Accountability
 

Hello everyone,
I had recently posted some pictures in the main thread for help with my fabric storage. That thread is here:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t181298.html
I am reposting those pictures here so you all see my dilemma lol
I received a lot of positive responses and great ideas on how and where to start. I have started doing the 15 minutes a day and have made tremendous progress but I still have a long way to go. I will try and take pictures of my sewing space to share with you all and perhaps your encouragement will help me get it to where it needs to be as well.
Hugs
April

Good for you for making the commitment and following through. 15 minutes a day will keep you focused and not overwhelm. Can't wait to see pics!

You have to start somewhere and I think 15 minutes a day is a good place to start.

Looking forward to seeing pictures of your progress as an inspiration. I would be embarrassed to take pictures of my space right now ... and it seems to keep getting worse when I try to "clean up". Thanks for your encouragement!

Keep at it and before you know it it well all be done!

Good for you. I need to figure out how to best set up my area in the spare bedroom so it can be available as a guest room when my daughter comes home for visits, and I can find things when I want them.

So Accountability... how often will you be updating us on your progress?

You have made good progress. It is nice to see your beautiful cabinets and counter.

I should join you! My room is just about the same...I keep saying right after I finish....then I start again...the fabics keep rising!

I am hoping to do an update once a week with a picture or two :) That should make me very accountable! I am also thinking maybe I will start a "Bad" pile for when I am bad and do not work on it. Put a piece of fabric in that and when everything is all done, draw a winner from those who supported me along the way to send my "bad girl" fabric to.....now how much of my stash do I want to loose LOLOL
Hugs
April

Your doing fine, I like the bad girl pile ideal, LOL
I bet that will keep you cleaning up, LOL we never want our fabric taken because we where bad. LOL

What if you do a 'longer' day ?? reward yourself if you do like 3 or 4 hours with a hot fudge sundae !!!!

I wished I lived closer. I love to organize things. I would have a blast organizing your room for you. Put some music on and dig in. I like to clear out one portion of the room, straighten that portion and move to the next section. I have a couple of ideas of very inexpensive organizational tools that I will post for you. As you do each section, stand back and admire what you have done and how great it feels to be organized.

Here is one link: http://www.amazon.com/Spectrum-77170.../dp/B001I07XU6

These are shelf dividers and they might work for your shelves. If you google shelf dividers, you will find a plethora of options.

Glad the 15 minutes is working for you LovingIz!!! .... I think I saw some woodgrain fabric there that you might use in your PC. Bet the horses galloped away first! :) If you haven't yet, start a bin with PC prospects, to save having to look for them later!

Remember ...
Inch by Inch ... it's a cinch
And Yard by Yard ... it's hard!!

Just do those 15 minute inches and you'll see your progress sooner, than you think possible!

Room Pictures
 

Thank you so much for the ideas of the shelf dividers. Any further organization tips are greatly appreciated!

That woodgrain you saw is actually a part of a planned fishing quilt lol :) The fabrics for my PC is contained in 4 yes 4 totes. I have been collecting horse/western fabric for a very long time and they have always gone together...at least I am a smidge organized...right?

So here are some pictures of the rooms I use for my sewing space. Can you see how badly I need to get it organized? Perhaps I need to convince hubby to build me some sort of storage solution or something...
Hugs
April

PS
Please ignore the dust on the old sewing machines. Hubby decided to use his saw not too far from them and I did not get them dusted down before I took the pictures :( Now I have to yell at hubby...sigh LOL
Hugs
April

Good luck.

:) You've got the part that's most important to you organized already! Keep an eye as you do the folding/sorting ... you'll find lots more potentials for the PC that you hadn't thought about. I know I have ... and then someone posts another block done, and I say, oh never thought of that. I have some of it hiding in my stash ... and then go digging! (like you, I do know where my cows are though!)

Good luck and keep at it! Looks like you have a nice place to sew in and lots of potential to make it an efficient studio for yourself!

If you are ever in Bay Area look me up! I need a quilter who doesn't know me well (so not as embarrassed!) to help organize my space and fabric! LOL! Bet lots of quilters in your area will be contacting you for help!

Here's a great idea for you: tell Izy she is in charge of small blue pieces which need to be folded and stacked neatly! I did that with my grandangel and he chose purple and dug right in!

Terrific start !!! If you have piles of "unsure" why not donate some to your quilt guild, girl scouts etc. I am sure there are many groups that would love unwanted treasures. IMHO.

Hang in there and just keekp at it. It will eventually get done and you will be so proud of yourself.

I wish I lived closer I would love to come help clean up. :-) I actually like organizing things as long as I am not rushed.
Here is a plus once everything is organized. It took me less than 30 minutes to clean up my space this last time. :-) I was so surprised I just stood there looking for something else to put away. LOL

I'm right there with you.
 

I so understand how you feel. I get overwhelmed when things pile up and have a hard time making myself face my mess. I have a few messes to clean up right now.

You definitely have the right idea about working fifteen minutes a day. When I was a stay-at-home mom I found that I could set a timer for 15-20 minutes and spend that time doing as much housework as I could. It is amazing how much you can get done that way. Since there is a limit you feel like you want to beat the clock. Sometimes I would get so carried away I would continue longer. If you find yourself stuck, try the timer idea. I think having that limit spurs me to do as much as I can during that short period.

Good luck and keep up the good work. I think I will get my timer back out tomorrow.

Keep going. You have a really nice area for quiting/sewing. Looks like lots of room. Soon you will have it where you want it & will enjoy it more. Send more pics.

LOL...that's not going to work Katmom. Quilters know each other the minute they start gabbing fabrics!!!
But the good thing is, a nice fellow quilter will not mind and you'll be folding and cleaning and talking without even realizing it.
We all have messes. Some of us admit it ;)

lol...yes, trade one compulsion for another April!
(nooo,...don't follow in my pawsteps :eek:...although I am on the right path now ;))

April, I have a new sewing room bc I outgrew my old one and we needed a guest room anyway.
You appear to be suffering from my old malady: toomuchitis!
It may not be too much, but it's hard to tell right now.
Now, no red cheeks, you should have seen mine!:shock:
It looked like a commercial for the Hoarders...almost. I was always organizing, but there was too much to organize.
My suggestion:
Somebody was joking, I think, but clear all your fabrics into large garbage bags.
That could take 15 minutes and be day 1.
Day 2...dust.
Day 3: sweep and vacuum.
Day 4: wipe down all dirty surfaces and counters, table tops. Sweeping and vacuuming isn't going to put the "shine" back.
You'd be surprised how good shiny surfaces can make you feel.
Buy yourself a mirror or two. They help to make the room feel bigger and add reflective light.
Day 5: use a ruler of your size choice and fold some of the fabric in one of the bags.
If you want to "sort" your fabrics, transfer the freshly folded fabs to a box for the time being, so they won't get knocked over, etc.
When all fabric is folded, you can then separate them by color or project, etc.
I have kept my fabrics by project for years.
It keeps me from buying so much willy-nilly...well, it helps, lol!
Oh, you just don't know!!!
I am the conundrum. I sway back and forth between chaos and utterly organized.
It's an ongoing thing I have to work at to keep the "hoardiness" at bay.
Messes make my head swim and make me crazy and I can't create,...but they happen.
You can't cook without making dirty dishes.
You can't play without cleaning up toys etc.
You can't sleep without eventually needing fresh linens.
So why do we feel so guilty that our sewing areas get untidy?
It's all part of the process.
You've realized that you have to schedule time to do the maintenance part to have some sanity.
Your off to a wonderful start!
using a timer is a wonderful idea that I use constantly.
It started in the kitchen, so I wouldn't burn things and then it helped me keep going on projects.
Usually, quilters like us, suffer from distraction and overwhelmedness, lol...don't you love my vocabulary?
I'll be back...lol...we need all the help we can get staying on track, so I'm here, and you don't have to worry about "bad" girl fabrics for me.
Your not going to be bad. Your going to get more organized :)

you have your work cut out for you but you are getting there

I have a very tidy room but I had never ruler folded my fabric. There are a few threads I just saw recently on ruler folding. I just grabbed my favorite ruler and tried it. It works beautifully. It allows me to use alot less space to store the fabric and allows me to scan what I have.

I also have separate boxes for each of my WIP.

I was looking at the functionality of your storage. I think it isn't working because it is open on all sides. It makes it awkward to store your fabric. I would recommend getting or making bookcases with a closed back and sides. I also got a new storage container for my threads. It is closed and stores threads on two sides (I use one side for the machine piecing/quilting threads and the other side for the hand quilting (for stitching bindings).

Here is the link for the thread storage: Http://www.ConnectingThreads.com/Too...r__D82068.HTML

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. :) Good for you ....getting started!

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions, input and encouragement! I am working for at least 15 minutes a day in the rooms and slowwwly making progress. I will take pictures again soon and post where I am at.
Thank you all again and keep those suggestions coming!
Hugs
April

Now that Izabella is mass producing!!! :) Be sure she does her "time" at the task at hand, so she learns that it's not all play, and no work!! :)

LOLOL So very true..she just started a fourth mini quilt. She is on a roll :) I will have to make her work for her stash now...which is my stash but that's okay if it helps organize mine some to give her some it works for me LOLOL
Hugs
April

Be sure to have her post #2, #3 and #4 on "her" thread ......... anything to encourage her! :)

Good work on a big challenge. I agree with the concept of fluctuating between total organization and complete chaos. Say, those thread holders suggested are great, but I have so many old fashioned fat spools, and that looks like it only holds the skinny Gutterman or Sulky or such.

Glad to hear you're still working at your 'project'. I think I posted on your first thread. I'll keep an eye on you too

Wow, I love your pictures! Your room looks like a quilter lives there. I'm subscribed to this thread and I can't wait to see the end result when you're finished. Keep on keeping on girl! Your 15 mins a day plan is fabulous!!

Christine-
http://quiltdasher.blogspot.com/