete, mainly because of swap due dates and the 99% completion factor. I figured I could do 90 minutes a day dedicated to their processes: Doll Swap Quilt, LJ BOM top, and my Row by Row Swap.

Now I'm awake and have an hour to burn before work, I'm going to draw out my cleaning plan on paper and stick to it!

I think I’m ready….

to move forward. I have created and updated my ufo lists and have my new organizing tool in place. And it's actually given me more food for thought on how to get these UFO's done.

I have a list from last year that I had to turn into participate in a UFO Challenge. I'm not allow to add to that list, so I have to keep it (verses adding on the new items I have already accumulated this year) and start a new list.

I have also decided to create a 3rd list (I can see you already shaking your head, how crazy I truly am) just for charity projects. My logic with this list is being able to track costs for charity quilts and use them for tax purposes. Also as I have been weeding through my lists, I have moved several projects to donation status.

I have taken a hard and serious look at my UFO's. Will I use the UFO in my home? Can I use it as a gift? If, so to whom? Will I honestly finish? Do I still enjoy the project? Do have I all the needed supplies?

Those were the major evaluation questions I used. I also plan to use this process it weeding through my fabric stash and pattern collection. Keep your eyes peeled on http://tradersvillage.blogspot.com/ that's where I'll be posting things to go to new and wonderful homes.

Here is what I created with my index card file. So depending on my mood, in a glance I can see what needs to be cut, designed, sewn, etc. I have a card holder that I will use to hold what ever project I'm working on. I can document what ever I did to the ufo and move it forward in the index file. Monthly - maybe weekly - I can update my excel spreadsheet with the details.



Here are my stats:
UFO 2006 List: 47
UFO 2007 List: 27
Charity List: 11

I know when I got through my fabric I will be able to combine and make more UFO's which is ok, so I will be adding to this.

Next I need to take pictures of all my UFO's and update my website. That could take another week.