2010 Final Countdown-Task Two

Okay, I'm on to task two from Shelly's 2010 final countdown.  If you'd like to read it, here is the link for you:

http://prairiemoonquilts.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/2010-final-countdown-task-two/

True confession time.  Here is the before photo of my cutting table this morning:

Full of the Super Mario project, wrapping paper, boxes, bows, tissue paper, the box from one of Sweet Pea's Christmas presents, tags, my Soul Whisperer doll project, my hand sewing basket, a tub with some odds and ends in it (that Sweet Pea put there).  The pitcher of water is the water I brought down for filling my iron.

I put everything away in its rightful spot, and the after photo:

I even got the left leaf put down.  I typically keep it down so I am not tempted to put stuff on it.  Then, I can slide my table over a little and give me more room in my tiny room.  As you can see, this unfinished portion of the basement is not the most beautiful space for me, but it's working.  Now, I need to empty the garbage cans!  haha.

I like to keep my rotary cutting tools handy, along with a couple of other things (like my glasses).  And it always seems like there are other little things, like marking tools, etc. that tend to collect on the cutting table.  So, I put this little green pouch I had laying around on the table to corral those little items.

When I start cleaning up, it's sometimes hard for me to stop.  So, I did a few other things in my room this morning as well.

I have been working on getting these drawers organized for a couple of weeks now.  When we moved, I sort of just threw stuff in them.  I had ink pads, magic markers, etc. in these.  Oh, and quite a few UFOs and unstarted projects.  I completely emptied these and found new homes for that other stuff (still working on some of that).  I decided I wanted these drawers just for fabric storage.  So, my fat quarters, jelly rolls, and charm packs are in the small drawers.  I have wool and wool felt in some of the big drawers.  But most of them are for scraps.  I have a goal to get all my scraps cut up ala Bonnie Hunter style (I'll say more about that later, but if you want to read about her Scrap User System now, click here).  I have had that goal for a few years and haven't made much progress.  On my last few projects, I have been cutting my scraps right away into strips so they don't even hit the scrap bin.  I labeled my drawers for different widths of scraps (1", 1-1/2", 2", 2-1/2", 3", 3-1/2", odd sizes for larger scraps, and half-square triangle scraps.  Now, in the new year, I can start cutting up my scraps from the scrap bin and get that bin empty.  I can use that big bin for yardage storage.

I'd like to get some of those boards you wrap your fabric around to better organize my yardage and fat quarter storage.  I'm pondering that one a bit and will get back to you.

While I had the label maker out, I also labeled my drawers on this semi-new cabinet:

I got this this fall when my local sewing machine store was selling things really cheap.  The owner was retiring.  It's one of those really nice cabinets they make to go with the sewing tables.  I love all the skinny drawers.  I think it retailed for $380 and I got it for about $120.  I couldn't pass it up.  It's on wheels and fits under my desk.  I wheel it in and out when I want to use it.  I have been organizing all my thread in it.

I love Aurifil thread so much, I gave it its own drawer.

The quilting threads drawer.  Some day I might bet the little organizers they have to fit in these drawers, but right now, I am just making due with these little plastic trays I had laying around.

In the process of cleaning out drawers, I found an unaccounted for UFO.  I started this when I got my embroidery machine to learn how to do appliqué with my embroidery machine.  (In looking at this photo, I see there is a real problem on this lower border.  Look how crooked that sewing is!  Egad!  What was going on with me that day?!

I only got two of the 12 blocks made.  I feel like this project served its purpose (for me to learn to appilqué in the hoop), and now I'm sort of done with it.

I was never all that happy with my fabric selection for this project.  The store I took the class at had a limited amount of fabric, and I selected from that.  I still like a lot of the fabrics independently.  I just don't like them together.  And I'm not all that crazy about the harlequin fabric.

So, I tucked these blocks away and will eventually put them in an "orphan block" pile I'll start (I only have a few right now).  I put all the other fabrics back in my stash to be used in other projects.

I still have the embroidery designs.  I'll hang on to them for a bit.  I may end up doing a giveaway with it at some point.  We'll see. 

But there's another UFO I've dealt with.  That feels good.  It's off my plate now.

So, how are you coming?  What are you working on?

I'm feeling a little discouraged, because I think I might have made an error in my Super Mario quilt blocks.  I am trying to study it and see what I need to do differently.  The instructions aren't clear, so I'm not exactly sure.  I need to do some playing around.

We are experiencing a real January thaw here.  It's in the 40's today, and it's been raining!  Thundering even.  All the snow has melted.  It's pretty dreary, but I'll take the warm weather.

One more off-topic thought I forgot to mention yesterday.  Have you ever played Just Dance on the Wii?  I played it yesterday with my 8-year-old nephew.  It's pretty fun.  It plays music and shows an animation of a dance.  You have to follow along, and you earn points for imitiating the model well, staying on beat, etc.  It was really fun and quite tiring!  Great exercise.  My nephew kicked my but a few times, and I kicked his on some others.  If you have a Wii, this might be a fun game to check out!  I think dancing with kids is fun.

It's New Year's Eve.  Be careful out there tonight.  I am excited.  I'm driving to Grand Rapids tomorrow to go to the Attic Window and meet another blogging friend.  I'll give you an update!

Happy New Year to you!

Until next time,

Mama Pea

Comments

[Linda]

Your clean up and organizing job looks fantastic! I like my stuff like that but it never stays nice once I start working again in my space. :-) Doesn't last long for me! I too was juggling the idea of going to The Attic window for their big sale. LOL! I've never been there. Have you ever been to their New Year's sale? Again, a Happy New Year to you and your family, Stephanie!!

[Caroll D]

You are so organized. I'm jealous. I'm such a slob. Once I organized my room, then couldn't find a thing. Then after about a week it was back in its usual chaos. Still, I wish I could be like you. I seem to need everything out where I can see it, which means on top of my table. Gads.
Happy New Year! Maybe your good traits will rub off on me tomorrow.

[Lynn]

I did the second task too! Haven't made as much progress on actual sewing projects, but it feels good to have empty surfaces.

[Maggie Szafranski]

Getting organized is half the battle! My threads are never well organized, and it is so hard with all the different sizes, not to mention the large cones.

[sisLH]

I have all my threads, hoops, scissors, etc hanging on a pegboard. I love it! I also love these colors together! Why don't you?

[Renee]

Looks like you have been a busy beaver! Your space looks great. I have the same little green pouch sitting on my cutting table to hold my rotary cutters, markers and such.