Its hard for me as well, i thought when i left work to care for my grandson, that i would have more time, haha, to hard to work on anything and take care of him and now his little brother and a sister on the way, i am their five days a week and 10 hours a day, i don't bring anything to work on because the boys want me to play with them, and besides time is fleeting and i won't have them this age to much longer. Somehow i have to fit my time on the weekends, too tired at nite.

From one "Oscar Madison" to another, I hear you. I'd rather toss stuff around and clean up between projects. I just have to be careful, thread gets around the wheels (axles) of my wheelchair. Hubby hates when I drag little scraps around the house.

I have two sewing centers in my home. Retired so home most days, one of my sewing centers is in our living room, utilizing three tables - 2 fold up tables - one table holds a box with 24 partitions (DH fishing box) for all thread/thread heaven, frixion markers, crayons, inktense pencils pens/pencils, stitch rippers, needles/theader/, thimble, tape measure, , DMC thread, tweezes, nailpencil, nailfile, paint and brushes, glue , and SewEz Sewing Table with three different tops, I can use as a light table, or as just a table - to do my applique work or with my sewing machine, having a magnitier lamp, and a floor Ott lamp with a small table attached to the lamp, I took out my comfy chair and use an office chair in its' place, the 2nd fold up table, holds fabrics, patterns and collection of applique pieces, etc., and a garbage can and finally the fireplace and Big Screen TV... and this is where DH spends his evenings.

Then I have a fairly large bedroom that we converted into a sewing/quilting room, and that is where I spend time taking a break from the applique quilt project in the living room, and I always seem to have one of those on the go. I keep a tub under my sewing table for those projects that need finishing. At today, there is a table runner(going to make into lap quilt), 3 wallhangings (PP that I was doing incorrectly - and the third one is going to be perfect...LOL), and a quilt that just needs the mitered corners tweaked.

I just go from room to room and work on everything a little bit - probably about an hour each project, so it doesn't take long to deal with the UFO's, and there are always more in the tub to start....I clean up these areas at least once per week..I find it too overwhelming if I leave the mess behind for too long.

Then there's beading, stamping, scrapbooking, gardening...

Michele in NY<----still trying to learn to put one toy away before bringing out another

Congrats on completion of the Dresden Plate Quilt! That is one of my favorite patterns--one I doubt I will ever tackle, however. I'm just beginning with simple projects presently and that's challenging me. Good luck with your 2012 resolution.

I work full time so my creative time is limited. I like to quilt, scrapbook (paper and digital), knit and I dabble in photography. Since this is a quilt board I will tell you what I do for this hobby.

I have a master task list of UFO's and projects that I have purchased supplies for and haven't started. I have a description and what stage I am at - top finished, needs quilting, needs border, etc.

I keep each UFO in a plastic box with all fabrics, instructions and anything else that is needed for that quilt.
Some boxes have more than one project in it.

Just this week, I took two unstarted projects and put them together into one quilt. The top is finished and I'm working on the back. Next week I will quilt it and cross off 2 projects off my list. :_

here is a photo of some of my boxes:

I work on a few quilts at a time so I don't did bored. I love to knit, and love other crafts but never seem to have time. I'm also reading 3 books at one time. I must have ADD.

I can't tell you how much different stuff I've got going. MY younger DD brought over fabric for me to make 4 dresses for my new grand-girl, Wednesday, maybe. This morning she called and asked if they were done. I laughed at her. And she was serious.

Right now I'm finishing up #4 & #5 grocery cart seat liner for little kiddos.

Working on making a fitted sheet for my bed--------------one fitting at a time. Got more work to do tomorrow.

Generally I decide what I'm in the mood for each morning.

I'm retired as well, so i just go with whatever flows in my mind lol.

I always have several projects going i have bad arms, hands, and neck so i work on the one that is less demanding on the part that is bothering me the most that day. i keep each one in a seperate container of some kind depending on what it needs to keep it alll together I always keep one no brainer project going like a crazy quilt or something i can do with Grandbabies here or just to tired to think but need to be busy I would burn out just doing one thing.

I have multiple--multiple projects in the works, about 38. Obviously, I don't work on all of them at the same time. I just discovered The Quilt Album, rather like a journal for quilts. It's a software program for $30. (www.thequiltalbum.com) You can upload a photo of your finished quilt and note all its particulars--or as I'm going to do, projects in the works. Then I can refer to what is underway or what I have purchased fabric and patterns for and are in the planning stages. Think it is just what I need to get project organized. And it's easy to use! I'm not even thinking of the clothes sewing I want to find time for! And I work.
SandyQuilter

I find I have to limit myself to 3 projects. It helps when each project is at a different stage so that you can sew for awhile, cut for awhile, press for awhile, quilt for awhile. I can only quilt for an hour and only when I have sunshine coming through the window, so it's ideal to have other stuff available to work on (although I also have crochet, cross stitch and knitting).

The grandkids will be all too soon grown - you are so smart to understand that and treasure this time with them. They will treasure it also. Soon enough they'll be off on their own, but better off for having had your attention. There are pens and mats and rockers and swings and cribs and walkers to hold them, but there is nothing better than Grandma's lap!

I bought some folding storage boxes at the Dollar Tree. They're just the right size for a project. The ones that I'm seriously working on are in those and 'those' are in the big shopping bags from Aldi and are ready to go on retreat. (I go on a quilting retreat once a month) Other projects are in large ziplocks patiently waiting for me to get around to them.

I am a "mood" stitcher. I have to be in the right mood to do certain projects. I keep each project in a basket, so I can keep it all together. Then when I need a break, I just switch projects. A little at a time on each project gets a lot done. I sew both garments and quilts, and working from my baskets keeps me "on task"

I always pick the one that is more fun!!! Lol. I always have alot of projects going on at the same time. The only thing I need more of is time. I had a 4 day weekend and got a queen and a lap quilt done from start to finish. I just let the other projects sit for a while.

One at a time is all you can do. SOmetimes I start with the one I want to do the most and sometimes I save it for last.

I put my current projects (not UFOs) in separate bags...most of the bags I made myself. then I grab the one that I feel is calling to me the loudest... I currently have 4 bags hanging out with "current projects" in them. My FW Sampler, an AFOH quilt, my Thinking outside the Box quilt and a current Friendship Swap F8s. My UFOs are another story..they are in a 48 gal tote! I don't even want to talk about them!