Organizing New Year's Resolution for our Sewing Spaces
 

Hi everyone,
I'll start. I vow to take purchases out of the plastic shopping bags and put them into their proper spaces right when I bring them into my space. Better yet, I'll start using all of those reusable shopping bags I've purchased to eliminate the plastic and paper bags all together. This should go a long way to unclutter my space and to help me become more efficient with the limited amount of time I have to create.
Okay, your turn. Can't wait to hear your resolution!
Happy organizing,
lots2do

I guess I will be second. I vow to make my sewing space neat and tidy. I will put my fabric where it belongs and get all my notions in a cabinet where I can find them. I also vow to each day do something to perk it up and most of all, I vow to finish up all those UFO's that are lurking around. I will take all the clutter and bags etc. out and all the things I will not use, I will send, donate, take to others who will hopefully put them to use.
Okay, next !!!!!
Pat

I vow as I change rooms from a small bedroom to a 2 room quilt studio suite, to purge and organize even better than now! I am currently working on long over due UFO's. I just need the time and space to get them completed. I also vow to have my quilt tops finished by myself or a longarmer. I also vow to get my scraps organized and make the many scrap quilts I want to do! Luann in Snowy Cold CT

I vow to at least think about it!

I vow to not make any New Year resolutions!:)

i vow to clean up after myself and put things away when I finish with them instead of leaving them out on the tabletops. I will use all those wonderful storage organizers I've amassed through the years.

These sound great to me! Keep 'em coming!

Ok,,,,,,,,,,I'm in the same boat as 'tessagin'....
Upon thinking about it, I will "STRIVE" to work on my UFO's and put things away, not pulling out another 3 or 4 projects at one time..........uhhhhhhh............I really need to do something about returning items to their home........ohhhh, I guess I could work on unloading the 'flat spaces'......I think this tells you all way to much about how I keep my room.....
I will follow "tartan's post and refuse to actually Make a New Year's Resolution, but I will think about it and if the mood strikes me I might do something about it. But, I'm NOT putting pressure on myself. roflol :wave:

At our beelet Christmas party last year we all wrote goals for the year. We are going to read them this next week at the Christmas party. I will try to stay tidier and get projects finished.

No pressure here, just encouragement!

I vow to do more sewing this next year. I will have some projects cut out and ready to go when I have a few min. I have some vacation coming around Christmas time and plan to finish some of the UFO's I have setting here. I also plan on getting my Husky Rose on the table to use too.

I will TRY to downsize my sewing stuff. I currently have things in two different rooms. Thought I was getting a handle on it, but opened a small cabinet and found several unopened quilt kits that I don't remember buying! I bought them from Connecting Threads when they went on clearance. So, I will TRY to pass along, sell, or donate things I rarely use and kits I know I will never get around to making...

Such inspiration - OK, I will try to use up more stash and double my QFKs.

hmm I think I will just vow to see how many of you keep your vows :thumbup:

Last year I made a rule for myself that I had to finish 2 ufo's before I started a new project. I did pretty well with it. I have plans for some of my stash that I will probably never use. My guild makes doll quilts for Salvation Army. I am going to make up kits from my stash for our guild sew in day. Last year we made 60 doll quilts on that day. Some were taken home to finish. I think we ended up donating 125 doll quilts. We also made 5 Quilts of Valor.
I need to organize my notions. I can never find them.

I won't vow but I will set goals, I have one goal to make 7 doll quilts for Operation Christmas Child next year. I made one this year as a newbie and really enjoyed it. A subgoal is to make all seven doll quilts with only scraps. Another goal is to finish a baby quilt for my sister's first baby before she has a second! A third goal is to take at least 2 classes to learn more.

After picking fabric for a new project I vow to put back all the fabric that won't go into the quilt rather than letting it sit on top of my table, on the floor, or where ever it finds itself. I vow to use up fabric I already have. Hopefully it won't be difficult to chose fabric now that it is all ruler folded and put away by color, etc. I vow not to buy any backing fabric after discovering that I have enough already purchased to make at least 30 quilts.

Nice problem to have! :)

I have tons of scrapbooking, stamping and craft stuff. My goal is to purge some it, organize it and make room for more fabric. I'm good about picking up and putting away during and after each project, i just have too much dang stuff! My room s organized but its floor to ceiling stuff!

I vow to make a big cup of hot cocoa, add some of those cute little marshmallows, and sip it while sitting here, thinking of you all and all the organization you're accomplishing.
After that, I'll be so overwhelmed by the thought, I'll take a nap.
Then, I'll wake, peek in my sewing room, and decide it must have been just a dream (that someone came while I was napping and cleaned my sewing room)

RugosaB...:)

Hey, I'm starting small with just tackling my bag habit. I think it'll be do-able.

I'll jump on this train. I vow to get the pegboard installed on the wall above my cutting table and get my rulers and scissors hung on it. I also will get the TV mounted on the wall so I can move the cutting table away from the wall and have access to all four sides.
My studio is in the unfinished part of our basement and I don't have a lot of wall space. I'm thinking of making a fabric "wall" to hang from the rafters behind my sewing machine, too I want to cover up the furnace and some storage that's under the stairs in that area.
Once I get the pegboard up, I'm sure I'll be inspired to do more organizing and then get some of those UFO's done and work on the "quilts in my head"!

Anne P in Seattle

I promise to finish unpacking my sewing things from my move early this past summer!

I second that one!!!!

I do not make New Year's resolutions because when I do, life has a way of getting in the way and taking things out of my hands. Instead, I try just to do better each yr, I try to keep my house cleaner, try to not let things stress me out as much (like my daughter) and try to not impulse buy. I did really well this yr on the fabric, I actually started that Oct of the 2012 and only bought fabric when I "needed" it to finish a project or make one. I have bought a lot of fleece since this Oct because I'm making about 20 NFL quillows for Christmas presents. I use paper bags instead of plastic because then I use them when I'm cleaning the house, I carry it from room to room and they are better for the enviroment plus when my daughter leaves her kids clothes at the house when I wash them I put them in paper bags. Yes, its a little harder to carry groceries into the house but I don't have far from my drive way to the front door. I've tried using the reusable ones but I forget to either put them back into my car or take them into the store with me. I gave up.

I get frustrated when I try to say I'm going to do something and then life changes it to where I can't. Like my granddaughter. Her mom (not my daughter) decided several yrs ago that I wasn't allowed in her life for some unknown reason. I said thats ok, she's been around me enough that she knows I love her and when she turns 18 no one can stop us from seeing and talking to each other. Well, she turned 18 this past yr and we could finally get close again. Then one month I got a call that she was in the hospital with double kidney infections, she got over that and then got sick a few weeks later and contracted two rare blood diseases and in one month from kidney infections, she passed away. This yr I just want to stay closer to my kids and grandkids and enjoy life because we never know when its our last day or someone we loves last day.

Happy Holidays to everyone on this quilting board and your families.

I am still going to try to use up my scraps. I still have a long way to go. I have squares that were cut years ago before rotary cutters became popular. I am going to use them also.
I put away all leftover fabrics when I finish the quilt I am working on. I totally finish one quilt before I start another.
Good luck to everyone succeeding with their goals.

This is fun. I give up on real organization, just enough to keep the floor clean for walking and organized enough so things can be found when needed. My real resolution is to plan ahead for cooking so there can be PLENTY OF LEFT OVERS which would reduce the number of days I have to prepare three meals a day. This should give me much more time for my sewing projects.

Any other organizing resolutions out there in cyber space?

So sorry to read about your granddaughter passing away just when you get back together again. It is really hard to stay in touch when someone won't let us isn't it?

I'm going to stick to the same resolution I had last year. I did it and I'm so proud of myself. I planned to complete at least 1 quilt a month and learn a new skill. I actually completed 14 quilts and learned appliqué.. If I can do the same in 2014, then I will be happy. I have my sewing room pretty well organized so that won't be a problem. I usually just have the "stuff" out for the quilt I am working on. Good luck on all your resolutions.

Here is hoping that the quilters night before Christmas has a sequel. " the new year Eve's quilters special" it was new year eve when a coach full of quilters arrived. Each one aimed to tidy that years mess all ready for a new beginning the next day neat and tidy.
Oh I wish.

I like Rugosa's plan of action. It sounds like one I could get accomplished.

I will go through my stuff and finish the organizational process. I will also finish some of those 80+ projects that I have started!

Still time to add a resolution!

I will try to keep my new rules. My best friend and I both find it overwhelming to do some tasks (like cleaning my sewing room and even the house). So she and I decided to do jobs in 15 minute increments. Instead of walking into a room that can take hours, and becoming overwhelmed, I set a timer for 15 minutes and go to it. I actually started this last week, and I will say, I got much more done that I thought I would. I spent 15 minutes in the kitchen, alarm went off, and I worked in the downstairs bathroom. Again, when the alarm went off, I went to the sewing room. I was not overwhelmed, I actually made it a game to see what I COULD accomplish in 15 minutes. I finished the laundry, got the living room straightened, 2 bathrooms cleaned, the kitchen floor was not done, but the kitchen counters and pantry were straightened up, and started purging my clothes closet (donation time). I will finish some more tomorrow and then start on the sewing room. (I was not feeling well for for the last few days so my plan had to be put on hold) I am excited to start the new year with fresh ideas. Happy New Year to all.

I second that!

I agree but I am trying to get better organized since I move 5 months ago.

I'm a word for the year person... Last year it was Finish and this year is Simplify. I'm going to keep at the finishes but I want to rework my stash to better suit the way I quilt now (less planned and more scrappy!). And I'm going to Sew for the Seasons and actually use some of those pretty fabrics I love to collect starting now with winter and Valentines Day. Move it off the shelf and use it up!

I vow to put the fabric back in the bins, according to color, and properly folded so I can find​ it again! LOL! That's a big job for me as I love pulling out fabric and just "petting" it.

I'm just finishing up a remodel and redecorate project in my sewing room so I have some things to put away. I've been sick and had three major surgeries the past two years so I have a few unfinished projects sitting around that I need to finish. I don't usually allow myself to have UFO's. Then I have several tops that I am determined to get quilted on the long arm. I also want to go through my scrap tub and cut the pieces into usable block sizes for scrap quilts and get them organized by color to make the process easier. No new projects planned this year except for a denim rag quilt I promised to make for a stepson. So this year, I promise to work at least once per day on something in that lovely new room!